Summary

On February 16, two helicopters took off for a visual reconnaissance mission. Preston flew on the Honduran military chopper for both flights, and during the first flight, the helicopter started flying erratically and had to make a crooked landing. From the helicopter, Preston could see that much of the land had been cleared for grazing cattle. He felt as though he was leaving the 21st century as he entered the valley of T1. These flights help establish the landing zone.

On February 17, some members of the crew flew into T1 to set up the base camp. The co-pilot, Rolando Zuniga Bode, told Preston that his grandmother used to speak about the legend of Ciudad Blanca. She said that the conquistadors had entered the city and had made a mistake by picking the flowers, and they had all died. They flew over...