The road through Everest National Park
Tibet, China - October 2007

When you drive to Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side of the mountain, you pass through a checkpoint where your permit to be at EBC - and your passport, of course - are examined to make sure that yes, indeed, you do have permission to travel to Everest. Once you get up to EBC, if you do not have a climbing/trekking permit that allows you further on the mountain, you will get fined $200 if you go past a certain location in base camp.

One you have passed the checkpoint, it is not long before the paved roads disappear, and you find yourselves jolting over well-graded dirt-and-stone roads. There has been talk that China will eventually pave all the way to base camp; in the meantime, it is very pleasant to ride these roads - rough as they are - knowing you are getting so close to Everest.