Alpha 3: Turrisantos Trekkers

Barbilla National Park is rich in biodiversity

Two days into this first phase and our limits are being tested to the extreme. Barbilla National Park is probably the most beautiful and serene place I have ever seen however... it is brutal!

Night 1 at Ernesto's House in Barbilla National Park

We were thrown in at the deep end on day one of our trek but after finally making it to the start of the park, we set off going from open green fields to the dense, dark and incomprehensibly muddy but incredibly beautiful rainforest in an instant.

Emily

Quick break

Though we are still faced with an extremely difficult trek ahead, through the last bit of Barbilla National Park, I have no doubt that Alpha 3 will battle through and thoroughly enjoy the adventure that we have been given the privilege to embark upon.

Cards before bed

Alpha 3 planning their route

We are presently around halfway through the park in an indigenous village. All of the people are so welcoming and kind, the house we are staying in is luxury - there's even a roof!

Dougie just before sunrise

Stunning sunrise for Alpha 3

We are all excited for the last day in the forest, caked in mud, and then for the rest of the phase and i'm sure that Alpha 3 will remain strong throughout.

Alpha 3 saying goodbye to Head Offices Leonie and Photographer Liz who joined them for 3 days.

Todays blog was written by Conrad, Alpha 3's Venturer Project Communications Officer.

Greetings from a muddy Alpha 3

Hello everyone, Alpha 3 here

We have working hard on building and maintaining trails in Carara National Park, here in Costa Rica.  It's a sweaty, humid and dirty job, but we are really enjoying ourselves.  We had a visit from the Fieldbase team who brought us some supplies and they came up with great new games in the evening.

Today we're trying to finish one section of the path.  The massive pile of gravel and rocks outside our accommodation is gradually being reduced with the Herculean effort of the team using a mixture of wheelbarrows and sandbags.

We had to do some maintenance on our water filter system this morning, we need water to drink and cook with.  But if there isn't enough to have a shower hopefully a quick dip in the river later will remove most of the mud.

Lot's of wildlife to be seen and maybe we'll have a visit from the very tame Iguana later today.



Hasta luego
Alpha 3

from Eveline, Project Comms Officer

Turtle Tastic

Playa Hermosa literally means ‘beautiful beach’ but it’s most interesting visitors haven’t come to see the scenery. Thousands of olive ridley and black turtles, plus some rare leatherbacks, come to lay their eggs each year, making this a place of huge ecological interest. Unfortunately the eggs fall prey to natural predators and are at risk from poachers, who steal them to sell at up to $50 each.

We have three tasks during this project. Firstly, we must hold nightly turtle patrols, collecting the eggs and placing them safely into nests in a hatchery . Secondly, when the eggs are hatched, we are responsible for releasing the baby turtles into the sea at a safe time to give them the best possible chance of survival and helping to conserve this very important species. The third task involves planting trees to restore biodiversity, essential after the severe deforestation of the 1970s.  This is an exciting and very important conservation project that Raleigh has been proud to run for many years with long term partners at MINAET.

“The Raleigh groups have been excellent. Without their help we wouldn’t be nearly as successful in our work to help save these incredible creatures”

Marco Vinicio, Ranger

We're going on a Road Trip!

Natalie, Karen, Nicole and Phil 'the bear'

Occasionally the Field Base team are given the opportunity to escape and venture further afield by going on a   'Road Trip'. The purpose of the road trip is to check on the venturers and their progress and  deliver or replace much needed equipment such as lost boots or broken rucksacks or tape for those inevitable blisters! It is also when the much welcomed food drop is made and the venturers receive more of their  favourite meals of rice and beans and the 'stick to your ribs' porridge. Occasionally if the field base team are feeling generous they may cook them a cake to take along, as was our communication manager "Ruth" when she recently visited Alpha 3, who are at Playa Hermosa currently protecting the turtles.

