It seems like there's a bit of a misunderstanding in the question. While it's true that mountains are closer to the sun than sea level, that doesn't mean they should be hotter. Here's why:

* The Atmosphere: The Earth's atmosphere acts like a blanket, trapping heat from the sun. As you go higher, the atmosphere gets thinner, meaning there's less air to trap heat. This is why it's colder at higher altitudes.

* Direct Sunlight: While mountains are slightly closer to the sun, the difference in distance is negligible compared to the Earth's overall distance from the sun. This small change in distance doesn't create a significant difference in the amount of direct sunlight received.

* Other Factors: Other factors also contribute to the difference in temperature, including:

* Air circulation: Air currents and winds can bring warmer or colder air to different locations.

* Cloud cover: Clouds can block sunlight, cooling the surface.

* Surface reflectivity: Snow and ice reflect more sunlight than dark surfaces, leading to cooler temperatures.

In summary: While mountains are slightly closer to the sun, the thinning atmosphere, reduced air pressure, and other factors lead to lower temperatures at higher altitudes.