Downhill Madness

There is a road just outside of La Paz that connects the snow-capped mountains with the cloud forest below. The narrow and winding road has edges that literally fall into the rain forest, a drop of around 500m´s at times. For good reason it is known as ´Death Road´.

What would a tourist do with such a road you might ask? Well, give them a mountain bike and a helmet, and they´d certainly cycle down it. A 65km journey, starting in the snow at 4650m above sea level, and descending 3350m to the jungle below. A group, including Jacks and myself, gave it a go, and I can honestly say that it´s the craziest thing I´ve ever done. Don´t worry mom, I was very careful (not). We whizzed down the road at a disturbing velocity paying very little attention to the monstrous cliffs at our sides.

After having lunch at the bottom, we made our way back up, this time in a vehicle with a coca leaf chewing driver. The drive up was almost as exciting as the ride down, but the main thing it did was put in perspective what we had just done. Absolutely crazy!