Alpha 3, Jim,Clare, Andrea, Angel, Callum, Eveline, Henry, Laura, Lillian, Lydia, Marco, Matt, Max and Raheem at  Playa Hermosa receiving a much welcomed visit from Field Base!

The road trip is also a chance for stories and gossip to be exchanged and any messages posted on the blog to be delivered to the venturers when they can receive news and good wishes from home which can lift the spirits if they are feeling a tad "home sick"!

Occasionally on the road trips we have to collect and return volunteer managers back to field base such as our intrepid photographer "Joss" who is much missed at Fieldbase for his skills as a Spanish teacher and his incredible general knowledge (sometimes not useful or relevant but nevertheless entertaining)............ who needs Google when we have Joss? Hopefully soon he will be returned with some wonderful pictures of all the venturers having the time of their lives.

 J

This is zero, this is zero... over

When everyone is out on their projects there is always a core team here at Fieldbase.  Each Alpha group has various means of staying in touch (a radio, a mobile phone and a satellite phone) so they are never cut off from advice, support or a friendly word.

There are two official communications from each group at a set time each day.  One is just to check in and the other ones is a more detailed SITREP (situation report).  This is a structured conversation that includes where the group are, what they've been doing, what they are going to do and allows information to be shared both ways.  One person is responsible for manning the Comms Room at Fieldbase each day to take the calls morning and night.  Our call sign here is zero.

Charlie and Martina manning the radio - this is zero, this is zero...

The news from our Alpha groups over the past couple of days is:-
                           
Alpha 1 - Yesterday they walked 18km to San Miguel and ate some fantastic salami.

Alpha 2 - They have walked from Miraflor Ranger Station to La Naranjita.

Alpha 3 - Arrived at Playa Hermosa and have succeeded in building basha beds to keep dry.  They have gone straight into Turtle patrols and working with the rangers.

Alpha 4 - At Carara National Park the jungle camp site is waterlogged so they are living in a ranger house - and it has the bonus of electricity.  They've started work on the trail.

Alpha 5 - Arrived at Achuapa, they are having a tour of the community and the water source today.

Early starts and fond farewells...

Today is deployment day - the day when all Alpha groups head out to their projects.  It starts early with alarm calls at 3.30 am, that's right I said 3.30 AM!  And there was no avoiding it as Martina drove a Land rover around the campsite with both the horn and radio blaring - nice one Martina.

Ben and Sophie and a big sandwich

There was time to make a big sandwich for breakfast and another one for lunch and then belongings and tools had to be loaded on the buses.

Yorleny, Tigi and Patrice - watching over a lot of heavy rucksacks

Bonds have been formed over the past few days so there were fond farewells, best wishes and hugs as new friends said "Adios" for 19 days.  And a few venturers had a special goodbye for Splatches, the resident Fieldbase dog, who is keen to be everyones best friend.

Henry, Matt and Lilian say goodbye to Splatches

As the sun came up the buses headed off in different directions - to Playa Hermosa, Carara National Park, Nicaragua and the start of the Coast to Coast Trek.  Some will be travelling for a couple of hours and some for a couple of days, before they arrive at their destination and the work begins. 

On their way

Remember to leave your messages here and we will make sure that they are received by you loved ones whilst they are away at their projects - your kind wishes mean a lot to everyone.

Alpha group allocations - then off to jungle camp

An important day today, the venturers were told which projects they will be doing through the first phase of expedition.  The project managers took to the stage and performed project based skits - hence the kilts, mutant turtle masks, monkeys and shell suits that appear in the photographic record.

So here is the running order...

