Ecuador Twin Peak Challenge

Mount Chimborazo is the tallest mountain in Ecuador and is one of South America’s most popular non-technical climbs.  What makes climbing this mountain special is that its 6,268.2 m (20,565 ft) summit is also the closest point to the sun on earth due to the equatorial bulge of the planet.  And how’s this for bragging rights: technically Mount Chimborazo is the highest mountain on the planet, superseding Mount Everest, when measured from the centre of the earth instead of sea level.

And…

The Cotopaxi climb holds special significance among mountain climbers across the world for several reasons. Firstly, it is widely favoured among climbers in Ecuador and the Andes due to its accessibility, attracting both seasoned mountaineers and novices. As an active volcano, Cotopaxi offers climbers the opportunity to conquer not just a mountain but a dynamic geological monolith with breathtaking views of the crater at its summit.

The conical shape of Cotopaxi resembles the symmetrical cone of Japan’s renowned Mount Fuji–but at 5,900 meters it is over 2,000 meters taller–and the volcano often influences weather patterns, adding an element of unpredictability and adventure to the climb.