PATRA VERONIQUE

Blue Mountain Peak is the island's highest point at 2,256 meters. The trail is about 9 km distance with a very steep ascent. Generally, it takes a grueling 4 hours to hike to the peak. The path along the trail is primarily forest and is a protected heritage site...Jamaica's first terrestrial National park. En route, you'll be able to view several species of endemic flora. It is said that over 40% of the plants are found only in Jamaica. The area is also home to a few species of birds, one such the rare Jamaican Blackbird.
The Journey
We didn't go the touristy route, through a tour company. We took public transportation. Our journey started in Papine where we boarded a minibus to Mavis Bank which cost $150 JMD per person. Once in Mavis Bank, we took another minibus to Hagley Gap at a cost of $250 each. It is unfortunate however that we ended up paying more than the locals because I was traveling with a tourist. We only found out after the fact. This was only for the Mavis Bank/Hayley Gap leg, the bus driver was just trying to make an extra buck. From the Hayley Gap, we walked the rest of the way to Whitfield Hall, the hostel we decided to stay for the night. This was a 3.5km walk that took an hour. You could always charter a trailer car to take you to the hostel at a cost of $1000JMD. But even though the ascent was quite high, the views were amazing, so it was well worth it in my opinion. The walk is completely safe and the locals were quite friendly and helpful.
*There is always the option to drive however bear in mind that the roads are quite steep and narrow so a 4 wheel drive vehicle is essential.

Where we stayed
We chose Whitfield Hall because it is located right on the hiking trail. A Rustic quaint hostel straight out of the 80's. Space was well kept with absolutely no electricity. Although, they did have kerosene lit lamps that provided sufficient lighting. Now I know you're wondering if they have running water, yes they do with adequate bathroom facility... But I must tell you the water is mad Cold! The rooms had bunk beds, a dresser and a lamp very minimal. Everton, the caretaker was welcoming and helpful. We made arrangements for breakfast and dinner prior to our visit which is recommended. Our meal was prepared and waiting when we arrived.


The Hike
Ok, so we wanted the sunrise experience at the peak. We thought, well my partner thought it would be best to wake at 2am because he had checked the time for sunrise prior. We also knew it was not going to rain because he checked that as well. By 2:15am we were out and on the trail. To be honest, I was a little scared, it was so dark and quiet, but I eventually got over it a few minutes in. The trail at starting was decent with clear pathways and a few directions here and there. The steepness progressed gradually. We couldn't really see much, so this was our time to talk to each other, learn something new and joke about how terrible I was at hiking. By an hour in I was mad tired!!! I wanted to give up. We stopped for a minute or two here and there but it wasn't much. At this point, I heard a noise in the distance a group was ahead of us. They welcomed us as we approached. We walked with them a bit and rested when they did. We eventually lost them because they were moving too slow for my partner. Now that I remember some of my moments were really dramatic. I remember I said to him ' I can't do this! I'm going to die!... I laugh at myself now but it was no laughing matter then. He was calm and encouraging and gave me snacks and water which gave me a bit of a boost when it counted the most. When we got to Portland Gap, where the rangers station is located, I felt better because I knew we'd be at the summit soon. This was the hardest part of the hike for me. The trail was really mountainous and narrow. I think I asked a hundred times 'Are we there yet', ' how much further' (FYI, he did the hike maybe 2 years prior so he'd know). I must have been quite annoying 😁. The dawn had come so we were able to see the breathtaking views. I was in awe of how beautiful the scenery was. You could see the fog in the distance, the dew on the anchoring trees, hear the birds chirp and smell the clean crisp air. It all seemed like something out of a jungle movie well without the animals 😏. I can't even describe the feeling I had when we got to the summit. I was so emotional, I couldn't believe I did it. I survived the bitter cold and the  4-hour long walk. I DID IT!





The walk down was quicker. We were able to see all the floral and spotted a few birds. The trees were crooked and formed a canopy which was very lush. Varying moss and vines covered the trees. It was truly a sight. When we reach the Rangers station we paid the park fees $20US for visitors and $200 JMD for locals. We realized there were quite a few coffee farms, the smell was heavenly. I was surprised that we got back to the hostel in 3 hours... fast right?



