Day+07+Virgin+Islands+National+Park+(St.+John)+Reef+Bay+Trail+Hike

by Jared Sandberg and Jonathan Richter

Today we got to experience the eco-tourism factor of the Caribbean economy. We visited the island of St. John. Around half of the island was purchased by Laurence Rockefeller and turned into a national park in 1956. We hiked down the Reef Bay Trail, while being guided by a national park ranger. We got to see local plants and trees along the way while learning about their ancient applications as well. For example, we got to see a Locust Tree which drops these large brown seeds that have a “banana” flavor powder inside. The people of the island used to used to use this powder for energy. We also saw which tree leaves they used to use as Brillo pads. We were able to see the remains of many slave quarters and walls that were made of rock and coral, as well as an old sugar plantation at the end of the hike. It was interesting to see what actually occurred in these areas that we simply consider the National Park now. Understanding the daily life of the people of this Island is really fascinating and almost unfathomable.

Another aspect we were able to see along the hike was the petroglyphs. These are old pictures that were carved into the rock of old waterfalls by the native Tainos many years ago. While hiking, we saw wild deer as well as an endangered species of bird that was native only to the island of St. John. However, when we asked why the old remains are not currently being preserved (many of them are falling apart), our ranger told us that they don't get enough funding to maintain them. It was sad to hear this, because these aspects can tell us so much about the island’s history and have gone through so much.

At the end of the trail, we reached a beach where a boat was waiting for us so that we wouldn't have to hike back up the trail. The people allowed us to jump off the boat and even jump off the upper deck. After getting back to the main area of Cruz Bay, we got to walk around the town for some time after, and it was interesting to see the amount of tourists in comparison to the few locals. In addition, the fact that half of the island is a national park may be another reason for so many tourists. We also noticed many more littering signs around the Island than in Charlotte Amalie, and we thought that this was because of the bigger emphasis on the environment and the National Park in St. John.

Ruins Petroglyphs