Into Tibet shortly

Hi

I am in Kunming area and about to ride to Lhasa the Yunnan route. I was just wondering if anyone else is heading that way at the moment, or has recently come along this route... I am interested to know about weather conditions, snow on passes, etc.

Many thanks

Hey !!!
We cycling too !!!
We are presently in Old dali and we will headind north to zondian than Litang. Weve got the same trouble about the weather cause now, its the coldest part of the year. We take our time..... I do not want a be in sishuan province before beggining of fevrier. Its better to put all our chance on our side.
Just know than the yunnan highway got some pass at 5 000 meter and its the most dangerous road in the world. Than in winter..... like you do , its better to get all the piece of the puzzle but i cannot tell you more. We reserve the surprise.
We could meet you somewhere around Dali or Zondhian. Now we go very slow. Im sick because the weather and all these camping in the montain :) !!!!! and i need to get better before going back in the freezing cold.
Keep in touch !!!!
Genevieve
Send us a email: ben_ge_7729@yahoo.com
www.2rouespourvoirlemonde.com

quote " it's the most dangerous road in the world"
I heard that for other roads in the world.I plan to do it, just don't know when. I'd like to know why should it be the most dangerous:altitude, other roads are higher, trafic: I don't think there is so much, police check points? dogs?...
I imagine it's a very tough trip and you need to be extremly fit. But what are the dangers?

I'm amazed you guys are doing this ride in winter! We are now in Vietnam planning to be in Yunnan and Sichuan this spring. Still trying to decide wether the attempt the ride from Dege to Lhasa independently. What is your plan?
Patrick

Hi,

at the momment I am still in Beijing. Just taking few more weeks off before being back on the back going west. I am planing to be around Dali around May. If you want - need road book of the part from Dali to Lhasa go on: www.betzgi.ch ...there are all information you need. About winter - it is not to bed if you have good clothes and sleeping bag.

About being most dangerous road....I cross on way here from Kashi - Ali - Saga - Lhatze = it is not dangerous but bad, bad road...day after day...Then i went to Shigatze - Lhasa - Nachu - Gormo = last 14 days I was frozen night and days. Was it hard - yes, was it dangerous - no.

Will see how it is going to be in few months going back to Tibet.

Rob - you have good experiences with cold right. So I am sure you can manage to do it, if you have no time to wait few weeks. Still you are coming from South going towards Lhasa, where the temp. should be around O C.

For everyone out there on bikes - have fun. Enjoy.
-

Hi,

at the moment I am still in Beijing. Just taking few more weeks off before being back on the back going west. I am planing to be around Dali around May. If you want - need road book of the part from Dali to Lhasa go on: www.betzgi.ch ...there are all information you need. About winter - it is not to bed if you have good clothes and sleeping bag.

About being most dangerous road....I cross on way here from Kashi - Ali - Saga - Lhatze = it is not dangerous but bad, bad road...day after day...Then i went to Shigatze - Lhasa - Nachu - Gormo = last 14 days I was frozen night and days. Was it hard - yes, was it dangerous - no.

Will see how it is going to be in few months going back to Tibet.

Rob - you have good experiences with cold right. So I am sure you can manage to do it, if you have no time to wait few weeks. Still you are coming from South going towards Lhasa, where the temp. should be around O C.

For everyone out there on bikes - have fun. Enjoy.
-

Yunnan-Lhasa in May/June (2005) was OK, but nevertheless very cold, with occasional blizzards, on the high passes. Be prepared for harsh weather.

Many thanks for everyones replies on this - very helpful - please keep them coming if you have further ideas.

I have pasted email correspondence between me and Ge and Ben below for anyone who is interested in this route (though there is masses of stuff about it already on the TT).

I will try and remember to update this with info of how we get on (ie road conditions in winter) once I get to Lhasa (end of Feb). Which reminds me, legendary Martin Adserballe cycled the Yunnan route in winter a few years ago, and got through fine, which is encouraging!

see:
www.adserballe.com<BR><BR>Best wishes

Rob
www.cyclinghomefromsiberia.com<BR><BR>EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE:

Dear Ge and Ben

Thanks for the email. I had a look at their site - yes, good advice. I have also been in contact with Pete Gostelow who rode this (Dali-Lhasa) 4 months ago:

www.gostelow.crazyguyonabike.com - good, interesting description of his ride and experiences along here

I think it should be fine overall - just be prepared for cold temperatures on top of passes (in particular, from my experience in Siberia, I would advise warm footwear! (but as you are Canadians you probably know about all this). I feel I am actually carrying far too much winter gear now (massive sleeping bag, 4 season tent, snow tyres, etc etc) - my bike weighs a tonne and I have not even loaded it up with food yet... I am also still carrying a whole pannier full of books so hope to read most of them this week! O well, no harm in being over prepared !?

My main concern is about snow blocking the passes - especially between Dequin and Markham as there is less traffic on this route... but there is only one way to find out I guess.

General advice seems to be to go through these 4 towns under darkness (ie. between 3-5am):

Yanjing (border with Tibet)
Markham
Nynichi and Bayi (these are close together so can do them the same night)

Quite a few people (such as Pete Gostelow) went through Nynichi and Bayi in daytime and said it was fine.

I am now in Kunming and will leave here on Thursday - hoping to be in zhondian about a week later

Are you heading for Lhasa before Golmud then?

