Vehicles now take the place of yaks on the high flat plateau.
We're on the border between Nepal and Tibet, a no man's land presided over by Chinese customs officials and immigration officers in smart black and green suits. Local Tibetans swarm around us as we stuff our stamped passports into our backpacks. Only landslides, avalanches, altitude sickness, or vehicle breakdowns on the road could slow us from getting there within the week, explains Eric Simonson , our expedition leader. Unlike Everest on the south side, from the north we can literally drive up to the mountain's base. It will take at least five days to adjust our bodies to the increasing altitude as we approach camp.