Indonesia: Lembongan → Ceningan → Nusa Penida

Lembongan, Ceningan, and Nusa Penida are three of the 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian arpeggios. Located off the southeast coast of the island of Bali, they are an attraction to many visitors for their unique coasts, dramatic cliffs, and hidden beaches. After wading ashore after the ferry ride over from the island of…

Climbing Pico de Orizaba; Part 3: The Climb

The next day we loaded our gear into an old jeep and took off for the Piedra Grande mountain hut. The women from Colorado had hired a guide and our driver told us that we would be picking him up from another small village on our way to the mountain. We drove through town and…

Climbing Pico de Orizaba; Pt 2: Tlachichuca

I had made reservations at a local climbing lodge that offered room and board, transportation to the mountain, and if needed, a guide. I walked down the street indicated by the locals and soon was at the entrance of the lodge. The door was answered by an old Mexican woman and after looking up my…

Climbing Pico de Orizaba; Pt 1: Destination Tlachichuca

I had never traveled out of the country before. Between school, work, and not having the funds, significant travel had never been a realistic opportunity for me. I spent my childhood climbing  mountains and backpacking with my family  however and was well equipped for planning trips and responding to unexpected situations as they arose. In…