3 ms·

I will admit. I have a hard time believing victorian ballooners achieved 37k feet without dying.

• mizzao 10y ago
  Considering that some have climbed Mount Everest (29k feet, and requiring much more physical exertion) without supplementary oxygen, it doesn't seem too far-fetched.
  • curun1r 10y ago
    People who climb Everest carefully (and slowly) acclimatize prior to any summit attempt. Expeditions can spend 40-60 days going up (and down) to help the body adjust to harsh conditions. Also, the 8k feet difference between Everest summit and 37k isn't nothing. There will be ~30% less oxygen at 37k feet than there is at 29k feet and, according to the Wikipedia entry for Mt Everest, someone accustomed to sea level air pressure would pass out within 2-3 minutes at 29k. So even if they made it to 29k and were still awake, they wouldn't be when they reached 37k without going upwards in a hurry (3000 ft/min is over 30 mph). I have to agree with the poster you're replying to...37k seems like an exaggeration. Somewhere in the mid-20ks seems more likely.