Hike Seekers Hikes

"You haven’t had excitement and adventure in
your life unless you’ve been to Guanapo Gorges”

On Sunday 4th May 2003, my mother and I decided to do something enlivening and refreshing which included the aesthetics of nature. So, we decided to join the Hike Seekers Group and hike to Guanapo Gorges. Having not been on a hike for about three years aback, we thought Guanapo Gorges to be the best hike to start with since the hike master, Mr. Lawrence “Snake” Pierre described it as, “an easy and exciting journey.”

Well, it first started with a 4 1/2 mile up hill walk into the beautifully forested area of Guanapo. It was cool, relaxing and absolutely breath taking to be surrounded by so much beauty. Just picture in your mind, walking among tall trees and plants, smelling sweet fresh air, with various birds making eccentric sounds and when you look ahead, you can see the pure blue sky with soft white clouds almost touching the green sheet like top of trees.

Then, the adventure begins once you’ve met the river. In other words, out goes the “Mills and Boons” and in steps “Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.” There we were, about 40 of us of mixed ages and gender, standing in between these two extremely tall and narrow mountains with the winding, cold river ahead of us. As we started to proceed walking into the river, it suddenly rose from waist to neck deep and then of course, the swimming began. But, you need not worry because, Snake and his 4 assistant Hike Leaders were always prepared. They had life jackets and ropes and best of all, they are professional swimmers, friendly, helpful and patient. To get from one point to the next, we had to hand our bag of vital supplies to an assistant, whom in turn passed it down the line, across the river. Then, we had to swim to the other side, while taking comfort in knowing that Snake and his assistants were always close by and the rope was there for us to pull forward on.

The experience was definitely exciting so far and even got better. We found ourselves at a point whereby, we had to balance and walk across a log and then climb up a couple of rocks. Only to discover that, the way to get back down into the river was to use the one thing that connected the rocks to the river which was, a log. If you didn’t have an adrenaline rush before you definitely got one with this realization. We had to sit on the log, lock our feet underneath it and use our palms to pull us across. At the end of the log, we had to once again jump in the cold water and swim ahead.

There was a lot of tiptoe walking in the water as well and with all the rocks beneath, it was pretty tricky and challenging to get proper footing. However, we didn’t always hike on or over the rocks. Along the way, “Snake” casually said, “Oh! By the way, to continue the hike you all have to make a 10 foot jump off a rock like mountain and into a very deep part of the river. At first my mother and I thought he was joking but when we actually reached the jump site we realized that, it was as real as anything can get. “Snake” stood at the bottom of the rocks and the hike leaders were along the river stretch while one remained on top to support the group. They were very encouraging, motivational, understanding and full of positive energy. Jumping was so, “out of this world.” Everyone felt like doing it over and over again. You have to experience it yourself because, describing it with words seem to take away so much from the experience.

At the end of the river trek, we all ate and drank, socialized with our new friends and swam and last but not least, absorbed as much as we could have of part of God’s remarkable creation.

Then came the hike back up the steep, moist hill after all that adventure. “Snake” and the hike leaders, whom are always the prepared “boy scouts,” became even more jovial and cautious as they were aware that members of the group may be weary. “Snake” and his assistants are very reliable, responsible, fit and once again, I cannot stress their unwavering patience and understanding. My mother can sure testify to this as she really felt the crunch and burn on our journey back. But, hike master “Snake” never leaves any of his group behind and unfailingly, reminded my mother of childhood days by, giving her a “Piggy back” a couple of times. As I said before,

“….. you haven’t had excitement and adventure in your life unless you’ve been to Guanapo Gorges”

HATS OFF TO HIKE SEEKERS FOR AN ADVENTURE WELL CARRIED OUT!!!

On the approach to Mother’s Day last year in Trinidad, there was a cheery announcement on channel 68 informing all cruisers of an impending hike with Snake of the Hikeseekers. My husband, Brian, suggested that we might sign up for this Mother’s Day hike. Needless to say, I was delighted!

Muscat, the maxi-taxi driver, picked twelve of us up at 0630 and we were on our way to Arima. "We were ill-prepared," Snake said, "Where are the long pants, long sleeves, socks, boots?"

OK, we would make the best of it! We were in great company of about 12 yachties and 12 Trinis. One of the Trini gals hiked the whole trail in her street shoes! Off we went, up and down hills, through forests and across streams and it didn’t take long to become soaked with perspiration.

En route we managed to pick up hiking sticks that were most helpful. Questioning our endurance, Brian said jokingly that he hoped there was a helicopter pad close by! Stopping at a clearing, to make sure we were all still accounted for, Snake pointed out a huge nest of leaf cutting ants, but we weren’t sure about the trees. Lunch at the water- fall was pleasant including a swim.

When Snake started putting on his several layers, plus bright orange coveralls, Brian and I started scaling the trail hoping to make some headway. Around the next corner, Snake and company tied a rope alongside so people could brace their descent and not slip into a gorge below! Our five pints of water were depleted so we filled them in a stream crossing. Better parasites than dehydration! Our return trip was an alternate route where we scrambled over and under logs. One was a huge fallen tree. Someone had chopped several axe steps across it but I didn’t think I could make it. Brian got across and with his help; I too managed to get across just barely. The alternative was a 100-foot drop down the mountainside!

