IV COAST to COAST CHALLENGE

PANAMA March 2005

Exotics Adventures organized this past 14 – 17 of March, its 4 th version of the Coast to Coast (the crossing of Panamas’ Isthmus) from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

Monday, March 14

6:00 am

Departure from Albrook Airport to the North East side of Panama, towards the island of Porvenir in the Archipelago of San Blas on the Caribbean coast of Panama. We spent the rest of the day relaxing by the sea breeze. A short visit to the beach in the morning, the afternoon spent with the Kuna Indians in their village, and early to bed, early to rise the next morning.

Tuesday, March 15

6:00 am

We begin our morning with a breakfast of champions (eggs, jam, fruit juice, fresh fruits). Shortly after, we must depart by dug-out canoe (piragua) towards the mainland, and the beginning of our trek. A big piragua has been readied for our trip. We are all aboard, every one is exited. And we are off, and a few meters away from the dock the outboard engine gives. A quick turn-around, a swift change into another piragua, and we’re off towards Carti

After the official “START of the trek” photo in Carti by the ocean, we begin our slow rhythm ascent into a long trial.

Quickly our guide Alain realizes that certain members of the group with have some difficulties. After one hour, of walking, Marijane is not trekking well and she is forced to drink plenty of water. She doesn’t wants to stop and return, she wishes to continue. Alain and Lance make a leash out of rope, to help her walk and find a rhythm. A little later, she finds her rhythm, although slower than the others, but none the less she is able to continue her trek.

Time to cross the Carti River, everyone takes their shoes off, it’s a good time to have a break, after which they will have to attack the ascent.

The effort now is constant, the trail is all up hill, the temperature is also climbing and their water level is rapidly descending. Fortunately, they quickly start finding shade under the primary rain forest, and each participant starts to find his and her rhythm to get thought the first part: the “Mirador Climb”. This hill is long, abrupt, and slippery and each participant must climb this alone, without other peoples help, concentrating on their own effort.

At the top, a breath taking view of Archipelago of San Blas is your reward once your adrenaline level subsides.

The rest of the trek is pretty much straight forward, with the exception of a few up and down hills and a few streams to cross.

This portion of the trek finishes at Burbayar, Lodge where they will spend the night. Robert is the first arrive, followed by Annaic who shows of her incredible physic by running up the last hill. Behind then Alain, Buzz and Fidel, whose role was to bring in the rear. Marijane, Martha and Lance finished the last 4 kilometers by 4X4.

First Stage: 24.6 kms in 9 hours and 11 mns for the last person, which represents 2.7 kms by hour.

Wednesday, March 16

Wake up call, at 6:00 am, for a hardy breakfast and departure at 7:30 am.

Towards the first hill, a brief rain shower cools the participants and the overcast weather allows them to walk a little faster. Muscles are back in form and spirits are high. Every one should arrive, near the Bayano River close to 1:00 pm, just in time for a refreshing lunch.

After lunch, departure by kayak on the Bayano River with the current towards Puerto Coquira and end of stage two. 5:30 pm everyone has arrived with smile on their faces….To night : Camping.

After lunch, departure by kayak on the Bayano River with the current towards Puerto Coquira and end of stage two. 5:30 pm everyone has arrived with smile on their faces….To night : Camping.

Second Stage: Burbayar – El Llano 16.1 kms in 5h 30 mns, which represents 3 kms/h. Kayak El Llano – Puerto Coquira 29 kms in 3 h 40 mns = 8.5 kms/h.

Total kilometers for Stage 2 = 45 kms.

Thursday, March 17

After a full breakfast, departure towards their goal: The Pacific Ocean, at

7h30 am.

The participants trek through a dirt road which follows some local farms in a region which has been totally deforested. The sun is out in all his force and the drinking water level is rapidly declining. Arrival at Martinambo, the first rest-stop of this final stage, and it’s time to re-fuel.

After the village, the trial narrow through a small path between rice cultures and cow pastures, to arrive at a farm which is inhabited by one man - all year long.

His family is not far, just 30 minutes behind the next hill. By this time, its 10:30 am and it’s very hot out and a perfect time for a rest-stop at this families home.

Here, two young men on horse back await the participants to open the path to the beach. What is to follow is the most difficult part of the whole trip. The participants must walk through an area where there is no hope of shade, the breeze is completely blocked off, due to the high grasses, and the ground is smoldering hot. A bit further, the ground is all destroyed up due to the passage for tractors during the rainy season, which makes it extremely difficult to get through.

Its take over 30 minutes to get through 400 meters.

Finally, arrival at the mangrove forest which is incredibly dense and in order to get through, we must cut it by machete. A last fence to cross and we have arrived. The Pacific Ocean …………………

The crossing of the Isthmus of Panama has been completed!

Third Stage : Puerto Coquira – The Beach 22.2 kms in 7 hours, which represent 3.2 kms/h.

 Grand Total……………….91.1 kms.