Hiking on Juan Fernandez
Both our second and third days on the island we climbed up to Mirador Selkirk, or Selkirk lookout, which is about 600 m high. We went with my dad's botanical guide, Carlos, who knew an impressive amount about the island's ferns. The trail to the mirador starts in town and rises steeply through first local gardens, then invasive plant scrub, and then dry native and endemic species. Once you've made it to the lookout, you can climb down the other side of the mountain, which is very lush and dramatic and has lots of wet vegetation.
Las Islas Juan Fernandez are called the Robinson Crusoe Islands in English, because the book Robinson Crusoe was based on the life of a scottish man, Alexander Selkirk, who was stranded here in the 1700's. At the top of the mirador is a plaque which reads "In memory of Alexander Selkirk, mariner, a native of Larco, in the county of Fife, Scotland. Who lived on this island in complete solitude, for four years and four months. He was landed from the Cinqueports Calley, 96 tons, 16 guns, A.D. 1704, and was taken off in the Duke, privateer, 12 February 1709. He died Lieutenant of H.M.S. Weymouth, A.D. 1726, age 45 years."
From the mirador we could see down the other side of the mountain to a series of bays and volcanic peaks.
The trail on the other side of the lookout, with lots of Blechnum and Gunnera.
Daddy admiring the ferns covering what must have been a 1000 foot cliff. This picture doesn't even begin to do it justice. It was breathtaking.
After hours and hours of looking at ferns, I got bored out of my mind and started trying to take arsty plant pictures.
On another hike, to Plazoleta del Yunque. Here I am in a giant Gunnera forest.
Back at the hosteria, the view of fishing boats in BahÃa Cumberland.
Las Islas Juan Fernandez are called the Robinson Crusoe Islands in English, because the book Robinson Crusoe was based on the life of a scottish man, Alexander Selkirk, who was stranded here in the 1700's. At the top of the mirador is a plaque which reads "In memory of Alexander Selkirk, mariner, a native of Larco, in the county of Fife, Scotland. Who lived on this island in complete solitude, for four years and four months. He was landed from the Cinqueports Calley, 96 tons, 16 guns, A.D. 1704, and was taken off in the Duke, privateer, 12 February 1709. He died Lieutenant of H.M.S. Weymouth, A.D. 1726, age 45 years."
From the mirador we could see down the other side of the mountain to a series of bays and volcanic peaks.
The trail on the other side of the lookout, with lots of Blechnum and Gunnera.
Daddy admiring the ferns covering what must have been a 1000 foot cliff. This picture doesn't even begin to do it justice. It was breathtaking.
After hours and hours of looking at ferns, I got bored out of my mind and started trying to take arsty plant pictures.
On another hike, to Plazoleta del Yunque. Here I am in a giant Gunnera forest.
Back at the hosteria, the view of fishing boats in BahÃa Cumberland.
posted by Julia | 7:23 AM
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