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“... of verdure and rises to a far greater
height. The Gros Piton is certainly not unlike the Pic
du Midi. It is said to be 2,619 feet high, the Petit Piton
2,461 feet. The Gros Piton is comparatively easy to
ascend, but until 1878, the smaller Piton was unconquered
by man. In that year, however, a M. Lompré succeeded
in gaining its summit, and it was ascended in 1885 by
Mr. Charles de Brettes, who two years later conducted the
then Chief Justice, Dr. John W. Carrington, and a party
to the summit. The start was made from the western
extremity, which was reached by clambering over the
rocks. The party began the ascent at 6.22 a.m. and at
7.15 reached the Grande Ravine, a deep gorge running
into the mountain. Thence the line of march lay more
along the side of the mountain, and they worked their
way gradually round to the shoulder which stands out
clearly on the north-western face. A deep ravine
having been crossed, the projecting point of the shoulder
-was reached at 9.40...”
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