Nightmare
Date: 29 December 2008
Location: Between Wilderness Waterway markers 23 and 24. This is THE
Nightmare, even labeled on NOAA Nautical Chart 11432 as such, it even has
it's own special note. This is a feature of the Wilderness Waterway: It's the
informal dividing line between Flamingo and Gulf Coast districts of Everglades
National Park. It also divides the out-of-Flamingo canoers and boaters
from the out-of-Everglades City group. It's muddy everywhere, mud banks
4 feet high, dark eerie branches and roots provide close to impossible
passage through the tangle of snags. The water is an orange-brown broth with
a powerful hydrogen sulfide smell of rot. It's primitive, forbidden and before you
enter alligators slide off the banks into the water.
Condition: Open, NPS Volunteers have trimmed it this season. As everyone
knows and it says it on the special note on the chart, there may not be enough
water depth to pass it at low tide, however, close to the gulf, it generally has a
lot of tidal change. I have found it paddle-able at anything other than low tide.
Since you can plan on tides, what you really need to deal with is low branches
that need to be lifted at high tide and many snags at lower tides. At high tide
you will come out of there with leaves and twigs in your boat, at low tide you
will come out with a few more scrapes and mud on the side of your boat.
I went through this season at high tide in a 15-foot aluminum canoe and had
no problem.
Location: Between Wilderness Waterway markers 23 and 24. This is THE
Nightmare, even labeled on NOAA Nautical Chart 11432 as such, it even has
it's own special note. This is a feature of the Wilderness Waterway: It's the
informal dividing line between Flamingo and Gulf Coast districts of Everglades
National Park. It also divides the out-of-Flamingo canoers and boaters
from the out-of-Everglades City group. It's muddy everywhere, mud banks
4 feet high, dark eerie branches and roots provide close to impossible
passage through the tangle of snags. The water is an orange-brown broth with
a powerful hydrogen sulfide smell of rot. It's primitive, forbidden and before you
enter alligators slide off the banks into the water.
Condition: Open, NPS Volunteers have trimmed it this season. As everyone
knows and it says it on the special note on the chart, there may not be enough
water depth to pass it at low tide, however, close to the gulf, it generally has a
lot of tidal change. I have found it paddle-able at anything other than low tide.
Since you can plan on tides, what you really need to deal with is low branches
that need to be lifted at high tide and many snags at lower tides. At high tide
you will come out of there with leaves and twigs in your boat, at low tide you
will come out with a few more scrapes and mud on the side of your boat.
I went through this season at high tide in a 15-foot aluminum canoe and had
no problem.
Views: 42
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rolando Willimann on
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Its still nice and open as of Feb 18th 2009, the water seemed to be the lowest towards the Harney River, the last leg of tight spaces in that stretch between markers 19 and 17 seemed to be the lowest point. We started the nightmare from the Broad River and went South...really beautiful place to explore, tons of big tarpon gulping air as you paddle through some really tight spots!
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I just went through a few days ago (5-5-09). The tide was out and only because it was out were we able to make it due to the trees that are down across the waterway. We were able to lie down in the bottom of the canoe and pull ourselves under the branches. I do see where some people have cut some limbs out of the way (greatly appreciated), but it sure needs a lot more work. By the time we hit Broad Creek the tide had moved back in and we were fighting with a wall of branches. Sure looks prehistoric in there. I expected to see a dinosaur or two wandering about.
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Permalink Reply by Dave Briggs on
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Just went through (Feb2011).Left Broad River 2 hrs before high tide and it was easy (ish). There is one 8" log crossing the creek that had a kink in the end that I could just duck under (in a sea kayak) but if someone has a saw they could easily cut it.
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