Portable Oxygen

Assuming an unpressurized aircraft, the FAA rules for oxygen use state that you must use supplemental oxygen from 12,500 to 14,000 feet if you're at those altitudes for more than 30 minutes. If you go above 14,000 feet, you must use oxygen continuously, and above 15,000 feet, oxygen must be made available to passengers (although you're not required to make sure they use it...) Our neighbor to the north has a bit more stringent rules: oxygen is required between 10,000 and 13,000 feet if you're there for more than 30 minutes, and it is required continuously above 13,000 feet. IMO, Canadian rules, although more stringent, make more practical sense. After flying at 11,000 feet for an hour or so, I was definitely able to "feel it".

So, it sounds like if you fly around (or over) the mountains, it would be good to have supplemental oxygen. For me, the main factor is the Cascade Mountain Range, just east of Seattle. It's very possible to cross the Cascades without oxygen, and I've done so several times. But, without oxygen, many IFR routes in Eastern Oregon are unavailable, with MEA's in the 12-14,000 foot range. While that's too high for a Cessna 172, it's doable in the 182 - the service ceiling is 18,100', and perf charts go up to 14,000' (why not higher??) And, if I ever decide to go up the BC coast IFR, I'd need oxygen there as well, since MEA's around Vancouver Island force a cruising altitude of 10,000' westbound and 11,000' eastbound.

So, what are the options? Obviously none of the aircraft I fly come with a built-in oxygen system, so besides oxygen altitudes, the only option is getting a portable oxygen system. SkyOx manufactures such systems, but they're priced in the neighborhood of $500-$600. Mountain High Oxygen also makes similar systems; they're slightly more expensive than SkyOx.

I figured maybe I could rent such a system... But, alas, calls to FBO's around the Seattle area did not yield anyone who would rent me an oxygen system. Moreover, nobody had any idea as to whether such systems are even available for rent. A call to SkyOx and Mountain High did not produce any more information, and neither did calls to a couple of FBO's in Colorado (I figured maybe in the high country, where oxygen use must be commonplace, they'd know more about renting portable oxygen systems). Everyone in Colorado had oxygen available for their own aircraft, but nobody offered oxygen bottles for rent.

So, the conclusion: it seems like the only option available if you want to fly on oxygen is to buy your own... :- Or, maybe if you have a friend who already owns a portable oxygen system, you could twist their arm into letting you use it for that occasional flight or two.