Ecuador: Chimborazo Volcano

Chimborazo is a massive stratovolcano in the middle of the Andes in Ecuador, rising to the height 6,263 m (20,548 ft), thus being the highest peak in the country. Interestingly, since it’s located right on the equator, it is the farthest point on the Earth’s surface from the center of the planet. While ascending the volcano to the top is a serious endeavor (which one day i will do), you can drive to the Carrel Hut  at the elevation 4,850 m  (15,910 ft) and then from there hike in snow up to the Whymper Hut at the elevation of 5,000 m (16,404 ft). It’s low oxygen in the air up here and clouds shroud everything, nevertheless, its very easy to get brutally sunburned as the atmosphere is very thin.