Lung Inhaler

Those who use lung inhalers can be dangerous companions on high altitude trips, especially when you do not know they use or have one.

Once we camped at Iceland Lake at about 9,000 feet and when we started our climb to Lewis Lake the next morning the boy with the undisclosed inhaler declared that it was not working and he could not get his breath. His walking pace became so slow that we had to push him along but soon that was not enough. A friend strapped his 40 LB pack to his back and headed up the hill and I continued pushing the boy along up and over the top. This boy had a terrible hiking experience and he will never visit the wilderness again.

If a boy uses an inhaler, his father may need to be on the hike to address this health condition by rendering first aid or heading to the car, if necessary.

Many successful hikers use inhaler but they need to know their limitations and not put themselves or others at risk.

Tuolumne Falls

Cathedral Lake