Mountaineering experience decreases the net oxygen cost of climbing Mont Blanc (4,808 m)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mountaineering experience decreases the net oxygen cost of uphill walking (OCw) on steep mountain trails and in ice and snow conditions. OCw was measured during an ascent of Mont Blanc in eight experienced alpinists and eight non-alpinists who were matched for sex (4 + 4) and low-altitude aerobic power ($\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{ \max }}}$ 50–55 ml kg⁻¹ min⁻¹). Subjects carried a breath-by-breath gas exchange analyzer and a GPS. $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{ \max }}}$ at altitude was estimated from measured low-altitude $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\max}}}$ using Bassett’s equation to calculate fractional use of $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{ \max }}}$ during the ascent (F$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{ \max }}}$). OCw was calculated as the difference between $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}}$ while climbing minus resting $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2}}$. At all elevations, Alpinists exhibited a lower OCw (P < 0.01). In all subjects, OCw increased when encountering ice and snow conditions. ${\text{F}}\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{ \max }}}$ remained stable around 75% at all elevations independent of experience or sex. In conclusion, the OCw is lower in experienced mountaineers compared to non-experienced subjects, and increases when going from steep rocky mountain terrain to ice and snow conditions, independent of mountaineering experience or sex.