David Jones: I am 37 years old and preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (10,340ft). Have you any tips for how I might use my Concept 2 for preparing for a high altitude/low oxygen environment. I currently mix distance sessions with interval sessions. Best time for 5000m is 19.45, and for 7500m 30.04Terry O'Neill: Contrary to popular belief there is no less oxygen at altitude than at sea level. The difference is that at altitude there is a dramatic decrease in air pressure. As a result the partial pressure in the arterial system decreases and therefore there is less oxygen taken up for the same cardiac output and breathing rate. Hence everything becomes harder to do at altitude.Two other problems you will encounter is firstly, water vapour pressure decreases to about 55% of that at sea level making the air much drier, causing throat irritation and, secondly, for each 1000 meters you go up, there is a corresponding drop in temperature of 6.5 degrees Celsius. Oh I forgot to mention that solar radiation is more intensive due to the direct ultra violet rays of the sun.Now if the lack of oxygen, freezing cold, dehydration and skin cancer doesn't put you off, what is the best way to prepare? The fact that you will need to work at altitude makes it eminently sensible to do some training at altitude so you can take your rowing machine on a ski holiday. If this sounds impractical, another alternative is to use a compression chamber. Some diving clubs have these to treat the bends and, although this is caused by changing from a high pressure environment to sea level, often the range of adjustment will allow the air pressure to be decreased with respect to sea level.If neither of these two are viable options then a good aerobic base will help offset the negative effects of being at altitude, I would follow the marathon training programme as laid out in the Concept 2 training guide (available for free download at http://www.therowingcompany.com/v4/training_prog.htm).____________________________________________F E E D B A C KLike what you read? Dislike what you read? Ideas for future newsletters? Make sure to tell us at mailto:[email protected]_________________________________________________________