Piton des neiges

The Piton des Neiges geocache (GC5K1FZ) was placed on 10 January 2015 by l.a.f.l.e.u.r on the summit of the highest point of Réunion and of the whole Indian Ocean, at 3,070 metres. Piton des Neiges is a volcano extinct for some twelve thousand years; it built two thirds of the island, and its successive collapses carved out the cirques of Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos.

Despite its name, the summit holds no snow: the name comes from a heavy snowfall in 1735. The climb is done by night. From Cilaos, Salazie or the Plaine des Cafres, walkers stop over at the Caverne Dufour hut, the only refuge in the massif, and set off early in the morning for the final hour of ascent. At daybreak, the summit casts its triangular shadow across the island.

The view from the top is sublime. The Pitons, cirques and remparts of Réunion Island have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010 and form the heart of the national park, covering more than 40% of the island. The summit itself has been protected since 2001 by a biotope order: Barau's petrels nest there.

One of the most beautiful summits where a small box lies hidden.