Gros Piton
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Gros Piton is one of two mountains south of the town Soufrière in the southwest of Saint Lucia. Lying at the southern end of Pitons Bay, it rises to a height of 786 m (2619 ft). It is the second highest peak on Saint Lucia, after Mount Gimie.
The mountain was a refuge to the escaped slaves at some point -- the steep slopes made it an easily defensible position. According to locals, the slave-owners introduced snakes to punish the escapees, but the modern science believes the only venomous snake found on St. Lucia to be endemic to the island.
[edit] Climbing
Gros Piton can be climbed without ropes or mountaineering experience -- a decent physical shape will let one hike to the summit and come back down to the sea-level within a few hours. Local guides are available for hire (typically through the resorts) and are trained by the government to have basic knowledge of the languages common among tourists and of the medical procedures required in case of common accidents.
[edit] Marijuana-growing
It is common knowledge among the locals (and the guides) that marijuana is grown on the slopes of the mountain. A tourist may, on occasion, encounter a machete-armed man going to his post to guard such a plantation -- as the stuff begins to reach maturity, it is often a target of theft.
[edit] See also
Coordinates: 13°48′N 61°04′W / 13.8°N 61.067°W
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