
Here's What You Need to Know about Driving the Road to Chaguola post
China, asia
23.2 km
5,261 m
hard
Year-round
Chaguola is a military outpost at an elevation of 5.261m (17,260ft) above the sea level, located in Yadong County of the Tibet region of China, part of its Shigatse Prefecture.
The military road to the outpost, also known as Thog La, is unpaved, with hundreds of curves and hairpin turns. A 4x4 vehicle is required. The climb requires a military authorization very difficult to obtain (even for a national) because it is located in a totally isolated area near the Indian border. Weather here is brutally harsh: the annual average temperature here is minus 4 degrees Celsius, and the oxygen content of the air is about 40% of that at sea level. It is called the “forbidden zone of life”. The road is impassable in winters and there is snow and very strong winds all year round.
Starting at Luojiao, the road to the military outpost is 23.2km (14.41 miles) long. It has very steep parts, hitting a 10% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson
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Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 23.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,261 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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