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?

[Swamp Hunter]

Hello Zoltan. I havent been out there.

[Bill Riley]

I was planning a hike for next weekend to gator hook but I can go over there. Is it closer to the loop road side or from oasis visitor center ?

[D Warfel]

the Big Cypress chapter of FTA will be doing a hike from Gator Hook to Oasis next Saturday April 12. You should join them. Go to http://cypress.floridatrail.org/ then click on the Activities tab and you'll see more information.

[Swamp Hunter]

Is this a one day hike?

Radley SwampWarf said:

the Big Cypress chapter of FTA will be doing a hike from Gator Hook to Oasis next Saturday April 12. You should join them. Go to http://cypress.floridatrail.org/ then click on the Activities tab and you'll see more information.

[D Warfel]

yes

[Swamp Hunter]

I have a question. Is this a blue trail or should we use a different color?

[Swamp Hunter]

I sure would like to tag along. What time do you start?  Is Oasis or Gator Hook the starting point?

I have been living in the BCNP since Sept 2, 2013 working with FWC, back and forth between check stations. My work is soon over for the season and I now need to rent a room, preferably on the East Coast of SE Florida, for about 4 months. I will be back to work mid-August.  If anyone has a room they would like to rent for 4 months, let me know. I am a very quiet person.

I have enjoyed my time in the swamp and I thank the NPS for allowing me to stay on site. I have been visiting the Big Cypress swamp for 40 years and  the poaching I was seeing throughout the 80s and 90s disgusted me and I thought I could help. I believe I have helped.

I have had some interesting experiences and some day I may put more of them in writing. One that I enjoy is watching a large one-eyed gator making friends with a smaller reptile half his size and age. Maybe its a male/female relationship, I dunno, but the large one could easily kill the smaller. The 2 gators have become very good buddies and they share a shrinking waterhole. . I think this is kind of unusual seeing 2 cannabalistic carnivores hugging each other side by side in the culvert.  They seem to be surviving eating minnows when nothing else is available. Its funny watching these large animals chewing on a few tiny minnows at a time.  

 I dont know if I can make it Sat because I have much to do... but maybe. Thanks for stopping by the check station Gene at Bear Island. It was nice to meet you.

[Swamp Hunter]

OK I was able to open the link and I see it starts at 7:30 at the Gator Hook trailhead.  Much work has been done and you no longer have to walk alongside the raised tram sections and even though some ribbons may have fallen off and more work needs to be done, you should be able to follow the trail without any bushwhacking all the way to the Florida Trail.   

Radley SwampWarf said:

the Big Cypress chapter of FTA will be doing a hike from Gator Hook to Oasis next Saturday April 12. You should join them. Go to http://cypress.floridatrail.org/ then click on the Activities tab and you'll see more information.

[Swamp Hunter]

I think I will be able to go Sat. morning. I am impressed with the hard work and hiking abilities of the FTA members and would like to meet you all...

The Gator Hook trail can be described as a huge " W " with 4 legs. The first SE leg is complete, marked and well established. It was a huge job over the years but its done.  There are no longer any Cocoplums blocking this part of the route. The NPS cleared some of it and you no longer need to walk alongside and you should be able to travel quickly.  IMO you need to travel quickly to have more time to spend in the center.

There was a tremendous amount of work done discovering the 2nd leg going NE.  I literally pulled the ends of railroad ties out of the muck, just enough to identify them, one at a time and tied ribbons.  The end of this 2nd leg goes across bare limestone rock. This area at Holey Rock still needs much work where the railroad ties are missing or have been removed. But I am determined to finish it by myself if need be.

I jumped ahead and discovered the center of the W and marked it.  This center section has a small pond on each side and the railroad ties are visible.  If you miss this small center section, you will have to bushwhack the rest of the way. So IMO it is imperative to aim for this point. Keith, Bill and myself laid out the 3rd leg of the W going SE again through the thickest part of the jungle, trying to avoid deep water until the "breakout". This is where deep swamp opens up and you can see the sun again. This is where we finally broke out into the open. I discovered the old tram bed after the breakout at a later date and tied ribbons.  I also marked the turn NE toward the 4th and last leg.  Keith and I found my marker here from the 1980s.

The tram should be very easy to follow from this point all the way to the Florida Trail.  But if you miss the center of the W, you will be bushwhacking.  I see no need for this. If we want to establish this trail, we all need to stay on the same trail.

I will be glad to tag along and lead you to this center spot if needed and explain the work that we have done. I can turn around at the last leg (4th leg). It should be a clear shot the rest of the way for you unless Cocoplums have grown in.  It would be my pleasure showing you what I have discovered and you could take it from there. This trail surely needs the help of the FTA. to make it official.

See ya Sat.  

 

[Swamp Hunter]

Thanks Swamp Witch. I didnt think there would ever be a cleared trail on the first leg LOL! You have been hiking this trail for a while and you are noticing the changes. It didnt all come easy. Its hard work but its all coming together now and almost complete. Thanks again. I appreciate the nice comments.. 

Swamp Witch said:

Dale, don’t give up hope about finding that spot.  I bet you didn’t think there’d be a cleared trail through the center of the W even if it isn’t exactly on the tram in the center of the W, yet.  I still marvel how easy it is now to walk from Gator Hook parking area to the Florida Trail and back!  All thanks to your dedication and hard work.  And you’re not the only one looking for the old camp.  I make forays out there and wander around hoping I’ll blunder into it.  When did you remove the ribbons?  Five or 6 years ago I found some old, faded ribbons near the center of the W, but they turned to the north.  I was sticking to the tram as closely as possible so when the ribbons continued north I stopped following them.  Next time I was out there (a year later).  They were gone (or I couldn’t find them). 

[Swamp Hunter]

Are you going Sat Bill?

[Bill Riley]

I'll be out there. Not sure I can do the whole thing as my foot is still healing .