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A Sea of Mountains: Panoramic Views from Pico Paraná.
I was rewarded with this breathtaking view from the summit of Pico Paraná, the highest peak in southern Brazil at a whopping 6,158 feet (1,877 meters). Just 15 minutes earlier, I'd posted a shot of the golden sunrise that looked like a giant disco ball had exploded over the horizon. Now, from up here, I could see for miles—a sea of mountains and a carpet of emerald green forest. Our guides had whipped up a pretty mean breakfast, so we spent the next hour or so stuffing our faces and soaking up the view. Finally, at 8:55 AM, we reluctantly started the descent. After a grueling 16-kilometer (10-mile) hike and a 7-hour slog back down the mountain, we finally stumbled into camp at 5:00 PM. My legs were jelly, but it was totally worth it.