Tuesday 1st - Morne Diablotin
RAVEN - Atlantic Circuit 2021-22
Richard Foulkes
Tue 1 Feb 2022 22:03
After speaking with a local friend of Louise who said the hike took 12 hours, I had been wondering how practical it was! I did some research last week into guides - the supposedly most recommended said that the route had been obliterated by hurricane Maria. I found a guy called Raymond who claimed to have climbed it before, but was a bit vague whether he had done it before or after Maria! In the absence of anyone else, he was duly appointed and I duly met him up on the coast road and we drove to the start point of the trail.
By the time we parked the car, it was pissing down, we waited a bit then started walking, sheltered under trees a bit and then just got on with it.
As the guide book says, the trail “ involves a relentless uphill hike, a scramble up steep rocks and then a lengthy climb through tree branches and roots.
When we reached the summit ridge , Raymond thought the job was done but GPS told me we still had a way to go. He was not a happy bunny as the rain was even heavier by now, but we continued along the vegetation obstacle course until it became absolutely impenetrable with about 30m altitude and 150m distance to go.
Reluctantly I agreed that it was time to turn back …so I don’t think I can claim the summit, but I don’t think anyone else can without a chainsaw and a few hours up there to clear a route!
The route down was even more hazardous as it became a mudslide with rocks and roots thrown in to trip us up.
After a beer on the coast the next stop was Louise’s house to have a shower and chuck everything into the washing machine!
P.S Raymond is one of the beneficiaries of the World Bank funded housing project that Louise is working on , though I only discovered that coincidence as we slogged up the mountain