Vaping at Altitude

[started@52]

I live around 5500 feet above sea level and wonder if that’s why I seam to generally vape and get clouds at lower temps then many others. Water boils about 9-10° lower here around 202-203° So I’m assuming other things vape at lower temps too?

I will be going down to about 3000’ soon and doubt I’ll notice a big difference, but what if I vaped at sea level? I haven’t been vaping very long and have not vaped much if at all at higher or lower altitudes.

 

[Tranquility]

I live around 5500 feet above sea level and wonder if that’s why I seam to generally vape and get clouds at lower temps then many others. Water boils about 9-10° lower here around 202-203° So I’m assuming other things vape at lower temps too?

I will be going down to about 3000’ soon and doubt I’ll notice a big difference, but what if I vaped at sea level? I haven’t been vaping very long and have not vaped much if at all at higher or lower altitudes.

Yes, the less pressure, the easier it is to change liquids to a gaseous state. You can boil water at standard temperature if you put it in hard enough of a vacuum.

For water, the temps work out to: (https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/water-evacuation-pressure-temperature-d_1686.html)

As pressure goes up, the temperature required to boil (State of changing liquid to gas) goes up as well. This is going to be true on changing the dab/oil to a vapor as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the chart showing temps at altitude for cannabis is going to look much the same. (With the reference points shifted to reflect the difference between cannabis concentrate and water.)

 

[Baron23]

I live around 5500 feet above sea level and wonder if that’s why I seam to generally vape and get clouds at lower temps then many others. Water boils about 9-10° lower here around 202-203° So I’m assuming other things vape at lower temps too?

I will be going down to about 3000’ soon and doubt I’ll notice a big difference, but what if I vaped at sea level? I haven’t been vaping very long and have not vaped much if at all at higher or lower altitudes.

Yes, at lower pressure you get boiling point depression and some small degree of freezing point elevation.

This is THE reason we use carb caps on dab rigs (and in my case, my FP SH)....to wit, to reduce the pressure and get it to boil off at a lower temp than otherwise.

Cheers

 

[started@52]

I wonder what it’s like vaping at 14k, wait I can go find out!

Or should I?

 

[Vaporware]

I wonder what it’s like vaping at 14k, wait I can go find out!

Or should I?

I would! Just don’t rely on a lighter because it probably won’t work if you filled it at home.

 

[Verax]

I spend nights in the mountains (cascades) on a fairly regular basis during the summer, between 5,000 - 12,000 ft. I don't really notice any tangible difference at those altitudes versus my daily driving at sea level.

 

[FireFcuk2]

... You can boil water at standard temperature if you put it in hard enough of a vacuum.

In fact under vacuum you can boil water until it freezes.

 

[Tranquility]

In fact under vacuum you can boil water until it freezes.

https://www.sciencealert.com/you-can-actually-boil-water-so-hard-it-freezes

 

[elmomuzz]

I’ve vaped at over 14k. Not much different then sea level.

 

[Ricardo]

Ha! I've been spending some time at about 1,200 m (4,000 ft.) and managed to combust in the VapCaps on several occasions - never do that beachside. I thought the cap was taking way longer to click but put it down to being outdoors in colder weather.
Air pressure, huh? Science rocks

 

[Vlad the Inhaler]

Aw man, I just got back from 11k+ ft! I was wondering about this while I was there but TSA loves me so I didn't dare bring any vapes or equipment with me even though both ends of my journey were legal.

My guess is that it's actually easier to vape at altitude because of lower pressure=lower vaporization points.

 

[old-fart]

I live at 7200 feet (Los Alamos, NM) and I can feel changes when I visit family at sea level. The first few days at sea level I have a bit more energy. I assume this is due to the accommodations my body makes living where there is less oxygen (higher red blood count?). That being said, assuming the same internal mechanisms are used to deliver THC (big assumption), living at high altitude and smoking or vaping at low altitudes might make a difference, if you do it before you body acclimates to the lower altitude oxygen levels.

 

[FlyingLow]

I find vaping at great altitude to be a pain most of the time... batteries get kaput quickly and need to be kept warm.

 

[old-fart]

I find vaping at great altitude to be a pain most of the time... batteries get kaput quickly and need to be kept warm.

Isn't that more an issue of temperature than altitude?