Attempting the Summit of Pico Duarte: Part 1

PART 1: AS LONG AS THERE AREN’T DIRT ROADS

Pico Duarte (c) ABR 2016

I lived in the Dominican Republic for the summer of 2016; there for my PhD field season to study one of the world’s most unique whale watching destinations. It was my first time really living on my own in another country (and perhaps my last), and between bouts of anxiety about bus rides and car accidents, I was primed to explore.

Near my home in Santo Domingo (c) ABR 2016

Hiking Pico Duarte, the tallest mountain in the Dominican Republic and the whole of the Caribbean, was on my bucketlist from day one. Having little experience with hiking in the tropics, I was thirsty for some new adventure, and interested in the ecological rainbow that was no doubt present as one worked their way up from the rainforest at the mountain’s base, to its sparsely forested top.

There was just one problem, most of the tours to the top of Pico Duarte cost between $300-$500,far outside of my budget as a graduate student. It seemed like the mountain was out of my reach, until my growing desire to plod up its slopes led me to ask my Dominican advisor if he had any ideas about making the trip happen.

Pico Duarte (c) ABR 2016

“How are you driving on mountain roads?” He asked. I wasn’t concerned. I made a hobby out of driving up the Catalinas outside of Tucson during my undergrad, I spent a summer driving up and down the snaking roads of Mt. Graham, and I had just returned from a road trip through the Scottish highlands.

“If there aren’t dirt roads,” I replied. “I will be fine.” My vehicle for the summer was a small Nissan Versa Note, which I had duly named ‘Tina’ after my favorite character in Bob’s Burgers.

Tina’s preferred habitat (c) ABR 2016

“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “Just be careful about driving on the winding roads. Honk at the corners, go slow.” Ah yes, driving in the Dominican Republic is notorious. Did you know that? The World Atlas rates the DR as the #1 country for car accident deaths in the world. After driving there for a summer, I wouldn’t be surprised if it just happens to be related to  the motorcycles that are EVERYWHERE, or the fact that people casually drive drunk. Defensive driving is a 100% must in the Dominican Republic, and most people advise against you driving there at all. So, I got where he was coming from.

Where I was inspired to seek this adventure (c) ABR 2016

I was fairly confident that I could handle it. It was just those pesky dirty roads that little Tina wasn’t equipped to deal with.

So, he gave me directions to a small, small village at the base of the mountain, and told me the name of a man that my hiking buddy and I were to look for there…

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Attempting the Summit of Pico Duarte: Part 2

22 Comments

  1. Amber

    Good luck with it! I really like your photos. Everything is so green.

  2. thedimetravelers

    Looking forward to reading how this goes! 🙂

  3. This looks amazing! I’ve never been to S. America, but I really want to go!

  4. Krysti Jaims

    What a cool place to do your PhD. Sounds like an adventure! Is there a part two? Can’t wait to read more!

    • There is a Part Two and Three! Coming in the next few weeks. And it was great to be there, I learned alot about a country that I think few people see anything but Punta Cana in.

  5. Wow it sounds like such an adventure. Can’t wait to read more!

  6. This looks amazing. I know you had a great time in the DR.

  7. blair villanueva

    Its been year since my last hiking, and i think if am going to do it again, i need to practice it first. I like your photographs, and am happy to read more of your adventures.

  8. I didn’t know the DR was rated one of the top places for car accident-related deaths! WOW! That is pretty scary. Definitely be careful out there. I think it’s really cool that you were able to live there and work on your PhD! Good for you!

  9. Wow! What a feat to accomplish. It looks like a beautiful place to visit.

  10. I love your confidence! And your Tina is awesome. Good luck and have fun. Now I know, driving on your own could always be an option especially when paid tours are expensive.

  11. caseyp1110

    What an adventure! Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story: )

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