last ridge just past the creek, the one that leads to the west (the others descend to the south, where the hill ends).
Altitude = 760 meters.
February 20
A day of slow, uneven progress. Miguel and Braulio went up the old path and got to the little creek by the cornfield; from there they lost the way and returned to the creek at nightfall.When we reached the next creek, I sent Rolando and Pombo to explore it up to the point where it meets a rocky cliff. They had not returned by 3:00, so we took the track Marcos had been making, leaving behind Pedro and Rubio to wait for them. We arrived at 4:30 at the creek by the cornfield, where we set up camp. The explorers did not return.
Altitude = 720 meters.
February 21
A slow hike up the creek. Pombo and Rolando returned with the news that we could cross the other creek, but Marcos had already explored it and it seemed just like this one. We headed off at 11:00, but at 13:30 we encountered some ponds with very cold water that we could not wade across. Loro was sent to explore and took so long that I sent Braulio and JoaquÃn from the rear guard. Loro returned with the news that the creek widened farther up and was easier to cross, so we decided to go ahead without waiting to see what JoaquÃn would find. At 6:00, while we were setting up camp, JoaquÃn brought the news that we could climb the ridge to a very accessible path. Inti is unwell; he has gas pains for the second time in a week.
Altitude = 860 meters.
February 22
The whole day was spent climbing steep ridges through dense undergrowth. After such an exhausting day we decided to camp without reaching the top; I sent JoaquÃn and Pedro to attempt it alone and they came back at 7:00 saying it would take at least three hours to slash a way through.
Altitude = 1,180 meters.
We are at the source of the creek that runs into the Masicuri, but headed south.
February 23
A bad day for me. I was exhausted and moved through will-power alone. Marcos, Braulio, and Tuma left in the morning to work on the path, while we waited in the camp. We decoded a new message reporting that my message had been received through the French mail drop. We set out at noon, with the sun strong enough to split rocks, and a little later, when we reached the crest of the highest hill, I felt faint; from then on, I kept going from sheer determination. The highest point in this area is 1,420 meters, a summit that overlooks a wide area that includes the RÃo Grande, the mouth of the Ãacahuazú, and part of the Rosita. The topography is different from what is marked on the map: after a clear dividing line, the ground abruptly falls to a kind of wooded plateau, eight to 10 kilometers wide, at the end of which the Rosita flows. Then there is another range of similar heights to this chain and a plain that can be seen far in the distance.
We decided to descend a different way, which was passable but very steep, to follow a creek that leads to the RÃo Grande, and from there to the Rosita. It appears there are no houses along the riverbank, contrary to what is marked on the map. After an infernal hike, without water and with night already falling, we camped at 900 meters.
In the early hours of yesterday I heard Marcos telling a compañero to go to hell, and saying it again to someone else during the day. He needs to be spoken to.
February 24
Ernesticoâs birthday: 2. 13
An arduous and unproductive day. Very little progress was made, without water because the creek we are following is dry. At 12:00, the macheteros were relieved because they were exhausted. At 2:00 in the afternoon it rained a bit and we filled the canteens; a little later we found a small pool of water, and at 5:00 we camped on a ledge beside the water. Marcos and Urbano continued to explore and Marcos returned with the news that the river is only a few kilometers away, but the path by the creek is very bad because it turns into a swamp.
Altitude = 680 meters.
February
Altitude = 760 meters.
February 20
A day of slow, uneven progress. Miguel and Braulio went up the old path and got to the little creek by the cornfield; from there they lost the way and returned to the creek at nightfall.When we reached the next creek, I sent Rolando and Pombo to explore it up to the point where it meets a rocky cliff. They had not returned by 3:00, so we took the track Marcos had been making, leaving behind Pedro and Rubio to wait for them. We arrived at 4:30 at the creek by the cornfield, where we set up camp. The explorers did not return.
Altitude = 720 meters.
February 21
A slow hike up the creek. Pombo and Rolando returned with the news that we could cross the other creek, but Marcos had already explored it and it seemed just like this one. We headed off at 11:00, but at 13:30 we encountered some ponds with very cold water that we could not wade across. Loro was sent to explore and took so long that I sent Braulio and JoaquÃn from the rear guard. Loro returned with the news that the creek widened farther up and was easier to cross, so we decided to go ahead without waiting to see what JoaquÃn would find. At 6:00, while we were setting up camp, JoaquÃn brought the news that we could climb the ridge to a very accessible path. Inti is unwell; he has gas pains for the second time in a week.
Altitude = 860 meters.
February 22
The whole day was spent climbing steep ridges through dense undergrowth. After such an exhausting day we decided to camp without reaching the top; I sent JoaquÃn and Pedro to attempt it alone and they came back at 7:00 saying it would take at least three hours to slash a way through.
Altitude = 1,180 meters.
We are at the source of the creek that runs into the Masicuri, but headed south.
February 23
A bad day for me. I was exhausted and moved through will-power alone. Marcos, Braulio, and Tuma left in the morning to work on the path, while we waited in the camp. We decoded a new message reporting that my message had been received through the French mail drop. We set out at noon, with the sun strong enough to split rocks, and a little later, when we reached the crest of the highest hill, I felt faint; from then on, I kept going from sheer determination. The highest point in this area is 1,420 meters, a summit that overlooks a wide area that includes the RÃo Grande, the mouth of the Ãacahuazú, and part of the Rosita. The topography is different from what is marked on the map: after a clear dividing line, the ground abruptly falls to a kind of wooded plateau, eight to 10 kilometers wide, at the end of which the Rosita flows. Then there is another range of similar heights to this chain and a plain that can be seen far in the distance.
We decided to descend a different way, which was passable but very steep, to follow a creek that leads to the RÃo Grande, and from there to the Rosita. It appears there are no houses along the riverbank, contrary to what is marked on the map. After an infernal hike, without water and with night already falling, we camped at 900 meters.
In the early hours of yesterday I heard Marcos telling a compañero to go to hell, and saying it again to someone else during the day. He needs to be spoken to.
February 24
Ernesticoâs birthday: 2. 13
An arduous and unproductive day. Very little progress was made, without water because the creek we are following is dry. At 12:00, the macheteros were relieved because they were exhausted. At 2:00 in the afternoon it rained a bit and we filled the canteens; a little later we found a small pool of water, and at 5:00 we camped on a ledge beside the water. Marcos and Urbano continued to explore and Marcos returned with the news that the river is only a few kilometers away, but the path by the creek is very bad because it turns into a swamp.
Altitude = 680 meters.
February
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