Alpha 1 - Coast to Coast Trek

Left to Right: Pedro Ocon, Florentine E van Selms, Jonathan Gerardo Corrales Marenco,Vera Juarez Vargas, Aisha Green, Sophie LaMarre, Benjamin Avern, Natalie Metcalfe, Matthew Wilkinson, Benjamin Hilton-Delhaye, Nicole Ferris, Rory Thompson, Dave Myer

Alpha 2 - Miratombo Trek (Nicaragua)

Left to Right: Claudia Fiedler, Diego Molina Rodriguez, Arlenne Rodriguez Leandro, Puck van der Vet, Archie Finlayson, Benjamin Persofsky, David Rosam, Suwen James, Harley Decker, Shannon Potter, David Agombar (Omar Antonio Amaya Ochoa will join in Nicaragua)

Alpha 3 - Playa Hermosa/Carara National Park

Left to Right: Henry Anderson, Tracy Heyburn, Callum Blues, Angel Roberto Mejia Quintero, Marco Mora Jimenez, Eveline Kroese, Rahim Hassanali, Laura Perry, Jim Howard, Lilian Keller, Clare Skelton, Lydia Auty, Matt Whiteside (Max Smith arrived today to join the group and Andrea Grundke will join shortly.)
  
Alpha 4 - Carara National Park/Playa Hermosa

Left to Right: Hidde Van Lent, Ben Byers, Victoria McIrvine, Carlos Lugo, Patrice Hollywood, Gustavo Granados Bolanos, Zahir Parri, Yorleny Bermudez Murillo, Paul Darius, Antigone Taliadoros, Jae Quiroz, Sarah Crawford, Charlie Cox, Pauline Wright

Alpha 5 - Water project, Achuapa (Nicaragua)

Left to Right: Florian Cross,  Jose David Quesada Murillo, Sarah Flynn, Vic Lapsins, Jonas Koch, Hester Van Marwijk Kooy, Anika Kandola, Melania Piedra Castillo, Nicholas Masters, Alexander Robertson, Anna McManus, Luke Waldock (Jakeling Escoto Rivera will join us in Nicaragua.)

Now that the Alpha groups are formed each will head out to learn campcraft and navigation skills, bonding over basha beds and trangias.  Bags packed they headed off to spend the night at jungle camp.

The lie of the land...12L project recce

Each of the PMs, newly formed in their Alpha groups, have spent the past couple of days visiting their projects to familiarise themselves with the lay of the land.  This is an opportunity to check that everything is as it should be and generally get ahead of the game before the Venturers arrive.

The Nicaraguan groups (Alpha 2 and Alpha 5) have just walked in the door, but Alphas 1, 3 and 4 came home to Fieldbase yesterday.

Here is a little flavour of what they got up to.

Natalie, Dave and Nicole raring to go

Alpha 1 had the opportunity to walk part of the Coast to Coast Trek with a local guide, sleeping out along the way.  Boots got muddy and t-shirts got sweaty but the view was the reward.

Natalie watching her footing on the Coast to Coast Trek.

Early morning on the Coast to Coast Trek.

Alphas 3 and 4 are looking after the first Environmental phase based in Carara National Park and at Playa Hermosa.  Whilst at Playa Hermosa the guys got a chance to stay up for a night patrol where they collected 800 turtle eggs and then the next morning they were able to help release 47 turtles back to the sea where they would have the best chance of survival.  Not your average Monday morning, but this is Raleigh.

Releasing turtles and Playa Hermosa

Turtles heading for the sea.

The magic sorting hat of Turrialba

Each PM, as nervous as any new wizard to Hogwarts, took the stage to don the sorting hat of project selection.  How will the hat pronounce?  Will it be environmental, community or a trek?  Who will be your team mate/s?  Only the magic hat can decide.

Jae receiving pronouncement from the sorting hat

In a Harry Potter/Ready, Steady, Cook mixed metaphor the first task for the new teams was to create a pudding with store cupboard ingredients in 20 minutes - marks awarded for taste and presentation of the dish.

Pedro and Barney - judging pudding

Alpha 2 succeeded on taste - with David (call me Heston) and Claudia presenting a tropical flapjack.  Alpha 1 took presentation to extravaganza levels by bringing bunny ears and gold sequins to the table.  Fieldbase scored for team effort with Phil being the actual table, Joss being the waiter and the girls providing the crunchy bottom, fruity layer, velvety chocolate and zesty topping of their Fieldbase Fantasy.

