Whitney River

[Pavel]

Hi everybody!  Does anyone here have done the Whitney River from US-41 to Buttonwood Bay?  It is possible?

[Phares Heindl]

There are six creeks from Buttonwood to the outside not including Fish Hawk and its side channel.  I have paddled all of them.  I have paddled up the Whitney River but not too far.  It would be interesting if there was a passage from Whitney into Pumpkin Bay. 

[Phares Heindl]

Gary M said:

If you do go up the Pumpkin River, allow for an extended lunch time exploration of the indian mound. I guarantee you will be surprised - it is the least disturbed and most accessible of any I've been to.  I  fish that area frequently, and always end up (and I do mean up) just trying to imagine how many people lived there and for how many years! Watch out for the rattlers though!

How far up the Pumpkin River is the Indian mound? What side? Is it easily recognized?  Buttonwood Island is an Indian mound.  I have only observed it from the water though. 

[Gary M]

Phares,

As the crow flies, the indian mound is about 0.5 miles up from the river mouth at the top of Pumpkin Bay. It is that large brown spot on the east side when viewed on satellite maps. You will know where it is from the water as there is a tide station on the shore and pretty obvious signs of use as a landing right next to it. You will also see the obvious elevation. 

I am not what you would call a spiritual person, but I cannot climb those mounds without getting some sort of vibe.

I attempted to hike back to what appears to be the main terrace, just inside the river bend, when I thought I was beginning to hallucinate. I thought I was hearing ancient medicine men chanting and rattling some sort of noise makers... but it was just a bunch of snakes that I was annoying in the deep grass along the trails.   ;)

[Phares Heindl]

 I visited the Calusa Mound this week.   Having no snake boots or long pants, I did not attempt to hake back in the terrace.  I did however catch a vision of tee pee's and Indian maidens roasting fish over open fires. 

  We were told that there was or was once a direct passage between Buttonwood and Pumpkin Bay.  Does anyone have knowledge of this connector?