Is it too early to start planning for October 2012 Trips? What's your plan?

[Amazon Bill]

I stepped into the FNST at I-75 MP 63 yesterday, with dress shoes and slacks. The misquitos promptly found me and I realized it's rainy season and summer bugs are back. Face it EEN made it so I can't cross the Alligator Alley anymore without getting the urge to hit the trail or the paddles! I figure the only way to get through the summer doldrums is plan for next year. This fall's adventure list is shaping up:

• October/Nov - Flamingo campout and day paddle to Craighead pond
• Oct/Nov - First Trip down Taylor or Shark Slough if I can join someone.
• Dec - Hike 5-10 miles or so into FNST and camp in the glades.
• Jan - 4 night trip to Flamingo, Labyrinth, Canepatch and back using double chickees.
• Feb - one more trip.

What's yours bucket list for 2012/13?

 

[Daniel Madrigal]

Shark Slough and Canepatch are definitely on my list! I also want to do another WW trip using a different route than last time. Hopefully we can get a nice group together for the slough. 

[Kim Gass]

Start at EC and go to Flamingo..and resupply with water and go back to EC.  Two weeks in January.

[Juan Estevez]

I have to do the WW this coming season, is about time for me. Of course, away from the magenta line. 

[Terry]

Late September / Early October is the time to re-survey L-67.

Shark Slough Main Street runs up to Shark Tower but using the east fork

just north of Gumbo-Limbo Hammock then another north fork paddlers

can follow a very open route to the hammock at 40.048'N and 42.338'W.

This spot is very close to L-67 making the "brochure" door to the slough

the opening off L-67 at 44.689'N and 40.411'W.  The only problem

is you're on your own between that opening and the hammock where the

airboat trail seems to stop.   It's not a bad paddle during high water but it's

slow.  On the image this standard route is shown in yellow.  The white line

shows the start of airboat routes which can be paddled all the way to Canepatch.

The two blue lines indicate unexplored possible open-ish routes that shorten the

making-your-own-way to the airboat trail, especially the middle blue proposed route.

This second image is a close-up of that middle blue line coming off L-67.

I have been up and down L-67 countless times looking for the best entrance to Shark Slough.

I think I've been at this spot but just didn't try hard enough to get through, that was

a number of years ago using Terraserver.  This newer GE image directs us to a location

that's screaming to be explored may be with a little more determination.

Is a better "front door" to Shark Slough yet to be found?   The frontier lies before you.

[Amazon Bill]

I want to do it, but need to go with someone experienced. Count me in!

[yakmaster]

Terry

 

Have you ever tried going down the east side of the canal? There seems to be an airboat trail that runs just east, alll the way down & around the tip & over to the tower...

[Terry]

There's no question it's clear all the way down L-67 and the airboat trails branch off the

southern end.  I've done that but it's not the best way.

The end where they filled the canal in gets rough raising it to about the same level of

difficulty as finding your own way on the yellow line.  But the worst part about going to the

end is the airboat trail that connects to Main Street heads northwest to get to the big

intersection at Gumbo Limbo Hammock so you're going south to go back northwest to

get to Main Street.

For everyday Shark Slough travelers the yellow line ain't bad, in fact, it's the best entry

for doing the slough run, I'm just thinking there might be something even better.

Check this out:   Last weekend we paddled from Captiva Island up and around

Cayo Costa State Park.  It was just a day trip but there were no bugs.

I've always said I can take the heat OR the bugs but I call it quits for the season when

there's both.  Has anybody paddled through (Terry style, not outside like the way the

Great Clalusa Blueway route runs) the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge?

I studied the refuge a little while I was over there and a day run from Tarpon Bay Marina

wiggling through the refuge and coming out at Blind Pass Beach, Wulfert Channel

looks interesting.   Better yet, I have a free shuttle service in July.

Keith, Yakmaster, Esther, Flex, what do ya'll think?  Want we to come up with a route

and a plan?   What the heck, I'll GE a route anyway.   Give me your thoughts.