Mid June 2014 Paddle from Chokoloskee to Crooked Creek Chickee for Exploration up into New River

[shawn beightol]

I am interested in putting together an investigative paddle mid-June based out of the Crooked Creek Chickee at the lower end of Sunday Bay to explore up into New River and to explore a few of the clearings/reported mounds on the south banks of New River.

Its probably about 5 miles from Chokoloskee to Crooked Creek (2-3 hours paddling).

I'm not sure how many can sleep on the chickee.

The idea is to leave early in the week (I'm a school teacher starting summer break), set up camp on the chickee the 1st day, then do an exploratory paddle up New River to beyond the park boundary into the preserve to identify the possibility of a dry and bug free (yeah, right!) campsite just inside the preserve.  

If found, possibly move the gear to this campsite.  If not, either way, begin the investigation of the mounds/clearings of interest that may be associated with Ft Harrell.

Let me know if you are interested.

[yakmaster]

Do you think the airboat trail is paddleable in high water?

[shawn beightol]

Maybe August.  I know 10 years ago we sailed along part of it much further east (in the shark valley area).

[yakmaster]

Do you have to go that far east or can you go north up towards Mitchells?

[shawn beightol]

Looking at GE (1994 images show trails in constant use that might still permit passage) I see the airboat trail head south then east along mangrove boundary to a hammock that might have had a camp southwest of sweetwater strand at Loop Road.  The trail then runs NE up to loop road just south of where Gannet Strand crosses the North bound side of Loop road (about where the Gator Hook Trail goes east?).

However, I do not have experience here.

I think the best people to answer this question would be Terry Helms or Tony Pernas.

I am interested in a kayak venture SW from looproad on sweetwater in August.  It would probably involve short portages but I've looked at 1915-1949 maps that show this route was open back then.  Depending on the rainfall and waterflow, this may be an interesting exploration.

Here's a picture of the airboat trail west of New River.  Obviously "just add water..."

[Jay]

Mid August is a possibility.  @8/13-17 plus or minus works well.

[shawn beightol]

It would have to be the week prior for me, I have to report back to school 8/14.  How's 8/6-9 (4 days)?

[shawn beightol]

Let's open this as a new thread?

Jay said:

Mid August is a possibility.  @8/13-17 plus or minus works well.

[shawn beightol]

Regarding the shark video I posted:

A University of Miami RSMAS shark researcher wrote me back regarding this video: "Yes - nurse sharks.

Nurse sharks have large spiracles (gills) above their head. They can buccal pump water in (meaning almost suck the water in) from these spiracles...perhaps they are spitting it out? Also, when they mate, they grab females and suction/grab on.. perhaps it is part of that process. The video does not surprise me..."

shawn beightol said:

At the end of day 3 (Barnes Creek/River solo exploration) while fishing along a branch of the Lopez River that leads into Cross Bay, I observed 2-3 sharks frolicking (probably mating).  Researching the topic, I've concluded that they were 2-3 Nurse Sharks mating (mating season June-July, floppy dorsal toward caudal fin, long floppy caudal fin, preferred red mangrove root environment for hatched sharks to mature in).  Here is the video:http://youtu.be/-5JeNrFQMSg

[Swamp Hunter]

Back in the day the airboaters used to travel from Mitchells to Cocoanuts, around Lostmans Pines, all the way up to Everglades City. I remember how angry those airboaters were when the ENP posted those boundary markers. That was pretty much the end of it but I would imagine ENP personel still use the trail along the mangroves.

yakmaster said:

Do you have to go that far east or can you go north up towards Mitchells?

[shawn beightol]

That trail to cocoanuts is visible. I dont see the route west from there, even in old maps. Perhaps thats the "lost passage" down to the WW?

[Swamp Hunter]

I have the trail on my 1989 map from Mitchells all the way to Halfway Creek.  It turns NW at Cocoanuts  and goes up around (west of) Lostmans Pines.  Its the same trail that crosses New River and also crosses Turner.

[shawn beightol]

You're right. Just checked my topo out too. It's there where you said