45 / Gunung Salak (7,254’)

12/8/25: Back in Indonesia for a few weeks. During my years ihere, I had generally avoided hikes within a three-hour car ride of Jakarta - opting for the relative solitude of volcanos in Central and East Java or further afield in Sumatra. With a packed schedule, I needed to fit in a gunung to bag in a single day - Gunung Gede was closed for the season, so any repeat or integral attempt (Gede & Pangrango) was off. I decided to look toward Salak, with its highly active crater & beautiful forested slopes.

It was a mellow hike with plenty of wildlife and even more stops for selfies with youth. It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying nature on a weekend. There are certainly some of the same challenges (namely lots of trash) that I experienced ambling around volcanoes in Indonesia; however, if people are embracing getting out there, I think the philosophy and desire to protect and care for these special places will only increase.

The forest gave way suddenly to a Mordor-like landscape as we neared the caldera. A calm, restorative hike - the perfect way to reconnect with nature and ground myself for the work ahead.