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Test Results

In the spring of 1997, climbers David Breashears, David Carter, and Ed Viesturs agreed to undergo physiological and psychometric testing from Base Camp to the summit. Below is the data on the physiological testing. SaO2 refers to oxygen saturation—the percentage of oxygen in arterial blood. At sea level this is generally between 97 and 99%. SaO2 levels and pulse were measured with a small device called a pulse oximeter that is attached to the fingertip and takes measurements by shining red and infrared light through the finger tissue.

David Breashears' results | David Carter's results | Ed Viesturs' results

David Breashears

Altitude
SaO2
Pulse
Date
Time
17,600 84 88-90 1-May 3:00 PM
17,600 85 65 2-May
17,600 86 86 16-May
19,200 73 142 18-May 7:00 AM
19,200 84 92 18-May 7:45 AM
19,500 83 105 14-Apr 11:20 AM
19,500 80 78 14-Apr 3:55 PM
19,500 80 70 15-Apr 3:30 PM
19,500 76 56 16-Apr 8:00 AM
19,500 82 104 20-Apr 1:25 PM
20,100 75 140 18-May 9:30 AM
20,130 89 115 4-May 10:30 AM
21,200 73 142 18-May 10:00 AM
21,300 79 110 18-May 10:15 AM
21,300 80 78 18-May 3:00 PM
21,300 73 58 19-May 8:00 AM
21,300

19-May 2:30 PM
21,300 72 56 20-May 10:20 AM
21,300 81 77 20-May 10:20 AM
21,300

20-May 6:00 PM
21,300 72 60 21-May 5:20 AM
21,329 84 85 21-Apr
21,329 74 95 22-Apr 6:00 PM
21,329 74 60 23-Apr 8:30 AM
21,329 78 104 4-May 2:30 PM
21,329 80 67-70 4-May 6:30 PM
21,329 81 68 5-May 10:45 AM
21,329 74 95 5-May 6:00 PM
21,329 77 74 5-May 8:30 PM
21,329 85-90 71 6-May 8:15 AM
21,329 83 95 6-May 10:00 AM
21,329 82 70 7-May 8:00 AM
22,800 68 150 21-May 8:50 AM
23,000 77 116 24-Apr 10:00 AM
23,000 67 165 24-Apr 11:00 AM
23,500 68 140 21-May 11:15 AM
23,500

21-May 4:00 PM
23,500 74 83 21-May 7:00 PM
23,750 74 115 24-Apr 2:00 PM
23,750 70 76 24-Apr 6:45 PM
23,750 61 65-70 25-Apr 8:00 AM
23,750 74 98 25-Apr 6:00 PM
23,750 64 96 26-Apr 9:10 AM
26,000 61 138 22-May 12:07 PM
26,000 76 111 22-May 5:00 PM
26,000

23-May 12:15 AM
29,028 78 80 23-May 6:50 AM
Yellow Band 73 140 22-May 9:30 AM


David Carter

Altitude
SaO2
Pulse
Date
Time
17,600 86 107 23-Apr 9:30 AM
17,600 90 88 1-May 1:30 PM
17,600 92 95 16-May
19,500 80 110 15-Apr 3:30 PM
20,130 87 105 4-May 10:30 AM
21,300 83 81 20-May 10:30 AM
21,300

20-May 6:00 PM
21,300 71 59 21-May 5:20 AM
21,329 78 115 24-Apr 11:40 AM
21,329 77 110 25-Apr 2:15 PM
21,329 80 90 5-May 6:00 PM
21,329 80 102 6-May 10:00 AM
21,329 80 114 7-May 8:00 AM
22,300 74 140 21-May 8:00 AM
23,500 70 138 21-May 11:20 AM
23,500

21-May 4:00 PM
23,500 73 122 22-May 6:30 AM
23,750 68 116 26-Apr 12:00 PM
26,000 70 114 22-May 12:40 PM
26,000

22-May 8:00 PM
26,000 71
23-May 12:15 PM
26,000 93 130 23-May 2:00 PM
Yellow Band 66 98 22-May 9:40 AM


Ed Viesturs

Altitude
SaO2
Pulse
Date
Time
17,600 88 72 23-Apr 9:30 AM
17,600 89 105 1-May 2:30 PM
17,600 86 90 16-May
20,685

19-May 6:45 AM
21,300 83 116 19-May 9:25 AM
21,300 83 95 20-May 10:20 AM
21,300 80 80 20-May 2:20 PM
21,300

20-May 6:00 PM
21,300

21-May 5:20 AM
21,329 79 97 15-Apr
21,329 80 119 24-Apr 11:40 AM
21,329 74-75 90 5-May 6:00 PM
21,329 76 84 3-May 8:30 AM
21,329 82 111 6-May 10:00 AM
21,329 82 96 7-May 8:00 AM
22,800 60 140 21-May 8:50 AM
23,500 70 138 21-May 11:20 AM
23,500

21-May 4:00 PM
23,500 70 80 22-May 6:30 AM
23,750 77 117 26-Apr 12:00 PM
26,000 68 135 22-May 12:07 PM
26,000 60 138 22-May 12:30 PM
26,000 78 102 22-May 5:00 PM
26,000

22-May 8:00 PM
26,000

23-May 2:00 PM
28,700 70 24 23-May 9:00 PM
29,028 43 69 23-May 7:00 AM
Above Yellow Band 72 120 22-May 10:25 AM
Yellow Band 63 142 22-May 9:30 AM


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