MADAMAS RIVER EXPLORATION 2016

A journey back in time. A fitting description for a trek in one of the most untouched region in Trinidad and Tobago. The simple yet lively Madamas River. Cast your mind if you can to 600 years ago in T&T. A time even before Christopher Columbus when only the Carib and Arawak sojourned here. No roads, concrete houses, telephone poles and wires, shopping malls etc, That's how you feel when trekking down the Madamas River. The only link to civilization is the frequent passing of overhead aircraft as they head out to diverse destinations. To link with the river requires a 6 mile hike to what is known as Macajuel Pond. Various tributaries from the Northern El Cerro del Aripo watershed area converse to form this amazing river. The river creates a breathtaking adventure-filled atmosphere as each frequent bend unveils numerous plunge pools, spectacular lengthy gorges and mini-waterfalls. What keeps your adrenaline high are the numerous boulders in the river. Slipping and sliding is a given but you must be careful to break the expected heavy crash, hopefully without doing too much damage. A memorable sight to behold by 2 guys at the front was coming across 7 wild hogs in the river. At the river's mouth is a small lagoon. It's usually a great camping spot however this time due to heavy pounding seas, the beach was all eroded. In fact this year it was impossible to venture on the beach as heavy swells crashed several hikers against the rocks. They had to make an extra hard climb over the ridge. From Madamas it's another grueling up-down 5 miles of hiking to grind out to reach Paria Bay. It's a testing time for aching muscles. It however leads to another pleasing part of the trip, camping a night in Paria. The return leg is an 8 mile trek up the mountain, back to the Brasso Seco Village. Hiking back solo early in the morning was pleasantly rewarding. Even though solo I was not alone. The sounds sights and smell of the forest was a wonderful accompaniment. Chirping birds, fluttering butterflies, scurrying lizards, falling leaves and noisy insects all added to the ambiance. It's wonderful to be on a forest trail.