Joe,
I've stopped trying figure out what happens at elevation. When I can eat when I'm over 12,000' I am grateful but that is a rare occurrence. I started taking Diamox in 2000 after just very weird summer in the Sierra. No problems, at 11,000', problems at 7,500, no problems at 14,000, big problems at 14,000'.
Everyone is different. I go to San G and San Jac as day hikes and have not problems. I have a friends who have to use Diamox going to Baldy...and sometimes that is not effective.
I once had it so bad on White Mountain...and I was hit with it all at once on the summit, that the symptoms did not clear until I was in Big Pine (4,000') for over an hour.
