Seven Sisters

Yesterday Aziza, me, and another couple went up to the Seven Sisters in Grand Etang to do the waterfalls hike. If you decide to see all seven falls, the hike it takes about 3 hours or so, and it entails jumping 5/7 waterfalls, with the second last waterfall being about ~40 ft (12m) jump. The day was sunny and hot, and it seemed like the perfect weather for some good hiking. And it was good – in fact it was phenomenal…….except for the mud – which put a nice slick, slippery coat over everything. For the first half of the hike, it took about 25 minutes to actually get to the first waterfall. After seeing the first two, the rest of the hike was crazy (and barefooted) and it started with climbing up the steep trail while holding on to tree roots/vines and watching out for razor grass which would give some nice cat-like scratches if you brushed against it. The mud made it fun, but challenging – and once we reached the water, there was no other way to get back but down the waterfalls. The water was so crisp and refreshing, and it was such a change from the warm buoyant salt water I’ve gotten so used to down here. We swam through freshwater, climbed along the sides of boulders, and jumped the smaller falls before we got to the big one.

Everyone did great, and we all made it with only some minor cuts and bruises (there were a lot of opportune moments for a slight slip of the foot, and oops, there goes middle meningeal). The big jump was awesome…..for the most part. I didn’t have any qualms about jumping it, but I didn’t enter the water with the best possible form, because holy cow I have huge hematomas on the back of my upper thighs (the initial sting gave me some good childhood flashbacks).

Our tour guide was awesome and he even said that I climbed like a Grenadian (I hoped I didn’t look too much like a ‘city slicker’ as my father calls everyone who wasn't born in the 'old country').

Anyways, if you ever get the chance the surroundings were absolutely breathtaking. I took some pictures with a waterproof 35 mm disposable, so once I’m back in civilization I’ll get them developed and post some of them up.