So much negativity, and some semi-positive thoughts
....was inspired though to make a record of all the high altitude places I've ever been -- have never done that before. So the highest I've ever been is near the peak of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia. 5100 meters or so. Snowfield on top. Hiked from 4800 m - 5100 m. Looked at some pictures, I wasn't using sunglasses, but I might have had 1 contact lens on which partially blocks UV.
Once mountain biked down from Cotopaxi near Quito, Ecuador - 4500 meters. Was wearing sunglasses on that trip in 2006.
Have hiked numerous days in Nepal - got altitude sickness (Drank beer the day before) and learned my lesson about that in 2004. Was wearing sunglasses and a hat there.
But my experiences in Atacama Desert in Chile, Peru and Colombia are higher in altitude, longer periods of time, and more recent - 2007/2010. No contacts/glasses in Peru - 2010. No glasses, and not sure about contact lens in Chile - 2007. Anywhere from 11,200 feet -13,500 feet or so in Chile and Peru. Colombia as above.
Atacama Desert - Laguna Miscanti - 4,120 m / ~13,500 feet
BTW - Further research shows that some of the UV strength listed in the weblink earlier I posted was incorrect...based on other websites....Fresh Snow ---> 80-85% increase in reflectivity. Old snow - 50%. Based on my sustained time at altitude and factoring in surfaces- I have been at net 60%+ UV strength over sea level without any eye protection, and maybe minimal sunscreen SPF-15.
-Lake Titicaca - 12,500 feet+hiking on an island on the lake to 13,000 feet.
Top 10 highest lakes
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/fe ... 8?image=05" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Also El Teide on Tenerife in 2010 too -- factoring in desert sand reflectivity - 15% increase on top of 11,500 feet max altitude --> so net 61% or so increase too..decreasing as I descended for the better part of a day to 6,500 feet.
Worst case scenario I see in the Sierra Nevadas then is the top of Mt.Whitney with "old snow" which puts me at about 100% over sea level...that sounds doable. Won't be there until the end of the trip anyway. If I have any problems, can not summit.
-----Anyway about UV --
Look at the ingredient bottle of the typical suntan lotion...look at the most active ingredient...what is it....why does it work?
Then read this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8279549.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
BBC - Anti-wi-fi paint offers security
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"The paint contains an aluminium-IRON OXIDE which RESONATES at the SAME FREQUENCY as wi-fi - or other radio waves - meaning the airborne data is absorbed and blocked.
By coating an entire room, signals can't get in and, crucially, can't get out."
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What is IRON used for in the body?
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Then one can google -- DIET SUNBURN. Or read this:
http://www.soystache.com/prevent-sunburn.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Not here to convince anyone, and I probably won't post any more, unless someone explicitly requests it.... since most here are inclined to just piss on what I write in this thread, rather than being slightly inquisitive. No/minimal name calling here (Though I see I was called STUPID more than a few times), but calling out the actions of some against me. And -- I don't have time for that these days. The moderators seem to be open and somebody asked about which documentaries...well I posted a few earlier - but will repost for the convenience of poster who requested it. In next message.
And for those who don't want to read "this BS" -- well don't click on it!! The beauty of the Internet...
so who are the "trolls?" Virtual defensiveness...