hiking samoa (mt silisili / mt fito)

hey,

going to samoa in october and want to climb mt silisili. i've searched the web and lp but all i can find is a liitle bit in lp about speaking to the mayor and hiring a guide. any one got any more info about the trip or personal experience?

also, any info on climbing mt fito, same story but lp has nothing at all about it. can it be done in a day? is a guide needed?

cheers

Edited by: drcleg

You need two days for Mt.Silisili and you need a guide. There is no food or water on the way so you have to carry all with you. When you drive through Aopo coming from Manase it is the very last house of the village where the Pulenuu (Mayor) lives. There you pay the access fee as the mountain belongs to the village (yes, indeed) and the fee for your guide as well. Usually people stay overnight in the Pulenuu's house as the hike starts early, around 4.30 am, and you get a small breakfast before. The guides are good and reliable but the tour is very difficult from what I heard. But I am not a trekking person myself.

Here is a very good description of a Mt.Silisili trip.

I do not know any regular offer regarding Mt.Fito. Of course you cannot go without a guide as there are no ways or paths. You might be able to do the tour in one day - if you find someone to go with you. Ask at the Samoan Outrigger Hotel in Apia or at the Hidden Garden Hostel in Faatoia/Apia. They might know someone to take you up there.

cheers!