Cycling "The Road of Death"

February 10, 2007

At its height the road climbs just short of five kilometers (three miles) above sea level. It is hard enough to catch your breath up here, let alone nervously maneuver a two-ton truck. Then, almost without warning, the road pitches forward like a giant rollercoaster and dips down into the fog-filled abyss. There are no ambulances out here. Mobile phones don't even work in order to call for help. An estimated 200 to 300 people die on a stretch of road less than 50 miles long. In one year alone, 25 vehicles plunged off the road and into the ravine. That is one every two weeks.