Muscat was our hero of the day. He hoisted one of the children onto his shoulders for the return hike. Passing through a deserted orange orchard was a saving grace as well. Here Muscat and the men cut up oranges for us and we ate them ravenously. What energy this little juicy fruit can impart!

The sun was well down in the western sky as we single filed down a hill. Lana, on Muscat’s shoulders, shrieked. She had come eye to eye with a real snake. Our Snake went into action and retrieved the treed snake! On we went again to the parking area in time to wave to Snake as he drove away. Having a healthy sense of adventure, I was disappointed not to see either snake at the end of the trail.

One male Trinidadian who hiked along with us, said he’d been on many of Snake’s hikes, but never one so long and arduous. Also he mentioned that most Trinis over the age of 30 don’t hike! So, with all said and done, Mothers take heed. Since then I have discovered a hike schedule in the Boca that lists the nature of Snake’s hikes. No pun intended… Happy Mother’s Day.




What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to Shark River by hikermaster Joanne Mike-Ventour	HAPPY EASTER AT SHARK RIVER!!

It has now become the tradition of the Hike Seekers of Trinidad and Tobago to spend the Easter holiday weekend camping at Shark River in Matelot on the north coast. So that when hikers gathered at Valencia Junction at 8.00am on Good Friday it was with feelings of nostalgic anticipation of the adventures ahead. The highlight of the weekend was to be the hike to Madamas Bay on Glorious Saturday, an overnight rest there, and the return hike back to Shark River on Easter Sunday. Our hike master Lawrence ‘Snake’ Pierre was already at Shark River preparing the campsite for our arrival and making sure that, with the hundreds of campers who had recently discovered the beauty of Matelot, there would be an area set aside for Hike Seekers. By the time the group that had gathered at Valencia reached to Shark River, the numbers had increased five fold as some hikers had already traveled up from the night before and many tents had sprung up like mushrooms on the river bank. One of the joys of hiking is the opportunity presented to form bonds with new friends and strengthen bonds with old friends. With camping, hikers are thrown into closer proximity with fellow campers where they get to know and appreciate each other even more in a supportive environment. Worries and stresses are left behind and ‘ole talk’ rules. We all left our woes at Valencia junction and laughed all the way to Matelot, making that two-hour drive seem like it was fifteen minutes long. We arrived at the campsite to a grand welcome and just in time to assist in the mounting of the tarpaulins that would serve as our shelter for the next three days. The designated cooks, captained by Johnson ‘JB’ Blackburne were already busy over the huge lunch pot, while new arrivals of hikers kept the crowd growing as the day wore on. We all felt very much at home at Shark River and were eager to rediscover the bathing pools up the river. A glorious soak in the river before bedtime ( floortime) is the perfect lullaby. Campsite at night is a place of great entertainment. Card games, jokes, and heated discussions on social issues could go on for hours, and this Friday night was no different. A hunting expedition left camp with great hopes of trapping some wild meat, but returned empty handed with only the benefits of exercise to show for their efforts (Come again Richard!). Eventually, tired hikers dropped off to sleep, one by one and the only sounds were those of the frogs, night insects and the campers involved in the ‘Best Snorer’ competition. JB quite easily won that one, but his ‘prize’ was just a heap of abuse from his campmates who were probably already a bit sore from sleeping without enough padding on the solid earth. After an invigorating bath in the river and a hearty breakfast fifteen hikers set off to Matelot to start the hike to Madamas Bay. We had braced ourselves for the long walk – thirteen miles in each direction – taking enough water and food to last us through the night, but we were ever grateful for the few mango trees that we passed on the trail. Those mangoes along with the tranquillity of the forest, the scenic walk along the coast trail and the never ending picong made us all feel very privileged to be part of this Hike Seekers group. Four hours later, we were sinking into the loose sands of Madamas Bay, happy the we had completed this leg of the journey and looking forward to an interesting night of turtle watching on the beach. There were already two families camping on the beach one of which we recognised from the year before. Like the Hike Seekers, they had developed their own Easter tradition, and we met them paddling away on the river on their inflatable rafts. We had a short while to revel in the fatigue of the moment, the roar of the ocean and the beauty of the surroundings before we were directed to focus on clearing a campsite for the night and finding a source of fresh water to replace our depleted supply. It was on our way down the beach that we met another Madamas friend, Pepper. Those who had not met him before stopped in their tracks at the sight of one of the few remaining members of the ‘Earth People’, a group of locals who in the seventies had denounced the stifling values of modern life (including clothes) and opted to live in the forest in the most natural state they could achieve. Pepper still maintained his natural state (of nakedness) and we found him tending his harvest of seaweed on the beach, preparing it for sale to his established buyers. He took time off from his chores to share his Rastafarian philosophy and experiences with us, and to explain his life style and his dreams to members of the group. It was not surprising that it was the women of the group who showed the keenest interest in what Pepper had to reveal to them, and after an intense photography session, the subject of their attention swung away to perform other necessary duties. A cool river bath and small snack later, we settled down on the beach to await the arrival of the awesome female Leather back turtles, which were on their annual trek to the beaches of Trinidad and Tobago to, lay their eggs. This sea turtle, also called the Atlantic Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest living turtle today. Giant Leatherbacks have been known to grow up to 1000kg and are approximately 2.2m in length. The largest one recorded was 3m in length. These turtles travel the furthest and are the greatest migrants of all sea turtles covering thousands of miles over open oceans and strong currents. They nest in tropical waters yet forage in cold areas in the north. In Trinidad, nesting sites are on eastern and northeastern beaches. The turtles also nest in Tobago, the Guyanas, Suriname, Costa Rica, South Africa, Malaysia, Australia and Mexico. After nesting in Trinidad and Tobago, they travel north to Canada, Nova Scotia, Alaska, Norway, across the Atlantic to Africa and when they reach maturity, after about three years, they return to lay, often on the same beaches where they were born, here in the West Indies. They lay 80-100 soft-shelled eggs in holes about 80cm deep, which they laboriously dig themselves. They prefer these steep coarse sandy beaches, as the haul to the dry sand above the high water mark is shorter. They nest approximately 8-10 times at ten-day intervals from March to September. Females are capable of storing live sperm for several years, enabling them to fertilise numerous clutches of eggs without mating. After approximately 60 days the young hatch. They are 2.5cm long at birth and after attacks by birds, crabs, dogs and fish, their survival rate is one in five. Therefore, for us to witness this marvel of the laying Leatherback turtle was indeed to be a bonus on this trip. We even set a bet as to who would sight the first turtle. It was not until two hours after sunset that the first giant turtle was sighted at the eastern end of the beach. The finder was not part of the group wager so nothing was gained or lost. We scuttled over to the area of interest and kept the quiet beast’s company while she lovingly followed the call of nature, depositing her numerous potential offspring into their nest. This female was the first of over twenty four Leatherback turtles that would come to the beach that night to perform their motherly duties, raising fears that the small area may have been insufficient for the steady stream of giant visitors. We were forced to leave that problem to Mother Nature as we headed for our own resting-places. Personally, I blessed this night that I was finally able to fulfill a long held dream to sleep in the open air, under the stars, with the waves crashing in the ocean nearby. The lagniappe was that nature was moving apace, mere metres from where I slept. In my dream, I did not cater for the biting cold at 2.00am nor the heavy drizzle of rain that made us scamper for shelter into enormous plastic bags that somebody with great foresight (and no tent) had brought along. Luckily, we all survived the elements to carry back the tales to our friends at the Shark River campsite. The mango trees were awaiting our return on the trail back to Matelot on Sunday morning, and due to our depleted resources we were overjoyed to meet each of them. It was sad that the early birds at the front of the group left only bare seeds and skins for the slowpokes at the back, but we were still able to get by. A sumptuous Easter Sunday lunch on the banks of Shark River was our reward on return to camp, weary but exhilarated. It was a fantastic Easter weekend! We have already started planning for next year in the hope that we will have the good fortune to come together again at Shark River and that Pepper, and the mango trees would again warmly welcome us, as they normally do. Joanne Mike-Ventour HIKE SEEKERS

