Welcome back!

Orchids, Chocolate Hole, St. John US Virgin Islands March 7, 2010

click image to enlarge

As promised here are some more photos of the overlooks recently cleared by Jeff Chabot and his crew of intrepid volunteers. From those of us who hike the trails of St. John:

THANK YOU!!!

View from the Bench on Caneel Hill

The Caneel Hill Bench

View from the Caneel Hill bench

Hikers following the Caneel Hill Trail beginning from the National Park Visitors Center in Cruz Bay or from the Caneel Hill Spur will arrive at a wooden bench just before they reach the summit of Caneel Hill. There is now a view from this very welcomed resting spot that at least for the view to the north goes, rivals the view from the viewing tower at the summit. This thanks to the hard work and dedication of the trail crew from the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Greetings Film Lovers!

The St John Film Society will welcome visiting filmmaker Marta Bautis on Thursday, 7:00 PM, February 18th at the Marketplace in Cruz Bay.

With her award winning film. Sarayaku: Rivers of Corn, Ms. Bautis will introduce us to the inspiring Kichua women of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Please save this date and stay tuned for more information to follow on this upcoming event.

Meet the Filmmaker!

Join us for a special pri fixe dinner at La Plancha del Mar before the film. Our friends at La Plancha will be serving a lovely three course meal, including wine tasting!
5:30 PM $35 p/p or $25 for Film Society Members (Memberships sold at the door) Seating will be limited so please make your reservation today!

777-7333

Queens NY

As you can plainly see, this isn’t the Virgin Islands. This morning finds me enjoying the wonderful world of an American blizzard, in the home of my son,  Sean, Astoria, Queens, New York. All in all I have to say that the weather is better on St. John.

Curtney Chinnery aka The Ghost From Jost recites his poem, “Your Counterpart”

Time, by Curtney Chinnery aka The Ghost From Jost

For better or for worse, the poet Curtney Chinnery, aka the “Ghost From Jost” is back on St. John.

The Ghost and I made this video yesterday demonstrating how to catch a tarantula. Apparently there are nearly 1,000 species of tarantula and not all are as deadly as commonly imagines. I have heard that these tarantulas, or ground spiders as they are sometimes called on St. John, can inflict a painful bite, but one which is rarely fatal.

Moreover, our St. John tarantulas are not aggressive at all and are fearful of humans.

Stay tunes for more adventures of the “Ghost From Jost…”

Maria Hope Trail

In the last few years, the Maria Hope Trail has become a popular hiking venue. Passing through shady lush tropical forest, this old Danish Road provides Maho and Cinnamon Bay campers with convenient access to the Reef Bay Trail, historically significant ruins and a scenic overlook with bird’s eye views of Maho and Francis Bays and vistas extending eastward to West End Tortola and beyond.

There have been some complaints, however, about the fact that the trail runs over private land at the lower elevations. There is now a cure for that. Down on the lower section, just before the wire fence that crosses the trail, there is a nice trail that switchbacks down the hill and comes out at Maho Beach, just east of the green building on the beach.

Alternate entrance to the Maria Hope Trail

There is a road sign (West  RT. 20) where it comes out.

This new section of trail passes through the flats just inland from Maho Beach before the it begins its steep uphill climb.

Maho Bay Flats

The low lying flats present a unique forested environment without thick or thorny undergrowth making it easy to pass though and enjoy.

Overlook on the Maria Hope Trail

White Cliffs

White Cliffs Trail

Europa Bay

Want a beautiful and exciting alternative to the Lameshur Bay Trail between Lameshur Bay and Reef Bay? We have one for you and it is one of the most dramatic, scenic and exciting hiking trails on St. John – The White Cliffs Trail.

trail to the ridge

Beginning at Lameshur Bay, take the Lameshur Bay Trail as far as the Europa Bay Spur. Turn left onto the Europa Bay Spur and follow it to the coral rubble and rock strewn beach at Europa Bay.

Turn right and head towards the south end of the beach. You should be feeling a cooling breeze and hearing the sounds of the surf breaking and the melodious rhythm of the small cobbles and pieces of coral rolling back and forth in the surge.

big rocks on trail

Walk along the shore until you reach the steep hill coming down from the cliffs. Turn right along the base of the hill (it is cleared) and go about 150 feet in from the water. Bear left and diagonally up the hill. You want to stay just to the right of the big rocks and in a short way, you will start to see a track that heads straight up. Follow it to the top of the ridge….”

Near the top is a turn off to the right with magnificent bird’s eye views of  Europa Bay and the big salt pond behind it.

When you reach the ridge, a short walk to the left will bring you to an overlook with great views to the southeast coast of St. John all the way out to Rams Head.

View of Europa Bay Salt Pond

View of Europa Bay

View towards Ram Head

Now for the trail: Walk west along the ridge. The trail goes to the left side of the ridge, down a bit and then back over the ridge and down a bit on the north side of the ridge. The trail gets better as you go. If you are bushwhacking at all, you missed it. Just keep heading west.

Agave on trail

Passing a rather large agave in then middle of the trail, follow the trail straight up the ridge. After you pass over a short rocky section, you will come to an area of large cactus.

The trail isn’t very noticeable here, but you can keep just to the right of the first couple of cactus and then bear up and left to reach the top of the cliff. There are a few little agaves but it is easy going. You should be at the top of the cliff with the ocean straight down below you. There is a section of stone wall at the edge.

What we’re calling the White Cliffs Trail may have been a footpath for those traveling between Lameshur Bay and Reef Bay, but this part where you first get to the clifftop and the section of stone wall appears to be an old road.

Now you will be walking west along the ridgetop. On your left the hillside descends steeply towards the White Cliffs and the rocky shoreline below. Wowie! Awesomely dramatic! And lots of outstanding photo ops also!

The views to the south are superb all along the trail and there are more orchids blooming along the trail than I have seen anywhere else on the island. If you look closely, they seem to grow along the trail, but not much away from the trail. They were just starting to bloom before Christmas.

From here, the trail is obvious and follows along the side of the hill and goes straight toward Reef Bay.

You will emerge from the trail at the east end of the beach not far from the beginning of the White Cliffs.

Entrance to trail from the beach at Reef Bay

If you want to find the trail from the beach at Reef Bay, walk east along the beach until you are a few hundred feet from the end. There are two round bushes on the beach, out toward the water. Both about 6 feet tall, look the same, and are maybe 20 feet apart. Head into the woods from between the bushes, bear right and sort of follow up the left side of the gut. Look for the cut stumps. It is probably easier to find from the Europa Bay end.

If you haven’t had enough by now, you can easily reach the sugar mill ruins at the end of the Reef Bay Trail and continue your explorations, such as the petroglyphs, the Par Force Ruins and the Great House. If you don’t want to backtrack you can also return to Lameshur Bay via the Lameshur By Trail.