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BearVault

Backpacking Articles

Our personal experiences, gear recommendations, and what you need to know about backpacking in Florida.

Crossing Big Cypress

Florida Trail, Big Cypress

February 4, 2019    Sandra Friend

It’s Florida’s roughest, wettest, weirdest backpacking trip, best tackled with friends. Along this 30 mile stretch of the Florida Trail in the heart of Big Cypress National Preserve, immersing in the swamp is the point of the hike. Sandra tackled it as the final stretch of her multi-year 1,110-mile section hike of the Florida Trail, end-to-end.

Do Not Feed the Bears

Bear bags hanging at sunset on the AT in Georgia

February 27, 2018    John Keatley

Bear bagging is the art of hanging your food properly out of reach of bears. If you’re a Florida backpacker and haven’t learned how, here’s a short course. Securing your food from bears is required in the Ocala, Osceola, and Apalachicola National Forests.

Xmas with Zpacks

Zpacks backpack

December 7, 2016    John Keatley

A field trip, Florida Hikes style, to a lightweight backpacking gear manufacturer creating great products – and jobs – on Florida’s Space Coast.

Backpacking With Your Kids

How to Do Florida backpacking

September 14, 2015    Sandra Friend

How to Do Florida TV host Chad Crawford takes his daughter on a backpacking trip on the Florida Trail. Let him inspire you to plan your next family adventure!

Embracing the Wild: Elaine Zumsteg

Cadi on the Appalachian Trail

December 22, 2014    Sandra Friend

On March 28, 2014, Stuart resident Elaine “Cadi” Cadigan Zumsteg began her Appalachian Trail thru-hike. After meeting “Hobo Nobo,” the ladies finished together on September 30.

Embracing the Wild: Anna Huthmaker

Anna Huthmaker

December 21, 2014    Sandra Friend

The founder of Trail Dames, a national organization to empower female hikers, Anna Huthmaker took on the Appalachian Trail in 2003 despite her own self-doubts.

Embracing the Wild: Rayana Adra

Acorn on the PCT

December 20, 2014    Sandra Friend

Hiking the AT before and the PCT after, Rayana “Acorn” Adra is one of a handful of women to thru-hike the Florida Trail during the 2014 hiking season.

Embracing the Wild: Luanne Anderson

Tigger climbing down from Arbel Cliffs in Israel

December 19, 2014    Sandra Friend

A volunteer for ALDHA and on the Board of Directors of the Florida Trail Hikers Alliance, Luanne “Tigger” Anderson has not just hiked, but helped manage an Appalachian Trail hostel.

Embracing the Wild: Misti Little

Ridley at the Aucilla Sinks on the Florida Trail

December 18, 2014    Sandra Friend

After completing the Appalachian Trail, Misti “Ridley” Little thru-hiked the Florida Trail with her husband Chris in 2011. She actively promotes the Florida Trail to the hiking community.

Embracing the Wild: Lori Burris

SwampTromper on the AT

December 17, 2014    Sandra Friend

A long-time trail maintainer and hike leader, Lori “SwampTromper” Burris has encouraged many women in South Central Florida to take that first step into the wild.

Embracing the Wild: Susan Turner

Hammock Hanger on the John Muir Trail

December 16, 2014    Sandra Friend

Jacksonville resident Susan “Hammock Hanger” Turner is an amazing woman. She’s been hiking on some long distance trail somewhere on Earth for the past 13 years.

Embracing the Wild: Gail Johnson

Gutsy & JK on the AT during our "Not Quite Thru"

December 15, 2014    Sandra Friend

Completing the Appalachian Trail on her own in 1996 earned Gail Johnson her trail name, Gutsy. She was the first woman to share her journal and journey online.

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