I would recommend the Hike to Blue mountain Peak a must have Jamaica experience whether you plan to visit Jamaica or if you live here. Sometimes we forget the treasures our own country has to offer because other countries bounty seems greater. If you do decide to make this trip, check out my list of must-have...


Things you'll need
Comfortable Shoes - Athletic shoes preferably hiking shoes that support your feet are highly recommended. This is a must you will surely regret it if you forego this tip. I wore converse and that was a sore mistake.
Snacks - the hike takes a lot of endurance so to keep your energy up you'll need snack/energy bars to sustain your strength.
Water - It's quite easy to get dehydrated on these hikes because of the cold and ascend. I'd recommend you taking a canister of water with you. You'll be able to top up at the Ranger station along the trail.
Bundle up - Its cold, very cold. A warm sweater is needed for sure. If you have a waterproof jacket that will come in handle since it rains almost every day on the trail. I'd also recommend athletic leggings or joggers rather than jeans. It's best to be as comfortable as possible. A scarf is welcomed as well.
Flash Light - You will need this to light the dark pathway on the trail. It's steep and rocky and parts of the trail are borderline precipice so to prevent breaking a rib bring a flashlight.

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Well, I've taken a long hiatus and I really don't have an excuse for it. Sometimes we all need to step back and reassess ourselves, that's essentially what I did. Any-who, I am back and am planning to produce even more content aimed to help, inspire and motivate. And this is how I plan to start with a new series 'Living Your Best Life.' In short, this series is about shedding light on how people maneuver daily life while striving to live positively; making the best of what they have.

I decided for my first interview to style and shoot someone who I consider a GIRL BOSS! I've always admired her agility and strength through even the toughest situations. Her ability to deflect negative emotions and situations that threatens her well-being was always an amazement. Of course, I'm a little biased because she is my BFF for over a decade...I'm sure you understand. Schnel Francis is a powerhouse with amazing talent. She currently works as an Executive Assistant while simultaneously managing her business Belly Cast Ja.

I wanted to delve more into how she deals with negativity because this world has become increasingly negative and we all need a little help from those who have mastered the art of dealing with such behavior. "I deflect negativity in every way possible. If it's from one person whose compulsively negative, I avoid them. It's my life so I deliberately try to focus on the positives around me and be thankful for them. I live by the quote BLISSFULLY  UNAWARE is sometimes the best states." Recognizing that people's negative thoughts and behavior have nothing to do with you and who you are is critical in how we deal with it. Leave people in the dust, do not bring those thoughts in your space, let them fester and be consumed by their issues.
"I'm Too MUCH to be Too LITTLE to someone" when she said this it struck a cord inside of me that resonated to my core. I strongly believe that everyone should live by this. Self-worth is so important especially in this new world we live in. Where feelings and intimacy are discarded like dirty rags and displayed for the whole world to see. When people are quick to display 'relationships' for a show but not completely connecting with the person they are with. It's incredibly wise to realize your worth and that your time is golden. Do not waste your time with people who do not recognize that. Walk away, even when its the hardest to do so.
How we dress tells a lot about us. It's connected to our emotional compass I believe. What Schnel's style says about her is that she fearless, no-nonsense, organized and fully aware of her worth. She describes her style as everyday simplicity with a bit of oomph. Her closet is jam-packed with basics.
"If I had the money to buy what I really wanted...I would be FLY AF! This is just a substitute, a means to an end." Developing your brand is a process, a painstaking one at that... But no matter where you are in life there is still a way to present yourself in the best light with the means you currently have. It's not necessary to go out and buy what's currently trending those fade and you might blend in like a chameleon when you want to do the total opposite. Schnel describes the Fashion Industry as a grey group of people. We all want to fit in and be unique in a trend which is unrealistic when everybody is wearing the said trend. It's like SHEEPs waiting to be fed. Often our fashion doesn't reflect our personality. They make clones of that one hit girl, manufacture it and we suck it up thinking its the most unique thing ever made. Like were is the individuality? I understand being inspired by someone's style but when we start looking like body doubles... We need to reassess.
To wrap up Schnel explains that Living her best life means LOOKING and FEELING her best. Being in the best spirit, being her best self,  having the best life experiences, being around good people who influence her, being well styled and well traveled. Her definition takes on a totalitarian approach to life. The exploration of taking your ideal life out of your head and putting it into practice. How fantastic is that?