Los Andes

The world's highest 'motorable' pass?

We're about to begin the final stage of the journey: from Tupiza, Bolivia to the southwest, cutting across the highest (and most scenic) bit of the Bolivian altiplano. After what we think will be several days of cycling, we will finally spill out into the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, near San Pedro de Atacama.

But before we can get that massive oxygen blast by descending from the altiplano into the low-lying desert, we have plenty of high-altitude cycling left.

Pending weather conditions and more ground reconnaisance in the next few days, we may attempt to cycle what could be the highest 'motorable' road pass in the world -- an old mining road that is said to stretch to 5,900 metres (19,357 feet), just about 108 metres shy of the 6,008-metre summit of the towering Volcan Uturuncu. Read on:

Of course a lot of the information we're getting at the moment could be a bit sketchy, but both local and internet sources strongly suggest that this pass would be by far the highest 'motorable' road pass in the world.

What is meant by 'motorable' is debatable -- local jeep tour drivers say they can only drive up to about 5,500 metres (18,044 feet) along this road. But if we can cycle all the way to 5,900 metres (19,357 feet), it would probably make it the world's highest road ascent by bicycle.

By comparison, the Khardung La pass in Ladakh, India -- which is commonly credited with being the world's highest road pass -- is 5,602 metres (18,380 feet). If we can cycle to 5,900 metres, that would be almost 300 metres higher than the Khardung La, which can be reached via a paved road.

This would also be higher than any single pass we climbed in Tibet in 2000, although then we stayed at much higher altitude for sustained periods of time. We actually think one of those passes in Aksai Chin, the disputed area between India and China, is higher than the Khardung La by about 80 metres, but we will need to go back and check our photos and notes from the 2000 trip to confirm this.

At any rate, if we can climb the Volcan Uturuncu road to about 5,900 metres (19,357 feet), here's how the elevation would compare to some more famous high-altitude landmarks:

Higher than:

Everest Base Camp -- 5,365 metres (17,600 feet)

Gora Elbrus (Europe's highest peak, in Russia) -- 5,642m (18,510ft)

Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) -- 5,895 metres (just!) (19,340 feet)

Lower than:

Mount McKinley (North America's highest, at 6,194 metres/20,320 feet)

Aconcagua (highest peak in the Americas, at 6,962 metres/22,841 feet)

We'll send an update once we get to San Pedro de Atacama.

Wish us luck!

Posted by Brice at April 7, 2005 09:55 PM