Highest Altitude Reached Off-Road on a Motorcycle with a Passenger
Record Holder
Metric
Date Achieved
Location
Atlas Record ID
Pascal Moscato and Stephanie Moscato
5,629 meters above sea level
7 April 2026
Uturuncu Volcano, near Quetena Chico, Bolivia
20426079
On 7 April 2026, Pascal Moscato rode a Honda Africa Twin CRF1100 up the high-altitude terrain of Bolivia’s Uturuncu volcano with Stephanie Moscato aboard as passenger. The pair reached a verified altitude of 5,629 meters while both remained on the motorcycle, surpassing the strongest known comparable two-up altitude benchmark identified during Atlas World Records’ comparative research.
Transparent Adjudicator's Statement
Summary of Claim
Pascal and Stephanie Moscato submitted a claim for recognition of the highest altitude reached off-road on a motorcycle while carrying a passenger.
The attempt began near Quetena Chico, Bolivia, and proceeded toward the upper reaches of Uturuncu volcano. Pascal operated the motorcycle throughout the attempt while Stephanie remained aboard as passenger during the qualifying ascent and at the maximum-altitude point.
The motorcycle reached 5,629 meters before losing sufficient power to continue on the steep final section. Pascal reported that the motorcycle was in first gear and at full throttle when forward motion ceased. The riders did not continue by pushing, towing, or otherwise assisting the motorcycle beyond the qualifying endpoint.
Evidence Submitted
Atlas World Records reviewed a substantial evidentiary package including:
Continuous video recordings from multiple camera positions
Independent third-party video of the final arrival
Two GPX route files recorded by separate devices
Multiple altitude measurements from independent devices
Geotagged location and altitude records
Photographs of the riders, motorcycle, terrain, and measurement devices
Attempt logbook
Multiple independent witness statements
A separate Atlas World Records witness declaration
Record-holder Q&A and explanatory statements concerning route conditions, preparation, motorcycle configuration, and circumstances at the endpoint
Passport photos/IDs
The contemporaneous record materials identify Pascal as the rider and Stephanie as passenger and record the qualifying altitude as 5,629 meters.
Independent witnesses Clément Cristin, Laura da Cruz Valente Fonseca Santos, and Marcelo Berna also supported the attempt. Cristin subsequently confirmed through an Atlas World Records witness statement that he personally observed Pascal and Stephanie arrive together at the 5,629-meter point, with Pascal riding and Stephanie seated as passenger, while Laura and Marcelo provided additional independent witness documentation corroborating the attempt and conditions at the high point.
Comparative and Cross-Archive Benchmark Review
Atlas World Records conducted a comparative benchmark review across publicly available historical motorcycle expedition records, high-altitude riding reports, adventure-motorcycling archives, media reporting, and the publicly available records of all major world record organizations.
The strongest directly comparable historical benchmark identified was the 2007 Uturuncu ascent by Austrian motorcycle travelers Joe and Renate Pichler. Available documentation indicates that Renate remained aboard the motorcycle as passenger to approximately 5,600 meters before dismounting, after which Joe continued to a higher altitude alone.
Pascal and Stephanie were aware of this earlier benchmark prior to their attempt and specifically intended to exceed it. They stated that a damaged section of the route at approximately 5,600 meters was prepared in advance because they understood that progressing beyond that point was necessary to surpass the prior two-up mark.
The review also identified rider-and-passenger ascents to higher elevations on established motorable mountain roads. Those achievements were not considered directly comparable because this Atlas category specifically concerns off-road riding rather than travel on a maintained or recognized motorable pass.
No documented rider-and-passenger motorcycle achievement exceeding 5,629 meters under the applicable off-road conditions was identified.
Verification Methodology
Atlas World Records evaluated the claim under the principles of AVP-72, including independent corroboration, continuity of performance, measurable outcome, comparator review, and cross-validation of multiple evidence types.
The qualifying altitude was assessed conservatively. Submitted devices produced readings ranging from approximately 5,611 meters to 5,637 meters. Atlas elected to recognize 5,629 meters because that figure was supported across multiple elements of the evidence package and was consistent with the contemporaneous record documentation, rather than selecting the highest individual device reading.
The submitted location record independently documents a reading of 5,629 meters at the qualifying endpoint.
Video and witness evidence were reviewed to confirm that both Pascal and Stephanie remained aboard the motorcycle at the maximum-altitude point. Independent third-party footage corroborated their joint arrival, while the Atlas witness statement expressly confirmed that Pascal was operating the motorcycle and Stephanie remained seated as passenger.
Atlas also evaluated the character of the terrain. Although portions of Uturuncu follow an historic mining route, the evidence and participant testimony documented severely degraded and washed-out sections requiring deviation from the original line, as well as travel over loose rock, sand, ice, water crossings, eroded terrain, and steep natural surfaces. The attempt was therefore evaluated under Atlas World Records’ off-road criteria rather than as ordinary travel on a maintained public roadway or motorable pass.
Adjudication Findings
Atlas World Records finds that:
Pascal Moscato operated the Honda Africa Twin CRF1100 during the qualifying ascent.
Stephanie Moscato remained aboard as passenger at the qualifying maximum-altitude point.
The motorcycle reached a verified altitude of 5,629 meters above sea level.
The motorcycle reached the endpoint under its own propulsion.
The attempt ended when the motorcycle could no longer continue due to the combination of steep terrain and substantial high-altitude power loss.
The evidence provides sufficient independent corroboration of the riders, route, altitude, terrain, and endpoint.
The strongest known directly comparable historical two-up benchmark was approximately 5,600 meters.
Pascal and Stephanie Moscato therefore exceeded that benchmark by 29 meters.
No higher documented achievement meeting the same off-road rider-and-passenger criteria was identified during Atlas World Records’ comparative review.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence submitted, independent witness confirmation, route and altitude data, video documentation, and comparative benchmark research, Atlas World Records finds the claim to be sufficiently demonstrated and verifiable.
Atlas World Records therefore recognizes Pascal Moscato and Stephanie Moscato as the record holders for the Highest Altitude Reached Off-Road on a Motorcycle with a Passenger, achieved at 5,629 meters above sea level on 7 April 2026 at Uturuncu Volcano near Quetena Chico, Bolivia.
