Pipes at Altitude

[bcharles123]

I just got back from a weeklong trip to Vancouver. Great city!
Anyway, each time i had a pipe, it stayed lit pretty much as long as I wanted it too. The tobacco was not particularly dry. Back home in northern NM, I re-light very frequently.
A big difference is that I live at 7500ft. Could that be it? It's also a fair bit dryer here although the Pacific Northwest , I'm told, is drier than normal.
Anyone else experience a difference due to altitude? Any pipes on Everest?

 

[mso489]

Never heard that one before. I would expect a dry climate to make the tobacco burn more readily. Maybe someone else can shed some light, or re-light, on this.

 

[captainprophesy]

That is interesting... I've smoked pipes at high elevation many times while hiking, camping or hunting and I've never noticed a difference... But that could also be because I wasn't paying attention.

 

[troutface]

I'm not buying the altitude explanation. I've smoked pipes at 10,000 ft. when I'm backpacking and had no problem.

 

[leacha]

I've smoked in my car going up to Mount Evens Colorado, some 13000+ feet. No problems.

 

[warren]

I believe Sir Edmund smoked a pipe. I doubt he did at the summit though. Open flame and oxygen just do not marry up well.

 

[sablebrush52]

I suppose that it might. Last time I was in Santa Fe I didn't notice any issues to speak of. At 7500 ft you're at about 80% oxygen compared to sea level. I didn't bring my pipes with me on this trip so I'm now enjoying the vistas and the superb food while giving my mouth a break.

 

[hiplainsdrifter]

I have smoked my pipe on mountaintops several times, and it always burned well. But then it is usually windy up there. Sometimes I think overly dry tobacco doesn't burn as well for me as something partially dried or even right out of the tin.

 

[daimyo]

I live in a dry environment around sea-level and I also tend to dry out my tobacco pretty well, unless I screw up the pack or lighting, get distracted or space out, I tend to need few relights. That said, I haven't smoked a lot in humid places to give any sort of comparative view. I was a bit surprised the other day in the white ash post, that so many people said they always have multiple relights. I was thinking perhaps I just dry mine out more or smoke a bit faster but perhaps there are other factors at play?

 

[drfrankenstein56]

big hello from southern new mexico!

 

[bcharles123]

Fair enough, everyone! Tonight I will try to re-create my sea-level experience, 3 nuns no (xtra drying) , Askwith pipe.
Not perfectly scientific but, like any good Internet forum, we claim it is! I'll report back latter.

 

[bcharles123]

The results are in:
The first half bowl smoked at altitude like it did at sea level. This particular batch of 3 nuns just burns very well, slow, cool, but without re lights.
The second half need a few relights, however.
While the results are inclusive, I believe that altitude is not a big factor.

 

[petes03]

I've smoked at a little over 6000 ft. and didn't notice a difference.

 

[cmdrmcbragg]

The only difference I could say is noticeable is that I rarely have any trouble with tobacco being too moist in Colorado.

 

[cfreud]

OK, I smoke pipes here in the Central Rockies every day at about 7,800 feet. I often go to San Francisco, sea level, for family and notice no difference. What I do notice is that tobacco burns hotter in South Carolina during the summer, golf vacation, which I chalk up to much more heat and humidity that both the previous places mentioned. English tobaccos smoked in all three places.

 

[bcharles123]

bcharles, Vancouver BC or Vancouver WA? Vancouver BC has had abnormal heat and dryness since June. Elevation is probably not the reason. More than likely humidity. In Vancouver BC your tobacco probably dried up a little more than in NM.

BC, I know it's been dry there! But no chance it's drier than NM!

 

[bcharles123]

big hello from southern new mexico!

Back at you! Ever go to Montes in ABQ? They have a great supply and a great lounge.