Scale the Andes, for example (5)
I believe the answer is:
range
This clue is a double definition.
'scale' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'andes for example' is the second definition.
(I know this)
'the' is the link.
(Other definitions for range that I've seen before include "Cut; cultivated plant" , "spectrum" , "Grassland - variety" , "bounds" , "Scope, extent" .)