I will go to Lhasa then Kathmadu - aiming to be in markham within two weeks, then lhasa by 25th Feb, and then Kathmandu by 15th March

What date do you expect to leave Zhongdan?

Hope to catch up with you soon anyway,

Rob

www.cyclinghomefromsiberia.com

On 23/01/07, Benoit Cote <ben_ge_7729@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hey
> I find that on the net its is the detail road and check point of the yunnan
> H. Update 2005.
> Finally, maybe we will do it now !!! You go, you gives us the guts and its a
> short cut cause we want a go in the xinjiang desert by golmud
>
> http://www.geocities.com/graydonandjoanne/yunnan-tibet.html<BR>&gt;
> Ge and Ben www.2rouespourvoirlemonde.com<BR>&gt; ** If you want a see our web site, you have to pass by
> www.monarkdesign.com and click on your link. IN china big mess wit internet
> now.
>
> see you.
>
>
>
> Rob Lilwall <roblilwall@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi!
>
> great to hear from you - i saw your other posting on the lp tt but
> your website would not load on this computer
>
> i will arrive in kunming tomorrow, take 2 days off and then head for
> dali - so i am about a week behind you - stay in touch and let me know
> when you get to zhondian - i might catch you there - it would be great
> to meet you
>
> from what i hear, there is a bit of traffic on this road, so hopefully
> the cars will clear any snow
>
> do you know about the checkpoints - at Yanjing and Markham -
> apparently worth cycling through these at night so you do not get
> fined/sent back by police
>
> anyway, look forward to hopefully meeting you soon!
>
> take care and God bless
>
> ROb
>
> --
> Rob
> www.cyclinghomefromsiberia.com<BR>&gt;
> P.S. If you would like receive my free bi-monthly email updates about
> my progress/adventures please send a blank email to
> cyclinghomefromsiberia-subscribe@googlegroups.com
>
> 40,000 KM, 3 years, 30 countries
> (so far involving... ice beards, frozen Siberian rivers, camping at
> minus forty, past Mount Fuji, through Shanghai, sailing the South
> China Sea, carrying bike over the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea,
> Cyclone Larry in Queensland ...)
>
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--
Rob
www.cyclinghomefromsiberia.com

P.S. If you would like receive my free bi-monthly email updates about my progress/adventures please send a blank email to cyclinghomefromsiberia-subscribe@googlegroups.com

40,000 KM, 3 years, 30 countries
(so far involving... ice beards, frozen Siberian rivers, camping at minus forty, past Mount Fuji, through Shanghai, sailing the South China Sea, carrying bike over the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, Cyclone Larry in Queensland ...)

To support Viva Network and their heroic work for children at risk around the world, please visit www.justgiving.com/cyclinghomefromsiberia (THANKYOU!)

Hi,

I am also planning to cycle this road from Kunming to Lhasa (and later to continue onto Katmandu, then cycle the Manali-Leh and Karakoram highway this coming fall). I am looking for a cycling partner to ride at least from Kunming (or Zhongdian) to Lhasa starting around March-April. Anyone interested? Patrick? Taowen? mk4220 (sorry don't know your first name)? anyone else?

I am about to enter Lao from the Thai northern border and am planning to cycle this route once I reach Kunming. I was originally thinking of going through Northern Vietnam before heading into Yunnan. But when I look at the distance and the hills awaiting me, I might skip Vietnam to arrive earlier than scheduled in Kunming. I expect this route to be very difficult, at least hard enough with the steep dirt roads, high passes and altitude, so that I don't have to deal with even colder temperatures and snowed passes (moonsoon comes around mid-June according to what I have read). All that to say that I expect the best season for this route to be around mid-March through early June, considering the fact that mountaineers attempt high peaks (in the Himalaya at least) early-mid May maximum (summit day), and assuming it takes them 3-4 weeks to get to whatever base camp, then 5 weeks of high altitude acclimatation.

Rob: I would be interested in finding out what the ride was like for you once you are done, in Lhasa. I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you.

Christophe

Taowen - ppl say the road is so dangerous b/c of the chance of landslides/ rockfall along some stretchs.

If you happen to be interested...

Just got to Lhasa last night... had an awesome time, though it was quite hard work - no one thing on its own was that bad but it is just being on road with hardly any rest days for 3.5 weeks which made it quite exhausting - with lots of camping, a fair bit of cold, and lots of tough climbs

But very beautiful, and although the passes were cold (minus 20 at night, minus 10 in day minimum (often warmer), an occasional blizzard) the valleys were warm (up to plus 20 in days!)... went through Yanjing, Markham, Ninchi and Bayi at 4-6am as is the tradition these days, and had no problems!

I think it would be quite a bit colder in January, but still fine.

Main problem with going in winter, is that you have to carry masses of extra gear to keep warm, and so bike very heavy, but i love frozen landscapes, so i think it is worth it

Had a fun time with Ben and Gen (Quebecans) for the first week, then sped on along this past week (they will hopefully get here in a few days)

Please email me if you have questions, i will post a full report on my website plus photos in the next week or so

many thanks

Rob
www.cyclinghomefromsiberia.com

Dear Rob,
I´m happy you made it through, buddy!
Greet the fabulous Tibetan world with it´s great people, greet the yaks and hugs for the colorful scene of biketravelers in Lhasa!

Tailwinds further on and warm shelter!
seb.