Abstract des Autors

In Austria alone, more than 10 million hikers and skiers annually visit moderate altitudes. That number may exceed 40 million for the whole Alps, and it is assumed that worldwide there are about 100 million mountain tourists. Many of these tourists are not aware that mountain sport activities demand a relatively high degree of physical fitness and that the risk of injury and death increases when fitness is insufficient. However, little information exists on the requirements of aerobic performance in the mountaineer. Thus, the aims of this study were to evaluate normal times required for ascent to a mountain hut or peak and to measure related energy costs. The analyses of the descriptions of 100 typical paths to mountain huts and peaks in the Alps revealed that, on average, a 317 m gain in altitude is expected to be covered in one hour. Data gathered by documenting the climbing speed of 82 mountaineers showed that this goal is, on average, actually achieved. However, large variations were observed (180—480 mph). Climbing at 300 mph corresponds to an oxygen demand of about 18 ml/min/kg. Because only 62% of the individual maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was used during prolonged hiking, a VO2 max of about 30 ml/min/kg is necessary to perform ascents at normal rates. Considering that VO2 max declines at the rate of 1% per 100 m altitude gain above 1,500 m, these values must be increased by 20% when mountaineering at 3500 m. Thus, endurance capacity may well represent a limiting factor, especially when the aerobic fitness declines with age or due to preexisting diseases. Verf.-Referat