I got a prescription for altitude last year but when I got to the pharmacy they told me they would have to special order it and it was expensive as heck. I usually have a mild headache the first couple days at 11500 ft.There is no such thing as preparing for altitude!
I've looked into all kinds of options. I have a prescription of Diamox, it helped last year as I normally get physically ill the first couple of days and was able to keep my lunch down and no headaches with it. Will be drinking as much water as humanly possible and taking some of the wilderness athlete altitude advantage to help.
Getting in the best shape possible is the only thing you can do. Several people have suggested interval training and that running milage alone won't do as much. I'm doing this (different days not all at once)
Run 400, rest twice as long as it took you. Repeat x4
Run 800, rest twice as long as it took you. Repeat x4
Rum Mile, walk same amount of time. Repeat x3
I got a prescription for altitude last year but when I got to the pharmacy they told me they would have to special order it and it was expensive as heck. I usually have a mild headache the first couple days at 11500 ft.
Not sure. I think the main problem was my local pharmacist couldn't place an order just to fill my script, he had to order a larger amount of it. It would have sit on the shelf for years because nobody in a town of 4000 in TN buys that stuff. I should have checked in a larger town.You must have gotten something different. Diamox is dirt cheap. I think mine was $5.
As a guy that does some crossfit training and also does some elk hunting I would say drop some of your crossfit WODs and just hike with a pack on the steepest hills you can find. I would agree that crossfit is the best all around program for just about everything. However, if you already know you are going to be hiking your butt off all week, the best training will be just that, hiking your butt off.
As for the alititude I take ginko biloba starting about a week before the hunt and have not had a problem, not saying it works I just have not had a problem so I am now afraid not to take it before the trip.