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"At 19,347 feet, Cotopaxi is a magnet for high-altitude trekkers: hikers without mountaineering experience can reach the José F Ribas refuge at about 15,748 feet for an altitude challenge, while summit attempts require crampons, ice axes, and a certified guide with climbs typically starting before midnight to reach the peak by sunrise; the surrounding national park, home to wild horses and sweeping Andean plains, also rewards those who stay lower down." - Hana Al-Khodairi