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What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to Tucker Valley by hikermaster Joanne Mike-Ventour	Thrills in Tucker Valley

Our hiking schedule for May 29-31, 2003 said that Hike Seekers of Trinidad and Tobago was carded to camp out in Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas, and that hikers were to meet at Pier 1 car park. So, armed with canned foods, packs of snacks, and foam for bedding, yours truly hit the highway in the early hours of Indian Arrival Day and found my way to the designated car park on the Western peninsula. After waiting a few extra minutes for the habitual stragglers who invariably phone in late, we took the five-minute drive to the Arboretum on the Corvigne trail where we were to set up camp for the next three days. Along the way, the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) had posted various signs indicating places of interest, an effort no doubt, to boost the tourist attractions in the area. The campsite itself was a Godsend because I am sure that even the most hard-nosed of campers would prefer the comforts of a flushing lavatory and a shower with running water as opposed to ablutions in the wild. All blessings were therefore heaped on Mr. Hayden Als and his beautiful companion Gail Fuller for their foresight in leasing seven acres of land from the CDA for the purpose of offering a place of respite and rejuvenation for the national community. Als, a landscape engineer by profession was trained at Merrist Wood Agricultural College in Surrey, England, and his project at Tucker Valley aimed at highlighting the main features of the landscape by sculpturing the secondary forest and complementing the existing vegetation with introduced ornamentals. The result was a garden setting of bamboo sheds set over 10’x 10’ concrete flooring and shaded by scattered bamboo stands, all against the backdrop of the Northern Range. The facility was opened to the public in May 2003, and although Als claims that there is still a lot to be done, he is giving it his best shot. With the help of his two supportive workers Andy and Antonio, Als is just happy to give something back to the people of Trinidad and Tobago by offering this ecosite in the very lap of nature. The Arboretum is fed by spring water and from the campsite, nature trails fan out to the hills taking hikers either furthur west, or east to the Diego Martin area. For our first hike we were taken up the Palmiste Trail, passing alongside an abandoned ammunitions bunker to face a hill that seemed to me, to be standing at 90 degrees to the horizontal. It was at this point that I stopped wondering why half of the group had stayed behind ‘to cook’ when it was common knowledge that Vaughn, our designated cook, had already brought along a pot of ‘multi-meat’ pelau, and had lodged it at the campsite. Those crooks!! And maybe that was why the mango orchard was located at the base of the hill too!!…to supply us with all those luscious mango vere, mango rose, calabash and dou dous for energy to climb that hill! Chancellor Hill pales in comparison. Suffice it to say that your friend here was wishing that horses could fly, and that such a horse would rescue me from the hour and a half of torture that I experienced getting up that hill. I prayed every prayer that I ever learnt, and made up hundreds, but I swore that by the next hike (two weeks away) I would train like Ato Boldon and stock up on the strongest tonic around to make sure that my fitness was at its peak. It was too much to bear the snickering sympathy of those hill buffs ahead of me,….so way ahead of me. Up on the ridge we were able to look down into the valley and to identify the buildings there, like the Chaguaramas Youth camp and Rehab center; we saw the now brown expanse of the Chaguaramas Public Golf Course, and as we climbed higher, we got glimpses of the ocean beyond the north coast. Above us the cornbirds carried out their daily chores and a woodpecker hammered out a song on a defenseless tree trunk. Snake was able to harvest some leaves from a bayleaf tree, declaring that it would be part of our breakfast the next day. The forest became darker and cooler as we climbed higher, and soon not only our heads, but all of our bodies were in the clouds. The trail soon leveled off, and with the exception of a few minor inclines, we started the downhill roll, my favourite time of any hike. It was somewhat challenging going downhill with Roseann’s delicate squeals punctuating our exertions and causing us to keep looking around for mice. Finally, we settled on the riverbed and took time off for some refreshments. The guabines (river fish) entertained us as they fought each other for the food scraps that we threw to them. We really felt very appreciated. The walk down the river calmed my weary heart. The water level was still very low, the rains having just started. The men were even able to trap a few mountain crabs (also called manicou crabs) which Snake bagged for later use. When we came to a narrowing of the rock walls of the