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?

[Bill Riley]

Ok Ipunched these coords into my topo and here is what I got .

 

[Bill Riley]

 

[Bill Riley]

Sorry bout the double post. The one two up has a google earth kml file attached.

[Swamp Hunter]

The trail looks crooked after the benches because the original trail dipped south towards the pump island, where it dead ended.  When I lost the pump, I worked the trail back up to the tram.  We may want to tweek it a bit later. Whatever is the easiest route.

The Gumbo Limbo tree is on the tram as I suspected. http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/animals-and-attractions.asp?Id=541 The elevated tram is there.  It only needs to be cleared out and we will have a direct dry path to the center.

[Bill Riley]

That section between what I marked as north and south ribbon was a big wall of trees,vine, etc. It only looked like you could go around it to the south a little bit or north a little bit. I'm assuming you get to the gumbo by either route but I stopped at those ribbons. Keith which direction did you take to get to that gumbo marker? 

[Swamp Hunter]

Yes its a big wall of trees, but its on trail. Thats because it has grown the thickest on the elevated section; trees that normally would not grow in the swamp are growing on the elevated tram.  I eventually went around it on the south side but my ribbons are few and far between.

The Gumbo Limbo tree is smack in the middle of the tram. I found it not Keith. He may have seen it also, I dunno. Follow the south side to the Gumbo Limbo and on to Holey Rock.  But in my opinion, a walking path should be made in the wall of trees. Its the most direct path and it will be out of the mud when completed. You may need to crawl at first. Ive been doing this for 15-20 years. Use my coordinates and try to smash a path. You need to crawl before you can walk. I worked for several hours but had to give up last time I was out.

 

When its completed it will be a beautiful dry shaded path to the center. I believe it will be the correct path. Its certainly the shortest.

[Swamp Hunter]

I want to add that Im absolutely certain that it was the Park Service's intention to use these elevated sections for the scenic Gator Hook Trail. For this reason I believe we need to utilize the elevated sections, as I find them, no matter how thick they have grown. It can be done. I believe in you guys and you have given me renewed confidence to keep pushing on..  We will not be stopped by a wall of trees and vines.  

[Bill Riley]

Well I'm shooting on going out as well on the 9th. I might not be there till 6:45 but I will catch up to you guys as quickly as possible. I guess our target then will be directly between my markers of north and south and slowly crawl through the thickness :). Looking forward to seeing holey rock area next and this gumbo tree.

[Swamp Hunter]

Thats great Bill. Looking forward to meeting you. You can bypass the wall of trees by going around the south end, like I did, directly to Holey Rock and the Dingy orchids. But we will have to deal with it eventually. Ill put up some more ribbons if Keith didnt take my other ones down lol.

 

Some day we will stop for lunch under the Gumbo Limbo tree.  

[Swamp Hunter]

Try this Gmap4.  You can change the maps top right. Cursor coordinates bottom right.  Zoom on left.  http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php?ll=25.962979,-81.049355&a...

[Swamp Hunter]

Hello everyone. Im going to try and head out early Thursday morning.

 

Ive been thinking about the ribbon situation and I can assure you that I dont tie ribbons unless they are necessary. The water based paint will soon fade away. THERE WOULD BE NO TRAIL PAST THE BENCHES WITHOUT MY RIBBONS!!   So please do NOT remove any of my orange ribbons that are on trail past the benches. Each ribbon is either a railroad tie or a necessary marker of direction. There is no reason to destroy my hard work and I would be a bit upset if I have to retie them. Ribbons are not trash. Once the trail becomes established, then we can remove them if it bothers anybody.

Keep in mind everybody is not experienced and/or may not have a GPS and the swamp in this area will conceal a trail very quickly. I know, I have seen it happen. The trail to the pump was blazed orange and it disappeared completely in one Summer.  I do not want to lose this trail again!  I hope you understand. We also dont want anybody else lost.

 

Any ribbon before the benches can probably be removed but NOT after.  PLEASE. 

 

And if you find any very very old ribbons, it may be the lost trail to the pump. Unfortunately the paint has long faded away.

 

Thanks.

[Jay]

To the east of Dale's points - there are cuts in that hammock spaced .25 miles apart.  What were/are those?