St. Lucia’s Pitons are two volcanic plugs, and are a World Heritage Site. The Piton is 770 m , the Piton is 743 m high, and they are linked by the Piton ridge. The Pitons are located near the towns of and on the southwestern coast of the island. Towering nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, the majestic peak of Piton, along with its twin peak Piton, dominates the western coast of St Lucia. The lush green slopes of these pyramid shaped icons rise abruptly from the sapphire blue waters of the Caribbean, filling the adventurous traveler with wanderlust. In fact, the first time we saw photographs of these spectacular landmarks we made up our minds to climb at least one, if not both of the peaks. Upon researching the climbs, we discovered that only Piton (2,619 feet), the taller of the two volcanic mountains, is sanctioned by the government as a legal climb. Therefore, we headed for St Lucia in hopes of reaching the summit of Piton. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the Pitons offer an opportunity, quite literally, for high adventure. Piton (2,461 feet) is much steeper than Piton is, and although it is discouraged, people do climb to the summit. Piton is more accessible for hikers, though it is a steep ascent nonetheless. You will need to start your hike in the coolness of early morning to ensure that you are back down by nightfall, as the climb can take anywhere from three to six hours one-way. The interpretive center in the town of Fond Gens , where you pay your fees and obtain a required guide, is your first stop.
Situated at the foot of Piton is the community of Fond Gens , whose name means “valley of the free people.” This small, old settlement dates back to the 1700’s, and during the slave rebellion of 1748, Brigands, or black freedom fighters, used the Piton area as a secure haven, and many of their still live in the town and serve as hiking guides. As you drive the dirt road that leads to the town, you will appreciate how inaccessible the area must have been, and still is to this day. Along the way, you will pass through magnificent stands of cocoa, banana, and coconut, maneuver your car around a myriad of bumps and potholes, and ford two streams, before reaching the sign that marks your arrival. At the interpretive center, we were greeted by Eva and Jimmy who graciously welcomed us to Fond Gens . Jimmy, a representative of Piton Tours, then used a model of the mountain to describe how we would approach the summit, pointing out the different highlights along the way. He also provides a fascinating history lesson, detailing the life of the people who used Piton as a refuge. Afterwards, he introduced us to our guide, Denis. , Lucian for short, is a Rastafarian with an easy-going and witty personality, and his companionship as a guide was a highlight of the hike. Just before heading out to the trail, Eva collected our fee of $25.00 per person, these fees go towards protecting the trails and help to pay the salary of the guides.
As you near the top, if you can take your mind off your heavy breathing, you will notice that the vegetation around you is changing significantly. All four vegetation types, from dry coastal forest to cloud forest or elfin woodland, exist on Piton, and the higher you go, the lusher the flora becomes. The rich volcanic soil provides for stunning tropical vegetation, which in turn provides shelter for birds and even mongoose. When you reach the top of Piton it comes as a bit of a surprise, just when you have resigned yourself to the never-ending climb, it ends. The summit is actually very large with dense foliage all around, including a tall canopy that obscures your view. Once on the top, Lucian guided us east to an open area in the trail to the first of two viewpoints. This vantage point affords views south to Fort and out across the Atlantic Ocean to the island of St Vincent. In addition, you can see many settlements far below, tucked away in the thick stands of coconut palms. Back at the halfway point, we stopped to take in the views once again. The light had changed since our first time past, giving Piton a whole new appearance. As the three of us rested on the rocks and the comfy bench, we talked about our climbing experiences and exchanged addresses. Pick asked Lucian, who had his dreadlocks tucked in a hat, how long his hair actually was, to which he cheerfully replied, “Would you like to see?” He then proceeded to take off his hat, allowing his dreads to cascade down around his shoulders. It was really cool to see how proud he was of his mane, which had taken him ten years to grow. We had brought an extra Natural Born Hikers’ Buff on the hike to give to our guide, and now we knew it would definitely be a useful gift.