riverside, we were forced to execute some Spiderman maneuvers to get over the huge rocks that were blocking the path. Even the six-foot water slide that usually provides thrills for hikers was water free at this time. While still behind the rocks in that narrow passage, we identified the sounds of human voices and as we got through, encountered a group of hikers, guided by Andy and Antoniio of the Arboretum. The group had come from a San Fernando church to enjoy the beauty of Tucker Valley, but was unable to progress any furthur up the trail because members were not suitably prepared for the rock climbing. Our two groups merged as we headed back to camp and we filled in our new friends on the thrills of the Palmiste trail. Vaughn’s ‘multi-meat’ pelau was ‘beaten to a frazzle’ as we sighed happily like boa constrictors in the serenity of Tucker Valley. We felt a sense of accomplishment that we had another hiking tale to tell to those who had stayed behind. Those tales filled the minutes at dusk and before long it was time to prepare for bed (whatever form that would take!) Our bedtime stories that Friday night served to keep us more awake than ever. I am sure that some of us had not laughed so hard and long for ages. With the stench of Snake’s crab soup in the air, Snake and Vaughn gave us a composite account of their exploits as teenage schoolboys in Port of Spain, leaving little to the imagination. The stories doubled as jokes then tripled as history lessons on the layout of the city in those days, and it was almost midnight before we heeded Vaughn’s pleas for us to leave his ‘porch’ and go to our respective beds. The songs of the tiny frogs and the crickets were the perfect lullaby for a well deserved rest, and the Red Howler monkeys reversed the process on Saturday morning, acting as our alarm clocks as they rummaged through the forest in search of their morning meal of fruits and flowers. A cold bath and hot breakfast got us rearing the next morning, the bay leaves coming in very handy for spicing up the hot chocolate. Preparation of lunch was the next item on the agenda. Stewed meat and vegetable rice were on the menu for the day and our cooks did their usual remarkable job making sure that we would have nourishment when we returned from our Saturday hike. The plan this Saturday was to take a ‘road hike’ to the old Tracking Station on the eastern hills of Tucker Valley. How hard could that be?! The walk started on the roadway through the ‘Bamboo Cathedral’. The Bamboo Cathedral is a 300m stretch of roadway where the bamboo stalks bend towards each other across the road and their tops form arcs reminiscent of those in a cathedral. We almost performed a marriage ceremony on an unsuspecting couple until we realized that we needed a priest to make it authentic. Added to that, the couple was not satisfied with the quality of the wedding presents, so the wedding was called off and the targeted couple lived to fight another day! The walk up the paved hill seemed, to my traumatised mind and body, to be yet again never ending, especially since the others were yet again, way ahead of me. However, half-hour later, we came upon the dilapidated sentry house that would have served this station about 60 years ago. Those sentries would have been very privileged to have such a fantastic view of the Caribbean Sea and to enjoy the cooling breezes of the North-east Trade winds. Another thirty minutes climb got us to the top of the hill where the old Tracking Station stands. It is a cluster of massive buildings that would have housed the American military during WWII. A huge satellite dish rose up from the hill like a dried flower hinting of the excitement and drama of days gone by. We could only speculate as to the precise activities that would have taken place at the base, but I am sure that the CDA will be glad to share their information with us. A pervading sense of history is very much alive on that hill. Much of the movable hardware has already been vandalised and removed from the site, but the construction material is so durable that those multi-storied buildings will certainly be standing for quite some time as testimony to the far reaching tentacles of war. A few brave hearts made the climb up into the satellite dish and ‘Michael the Fearless’ brought our hearts into our mouths as he defied the howling winds at the top of the dish to lie on the mesh for a sun bath. From the type of equipment left behind we speculated that the lowest building housed some type of water purification system, then, with our investigative powers duly exhausted, we retraced our steps to the main road. Snake took us on one detour onto a sidetrack to harvest a bunch of gru-gru (palm), the tangy pulp of which renewed some of our lost energy. We drove back to the campsite to the catchy strains of the otherwise sad Chutney song ‘Rum ‘till I Die’, happy that we were together, happy to re-raid the mango orchard, happy to eat a tasty lunch and eagerly looking forward to the three day camp at Grand Tacaripe for the Labour Day weekend. Joanne Mike-Ventour HIKE SEEKERS

