How high can you ski?

Leave it to the Chinese to open a ski resort above 15K feet. It's not very big, but how long can you last up there?

Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort has a top elevation of 13,050 feet in Dillon, Colorado.
Loveland Ski Area features a summit elevation of 13,010 feet in Georgetown, Colorado.
Breckenridge Ski Resort has a top elevation of 12,998 feet,
Aspen Snowmass offers a summit elevation of 12,510 feet,
Keystone Resort features a top elevation of 12,408 feet.
Copper Mountain Resort hits a summit of 12,313 feet,
Silverton Mountain one of 12,300 feet,
Telluride Ski Resort one of 12,260 feet.

A brief documentary for people who like to climb volcanos.

That is the stuff that erupts as sort of a wet cement, isn't it? Get caught in it and there is no hope at all.

Quote: Pacomartin

Leave it to the Chinese to open a ski resort above 15K feet. It's not very big, but how long can you last up there?

I'm guessing a normal lifetime, provided you get acclimated to the place.

The highest I've been, to my knowledge, is 3,100 meters, give or take. That's the highest point in the highway between Mex City and Cuernavaca. I felt no effects from being 750-800 meters higher than normal.

I'm sure I'd find 4,680 meters challenging, but after a coupe of days taking it easy I should be ok.

Quote: Nareed

The highest I've been, to my knowledge, is 3,100 meters, give or take. That's the highest point in the highway between Mex City and Cuernavaca. I felt no effects from being 750-800 meters higher than normal.

Well, you are pretty high normally. An increment of 800 meters is not that much. But you are also driving in a car, and not exercising. Leadville Colorado is 3180 meters, and is the highest town in the USA.

Arapahoe basin in Colorado is pretty much used only by locals who are acclimated. It keeps the lift ticket price low. In addition to being the highest ski resort in the USA, it is also one of the oldest, opening just after WWII. It is much easier to build a resort above the tree line. Plus it opens in October, maximizing revenue.

But even in Colorado, most people don't live above 2000 meters. It's hard to imagine that in Tibet there are that many people that live so high, that they can roll out of bed and ski at 4500 meters.

I once went snow boarding after eating a mess of psilocybin mushrooms, though I don't know how to quantify the high.

But I was pretty high; one of the more interesting experiences I've had. I'll stop derailing and take it to the Tall Tales thread =p

Quote: Face

I once went snow boarding ... though I don't know how to quantify the high.

From the notable Mount Hood fatalities was Juan Carlos Munuz (age 30 in May 2002) who attempted to snowboard from the summit of Mount Hood, he fell 2,500 feet onto a glacier. I don't know if shrooms were involved.

He went down north side of the mountain (Wizard climbed the South side).

http://www.i-world.net/oma/routes/photos/hood-n.gif

Quote: Pacomartin

It doesn't look like you could fall 2500' on this side.

I assume they don't mean free fall. If you caught an edge and started tumbling, and tumbled 2,500 feet, I would refer to that as "a 2,500' fall"

Quote: Face

I assume they don't mean free fall. If you caught an edge and started tumbling, and tumbled 2,500 feet, I would refer to that as "a 2,500' fall"

I changed the picture in my original post. He went down the other side because it says he hit Elliot Glacier. And I imagine it was a tumbling fall.

This topgraphic map helps. The Wizard went up by Devil's Kitchen. The Argentine snowboarder fell to his death on Elliot Glacier.

I use a walking stick so I don't fall on the
way to the mailbox in winter. Skiing? Got
no plans..