by Kat Young
The silver tips of corn stalks rustled as we walked silently past. The full moon above cast a soft glow, illuminating the landscape with a million shades of grays, blues and blacks. As we moved through the somehow sacred terrain, our large group of 20 made hardly a sound. It must have been the moon that lent this pious air to the night, or perhaps it was the several active volcanoes looming in the distance. Whatever it was, the feeling of pilgrimage was heavy as we began to ascend our destination: Vulcan Telica.

I came to be in this situation while visiting Leon, a historic city in the north west of Nicaragua. I was actively doing close to nothing as I struggled to become accustomed to the overpowering heat. I sat one day in a restaurant drinking a cold juice, pondering my sloth-like behavior, when I saw a sign nearby advertising a “Full Moon Hike” to the top of Volcan Telica. I have had the fortune of seeing many volcanoes on my travels so that was not the appeal; it was the full moon that intrigued me. Also, a fellow traveler in the restaurant mentioned to me that the company offering the hike was non-profit and all the proceeds went to help local street kids. This peeked my philanthropist spirit, so I went to the office of Quetzal Trekkers to inquire further. They promised a unique experience as only in the darkness of night and pre-dawn is one able t see the deep red glow of lava within the crater. A drop of sweat rolled down my back as I stood listening in the heat. They added that this hike was very popular because it is significantly cooler and more pleasant to hike in the night. I was sold.