Altitude Attitude: Why Every Shilajit Brand Thinks It Climbed Everest
You’d think half the supplement industry moonlighted as Himalayan mountaineers, the way they talk about their shilajit. Every brand, it seems, wants you to believe their sticky black goo was scraped from a sacred cliff face at 18,000 feet, possibly by a monk dangling from a yak, blessed by a snow leopard on the descent.
The truth? The only thing high about it is the marketing — and maybe the fella who wrote it.
In this piece, we’re unpacking the altitude obsession that’s gripped the wellness world — and asking: is 18,000-foot shilajit even real? And if so, could you actually buy it?
18,000 Feet of BS? Or Just 18,000 Feet of Bad Economics?
Let’s address the obvious: is it even possible to collect shilajit at 18,000 feet?
Technically, yes — in rare, isolated cases, very small amounts of shilajit might be found at extreme elevations. In some high-altitude regions of the Himalayas and Karakoram, traditional collectors have been known to harvest shilajit seasonally — typically between 10,000 and 14,000 feet — where it seeps from rock faces in warmer months. Above 16,000 feet, however, such activity becomes increasingly rare, and by 18,000 feet, it’s virtually non-existent.
But let’s be realistic about volume.
Even under ideal conditions, the amount of shilajit a collector might find at that altitude would likely be no more than 200–500 grams in a single outing — and that’s being generous. These are tiny patches, not flowing rivers of resin. And that’s before you account for the need to purify and process it, which reduces yield even further. You’re looking at a handful of raw material retrieved under extreme physical duress — not nearly enough to support anything close to commercial scale.
Here's the key distinction:
Possible? Yes.
Commercially viable? Absolutely not.
And here’s the thing — even scientists haven’t bothered going that high.
Despite decades of research into the composition, origins, and pharmacology of shilajit, there are no documented scientific expeditions that have collected shilajit for analysis at 18,000 feet. The highest altitudes cited in peer-reviewed studies sit comfortably between 10,000 and 14,000 feet — right in the biodiversity-rich zones that actually support shilajit formation.
Notable researchers like Ghosal, whose work laid much of the modern scientific foundation for shilajit, sourced material from Kumaon and the Nepal Himalayas, typically below 4,300 metres (~14,000 feet). Recent studies from the Altai and Caucasus regions also reference collection sites around 2,500–3,500 metres (8,200–11,500 feet).
If shilajit were genuinely forming — let alone being harvested — at 18,000 feet, you’d think a single scientific paper would’ve mentioned it by now. But none do. And if even scientists with grants, gear, and global academic backing aren’t climbing that high for a sample, you can be fairly sure most suppliers aren’t either.
And that’s where the myth falls apart.
Let’s Do the Maths
If a supplier wanted to actually collect shilajit at 18,000 feet in commercial volumes, here’s what they’d be up against:
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Oxygen levels at that height are ~50% of sea level. Acclimatisation is essential, and even seasoned climbers often need supplemental oxygen.
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Steep, dangerous terrain requires mountaineering skills, proper gear, and weather windows.
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No roads, no shops, no infrastructure — everything must be carried in by foot or mule.
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Tiny yield — even in ideal conditions, natural shilajit forms in small patches, not great globs.
Realistically?
You’d need a team of 15–25 people:
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6–10 collectors
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Porters to carry gear and the material
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Guides and safety personnel
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Possibly a medic
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At least two weeks on the mountain, factoring in acclimatisation and travel
Cost?
Factoring in food, gear, oxygen, insurance, wages, and the logistical nightmare, you’re looking at thousands per kilo just to get it back to base. Add purification, lab testing, export, and profit margins, and…
Estimated Price?
Anywhere from £2,000 to £4,000+ per kilo (direct from supplier/producer) — if any actually made it to market.
That’s assuming it could be harvested safely and consistently, which is still a huge if.
Compare that to most retail-grade shilajit, which sells for £100–£300/kg (direct from supplier/producer), often harvested between 10,000 and 14,000 feet, where the biodiversity is richer and the logistics far saner.
The Biodiversity Bit They Don’t Mention
Let’s not forget what actually makes shilajit shilajit. It’s not altitude — it’s organic diversity.
Shilajit is formed over centuries from decayed plant material and microbial action. At high elevations (10,000–14,000 ft), you get:
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Alpine herbs like Berberis, Euphorbia, Trifolium, and Selaginella
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Mosses, liverworts, and ferns
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Rich microbial ecosystems that ferment and transform the biomass
Above 16,000 feet, this life thins drastically. By 18,000 feet, biodiversity has largely tapped out. Even lichens start struggling. So while the marketing story says “higher = purer”, the science suggests the opposite: higher = harsher = less life = less input for shilajit to form.
