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poomasta
Dec 7, 2004, 7:57 PM
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So I was watching a REALLY bad movie a few months ago, something to do with snowboarding and the inevitable rescue scneario that ensues when someone causes an avalanche...and something today sparked a question that I'm sure ya'll have a quick resolution to.
In the "film", these two guys are climbing up some face at pretty high altitude, and one of the guys is suckin wind, at which point his buddy offers him a smoke saying something to the effect that it will open up his lungs, helping him to breathe. As far as I could gather it wasn't a "special" cigarette of any type, just tobacco. obviously this sounds like drivel, but is there any element of medical truth to this? i mean, i find it hard to believe that hollywood would just make something like that up ;-)
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lockeyaaron
Dec 7, 2004, 8:03 PM
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I am not sure about it "opening" up your lungs but I do know that it contricts blood vessels and capilaries. But I have known guys that run faster after they smoked as opposed to when they refrained from it. I suppose this might be caused from the stimulant effect of the cigarette.
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plund
Dec 7, 2004, 8:09 PM
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Hard to believe Hollywood would completely fabricate something?
How about 1) Bolt gun in "Cliffhanger"
2) Harness buckle fracture, ibid.
3) Canopy-to-canopy fighters, "Top Gun"
4) Assault-rifle bullets stopped by sheetrock
(too many to list)
It opens my lungs...that's why I smoke, yeah, that's the ticket!
(would like to quit, have many times only to relapse)
I think Twain came up with the classic "It's easy to quit smoking, I've done it hundreds of times", but could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time...)
Thanks for the chuckles...peace!
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slavetogravity
Dec 7, 2004, 8:22 PM
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In reply to: So I was watching a REALLY bad movie a few months ago, something to do with snowboarding and the inevitable rescue scneario that ensues when someone causes an avalanche...and something today sparked a question that I'm sure ya'll have a quick resolution to.
REALY BAD MOVIE!! Blasphemer! The scene of which you speak is from the cinematic act of brilliance known as “Aspen Extreme” The scene was when the two lead protagonists head high into the Aspen backcountry so they could train for the coming powder eight competition. Sadly their actions result in an avalanche. Dexter dies leaving behind nothing but his trademark baseball hat. The thing that bothers me the most is that you described this movie as a “snowboard” movie. Snowboarding??!! Why not you go describe Touching the Void as a lousy “bouldering” movie while your at it! Gahhhh!
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poomasta
Dec 7, 2004, 8:46 PM
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SlaveToGravity...i appreciate your love of Aspen Extreme, but I'm pretty sure that's not it. There was definitely snowboarding. hmm...now i am more interested in remembering the name of the movie...
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calds
Dec 7, 2004, 8:54 PM
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Smoking lowers the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry. A short explantion is the carbon monoxide in the smoke basically out competes and blocks the oxygen in the air from getting into your blood. So it would make the climb more difficult because your muscles are not getting enough oxygen. At very high altitudes with little oxygen available, it would be possible for a person to black out for awhile or completely pass out due to a lack of oxygen if they were smoking.
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kpalsson
Dec 7, 2004, 8:54 PM
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But I thought pot did. Tobacco sure doesn't, but I'm pretty sure pot does.
Coca leaves definitely do. But you chew that, not smoke it. All the sherpas go around with big blunts all day
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noshoesnoshirt
Dec 7, 2004, 9:07 PM
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not sure how stupid it might be, but it sure does get yer head spinnin'.
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lang22
Dec 7, 2004, 9:32 PM
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i think i've actually seen aspen extreme :oops: . i was watching tv really at about 2am one night and there it was. it was one of these movies where it's so bad, you can't turn away (sort of like death race 2000).
i don't remember the cigarette scene in the movie, but i had the stomach flu so i was probably drifting in and out. i just noticed the 'star' was paul gross of canadian tv show 'due south' fame. this must have been a 1980s canadian produced P.O.S.!
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lockeyaaron
Dec 7, 2004, 10:07 PM
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I just want the record to show that I think ASPEN EXTREME is the best movie to come out of the 90's well that and Weekend At Bernies.
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reno
Dec 7, 2004, 10:11 PM
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In reply to: i think i've actually seen aspen extreme :oops: . i was watching tv really at about 2am one night and there it was. it was one of these movies where it's so bad, you can't turn away (sort of like death race 2000).
