Sophie Barnes, Bracing the Altiplano (PEOPLE WILDERNESS 2026)

Atacama Desert, Chile - Three cyclists brace against a merciless crosswind as they navigate the salt flats near a high-altitude lagoon. Fully loaded for a multi-week traverse, each bike carries up to 80 kilograms of gear; food, water, and shelter for days without resupply. Here, the wind becomes as much of an obstacle as the terrain itself.

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