But that’s at (lake) level, 580 feet. Planaca is at 2400 feet.
Fwiw, I /never/ ran out of breath when I came down from 3000 ft to sea level.
I never get winded when I climb stairs. My secret? I only climb down stairs; by starting at the top, I get gravity to do most of the work…
Cycling is not a bad choice. I think though it is more effective in the converse: stair climbing helps more with cycling, especially with attacking hills, than cycling at a typical cadence (for most 80ish give or take ten or so) will help with stairs. Hence the comments that cycling intervals would be good. Yes, 30 mph is absurd but the basic concept is good.
Step-ups onto a chair are not perfect (and the right chair would need to be chosen including for safety considerations) but being a bit higher than a single step is not a major detriment for the training effect. And the fact that it also requires some balance element is bonus (again, if done safely). If the op can do brisk two minute intervals of such step-ups (s)he’ll will be able to handle running up a few flights of stairs.
I’ve done the (then Sears) Tower climb and I’ve run up steep hills. Running up steep hills is much much harder than running up the same vertical height in stairs, independent of the altitude issue.
“I like to think that I am in pretty good shape. I work out five to six times per week, have run multiple marathons and, well, I am the senior fitness editor for Health. Still, there are times when I find myself winded after climbing a flight or two of stairs. What gives?”
I thought the OP might find this interesting (though the explanations given in the article don’t sound that convincing). Apparently, some people need additional oxygen to supply muscles that aren’t sufficiently accustomed to the effort of stair climbing.
I am in no way in great shape (most recent fitness effort held back by a foot injury), but I walk a lot during work hours and rapidly climb a couple flights of stairs several times a day but don’t get winded. I’d be more pleased if I was running three miles three times a week.
Another way to train for stairways is incline intervals on a treadmill.
After a half mile warm up at 2% at 5 mph, I set the treadmill at 10% and walk for half a mile at 5 mph, then go down to 3% at 5 mph for a quarter mile. I repeat this 4 times and then do another half mile warm down at 3% 5 mph.
Do something similar and stairs will be a breeze.