Preparing my next trip

[Jonathan Detullio]

I’m planning my 3^rd canoe tip to the everglades for October or November this year and I’m looking for some help to make this trip a success.

 

On my first trip I planned a 2 days round trip to Hells Bay Chickee and back thru Hells Bay Canoe Trail, I never made it to the Chickee; about half way thru the trail my canoe tipped and I lose a lot of my stuff. After an hour getting as much of my stuff as I could I decided that he will be better to turn back. I learned a lot about how to prepare for a tipping on that trip.

 

My second trip was a 2 days trip to Alligator Creek thru West Lake Canoe Trail and back the same way. Once again I did not finish this trip, this time it wasn’t due to a tipping. After a very bad night fighting the no-see-hum in a tent that my father landed me (those 10 years old tent where not made to stop this little bugs, good for mosquitoes but not for no-see-hum); I was exhausted and after 6 hours paddling I reached The Lungs, the passage from The Lungs to the next opening was impassable due to a lot of roots and fallen tree blocking the passage. After much deliberation I decided to return.

 

I learned a lot from those 2 trips, I also decided to get a new canoe much stable and to get physically in better shape; on the second trip I experienced extreme cramps and at one point couldn’t move or paddle.

 

So here are my questions; how do you deal when a narrow pass is obstructed by large branches or roots, do you get out of the boat, cut your way thru? I never tried getting out of my canoe afraid I will never be able to get back in or stuck in mud. What if you can’t get to your planned destination, can you look for flat land setup camp? Looking at Google Earth it looks like on the west side of the Lungs at about 200 feet from the pass you can see prairie land, will that be an option for a camp if the pass is blocked?

 

Jonathan Detullio

Hollywood Florida

[Terry]

 

Man, you're a hurtin' pup, but I like the can-do attitude.

Do more day trips, when they become easy go for over-nighters.

Don't add heat and bugs on to your problems, go when it's cool,

after cold fronts are the best, December through March.

 

Oh, and the answers to the last paragraph are:  Jumping in and

out of a canoe will become second nature, big NO to that second

part of the first question.  Stay on cleared trails until you get the hang

of it.   You have to camp at your backcountry

camp permitted campsites or get a $100 special use permit that

requires approvals.

Plan so you will make it to your destination. 

[Ross Hancock]

Jonathan,

Those sound like great trips. Were you expecting something better? If you are in Hollywood, you are just as close to the Everglades City ENP put-ins as to the main park put-ins. Try a trip up the Lopez River and camp on the chickees and ground sites in that part of the park. You won't get stuck there. If you go the West Lake route again, wait until November when some other people have already bushwacked through. But I wouldn't camp anywhere near there if I didn't like cuddling with crocodiles so much.

Ross

[Amazon Bill]

Jon, 

 am in the process of making my first trip this fall and doing some 'waterproofing'. Besides paddle practice and strength training, we started a capsize & recovery training for the canoe. I figure 10-12 miles on WW in one day is the maximum distance in a loaded canoe. Here's our plan. First is paddle practice to understand timing, distance estimating, and shore line recognition. The paddle practice sessions include multiple laps on my 2.5 mile lake and timing our paddling for 5 miles.  We also did 8 miles of the Loxahattchee River and the 5.5 mile Glades route at Loxahattchee Wildlife Refuge of Altantic Ave in Delray. That curvey 5.5 miles on a windy day with gators on everyother shore hightens the need to stay on course in tight quarters! I google the practice route and measure bays and openings. Then as we paddle, I'll point out some thing 1000 feet away that is 20 - 50 feet wide and say that is the size of the cut in the mangroves we would be searching for. This helps us relate an aerial map view to an actual eye-on-the-water view point. The other item is learning the angle to 'see the door open' in the mangroves. This is an angle of approach that shows the way into the cut, getting on that angle is the key to seeing and entering the narrow channel. I'll plot that angle on my aerials for my trip.

Next I'll add a couple of coolers of 20 gallons of water to the canoe for a load, then head to the intracoastal for some open water, wind and wave tryouts and do a 10 mile round trip. I am concerned about flipping as well. So we took the canoe into the pool and did some bailouts, dry flips to empty it. We learned real fast how exhausting that can be. I bought a load of waterproof bags at www.boatersland.com . We decided they should be lashed down to help float the boat and keep the volume of water out.  I new someone by your name in Ft Pierce back in '79, we worked at the power plant together.

