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Post by rwtb123 on Jul 30, 2016 9:39:43 GMT -8
I am on a roll hiking, so I headed out to Corbett WMA this morning for a 10-12 mile hike to what I remembered as the game canal.When I got back glancing at the rough online Corbett map for the first time in a decade, I realize the game canal is a different area which I did cross,and the beautiful area I remembered and hiked to was just an unmarked narrow deep marsh channel with pickerelweed,swamp lily,skyblue lupine,various vines and other deep marsh plants and the star of the show,largeflowered rose gentian growing everywhere on everything but prefering the vines. Instead of the FT I took the main grade into Corbett(south entrance)and connected to road 11 a doubletrack which heads northward deep into the pine flatwoods and wet prairies.Water was lower than my last trek but crossing the marshes was up to knee deep to keep me cool.I looked at my old trip reports and the Corbett map to figure my offtrail route a decade ago and have it pretty well figured out.I also noted the various habitats I crossed in particular a fairly narrow strand of cypress with marsh plants and wildflowers as magnificent as the marsh I hiked to. I am now ready to do more serious exploration of Corbett or ,perhaps,points south in search of the elusive ghost orchid.Looking at my blog for the first time in ages I realize a decade ago I was doing dayhikes of 40 miles and bike rides of 140-150 so that brought me back to reality. I am growing to really like Corbett again as you discover something new everytime you hike it and,of course the wildflowers are magnificent this time of year.I do need to get a camera now... www.mobilemaplets.com/thumbnails/18894_thumbnail-1024.jpg
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Post by rwtb123 on Jul 31, 2016 10:05:31 GMT -8
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2016 8:39:38 GMT -8
Has anyone been to Jonathan Dickinson State Park to hike? Any helpful hints and advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by rwtb123 on Aug 1, 2016 9:26:10 GMT -8
I have pretty much explored the whole park.There are two connecting loop trails,in the 5-10 mile range each, maintained by the FTA with a remote campsite requiring reservations on each.This time of year you will need plenty of water and the front loop sand hills and prairies are more exposed to the sun.The back loop is shorter and often follows the swampy habitat of Kitching Creek,and there are shorter loop options from there including using horse trails to complete loops.You can extend this loop by hiking on to Hobe Canal where I have been turning around lately coming ,on the OTL/FT, from Riverbend/Cypress Creek (accessed from Indiantown Rd) .
Check out Sierra's Broward Hikers and Backpackers or one of the Palm Beach County meetup groups for pictures as JDSP is a popular group hiking destination and popular for cycling as well.
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VAN
Trail Wise!
Posts: 133
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Post by VAN on Aug 2, 2016 7:51:06 GMT -8
JDSP was my first backpacking trip ever. We followed the Kitching Creek loop and camped at one of the sites. It was nice and easy to research. Check out FloridaHikes.com also for good descriptions and map points.
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Post by rwtb123 on Aug 2, 2016 15:05:03 GMT -8
Exactly,FloridaHikes is great for logistics but their photo quality seems to have gone downhill(probably just using an iphone now).When she maintained the FTA website I use to link to her photos in my trip reports.There were some great photos of Corbett from the exploratory OTL hikes before the complete trail was even opened to the public.And,some lovely photos of Lake O sunrises and sunsets from the annual Thanksgiving circumnavigation hikes.
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Post by rwtb123 on Aug 7, 2016 18:14:17 GMT -8
I hiked around 4 miles today at Royal Palm Beach Pines NA, which is large enough to have a remote feel but small enough that you can just wander around and get turned around at times and still easily find your way out.For those lurking or searching for hikes in this area,it is actually one of my favorite places to hike as it was right on my western bike route which winded around through the suburbs to get around Grassy Waters and other preserved areas that make direct routes difficult. And,it is not well known and never crowded being hidden away with suburbs on one side and horse farms on the other,but contains two hiking loops and one equestrian loop that allow 4 miles of hiking (or 6 if you include the equestrian loop).It travels through pine flatwoods opening up with views of grass/dwarf cypress prairies at regular intervals.I would characterizes the prairies as seasonally wet as they were not wet enough to entice me off trail today. Oh,and I did see two red-shouldered hawk. www.pbcgov.com/erm/nena/_images/NENAMap.jpg
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Post by rwtb123 on Sept 11, 2016 10:03:42 GMT -8
I did a 10-12 mile hike a couple of weeks ago,before the tropical flareups, into the northern swampy area of Loxahatchee Slough NA.I accessed this area from Riverbend Park which is always a zoo on weekends as it's an epicenter of trail bike riding,hiking,jogging,horse riding,paddling,picnicking, as well as sightseeing.The Slough was mostly dry ,and thus dead looking, except for the main narrow channel which the trail briefly follows.
But,my real reason for this post is to admit that I am guilty of revealing secrets.Not my secrets but those of the Seminole Indians who were never defeated as they made these Loxahatchee and Hungryland Sloughs ,that I have been exploring,their home and no conventional army was crazy enough to enter these swamps and engage them in battle.
