Highest paved road in the world? Not the KKH?

[nachov]

Legend has it is the KKH with a top altitude of 4693m over sea level but I come here to challenge that belief.

While riding in Bolivia, I noticed my GPS was giving me readings very close to 4600m and started to pay more attention.

A couple of days ago it finally happened, I was riding from La Paz towards Coroico, set to do the (in)famous Death Road when I glanced at my GPS and it read 4705m over sea level. This is higher than the KKH's top point by 8 meters (maybe 6.5 if we removed the distance from the GPS on my bike to the ground). I have a GPS trace to confirm but I also know that my measurement is not the most precise, a moving Android phone in a tankbag can hardly be called a precision instrument.

Has anyone else observed this? Can we (maybe) declare a new world's highest paved road?

You can find the trace here

[markharf]

There are a couple of higher paved roads--at least one in Peru, one in Chile. The Karakorum is the highest international paved road, AFAIR.

[nachov]

Ahhhhh! International! I overlooked that while reading wikipedia. Thanks!

Can I ask which road it is in Perú (if you can remember)? I've just entered Perú.

[niello8]

The KKH isn't paved definitely not that highest section...the highest motorable road in the world is Khardung La in Ladakh which is unpaved for about 40km. They claim it's about 5600 meters but a friends GPS said more like 5400m. It's all disputed and the internets will tell you there are higher yak tracks in Tibet that miiiight be driveable...but they are impossible to get to. Khardung La is very accessible in season (snow & ice starting October VERY fun!)

I'm also remembering that top gear episode on a road in Chile where they popped Viagra for the altitude. I think that one was over 5000m?

[markharf]

Google is definitely your valued friend when it comes to highest-road claims. Here's a sample (read until bored): highest paved highway in the world? : General

I've been to about 5000 meters without changing jets on my KLR: sluggish, but still went wherever I pointed it. No Viagra, for whatever that's worth--that's for the undiscriminating folks in the cheap seats.

Mark

[chris]

If it is Khardung La, then "Bright woz ere"

[mossproof]

Originally Posted by nachov

Ahhhhh! International! I overlooked that while reading wikipedia. Thanks!

Can I ask which road it is in Perú (if you can remember)? I've just entered Perú.

The road to Chivay (for the Colca Canyon) from Arequipa gets to about 5000m if I remember right. Some times it's tarmac, sometimes it's gravel - they have a constant battle with poor road building and freeze/thaw degradation so one year it'll be great, the next you'll be dodging potholes and wondering why all the tourist dollars for Colca entry fees didn't go somewhere towards surfacing such a heavily used route!
Ride safe,
Simon.

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by niello8

...the highest motorable road in the world is Khardung La in Ladakh which is unpaved for about 40km. They claim it's about 5600 meters but a friends GPS said more like 5400m. It's all disputed and the internets will tell you there are higher yak tracks in Tibet that miiiight be driveable...but they are impossible to get to. Khardung La is very accessible in season (snow & ice starting October VERY fun!)

I'm also remembering that top gear episode on a road in Chile where they popped Viagra for the altitude. I think that one was over 5000m?

Khardung La is not the highest motorable road, nor is it anywhere near the 5602 metres it is claimed. Both are just made up, artificially inflated superlatives to attract tourists, and bring faux glory to India.

Khardung La is at 5359 metres.

The highest motorable road currently seems to be the pass at Semo La in Tibet at 5565 metres. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semo_La

The highest road is a road leading to a mine on Aucanquilcha in Chile. That road went up to 5850 metres and was used by mining trucks. But the mine shut inthe early 1990s and I believe parts of the road have rockfalls over it now - so you probably cant call it motorable. http://www.summitpost.org/aucanquilcha-volcano/624483

There is a truck load more info and detail I did as background research for the world record altitude ride last year, and that background research is all summarised here:

http://www.andesmotoextreme.com/p/altitude-review.html

[chris]

Originally Posted by colebatch

Khardung La is not the highest motorable road, nor is it anywhere near the 5602 metres it is claimed. Both are just made up, artificially inflated superlatives to attract tourists, and bring faux glory to India.

Khardung La is at 5359 metres.

Bollox, failed again Our Indian friends are into amusing Himalayan road signs:

[colebatch]

LOVE the last one !!