Diamox does cause urinary secretion of bicarb that would tend to lower the blood ph. However, the primary metabolic effect at altitude is hyperventilation- to get oxygen in the thinner air. By blowing off CO2, hyperventilation raises the blood ph. This is called respiratory alkalosis and dominates at extreme altitudes.
Diamox also affects the brain respiratory centers and a lowered ph there in the brain and/or spinal fluid (as opposed to the blood) may be much more important in stimulating respiration. This is especially helpful at night when many sojourners to high altitude have abnormal breathing. Diamox may also reduce spinal fluid production, thus alleviating headache. Strange drug - does several things.
For a detailed graph of what ph does to the very important oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve at Everest -like altitudes see what I posted at
http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/...age=2#Post86499A high ph is necessary for survival at extreme altitude, but not at Whitney.
Lentils? The Sherpa people eat a lentil-based gravy on their rice called dal bhat. Quite good, but they do well at altitude for other reasons. I agree with you that longer time for acclimatization is best, and it works for those who do not have a low ceiling. For those people, there is a limit to height they can go.
