Highest road you've been on?
Discussion
Red Devil said:
Yahonza said:
The A93 from Blairgowrie up to Glenshee and down to Braemar - I think it is 2000 feet at its highest point.
The Cairnwell Pass is a smidge under 10% higher than that. At 2198ft it's the highest paved through road in the UK.There are two much higher dead end roads. Lowther Hill on the border of Dumfries & Galloway (2379ft) and the big one, Great Dun Fell in Cumbria (2740ft)
Both lead to radar stations and are restricted access: no unauthorised motor vehicles. You'll either have walk, or ride a bicycle / horse.
Yahonza said:
Other than that the A701 Devils Beeftub from Moffat down to Broughton - spectacular road.
I'll be doing both in a fortnight's time on my way to the Highlands..
Cycled up both GDF and Lowther Hill. Quite nice having them traffic free and pristine tarmac too!
Lodelaner said:
...
A month before we'd been to the Alps and enjoyed a few high passes inc Col Du Parpaillon (2780m). Thats the highest tunnel I've ever driven through for sure.
...
|https://thumbsnap.com/RSdMcMjd[/url]
I would love to go and experience this sort of thing but, honestly, it gives me a knot in the pit of my stomach just looking at it A month before we'd been to the Alps and enjoyed a few high passes inc Col Du Parpaillon (2780m). Thats the highest tunnel I've ever driven through for sure.
...
|https://thumbsnap.com/RSdMcMjd[/url]
I think it's the 'what if someone crazy comes the other way and punts me off the edge' worry!
Tioga Road from Lee Vining into Yosemite National Park - 3,031m where it crosses into Yosemite.
You can just see the cut of the road wending down the left of the valley from this shot near the top:
924-DSC01488 by Jon Chalk, on Flickr
You can just see the cut of the road wending down the left of the valley from this shot near the top:
924-DSC01488 by Jon Chalk, on Flickr
Worldwide the highest road I've been on was the top of the road to the summit of Mount Chacaltaya in Bolivia. At the time, nearly 30 years ago, it was supposedly the world's highest ski resort at 5,421 meters (17,785 ft). There was even a bit of snow when we visited. Not sure how the Toyata minivan got to the top but somehow it made it. We jumped out and immediately realised there was barely enough air to breath at rest, let alone do the slightest bit of exertion.
Over the past 30 years the 18,000 year old glacier coming off the mountain has completely melted away and skiing is virtually impossible. From the top you could see black clouds of smoke in the distance coming from burning rainforests hundreds of miles away. Quite astonishing practical example of climate change in action over much less than a lifetime.
Over the past 30 years the 18,000 year old glacier coming off the mountain has completely melted away and skiing is virtually impossible. From the top you could see black clouds of smoke in the distance coming from burning rainforests hundreds of miles away. Quite astonishing practical example of climate change in action over much less than a lifetime.
RSTurboPaul said:
Lodelaner said:
...
A month before we'd been to the Alps and enjoyed a few high passes inc Col Du Parpaillon (2780m). Thats the highest tunnel I've ever driven through for sure.
...
|https://thumbsnap.com/RSdMcMjd[/url]
I would love to go and experience this sort of thing but, honestly, it gives me a knot in the pit of my stomach just looking at it A month before we'd been to the Alps and enjoyed a few high passes inc Col Du Parpaillon (2780m). Thats the highest tunnel I've ever driven through for sure.
...
|https://thumbsnap.com/RSdMcMjd[/url]
I think it's the 'what if someone crazy comes the other way and punts me off the edge' worry!
* If I'm not mistaken, the pic above is the same bend looking in the opposite direction.
JonChalk said:
Tioga Road from Lee Vining into Yosemite National Park - 3,031m where it crosses into Yosemite.
You can just see the cut of the road wending down the left of the valley from this shot near the top:
924-DSC01488 by Jon Chalk, on Flickr
Easy to forget how high some of the roads around Yosemite actually are. You can just see the cut of the road wending down the left of the valley from this shot near the top:
924-DSC01488 by Jon Chalk, on Flickr
Red Devil said:
RSTurboPaul said:
Lodelaner said:
...
A month before we'd been to the Alps and enjoyed a few high passes inc Col Du Parpaillon (2780m). Thats the highest tunnel I've ever driven through for sure.
...
|https://thumbsnap.com/RSdMcMjd[/url]
I would love to go and experience this sort of thing but, honestly, it gives me a knot in the pit of my stomach just looking at it A month before we'd been to the Alps and enjoyed a few high passes inc Col Du Parpaillon (2780m). Thats the highest tunnel I've ever driven through for sure.
...
|https://thumbsnap.com/RSdMcMjd[/url]
I think it's the 'what if someone crazy comes the other way and punts me off the edge' worry!
* If I'm not mistaken, the pic above is the same bend looking in the opposite direction.
Most of it seems quite tame, in that if you do fall off the road, you won't be dropping straight into thin air and might have some chance of pointing it downwards and stopping in a fairly controlled manner - I think the worst case scenario and the most worrisome stuff is the dropping off and being able to do nothing about it!
The ones that Chris Harris et al did on Top Gear when one of them had the (IIRC) Pug 106 GTi were, er, scary.
RSTurboPaul said:
Most of it seems quite tame, in that if you do fall off the road, you won't be dropping straight into thin air and might have some chance of pointing it downwards and stopping in a fairly controlled manner - I think the worst case scenario and the most worrisome stuff is the dropping off and being able to do nothing about it!
Except for the bit I highlighted. It looks sheer to me. You definitely don't want to get it wrong on Pike's Peak... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hIsWx5qbQsChocolateFrog said:
JonChalk said:
Tioga Road from Lee Vining into Yosemite National Park - 3,031m where it crosses into Yosemite.
You can just see the cut of the road wending down the left of the valley from this shot near the top:
924-DSC01488 by Jon Chalk, on Flickr
Easy to forget how high some of the roads around Yosemite actually are. You can just see the cut of the road wending down the left of the valley from this shot near the top:
924-DSC01488 by Jon Chalk, on Flickr
Was an epic day’s drive; started about 6am at Mariposa, into Yosemite, Curry Village, Bridalveil (?) Falls, out to Mono Lake via Tioga. And then from there zigzagging between California and Nevada up to South Lake Tahoe in time for dinner.
Two things made me realise Tahoe was high up, considering I’d been driving downhill solidly for about 20-30 mins by the time I got to the lake… For that reason my brain told me it was alright to go out for a run (was marathon fit back then). A couple of miles in and I was wheezing like an old smoker. Second thing was that I only needed two pints of the good stuff before I thought “jeez I’d better slow down “.
That’s not mist, it’s forest fires. Was literally driving next to flames at one point, with the forest guys guiding us around it making sure we didn’t stop.
Near, or on, Tioga Pass. I filmed a bit but not many photos. Was on my own so couldn’t drive and snap away much.
California, and it’s water reservoir to the left (stored in the snow). Nevada to the right.
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