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What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to Shark River by hikermaster Joanne Mike-Ventour	Merriment at Marianne

On its own, the scenic drive along Trinidad’s north coast was enough upliftment for any weary soul on this brilliant tropical day in March. Fortunately for the eleven carloads of Hike Seekers this was just the beginning of a thrilling hike down the Marianne River and, along with a Maracas bake and shark breakfast, it was the icing on the first slab of cake that would make a beautiful day a fantastic one. Our hike master, Lawrence ‘Snake’ Pierre was waiting for us at the hike site, having gone there the night before to make preparations for our arrival. He had carried up the life jackets, pots and pans, ring stoves and foodstuff and had kept the company of ‘Pops’ whose home is located just at the beginning of the trail. We knew that we had reached our first destination when we saw the faded white sign welcoming us to the waterfall and informing us that ‘Pops’ was our tour guide. . Nobody bothered to find out what Pops’ real name was because he so well fitted the nickname that he was called, acting as a loving and welcoming host to all in the group. No one even hazarded a guess as to when last Pops had even conducted a tour, but the flourishing pepper garden and the hundreds of vegetable seedlings around was enough proof that he had the strength to do it. He did tell us that he used to be an Artificial Insemination technician for the Ministry of Agriculture before his retirement and with the help of some of Caroni’s finest rum, he recalled many of stories from his colourful past…….and he had many many stories. The one that comes quickly to mind is that about a ten year old boy who could not quite understand the Artificial Insemination process and proceeded to use his own intimate words to describe the technique. But that is for another tale. We left Pops and the designated cooks at the house and began our trek towards the river. We soon began to wonder why on earth we had to climb a steep hill to get to a river, but we put it down to Snake’s attempts to always present us with a challenge. We later realized that there was a flat track running just at the base of the same hill that we had been struggling over. Many hikers became immediately bilingual at that point, speaking two local languages at the same time. But we did appreciate the welcoming cool of the forest after the blistering sun of the harsh dry season with the charred vegetation of the hills showing the destruction from the thousands of bush fires that had scourged the land over the past few months. Five minutes later we were on the river bank, and one minute after we had crossed the shallow water, we were looking at the Marianne-Avocat waterfall. It was the cutest little thing, secluded and private, with the water cascading about three metres down to shower us with the most refreshing water coming straight from heaven. The water babies among us quickly found their way in and frolicked for about forty five minutes before we remembered that we were supposed to be on a hike down the river. Among the hikers there were agile ‘mountain goats’ as well as people with two left feet (nothing personal Susie) so the fun was in us helping each other along and laughing with each other as we picked our ways carefully among the rocks. We still managed to be awed by the beauty of the landscape and the way each piece fitted into the other like pieces of a giant jig saw puzzle. There were times when we were high above the river looking down on its snaking path as we scrambled around the slopes using sturdy ropes to guide us. We were the ultimate mountain climbers!. Other times we were down in deep river water, using those same ropes and life jackets to cross the gorges. Halfway down the river we met a short ‘water slide’ carved out of the riverbed by the force of the gushing water. It did not take much coaxing for hikers especially Johanna’s lively kids from South, to let themselves be carried down the stony two meter slope squealing and shrieking all the way. All too soon, we came to the end of the river hike and climbed back onto the bank to make our way to the main road. We passed a young gardener who greeted us warmly insisted that he was planting caraille (bitter gourd) although there was no visible evidence of the trellises that are necessary for this production, and one hill later, we were on to the Blanchisseuse road, ten meters from the beautiful Caribbean Sea. While we waited for the cars to take us back to Pops’ place, we mingled with the holiday makers who covered the sands and we watched others enjoying the kayaking activities up the river. At that point we were a bit too worn out to attempt any other physical activity and our minds were already ahead of us, trying to keep up with our stomachs which were anticipating the hot meal back at the house. There are few things as fulfilling or as tasty as a hot meal after a challenging hike, and the fact that the pots were emptied of the rice, stewed chicken and peas within half an hour of our return, proved the point. The cooks were blessed over and over again by the weary, happy hikers and all expressed their hearty thanks to Hikemaster Snake and his able hike leaders for yet another successful outing. The next hot date was set for the traditional long Easter weekend at Shark River in Matelot. See you there. Joanne Mike-Ventour HIKE SEEKERS

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What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to Shark River by hiker Leticia Fraser	WOW! Easter weekend 2004 was truly an invigorating experience

