Chiquibul projects one their way to completion

Trekforce North:

• Since completing their trek through the Maya mountains, the North Team are nine days into phase 2 of the boundary clearance, with nine days remaining until the Opening Ceremony (2:00pm, Tuesday 25th). Enjoying the added fitness since the trek and now expert machete skills, they are making faster progress, and have cleared to a point 7.4km from their start-point at the Macal River, with a further 4.4km of boundary line to demarcate, to complete their expedition objective.

• The dry season is well under way, and the water table in the western Chiquibul is receding beneath the limestone hills. On Saturday 15th, they moved their base-camp (BC) to grid reference: BP 767 669, midway between the east/west boundary line and a mediocre water source, discovered by a recce team and park rangers on Tuesday 11th.

• Tomorrow’s resupply will provide the team with two Millbank bags to filter the water (in addition to the usual sterilising treatment of Iodine and/or boiling),15 packets of Tang (fruit drink powder, to conceal its murky flavour) and as many jerry-cans of fresh water as they can carry, in addition to any letters and parcels sent from home.

• Water for washing is in short supply, and team members are putting their wet-wipes to hard use.


Trekforce South:

• …completed construction of the Ranger Station in time for the Opening Ceremony on Friday 14th. A British Army helicopter flew assorted dignitaries (Commanding Officer of the Belize Defence Force BDF Col Tapia; Deputy Chief Forestry Officer Marcelo Windsor; Natalie Rosado of The Nature Conservancy) and film crews from two Belizean TV news channels to the remote location by the Guatemalan border.

• The OC was also attended by TFW Country Manager, Rafael Manzanero (CEO of TFW’s project partner FCD) and senior Park Rangers. All those present thanked the volunteers for their outstanding efforts, and spoke of the huge contribution to the management of the Chiquibul.

• After the OC, when the helicopter had left, the team and less important visitors began the two-day hike out to Natural Arch, the location for the team’s rest day on Sunday. A Trekforce Landrover and BDF army truck will transport the team from there on Monday (17/3/08) to the start of their trek phase in the Eastern Chiquibul.

• They don’t know it yet, but after seven days moving south exploring this untouched region of forest, they will rendezvous with canoes and the equipment required completing the last 26km of their journey down the Raspaculo Branch of the Macal River over two days. HOW EXCITING IS THAT ?!

Teams Complete Mammoth Trek

The North and South teams have successfully completed their crossing of the Maya Mountains in small groups over the last 2 weeks. With big smiles when they reached Caracol, the groups sat and watched the sun set after an amazing 9 day trek which saw them making their way through tough and untouched jungle.

Trekforce HQ is still waiting for images of the trek as all cameras are on project while the groups work hard to get ready for their opening ceremonies next week but here are a few for now....

Trekking is hard work. The volunteers must carry everything with them so they can set up camp each night...



Ice cold drinks are always a welcome sight after the Maya Mountain Trek...



The North Team celebrate at the top of Caracol...



Then the finale- watching the sun set over the jungle canopy and listening to the calls of primates and birds...

First Phase of Project Completed by North Team and South Team Get a Special Visit

The North team have managed to clear the first 3.5km of the boundary line. With the first phase complete, the group are rewarding themselves with a trek to see a bit more of the rainforest. They headed to San Jose on Sunday 24th February where the trek started and they returned this weekend to begin phase 2 of the project which will be to clear the other 9km of boundary! Phase 2 will also involve the group finding water. It may be the rainforest but because the team are going so remote, they are yet to find easy access to a natural source. Belize Defence Force is currently delivering plenty of water to them in jerry cans until they find water of their own…All adding to a sense of adventure for the group!

Talking about a sense of adventure, we mentioned that the groups had a difficult time getting into their project sites on a previous blog? Here is what they had to contend with.....




The South Team have begun the construction work on project. The group have had a visit from 2 light engineers- members of Belize Defence Force who are assisting with the construction work. South Team also had a visit from country manager Greg, who flew in by helicopter with Brigadier, Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Manzanero (CEO of Friends for Conservation Development) and the Minister for Defence to talk to the volunteers and witness the exciting developments which Trekforce are proud to be a part of!