[Jonathan Detullio]

Thank you all for your reply;

I’m planning a few day trips in a few months. What I’m looking for right now is a way to get some paddle practice close to where I leave. I don’t want to go somewhere to crowded specially power boat, do any of you know a good place to practice?

I also need to find a new canoe; I was thinking on renting one at Flamingo but I was told that they do not rent for Alligator Creek trips. If you guys know of a place in south Florida to buy used canoe let me know.

Jon; in 1979 I wasn’t in this country yet, I came to the States in 1989.

[Amazon Bill]

Loxahattachee Wildlife Refuge: This is about 30 minutes from Hollywood on the Turnpike then west to US 441 via Atlantic Ave (not Blvd). Then west on the park road till your hat floats. This is the Lox ARM . http://www.fws.gov/loxahatchee/  They rent canoes 561.733.0192. You can canoe the canal or the trail. The trail is quite with maybe 1 or two other paddlers.

  Loxahattchee ARM Canoe Rental Vendor

[Jonathan Detullio]

Thank you Bill, I will check this location this weekend.

 

After a few days of research on the Net I was thinking on getting a Mad River Canoe Adventure 16; anyone has any experience with these boats? I think that for the price and for my usage is a good option, don’t want to put thousands of dollars on a canoe that I will only be using 3 to 4 times a year.

[Amazon Bill]

I am not familiar with that canoe. I use a 14.5 ft Old Town Guide. Its a two person canoe. I holds alot of gear and is a poly foam sandwhich type of canoe. End to End there is some rocker so it turns in tight quarters pretty easily and there isn't any rail under the bottom to keep a straight line. With one person only in the boat,  the center snap-in seat is a must. They run about $500 new. Had it 10 years now.

http://gladesgodeep.ning.com/forum/topics/help-buying-a-good-family

[Ross Hancock]

If you want to paddle Alligator Creek you can rent canoes in Florida City from Everglades Hostel. http://www.evergladeshostel.com

It's on the way to the park, near the turnpike. They'll help you mount a canoe to your roof and then you can go anywhere you want.

[Flex Kayakfari.com]

Jonathan, since you're in Hollywood, I'm surprised nobody mentioned West Lake Park, which is motor-boat and traffic-free. Here you can practice and get to know your canoe close to home. If you stay till dusk, you can hang out with lots of no-see-ums and/or even visit a homeless camp or two and practice your navigational skills!! ;)

For a longer trip, start in Holland Park at the south end of WLP, paddle up to Dania Beach Blvd, and take the parallel canal across the intracoastal (idle speed in this stretch) and right into Whiskey Creek.. there's a surprising amount of wildlife for an urban area here.. Enjoy!

[Swamp Hunter]

Hello Jonathon.   Welcome to the forum. Im also a beginner. I have hunted, hiked, camped and explored the Everglades region for over 40 years but for some reason, I didnt get into canoeing until I met Keith.  Hes a great guy.

 

Heck I live in Hollywood and Ill go with you if you need a companion. I also need a more suitable canoe than the 10 foot fiberglass model Ive been using that I found abandoned lol.  My only experience canoing has been in the Big Cypress swamp. Have you tried the Turner River? Have you tried Oleta River? Its close by.

 

Im not sure I understand the question of getting in and out.. I have no problem getting in and out of my canoe. I just beach it somewhere in the mud and get out.  But my canoe is indestructable.  I have pulled my canoe over obstacles many times without a problem.  I wouldnt get out in deep water. Branches are cool. I just grab them and pull along. I am anxious to get a better canoe to try out the Wilderness Waterway. Im just not sure I can sit for an extended period. Im so used to walking. If I ever get a suitable canoe, Ill look you up.

 

If you miss your planned destination may be a problem. In a emergency, myself, I would do what I have to do to survive but I dont believe you are allowed to camp just anywhere in the ENP. Unlike the BCNP where you can set up a backcountry camp almost anywhere you please out of sight of the road.

[Swamp Hunter]

What kind of canoe do you have now?

[Jonathan Detullio]

I’m not exactly sure but I think it’s an Indian River 15 or 16 ft. and it has a square stern. It’s really hold and really unstable. But I will be going to Florida Bay Outfitters next weekend to see what they have available in used Canoe, if I don’t find anything there I might get the Rogue River 14, less than $400.00 it’s not bad.