I joined the Hike Seekers Club on an overnight stay at Shark River, Toco. I found out about the club at the end of March, where I participated in leisure hike to Sobo Falls. There I met Lawrence “Snake man “ Pierre (He knows Trinidad’s terrain like the back of his hand) Michael and Carol, who all took me under their wings. I was really interested in embracing my country’s beauty so naturally that was the way to go. So now I took on the adventure of the three-day camp at Shark River not knowing what to expect. I was a bit skeptical because there wasn’t going to be any “Restrooms” around. Instead, a custom designed toilet done by Lawrence himself. Co-workers teased me tremendously about it, but I decided I had nothing to lose. Mr. Pierre assured that everyone looks out for each other and that the hike would include a good blend of people I was off… On Good Friday Morning, taxi carried me from Port of Spain to the assembly point at Valencia Junction. There I met a group of really cool people: bankers, doctors, mechanics, you name it; I was already invited to share a tent with a fellow camper. That day was meant to organize the sleeping tents and make preparations for the other days ahead, however I hurried my responsibilities to embark on a one-hour hike up Shark River with campers. I quickly tamed up with Ozzi, Jan and Frank (German Medical Electives), Hyacinth and my main man Ricardo. It was really a beautiful sight. The atmosphere was so fresh and clean, nothing like back in the city. The rivers’ banks were filled with many rocks and boulders, while the luscious green trees shaded the ever present sunlight. They leaned over a bit as if to welcome me. Cool water gusher down our feet from the river and soaked our shoes, but we didn’t mind… We were having fun! Admittedly, the climbing was a little tough at times but we all encouraged each other to move forward, not to mention, the tremendous pools of river’s water we had at our beckoning to cool off and to drink. I could not believe this was only the first day and I already felt so alive and free. I knew I had made the right choice by going. The hike back was equally enjoyable but our hunger compelled us to return sooner. When we arrived Snake was not too please that we had abandoned the preparations, but he kept his smile and said, “don’t worry, next time!” We filled our stomachs with Pelau, settled to play cards, and then off to sleep. Pradeed! Pradeep! Was the wake up call early Saturday morning. We were heading to Madamas Bay. A four-hour walk (one-way) through the forest and vegetation coupled with gradients to work the little muscles you have. We began our journey through the quiet village of Matelot, and then headed for the trail along the coastline. The trail we hiked on was another beautiful one. The forest was virtually untouched by man, (with the exception of the trail, of course!). The air was filled with jokes and laughter but grew to very few ones after a couple of hours inside. We crossed little streams on the path and we drank from them. The water actually tasted better than bottled water. Another hour passed, when we had caught sight of the ocean again, which meant we had reached our destination. There, we helped ourselves to fallen coconuts on the beach. I sunbathed for a while, and then slipped into the refreshing river channel that greeted the ocean. The sand was almost white, (shake with the colour of “salt and pepper”) and I took a sea bath despite being advised not too. The waves were really irresistible, but they were also powerful and took a toll on me for the long journey back. Funny enough, I never noticed the many gradients I walked down when we first traveled and now they were the countless inclines I had to face. Damn! But it still remained a wonderful experience. After four challenging hours we made it back to Matelot around 5pm. We were so elated that we pranced all the way until the campsite. Lawrence was there to congratulate us. “Well done you guys”, “I’m glad to see you all are OK!” Boy, we were beat, but not enough to take a long bath in the Shark River till nightfall. We fixed ourselves a meal, ate and then walked through camp. Around eight p.m. the hikers gathered around to listen Lawrence talk about my ‘favorite,’ SNAKES. He really took his time to educate us on the 38 species of snakes in Trinidad and Tobago. There I fell in love with a friend he caught during the day, about four feet in length… a Machette snake. I felt better knowing that out of all the species here, there were only a couple of them that was poisonous (Mapapire & Coral), but he remained us that we must always keep a keen eye out for our “friends” as we were in their homes. The night was still young; I needed to d o something, so I hitched a ride out to Grande Riviere for Turtle watching, as if I wasn’t tired from the long exploratory day! It was amazing to learn so much about these creatures… slow on land but really fast in water, diving at unbelievable depths and holding their breaths under water for as much as forty-five minutes. And they are here every night on our shores in the north coast. Season: March to August. Our final day came and I was already dreading the city life I had to go back to. I met a bunch of people, made new friends, and discovered. A lot of hidden treasures on my island. Every thing I initially set my heart out for, but no time for weeping, we still had another adventure to embark on. It was the Matelot Falls. Almost everyone within the camp decided to go this time, which was great, but I stuck with my team as they always kept me laughing through each journey we were on. Matelot Falls was also breath taking. Not too much of a difficult hike, but like Shark River the banks were filled with rocks, so our steps were very careful when we met water. I did not bath right away, instead I choose to admire the scenery and suck a Tonka bean on a big rock I adopted. There I chatted with friends Ozzi and Ricardo, and allowed a couple of beautiful Emperor Butterflies to glide over our heads. As usual, Lawrence was busy, going far past our stop to discover new tracks for his Hike Seekers to explore. It was time to head back to camp. We stopped at Matelot Village to glimpse at the festivities held to raise funds for the village. Lawrence collected donations from some of us and gave it to them, and then headed back to camp. Sadly, It was time to prepare to leave from Shark River. One by one goodbyes were shouted out and numbers were exchange. I for one had a list of numbers and addresses to take back with me. Every thing was carefully organized: from tents to persons in cars, and alas we bid adieu! The Hike Seekers group is very commendable organization that I trust to take me on many more adventures. Lawrence “Snake man” Pierre is well-rounded individual. He has vast knowledge of the forest, is very experienced and also listens to your concerns. Thank you Lawrence for an unforgettable and exciting experience!!! Leticia Fraser



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What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to Three Stone Pool by hiker Marsha		My first hike ever

