Bulldog,
I use Diamox for all trips to the Sierra. I am not an advocate going to a doctor and get a prescription until you establish a need...and the only way to do that is going high.
Personally, I can day hike anywhere in SoCal without having problems. However, take me to the Sierra for an extended period...bam. Day hiking White or Whitney will do me in or a night at Horseshoe and sometimes WP.
There is the standard high elevation dosing recommendation but it does not work for everyone...it does not for me. Also, it is not 100% effective. I will have problems sleeping most of the time, sometimes aheadache the first night in and lost of appetite over 12,000', if I push too hard...all this being fully dosed for more days that recommended. That and feeling slightly funky until the stuff clears my system.
