Phase 2, Alpha 5- Horizontes

The newly formed Alpha Five arrived in the baking heat of Horizontes Experimentales in Guanacaste at lunch time. Our task was to help the rangers maintain this protected area which has been created to preserve and regenerate certain species of trees that are being lost elsewhere on the planet. We started by building our forest camp which upon completion consisted of basher bed and hammock accommodation, a state of the art dining table and a wet room with shower facilities (as long as someone else was happy to pour water over your head out of a jerry can!) Other accessories included a fireplace with seating around it, a swing, a basketball court, a dartboard, a marshmallow stick holder and a Tang Bar named “The Vulture’s Crotch” as both the bar and the camp were dry. We shared our camp with wild horses that would wander round about us at night.
Having completed our camp we set to work. Our main task was the clearing of paths using rakes and machetes, to create firebreaks and tracks for visitors. During our time we also managed to make steps for various sections of our path and build a bridge across a stream.
We spent our days off at the beach, swimming in the waves, playing volleyball and eating fish that we bought from local fishermen.
As a group we had a huge amount of fun living together in the camp. We held a pub quiz, played loads of games and had a brilliant time watching Jon become more and more feral.
I’m sure that our work over those three weeks will benefit the area in reducing the danger that forest fires pose and also increase the accessibility for visitors coming to view this unique landscape. We’re also very glad to have been able to help the rangers who simply do not have the workforce to complete these tasks alone.

Tom Dickson