The Real Florida Wilderness thread...

Canjunhiker use to be the resident expert on Myakka as she has done that one.Since she has become a world traveler she doesn't hang out here as often but maybe she will see this.As I recall, it is very beautiful,there are several primitive campsites and potable water can be an issue unless you filter swamp water.

I have cycled out past Highlands Hammock SP as I have spent a lot of time exploring the whole Sebring/Wauchula/Zolfo Sprigs/Arcadia/Lake Placid area by bike.A very undiscovered area of the state.I need to get out exploring more by kayak and the two you mention would be high on my list of areas to explore.I'd probably want to do the Peace River as well since I have spent so much time closely following it by bicycle...

I did a 10-12 mile hike today on the section of the Ocean-to-Lake Trail between Riverbend Park and Jonathon Dickinson SP through Cypress Creek Mngt Area.Supposedly the bridge over Cypress Creek was washed out but it was passable.Here is a map of the Northeast Everglades area where this is.
www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/erm/nena/pdf/NENA_Map.pdf

I was on the section of the FT(Florida Trail)in orange just east of the Jesup Trail which is the new bike/horse trail and part of the Ocean-to-Lake Greenway which either parallels or uses the hiking trail.I used to explore these areas by bike/backpack ontrail and offtrail before all these interconnected trails were even put in...

Yesterday,after heavy rains late the previous afternoon, I once again started out at Hungryland Slough NA and this time ventured into the wetlands of Corbett WMA for a 12-14 mile round trip hike.I lost my flips before leaving the parking area for the boardwalk and FT spur,in Corbett, due to mud and water.Once off the road grade, the trail starts out as slash pine flat woods with saw palmetto cover for the first mile.As it was consistently wet with up to lower calf levels of water, I knew the wetlands were going to be wet.The first grassy marsh/wet prairie crossing was in upper thigh level of water.From there the trail goes through a mix of marsh and flat woods and while it tries to route over flat woods they become ,increasingly, less frequent.

The swamp was alive with wildflowers of reds,oranges,purples,pinks,yellows and whites.This was ,truly, a natural water park(w/o the screaming kids of course). When,I got to one marsh about 3-4 miles in, I thought I saw a large flock of wading birds in the wetlands.So I ventured off trail into the marsh,and upon closer inspection they were actually large white wildflowers growing in clusters.Unfortunately,once I got back to the flat woods I was having trouble finding the trail.Thinking I saw an orange blaze, I started down an old swamp buggy trail.I soon realized this was off trail, but it had headed into the marshes so on a lark I continued on as it was generally headed westward as did the trail.This is an area crisscrossed with these swamp buggy trails as the marshes are more prevalent here.I followed these trails for about 1 1/2 miles having a great time sticking to the marshes and heading in a generally northwest direction.Then, I started encountering cypress and dwarf cypress and so I knew I was further north than the trail, as only further west does the trail start to encounter this type of habitat as it curves north into the infamous Hole-in-the-Wall cypress strand. So, I backtracked heading generally southeast following old swamp buggy trails through the wetlands.You would think this is a sound strategy until you have to take into account these routes were formed by people out joy riding and crisscross and curve around every which way.Still I really enjoyed this part of the hike as I was using my navigation skills and knowledge of the area rather than mindlessly following orange blazes which I am terrible at.Note ,in Florida, you really need to pay attention to the blazes or you end up off route as I often do.Anyway,I knew eventually I would hit the trail or at least the main grade road if I missed the trail.I ended up back at the same marsh that had the wildflower clusters, which I recognized instantly.Otherwise, the wetlands and flat woods can start all looking alike.So, I picked up the trail again heading back rather than the first remote camping area at Bowman Is. at mile 6,which was my original plan.

Back home, my feet were so swelled I could hardly stand.As were my thighs,upper back/traps,lower back and calves.But,I was able to recover, stronger and more fit,and was able to do an 11 mile walk again today with a fairly large day pack and 2 liters of water.

I hiked yesterday in Pine Glades NA a large wetlands area west of Jupiter,Fl ,with a history that illustrates the power of long range economic cycles.The property was acquired in parcels in the first half of last decade by the Florida Forever program which has purchased large amounts of land throughout Florida for conservation and environmental purposes over the years.Unfortunately,the program has been dormant since the financial crisis which also coincides with when this country entered an economic "winter" period due to baby boomers beginning to exit their peak spending(and donating)years in mass.So with revenues flagging, to maintain profits U.S.companies since then have resorted to "financial engineering" aided by easy monetary policy and cost cutting which means middle management since the laborers are needed to do the actual work and the bosses would rather start doing some management rather than fire themselves.

So the boomers are not spending freely anymore on conservation (or cars,homes etc.)but rather clammering for isolation/populism/socialism etc. while trying to start saving enough to retire.Of course,this will do no good because it does not address the issue which is unfavorable demographics in the developed world and China.See what has happened in Japan,which has the most unfavorable demographics and has been in a deflationary/recessionary environment(otherwise known as a depression)since late last century when their demographics started turning unfavorable.In fact,history says it will only make matters worse, then when things start getting bad enough governments will start using the ultimate fiscal policy,ie. war.This economic "cleansing",of course,will lead to the next economic spring likely early next decade and led by the younger generation in this country starting to enter their peak spending years and favorable demographics in emerging countries such as India.

As to Pine Glades, it was originally agriculturally-altered and failed real estate development land that was restored to wetlands by removing non-native invasive species and restoring natural water flow and today is a large block of wetland habitat ,especially when combined with the neighboring Jones/Hungryland WEA,that serves as a buffer against further suburban Palm Beach/Martin County encroachment into the Everglades.But.I guess it will be at least early next decade before anymore significant environmental/conservation work gets done in the Everglades.

I have fond memories of the Aucilla and St Marks Rivers from riding my bike up through North Florida about a decade ago.I was headed to the Apalachicola NF to backpack on the FT at Bradwell Bay Wilderness after having already done the an out and back of the Ocala NF section in a week.I believe a large 55 mile part of the Aucilla section is now permanently closed,and thus a road walk,due to a large timber company putting land up for sale. Too bad Florida Forever likely won't be buying the land so it will probably be a developer.

Yesterday,I did a 6.8 mile "acclimation" hike along the C-18 levee which runs along the southern border of Hungryland Slough NA from Corbett WMA to Loxahatchee Slough NA.I got a late start,the levee is high and exposed to the sun,and I left my snacks in the car, so I cut the hike short of what I was wanting to do. I was ,on the spur of the moment, thinking of heading into Corbett to an off-trail area known as the "game canal"which I had discovered on an off trail hike a decade ago.

I have always liked this canal/levee as when I used to ride my bike up this way it allowed me to connect from the dirt road leading to Corbett to remote wetlands to the north for which road access is blocked by Corbett/Hungryland Slough.In fact, I discovered the "game canal "when I tried to ride my bike along a numbered "road" in Corbett(to discover a shortcut to points north) only to find myself in up to knee deep and above slough(Hungryland)which I pushed my bike through all day before I finally found a fairly dry tree island to set up camp at right before dusk.

Anyway,the C-18 canal gives you glimpses of the Hungryland Slough NA flatwoods,wet prairies and marshes and I saw two Everglades deer along the opposite side of the canal.They are white tailed deer but miniature in size since they have less of the body fat needed to protect Appalachian white tailed deer from winter.They are also far less commonly spotted.

The hike was very hot, but I finished stronger than I started, and in a further sign I am acclimating to the heat, I felt chilled and started to catch a cold when I got home and was resting in the A/C.