You can also get by with less octane. As I drove through the rockies, all of the “regular” gasoline was 86 or even 85 octane, whereas in Michigan the cheap stuff is 87 octane. Here in Mexico all we have is “green” or “red,” where red is the high octane stuff. I’m guessing that it doesn’t change from region to region, i.e., it’s the same in Manzanillo as it is here in Mexico City. I don’t know that, though, and there are no octane labels on the gasoline pumps that I can see from the car.
My poor Lincoln – even with the Pemex Rojo – has noticeably less power here at 7300 feet above sea level. It’s still significantly more powerful than all the little VW’s that can’t climb the hills and constantly get in the way, though.
Even Sven, I did the same trip in 2005. Read about it here. Woke up every 10 minutes panting.
On the way back, the main highway to Lhasa was shut so we had to go “the back way” over some of the transhimalaya. Not only was it terrifying, it was also 5,400 metres (17,716 feet) above sea level. A guy with us had an altimeter that at one point said 6,200 metres (20,341 feet), but I didn’t believe it.
Are there regular gas stations along these perilous routes? I suppose there must be, but some of these places seem like such a harsh environment to operate a permanent business in.
not “regular gas stations” but on the manali-leh and leh-nubra valley roads there are shacks or nomad style tents set up that are rest stops selling noodles chai, coffee, bottled water and petrol in 1 liter plastic bottles.
Leh has proper gas stations.
N-5 is lower than Khardung La, its only 4693 meters…
You would not be able to get a Land Rover up the Kibo Cone on Kili; once on the rim of the cone you might be able to navigate certain parts over to Uhuru peak. I recall it being reasonably navigable right on the rim, and my photos right at Uhuru peak all show pretty flat terrain (I was a bit too winded at that point to remember every detail on my own). It’s the last part of the Kibo cone that would be tough, and even the trails are cut into loose scree making traction nearly impossible.
I’m heading for Himachal Pradesh in a few weeks and will take some jeep rides up into the mountains. Perhaps I’ll have a more specific answer on my return. I agree the parts of the Kashmir dispute area are probably the highest consistently navigable roads, having grown up in that part of the world. However “navigable” can change from day to day, and we have some fairly humorous slides of locals literally carrying the jeep up the mountain to get it over to the next valley (real jeeps–old Willy’s). As a child I remember more than one trip into the mountains where we used reverse to back up a particularly steep switchback in the Himalayas.
Coincidentally I am planning a trip to northern India right now, starting in Shimla and heading up to Leh. I agree that Khardung La is probably the answer to the OP, particularly if one includes the criteria of “very lazy” or at least “as lazy as the Chief Pedant.” Khardung La - Wikipedia
Part of my trip, if all goes well, is to continue on from Leh and go north over the Khardung La past. It is not the highest in the world, but for us lazy folks, probable the easiest high pass to go over. It should suit me fine as I follow up my personal goal to have been the fattest, laziest, least-physically-fit man to climb to Uhuru Peak.
I’m pretty sure this is correct. Mosquito is the highest pass or ‘through road’. It’s begins about 7 miles from my house. It’s been a few years since I’ve been over it. You need4x4 for sure.
Just as a side note… The drive over Hoosier Pass in central Colorado (11,500) is regularly used for high altitude testing. I see all manner of camouflage cars and trucks driving it.
the one liter bottles are pretty much only for motorbikes and emergencies of you really mess up. It’s only about 65 km from Leh over the Khardung La pass to the first town in the Nubra Valley so it’s easily doable without filling up.