By now Humboldt had climbed so many volcanoes that he was the most experienced mountaineer in the world, but Chimborazo was a daunting prospect even to him. Thousands of boulders and rocks covered the ground, as far as he could see. He saw a blanket of snow on the slopes and the landscape around Chimborazo appeared barren and desolate. Whenever they stopped, an excited Humboldt took out his telescope. For several days as they approached, the mountain stood out against the vibrant blue of the sky with no cloud smudging its imposing outline. Then Chimborazo appeared on the horizon, standing alone on a high plateau, like a majestic dome. Then, as the men slowly ascended, these voluptuous blooms were replaced by open grass plains where herds of small llama-like vicuñas grazed. In the valleys they admired daturas with their large trumpet-shaped orange blossoms and bright red fuchsias with their almost unreal-looking sculptural petals.
Related Segment A Science Hero, Lost and FoundĪs Humboldt, Bonpland, Montúfar and José rode towards the volcano, they passed thick tropical vegetation.
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