Cascading nearly 300 feet, Middleham Falls, located in the Morne Tois
Pitons National Park, provides a memorable experience.
Leaving from their home in the mountain village of Cochrane, our friends Liz Madisetti, and her son Dylan (who provided us a wealth of forest insight) led us eagerly along the trail
on a hike that took nearly an hour & 30 minutes, one-way... it could have been a bit shorter had we not stopped to more closely experience and investigate the wealth of plants, trees, small streambeds, immensity and silence of the forest and other
sights along the way.
Defined as a level 2 hike (4 being the most challenging) in
Paul Crask's,
Dominica Guidebook,
the narrow trail wound up, down and around... some areas noticeably more steep than others, with with an occasional balancing act climb over moss-slick rocks down, across and up streambeds.
Soon into the hike, Alden and I more clearly understood why Dylan was leading the expedition sans shoes. After one hard slip on a large, wet boulder, Alden shucked his shoes, initiating his bare feet to the soggy
rainforest floor, slick boulders, fallen limbs
and logs -- bare feet providing much better traction and grip. Dillon's mother & I marveled at the tenacity of youth; I wondered if perhaps next time I might attempt such a feat.
▲For a ratio perspective of the above scene, compare the bottom left
corner where Alden & Dylan are standing by the pool, to the top of the falls.
An understanding of the falls cannot be fairly described with any combination of words. Water falling hundreds of feet against a green sea background of rainforest foliage all the while tied at the top to deep, blue sky
and puffs of clouds... cascades of white ribbon spilling into a cold crystal pool shored up by never ending reverberation and splash, everything wrapped in a silky mist... can only truly be experienced.
We first viewed the full expanse of the falls from a platform (built by the park service) that hung out several feet and 50 yards or so above the rocks, both laterally to the falls and vertically to the stream and pool below. Providing a great view, several photos (see below) were taken from this vantage as the boys proceeded down a very steep boulder field to the water.
From the pool's edge, along with the inspiring height of the spectacle, the three, towering shear cliffs that create crevice to the falls take on startling dimensions and strength. One easily
feels small here, seemingly an ant in the throat of the forest.
The water was cold, but instantly refreshing... once having jumped in and the first breath rediscovered -- the heat and sweat of the hike quickly washed away.
Having this world to ourselves for nearly an hour, we swam and jumped & dived from rocks naturally placed eons ago during some volcanic rearrangement... for just such things.
Note that there is a second,
shorter trail, leading to Middleham Falls. This trail
head begins south of the falls on the road that leads to the
Fresh Water and Boiling Lakes. Hiking to the falls
from this trail, at a moderate pace, can take 30-45 minutes.
The trail is initially a steep climb for the first have
half, before becoming somewhat flat, followed by a moderate
slope down to Falls' viewing area.
_____ = Roads
Marigot = Main airport Roseau = country's largest city & capitol Portsmouth = 2nd largest city & Ross Medical College
