Tungurahua, Ecuador

Tungurahua is a 5,000-meter (16,400ft) active stratovolcano located in Ecuador. It’s hard to imagine, but only about a decade ago this volcano was still covered by glaciers, and climbing it required ropes and a full mountaineering team. But after a major eruption in 2018, which caused large evacuations in nearby villages, the glacier completely melted away. I climbed Tungurahua as a day ascent, starting far down in the valley and climbing roughly 2,700 meters (8,900ft) to the summit and back in a single push. Near the top, the terrain becomes extremely dusty and slippery, covered in fine volcanic gravel and loose rock. The summit feels like a completely different world. Steam rises from cracks in the ground, warm vents release volcanic gases, and massive boulders surround the enormous crater while small dust devils twist across the summit slopes. Such a surreal experience. The views from the top are absolutely insane. From the summit, you can see Cotopaxi and Chimborazo rising in the distance, while green valleys spread out far below the volcano. Perhaps my favorite volcano in Ecuador.