Today we headed up to the Blue Mountains for a 10k hike from Gordon Town to Holywell Trail. This is an annual event hosted by the Forestry Department and is intended to raise awareness about protecting the environment. According to the description, we walked along the Hope River and saw fruit trees (yes) and birds (no). It is a gorgeous hike that leads you up to the top of a mountain, from which you can see the entire city before you, from Mona in the east to Portmore in the west.

Along the way, there were rest stops with fresh fruit and water, and a “pop-dung” bus to transport people back to safety if they felt they couldn’t go on. None of us, fortunately, got to this point. We made it to the top, which it at 4,500 feet above sea level. It was definitely cooler up there and we enjoyed a traditional box lunch of fish or chicken and performances from local reggae artists.

Then, the ride home. We ended up on a party bus that had to stop to stock up on rum. Everyone enjoyed some Appleton rum on the way home, congratulating themselves on such an achievement. I must add, I did not fall once, which is a major achievement for me.

From the web site, here’s a bit about where we were:

The Holywell Recreational Park is located in the Blue Mountain Forest Reserve, which is the country’s largest watershed. The eastern face of the Mountains receives more than 300 inches of rain each year, providing water for almost one half of Jamaica’s population. Stretching across 28 miles, the Blue Mountains has more than 800 species of endemic plants, the world’s second largest butterfly, Papilo homerus, 200 species of resident and migrant birds and is one of the largest migratory bird habitats in the Caribbean. There are also more than 500 species of flowering plants of which almost one half are native to Jamaica.

The Blue Mountain Forest Reserve is co-managed by the Forestry Department and the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT). The Holywell Recreational Park is managed by the JCDT. Holywell boast various recreational offerings. There is a Visitor Centre, which provides exhibits and information for guests about Holywell and the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park/ Forest Reserve.