The Florida Trail, about 1500 miles long

For some reason I just had it in my head that I needed to do this hike!  I had envisioned walking the whole trail from the Florida Everglades to Fort Pickens on west of Pensacola but after the first leg I was so tired from walking in the mud and water that I gave up on my idea of walking the whole trail!  So much for that idea!

Well,,,,,,,,,Gosh I think I might have given up on hiking the rest of the trail, my bones are getting a little to crickity I think. Well maybe I just like going out west to the mountains better where I think the scenery is much more to my liking.

Well it's July 2010 now and I did give up on hiking the Florida Trail but I'm riding my Honda Shadow out west next month, I just like it out there and it's much more scenic to my thinking.

Didn't see very many flowers in the Everglades but this is one that I did see and thought it was kinda pretty.

Frog Hammock Camp, about 3.3 miles in so maybe a spot for someone coming down from the north.

Stopped here for a break and just as soon as I stopped the mosquito's came after me and I hadn't had any of them while I was walking the trail!

Still thinking about it

Well, company coming so can't do anything right now but I'm thinking about doing the 2nd section in April before the rains come. The 2nd section is about another 50 miles of walking in the Everglades so lots of water and mud I think. This will require probably at least 3 camps overnight. We will see when April comes.

Turned out that I never did go back to the trail, decided it was just too much work for an old man of my age.

Florida Trail from Southern terminus to Oasis Ranger Station on Hwy 41

Well, got delayed from when I wanted to start by a death in the family but on Feb. 24 I started my hike from the Southern terminus of the trail and made it to the Oasis Ranger Station on Hwy 41 about 9 hours later. 8 miles in 9 hours but it was the toughest hiking with a backpack on that I ever did. Water and Mud most of the way on the trail sometimes over knee deep so it's very difficult pushing water and pulling your feet up out of the mud. I did not see any wildlife to speak of, a few butterflys, two birds and that was about it. It's a lonely trip with only yourself and the Cypress trees and of course Water and Mud! I was really glad to see the Ranger Station building and find water there. I had consumed all of my water at about the 7 mile mark and was pretty thirsty. Well would I hike the same route again; NO! at least that's my thinking right now.

I did learn a few things about what I should have taken along and what I should not have taken but since I won't be doing any more of the trail I guess I won't worry about it.

Hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail

Well here is the trailhead out in the Everglades about 9 miles or so south of Highway 41 and about halfway between Naples and Miami.  Highway 41 is also known as the Tamiami Trial and runs down through the western part of Florida to Naples and then heads east through the Everglades and over to Miami, it's northern terminus is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula at Copper Harbor on Lake Superior.