Ruta 51 - Abra Blanca pass - 4080 m

The Abra Blanca pass with 4080 m above sea level is the highest point of Ruta 51 between Salta and San Antonio de Los Cobres. The road has been built in 1915, when it was the highest drivable road in the world. The pass is called the entrance to the Puna, a unique Andes landscape. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

While we had no problems with the altitude at that time, the following night in San Antonio de Los Cobres should be terrible. Massive headache and a continuous pulse rate of about 150 let us call it "Sleepless in San Antonio". We simply drove up too quick at that day after starting with the flight from Buenos Aires to Salta at zero metres and the altitude there feels higher than elsewhere, people told us. By the way, the weather changed from one hour to another.