From Kyle Ankenbauer (Last entry for this trip!) - The hike to the FORT!

Our Final Full Day

The Fort is about 6 miles and 1000 meters up from our current location of OFCB.  The Fort actually consists of two large roofless castle-like masonry structures perched on two peeks of a saddle on one of the highest mountains in the northern East-West stretch of mountains. One of the buildings offers 3 ancient cannons a 360 degree view of Haitian valleys below, including clear views of the ocean and the previously mentioned "Lake Hanna."

We left at 5:30 am for what we have been told might turn out to be a 4 hour hike to the summit. I had asked only my good friend Jean Jonel to be our guide but our party was soon increased to 13 with the addition of 4 more young Haitian students. Jean Jonel must have set a good pace because we reached the summit at 7:45 am, just in time for our caramel and spicy-peanut butter sandwich lunch. The hike up was quick but it definitely was not easy and our second breakfast was well received by all. The last half mile or so was particularly difficult because the trail led us right up a very steep rocky cliff-face. It was just below this cliff-face that we passed the last of the Haitian homes. Our guides informed us that the children who live in these homes still make the 1000m elevation change trek to OFCB for class.

The first building was positioned to look over basically what we know as the Bayonnais valley. Although the southern view is blocked by another peak, the view of the north was spectacular. We could see nearly 60% of Lake Hanna, including the section where the Gonaives Highway enters and is immediately submerged. Rex, Kyle C. and I were there just one day before.  We could also see the second building of the Fort which we had not known about before.

The second building, although smaller, was far more interesting. The entrance to the building is a steep arched staircase that holds a 6' cannon laid directly in its path. Just past the top of the staircase, in the center of the building's footprint, is a peculiar 15' by 20' by 15' deep hole. The hole housed an orange tree and various other ivys but offered no clue as to its original purpose. Next to the hole there is a small masonry room about the size of a large garden shed. The interior of the shed had an arched ceiling and it appeared to be some sort of storage facility. There were two other 9' cannons placed at strategic locations in the building, one overlooking the N NW slope and one overlooking the Southern slope. The 360 degree view was awesome. I have seen places with equivalent archaeological value before in Europe but I had to wait for hours in lines, pay an obnoxious fee and be toted through red taped walkways by a tour guide. My Haitian experience of historical structures was far more satisfying.

Our guided decided to lead us back down a different way, which turned out to be an experience all in its self. We were taken through some remote parts of Haitian culture that we have not yet seen. Interestingly enough, the trail ended by leading us in to OFCB right by the river that the purpose of this trip originally intended to build a Hydro on. Michael and I had been up on this segment of trail, which offers a near birds-eye view of our proposed penstock route, earlier this week, but now the entire team had a chance to see our plan. Whether or not the construction of the Hydro is actually possible, this view certainly confirms our concerns that it would be difficult and resource intensive.

This will likely be the last blog update before we leave later today for a 4 hour bus ride to Port au Prince. I can probably speak for everyone when I say that this trip as been unexpectedly educational in a number of ways. I feel as though I have aged a full year with the wisdom I have formed. We will miss our baths in the rivers, the overabundance of mangoes and a strikingly friendly community, but I can adamantly claim that we all look forward to our return to the US.

Kyle Ankenbauer