In an extraordinary display of endurance and personal determination, Huanna Leon of Saint Lucia marked her 38th birthday by leading a seven-member team on a grueling triple mountain ascent. On February 8, 2026, the group successfully scaled the island’s three most prominent peaks—Mount Gimie, Gros Piton, and Petit Piton—in a single day under the lighthearted theme ‘Three Peaks We Ate.’
The expedition team comprised three women, three men, and an 11-year-old boy, many of whom had previously joined Leon in last year’s dual Piton climb. This ambitious undertaking represents Leon’s personal interpretation of the Misogi challenge, an ancient Japanese Shinto purification ritual reimagined as an annual voluntary test of physical and mental limits.
In an exclusive interview with St. Lucia Times, Leon revealed her motivation: ‘The Triple Peak represented taking on the ultimate physical challenge and proving to myself that I’m capable.’ Despite completing the monumental feat just two days before her actual birthday, Leon returned to work that Monday, noting only mild fatigue among all participants. Remarkably, one team member even ascended Piton Flore the following Tuesday.
The meticulously timed expedition began at 4:30 AM with Petit Piton (completed by 7:47 AM), continued with Mount Gimie (8:49 AM-1:43 PM), and concluded with Gros Piton (3:17 PM-7:11 PM). Leon, a mother of two, emphasized the importance of prioritizing joyful experiences despite busy schedules: ‘Life is hard, but it makes no sense to always be busy without enjoying new experiences. Imagine your 85-year-old self looking back—would they think your current life is cool?’
The avid hiker has embraced Misogi as an annual birthday tradition that sets a positive tone for her year, providing both a sense of accomplishment and unique conversational material. Her story stands as an inspiration for finding meaningful challenges that push personal boundaries while maintaining life’s essential joy and adventure.