Alpha 5 in the dance off

It all had to be decided with a dance off and Fieldbase pipped the competition at the post.  There may have been strength in numbers, and we have had an extra week to bond - but personally I put it down to sheer skill and creativity.

So, now fully bonded over cooking and dancing, the teams are assembled and ready to go.  The running order for the Project Groups is as follows:
Alpha 1 - Coast to Coast Trek, Costa RicaNicole, Dave and Natalie
This Trek has taken various forms over the past few years, but Expedition 12L will feature a particularly exciting version, starting at the Caribbean Sea and ending on the Pacific Coast.  Crossing a continent as well as a country.

Nicole, Dave and Natalie - Alpha 1

Alpha 2  - Miratombo Trek, Nicaragua 
David and Claudia
Starting in the far north of Nicaragua, near to the Honduran border, the Miratombo Trek meanders through the diverse landscapes of Esteli and Leon.

David and Claudia - Alpha 2

Alpha 3 - Environmental, starting in Hermosa, Costa Rica
Jim, Clare and Tracy H
Working to preserve the turtle populations of Hermosa beach, this project will collect turtle eggs, ensure that they hatch safely and release the turtles back into the wild where they have the best chance of survival.  This team will spend the second half of their phase at Carara National Park (see below).

Jim, Clare and Tracy - Alpha 3

Alpha 4 - Environmental, starting in Carara National Park, Costa Rica
Pauline, Jae and Sarah
Starting in the Carara National Park this group will work to clear the Lago Meandrica trail, previously inaccessible in the rainy season.  This work will enable many more visitors to the park, and therefore increase the revenue for the Park and allowing them to continue their other environmental work. This team will spend the second half of their phase at Hermosa (see above). Where they will be joined by Charlie.

Jae, Sarah, Pauline and Charlie in the background - Alpha 4

Alpha 5 - Achuapa water project, Nicaragua
Sarah,  Florian and Vic
This project group will work with the local community of Los Loros in Achuapa to develop a gravity-feed water system to bring clean and safe drinking water to 40 families living there.

Sarah, Florian and Vic - Alpha 5

Alpha 3 - the group to be!

I have just returned from the first few days of Alpha 3: Project Tenorio and I can confirm that things are going great up in th'hills of Volcan Tenorio National Park - a superb group and a brilliant project!

A little soggy yes, with quite a lot of rain, but as I type the Venturers and PMs should be moving into the awesome jungle camp we built with the bamboo we chopped down and stripped to make a basha village - proper jungle style!

We arrived on Wednesday afternoon and were met off the bus by Eber, our main ranger dude and general all-round great guy. He showed us to our temporary lodgings (a classroom next to the ranger station) and we set up a group tarp and cooking area straight away and put the kettle on. After a super early start we were all pretty tired, so got cosy in preparation for a busy day to follow.

Thursday consisted of getting up nice and early to a yummy breakfast of rice pudding before heading into the jungle to chop wood. Thomas, Jemma and Andres looked like naturals as they yelled 'timber!' and sawed away to get enough bamboo to make their home-to-be.

We then joined the others who had been constructing a group area and the framework for some seriously comfy beds from the bamboo we already had - and worked all day until we were almost finished. Unfortunately, quite heavy rain stopped play and we learned that a couple of the beds hadn't quite been protected properly and we ended up with a couple of soggy hammocks! So on Friday, the first day of work at the park, we decided to split the group with half completing the camp and half off to work for the day.

Suzzanne and Jungle Camp's new pet, Spidey

The work involved 2 different jobs - sifting and then carrying sand up the 1.5km incline towards the beautiful Rio Celeste waterfall, and then working right next to the aforementioned cascada creating the new staircase out of concrete. Not a bad office for the day!

Siftin'...

Not the worst office view ever...

