AltitudeAheadWhy sleeping altitude matters
Where you sleep matters more than the highest point of the day.
The night is what counts
Ascent recommendations are based on sleeping altitude — the elevation where you spend the night. Breathing slows during sleep, so oxygen levels drop further at night. This is when the body is most challenged and when it does much of its adapting.
Daytime maximum vs. sleeping altitude
Going higher during the day and returning to sleep lower is a classic strategy: "climb high, sleep low". A short time at a higher altitude is generally less demanding than a whole night there.
That's why AltitudeAhead plots your sleeping altitude as the main line and shows the daytime maximum only as a marker. Day trips to high altitude can still cause symptoms, so take them seriously too.
Day-to-day gain
The change from one night to the next is the figure to watch. Above about 3,000 m, a common recommendation is to raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m per day. AltitudeAhead highlights days that exceed this.
General information, not medical advice. If you have symptoms at altitude, don't go higher. See the medical disclaimer.
