Nye La: a brutally steep road (37%) to the summit
Nye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.925m (16,158ft) above the sea level, located in Dinggyê County of the Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
The road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called S514 road and follows the Ama Drima range to the west and is near Zong Co lake. The road is 28.6km (17.77 miles) long, running north-south from Sa'erxiang to Ri'og. When the snow falls - which it does in the winter – things get tough and slippery. Always check the weather forecast before you start your journey: adverse conditions are common. 4x4 vehicle recommended.
Set high within the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve, bordering Nepal's Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung Districts to the south and India's Sikkim state to the southeast, facilities like electricity, medical aid, hot running water, western toilets etc. are rare to find. The road to the summit is brutally steep, hitting a 37% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson