Father and Sons Ride Motorcycles to Record Altitude on World’s Highest Active Volcano

At extreme altitude, motorcycle engines lose power faster than riders lose words. Thin air, biting cold and unstable ground force every movement to slow down and every decision to be deliberate. On the slopes of Ojos del Salado, the world’s highest active volcano, three motorcycles climbed higher than any before them.

Francisco Rencoret and his sons, Max and Tomás, reached an altitude of 6,639 meters above sea level riding modified trial motorcycles, setting a new world record for the highest altitude ever achieved by a motorcycle. The mark surpassed a previous record held by a Swiss rider and capped a multi-day ascent through one of the harshest environments on Earth.

The expedition took place on Ojos del Salado, a massive volcano rising to nearly 6,900 meters along the Chile-Argentina border. The surrounding region is among the driest on the planet, with extreme temperature swings and rapidly thinning oxygen levels that challenge both humans and machines.

The journey began at Laguna Santa Rosa, a high-altitude plateau already well above most mountain summits worldwide. From there, the team traveled roughly 37 kilometers across increasingly difficult terrain, including loose desert sand, steep volcanic slopes and patches of ice and glacier near the upper reaches of the mountain.

The motorcycles used for the ascent were lightweight trial bikes adapted for control and balance rather than speed. At extreme altitude, internal combustion engines suffer from reduced oxygen intake, leading to significant power loss and mechanical strain. Cold temperatures further increase the risk of failure.

To manage these conditions, the ascent was conducted gradually over several days. This approach allowed time for acclimatization and continuous monitoring of both physical condition and equipment performance. Headaches, shortness of breath and fatigue were persistent challenges as altitude increased.

As both expedition leader and father, Francisco Rencoret carried additional responsibility. Beyond navigating technical terrain and weather conditions, he had to balance safety decisions with the realities of riding alongside his own children in an unforgiving environment.

Above 6,000 meters, progress slowed dramatically. The terrain became increasingly unstable, often requiring the riders to dismount and guide their motorcycles by hand. Strong winds and low temperatures added to the physical and mental strain.

On Nov. 25, after a final ascent lasting approximately five hours from their highest camp, the three riders reached their maximum altitude. At that point, they stopped their engines and documented the achievement, which was later recognized as a new world record.

“The expedition was understood within the family as an expression of gratitude for life and the opportunity to undertake such a challenge together”, Tomás Rencoret said.

He also described the journey as a collective effort that relied on teamwork, combining a father’s experience with the endurance and determination of his sons.

After reaching the record altitude, the team began a careful descent. In high-altitude expeditions, the return journey is often considered as dangerous as the ascent due to fatigue and reduced concentration. The family maintained a disciplined pace, prioritizing safety over speed.

They returned to lower elevations without serious injury or major mechanical issues, completing the expedition without significant incident.

High-altitude motorcycling remains a rare pursuit, blending elements of mountaineering, endurance sport and mechanical adaptation. Unlike conventional motorcycle expeditions, such climbs emphasize balance and terrain management over distance or speed, often on ground typically navigated only by climbers.

Francisco Rencoret has said that years of riding in remote environments helped prepare them for the challenges of Ojos del Salado. Still, the expedition underscored that success ultimately depends on environmental conditions beyond human control.

While the record now stands in their name, the family acknowledges that it will eventually be surpassed. In extreme sports, limits continue to shift with experience and technology.

On the slopes of Ojos del Salado, the tracks left by motorcycle tires will gradually disappear beneath shifting sand and ice. The volcano remains unchanged, indifferent to records and human ambition. What endures for the Rencoret family is the shared experience of operating at the edge of human and mechanical capability, in a place where discipline, cooperation and trust are essential. (Sulung Prasetyo)