How high can motorcycles go? Who has been where, how high and when? Over the coming week we will provide a little background to motorcycles at altitude, and the altitude record in a 3 part blog post. Let's kick off part one with some of the more well known locations for riding high!
The highest motorable road in the world … at least that’s what it claims of itself, is Khardung La, a pass on the Manali – Leh road in the Northern Indian region of Ladakh. The road has been ridden by thousands of motorcyclists over the years. The sign at the pass (see below) says 18,380 feet (5,602 metres). Now we don’t know how you precisely define “motorable”, but defining feet and metres is a much simpler game. The reality is Khardung La is actually 5,359 metres (17,582 feet) as defined by GPS surveys, satellite mapping, etc. That's 800 feet below what is claimed on the sign. So if Khardung La is only 5,359 metres, then the first thing that is apparent is that altitude claims on signs are of particularly limited value (apart from for the sake of glory photos), especially when anecdotal evidence from locals tells of how the altitudes were deliberately falsified on the signs for the sake of providing superlatives … such as the “highest motorable road” on the planet. Certainly there are other higher, just as motorable roads across the border in Tibet, such as Semo La, which is verified at 5,565m (18,258 feet). So in reality, Khardung La is neither the highest motorable road in the world, nor is it 18,380 feet above sea level. The sign at the pass is false in every sense, and deliberately so.
Also in the Indian Himalaya, Marsimik La is claimed by others (Indian local authorities) to be the location of the highest road / track in the world though it’s certainly less “motorable” than Khardung La. It’s a military road that is closed to the general public, unless you have special permission to be there. Never-the-less, Marsimik La has seen frequent 2 wheeled expeditions from numerous Indian motorcycle clubs – often on 150cc bikes! Respect !! Legendary Swedish explorer Sven Hedin crossed the pass in the early 20th century, but alas he was not on a Husaberg nor indeed on any motorcycle.
The sign atop Marsimik La (see below) claims its altitude is 18,634 feet – 5,590 metres. But if we have learned anything about Indian pass signs, it’s that they need to be treated with a very large dose of scepticism. For starters, basic conversion maths should show something incorrect with this sign. They have conjured 300 extra feet out of dodgy mathematics. 5,590 metres (if it were accurate) would translate as 18,339 feet, and not 18,634 feet. However, the 5,590 metres stated on the sign is also not accurate, and of course it’s overstated - but in this case only by a small amount. Satellite mapping and GPS data puts Marsimik La at 18,314 feet (5,582 metres), 320 feet below what is claimed on the sign.
[The sign at Marsimik La states (claims) "Marsimik La. World's highest motorable pass. Alt 5590 mts, 18634 ft"]
Top Gear: While its definitely not motorcycling, it was watched by a large audience and is therefore a quite well known piece on vehicles at altitude. In the Bolivian special, the top gear chaps went higher and higher up the mountains on the Chilean edge of the Bolivian Altiplano in their 4WDs; eventually reaching 17,200 feet (5,243 metres). They began suffering from headaches and potentially fatal hypoxia (not enough oxygen in the blood) and had to turn back. As extreme as they made it sound, it is worth bearing in mind that they were still on pretty well worn gravel roads that kept going higher, and their effort is a still below the hundreds of people who cross Khardung La (5,359 m) every day. Still, it made for dramatic TV.
The highest motorable road in the world … at least that’s what it claims of itself, is Khardung La, a pass on the Manali – Leh road in the Northern Indian region of Ladakh. The road has been ridden by thousands of motorcyclists over the years. The sign at the pass (see below) says 18,380 feet (5,602 metres). Now we don’t know how you precisely define “motorable”, but defining feet and metres is a much simpler game. The reality is Khardung La is actually 5,359 metres (17,582 feet) as defined by GPS surveys, satellite mapping, etc. That's 800 feet below what is claimed on the sign. So if Khardung La is only 5,359 metres, then the first thing that is apparent is that altitude claims on signs are of particularly limited value (apart from for the sake of glory photos), especially when anecdotal evidence from locals tells of how the altitudes were deliberately falsified on the signs for the sake of providing superlatives … such as the “highest motorable road” on the planet. Certainly there are other higher, just as motorable roads across the border in Tibet, such as Semo La, which is verified at 5,565m (18,258 feet). So in reality, Khardung La is neither the highest motorable road in the world, nor is it 18,380 feet above sea level. The sign at the pass is false in every sense, and deliberately so.
Also in the Indian Himalaya, Marsimik La is claimed by others (Indian local authorities) to be the location of the highest road / track in the world though it’s certainly less “motorable” than Khardung La. It’s a military road that is closed to the general public, unless you have special permission to be there. Never-the-less, Marsimik La has seen frequent 2 wheeled expeditions from numerous Indian motorcycle clubs – often on 150cc bikes! Respect !! Legendary Swedish explorer Sven Hedin crossed the pass in the early 20th century, but alas he was not on a Husaberg nor indeed on any motorcycle.
The sign atop Marsimik La (see below) claims its altitude is 18,634 feet – 5,590 metres. But if we have learned anything about Indian pass signs, it’s that they need to be treated with a very large dose of scepticism. For starters, basic conversion maths should show something incorrect with this sign. They have conjured 300 extra feet out of dodgy mathematics. 5,590 metres (if it were accurate) would translate as 18,339 feet, and not 18,634 feet. However, the 5,590 metres stated on the sign is also not accurate, and of course it’s overstated - but in this case only by a small amount. Satellite mapping and GPS data puts Marsimik La at 18,314 feet (5,582 metres), 320 feet below what is claimed on the sign.
[The sign at Marsimik La states (claims) "Marsimik La. World's highest motorable pass. Alt 5590 mts, 18634 ft"]
Top Gear: While its definitely not motorcycling, it was watched by a large audience and is therefore a quite well known piece on vehicles at altitude. In the Bolivian special, the top gear chaps went higher and higher up the mountains on the Chilean edge of the Bolivian Altiplano in their 4WDs; eventually reaching 17,200 feet (5,243 metres). They began suffering from headaches and potentially fatal hypoxia (not enough oxygen in the blood) and had to turn back. As extreme as they made it sound, it is worth bearing in mind that they were still on pretty well worn gravel roads that kept going higher, and their effort is a still below the hundreds of people who cross Khardung La (5,359 m) every day. Still, it made for dramatic TV.
Are you going to carry oxygen with you on this mission? A small bottle for emergency use? I've gone up to 17,300' before but for only about 20 minutes and it wasn't that bad. we were not very active physically though. But over 20,000 should be interesting!
ReplyDeleteWe have been debating carrying some small mountaineering oxygen cyclinders
ReplyDelete