Everglades Exploration Network

Visiting Bear Island/Platt Island Indian Mounds and Hiking the Northern (Abandoned) Tomato Fields

Bear Island: Platt Indian Mounds Exploration, Tomato Fields Hike
 
Taken in Jerome, Florida
David Denham of FTA and I Re"Discover" the Platt Island Indian Mounds (reality is that land users have probably long visited these sites as they seem to be Indian constructed habitation mounds to live/camp on above the OK Slough Waters, thus practical camping sites for ranchers and hunters for hundreds of years). 
Denham ID'd them off the old Topo maps and then we hiked in, eventually using ancient oak trees that would grow on the high ground to locate the mounds.
North of this were the old tomato fields, probably from the 40's forward, abandoned when the park service took over what was to become Big Cypress from the farmers and ranchers back in the 70's. Side Note: this take over was done mostly with land owners' support with the understanding that the National Park System would allow traditional recreation (horseback riding, buggy hunting and fishing, etc) on this land that was to serve as a buffer to the southerly Everglades National Park. Let's hope the Feds keep their word.
Full hikes combined with the bike portage between was approximately 9 miles. Note: The Tomato fields were NOT easy to hike as they were underwater and overgrown with willow, swamp apple and sawgrass between raised beds (E-W lines). These raised beds were overgrown with palmetto, oak, and all manner of other hardwoods. We hiked from 8 AM until 4 PM.Mother Turkey Guarding her Clutch of Eggs
"Busting a hump," cramping a calf...

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