Sherman's Travel

Just a few weeks ago, big-mountain skier and mountaineer Chris Davenport skied 15 major volcanoes in 14 days. But while such a feat is reserved for the most elite of athletes, volcanoes are becoming (pardon the pun) a new hot thing to explore for more mainstream adventurers.

Whether it’s a technical ascent up Mt. Rainier (yep, the fifth-highest peak in the U.S. is also the country’s tallest volcano) or a casual stroll to the rim of the sulfur-smoky Volcan Poás in Costa Rica (that’s another of the country’s volcanoes, Arenal, at the left), exploring volcanoes offers some of the same challenges of hiking and mountain climbing, plus, depending on your location, the extra thrill factor of hot lava and steaming geysers. Not surprisingly, more operators are adding volcano tours to their itineraries, but one that’s been doing it for years is REI Adventures, which offers trips for various skill levels to destinations including southern Italy, Yellowstone National Park, and Nicaragua. I spoke to REI adventure travel program manager Justin Wood for tips on safety, cool volcanic terms, and what it’s really like to walk around in an active volcano.

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