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Comment by sideshowb | Hacker News Reader

Anecdotally, as a mountaineer, I love the effect of a little less atmospheric pressure.

Not loads less, above 3000m it starts getting inconvenient. But 1000-2000m my mind feels more clear and focused than at sea level.

I wonder if this is related?

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My understanding from the lit, & experience, is that there's a natural high/mild-euphoria from moving to higher-altitude (despite slight cognitive impairment) for the 1st 24-48 hours. That can then give way to crankiness, until slower adaptation progresses.

And: theres some evidence depression/suicide rates higher even at the mild elevations of places of like Reno NV (~4500'), Bend OR (3500'), or Boulder CO (5500').

There's a lot of different things that happen to the body at altitude.

For example: The kidneys take over shunting some wastes out that your lungs can't breathe out due to the thinning atmosphere. This means you urinate more which drags electrolytes with it and likely other things.

I couldn't begin to guess what might be going on with you based on what little you have said.

I've found this too, but assumed it was placebo.

I lived at 6500' for a while - that was too high.

The sweet spot for me is a particular mountain I go to which starts at 1200m and goes to 2000 (although I don't spend time at the peak - it's a ski field).

Thanks for your anecdote, now I feel I can take my observations more seriously

It could also be the sheer concentration of CO2. I work in a forest: 400ppm in the office every morning. Back at home, in the city, 5km away: 580ppm minimum all day long. Maybe cities make people stupid :D

Probably not in my case, haven't measured co2 but I am lucky to live in a small village.

It's incredible how quickly CO2 can build up inside a room. I'm also in a small village, and CO2 is 420ppm-ish outside. In my home office right now with the window open but no through flow, it's 1800ppm. If I close the window, it'll head off the scale of my CO2 monitor, above 5000ppm. Now that definitely is in the realm of cognitive impairment. I need some better ventilation.

Fair. My appropriate point of comparison (if I wasn't currently nitrogen drunk) should in fact have been mountains <1000m. Which I also love, but they don't have that clear headed altitude feeling.

Mount Washington?

I feel the same effect at 400m, and... well, I'm certain there's no physical effect involved.

It's just that the mountain I most usually hike on is 400m high from its sea-level base.

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