"The hardest thing I've ever done, but alive to tell the tale: just" D.K. Thornhill
Armed with trekking poles (DK X 2: SS X 1), filled rucksacks and lunches for 2 days we took an expensive taxi half way up the 1700m hill to the first night's stop. The day had turned to rain by 10:00am and we set off into the misty moisty forest.
A few hours later as the clouds broke we arrived at the gite too early to check in. So off to the viewpoint we went - disapppointingly this provided views of clouds and not much else.
More fun was the prospect of a portaloo WC and shower, and a cosy bunk bed in the dorm. A meal of smoked pork kari, rice, lentils and cake and a night disturbed by snorers marked the end of day 1.
Day 2 started at 6.00am as the early risers broke camp, while we enjoyed the delights of breakfast of jam, biscottes, coffee / hot choc and a return to the viewpoint where we were able to peer timidly into the craters and across to the far peaks. By 11:00 we were en route to Dos d'Ane (yes - donkey's back); mostly downhill through primary forest of tree ferns and other exotics, including tiny orchids and chirruping birds. It was a memorable day's hike in fine weather with stunning views towards Mafate before we dragged our weary selves to Les Acacias B&B (fortunately finding a Dodo shop in the village).
Days 3 - 10 followed a similar pattern. The photos provide more detail, but essentially our day goes like this:
06:00: awoken by other hikers fussing and shuffling around in the gite
06:30 - 07:30: breakfast: invariably bread, jam, coffee / chocolate / tea
07:30 - 12:30: hiking away from gite towards next gite on paths up and down, sometimes across a river
picnic lunch: bread, salami, cheese, tomatoes, onions, peanuts (wine on occasion)
13:00 - 15:00: hiking towards gite away from last night's gite - yep, on paths up and down, sometimes across a river
15:30 - 16:30 check into gite: allocated bunk in dorm with snoring German or French people. On good days get own room
16:30 - 18:30: chill out with a Dodo / Kindle/ pipe. Queue for shower (not always available and not always hot)
18:30: start lurking for dinner
19:00: dinner with convivialite. Rhum / punch then soup or salad: followed by kari, rice, beans/lentils with piment and cake to finish
20:00 French people scurry off to bed while the only 2 English people in Reunion play Bananagram and talk with nice German people (if available)
21:00: lights out
21:00- 05:30: Communal snoring