So today,the threat is not my seeing other humans in these locations I have reavealed,but rather the threat that they be converted to area residents preferred habitats,ie. urban or agricultural sprawl.But,for the most part these areas I am exploring have been rescued from that fate.
So I challenge you,if you dare,please enter my swamps,but do so at your own risk as gators have been known to swallow dogs and small children whole.
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Post by rwtb123 on Sept 13, 2016 11:52:10 GMT -8
I did a 4-5 mile hike this morning at Royal Palm Beach Pines NA.A quick warm up on the boardwalk leading to a large wet prairie alerted me to the fact that water levels were back to moderate levels after recent rains.So,the trail was wet in place approaching knee deep ,at times,in the deeper channels, so I was enjoying the barefoot hike.I did a large loop out of the 4 loops in the Natural Area taking care to consult the map ,at critical junctures,so I wouldn't end up just wandering around,like last time,until finally deciding to figure where I was and find my way out.However, I was still able to focus on letting my mind wander while noting the subtle changes in the ecosystem.As I was finishing, the humidity was picking up and storm clouds were forming to the southwest.As I finished, the storm clouds had moved in and the wind was picking up, cooling things off,but no real rain to speak of.
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Post by mamabeargreen on Oct 2, 2016 18:53:33 GMT -8
Floridian here. Just popping in to say hello. I'm in the Orlano area. Let me know if anyone wants advice on trails in my neck of the woods.
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Post by rwtb123 on Jun 11, 2017 17:35:13 GMT -8
I haven't done any wilderness hikes in a while as I have been prioritizing strength training(and avoiding traffic congestion).But I have been recently acclimating to the heat in my training and doing short walks in heavy rainfall and high standing water levels so that I will be ready if I decide to do any wilderness exploration.As further motivation I though I would do a post on the Florida Everglades,tourists and wildlife based on my experiences.
The everglades are dissected by a network of canals and levees.I have often used the levees to access the everglades and beyond for hikes and/or cycling.Similarly a number of Florida everglades airboat "tourist attractions" are situated along these canals access to allow tourists to experience the everglades.So for me they serve as a periodic oasis but for tourists they want to see and photograph wildlife in particular alligators.So the operators keep a few habituated gators around for photo opportunities-(often along with small wildlife zoos) even though this is an illegal practice.In fact you read about them being regularly fined for feeding gators but apparently this is just a cost of business in providing tourists what they want.
Public lands also attract tourist to front country areas including along the Great Florida Birding Trail. Of course officials are not suppose to feed wildlife but that is not to say I have not observed numerous occasions of tourists with elaborate camara setups about 15 yards away from their vehicles feeding gators,birds etc. to get that perfect photo opportunity.I would typically be resting on a long bike ride so just ignore the whole thing while napping on a nearby bench or doing a short active recovery walk.
All of this is to say that my posts are based on direct experience not online word of mouth or articles so popular as a means for internet geeks to gain backcountry(or frontcountry)knowledge.So when I say tourist attractions keep habituated wildlife around for photo opportunities that is fact not speculation...
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zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
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Post by zeke on Jun 11, 2017 17:40:46 GMT -8
It is also not news. While illegal, facts will tell you that camera folks want those pics. Hell, I like getting a good shot of wildlife while kayaking, whether it be in the Everglades or in a bay nearby. I don't feed them, just admire them and occasionally take a pic.
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Post by rwtb123 on Jun 11, 2017 18:11:23 GMT -8
I'm not in the media business but I have long poked fun at people preferring to "capture" nature with their camera rather than "experiencing" it like I prefer to do
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Post by yukonron on Nov 30, 2018 6:24:45 GMT -8
New addition to this forum. My Beautiful Wife and I are avid outdoors folk, we are into hiking/backpacking, camping, with our main focus is summiting. I have been involved in this since a very early age, and I am now 60. We have done some of the more well known greater hikes, domestically and globally. I told you that so you would not think we are first timers. We are however, looking for an alternative for our next trip, which will be Florida. With the clear understanding Florida has much to offer, we wish to explore some of the best trails. We will be on the West Coast, Southeast of Tampa about 20 miles. If you have any insigh on locations within a 3 hour drive, I would be grateful if you could share. We have plenty of information on locations we have been, and will do likewise if interested in a certain location. Thank you in advance, YukonRon
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zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
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Post by zeke on Nov 30, 2018 10:31:30 GMT -8
yukonron I moved to the Tampa area about 4 years ago, and have yet to find much in the way of hiking trails. There are some, but I just haven't looked for them. I have been much too busy enjoying the paddle opportunities. If it is a morning stroll you want, there are some nice nature trails with some opportunity for wildlife photos, but they aren't very long or involved (Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland). Myakka River St Park has some trails, and is great for seeing gators from the bridge on the drive in.
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