NOVA Online | Alive on Everest

Test Results

In the spring of 1997, climbers David Breashears, David Carter, and Ed Viesturs agreed to undergo physiological and psychometric testing from Base Camp to the summit. Below is the data on the physiological testing. SaO₂ refers to oxygen saturation—the percentage of oxygen in arterial blood. At sea level this is generally between 97 and 99%. SaO₂ levels and pulse were measured with a small device called a pulse oximeter that is attached to the fingertip and takes measurements by shining red and infrared light through the finger tissue.

David Breashears' results | David Carter's results | Ed Viesturs' results

David Breashears
Altitude	SaO₂	Pulse	Date	Time

17,600	84	88-90	1-May	3:00 PM
17,600	85	65	2-May
17,600	86	86	16-May
19,200	73	142	18-May	7:00 AM
19,200	84	92	18-May	7:45 AM
19,500	83	105	14-Apr	11:20 AM
19,500	80	78	14-Apr	3:55 PM
19,500	80	70	15-Apr	3:30 PM
19,500	76	56	16-Apr	8:00 AM
19,500	82	104	20-Apr	1:25 PM
20,100	75	140	18-May	9:30 AM
20,130	89	115	4-May	10:30 AM
21,200	73	142	18-May	10:00 AM
21,300	79	110	18-May	10:15 AM
21,300	80	78	18-May	3:00 PM
21,300	73	58	19-May	8:00 AM
21,300			19-May	2:30 PM
21,300	72	56	20-May	10:20 AM
21,300	81	77	20-May	10:20 AM
21,300			20-May	6:00 PM
21,300	72	60	21-May	5:20 AM
21,329	84	85	21-Apr
21,329	74	95	22-Apr	6:00 PM
21,329	74	60	23-Apr	8:30 AM
21,329	78	104	4-May	2:30 PM
21,329	80	67-70	4-May	6:30 PM
21,329	81	68	5-May	10:45 AM
21,329	74	95	5-May	6:00 PM
21,329	77	74	5-May	8:30 PM
21,329	85-90	71	6-May	8:15 AM
21,329	83	95	6-May	10:00 AM
21,329	82	70	7-May	8:00 AM
22,800	68	150	21-May	8:50 AM
23,000	77	116	24-Apr	10:00 AM
23,000	67	165	24-Apr	11:00 AM
23,500	68	140	21-May	11:15 AM
23,500			21-May	4:00 PM
23,500	74	83	21-May	7:00 PM
23,750	74	115	24-Apr	2:00 PM
23,750	70	76	24-Apr	6:45 PM
23,750	61	65-70	25-Apr	8:00 AM
23,750	74	98	25-Apr	6:00 PM
23,750	64	96	26-Apr	9:10 AM
26,000	61	138	22-May	12:07 PM
26,000	76	111	22-May	5:00 PM
26,000			23-May	12:15 AM
29,028	78	80	23-May	6:50 AM
Yellow Band	73	140	22-May	9:30 AM

David Carter
Altitude	SaO₂	Pulse	Date	Time

17,600	86	107	23-Apr	9:30 AM
17,600	90	88	1-May	1:30 PM
17,600	92	95	16-May
19,500	80	110	15-Apr	3:30 PM
20,130	87	105	4-May	10:30 AM
21,300	83	81	20-May	10:30 AM
21,300			20-May	6:00 PM
21,300	71	59	21-May	5:20 AM
21,329	78	115	24-Apr	11:40 AM
21,329	77	110	25-Apr	2:15 PM
21,329	80	90	5-May	6:00 PM
21,329	80	102	6-May	10:00 AM
21,329	80	114	7-May	8:00 AM
22,300	74	140	21-May	8:00 AM
23,500	70	138	21-May	11:20 AM
23,500			21-May	4:00 PM
23,500	73	122	22-May	6:30 AM
23,750	68	116	26-Apr	12:00 PM
26,000	70	114	22-May	12:40 PM
26,000			22-May	8:00 PM
26,000	71		23-May	12:15 PM
26,000	93	130	23-May	2:00 PM
Yellow Band	66	98	22-May	9:40 AM

Ed Viesturs
Altitude	SaO₂	Pulse	Date	Time

17,600	88	72	23-Apr	9:30 AM
17,600	89	105	1-May	2:30 PM
17,600	86	90	16-May
20,685			19-May	6:45 AM
21,300	83	116	19-May	9:25 AM
21,300	83	95	20-May	10:20 AM
21,300	80	80	20-May	2:20 PM
21,300			20-May	6:00 PM
21,300			21-May	5:20 AM
21,329	79	97	15-Apr
21,329	80	119	24-Apr	11:40 AM
21,329	74-75	90	5-May	6:00 PM
21,329	76	84	3-May	8:30 AM
21,329	82	111	6-May	10:00 AM
21,329	82	96	7-May	8:00 AM
22,800	60	140	21-May	8:50 AM
23,500	70	138	21-May	11:20 AM
23,500			21-May	4:00 PM
23,500	70	80	22-May	6:30 AM
23,750	77	117	26-Apr	12:00 PM
26,000	68	135	22-May	12:07 PM
26,000	60	138	22-May	12:30 PM
26,000	78	102	22-May	5:00 PM
26,000			22-May	8:00 PM
26,000			23-May	2:00 PM
28,700	70	24	23-May	9:00 PM
29,028	43	69	23-May	7:00 AM
Above Yellow Band	72	120	22-May	10:25 AM
Yellow Band	63	142	22-May	9:30 AM