Zulu 1 Coast to Coast by Gabriella Brunton

When I found out on Saturday that Vic, Paul and I would be PMs on the Coast to Coast trek I was overwhelmed with both excitement and trepidation at the task ahead: 270 kilometres, a team of seventeen, and the aim of reaching the Pacific Coast in nineteen days.

Comms officer Gabby no doubt got a detailed handover
from X-ray one's Rich

Cas, Matt and Iona were our day leaders for the first two days and did an amazing job of ‘raleigh-ing’ the team, allaying fears and getting everyone’s Positive Mental Attitude into gear. On Day 1 we had to stop the bus 3km short of our drop-off point which made our first day a cheeky 16km. We began the trek by dipping our toes into the Carribean sea then walking along the stunning beach for 5km taking in all the sights and sounds. We were passed by locals saying Buenos Dias looking unsure of what fourteen venturers and three PMs were up to with their huge packs on.

We carried on walking along abandoned train tracks and under the scorching sun for five hours until we reached our first stop. Henry spoke to the locals and managed to find a lovely Costa Rican family who let us sleep in their garden, use their water and their toilet. It is something I can’t imagine happening in the UK and something that provoked discussion within our group: would people back home offer a group of random smelly trekkers such amenities, especially something as precious as water?

On Day 2 we awoke at 3am, packed our tents and did our morning stretches to prepare for the 22km trek to Colonia. It was then down to business. We walked for miles through banana plantations and villages and by 11am, befuddled by our speedy pace, we had already done 16km. A local man invited us into his home and gave us coconuts he had cut down from his tree. The generosity of local people never ceases to amaze us and is something we find hard to describe. It seems as though at every corner there is a man, woman or child waving at us with a big smile- which on tough days can make a huge difference. We were offered a tour to spot poison dart frogs, as well as a trip to a cultural museum which some of the group participated in. Following this we had a lovely banquet table dinner, ending a tough but rewarding few days.

Day 3 saw us trek 22km, the last four kilometres of which was steep uphill. It was a tough ending to a long, hot day but we made it to our campsite, sleeping beside cows. With Tung Wing’s call of ‘Day 3 is complete’ we knew it was tents up and bedtime, although a few of us had a fun time trying to warm down.

Awaiting Zulu 1 in just under a weeks time - Cerro Dragon

With World Water Day coming up we have all thought more about the importance of access to water. Every time we use the toilet, have a bucket shower or drink we realise how dependent we are on it to keep us hydrated and healthy.

We have now entered Barbilla National Park which involved 12km of steep uphill, followed by some more uphill and the occasional downhill for good measure. Ascending to 450m, we reached an incredible vista overlooking the mountains. Eagles were soaring overhead and on the horizon we could spot the sea, where our journey had begun.

This morning a passing local enquired what we were all up to at four o’clock in the morning, to which Tom replied ‘we’re heading for the Pacific!’ It does sound pretty epic and to be honest, that’s exactly what it is.

The final destination, a chance to dip your toes in the other ocean

We would like to say a big thank you to all of our loved ones supporting us back home, as well as a thank you to the Field Base team who are always looking out for us- we couldn’t do it without you!

Love from Gabby, Paul, Vic, Iona, Kieran, Matt, Cas, Tom, Greg, Lilly, Merle, Anna, Henry, Adriana, Tung Wing Chow, Amelia and Olly.

Zulu 3 - A tribe in search of water

Dear Blog readers, 

First of all an apology for the slight delay in blogs for this phase. Our resident blogger, Gabby, has been deployed as a PM on the Coast to Coast trek with Zulu 1 (she seems to be loving it). So it is up to the rest of us here at Fieldbase to deliver news of loved ones to you all. From now on we should be back to one blog a day starting with an interest twist on the trek phase from Zulu 3 focusing on the theme of this phase; Water. 

We are the tribe ¨Zuluthree¨ and our community has lost its sources of drinkable water. With no other option we have packed up our things and set off in search of a new place to live. Our first day took us through dense jungle and we could fill up at a couple of rivers along the way. However, soon the walk up the hill took us away from the water and we had to rely on our portable supplies until we reached the next rest.  Luckily the people sheltering us were willing to share water for cleaning and cooking.

Leonie and James soaking their worn out feet in phase 1

                         

The next day we were unsure when we would next be able to fill up with water and we thought of the 6-8 million people that die from water-related diseases each year. For us, the amount we carried proved to be adequate for the walk.

Our third day brought a change in terrain and a new challenge to face.  As we moved out of the jungle, the roads became easier to walk on but the sun blazed down on us from the sky. With the added heat we consumed more of our personal water supplies.  A member of our group was in trouble having only one container for carrying water. His supply was now very low. Only the support of the tribe members saved him until the next water source was reached. As many as 1.6 billion people live in countries with water scarcity. Their situation is a lot worse and more prolonged than ours.

Some of the rivers our trekkers come across are crystal clear

Day 4 proved to be the toughest yet as the walk was long and hot. 783 million people do not have access to clean water, and, as our tribe walked on we felt the desperation of such situations.  Along the way we filled up with water from various places such as garden hoses and taps. The end of the day meant we could drink our fill and we were once again content.

The 5^th day was a simple walk but our ordeal began with a search for a place to stay and a source of water. One of our possibilities was camping by the river but some of the tribe worried about the pollution of such a valuable water source. Not only could the water be contaminated from upstream be we did not want to pollute it inadvertently ourselves. The alternative came from local residents as they let us stay with them and we avoided any possibility of pollution.

Today is the 6^th day in our search and looking back we thank the luck that has seen us to this point. With World Water Day upon us we celebrate and think of others in similar or worse situations. 

X ray 3 weren't short of water in phase 2

World Water Day

Dom Lowe and Ben Jacobs of Zulu 7 bring you the first of a series of blogs from our groups about they have been spending World Water Day. 

70% of the Earth is covered by water but just 1% is suitable for drinking.

We are facing the challenge of distributing that 1% amongst a growing global population, expected to reach nine billion by 2050. 15% of the world’s people have no choice but to drink from unclean sources, putting at risk health and livelihoods.  And each year we face up to 8 million deaths worldwide from the consequences of water-related diseases and disasters.

Our global water crisis has its roots not only in demand, but also in increasing scarcity.

Berny and Cali getting the water flowing in Acuapa

Areas of North Africa and South Asia, for example, currently face extremely high levels of scarcity. Ultimately putting lives at risk, this problem of existing scarcity is exacerbated by poor management of finite global water supply.  Water pollution, abuse of water treaties, and diversion of sources are examples of careless use of the 1% of the Earth’s water that is available for drinking.  Sewage and industry pump 2 billion tonnes of waste into world waterways each year.  As a consequence of this behaviour, by 2030, 47% of the world’s population will be living in areas of high water stress as millions lose access to clean water or are forced to drink from dirty sources.

Therefore, looking ahead, it is imperative to protect our precious water supply through more sensible water policies.  Treaties must be respected, industrial waste must be regulated and diversion of water supplies away from vulnerable communities must be limited.

But it is not just on the international scale where water usage must be managed.  As individuals we all have an obligation to use water sensibly. 

Marie digging trenches for water pipes in Carara NP 

Zulu 7 spent world water day monitoring our water consumption and made an attempt to reduce our usage.  By taking just a five minute shower instead of a 15 minute one or by turning off the tap when brushing our teeth, we found that we could save a remarkably large amount of water.  Water-saving methods like these, if replicated widely, mean that future generations won’t pay such a heavy price for our irresponsible management of water.

In order to protect future generations, we must use water sustainably in the present.