May trip - Gator Hook to Roberts Lakes Strand

[Keith W]

I have a mind to try and reach Robert's Lakes Strand from the Gator Hook Trail on the Monroe Station leg of the Loop. I know the Fl. Scenic Trail runs through the Strand on the eastern end but I have yet to hear of anybody coming in from the west. The first couple of miles of the old Gator Hook logging tram that runs southeast off the Loop has been cleared, but it's all wild after that. The line of the tram is still evident after the cleared path runs out, and I was able to follow it for about another half-mile but it gets pretty boggy in places. Anybody else have any info on this route?

[Dallas]

Dale, I'm not sure yet how my schedule is for the weekend and beyond.
Dale said:

OK I will be going with you, Bill, on Saturday Feb 1st at about 6-7 AM.  Gene?  Dallas? Anyone else is welcome.

[Dallas]

Might be a bit flooded after these last two days. Do you think it will dry out this year before the rainy season?

Dallas said:

Dale, I'm not sure yet how my schedule is for the weekend and beyond.
Dale said:

OK I will be going with you, Bill, on Saturday Feb 1st at about 6-7 AM.  Gene?  Dallas? Anyone else is welcome.

[Swamp Hunter]

Yes it should dry out before the rainy season but be careful what you wish for. It can get like a desert out there, Especially the area past the "breakout". Its a huge expanse of rather small dead looking cypress trees with no landmarks just a few green patches intermixed. No water anywhere in March. I would like to steal the name "Deep Texas" from Carlos. Its a better fit to this desolate area.

I dont want to wait for the perfect time. Im ready to go Sat morning with Bill..

[Dallas]

OK, I don't mean to sound like a Sally. I hiked Gator Hook 5 times last year and slogged 3 of them. I'm kinda over that. I'll wait for drier conditions. Good luck to you all.

[Swamp Hunter]

Slogging can be tough but its good for the leg muscles.  The uniqueness of this trail is that much of it is elevated and the beauty of the wet season can be enjoyed and the Park Service must have realized this. I love the clean flowing water versus stagnant mudholes.

The beginning part of the trail is a pain in the neck, I agree. Years ago, the NPS was considering a boardwalk to reach the dike but obviously it hasnt panned out. I dont know if it will ever be but I dont really know.  Once we reach the dike, we are good to go IMO on dry elevated old tramway. I think the washouts should have bridges. All we can do is possibly arrange the logjams for those that prefer to stay dry.

For the most part, thanks to some hard workers, we no longer have to slog alongside the dike.  Its pretty well cleared and you can walk on the original elevated historic railroad bed. While its true that the dry season allows you to easily snake through the deep cypress sloughs, these are the sections I wish to eliminate because they are off trail. There are still some elevated sections that remain undiscovered. The elevated dike is there somewhere and it is the most direct route but heavily overgrown. It just has to be laid out and the Holey Rock area needs cleared of a few Hollys (Brazilian Pepper).  Holly Rock is pocketed with solution holes but should basically be above water..The track must have been laid on the bare limestone rock because soil is nonexistent..

 .My main goal (as it has been for over 35 years) is to rediscover these elevated portions and tie ribbons so they will become part of this hiking trail as the NPS intended. Hikers will no longer have to wait for the dry season to snake through the Pond Apple sloughs  An elevated trail cuts right through the center! . This will take much work but its all for the better so future generations can enjoy. The historic old logging tram has been disappearing but we are saving it. Everyone involved thinks that its a worthwhile project.  Any help will be appreciated.

[Swamp Hunter]

The only person that showed up Sat. was Bill but we had a great time.  The water was very high for this time of year but it was hardly a problem, as I said previously, the majority of the trail is elevated and cleared for use. Footprints revealed that others recently hiked deep into the swamp to enjoy the beauty. There were no mosquitos even though we traveled in the shade for the most part. The water was clean and flowing.  50 or 60 degrees would have been better for hiking but we were not really hot with all the shade trees. Heat was not a problem.

The bare limestone of Holey Rock was above water but I was afraid to cut anything but Brazilian Pepper, so we accomplished very little. This part of the trail needs to be cleared of brush and vines or it will remain the deadend for most hikers. With Bills help, I was earlier able to float a large heavy log, left behind by loggers, into place at the deepest washout that can be used as a bridge for those that prefer to avoid the deep water. Most hikers turn back at this first deep washout and maybe now they will be able to hike further with the makeshift "bridge" in place during high water. 

Another hollow log I tried to move was filled with catfish.  We also encountered a huge pile of scat on the trail back. I was not able to identify it but it was too large a pile for a bear and contained no berries or hair. Maybe a large Python? Swamp Ape?  I just dont know but it was scary and gross. The Mardi Gras mask is gone. Its the end of a legend lol. Well it was trash anyway but kinda cool..

All I can say is whoever couldnt make it missed out on a great time. No bugs, no rain, clean flowing refreshing water and a shaded trail, beautiful scenery. What more could a hiker ask for?

 

[Swamp Hunter]

Dale said:

  The Mardi Gras mask is gone. Its the end of a legend lol. Well it was trash anyway but kinda cool..

 

[Swamp Hunter]

Hey Bill I just googled Python poop and it appears that we encountered a very fresh pile of python scat.  It must have been a huge snake. She probably only poops once every 3-4 weeks. Now that I realize what it was, we should have hunted it down and eliminated it. Im so upset with myself!!  It was a rare chance encounter with a large deer killing reptile. Its no wonder we no longer see any animals on the Gator Hook Trail. Its so sad what is happening in the Loop and Stairsteps Units.

[Bill Riley]

Yeah I googled the same and it looks exact but judging from the size of the pile it must have been 16 17 footer like they found on loop rd.

[Swamp Hunter]

Yea. It was dark smooth, shiny and slimy. No berries, no hair, no bones, no TP, no footprints. The remains of snake stomach acid. It had me baffled but also sent chills down my spine as we were unarmed. It almost resembled gator poop but the pile was too large. It was the size of what I would imagine an elephant could leave if really bloated.

As you noted, the huge scat pile was not on the trail when we first walked past. It was extremely fresh. That also explains the lack of footprints.  For those that are interested (LOL) it was next to the bench builders camp. Scary stuff. The snake had to have been huge. Im afraid the Pythons must be firmly entrenched in Roberts Lakes. They need water. They are always found near water. I really dont like the idea of these snakes eating our deer, otters, raccoons and wading birds. Something needs to be done before it spreads any further.. The Python hunt this year has been cancelled. There are some people that do not believe its a problem. Its possibly the biggest threat to the Everglades at this time. If there are no deer, there will be no panthers. 

Is there any way to stop these monsters? I hope a Diamondback can take one out with its poison because  nothing else can stop them.. My God they eat alligators.

 

Bill Riley said:

Yeah I googled the same and it looks exact but judging from the size of the pile it must have been 16 17 footer like they found on loop rd.

[toofaraway]

A python trap made with plastic pipe, some sort of one way in but no way out trap that's easy to set, holds up to the elements, cheap to build and effective.  There's no way to track them down so a better "mouse"trap seems like the best solution to me.

[Swamp Hunter]

I have heard a pipe trap has been tested and doesnt work.

But I agree. Maybe traps could be set because the area is way too inaccessable to track them down even with dogs..