August 24th, 2008 Sandra Friend
I did so with friends when I completed the Seminole section of the Florida Trail some years ago. This is a remote spot south of Clewiston as you head from the sugar cane fields into Lake Harbor. Now I’m especially glad we heeded recommendations from Joan Hobson not to camp along that section. Here’s why, from the Palm Beach Post:
The water management district is still working on the canal and still finding cars. “We wait until they’ve got about 20 car locations identified before we go in and pull them out,” said sheriff’s detective Justin Wallace of the auto theft division. As of late last week, 107 cars had been removed from about a 6-mile stretch of canal beginning where the paved road ends and continuing to U.S. Sugar’s railroad track bridge.
Read the whole story….
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August 22nd, 2008 Sandra Friend
A new free resource for hikers: head on over to the Florida Trail website to download yourself a set of Grab-and-Go Hikes. I just finished them up today as one of my wrapup projects as I close out my days as an FTA staff member. These are mini-guides to popular day hikes (many with opportunities for camping) along the Florida Trail, and include mileages, directions, and a map. The set includes:
- Juniper Prairie Wilderness (Ocala)
- Juniper Creek Trail at Blackwater River State Forest (Pensacola)
- Little Big Econ State Forest (Orlando)
- Big Oak Trail at Suwannee River State Park (Live Oak)
- Hickory Hammock Trail (Sebring, Okeechobee)
- Green Swamp West (Lakeland, Dade City)
- Etoniah Creek State Forest (Palatka)Download, print, grab, and go! Just in time for hiking season.
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August 6th, 2008 Sandra Friend
It’s that time again! Labor Day Weekend is coming up fast and it’s time to sign up for the ever-popular swamp walks at Clyde Butcher’s Muck-A-Bout in the Big Cypress Swamp. This is where I met the fellow who is now my husband five years ago, and we’ve both continued to go back and volunteer year after year, leading hikes and assisting around the very busy and popular special event. Rob draws his famous caricatures for a donation. C’mon down to Big Cypress and get your feet wet in one of the most spectacular freshwater habitats in Florida, and see Niki Butcher’s full collection of hand-painted black and white photography as part of this year’s event. Hope to see you there! Sign up through Clyde Butcher’s website.
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July 17th, 2008 Sandra Friend
North of the main portion of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and its hiking trails in Boynton Beach, a new 3-mile hiking and biking trail opened June 16 at Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West on CR 880, south of Southern Blvd (US 98) at Nine Mile Bend. The trail includes a 200-foot boardwalk and interpretive information about the restoration of this former farm to wetlands. For more information, see this story in the Sun-Sentinel.
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June 12th, 2008 Sandra Friend
Here’s a brand new one for this relatively trail-starved section of the state: according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, a new five mile trail provides free public access to the northwest corner of the Babcock Ranch, one of the state’s largest preservation deals of all time. Called the Footprints Trail, it is now open and a guided hike will be offered this Saturday by volunteers from CHEC. I look forward to visiting the trail when I head to Punta Gorda for my annual Florida Outdoor Writers Conference!
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