The Adventures of Nicole

Updated June 2026, How to Visit Childukhtaron, Tajikistan was originally published in October 2021 A popular destination for local tourists, Childukhtaron Nature Reserve, nesteled in the Khatlon Region, is one steeped in legend. The name Childukhtaron, meaning 40 girls, goes back to the 13th century Mongol Invasion. Protecting the village from the wrath of the Mongol Horde…

I visited The Ross Sea region of Antarctica on a semi-circumnavigation of the southern-most continent in partnership with Oceanwide Expeditions. Of course, all opinions are my own. Updated June 2026, Campbell Island, New Zealand Off the Beaten Path was originally written in April 2017 When people think of New Zealand they typically think of the two big players in the game: Th...

Updated June 2026, Climbing Kyzyldong in Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountains was originally published in September 2021 Sat there one morning with my friend Zhandiya in Khorog I was mulling over the Pamirs Map, trying to decide where I wanted to go after my next move- the Shokhdara Valley. The only limiting factor was time, as this visit back to Tajikistan for the seventh (or was it...

Updated June 2026, Bolshoi Allo Lake in Tajikistan’s Fann Mountains was originally published in August 2020 The beautiful lake of Bolshoi Allo is one of my favorite places to set up camp and kick back for a couple of days or more (it’s quite the effort to get here anyway). Set in an amphitheater of jagged, glacially carved peaks and surrounded by juniper trees, Bolshoi Allo i...

Updated June 2026, Climbing Shah Foladi, Afghanistan was originally published in August 2021 Shah Foladi, Central Afghanistan’s highest peak rises to around 5,100 meters (I’ve seen it listed as anywhere from 5,048 meters to 5,192 meters), parked in the middle of the Koh e Baba Mountains that form the border between Bamyan and Wardak Provinces. Sure, Afghanistan has some talle...