My second WW trip

[Daniel Madrigal]

I completed my first waterway trip in March of 2011. Went from Flamingo to South Joe, Graveyard, Highland, Rodgers, Plate Creek, Darwin's, and Sunday Bay. Stopped at Lostman's, Willy Willy, and Watson's Place. I am thinking about doing it again in December when I finish nursing school and am seeking an alternate route. Anyone tried one that looks like this? Flamingo to shark river, cane patch, broad river, camp lonesome, hog key, and pavillion key, with stops at rabbit key, Mormon key, turkey key, and harney river.

[Terry]

Dan, you've heard me say this a million times:

- Even though cold fronts switch the wind around, the prevailing winds are

from the southeast, therefore, do the trip from south to north.

-The only place to start on the south end is Hells Bay Trail, the only place to

exit is Collier Seminole State Park.

- Satisfaction is directly proportional to how much you stay off of ( to the east of )

the magenta line.

- Alternate camping sites, chickee, ground, beach, as you alternate

ecosystems, saltwater / freshwater.

- The Nightmare is a Wilderness Waterway feature, you have not done

the Wilderness Waterway if you haven't gone through the Nightmare.   However, experienced

Nightmare travelers should take it to the next step and use the Lost Portage.

Using this guideline here's the perfect WW route:

1)  Hells Bay Trail to a single chickee, Lane Bay, North River or Watson River.

Use the Maze between Lane Bay and Roberts River then cut across Roberts River

at the chickee to Old Camp Route to North River and take North Watson Route to

come in the backdoor of Watson River Chickee.  Keith has detailed this route

on this website.

2) Plan the tide for Shark River and go through the Labyrinth to Shark River.

This route completely avoids Whitewater Bay and probably any other human influence

all the way to Shark River.  Stay at Canepatch.

3) Exit Canepatch through the north creek, plan the tide for Harney River if you're

using the Nightmare and stay at Broad River campsite or Highland Beach (if using the beach

stay at Leon Hamilton's Place).  If using the Lost Portage your next night should be

Camp Lonesome.

4) If staying on the coast, go to one of the beaches near Charley Creek then on the next day

use Charley Creek to get to one of the inside sites.  If staying inside

go to Plate Creek Chickee wiggling east and west to stay off the magenta line.

Cabbage Creek, Rodgers River they're both open and passable.

5) Take the east side creeks to avoid Huston and Oyster Bay coming out on the east side

of Sunday Bay.  Stay at the new chickee.

6) Picnic/ Tiger Key bypassing the Everglades City / Chokoloskee cyst

anyway you want to minimize the vista and sound scape destruction.

7) On the way to Collier Seminole State Park challenge yourself with Fish Hawk Creek

and Buttonwood Bay, tides must be considered.