Steep Ascents

LES ALPINISTES! Our First Climb: "La Pouse" (The Thumb)

There are loads of mountains to hike in Mauritius and we are blessed to live as close as you can get to the National Park (Black River Gorges). Another great thing is that all the peaks are climbable in 1-2 hours as they are only around 600m or so. Having said that, they aren't all the easiest ascents, as we found out a couple of times...

Our 2nd voyage was to La Piton de la Rivere Noire - the highest peak of Mauritius

ENTERING

HALFWAY....

DEFEATED!!!!

We actually only made it up to 20m below the summit. There was a crazy, slippery vertical wall that we just couldn't get up. Not to mention a strong wind that was slicing sideways. It was scary. For reals. Unfortunately, this has been the rule of our hikes rather than the exception as the same happened on La Pouse....

...But! Today we made it to the top of Piton Caton

I know, right! Hoooo hum.

I'm was more interested in our almond/raisin mix.

*bonus points for those that realized we are on the mountain in the middle of the "halfway" photo above*

It was not without it's scary moments either. I definitely gouged the earth with my fingernails and let out a few whimpers. And also had a few thoughts of "this is NOT worth it."

But it turned out, it was. Especially when I perfected my descending technique of dirt-skiing-in-crouch-formation:

(photo pending - camera malfunction...)

Next up: Corps de Gards!