My first hike with Hikeseekers (my first hike ever) was a bitter/sweet experience which will forever be embedded in my memory. All odds were against me that morning. Although I had been eagerly anticipating this hike for two weeks, I must admit I was not fully prepared. In the first instance, I forgot my sneakers at the gym and had to compensate with an old pair which had been discarded under the bed for years. I felt it was adequate for what the hike leader Lawrence Pierre (aka Snakeman) termed as a "beginner's hike". Even when I missed my ride at 6:30 am (still snuggling under the covers), I still did not let that deter me. I jumped in a taxi and travelled east to Lopinot Junction, only to find that the hike had already left. When I called Snakeman he told me to take another taxi to Arima Old Road, where he and the group waited patiently for me. When I finally caught up with them, I was greeted by a large group of about 85 hikers from every age group and ethnic background. After walking about half-a-mile up Arima Old Road, we branched off into the forested area. It started off as a cool and relaxing stroll through the shady forest of fascinating bamboo and tankabean trees. Then we hit the water and the nightmare started! The soles of my boot-like shoes had become detached in the water and I was advised to just pull off the base of both sides, leaving a thin layer of material. I discovered moments later this was a huge mistake. Every step I took was more torturing than the last as I began feeling every stone beneath my feet. The bottom of the shoes had deteriorated and I was practically walking barefoot. Unable to go on I just sat on a rock feeling very disheartened and wishing I had never gotten out of bed that morning. I had fallen behind everyone and was just about to call it quits when I realised that a group of hikers had returned to help me. They sourced shoelaces and other material in their bags and in the bush. They tied up my shoes and padded the insides to make my feet comfortable. As I continued on the hike, they kept close to me to make sure that I did not slip on the slopes. When we caught up to Snakeman, he was able to source another pair of sneakers for me. Although I was consumed with self-pity and embarrassment, he made light of the situation making me laugh at my own tribulations. That is when I learnt that another young woman had fallen and fractured her arm and other hikers had come to her rescue. They had banded her arm with plaster of Paris and she was doing fine. I realised my problem was trivial compared to hers and I stopped feeling sorry for myself. When I eventually got to Three Stone Pool, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was one of the most breathtaking sights and I felt so privileged to be there. At that moment I knew I would continue to hike with Hikeseekers with the full knowledge and security that I was hiking with a team of caring experts. Marsha
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What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to El Tucuche by hiker Carrie		A Hike I will Remember

I wanted to thank you for a hike I will remember forever! The other Canadian student teachers that I am here in Trinidad with were soooooo envious. I especially enjoyed: the eel near the river at the start of the hike, ripe cocoa pods, fallen ripe avocados, the red coffee beans, the immortelle trees, the silvery green mosses, the cool springs where we refilled our bottles, the view from the top, the rope down the steep descent, the cedar trees, the termites that you showed me smell like carrots when crushed (and was disappointed I didn't eat any!). The views of the hills to the west and south, and the views of Maracas Beach and Las Cuevas Beach were spectacular. I am glad I had the chance to meet you and the others - a very interesting and diverse group. I want to thank you for the safe, organized, and friendly way that you and the other professionals conducted this hike. I'd say more than 30 of us went, some of us very green. It was an 8 hour hike with strenuous parts that tested us (and a relationship or two)!!! you gave me several insights into Trinis and the bush, and alot of laughs. I still want a T-shirt. Carrie
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What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to Yarra River by hiker Zenobia		A Breath Taking Hike to The Yarra River

The morning of the 6th March 2005 started off with an adrenaline rush. It was 6:00a.m. and our transport was already waiting since we were supposed to be at Maraval for 7:00a.m. Without a choice we hustled, gobbled down our first cup of tea and grabbed our bags as we pushed ourselves through the front gates hoping that our one hour drive turn into half an hour to meet Snake and the others.A group of twenty (20) inexperienced hikers from Claxton Bay decided to put our strength and curiosity to the test. As the long hand approached the big seven, a desperate call was made to Snake begging him not to leave us. Thankfully, he waited – we reached fifteen minutes later. Snake our guide along with several others made our hiking adventure one to remember. We were comfortable and we were safe, despite the Indiana Jones scenes – like rappelling down a steep hill, swimming down a gorge, hiking up steep slopes that seem never-ending and walking through a cold river for endless hours. Yep! It was all worth it – every bone in your body would have rejoiced from the serenity and peacefulness that enveloped the mountains and the trail that led to this river. Surely, this was real therapy for one’s mind, body and soul. At the end we were soaked, we were cold, we were aching but strangely, refreshed and re-energized to face the concrete jungle. As we walked down stream following the river course, it was indeed a moment not to forget – it was an experience which brought us all close that matters of worldly interest were non-existent. How to reach out for help when you need it, especially to cross the deep pools, how to assist with someone’s bag, how to share a fruit or a drink with a stranger and laugh until you cry when someone falls on their butt but help them stand again on their feet at the same time would remain life’s lessons learnt during our trek up and around Yarra River. Days and weeks have passed but we still replay the scenes over and over in our minds – it was truly DE BEST!! Oh, and a few of us would be shopping around for new sneakers while the rest would be joining the gym and swimming classes – so lookout Hike Seekers we are coming back with full force. Avid Hikers, Zenobia and rest at Claxton Bay (Zobida, Fariyah, Melissa, Shazeeda, Shireen, Ada, Amar, Kumar, Judy, Rehanna, Farrah, Leila, Judy, Nirmal, Lall and friends)
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What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to Shark River (Easter Weekend) 2005 by hiker Roxanne Duncan		"As I lazily looked through the Express Newspapers during..."

