This is the famous 72-switchback pass, the Gama-La. At 4600m it's not as high as many passes in Tibet, but it starts down at the Salween river, almost 1900m lower and none of it is paved. We started after lunch one day, and late in the following afternoon we reached the top. I'm sure many riders have done it in less time, but you really have to go at your own pace and take it easy on these long passes - and enjoy them too! Some lammergeiers landed close to us on this pass and we stopped for half an hour to watch them flying.