Michael Grocott conference on altitude sickness

Great turnout to Michael Grocott conference held by 66°North and FÍFL

66° North and FÍFL (Icelandic Mountain Doctors) held an excellent conference at the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica Hotel for the Summit with 66°North and Icelandic Mountain Guides Program. The conference hall was near full with close to 300 people. The main speaker at the conference was Michael Grocott Intensive Care Doctor and High Altitude Mountaineer. Michael Grocott has ascended many high mountains such as Everest (8.850m) and Cho Oyu (8.201m).

In may 2007 Michael lead a large scientific expedition to Mt. Everest to study the effects of low oxgen levels to the human body. Over 200 volunteers participated in the expedition and 8 doctors that summited took blood and tissue samples from each other during the whole ascent. The expedition was named Xtreme Everest and was filmed by the BBC and published as a series named Xtreme Everest: Doctors in the Death Zone. The series has been shown worldwide including Iceland.

Michael Grocott described the expedition in great detail and answered many interesting questions from the audience.