As I lazily looked through the Express Newspapers during my lunch, I wondered to myself where should I go for my Easter weekend? I wanted time to relax, but still have time for adventure. I definitely knew I did not want to stay at home, then I saw an advertisement for an invigorating four days at Shark River and hikes planned to explore the Matelot Waterfall and the surrounding area at Shark River. I was immediately fascinated, I told others of my desire and two of my friends took me up on the idea. The three of us sat down to make a list of all the things we would need for our camping trip. One tent, sleeping bags, water socks, swimming cap and a lot of calorie-packed foods and drinks. A camp light and appropriate clothing made up the list of things to carry. After many days of fine weather, low and behold, rain greeted us that morning. Kendell, Gerlyn and I were on our way to Valencia Junction to meet the rest of the campers and our guide Mr. Laurence Pierre aka "Snakeman". The weather did cast a shadow over my expectations but it turned out to be the best weather conditions for our hikes. We journeyed to Matelot in our vehicle following closely our hike leader. Finally we arrived at Shark River and with one gaze at my surroundings, I forgot all my anxieties about the weekend, even the no cellular reception, everything was so tranquil. Our first activity of the day was to set up the tent, which turned out to be a bit tricky, especially when choosing the right spot to pitch your tent. After we got it right and chalked up the task as a lesson well learnt, we decided to take a walk up the river. We found a lovely pool across from our campsite but we preferred the river rapids to unwind. We came back to camp, changed and relaxed with the rest of the group, Leon, Brian, J.B., Elizabeth, Hyacinth and “Snakeman”. Early Glorious Saturday lived up to its name with clear skies and a warm breeze. While our breakfast was digesting, my small contingent walked up the hill for a view of the rocky beach and the river’s mouth. When we returned to the campsite the weather had changed from blue skies to a dull gray but it was time to set out for Matelot Waterfall. After a short rainy drive to the starting point of the hike and a wave to Papa, we were on our way. The trek was filled with the sights of hidden pools, wild chaconia, nutmeg and coca trees, which fascinated me along the hike. Finally destination up ahead the powerful waterfall was a sight for eager eyes. A few of us took the chance to enjoy the plunge in the pool, while others took the time to catch their breath because once again we were on our way beyond the fall to another pool which was framed on both sides by two massive slabs of solid rock. On our way back, we passed through an old cocoa plantation where we sampled their sweet fruit. Back to camp, we took another dive in one of Shark River’s many pools and settled down to a hot meal of rice and corn-beef and a game of Romey. Easter Sunday, we decided to take full advantage of the sun to dry some of our clothes that got drenched by yesterday’s showers. The morning was filled with excitement as many families came to spend the day at the river. Most of the excitement was due to Suzie-lee, Snakeman’s pet. A Burmese/Albino python snake. Many came to hold her, even I tried, and some attempted to triumph over their fear of snakes like Joe. After laundry was completed, we began our second expedition – the pools further up Shark River. This trip, compared to yesterday was a lot shorter but just as enjoyable. We noticed an unusual rock formation in the middle of the river, which Snakeman explained would change again when next year rains come because large boulders are usually carried down the river by the large volume of water. We enjoyed the scenery and the large pool we settled down by, after swimming we made our way back to camp. After dinner of potato and bodi, salt fish and grown vegetables we spent our last night playing cards again, listening to stories from Snakeman and JB and laughing at the exchange of picong between members of the group. After we said our goodbyes to our fellow campers, with promises of meeting again on future hikes, we started our return trip to the hustle and bustle of the Valencia Junction. At the end of it I realized that I had fulfilled all I wanted to do this Easter; I relaxed and got to experience an adventure of a lifetime. Roxanne Duncan
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What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to Yarra Falls by hiker Lucy Lovero		My First Hike - Yarra Falls

I had never heard of Yarra Falls and was anxious to explore this part of our island. The hikers all congregated and the journey began. We drove along the North Coast in convoy past Maracas Bay en route to Blanchisseusse. Vehicles parked, safety procedures imparted and life jackets distributed, the hike began at a brisk pace through the shady forest. Wow! I was finally here. The hike had barely begun and already I had made friends – everyone was warm, friendly and encouraging. It was also beautiful to see parents sharing this experience with their children. Truly a day was well spent: Walking through lush vegetation, swimming through cool gorges and sharing interesting conversations and ‘old talking’ with new friends. Thanking God for all these blessings (surely a peek into His Garden of Eden). Thank you Hikeseekers. Laurence ‘Snake’ Pierre - the professionalism with which you and your team handled the outing made my first hike a memorable and enjoyable experience. I found out about you from an ad in the newspaper and got your schedule for 2005 and relevant info from your website (very user friendly). Thanks again – see you on the next hike! Lucy Lovero, Mayaro
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What our hikers have to say! Hikeseekers Hike to NORTH OROPOUCHE RIVER by hiker Zenobia Mohammed		Imagine Heaven on Earth right here in Trinidad!!

After this hike to the scenic and peaceful North Oropouche River, we decided to call ourselves the “Late Stragglers”. The group from Central Trinidad reached on Snake’s hike late and throughout the trail we were last, struggling but not failing. It was a morning never to forget, since it was one of those rare Sundays we could not sleep in. My