Night Hike to the Summit of Teide, 3,718 m, Sunrise from 3,200 m

Two numbers do most of the work here. The summit of Teide is 3,718 metres, and the sunrise is watched from 3,200. Walking it at night changes what the mountain is. There is no view ahead to measure your progress against, only the ground in front of you and, whenever you look up, more stars than most people have ever seen at once. It is a hard walk and not a scenic stroll with photo stops. Teide is dormant rather than extinct, the climb is long, and the hours before dawn at that height are cold. Altitude at 3,700 metres is felt by people who are perfectly fit at sea level. The meeting point is the free parking area near the Parador de las Cañadas del Teide, which puts the start of the night well inside the park.