Inland Route - Flamingo / Cape Sable

[Terry]

Inland Route - Flamingo / Cape Sable

Before Hurricane Andrew the preferred paddle route between Flamingo and
Cape Sable was the Homestead Canal. Avoiding the open bay provided a
wind protected route and separated paddle craft from power boats. It also
guaranteed solitude and remoteness by staying in the back country wilderness.
The 1992 hurricane damaged Homestead Canal with downed trees making passage
very difficult. As it became less traveled, foliage growth accelerated and
the 2005 storms made the canal impassable. After Hurricane Wilma a plan was
created to reopen the canal and a volunteer group headed by Tom Rahill and
Jim Brack took on the project. They cleared the canal to Bear Lake and
reopened the Bear Lake Trail which loops through Mud Lake and comes back
down Buttonwood Canal to the Bear Lake parking lot. The section of
Homestead Canal between Bear Lake and Gator Lake remained impassable,
cutting off the inland route to Cape Sable.

Sue Cocking, Bill Evans, Terry Helmers and Jay Thomas devised a plan to
survey the damage to the canal west of Bear Lake and search for an alternative
passage through a body of land between the waters of Bear Lake to the east
and open water to the west. Previous trips by Thomas had identified
the narrowest section of land between these two waters which was called 64M
but there was another slightly wider area of land that warranted
investigation. If a navigable route could be established through these two
bodies of water the entire stretch of Homestead Canal between West Lake and
Gator Lake could be abandoned. It would also establish a natural route from
Coot Bay Pond to Cape Sable - the ultimate trophy. The group also had heard
reports of a route that went into Bear Lake with a portage over the narrowest
piece of land between the canal and the lake.

On 18 January 2014 the four set out in 3 canoes from Bear Lake parking lot
and went directly to the narrow area between the lake and canal. The last
time Helmers had paddled the canal was 28 years ago when there was nothing
at this narrow spot. This time, the explorers found ruins of what appeared
to be a dock that could have been built to assist portaging. It's assumed
that shortly after Hurricane Andrew an attempt was made to keep the
Inland Route open by using as much of the lake as possible to shorten the
length traveled in the canal. Today there's a small break in the narrow spot,
making it easier to slide a canoe through this slot and back into the canal.
After doing this, the group continued west through near impassable
"jack straws" (a sawyer term for criss-cross piled trees) but after making
headway of only a couple hundred yards in an hour the effort was abandoned
and the canoe party returned to the lake to continue west in Bear Lake and
then across the lake to its' west. Since Thomas had already examined the
narrowest portion of land barrier between the east and west the decision was
made to continue directly to the other narrow spot just south of 64M. After
negotiating mud bars a small creek-like opening was spotted. Although there
was a 3 foot mat of pneumatophore roots to be portaged, the creek continued
west with a hard twist to the north then west again to the open water of the
"other side". After the search party spooked a spoonbill at the west mouth
of the creek it was quickly dubbed Spoonbill Pass. Knowing "this was it" all
agreed to ignore 64M and paddle the shallow but open water to Gator Lake.
How ironic that paddlers spent decades paddling back and forth in a straight
as an arrow canal, how ironic that a large dock was built to go over the
narrow spot between Bear Lake and the canal, how ironic spending the effort to
keep trying to push through the canal between Bear Lake and Gator Lake when
there was a beautiful natural creek waiting for paddlers at Spoonbill Pass.

On 20 January 2014 Terry Helmers launched at Coot Bay Pond to
specifically survey and map the Spoonbill Pass area. Although launching at the
pond meant it took 2 and a half hours to get to the pass, it reduced the
paddle distance in the canal to just 200 yards between Bear Lake Trail and
Bear Lake. Two additional non-portage creeks were mapped with the optimal
route going from 09.858'N and 59.397'W to 09.857'N and 59.447'W. After two
rewarding explorations, a natural route from Coot Bay Pond to Lake Ingraham,
Cape Sable has been established.

To use the Inland Route, study and printout or download maps of the area.
Carry a spare GPS unit. There's a lot of shallow water throughout the trip
but it's all open paddling.

