Trinidad and Tobago Hiking The 'BRUTAL 2015'

THE BRUTAL” IS the name given to the “ultimate challenge hike” and despite its difficulty, enthusiastic hikers look forward to putting their fitness to the extreme test.

It’s about one’s determination to climb the steepest and most challenging mountains.

The event organised by Island Hikers and Fitness Walkers is now in its seventh year and over the years its popularity has increased.

Despite its challenges, it is meant to be a fun event and should not be considered as a race, Island Hikers said in a media release.

Depending on one’s fitness, it will take an estimated five to eight hours to complete.

The course consists of four legs and starts with a climb to the summit of El Tucuche (3,072 feet or 936 metres). Followed by a long descend to Maracas Bay and to finish the final leg over the Maracas Hills back to St Joseph.

The starting location is at Hobal Trace in the Maracas, St Joseph Valley.

On the summit of Mount El Tucuche’s, there are two peaks.

Visible on peak one are magnificent sceneries of Las Cuevas and from peak two one can see an aerial view of Maracas Bay.

Growing abundantly between the peaks are giant bromeliads and hidden in the leaves is the indigenous golden tree frog.





Trail Description Leg 1: Hobal Trace to the summit of Mt El Tucuche: Starting at Hobal Trace a 15-minute warm- up walk to the Morang River, and then up the agonising Devil Staircase to Mount El Tucuche Crest. Estimated time, 1 1/2 hours or depending on one’s fitness. At the summit, hikers will re-group for the descent to Maracas Bay.

Leg 2: El Tucuche to the Cross A rugged descent from the second Peak of El Tucuche slopes down to the landmark known as the Cross.

There is an iron cross identifying the burial site of a hermit woman called Sr Beatrice who once lived there. This area is a watershed that separates the valleys of St Joseph and Las Cuevas.

(Hiking time two hours) Leg 3: The Cross- to Maracas Bay From the junction at the Cross, a trek over the ridge with a downhill trudge to Maracas Bay (time one to one-and-a-halfhours) Leg 4: Maracas Bay to Maracas St Joseph From Maracas Bay over the steep Lloango Mountain back to starting location at Hobal Trace.

The steep climb over Lloango Mountain is the ultimate test for one’s already aching muscles. (Hiking time two hours) Date: September 19 Rating: 8 very strenuous

Notes: Whew..... Mission Accomplished. Yet another Conquered Brutal. This year the weather helped a bit in one way with the pouring rain during the final climb over Lloango Mountain. But it provided another challenge with the steep descent.
Firstly the climb to El Tucuche was simple enough with the weather warming as the morning progressed. In fact this led to finding three venomous Mapepires on the summit basking themselves in the sunshine. Dan our champion snake-man ensured we kept our distance from them and they from us.
The descent to the cross is usually tricky made even more so with the rains from the previous days. The steep walls were very slippery with water dripping off their faces. Off course slipping on your derriere in this portion is a given. But due care must always be taken not to slip off into the valley below.
From the cross is a short ascent then a relative smooth typical journey down into Maracas Bay. This is the longest segment with its meandering portion. Again there are a few portions to slide your way down with the soft earth underneath.
A short rest helps before the seemingly long trudge or crawl up Lloango Mountain. Anyone who has problems focusing can try this hike to gain mental strength. All are required to get you over this mountain. Fortunately rain started to fall halfway up assisting in cooling your overheating body. On reaching the top, the trail was dark even though it was only 1.00 pm. WOW .... WHEW.. NICE... Only downhill now.
Slip and Slide is the order of the day. It simply cannot be helped made more so with the rain using the trail as the part of least resistance. Thankfully the trees have roots as this is the only foothold there are available to descend on and with.
Exhilaration is one word that comes to mind when you finally reach the finish. That experience will last quite some time till we venture again.