Fond Lottiere
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| | Raps:7, max ↨98ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Required 1.5mi Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Basalt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 4 Jan 2023
"After a week of constant heavy rains, including during the drive to the canyon, we arrived and were surprised to see it was not flowing very high. The |
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| Best season: | Any
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14.8595, -61.1786
14.8643, -61.1793
14.8694, -61.1764
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Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction
Fond Lottiere is a short, fun and logistically easy canyon in the north of Martinique. While not a world-class canyon, it makes for a nice half-day adventure with a mellow approach and easy exit. A shuttle is required, although walking the shuttle route is not out of the question. Even in heavy rains, this route may not flood and stay at a safe flow. Escape is fairly easy, should it be necessary, but you should expect bushwhacking should you bail. Check the river at the lower parking area if in doubt.
Approach
You'll definitely need to you the GPS track on this page!
Drive up the road and park while it's still paved. The road will otherwise become very bad the last 500 meters, and it's faster to just walk.
From here, you'll have to go through at least one gated fence. There may be a farmer there - say hi and be respectful. After the farming plots, the trail is easy to follow.
There is a sudden, nondescript turnoff from the trail, going down into the ravine. Follow this for a few minutes down, on a faint trail You'll gently cut to the right. Atop a steep slope is some fixed metal cables, which marks the start. Suit up here, as this is the first rappel.
Descent
From the cable line, it's a slot rappel into a brief slot. Once in this slot, it is immediately a larger rappel down a waterfall. This rappel has good bolts on the left side.
After this one, there is a bit of boulder-hopping and downclimbs to another drop. Rig a traverse line left side to avoid the torrent.
Shortly after is the centerpiece rappel of the canyon - a 30-meter sloping drop in a chute-style waterfall with a boulder halfway. If the flow is not too high, it's possible to rappel under the boulder. If unsure, definitely stay above it! This rappel is the banner on this page.
There are a few small rappels with bolted anchors after this one.
The canyon slowly ends with some pretty downclimbs before opening up at the river and the exit.
Exit
The canyon with end and immediately intersect with the river. This river is mostly knee-deep and is all slippery boulders. Follow the river downstream. There may be side paths to speed up progress. You'll then arrive at the lower parking area where you left your shuttle vehicle.
Red tape
No red tape.
Beta sites
-
Descente-Canyon.com : Fond Lottière - An Kanion La-madinina : Fond Lottière
- Mur d'Eau Caraibe : Ravine fond Lottière
- An Kanion La-madinina : Ravine Fond Lottière [MP-4]
- LukasEddy.com : Canyons of Martinique
Trip reports and media
Background
First descended in the 2000s or 2010s by French canyoneers. The approach crosses through private property - please be respectful.
