The road to Paso Barros Arana in the Andes
Paso Barros Arana is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.431m (11,256ft) above the sea level, located on an arid high plateau in the Andes mountains of northeastern Chile.
The road to the summit, located within the Cordillera de la Sal mountain range, is paved but pretty steep. It’s called Chile Route 23. The climb is simply terrible, with a notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters. Near the pass, oxygen is in short supply. Expect strong winds (dusty and dry), sunny conditions (dangerous without sunglasses), take plenty of water and bring at least two full-sized spare tires (they’ll be burning enough to bake a pizza). The pass is named after Diego Jacinto Agustín Barros Arana, a Chilean professor, legislator, minister and diplomat.