January 2007 Panama Expedition

Tentative plans are under way for the January 2007 treeclimbing expedtion to the Republic of Panama. It will be our fourth expedition to the rainforests along the Carribean coast of Bocas del Toro Province in Panama.

The exact date and cost of the expedition will be available later this summer, following final discussions with our hosts at the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation, a working biological field station where the expedition will be based.

This expedition is suitable for all climbers 18-years-old or older who have reasonable experience in double-rope climbing. It is recommended but not required that the men and women on the expedition also have some exposure to single-rope climbing. A one=day class on SRT will be offered at the start of the expedition.

If you are interested in the joining the expdition, contact Abe Winters at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Bill Maher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you do not have a valid passport, now is the time to apply for one through the passport office at your local post office or courthouse. It normally takes about two months to receive a passport, so do not EVEN THINK about putting it off until the last minute.

We will leave home on Wednesday morning, January 10, and and arrive at the field station on Thursday morning, January 11. We will leave the field station on Saturday, January 20, and return home Sunday night, January 21.

The cost to stay at the field station for 10 days is $719 and includes lodging, all meals, an orientation hike with station biologists, most local transportation, boat trips to neighboring islands, an SRT class for those who need it, an after-dark hike to find the elusive night monkeys, swimming and snorkling beach, a mainland climb with native guide Enrique Dixon Sr. to the giant saltwater mangroves (and to see his favorite crocodiles), and 24/7 access to hundreds of the best climbing trees in Central America. The cost for use of the station is $81 less than last year and includes two addtional nights.

For more info, contact Abe Winters at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Bill Maher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Is this suitable for women? My grad assistant and I want to learn additional climbing techniques. We are now climbing in conifer forests in the Northeast but we plan to study larger conifers in the Pacific Northwest in the future.

This expedition is definitely suitable for women climbers. We will be headquartered at the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation, which is a biological field station that offers numerous coeducational courses for both undergraduates and graduate students, along with support for various field researchers. There are separate quarters for men and women, and several additional bedrooms for married couples.

We will provide references from previous women climbers and students upon request; contact Abe Winters at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Bill Maher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Although there are few conifer-like trees in Panama, we do offer the opportunity to learn addtional techniques that can get you up to 200 feet, and to practice them while accompanied by veteran climbers and instructors.

This sounds like an excellent and unique tree climbing adventure.

Is there a deadline or anything to sign up for this trip? Something I would be interested in, but not able to commit at this date.

thanks,
coonrad

The deadline to sign up for this year's expedition is Nov. 15 (But hey, we don't get too excited about exact deadlines, as long as it's somewhere in the ballpark). A $250 deposit is due at that time, and the remainder is due at the first of the year, about 10 days before we leave for Panama.

E-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I'll send you the whole itinerary and lots of other good stuff.

If you have any chance at all of being able to go, DO IT! This was an amazing once-in-a-lifetime (well, for me, anyway) chance to do something completely different. I also came back from Panama as a much more confident climber.

Patrick

Wild Biill sent us the following list of things to take to Panama. Does anybody think we need to add anything?

1. Flashlight or headlamp, preferably waterproof, with extra batteries.
2. Rainjacket or poncho.
3. Jungle boots or calf high rubber boots (Good hiking boots are not recommended although you may want to bring them for wear around the camp).
4. Sandals or flip flops.
5. Insect repellent, DEET is best. Do not bring aerosols because they will be confiscated by airport security.
6. Sunscreen
7. Cap or hat.
8. One set of going-to-town clothes (informal to very informal is OK).
9. Normal traveling clothes that you can also wear around Panama City.
10. Tee shirts and shorts for around camp.
11. Two long sleeve field shirts and two pairs of field pants (the kind with zip-off legs are best).
12. Water bottle.
13. Trash bags or ziploc bags to keep everything dry.
14. Socks and underwear.
15. Bathing suit.
16. Towel.
17. Paper, pens, pencil.
18. Spare glasses or contacts, if you wear them.
19. Set of single sheets and pillow case.
20. Mosquito net to go over bed (the kind that will also keep out the no see-ums).
21. Small personal first aid kit, with extra personal medications.
22. Personal hygiene items including biodegradable soap.
23. Clothes pins.
24. Camera and film
25. Snorkle equipment if that floats your boat.

CLIMBING GEAR:
1. Saddle or harness
2. 150 feet arborist rope.
3. Shorter rope or lanyard for tyig in once up in the tree.
4. At least four carabiners.
5. Ascenders and descending device for SRT climbs.
6. Throwline and two throwbags.
7. Emergency whistle.
8. Backpack for carrying gear.
9. Small ground cloth for use at climbing sites.
10. Helmet.