Hiking in the Jungle

dont forget insect prevention gears…
with low temp as high as 23C better to just let it wet, as membrane rainshells are going to be too warm and clammy. Dry clothing for sleep, wet clothing for walking.
no nylon shirt because of clamminess… instead use cotton/poly shirt as it feels cooler than pure poly and dry faster than pure cotton…
prepare to deal with leeches and a lot of mud…

For rain gear my options are eVent rain jacket, Patagonia Houdini wind shirt (quite new, DWR is still very fresh), or light softshell jacket made by Cloudveil. I was leaning towards the wind shirt personally.

I fog my gear down with permetherin, and always pack deet and a head net.

I was planning on wearing capiline for base layer. Would that not be comfortable?

I've done a couple trips to Hawaii, backpacking through their tropics and always went with a tarptent for lightweight protection against rain and insects (the Moment this past May and a Lunar Solo e in 2007). The state controls the campsites via a reservation system (formally), so there's space to lay a tarptent. Hawaii has some biting centipedes, so you may want to research stinging/biting insects in Jamaica. The temps went down to 60F and I slept fine with my synthetic clothes underneath a silk liner, sliding my R1 fleece on when it got a little chilly in the AM. Of course if you are sleeping with your girlfriend, maybe a bigger tarptent and something like a silk or quilted sheet would work. Just something psychological about a sheet when you are trying to sleep. Would bring a better airpad for roots if on the ground.

Some lucky dog was sleeping with 3 women under a simple blue tarp when I left the Waimanu campsite; they were all in their 20's and could probably put up with a little discomfort. IMO go with lightweight luxury if you are with a girlfriend.

If I ever do that trip again (I visit parents every few years out there), I'm thinking of a quilted blanket like a cut down American military poncho liner but more water/hydration mixes/etc..

ADD: Also I'd consider a hammock if I do the trip solo again as the roots were pretty big even at the prepped campsites. With a girlfriend/wife unit I'd go with a tarptent and serious airpads.

Jamaica is a weird place to hike. I was there in 2008. There is a mountain ridge that runs along the backbone of the island, with the Blue Mountains toward the east. That's more like a cloud forest, and that is where coffee is grown, so the locals may not like an outsider walking around. That's also where ganja is grown, and they really don't like an outsider walking around. There is much more swampy land in the southwestern portion and there were lots of little critters skittering around on the ground. It is possibly one of the least-safe countries that I have visited.

–B.G.–

Have your affairs in order. I agree with Bob on this one. What does the State Dept. have to say about it?

Years ago when JOTC (Jungle Operations Training School) was still in Panama I was tactical. Sleeping on the ground, always wet, wet, wet.

The instructors all used hammocks, and we're not covered with red welts in the morning. Use a hammock, a simple surplus poncho liner is a great idea. The NYCO, nylon cotton Ripstop, is a good outer layer fabric, it dries faster than you would think. Wear a simple uber light wool t shirt and no undies. Apply the DEET liberally at every opening. Lots of extra thin wool socks.

The northwestern corner of the island is Montego Bay where there are lots of tourists and tourist traps. The government likes to keep things halfway civil there to attract more tourist dollars. The southeastern corner is Kingston where the businesses and government are, and most of that you don't want to be caught in after sundown. It is all of the land in-between where an outdoors person might go. For one thing, I don't believe that any sane person would want to drive a vehicle there. There are several little eco-friendly spots, but it is not exactly wilderness-y.

Fortunately for me, I was there on business, and my host was the Jamaican Constabulary (military+police). So, nobody fooled with me.

–B.G.–

Thanks for the input guys.

We're going to be in Montego Bay, and planning on going on a short 3 night trip in that area. If there are any hiking trails, we wouldn't veer off the beaten path too far in any case. In light of that, do you still think it's a really sketchy plan?

"If there are any hiking trails"

So, what is the plan? It doesn't sound like you have one.

–B.G.–

I agree with Bob here. It's really important to have a plan in countries/regions where your personal safety is genuinely something to consider. That doesn't mean you can't have a great time in Jamaica on a 3 day hike but it does mean that you should have some idea of your route/destinations so you can research them when you get there. I think this is particularly important if your taking your girlfriend with you. Also, when you get there, be honest with yourself and be comfortable bailing if the info or comfort is not there. Remember you can always just hang on the beach for a few days instead and that's not a bad alternative.

I was in Jamaica 10 yrs ago and my wife and I went on a short 15 mile bike ride into the mountains and I have never had so many glares and uncomfortable feelings as I have on that trip and I've traveled a lot. Jamaica is not a destination where you can just walk anywhere and talk your way out of it later.

