It's estimated that about 300 drivers who dare to make the arduous trek die each year, a statistic marked by the many crosses that stand as memorials along the path. The Yungas Road was built in the 1930s during the Chaco War by Paraguayan prisoners. In 1995, the Inter-American Development Bank christened this highway the most dangerous road in the world. Now, the Death Road has been done before. Going down the Death Road is nothing new. Going up the Death Road is less popular, but still, it's been done. So let's explain what makes this one different.
Impossible Route "Death Road"
As the film series implies, the route must be impossible, meaning no one has ever done it before. So, with the help of a local guide, the two will start in La Paz, Bolivia, at a lung-crushing altitude of 13,600 feet or 4,200 meters. Day one of three will take them through the barren lands of the Bolivian mountains. Five 14ers Peaks, over 14,000 feet or 4,300 meters, are waiting for them before the plunge out of the thin air and down to the youngest jungle.
Day two is an easy day as altitude goes, remaining low in the jungle and crossing the Jungus River. Day three will be the single hardest day of their lives. The final day will have a single climb of 15,000 feet or 4,500 meters and 15 miles or 80 kilometers. That's four times as long and three times as high as the tallest climb in the Tour de France. The elevation here in Bolivia is a real danger. Extreme physical exertion, not being acclimated, and low blood oxygen saturation pose real life-threatening danger.
Who is "The Impossible Route"?
There are two main characters in this story. The first is Jeremiah Bishop, a pro mountain bike racer, a two-time national mountain bike champion, and a living legend in the sport. The other is Tyler Pierce, a YouTube personality, filmmaker, and editor, an adventure enthusiast. These two have been through a lot together over the past 3 years. In a quick summary, they have taken on 10 impossible routes: Hawaii, Death Valley, Virginia, Montana, and Colorado during season 1. Jeremiah was the dominant athlete, always finishing first, while Tyler lay on the ground contemplating his life choices.
Season two kicked off at a whole new level of insane. Jeremiah and Tyler rode for 36 hours in Texas, raced across France in 3 days, explored the blast zone of Mount St. Helens, and finished season 2 at the top of a 10,000-foot peak in West Yellowstone. The skills these two have learned over the past 3 years will be put to the test. The relationship between the two will also be put to the test. Tyler came into this project with adventure and storytelling in mind. Jeremiah, though, came for blood. JB was quoted, "Tyler doesn't acknowledge my cycling accomplishments. He doesn't respect me as an athlete. But he will."
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