Muscle ultrastructural changes during a typical expedition to the Himalayas were analyzed by taking muscle biopsies from seven climbers before and after their sojourn at high altitude (over 5000 m for 8 weeks). M. vastus lateralis samples were analyzed morphometrically from electron micrographs. A quantitative evaluation was made of lipofuscin, satellite cells and myonuclei. Significant increases of the volume densities of lipofuscin (+ 235%) and satellite cells (+ 215%) were observed.