Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

[BND1999]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

WOWOOWOWOWOOOWO and a carpet of flowers too.. sounds like heaven.... peace on earth...

did you wait for the fog to lift?? how long did you stay up there?
what was the difference in time... going up as opposed to going down....
think you can get a small plane and pilot me to the top??

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

More Topside shots.



The mandatory pictures with the Trig station.
Evidence!!!

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

[ QUOTE ]
This is absolutely lovely writing - you brought me right there and I don’t want to leave!

Beautiful photos.

Wanda (Be in the Mountains)

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you Wanda. I love your new name! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

[ QUOTE ]
WOWOOWOWOWOOOWO and a carpet of flowers too.. sounds like heaven.... peace on earth...

did you wait for the fog to lift?? how long did you stay up there?
what was the difference in time... going up as opposed to going down....
think you can get a small plane and pilot me to the top??

[/ QUOTE ]

Heaven on Earth, more like it. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

We spent about an hour and a half on top. There were breaks in the clouds, so we got a few shots here and there. But that night a tropical wave arrived and it would linger longer than we could wait.

I didn't have a watch to tell you exactly, but including breaks I think it took about 3 hours from Whitfield hall to Portland Gap. Another Three hours from there to the top. So six hours going up. On the way back we made it all the way down in three hours. So half the time.

As to the plane, we can only do a fly-by. No place to land. But it's definately worth it.

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

Part 18 - What goes up...

...must come down. After about and hour and a half on the peak we start down. Surprisingly it’s almost as challenging as the climb [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70402-thinking.gif[/img] although goes (or slides) down much quicker. The path is slick and steep, and often times we are slipping and sliding and flapping our arms in hopes they’ll turn into wings [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

Since we will be doing the entire 7 miles in one shot this time, we soon realize that it’s really not ever until the fat lady sings. Still plenty of opportunities for a JDF rescue mission, if not more.

Now that the fog cleared, some spectacular views emerge. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img] We can clearly see the north cost of the Parish of Portland and the south coast of St. Thomas. The sea looks not only miles away, but miles below. Which it is. Clouds roll under us, and the sun begins to warm us with its rays. Off goes the rain gear, then the sweatshirt. Life is good. We’re tired an achy, but it’s the good variety of pain. The type of pain that follows achievement, the pain of victory. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

[BND1999]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

im really feeling this one with you magic.... i just love how the blues.. they often look like a bunch of humped backs.... i never tire going up there and catching the variety of views... but to be up there..... im proud of you and L for this journey....

would you ever do it again???

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

[ QUOTE ]
would you ever do it again???

[/ QUOTE ]

In a heartbeat! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

(Although 5 or 10 years to blur the memories of cold, wet, and sweat wound help) [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I will definately take my kids up there when I have them. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

Part 19 - Sliding down

Back at Portland Gap I enjoy a very juicy mango and we snack and rest. We laugh at Jacob’s village now, they’re no longer our enemy. Once you get to meet them, they’re actually very good for your physique. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img] You’ll feel muscles you didn’t even know you had. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] The views now remind me of flying. The clouds are below, and clear skies above. Soon we descend into the clouds, and the light rain that hides underneath. A tropical wave has arrived from the East overnight, and we’ve climbed down right into it. Nothing can faze us now though.

Before we know it, we’re back at Whitfield Hall and the Wildflower Lodge. It’s amazing how much shorter the trip down appeared. The Land Rover is waiting for us, but it won’t start. No problem, a push start down the dusty road brings its engine back to life. The wet and muddy clay road now allows for the vehicle to slide down uncontrollably. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] Any attempt by the driver to use the brakes is met with the tail end of the Rover fish-tailing. The back wheels swing around tight corners with a different destination in mind as that of the front wheels. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70392-silly.gif[/img] Images of busses falling into deep valleys of Nepal come to mind. Rain has picked up now. We no longer hold on for dear life wide eyed. We’re now seasoned pros! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] We have been to the top. This is lowlands now. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]
The driver uses the clutch to his advantage and we manage to inch down the road shute that drops us from heavens and into Hagley Gap. From Mavis Bank we nap on and off all the way back to Kingston. We had plans for the day in Town, but when we get home we go to bed and sleep til dinnertime! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70394-sleeping.gif[/img]

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

Breezy Gully.



This is a view of the "Breezy Gully", loonking towards Portland. You have to sidetrack from the main trail to get here, and navigate quite a narrow precipice to get this view.






Contrary to the name, the winds were calm here.

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

Back at Portland Gap.










Yes I am actually leaning on that stick.

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

Descending into a Tropical Wave.






They're leaving me behind!






"Tiyad to rhatid!"
Notice, how at this point, I don't even care that I'm standing on the edge of a 2000 foot drop!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[Magician]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.








Please don't mind the goat. It's not him that is the main subject here. He just got in the way. It's that little house down below! If you could only see it's relative location. It's perched in the middle of a very steep mountainside, with no apparent access. It would be an expedition just to leave the house to go see the neighbours. Not to mention find a nearest village, 2 hours away.

-----------------------------------------------

Stay tuned for Parts 20 through 26 for more on Kingston and Ochi.

[mountaingal]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

OMG, these photos are absolutely magical, Magic. I can't get enuff of them! Mi love di storytelling too, o lawd yes the descent is almost as bad as the ascent.

[Laurel]

Re: Top of Jamrock! - The Blue Mountain Peak, Kingston, Negril and Ochi.

What an absolutely AWESOME read .... want an awesome adventure!


WOW!! Takes my breath away!