The distinctive language used in Ecuador’s Andes, including its capital Quito, blends Spanish with Kichwa, an indigenous language spoken since the Inca settlement of the region.

In Ecuador’s highlands, a seamless mix of Kichwa and Spanish creates a language that bends grammar, adds melody and goes unnoticed by many who speak it every day.

Glacial ice has sealed the gateway to Everest’s summit, keeping hundreds of climbers from reaching the top. “Icefall doctors” are on the case.