Trek this out: Alpha One in Barbilla.

Today we bring you the first update from the Alphas, and as a stickler for tradition, it makes chronological sense that Alpha One’s Azelle who gets us underway:

Alpha One have made a successful start to the Tuirrisantos Trek! After a 2 hour snooze on the bus, (due to the previous night’s epic paint party), we arrived at our start point. Day One was rather relaxed, and despite there not being room at the ranger station, we were given more than adequate accommodation at a nearby community station. An afternoon of icebreakers ensued; frog murder (a tongue variation of that classic, wink murder) providing much hilarity, especially as poor Hanko was suspected in every round! Well he does play with that penknife an awful lot...

Day Two was much tougher as we headed into the jungle, which was extremely muddy! We all ended the day covered in it, bar Julie, who has the very annoying talent of staying perfectly clean while the rest of us are filthy! (Ed: Nicely done Julie). How does she do it?! Another problem of trekking through the bogginess of the Costa Rican jungle is that we fall over. A lot. But with every muddy fall (even if it is your 3^rd in 5 minutes), we were able to have a laugh and pull ourselves back up again. Various wails were audible throughout the day – “My foot is stuck in the mud” – “I think my boot’s about to come off”, from Claire, to rather embarrassingly, “I want my Mummy” from this author. Credit must go to Mark in his role as day leader, for motivating us all to the finish. We are all enjoying our Raleigh rations too! A can of tuna with crackers, crushed from being at the bottom of your rucksack all day is absolutely delicious after a morning of trekking!

Day Three was further trekking in Barbilla National Park, but we found it slightly easier after our tough introduction, and again credit to day leader Claire, along with ‘tough-but-fair’ Dutch Army PM Roeland aka Chuck Norris aka Rolo (hard on the outside, soft interior) who ensured we reached our finish point ahead of time, and were able to enjoy a delicious and relaxed lunch of salami, noodles and crackers. Props to PM Katie for that, it not only satisfied our meat craving, but was also a relief to Julie, who after carrying it for three days, was looking forward to not being followed by hungry dogs! We are also learning lots of Spanish from our HCVs, Istvan and Michael; Rosh and Eika are top of the class and Michael’s English, in return, has come on leaps and bounds. He’s now at the point where he’s cracking jokes!

We have all bonded really well in such a short time, and Allegra has established herself as Alpha 1 Mum, tucking in everyone’s mosquito net at night. Tim however, needed no help in that department, as he created the most cocoon like structure, drawing awe from us all. Accommodation has so far, been rather comfy, with showers for 2 out of 3 nights and toilets for all 3, (if you include a long drop!) But don’t get too envious, tomorrow we’re cracking out the tents, certainly not for the last time. We’ve now been joined by Louis who had been at Fieldbase with a chest infection, and missed the opening days. Alpha One are a full contingent and ready to go!

3 days down, 16 to go, and Alpha One are in good spirits, Playa Hermosa here we come!

Alpha Update

The Alpha groups are now settled in at their respective projects and over the coming weeks we’ll be bringing you comprehensive reports from their Project Comms Officers with all the new and views from life on phase. In the meantime, here’s a quick through of the Alpha’s progress to date, hot off the press from this morning’s Sitreps:

Alpha One are making good progress through the Barbilla Indigenous Territory and tomorrow will emerge from the jungle at San Joaquin where they will be joined by Fieldbase’s Holly, for a taste of trek.

Alpha Two are also in fine spirits and yesterday had the bizarre experience of walking several kilometres straddling the Costa Rican and Panamanian border. Today they too delve into the jungle.

Alpha Three’s bamboo has arrived and will spend the day constructing a jungle camp which will be their home for the phase.

Alpha Four have made a challenge for 'Alpha' status as they have thrown down the gauntlet to the other groups and almost finished work on an irrigation system in proximity to the path they will be constructing.

Alpha Five are sorting their accommodation at the ranger station and are enjoying a ‘fresh’ morning up on Volcan Barva.

Alpha Six arrived at their community of El Portillo yesterday afternoon and have commenced work this morning on their site

Alpha Seven are spending their day planning their work during the phase with the local maestro, before attending the opening of a local pre-school this afternoon.

Alpha Eight have also settled in San Jose, and are beginning work in the sunshine.

Tomorrow the southern leg of Fieldbase’s roadtrip begins as they embark on a journey visiting Alpha’s One, Two, Three, Four AND Five. On the 20^th February the northern team departs to visit the Nicaraguan groups up in Achuapa and Miraflor.

Those of you with your eye on the Tico Times may have spotted that there was an earthquake just before dawn off the coast of south west Costa Rica! Despite measuring 5.7 on the Richter Scale, some of Fieldbase slept through the whole event and we can report no damage was done to any of the groups.

Alpha One in Barbilla National Park

First of all I’d like to offer an apology for the sporadic timing of blog entries this past week. This has been due to the team being absent from the office on various training exercises. From here on in, we’ll be as ever present as the mouse and keyboard at your desktop, as you savour all the news from Raleigh Expedition 12B.

To business; Alpha One have returned from Barbilla National Park after trekking the opening 3 days of their phase: The Turrisantos Trek, and it may impress you to learn that this feat was achieved in a mere 2 days (they’re a wily bunch, Alpha One).A morning start at Barbilla Ranger Station allowed the group stunning views over the jungle and as the sun began its rapid ascent, it seemed A1 were in for an absolute peach of day. Not so. Shortly after entering the jungle the heavens well and truly opened, leaving Katie, Roeland and Dave as drowned as the proverbial rats (classic idiom). The going was fairly tough over undulating terrain, and the path for most parts was the consistency of kitchen condiments – throw in several river crossings and you’d be forgiven for wondering if they threw in the towel. That can be denied with a resounding no as good spirits and ground speed was maintained throughout as they made it to the Valle Escondido (Hidden Valley) to make camp around 2pm.

The next day saw a variation on a theme – more jungle, but a tough ascent and the absence of the rain. The previous days deluge had done little for conditions underfoot however, but with the bonhomie for which they are renowned, A1 slogged on and emerged from the trees. A moments rest to allow their eyes to readjust from the gloom of the jungle and they were back on the prize – a fairly steep descent through the fields to Bajo Pacuare, the Raleigh pick-up, and the ride back to fieldbase. A cracking trip.

Dawn at Valle Escondido

Entering Barbilla National Park

Alpha One's Roeland and Katie

View down to Bajo Pacuare

Dave, Katie and Roeland above the Rio Pacuare