|
The Blue Mountains stand in Eastern Jamaica and date
back 140 million years. Their misty peaks and lush green slopes
are watered by the heaviest rainfall in Jamaica, and their
forests are home to hummingbirds, butterflies, over 500 flowering
plants, numerous species of orchid and a curious tree
named Chusquea Abietifolia which flowers only once
every 33 years.
On his second voyage to the New World in 1494, this tip of
Jamaica was the first land sighted by Christopher Columbus.
The mountains looked blue from a distance, so he called them,
with characteristic Spanish flair, 'The Blue Mountains.'
High up, skin up, Brew up
At 7000 feet, Blue Mountain is higher than any American peak
east of the Mississippi River and one of the highest peaks
in the Caribbean.
The Blue Mountains still hide many mysteries of its own, some
historical and others of a more contemporary nature. These
Mountains once hid the Maroons and their free African
villages from the prying eyes of British Soldiers. Today,
Rastafarians, other grass roots 'country' farmers and
business entrepreneurs use these same steep hillsides to hide
their fertile and potent marijuana fields. Beneath the mist
induced bluish colourisation that envelopes them, these hills
also hide a multitude of cool, clear springs, water falls,
lagoons, rivers, hot water mineral baths, every single variation
of mango to be seen, and a Noah's ark collection of
fruit, vegetation, animals and birds.
The Blue Mountains are also world famous for the rich flavoured
coffee grown there. Introduced to the island in 1728
by the English Governor, who brought seedlings from Martinique,
these hills still supply the Queen of England with
her preferred brew through mail order. Even the Japanese can't
get enough of the most expensive coffee in the world. Over
90 percent of the crop is exported to them, and some of the
plantations are Japanese-owned. Between 2000 & 3000 feet
up, you will start entering the area where Blue Mountain coffee
is grown, also dozens of coffee farms can be found among the
tall pine trees that blanket the mountainsides.
Go Hiking
Besides being the promised-land of dope smokers and a coffee-lovers
heaven, the hills of Jamaica are also a hikers paradise.
The fresh air and general climate are enough to warrant treks
along the maze of narrow trails that criss-cross and wind
their way through the Jamaican jungle highlands. The traditional
Blue Mountain trek is a 7 mile hike to the peak with an increase
in altitude of 3000ft. the trail passes through an elfin forest
of stunted soapwood and redwood trees, their
low canopy resulting from extreme climatic conditions. Gradually,
the cloud forest takes over with its dense, shaded undergrowth
of mosses, lichens, ferns, linas and lesser tress.
You can take a trip to the John Crow Mountain National
Park which was established in 1992 to preserve some of
the remaining forests and to protect the island's largest
watershed. These diverse mountain forests have more than 800
species of endemic plants, the world's second largest butterflies
and 200 species of migrant & resident birds.
There are also many other trails you can take as there are
hundreds of paths that connect villages with planting grounds
and other villages. However, these are not recreational trails
but utilitarian tracks used by people who live and work in
the mountains. First time visitors will probably feel more
comfortable hiring a local guide because the trails are wandering
donkey paths that are neither marked nor adequately mapped.
Best Times to Go:
It is safer to hike in the Blue Mountains during the dry period
from December to April because its' numerous, rapidly flowing
rivers create floods and landslides during heavy rains. It
is also the time when the rest of the island is most comfortable.
What to Bring:
Comfortable clothing and walking shoes, a warm jacket and
pants, a hat with brim, suntan lotion, insect repellent, flashlight,
and a water bottle.
To arrange a Blue Mountain trek, hikers should plan to spend
the night close to the trailhead. Hikes get underway between
1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. so as to reach the top before the
mist obscures the view.
Two places for overnight stays are Whitfield Hall (Tel-Kingston:
876-927-0986) and Pine Grove (Tel-Kingston: 876-977-8009,
Fax: 876-977-8001).
|
