Mountain Medicine: Expert Advice for High Altitude Climbers with Physician Tracee Metcalfe

In this episode of Finding Elevation, host Lisa Thompson interviews her friend Dr. Tracee Metcalfe, an expedition doctor, and high altitude mountaineer. They discuss Dr. Metcalfe's journey into mountaineering, common medical issues in the mountains, using medications like Diamox while climbing, and managing altitude sickness. Dr. Metcalfe also shares details on her upcoming project to climb the final 5 of the world's 14 8,000-meter peaks to raise money for Ascend Athletics, an organization that teaches mountaineering skills to women in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Main Discussion Points: How Dr. Metcalfe first got into climbing after moving to Colorado for college despite growing up in southern California Treating acute mountain sickness, sunburns, frostbite, blisters and other issues as an expedition doctor on mountains like Denali and Everest Using medications like Diamox for better sleep and oxygen saturation at altitude Recognizing signs of pulmonary edema and cerebral edema Dr. Metcalfe's upcoming climbs of Shishapangma, Lhotse, the Gasherbrums, and Broad Peak to complete all 14 eight-thousanders Fundraising through her climbs for Ascend Athletics, an organization that teaches women in Pakistan and Afghanistan leadership and mountaineering skills. Links: https://traceelmetcalfe.com/  Tracee's fundraising site to teach Pakistani girls mountain skills: https://www.pledge.to/empowering-girls-to-climb-to-new-heights-- Colorado Mountain Club Helpful Gear: AirTrim mask LeukoTape Alpine Armor Tape Hydrocolloidal Patches Blister Seals