CHORO!- A jungle trek... with bicycles. (an alternative to the not so death defying "Death Road")

You hear alot about cycling the infamous Bolivian "Death Road" (Ruta de la Muertos). Vans loaded with bikes and gringos go streaming out of Lapaz every day. That old road chipped from the sheer cliff side sees thousands of bikers every year. The scenery is absolutly stunning (when its not hidden behind grey walls). Though, if you are a true, blown in glass Mt. Biker and crave single-track like a polar bear does seals? You might very well find yerself board to death by the "Death Road". I only compare these routes because they start and end in virtually the same place, taking different valleys.

L to R-  Gabriel, Some dude, Mike, Karen and Christian.  ( Thanx to Christian for the lift to the top)

A look back down at La Cumbre and the main road

The ever amazing Christian from the Lapaz Casa de Ciclista gave us a lift to the Choro trail head. This trekking path is normally hiked in 3 days. We planned to do it in 1 on bikes. From a lofty 4870m down to a balmy 1300m- a decent of 3570m (11,712ft) How challenging could it be?

Karen picking her way down from the top

Only ancient Incan roads to be found here.

Stupid good fun

Toothy and rocky

The weather was amazing for us- considering it was the wet season in a very wet climate

Que the Conan soundtrack 

Inca pavement. One of  Davie's favorite

Lama rush hour

Some convenient bridges

Jungly

Those Incans were busy folks

Beware of pumas 

Karen in one of the few rideable mid sections

400 year old highway

Gabriel, starting to feel it. 

Mike pushing on

I only had 50 Km on my odometer but it took us 12.5 hours of hard effort. We finished the last stretch in the dark. Head lamps sweeping the fast and rocky decent to Chairo. Amazing and difficult. We shared a beer and some hearty cheers all around at the end of a beautiful days ride. Don't expect a T-shirt.

We slept on hay mattresses around an old pool table in a concrete room. At 5 am we caught this truck back to Lapaz

Gaboo... sore, tired and smiling

Early morning snoozes

    I highly recommend this alternative route to anyone with a hankering for the unbeaten path. A light weight bikepacking set up and breaking it into a 1.5 day run would be the most ideal. Be prepared for some serious hike-a-bike. The rideable stuff is in the beginning and the end.


  "There is absolutely nothing else I would rather do with my life than ride routes like this around the world"- Kurt Alan 10:45 pm- beer in hand