So Why Do Brands Say 18,000 Feet?
The same reason they all say Himalayan -- it sells. "18,000 feet" sounds:
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Mystical
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Elite
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Difficult to fact-check
In reality, it's often a case of altitude inflation — collect the material at 11,000 feet, say it came from 18,000, pop a golden sticker on the jar, and double the price. No one can really refute that, but at the same time, a brand can’t actually prove it either.
“Altai at 18,000 feet”? Not Geographically Possible.
Some brands push the claim that their shilajit is sourced from 18,000 feet in the Altai Mountains — which also sounds impressive until you realise the Altai range doesn’t even reach that height. The highest peak, Mount Belukha, tops out at around 14,784 feet (4,506 metres), and most shilajit in the region is collected well below that, typically between 6,500 and 11,500 feet. In fact, these lower-altitude zones are where the richest biodiversity exists — alpine herbs, mosses, and microbial life — making them the ideal environment for shilajit formation. So, the next time you see “Altai – 18,000 ft” on a label, you’ll know it’s either creative geography, or just another case of altitude inflation.
How to Call Their Bluff (Politely)
The next time a brand boasts about “18,000-foot shilajit”, try asking:
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Where exactly was it harvested?
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Do collectors use oxygen?
- Can I see third-party sourcing verification?
- How come scientists have never collected it at this altitude?
Or just go for the jugular…
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Shouldn’t you be charging me like 200 quid for that jar??
- (For the Altai brands): BS mate! -- You're selling me Altai shilajit sourced at 18,000 feet? Not even possible!!
The Real Altitude Sweet Spot
Genuine, high-quality shilajit is most often harvested between 10,000 and 14,000 feet:
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Rich biodiversity feeds the formation of key compounds.
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It’s still remote and pristine — but human activity is possible.
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Collection is seasonal, but economically viable.
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Third-party testing can verify its purity and potency.
So instead of chasing Everest in a jar, look for shilajit sourced from real, verifiable regions such as:
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Altai Mountains (Altai Republic & Mongolia):
Collection generally occurs around 6,500–11,000 feet, especially in the Altai Republic and parts of Bayan-Ölgii in Mongolia.
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The Pir Panjal Range (Jammu & Kashmir, India):
Part of the lower Himalayas, with collection zones around 9,800–13,000 feet — long associated with traditional Ayurvedic use of shilajit.
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Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Pakistan):
Especially Hunza and Skardu regions, at elevations of around 9,500–14,000 feet — considered among the most biodiverse and geologically ideal zones for shilajit formation.
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Zanskar & Ladakh Ranges (India):
Known for high-altitude valleys and traditional collection, typically between 11,500–14,500 feet. Areas like Nubra, Leh, and Kargil are common harvest sites.
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Kumaon & Garhwal Himalayas (Uttarakhand, India):
Documented in early scientific studies, particularly in the work of researchers like Ghosal. Elevations range from around 8,000 to 13,000 feet.
Also (and massively important):
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Lab results for fulvic/humic acid, minerals, heavy metals, mycotoxins.
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Traditional purification (but not some 27 step BS -- filtration is only usually around 3-5 times. Any more, and that's likely because the starting material is such terrible quality.
What the Science Says About Regional Potency
A 2007 study by Agarwal et al. analysed raw, unprocessed shilajit from several key regions and found significant variation in fulvic acid content. The highest levels were found in samples from Kumaon, India (21.4%), followed by the Altai Republic, Russia (19.0%), with lower levels recorded in Nepal (15.4%) and Pakistan (15.5%). While these figures reflect raw material and not purified resin, they underscore an important point: quality depends on regional biodiversity and geology — not just altitude or marketing spin.
Final Thoughts: Bring It Back Down to Earth
Yes, shilajit might occur at 18,000 feet. But turning that into a consistent, commercial supply chain? Not without a budget that makes NASA blink.
And no — we’re not just trying to confirm our bias. We’re exposing a marketing myth by asking the hard logistical and biological questions no one else seems to be asking.
If any brand truly has 18,000-foot shilajit in their jars, we’d love to see the receipts. Otherwise, let’s stop pretending everyone’s supplement supply comes from a Himalayan death zone.
The real magic of shilajit isn’t altitude — it’s time, biology, and biodiversity.