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17 May 2013
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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?
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17 May 2013
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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
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17 May 2013
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If it is Khardung La, then "Bright woz ere"
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23 May 2013
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Beware Indian signs ... They are total Bollix
Quote:
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?
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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
Last edited by colebatch; 30 May 2013 at 09:58.
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23 May 2013
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Quote:
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.
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Bollox, failed again  Our Indian friends are into amusing Himalayan road signs:
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23 May 2013
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LOVE the last one !!
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