I live at 8000 and above 11k I start feeling it.
Nice info. I pegged my power difference at sea-level and 5000ft to be about 7% without really testing or looking at the data. Nice to see that my WAG was pretty reasonable.
I have no position. Just wanting to get clear and interesting information.
Do you have pointers for the correct definition? What does it mean to fully adapt to or permanently settle at an altitude?
So if I force feed O2 rich air to a subject he will perform better?
Many people will report no difference if they are limited by something else (peripheral, cardiovasculer etc). Or if they are “fully adapted”. If there is always a difference we can say that people can survive long term up to x but can only fully adapt up to y. Any interesting content to share on this?
Interesting study on oxygen levels and insects was done a decade ago, easy to understand summary here:
Yeah. That’s how people can hike Everest
I can’t be more “adapted” yet still I feel a big difference.
Which settlement is at 5000m ?
I thought that is how punters survive the Everest.
Anyway, it is clear that I could not communicate my question well. Imagine you are a patent lawyer. What does it mean to fully adapt to altitude?
Many. Nothing in Europe or NA
First you need to diferénciate between acclimatization which you might be able to control and adaptation, which you are born with. So the genetic variation is:
increased ventilation, reduction of respiratory alkalosis by the kidneys, growth of the lungs during childhood with improved diffusion capacity, rise of hemoglobin mass and concentration (only in America), changes in hemoglobin-oxygen affinity, reduction of muscle fiber magnitude shortening the distance for O2 diffusion, reduction of mitochondrial volume corresponding to the lowered O2 consumption.
This is by studying established populations of highlanders, mainly in South America an Nepal.
I live about 1/3 of the year at 2300 metres altitude. I see a huge drop in power upon arrival, and I never get it back up to sea level performance even if it gets better. I’d say it takes a month to adapt at that altitude. But I can’t reach my sea level power, but I am at the maximum of my capacity at that altitude, therefore I’m adapted. I don’t see any kind of drastic improvement when. I get down to sea level. My theory is that training with low wattage for months isn’t the best way to go.
About genetical evolution in humans at altitude Ive read, can’t remember where, that the only change scientists have found in humans is some kind of protein in tibetian/Nepalese women.
If the question was if you are fully adapted or not if you can’t produce sea level power at altitude, Ill let the philosophers to find out 
You can offset the pressure in your lungs by pursing your lips while exhaling, not only does it create back pressure in your lungs condensing the molecules it also expands the alveoli of the lungs exposing more surface area for CO2 exchange.
I think where your mom lives affects how well you can do at altitude, in addition to other stuff.
Joe
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So you’re telling me pursed lips aren’t just for selfies? Breathing hacks just got a glow-up.
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