April 25th, 2008 Sandra Friend
At the far north end of Market Street, that famed boulevard that slices right through the heart of Apalachicola’s historic business district, the road ends at the Apalachicola Reserve Nature Center and its adjoining nature trail. While the center is only open on weekends, the trail is available anytime (dawn to dusk), and I took the opportunity on a recent trip to retrace my steps down the gravel and boardwalk, pausing to delight in my favorite flower, the wild iris, in glorious bloom in the sluggish slough near this tiki with its inscription honoring Earth Day. At the end of the walk, a mere 10 or 15 minutes of strolling through the marsh, the scene opens up to a sweeping view across the estuary, where an eagle’s nest sits in a distant tree and a fishing boat is permanently beached among the reeds. A short walk, but long on scenery, and the only hiking trail you’ll find IN Apalachicola.
Posted in Florida Hikes, Panhandle | No Comments » Post to del.icio.us
October 31st, 2007 Sandra Friend
Last weekend, I headed for the hills– the Hocking Hills, to be exact, in southeastern Ohio. It was a day’s respite from hanging out in downtown Columbus while hubby was at a conference, and ever since I read about Hocking Hills State Park a decade ago, I’ve wanted to go there.
The state park is broken into segments scattered across the hills, each surrounding a signifcant geologic feature. I managed to hike at six of the eight locations, mainly by sticking to the trails that took you deep into the gorges instead of the hikes up on top of the cliffs. The formations, from Old Man’s Cave to Ash Cave to Rock House, are incredible rock shelters and deeply eroded ravines with winding streams, and the trails often lead you up and down steps carved into the solid rock and sometimes even through tunnels.
What I wasn’t expecting was the constant parade of hikers. Yes, it was the last hurrah of fall leaves, but the day was extremely overcast and misty rain fell several times. But every parking area was full to overflowing, and every trail was downright crowded with hikers. A surprising sight to someone used to hiking solo for miles and miles. Hikers of every age, size, and ethnicity, out enjoying the brisk temperatures, the stunning scenery, and each other’s company. As it said near the Old Man’s Cave trailhead, these are “The Most Exciting Trails in the State,” and it seems that everyone knows it. Which gets me to thinking … where in Florida is the most exciting trail in the state? My vote would be for the Florida Trail through Big Cypress, Loop Road to Oasis. Or perhaps Torreya State Park. I think I’ll start a discussion on it…
Posted in Diversions, Panhandle, South | No Comments » Post to del.icio.us
May 1st, 2007 Sandra Friend
Serendipity touched me again this past weekend as I worked the booth for FTA out at the Blountstown Greenway grand opening. I went to pick up a new trail guide to Apalachicola Bluffs & Ravines Preserve and ended up talking to Leigh Brooks, who lives just up the street from the Gholson Nature Park in Chattahoochee. When I mentioned I planned to stop there and hike on my way home, she said “let me introduce you to Angus!” I met her the next morning and we visited Angus in his Herbarium, the world’s most complete collection of Apalachicola River basin botany, that he’s accumulated and preserved for decades in what used to be a Model T garage. A native of Chattahoochee, Angus and his wife live in the house he grew up in, and he’s spent a lifetime roaming the steepheads and forest slopes along the Apalachicola River in search of botanical wonders. He’s even discovered a few never known of before, so there are some named for him.
We took a walk together at the park, savoring the deep shade and the hundreds of tiny flowers just-past-bloom and in bloom along the steep slopes. It was important to me to pay attention to the botany and to Angus, so I didn’t take my usual trail notes…I’ll return and do that later. Suffice to say for now that this is a park that anyone who loves wildflowers should make sure they don’t miss. 
In addition to fringed campion (very showy) and woodland pinkroot, we saw green dragon and a milkweed that is endemic to the area. Further expedition with Leigh on a nearby tract let me see lance-leaved trillium and croomia, and she made a point of showing me every little nook and cranny around Chattahoochee where wildflowers could be found. What a fabulous destination for flora!
Posted in Panhandle | 3 Comments » Post to del.icio.us
February 9th, 2007 Sandra Friend
Spent last Sunday hiking a kick-butt section of the Torreya Hiking Trail about 1/3 of the way around the loop, going counterclockwise from the blue trail out past the Confederate gun emplacements near the Gregory House. A living history group had just decamped the night before. Joining me was Judd from our FTA Tallahassee office, and it was his first time there. I believe “amazing” came out of his mouth a few times! It’s been years since I did anything more than the Weeping Ridge Trail so everything was a delight, especially the extreme diversity. Since both Judd and I spent years hiking in Western Pennsylvania, the narrow ridges and views of distant ridges were reminders of hiking days gone by. These trails aren’t for the faint of heart, with dropoffs and steep climbs galore, but heck, you need to mix it up now and again. Check it out while the weather’s cool!
Posted in Panhandle | No Comments » Post to del.icio.us
February 4th, 2007 Sandra Friend
I’m writing to you from the outdoorsy town of Sopchoppy, surrounded by the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the Apalachicola National Forest, as I celebrate the kickoff of Florida Hiking Trails Month with a long-deserved weekend of hiking. Yesterday was a kickoff celebration along the Sopchoppy section of the Florida Trail, but I was not one of the ones who dared wade the floodwaters to get back to Monkey Creek Bridge. Temps are in the 40s and that water is like ice. Instead, I hopped in a truck with friends and four-wheeled it back there to assist with filming one of the last segments of the FT video I’ve screenwritten.
In the afternoon, I explored Phipps Park in Tallahassee for the first time since 1999. With my eyes now fully open to habitats and flora, it enthralled me even more than my first visit. Trillium blanketed the eastern hillsides along the Coonbottom and Swamp Forest loops, the burble of the alluvial stream as it poured over clay embankments was refreshing, and I noticed trees of grand size and stature. Click the link above for a visual journey. Thanks go to my friend Linda aka Earthworm, who both prompted me to blog AND does a fabulous job of caretaking the Phipps Park trail. It was a spur of the moment visit, I didn’t bring a map, and the directional signs are so detailed you simply can’t get lost in there without trying.
Wake up, it’s February … time for a HIKE!
Posted in Florida Trail, Panhandle | 5 Comments » Post to del.icio.us
