Humans at High Altitude: How Science is Shaping My Practice as a Medic, Mountaineer & Adventurer

High altitude has always fascinated me. It is one of the few environments that forces total honesty: with your physiology, your psychology, and your preparation. My own experiences in places like the Sierra Nevada, the Alps, and the Himalayas have shown me how altitude exposes the truth of our bodies and our mindset.

But the Humans At High Altitude course delivered by Dr Hannah Lock has taken that understanding to a completely new level.

As a FREC4 medic, an aspiring International Mountain Leader, and someone who has guided groups through challenging terrain, I already approach altitude with respect.

What this course has done is transform that respect into a deeper, science-based competence, giving me a clearer framework to prevent, recognise, and manage altitude-related illness long before it becomes dangerous.

Decision making at altitude requires understaning of not just the environment but also oneself.

A Better Understanding of the Physiology of Altitude

The course broke down—in a practical, accessible way—what actually happens to the human body above 2,500m.

I’ve felt the effects myself: the subtle headache at 3,000m, the sluggish start on early-season snow days, the elevated heart rate on steep ascents, and even moments of mental fog.

Dr Lock’s teaching helped me understand why these things happen:

• How oxygen saturation drops with height

• Why breathing patterns change

• How sleep is impacted

• What acclimatisation really means

• The warning signs that matter — and the ones that don’t

  
  

This has given me far more confidence in my own pacing, hydration strategy, and decision-making on big mountain days.

Improved Clinical Judgement on the Mountain

As a medic, one of the biggest takeaways has been learning how subtle the early symptoms of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) can be—and how easy it is to miss them in a group who are tired, cold, or pushing for a summit.

The course has strengthened my ability to spot:

• Behavioural changes

• Slurred decision-making

• Subtle coordination issues

• Emotional dysregulation

• “Silent clues” like loss of appetite or withdrawal

  
  

This is where medicine and leadership intersect. High-altitude problems rarely announce themselves loudly. They creep in. The training has given me sharper tools to identify problems early, intervene calmly, and prioritise safety without killing morale.

Bridging Medicine, Leadership and Human Behaviour

What struck me most is how altitude affects relationships, emotions, and group dynamics. As someone also training in Outdoor & Adventure Therapy, the psychological side of altitude really resonates:

• Reduced cognitive bandwidth

• Lower emotional tolerance

• Increased vulnerability

• Higher reliance on trust

  
  

Altitude strips us back.It reveals how we respond to stress, uncertainty, and discomfort—physically and psychologically. Understanding this has deepened both my clinical awareness and my therapeutic insight.

Adventure motorcycling in the Himalayas at 5800 metres, where ascent is even more acutely felt.

How This Will Shape My Future Guiding

As a guide or a part of a team I now bring a much more refined understanding of:

• Risk management

• Early intervention

• Client care

• Leadership communication

• Evidence-based decision-making in complex environments

  
  

It strengthens my work not only as a medic and mountaineer, but as someone helping others build confidence through challenge.

Altitude Will Always Be Demanding — But Now I’m Better Equipped

That, ultimately, is the point of training like this. Altitude will always remain unpredictable, uncomfortable, and deeply humbling. But with the right knowledge, we can make it safer, more supported, and more transformative.

Thanks to Dr Hannah Lock, I’m stepping into future high-altitude expeditions with sharper skills, deeper understanding, and a renewed respect for the mountains, and for the remarkable human bodies we take into them.