Hello Glades People

[Roger Hammer]

Hello everyone. I thought I'd join the discussions about hiking and paddling the glades on this site. My first trip to Everglades National Park was in 1969 after a 3-year stint in the Army. Since then I've paddled the 99-mile Everglades Wilderness Waterway three times solo and once with a friend and, in 2010 to celebrate my retirement, I paddled solo from Flamingo up the Gulf coast to Highland Beach and then returned via the inland bays and rivers. That was a 10-day, 129-mile excursion. For those who don't already know me (HI VIVIAN!!!) I'm the author of Everglades Wildflowers, Florida Keys Wildflowers, A FalconGuide to Everglades National Park and the Surrounding Area, and Florida Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Sunshine State.

My paddling fleet includes a carbon fiber 15' 10"  Kaskazi Dorado II fishing kayak from South Africa and a custom-made kevlar 16' 2" Swift Shearwater solo canoe from Toronto that weighs a mere 32 lbs. soaking wet.

[yakmaster]

Launch at the ramp at chocko, always has water.

Enjoy!

[Terry]

Get an extra 20 miles of wilderness - launch at Collier Seminole State Park or

I'm starting to like Seagrape.  Seagrape has got a lot of paddling options, good launch

and good parking.    Seagrape, take the backcountry through Barron Creek straight to

Ferguson Bay out Ferguson River to Picnic or Tiger Key, all 100 percent paddle-able.

And no Honky Tonk City!  

[vivian]

Terry, overnight parking is not allowed at sea grape. I already tried that and rangers said no.

[Juan Estevez]

Hello Roger,

I have a lousy gallery of some Everglades Wildflowers in my personal site and I kept getting emails from viewers asking for flower names, the emails stopped after I referenced your work.

http://www.pbase.com/juanfotos/flowers

I will be eagerly waiting for the second edition.

Juan

[Roger Hammer]

Juan, the 2nd edition is expanded and includes 364 wildflowers compared to the 306 in the first edition. I took all new photos for the 2nd edition because the first edition photos were all slides. I bought a Nikon D300 and a Nikon D7100, each with a Nikkor 105mm macro lens and took digital images this time around. It will be a much nicer book and it should hit the stands this coming fall.

[Terry]

Even up at the visitor center?

Is overnight allowed at Turner River?

That's one that could be addressed without GMP.   I'll bet if the demand

was demonstrated that would be changed.

vivian said:

Terry, overnight parking is not allowed at sea grape. I already tried that and rangers said no.

[vivian]

Terry the issue is security. Same situation at Bear Lake trail and the East River.  However, you can contact an outfitter in Everglades City to arrange for a vehicle shuttle leaving cars at the ranger station.

Roger, your books are excellent!  Can't wait to see the new one.

[Rob Stevens]

Terry

According to the BCNP website Turner River has been closed to commercial outfitters and Ranger led trips since January 20 due to low water. As for security I wouldn't worry. The first time I was there the police had a number of people in handcuffs.

[yakmaster]

In conversations with park management, no camping is allowed at seagrape or turner, but you can leave your car at the launch overnight while in the backcountry.

They request that you fill out a backcountry permit and leave it on your dashboard.