Crew with a view

More of the same on Saturday, and we really felt like we had made progress, helping the National Park to attract more tourists - from what we could see the past projects at the park had really helped to improve this too as we weaved through huge groups of visitors on the run up the hill!
After a day of hard graft, we welcomed some visitors of our own - ROAD TRIP! Rolo, Bjorn and Becky arrived from Fieldbase to pep us up, bring fresh food and play our new favourite card game, Spoons. A yummy dinner of fried plantain, rice, scrambled eggs and refried beans warmed the cockles while we all reflected on the work we'd done as the rain came down outside.

I very quietly left the group this morning at 5am to get the first bus back to Fieldbase, absolutely blown away by an awesome group of people who are bonding more and more by the day and a beautiful location - can't wait to get more updates which we'll fill you in on as soon as possible! Pics of completed jungle camp to follow too.

Good luck guys and enjoy your new home!

Alpha Groups Training Slideshow

The night before the Alpha Groups deployed they too were treated to a slideshow showing how much they had packed into their short time in the country...

Alpha Allocations Announcement!

So, here we go! Alpha Group Phase 1 allocations, on projects running from 4th July to 23rd July, are...
*drumroll*
(Delta groups to follow)

ALPHA 1  - Coast to Coast Trek (Adventure - crossing a continent!)
PMs: Mau and Carlton
Venturers: Craig Henry, Richard Voaden, William Pavón Espinoza, Sophie Scholl, Thomas Breakwell, Lu Ying Yap, Elizabeth Samuel-Bryan, Trae Legay Cannonier, Josué David Tuz Villalobos, Georgia Rattigan, Jed Pattie

ALPHA 2 - Miratombo Trek (Adventure - volcanos and valleys)
PMs: Franz, Jason and Emma F
Venturers: Sonia Taylor, Adrian Gonzales, Craig Thomas, Michelle Calliari, Ruari Thomson, Isabel Adriana Matamoros Torres, Catherine Inch, Henry Seal, Jawonday Smith, Brandon Burns

ALPHA 3 – Volcan Tenorio National Park (environmental – paths, trails and staircases)
PMs: Amy, Neil and Leanne
Venturers: Luis Andrés Mora Muñoz, Alexander Goodchild, Suzzanah Kidd, Cole Durham, Michelle Ka Wai Wong, Gema Valdivia, Louis King, Daniel; Cherrie, Tom Harrison, Thomas Bassi

ALPHA 4 – San Lucas Island Nature Reserve (environmental – paths and trails)
PMs: Lottie and Sonal
Venturers: Carlo Davide Marescotti, Hoi Yi Jessica Li
Greg Parnell, Zichari Young, Leyla Massiel, Zelaya Hernández, Sofía Quirós Otárola, Matthew McKenzie, Oskar Plapperer-Lüthgarth, Chung Wing Yuen, Ivan Coueslant, Rebecca Atkinson

ALPHA 5 – Achuapa – El Pajarito Indigenous Territory (community – water project)
PMs: Andy Youl, Stephanie Aguilar, Emma Smyth

Venturers: Brandon Burns, Nicole Izurieta, Simon Allan, William Milne, Ernesto Rodriguez Delgado, Teydí Mariem García Ampié, Christopher Hempseed, Che Durham, Juliana Franco, Endgoes Mak, Grant Harrison

ALPHA 6 – Miraflor – Puertas Azules Indigenous Territory (community – school)
PMs: Carina Scott, Ed Mills, Istvan Sepulveda
Venturers: Cat Mills, Thomas Wright, Ramandeep Bassi, Mayerling Pineda Motenegro, Richard Chavarría Varela, Sean McGarry, Ben Woodhouse, Ysavier Darrell, Yau Man Mak, Ta-Shanae Pitcher Trott

From the cheers, shouts of ‘YESSSSSS!’ and massive smiles, I reckon most people are pretty chuffed with their projects and teams...time for some bonding!

Deltas next...check back later!