Photos: Three Forks principal Justin Helvik scales 3 South American peaks

The sun finally crests above the horizon making for an incredible scene that words cannot describe. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Descending the Chimborazo into what seemed like an endless, white abyss. (Photo Courtesy: Dallin Durfee)

One more parting shot of the unique ice as we descended the mountain. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

After a strenuous final push, I took a moment to soak it all in. This was a new personal high point for me in terms of mountaineering. Sitting at 16,818 feet and on top of Ecuador's eighth-highest peak brought about a sense of tranquility. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Summit! An ice-laden cross marked the summit of Iliniza Norte. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

The crux of the route lied ahead of us. One final push straight up the mountain. At this point we roped up for safety. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

The terrain and temperatures changed dramatically near the summit. The win had sculpted unique "ice feathers" that clung to the rocks and cliffs. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

With the alpine tundra in the foreground of the mountain, we began our inaugural ascent. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

The terrain and temperatures changed dramatically near the summit. The win had sculpted unique "ice feathers" that clung to the rocks and cliffs. (Photo Courtesy: Dallin Durfee)

The final approach before the crux of the climb. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

The final approach before the crux of the climb. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

The terrain and temperatures changed dramatically near the summit. The win had sculpted unique "ice feathers" that clung to the rocks and cliffs. (Photo Courtesy: Dallin Durfee)

The terrain and temperatures changed dramatically near the summit. The win had sculpted unique "ice feathers" that clung to the rocks and cliffs. (Photo Courtesy: Dallin Durfee)

At around 15,000 feet and the summit in sight, it was time to harness up and put on our helmets. (Photo Courtesy: Dallin Durfee)

An overhand of a crevasse with icicles over 10-feet in length. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

On our descent we were able to see everything we passed by in the dark previously. An amazing ice cave was one of the highlights coming down. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

"Yanasacha", the black wall, is one of Cotopaxi's most distinguishing features. The vertical black wall rests just below the summit at about 18,000 feet. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

"Yanasacha", the black wall, is one of Cotopaxi's most distinguishing features. The vertical black wall rests just below the summit at about 18,000 feet. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

"Yanasacha", the black wall, is one of Cotopaxi's most distinguishing features. The vertical black wall rests just below the summit at about 18,000 feet. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Panoramas of the summit crater of Cotopaxi. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

The sun finally crests above the horizon making for an incredible scene that words cannot describe. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Giving respect to one of Ecuador's most iconic landscapes. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

The summit crater of Cotopaxi. The crater is approximately 820 feet deep. It is easy to see why Cotopaxi is South America's most popular volcano destination. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

The summit crater of Cotopaxi. The crater is approximately 820 feet deep. It is easy to see why Cotopaxi is South America's most popular volcano destination. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

"Walking on clouds." My eyes had never gazed upon this type of beauty. I felt as if I could step off of the summit (19,347 feet) and right onto the clouds. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Our team was the first to summit on June 23, 2018! We reached the summit just before sunrise. we had to wait around for the sun to rise and start taking photos. We posed proudly with the Ecuadorian flag. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

We stopped to acclimate at the Jose F. Rivas refuge, which sat at an elevation of over 15,700 feet. The Stone Glacier Sky 5900 was ready for our summit push. We departed the refuge around 10:30 p.m. to begin our ascent. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

We stretched our legs and trekked around the Laguna de Limpiopungu in preparation for our climb. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Stone Glacier's Skyscraper 2P tent set up near Tambopaxi. Ecaudor's most popular volcano, Cotopaxi, looms in the background. Elevation was over 12,000 feet in this location. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

After a day of rest, we made our way to base camp of Cotopaxi. As a token of good luck and promise, we were greeted with a rainbow in the foreground of Ecuador's second highest peak. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

My Stone Glacier Sky 5900 survived the climb. It passed the Andes challenge. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Sleep and nutrient deprivation rendered me nearly incapacitated. Most climbing accidents happen on the descent. I knew the journey was far from over. The hood of my jacket was frozen so stiff that it wouldn't move as I turned my head. (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Stone Glacier Skyscraper 2P tent pitched at base camp of the Chimborazo (16,500 feet). (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Chimborazo from afar. Chimborazo is not the highest mountain by elevation above sea level, but its location along the equatorial bulge makes its summit the farthest point on the Earth's sufrace from the Earth's center (as well as the point on Earth closest to the moon). (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Chimborazo from afar. Chimborazo is not the highest mountain by elevation above sea level, but its location along the equatorial bulge makes its summit the farthest point on the Earth's sufrace from the Earth's center (as well as the point on Earth closest to the moon). (Photo Courtesy: Justin Helvik)

Descending the Chimborazo into what seemed like an endless, white abyss. (Photo Courtesy: Dallin Durfee)