[Terry]

Bob's not very specific with anything but I think his "There is also a small passage..." reference is the old

dock dragover back into the canal.   Get out for a walk is about it, with Spoonbill Pass there's nothing to

be had with the canal between Bear Lake and Gator Lake.   For that matter, if we had GE 30 year's ago

there was no reason for the canal back then either.

That whole open area between Gator Lake and Cape Sable is paddlable.  Just pick a route off GE, carry a

redundant GPS and go.   So Vivian are you calling it this time?

Saturday 1 February, Vivian's Cape Sable Camping Trip

Definitely starting at Coot Bay Pond, somebody leave a car at Flamingo to provide the option of coming

back on the outside.   I'll go with you for the first day out to check out the ground site between Gator Lake

and East Cape Canal, it's been a few years since I've been there...1970's?

Too much fun!

[Amazon Bill]

The tide is good at Cape Sable on Feb 1st and 15th. Falling tide in the afternoon which is good for the last leg to the Cape, heading out the canal into Florida Bay. Then incoming tide in the morning for going fishing the backcountry or when leaving for the long haul back. My son turns 18 the weekend of Feb 1st so I won't be going that weekend.

[vivian]

Terry, let's do it!  Bill bring your son, he will never forget that 18th, birthday, LOL!  Yes the tides work well for the exit out of the canal towards the cape. I have to come back on sunday so it would be an overnight trip for me.

February 1st meet at Coot Bay Pond 7:00 am get boats ready for launch.  Shuttle one car to Flamingo marina and pull permit for East Cape. Permit desk opens at 8 am.  Please feel free to join us if anyone wants to.

Terry, let me know which route I should work on for the trip so maps can be made and printed. Will you be camping or not?

[Terry]

All natural is the only way to go, a canal is just a canal, use Jay's route, a few posts ago,

on the Cape Sable side to minimize the paddle in East Cape Canal.

Go across the prairie any which way, map it out on GE and post it.

I'll go with everybody for Saturday.  I want to survey the ground sites in the prairie.

Or go up into Fox Lakes, would be nice to find something connecting Fox Lakes to

Phantom Lake to make a big loop but that's a long long-shot.   I tried to come down from

Phantom Lake back in the 1980's there was nothing but I also didn't have all the navigational

aids that we have today.

Remember, permits have a 24-hour reservation period so a permit can be got the day before to

allow a full morning start.

[Terry]

This is an important paddle, it's a dedication to the re-establishment of the Inland Route:

Saturday 1 February, Coot Bay Pond

Flamingo / Cape Sable Inland Route Re-establishment Dedication

[vivian]

I will work with Jay on the route Terry.  If anyone is staying at Flamingo the night before, that would help with our on the water time. You can pull the permit for the group.  Please let us know who can do this so we can set our departure (on the water) at 7:30 not 8:30 am. 

Unfortunately I work all day Friday and won't be able to get to the ranger station in time to pull the permit.

[Jay]

I am in.

This will be @13.25nm transit each way. There will be numerous opportunities to stretch legs if needed.  From the West Bear Lake area until we get to the East Cape Canal it will be mostly shallow water paddling with a soft mud bottom - in some areas almost soupy. I have not paddled the inland area west of Bear Lake.  If it proves too shallow to paddle, then we will head up to the canal and a portage will be required.

[Amazon Bill]

Max enjoys this area and would enjoy it.  He went to Craighead pond a few years back, Mud lake, and Roberts River. I also have a major contract interview so i need to prepare. I may go the 15th. 

vivian said:

Terry, let's do it!  Bill bring your son, he will never forget that 18th, birthday,

[vivian]

Understood, we will miss you but appreciate your help in trying to find a way through. Good luck on your interview and hoping Max a very happy birthday.

[Terry]

Miami Herald, 23 January 2014:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/01/23/3886789/clear-path-discovered...

Saturday 1 February 2014

Flamingo / Cape Sable Inland Route Dedication

[Connie Mier]

I'm in too! Looking forward to it.

Jay said:

I am in.

This will be @13.25nm transit each way. There will be numerous opportunities to stretch legs if needed.  From the West Bear Lake area until we get to the East Cape Canal it will be mostly shallow water paddling with a soft mud bottom - in some areas almost soupy. I have not paddled the inland area west of Bear Lake.  If it proves too shallow to paddle, then we will head up to the canal and a portage will be required.

[Flex Kayakfari.com]

+1  !