Yeah, the movie is kinda corny, but you do get to see Finola Hughes' nekkid body. That alone is worth the $2.95 rental fee.
To the OP: No, there is no proven science that shows any benefit to cigarettes. What little percieved benefit you may get (ala Bridwell,) is far outweighted by the detrimental aspects.
(I'm a smoker... in the process of quitting... one week and 4 days now.)
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climbingnurse
Dec 7, 2004, 10:16 PM
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Gee, the top of that poster isn't suggestive of anything, is it?
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cintune
Dec 7, 2004, 10:25 PM
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Herzog and his pals smoked cigs all the way to the top of Annapurna. Always struck me as crazy, but I guess it was part of that 50s French machismo thing they had going.
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mainline
Dec 7, 2004, 10:39 PM
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Back in the day the Tour du France racers used to smoke regularly because they thought it expanded their lungs. I have heard personal stories of very strong climbers smoking pot on Everst, very "High" on the mountain!
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poomasta
Dec 7, 2004, 11:07 PM
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yeah...that is exactly how it was referred to in the movie i believe: "it'll expand your lungs..."
the only way I see that making any sense is if you say the act of smoking [anything] forces you to inhale more deeply, which opens up your lungs and pulls in more oxygen to be snatched up by those aveoli thingies we learned about in health class...
or, you could just breath more deeply...which i remember being pretty standard above 14k+ feet
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paulraphael
Dec 7, 2004, 11:18 PM
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I've talked to more than a couple of people who felt that pot relieved altitude sickness symptoms. Made no claim for "opening their lungs," just that they felt better.
A college friend said he smoked pot all the way to the top of every peak above 20,000 feet that he'd climbed (I think about a half dozen of them at the time) except Denali, which he and his partner climbed in something like 48 hours.
Not sure if his interest was medicinal or recreational. Either way, I never smoked while climbing, and I could never begin to keep up with him. Maybe there's a connection ...
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dingus
Dec 7, 2004, 11:25 PM
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In reply to: Herzog and his pals smoked cigs all the way to the top of Annapurna. Always struck me as crazy, but I guess it was part of that 50s French machismo thing they had going.
Herzog had a tougher go smoking cigarettes once he came back down, eh?
Sorry, I simply couldn't resist...
DMT
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nevenneve
Dec 8, 2004, 12:26 AM
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This was real big in the gym scene in the seventies. Not real sure of the medical reasoning but, it can cause a slight rush in oxygen for a few breathes after exhaling. Visualize the rush of water after an air pocket comes out of a garden hose.
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arsenalcrater
Dec 8, 2004, 12:59 AM
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Anyone remember the story of the "Crack O' Noon Club" climbing on Denali? I think it was revisited in Jon Krakaurer's "Eiger Dreams". Currently living in the Peoples' Republic of Schwaggstaff, I've heard other fine stories about this club.
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mainline
Dec 8, 2004, 2:04 AM
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I don't think too many people actually believe that smoking cigarettes or pot helps them athletically these days. Some just enjoy it and are fit enough that they can accomplish their climbing goals at the same time.
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timd
Dec 8, 2004, 2:27 AM
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Good job calds--- your red cells contain a substance called hemaglobin, this stuff gives your red blood cells the concave shape necessary to transport oxygen. You breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide (CO2).
When you smoke you are pretty much breathing in carbon monoxide,, your red blood cells then turn from hemaglobin to carboxyhemaglobin. This stuff allows the carbon monoxide to bind to the red blood cells, so there is no room for the oxygen molecules. Hypoxia starts to take over. Your body then compensates for this by making more red blood cells to transport oxygen. This condition is called hemachromatosis and is not good for you at all. On that note I'm going out for a smoke.
Tim
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dood
Dec 8, 2004, 2:40 AM
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In 1924, Howard Somervell, who believed smoking helped at altitude, reached 28,000' without oxygen. Hard to argue with that.
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bluefunk
Dec 11, 2004, 2:09 AM
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In the army I knew a guy who would smoke like a train but out ran everybody. Genetics is a bit@@. If smoking opens your lungs then crack makes you super man :lol:
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