00:00You can have tea on one of the highest mountains on Earth, and it's not Mount Everest.
00:03It's actually an active volcano in the highlands of Ecuador.
00:06Photopaxi rises over 19,000 feet above sea level and sits almost directly on a bulge in the Earth's equator,
00:11making it one of the closest points on the planet to outer space, even closer than Mount Everest.
00:15Climbing to the top is only for the most experienced hikers, so for the rest of us,
00:18the best way to experience it is to hike to the Jose Rivas Refugio,
00:21a high-altitude hut perched about halfway up the volcano at nearly 16,000 feet.
00:24The hike starts from the parking lot at 14,700 feet and climbs steadily over loose volcanic rock.
00:29It's a short hike, but still takes about two hours because the loose rock, the high altitude, and the wind make it surprisingly difficult.
00:38Inside the Refugio, you can grab a warm drink, a small snack, and a stamp in your passport as proof you made it to one of the highest mountain huts in the world.
00:44If you still have energy, you can continue up to the glacier or take in the views for a bit before heading back down.
00:48Overall, this is one of the most unique hikes in the world because it's one of the closest points you'll get to outer space without having to leave the ground.
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