Adjusting to High Altitude

Upper Intermediate (B2) Travel American Accent 59s

Two hikers discuss catching their breath and adjusting to high elevation while trekking along a steep mountain trail.

Vocabulary Highlights

unaccustomed /ˌʌn.əˈkʌs.təmd/: Not familiar with or not used to something; unusual or unfamiliar.; "He was unaccustomed to the freezing mountain temperatures." — Not used to an environmental condition; "Unaccustomed to driving on the left side of the road, she stayed extra alert." — Unfamiliar with a habit or routine

Speaker 1: Man, that steep climb totally wiped me out way faster than I expected.

Speaker 2: You're just unaccustomed to the thin air up here at ten thousand feet.

Speaker 1: Honestly, my lungs are definitely feeling every single step we take.

Speaker 2: That's completely normal when your body hasn't had time to acclimate yet.

Speaker 1: Should we pull over by those rocks and take a quick breather?

Speaker 2: Definitely, and make sure you drink plenty of water while we rest.

Speaker 1: Good call, because dehydration sneaks up on you without you even realizing.

Speaker 2: Plus, the wind is picking up, so you might wanna layer up.

Speaker 1: I'm really glad we packed these windbreakers before heading out this morning.

Speaker 2: Same here, especially since mountain weather can shift in a split second.

Speaker 1: Let's just pace ourselves for the rest of the trek up to the ridge.

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