"Andrew Hughes set a new world record on a nearly 20,000-foot Chilean volcano, but it was not for reaching the mountain's summit on January 23rd, 2024," Andrew Hughes says in a press release.

"Within the volcanic crater on what is believed to be the current highest body of water on the planet Andrew set a new world record for highest altitude to paddleboard at a height of 5902M/19,364 feet above sea level.

"The world record was filled with unforeseen complexities, from lost luggage, to illness, to the inarguable impacts of climate change altering the anticipated water levels where the record was to be set."

"The idea for the record began during the early days of the pandemic. When the world stopped, so did the expeditions Andrew regularly took on.



"As it was for so many of us, within that time of isolation and stillness the opportunity to ponder the deeper meanings of our relationships to everything in our lives was provided – and for Andrew that included his relationship to adventuring in the outdoors.

"For it was not summits and remote explorations he missed, but the sense of connection to nature and the communities tied to these special places."

"After climbing Everest and completing the Seven Summits, I felt a calling to expand my experience in the mountains by returning to the special places where I had witnessed rare waters gather and pool amidst the world's highest peaks and in so many unique locations," said Andrew.

"Integrating the use of a stand-up paddle board (SUP) or kayak to access, enjoy, and experience these unparalleled places simply felt like a natural evolution and extension of my explorations and adventures."

"Most challenging was where such a record could even still be broken in the world. Most lists for highest altitude bodies of water include places where because of global warming those rare pools of water are believed to be extinct.

"Even the nearby Ojos del Salado pool – normally held as the highest body of water on Earth - was reduced from its already small size to a non-liquid icy remnant of its previous state making it incapable of any water based record.

"Thus, with substantial research and some advanced reconnaissance, it was deemed only one real option remained left in the world – the volcanic pool of Tres Cruces Norte."

"The journey to return to the Atacama and reach this place wasn't easy, but once on the water at last everything else that had gone wrong up till that moment really washed away as a pure sense of excitement, wonder and witnessing anew washed over me," recalls Andrew.

"And our adventures should always make us better advocates. A world record is simply an opportunity to explore the deeper diverse elements that define a place and a chance for a more empathetic understanding so we can champion the preservation and protection of these special parts of our shared planet."

"Andrew Hughes is a high-endurance record setting athlete and adventurer from Seattle, Washington. After facing several unexpected hardships, where the life he had constructed based on cultural ideas of success began to crumble, Andrew found a new path.

"This path led to the mountains where Andrew relearned to turn discomfort and challenge into growth and gratitude. Andrew continues on a journey exploring the world and its' highest mountains.

"He has completed the Seven Summits (highest mountains on each continent) and six of the Seven Volcanic Summits (highest volcanoes on each continent) and is set to complete the rarely realized Explorers' Grand Slam in April, 2024 – a feat fewer than 75 adventurers have ever achieved – and which would make him the 19th American and 13th British/UK citizen ever to accomplish this endeavor."

"Andrew continues on a journey exploring the world and its’ highest mountains. He has completed the Seven Summits (highest mountains on each continent) and six of the Seven Volcanic Summits (highest volcanoes on each continent) and is set to complete the rarely realized Explorers’ Grand Slam in April, 2024 – a feat fewer than 75 adventurers have ever achieved – and which would make him the 19th American and 13th British/UK citizen ever to accomplish this endeavor," the official website says.

"In 2020, Andrew also became the fastest and first American man and third person ever to complete the Antarctica Trifecta with his climbing partner Roxanne Vogel by consecutively Skiing the Last Degree to the South Pole and reaching the summits of Mount Vinson (the highest mountain) and Mount Sidley (the highest volcano) in Antarctica. Andrew also holds a Guinness World Record set on Mt Everest in Spring, 2021, and in January, 2024, set a new world record for highest altitude to paddle board on one of the highest bodies of water on Earth found within Chile’s Atacama Desert.

"Upcoming adventurers in the works include multiple expeditions in the Himalayas, climbing Mt Kenya – the second highest mountain in Africa – in Summer, 2024, ice climbing adventures in Canada, completing the Three Peaks Challenge, and multiple new Guinness World Record attempts with more details to be announced throughout the year."

"Andrew Hughes, professional adventurer and world record-holder paddled ISLE’s award-winning Switch Inflatable Hybrid SUP-Kayak in Atacama, Chile, to break the world record for the highest altitude paddleboard journey, after scaling into the crater lake of Tres Cruces Norte, a volcanic crater sitting at an astounding altitude of 19,780 ft," the SUPboarder Magazine says.

"The ascent, including the 19lb paddleboard pack, was no easy feat and required diligent planning and determination."

"This winter, professional adventurer Andrew Hughes set out to paddle board the highest altitude body of water. In doing so, he ended up earning himself a world record for just that!" the Supperconnect.com says.



"Hughes found the volcanic pool of Tres Cruces Norte in Atacama, Chile – the highest alpine lake, sitting at an astounding 19,780 ft.

"And what’s more, Hughes wanted his record-breaking paddle to draw attention to the alpine lakes that are disappearing before our eyes, and more importantly, the reason they’re disappearing: climate change."

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WASHINGTON WORLD RECORDS