Upon Wild Blue Mountain's brows...

Blest are those who climb upon wild mountain's brows

or tread along green paths and vales

leaving all their cares behind

to gaze far over yonder cultured groves and plains

and vast cities clamouring for their slice of earth and sky

Forests and oceans mingle with the horizons

Never is there anything so beauteous

as nature's varied marvels...pure and artless

the never ending grandeur of earth's unspoilt perfection

Beauty flows in Summer's streams, in deep glens

where one walks free...and joy is still found in freedom's voice

Th simplest flower may portray the bounty of the Creator

In nature's music you raise your voice to join in song

Singing of grace, gratitude and praise for life

here you find a home for peace

So wander, dear heart, for here

You are indeed free!

The Blue Mountains are the longest mountain range in Jamaica. They include the island's highest point, Blue Mountain Peak (7,402 ft). From the summit, accessible via a very long walking track, both the north and south coasts of the island can be seen. On a clear day, the outline of the island of Cuba, 210 km (130 mi) away, can also be seen. The mountain range spans four parishes: Portland, St Thomas, St Mary and St Andrew.

There is nothing like a hiking trip into the Blue mountains of Jamaica...to get out into nature and enjoy the fresh mountain air for a change. It is a great way to pass the days leading into the weekend.

We leave early in the morning, and, after the initial greetings; "Hi Jane, great to see." "Dian, good morning"

"Trevor, I see you managed to wake up early today," everyone laughs, he was seriously always late, but somehow managed to get here on time today. I guess adventure gives one a lot more energy and drive.

Trevor was the musician, he played a mean guitar. He brought it with him and got teased about lugging a guitar on a hiking trip. But, if anyone could do it, he could, he loved that thing enough to actually run a marathon with it.

Among other anecdotal pleasantries, we stowed our luggage, took our seats on the bus and prepared to depart. The bus would take us to the hiking lodge, and from there our foray into the mountains would be on foot to explore the wonders of nature.

After an uneventful drive, we finally arrived at our destination. Fresh faced and eager, we made ready for out trek.

The Blue Mountains are a particularly beautiful sight, with a most spectacular array of colors during the summer months, it is lovely year round, but the summer rains do wonders for the landscape. The best time to hike is between December and April though, the summer rains tend to make hiking a bit difficult due to the wet landscape. You may find yourself in your own personal rain forest.

The Mountains rise to their summits from the coastal plain in the space of about 16 kilometres, thus producing one of the steepest general gradients in the world. This provides cooling relief from the sweltering heat of the city of Kingston, visible below.

Be on the watch for animals endemic to the area.

......The mountains are home to the world's second-largest butterfly - the largest in the Americas, the Homerus swallowtail. This is the most well-studied remaining population of the endangered butterfly.

......The Jamaican coney, a type of hutia and Jamaica's only native land mammal, as well as the Jamaican boa and wintering Bicknell's thrushes, are found here.[

......The Jamaican Petrel (Pterodroma caribbaea). The only proven nesting was in the Blue and John Crow Mountains, where it was last seen in 1879.

The mountains have been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support significant populations of many Jamaican bird species.

The Blue Mountains climatic diversity has led to the growth of diverse and lush vegetation including towering trees and more than 500 species of flowering plants

This is not a trip for the faint of heart. It is a spiral of flat dirt roads, intertwined with uphill treks and winding trails, rocky terrain, bridges and waterfalls. It was still very early in the morning so we should make good time going up and have enough time to have some fun before the return journey back home.

So off we go with our backpacks, bottled water, suntan lotion and sunglasses. we started our trip joyfully, the young, not so young, the adventurous and the optimistic.

We stop at the quaint home of famous Jamaican Poet, Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley OM OJ MBE (7 September 1919 – 26 July 2006), poised on the side of the mountain. Known by her pen name Miss Lou... she was a Jamaican poet, folklorist, actress, writer and educator. Writing and performing her poems in Jamaican Patois or Creole, Bennett worked to preserve the practice of presenting poetry, folk songs and stories in patois ("nation language"), establishing the validity of local languages for literary expression.

After an hour or more of walking, you may feel like complaining, bickering and become all tuckered out from the long walk.

But you know it's still worth it just by looking at the view.

Halfway up the path to the camping site, the unanimous decision to rest was reached. We found a cozy spot by a waterfall to have a picnic. Someone, who will remain nameless, had decided to bring along some rolls of the marijuana variety.

So, while the guides, except one left to watch us, were taking a well deserved nap, we all started our first experiences taking whiffs of the reefer joints and passing them around. These varieties found in Jamaica are pure and not recommended for more than one or two puffs by the neophyte smoker.

Our chaperone guide, being just as curious, did not object and also did partake in our folly.

Well, we all surpassed one or two whiffs. By the time the others woke up we were all stoned and sleepy, giggling and high as kites. Trevor was strumming happily, jaded and out of tune on his guitar.

The guides were not amused.

The waterfall came in handy, they made us drink a lot of water, told us to take a nap and hopefully recover before continuing on our walk. Assuming we could continue that is.

They woke us up about an hour later, made us eat some sandwiches and drink more water. (There was peeing in the bushes) all that water, we could not wait to find a bathroom.

Fortunately, again, fresh air helped the situation and we continued on, albeit a little buzzed. We made good time to the next rest stop. This time we were under the watchful eyes of everyone.

The day progressed wonderfully from then on. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Guitar music, singing, dancing and camping out finished the day on a high note.

There are lodges, restaurants and and a lively community on the summit...but you may want to camp under the stars.

We had the night for more fun, camping under the stars and awaking refreshed to face the trip down and off the mountain.

The trip down will be much easier and. hopefully... less eventful.

But in the end, we did have loads of fun.

Happily...our driver was waiting to take us back.

Now, don't forget to purchase some of that award winning Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. Over the past few decades, this coffee has developed a reputation that has made it one of the world's most expensive and sought-after coffees. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is a classification of coffee grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. The coffee was introduced to Jamaica in 1728

Check out YouTube for videos for all the glorious views of a trek up the mountains. I still cannot add videos or copy/paste here. 😒😢