The Death Road

I signed up to mountain bike the Death Road today. The tour group picked me up about 7 :30 and we had some breakfast and headed up to the top of the pass around 4300 meters high. It was cold and snowing lightly when we arrived. They passed out some decent pants, jackets, gloves and helemts to each of us. I think we had 7 in our group. The bikes were fairly new Trek models with decent front shocks and the extra fate wheels & tires.

The first 13km were on pavement down a winding, slippery road due to the snow and rain. Speeds were fast but I was unwilling to take turns to sharply. I stayed right on the guides butt while the rest of the group lagged about 10 minutes back. We stopped several times to marvel at the waterfalls and amazing peaks as they peeked thru the clouds & fog.

We finally hit the dirt for the remainder of the 45kms and I started to feel more comfortable on the bike. The road is wide but the drop offs are definitely scary, over 1000 feet in many places. It started to get warmer as we dropped in elevation. Still right behind the guide, he & I kicked it into high gear and hauled ass down the road thru huge mud pits and loose gravel. Kind felt like riding up on Kennebec.

Soon we decended into the jungle with thick vegetation, ferns the size of cars and vines dropping from the cliffs above. The road became more rocky and i got my first flat. The rest of the group caught up to us while under repair and then 5 minutes later I got another flat. Then two more flats!!!! I was really being aggressive but no more than any core durango biker would be. Just hitting every rock, stump, jump and tranny I could find:)

The rain let up but the waterfalls we gushing and impresive. We stopped for many photo opps and water breaks. At one stop the guide told us that there were several ledges coming up and that we should walk the bikes over them. Well I followed him closely and he bunny hopped right over them so I followed suit and on the third ledge, BAM!!! I completely tacoed my rear wheel- bent way beyond repair! The middle guide gave me his bike while he had to radio the van for help.

There were several section where recent landslides had covered the road over 20 feet high. The first few were older and firm, I could walk right over them. Then we came to one that was about 300 fet wide and I made my first step into it and sunk to my knee. the whole thing started moving downhill towards they cliff and I got pretty nervous. the guide quickly grabbed me and helped pull me out of the muck. It took about 1 hour to get the entire group across that slide. -

We turned a corner and i could see the river at the valley floor down below. I was energized and kicked it up`a nothch and then BAM! A rock flew up and broke my rear disc brake. I think I was having too much fun:) The clean up guide gave me his bike to finish the trail with and then right at the end I somehow busted the rear deraileur. Luckily I was able to coast to the bottom of the road thru about 2 miles of coca fields and farmers without any more hitches.

We ended the ride at about 1250 meters high in a lush valley filled with coca fields. They took us to a sweet little resort with a restaurant, swimming pool, hot showers and a killer flower garden. there were several local families there enjoying their Sunday, kids swimming and parents lounging. I noticed that all the vehicles in the parking lot were very nice for Bolivia and suspect that each of those families are making a living in the coca industry one way or another. they seemed very friendly and just like families from anywhere else. I had a big water fight with a few of the kids in the pool!

The rid back to La Paz was slow and I was beat. I got back to Loki, told some war stories and crashed out. This ride, scenery and experience was killer and worth way more than the $36 I pàid for it. Yea. . . . .