September 18, 2004
The convoy at the top of the highest motorable road in the world, Kardung-la Pass.
Kardung-La is said to stand at 18,300 feet, but our Garmin GPS indicates 17,600. Locals say the GPS is correct.
| Logbook for Sept. 18th, Day 323 | ||
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Start: Leh, India Time: N/A N: E: |
Finish:Leh, India Time: N/A N: E: | Mileage: 34 : |
| Notes: We rose at 7:30 for an 8:30 departure to the permit office to pick up the documents necessary for traveling to Kardung-la pass, on the world's highest motorable road. Some of the team isn't feeling well enough to make the 50-km trip, so only Nick, Chanda, Neil, Todd, Nancy, and Matt went, driving in vehicles D1, D3, and D4 with our guide, Amjad. We finally left the permit office at about 9:45, and we were on our way. We had to sweet-talk the guards at the checkpost, whose job it is to prevent anyone from heading up the mountain after 10 a.m. (we reached the checkpoint at 10:15, but we had the blessing of the second-in-command to pass through late). It was a quick jaunt up to the peak, which, according to our Garmin GPS, local knowledge, and our guide, was really at about 17,700 ft, versus the touted 18,380. Fine with us. We're still not acclimated. We spent way longer than an hour up there, and everyone felt fine. Nancy and Amjad rode the Santa Cruz mountain bikes down, enjoying a free-ride of about 1.5 hours to beat the Land Rovers home to Leh. It was an amazing experience, and the team is in love with Leh and the Himalayas. Unfortunately, we have to leave early tomorrow to head back toward Keylong and Manali. We have to (get to) transit the same route we took up here, over four high-mountain passes. Awesome. It'll be a long and rewarding day. (N.O.) | ||
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