WATCH THIS RIGHTEOUS 6X6 TRUCK TAKE ON THE WORLD’S HIGHEST ACTIVE VOLCANO

The Rhinemetall MAN team capped out at 3.82 miles above sea level, but did a lot of good while they were up there

While you are sitting there, behind your screen, more or less comfortable and safe in your place of work or your home, there are other more adventurous souls striving to conquer the earth and achieve greatness. Sometimes they succeed, setting new records in the process, and sometimes they don’t. But even when they don’t, it can still be pretty cool.

For example, this Rhinemetall MAN High-Altitude Truck Expedition (HATE?), which recently attempted to achieve the highest ascent in a truck by climbing 6,690 meters (4.16 miles) up Ojos del Salado -- a stratovolcano at the Chile/Argentina border. There’s no easy route up the mountain, which is the highest active volcano in the world, so the expedition geared up with some heavy metal: A Rheinmetall MAN HX 6X6, as well as a similar but smaller 4X4. Rhinemetall AG is a Dusseldorf-based firm offering both “threat-appropriate security technology” and “environmentally friendly mobility.” Which, let's be honest, makes for one hell of a diversified portfolio.

Anyway, they build a number of seriously rugged vehicles, including this six-wheel drive diesel-powered beast, the four-wheel version and even an 8X8 version (not shown). And what better way to prove its mettle than by pitting it against an unforgiving South American mountain?

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out; the team, which included off-road pro Matthias Jeschke as well as military veterans Paul Warren (of Australia) and Chris Bailey (of the United Kingdom) set out on November 6. They crossed rock fields, ice fields and some fields that were neither particularly rocky nor icy but still arduous (on account of the altitude and general remoteness), making even the mighty Jeep Wrangler Rubicon look like a child’s toy:

But conditions weren’t right for the final push, and the effort was waylaid at a still-impressive 6,150 meters, or 3.82 miles of elevation. Still, the team managed to do some good, erecting two shelters for climbers -- and rescuing two groups of climbers stuck high on the peak.

The team hopes to stage another effort in the future. To set a new high-altitude truck ascent world record, Jeschke will have to best his arch-nemesis: Matthias Jeschke. Yep, he’s trying to beat his own world record of 6,675 meters (4.15 miles) above sea level, which he set in 2014. Can’t rest on your laurels.

And next time you’re trying to summit Ojos del Salado and you need to cop a breather in one of those little triangular huts, thank the High Altitude Truck Expedition guys for the shelter.

Source : Autoweek