Zulu Two - update from the Guanacaste trekkers

On Saturday morning Bravo Three caught up with the Guanacaste trekkers, the hardy band who are hot-footing it across the scorching north of Costa Rica. Here they are at the end of Day Five of their 280km trek:

The trekkers began their journey at the foot of mighty Volcan Arenal, sensibly scampering away from the swirling mists and magma to skirt the shores of picturesque Lake Arenal as they trekked west. Rising from shore level up onto the blustery tops of the Cordillera de Guanacaste by day three, the team climbed past dozens of wind farms to reach Volcan Tenorio. And that's exactly where we caught up with them at a remote ranger station to drop off their food supplies for the next few days. The next morning despite the thick fog and biting wind James and Emma (Meryl) volunteered to share their thoughts on the journey so far... and the prospect of the next two days trekking through the Atlantic slope jungles of Volcan Tenorio national park.

But this was no time for idle chatter - seconds later Zulu Two waved us goodbye and disappeared into the mist, eager to discover what the jungle had in store. We jumped back in Bravo Three and raced ahead to deposit food sacks at two more ranger stations on their route...

Whatever gradients the Guanacaste group have in store over the next ten days, they will at least have full bellies - a feast of pork and beans, porridge, calorie-laden condensed milk, nuts, raisins, macaroni cheese and tomato-tuna-pasta waits for them in those bulging sacks. By now, the group will have completed their two-day jungle section and be spending tonight in the comfort of El Pilon ranger station - toasting marshmallows and swaping heroic stories with the rather curious scientists who use El Pilon as a research base. From these cosy log cabins, the terrain becomes rugged as they tackle another chunk of Costa Rica's volcanic north. Later this week, our other mobile unit - Bravo One - will be dropping in on the Guanacaste trekkers for a spot of volcano trekking as they attempt to summit lofty Rincon de la Vieja. Check back at the weekend for more from Zulu Two.