It's official and it even has an official medical name - climbers
fart uncontrollably at high altitudes and the condition is fetchingly
called High Altitude Flatus Expulsion.
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Always keep your distance,
especially when following...
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The Independent, quoting from the journal, High Altitude Medicine and
Biology, reveals that the condition kicks in at altitudes above
11,000 feet (3400 metres). Apparently as air pressure drops
externally, there is less resistance to the expulsion of gases and
uncontrollable flatulence results.
Clearly it makes sense to avoid baked beans and similar foods when
climbing at high altitude, as well as keeping a decent amount of rope
between yourself and fellow climbers. Other considerations might be
the breathability and windproofness of shell garments.
HAFE, we reckon, could be a major risk at altitude, which is why
OUTDOORSmagic is now urgently seeking funding to research the problem
in the Andes this summer, send your cheques to the 'Anti-Social
Climbers Expedition' c/o the site.
John Corteen
