Why are some people able to climb tall mountains without oxygen tanks?

Question

Sherpas and other high-altitude climbers can manage climbing at extreme altitudes without supplemental oxygen due to a combination of physiological adaptations, training, and experience. Their physiological adaptations are a combination of genetics and physiology:

1. Sherpas often have higher levels of hemoglobin in their blood, which enhances their ability to carry oxygen. This adaptation helps them use the available oxygen at high altitudes.
2. Sherpas have genetic adaptations that improve their ability to use oxygen more efficiently to handle low oxygen levels. For example, they have unique variations in their genes related to oxygen regulation and metabolism.
3. At high altitudes, Sherpas have increased capillary density in their muscles, which allows for more efficient oxygen exchange and delivery to tissues.

Answer 1

In addition to the previous responses, a primary biochemical mechanism by which humans and other animals adapt to environments of higher altitude is an increase of 2,3-biphosphoglycerate, which shifts the oxygen dissociation curve to the right. This decreases the oxygen binding capacity of hemoglobin, which allows for increased oxygen delivery to the tissue.

In environments with low atmospheric pressure and decreased oxygenation of the blood from the lungs, this provides an advantage, as oxygen is more easily delivered to the tissue through the presence of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate.

Answer 2

First, their body acclimatizes. Over time, climbers will gradually ascend to higher altitudes to give their bodies time to adjust to lower oxygen levels. The body increases red blood cell production, enhancing oxygen transport to tissues which allows climbers to tolerate higher altitudes. Also, Certain populations, such as the Sherpa people from the Himalayas, have genetic adaptations that allow them to function well at high altitudes. They are more efficient in their oxygen use and have an increased lung capacity.

Climbers often undergo rigorous physical training to improve their cardiovascular and respiratory systems before embarking on these climbs to prepare their bodies. This training inevitably improves their ability to utilize oxygen more efficiently, even in low-oxygen environments.

Climbing without additional oxygen requires a higher level of mental toughness and the ability to endure harsh conditions and some measure of pain, which is a critical part of the process. Experience is essential in these conditions. Experienced climbers understand the importance of pacing. They develop strategies to conserve energy, maintain a slower pace, and use proper breathing techniques, all of which help them manage without extra oxygen. Even then, not all can make it without supplemental oxygen but these factors enable some individuals to ascend extreme altitudes without needing supplemental oxygen.