How to get there:
This is the highest peak on the island of Jamaica and the second highest in all of the Caribbean.
The peak is located fairly close to the capital, Kingston, but the drive is still considerable.
First, drive to the small community Mavis. Note that Google (in 2024) directs you on a road that
dead ends next to a creek. Drive to near
location N18.02912, W076.64715. Make a sharp right here
and drive down the hill. You should cross a bridge, then take the left fork following a small
road that will get you down to the main river. A high clearance vehicle is strongly recommended.
The road is full of (large) potholes. If you intend to drive all the way to the trailhead,
you will need a proper 4WD. A Toyota Landcruiser or a Jeep Wrangler will be fine. I used
a Mitsubishi Pajero, it did just fine.
The steepish road climbing between many houses, is the crux of the drive. Once you arrive at the col from
where you drive a bit down, then connect with the mountain slope,
the road is more horizontal and somewhat
easier to drive. Find parking on the side of the road near location N18.046494. W076.615049, elevation
near 1230 meter.
Route description:
The most demanding part of this trip is done once you arrive at the trailhead. Follow the road a few meter,
then the trail forks sharply uphill and left. In the beginning, the trail is actually wide as a rough
road. Higher up, it narrows to a normal trail.
The trail is good and easy all the way to the summit. Near
eleavtion 1730m, there is a ranger station and a gate closing the trail. They will sell you a national park
ticket for USD 20. (2024). This is somewhat before you reach the half way point. When you emerge at the summit,
you will observe a few small shelters if you go left. Note that the trail
bends right (before you see the shelters) and continues
to the official summit marker. There is a sign there informing about the surveying. It states that the next
hill, about 120 meter away, has the same elevation. It is a short visit, but bushwack. There are no signs of
frequent visits, only bush.
Comments:
I was on Jamaica to celebrate that Heidi turned 70, thus this was not a peak bagging trip.
We were staying at Bluefields Bay Villas, about as far from the Blue Mountains as possible.
However, this island HP should be visited, that is a single, but long day trip.
I left Bluefields Bay Villas at 0300. The drive to Kingston went according to plan. I had entered Jay's guesthouse
into Google, knowing that I then would only have about 4 more kilometer to the trailhead. Advance information about
a very rough road had led me to rent a Mitshubishu Pajero, this is a 4WD in the same class as the Toyota Landcruiser.
However, on my way down to the river, Google first said turn right, I ignored it, since there did not seem to
be any way. Shortly, Google wanted a U-turn and it was clear that I had lost the route. Driving slowly back up the
hill, I looked closely when Google asked me to turn left. A very faint track went downhill. This could not be the
way most people drive to Blue Mountain. Anyway, I drove slowly downhill, then flat until
the road ended. No way to continue here.
I succeeded to turn then drove back up, a bit worried that this could mean a long detour. I had sort of
believed that Google would do this correctly.
Fortunately, I discovered the correct route fairly soon.
The road that ascended steeply to Guy's Guesthouse and beyond was rough, but not worse than what a good
4WD truck can handle. I arrived at a spot where I could park, very close to the trailhead around 0800, so
5 hours.
Leaving at 0810, I stopped briefly at the ranger station to pay for my 20 USD national park ticket.
The time was 0900, I got change in local currency. I continued uphill and made the summit at 1020.
Nobody around. I took a good look around. Before
finding this official trigonometric highpoint, I had
already seen the small hump next to the shelters.
The summit sign explained that another summit had
the same elevation. Looking around, I decided it had to be the hilltop full of vegetation about 100 meter
away. I bushwacked across.
Not many signs of traffic here.
A brief stop, my GPS showed the same
elevation. Then return. It had taken my 2:10 to ascend, now I had already spent 25 minutes up here.
I descended back down to the ranger station, then took a 5 minute break there. A bunch of Canadiens had
given up the summit, they were about to turn back here. I continued down, reaching my car in 1:50.
Slight trouble to turn the car, but did it at the actual trailhead. A long drive home was still in store.
Nothing much to report, I made it home by 1750. Close to 15 hours, with 4 hours of hiking. A swim in the
ocean while watching the sun set, then dinner.