For one thing, if you go to a country like this, and if you plan to stray far outside the touristy areas, it is a good idea to register with your country's embassy there. That just means you fill out a card that shows a hotel or a wilderness area or whatever, and what dates you expect to be there. Then, if by some chance something unexpected happens and you turn up missing, and if your family contacts the embassy, at least they will have some information to pass to the local authorities. In this case, the Canadian embassy would contact the Jamaican Constabulary Force.

If you stay within the touristy areas around Montego Bay and do the normal touristy things, then that registration is probably unnecessary (but it can't hurt).

–B.G.–

You're correct Bob, there is no clear plan as of yet, aside from the desire to spend a few nights outside of the city and to check out the karst landscape. Some very good points have been brought up, and I'll definitely put a lot more consideration into planning this hike than I typically would. I'll contact the Canadian embassy, and get in touch with some companies that offer guided hikes and find out as much as I can. If this can't be done with a reasonable degree of safety, we'll reconsider going on a hike.

I am still going to make all the necessary preparations in event that conditions are favorable. Any other suggestions for hiking in the tropics compared to temperate areas?

I've camped/hiked in Malaysia, Borneo, the Marshall Islands, Costa Rica, Congo (old Zaire), and Madagascar, and I don't remember the overnight low temperature to ever be below 68-70*F. So you might want to think on this when devising your sleep system. Any sleeping bag will likely be overkill. I had a sort of quilt made from very thin flannel, which worked well.

Tried and true jungle gear…

Army Poncho and poncho liner for rain and shelter. You will sweat.

Rip-stop cotton fatigue shirt in army green.

Jungle trousers made from rip-stop cotton in army green.

Jungle neckerchief, multi-use item. Color matches your undershirt for the fashion conscious.

Olive cotton boxers guaranteed to give you crotch-rot.

Jungle boot with Vibram sole.

Boonie hat made from rip-stop cotton, insect net optional.

M1 helmet liner, excellent for scooping up water.

Canvas or cotton duck compass pouch containing your lensatic compass.

Polyethylene canteen with cover. Canteen cup optional. Pouch in cover for iodine tabs. Use Koolaid with cyclamate to flavor.

C-rations. Even comes with cigarettes and gum you can use to barter with the natives. Can use the main course meal can to make a stove after consuming the food. Need at least one accessory pack, which comes with a P-38. Attach the P-38 to your dog tag chain. Pork & beans taste the best. Avoid ham and Lima beans.

Right angle olive flashlight.

US tropical rucksack or butt-pack.

Pilot's survival knife.

Optional items…

M7 Bayonet, M16, M21 or M41; M1911A1; M61; M1942 or M1967

I'd hire a local guide, register at the Embassy and totally go for it. The local guide is not so much for him to show you where to go, but to show you where not to go. I've backpacked in rainforests in Guatemala and Bolivia with no problems.

What you really need is 100% deet, long sleeves, and a tent with a very decent bug net (I'm quite happy with my TT Double Rainbow). You'll blow thru 2x your usual water. My favorite piece of gear in these places is a cheap mesh bug net that goes over my hat/head. I use a sleeping pad and bag because I live in South Florida and think anything under 75F is freezing cold.

Some way to grind and brew the Blue Mountain coffee.

Yes, I was in a tiny coffee plantation in the Blue Mountains, and the owner was giving me the two-bit tour, showing me the steps in coffee production. He was trying to get me to buy a bunch of his own coffee. Then I just happened to look out of the window, and then look down toward the ground. There was his ganja!

He immediately whisked me out of the room and got me moving toward the vehicle.

–B.G.–

My wife and I hiked, bussed and hitch hiked around Jamaica in the 70s.

Getting wet is no big deal because it is so warm.

Never did feel safe there. Too much poverty. The contents of my pack exceeded the net worth of most people we saw and drug dealing was everywhere.

I live in a very similar climate to Jamaica. Some 2cs.

+++ for a hammock. I would suggest taking a very thin foam (e.g. 1/4 or 1/8 inch) pad as under some conditions (e.g. misty / windy) you will still get surprisingly cool in the early morning – especially at a little altitude.

Light, synthetic sleeping bag or quilt. If it is a bit cool i wear just enough clothes to bed to be warm and that normally finds me not reaching for the sleeping bag until the early hours of the morning.

Event raingear works ok – well much better then goretex.

Invest in some good warm weather clothing (e.g. tight, thin wicking synthetics like Heatgear)

If you are hiking try to avoid sleeping in airconditioning on the nights before – it will be more comfortable on the trail if you can aclimatise even just a bit.

The best thing to do just before bed if possible on a hot night is go for a swim to cool your core temperature down. Even in a hammock you may sweat for the first 30 mins to an hour but should cool down as the metabolism drops after that. Try to eat dinner early and keep it light so the furnace isn't burning too hot.

Lastly – don't underestimate how much water you may need. Ironic sometimes at trying to go lightweight with gear when (in the worst case) can be carrying 12-15 litres of water (e.g. 2 days hard up and down without any water on the trail)