Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion recomendations for an acclimatization route up the summit?

Bob,
I have not studied the article, but perhaps (???) the authors were somehow trying to say that the lower oxygen saturation that naturally occurs when one is hypoventilating (under-breathing) while sleeping at 14,000 results in similar O2sats as if one were awake at the lower pressure 16,000 (?)

I rather doubt that. The significantly lower O2sats seen while sleeping are far more than the drop that would occur by going from 14,000 to (and being awake) at 16,000.

Finally, a reason sleeping altitude is so important to acclimatization is that it is a prolonged exposure to the lowest O2sat one will experience (if not ill,dehydrated, exhausted, etc) at that altitude. (Note that we all have lower heart rate and breathing rates while sleeping.)

PS your advice and experience is appreciated. Harvey