What’s it like to hike at 15,000 feet? Well the oxygen saturation is at 80%, normal lung function is at 87-97% saturation. At this altitude flight attendants are required to offer passengers oxygen, if the cabin depressurizes.  Few hikers have supplemental oxygen though, so yes, it’s hard to breathe.

It feels like you are sucking in air (because you are), but that very little is getting into your lungs.  Each step you take requires real effort and you feel as though you’re moving in slow motion, which frankly stinks since you still have a mountain to climb.

The first time we hiked at high altitude was in Peru’s Cordellia Blanca range from Huaraz, Peru.  This photograph is of our crew picking their way down the mountain after the summit. The steep descent is almost as bad as the ascent given that it’s all you can do not to run down!

To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.

IF YOU GO: High altitude hiking in Peru is easily accessible.  We completed a four day hike from Huaraz, but there are plenty of multi-day hiking options.  You should be prepared with gear if you’re going without a group. Beware of low priced tours from Huaraz, especially if you are going to be using their equipment.  Nights in the mountains are extremely cold, so be prepared with proper layers, including hats and gloves.  We were there in August and spent our second night wearing absolutely every piece of clothing we brought with us.  It was freezing!!  When we came down we definitely needed some hot stew, preferably something Eastern European that would have stuck to our ribs and filled our bellies…