Heading to FNST North of I-75

[Amazon Bill]

I got tempted this week, while traveling on business across Alligator Alley and swung into the Recreational Access site on westbound I-75 near milemark 70. I was in black street shoes, slacks and business long sleeve shirt :). No problem, headed through the first and second gates and out about 1/4 mile, it was dry and firm in the Pines, and night quite as dry in the cypress.  Had a cool breeze and no bugs.  If my phone would have not gone dead, I might have just called in to the office with a case of swamp fever right then :)!

So that spurred planning a hike up the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) from the I-75 Rest Area at mile marker 63 within 3 weeks. From what I read the Nobles Grade road is usually dry.

Does anyone know what are the conditions on the side loops that are at natural ground elevation? They are shown on the attached google map photo with the BCNP .kml routes plotted.

http://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/hiking.htm

What is a reasonable estimate for hiking speed, 2 mph? 1 mph?

 

 

[vivian]

It should be pretty dry right now in that section so bring plenty of water with you. From nobles the side trails are well marked as our FT chapter maintains that section. For a nice beginners hike follow the first blue marked loop to Ken Carpenters campsite and take a snack break there, Come back through that same trail or out the red or yellow trail, the earlier in the morning you start the better wildlife viewing.

Here is a link to our chapter, consider joining so you can take advantage of many hiking and paddling opportunities with a great group of people:

http://hoofers.floridatrail.org/

[Swamp Hunter]

Vivian, do you know who is currently working on the Gator Hook Trail?

[Amazon Bill]

Vivian, Thanks for the tips! I joined the Hoofers FB page and FTA.  I downloaded the GPS routes from The FTA website. Downloaded to Garmin base camp and took a look at the notes in the properties. So the blue route runs north-south along the east side, red route is the shorter east-west route on the south, and yellow is the longer east-west route on the north. Orange is the main north-south route and is on the west side.  Hope I got that right.

I am planning a day hike, leaving from Lake Worth. Looks like hiking the Blue-Red-Orange route would be about 3 hours?   The Blue-Red-Blue would be a 5 hr hike. ?

Permits are printed from the Big Cypress website. I drop of one in the box at the fence gate and do the same when I return back from the hike. Is that correct?

If I can help on any trail maintenance let me know.

[Swamp Hunter]

What permits are on the website? The Backcountry Use Permits should be in the aluminum box at the entrance. I think you put both carbon copies in the box and keep the original copy with the wire tie. If someone calls that you have not returned, the rangers will check the boxes for your location. Normally they do not check it unless someone calls or to refill the box.

Im sorry I am not familiar with the trail you are using. Does it go up into the Addition Lands?

[vivian]

Dale, I do not know who is working in gator hook. You might want to contact the FTA big cypress and also the happy hoofers chapters to get better info.

Here is the Big Cypress chapters contact.

http://www.floridatrail.org/Chapters/South-Chapters1/Big-Cypress.html

The happy hoofers take care of northern section.

Bill, here is my recommendation. Bring a cooler with lunch and leave that in your car at the rest area on MM63 but bring at least 2 qts of water with snacks and a small square of plastic or large garbage bag to use as a place to sit on with the usual signaling, emergency items.

Hike up nobles road early morning look for permit box and sign in go up to the yellow loop. Hike the yellow loop (unless you dont want to go that far then take the red trail) until it intersects with the blue loop. Take your bearings and make a right turn towards Carpenter camp. This camp is marked with a white blaze. Take a nice rest break here and snack. Continue on the beautiful blue trail to nobles road and follow that to your parking area.

It is real hot and dry out there so start very early and bring enough water with you, post on the FB page see if anyone wants to join you for the day hike,

Thanks for joining! Trail maintenance starts in November, right now the season is just about done.

[Amazon Bill]

Great info. I think I'll do that route, lunch at the car, and bring the plastic bag to sit on. I have one hiker adventure friend from Europe going with, he should enjoy it. Normally, I canoe, so carrying all my gear on my back will be a new aspect.

 

[vivian]

Keep it very light bring sneakers socks long pants ,shirt and hat. I usually just bring a fanny pack, walking sticks for day hike.

This is panther camp pic taken in January a few miles east of carpenter camp.

http://realwildnature.blog.com/files/2012/01/Panther-Camp-Firelight...


I hope the management plan for the Big Cypress spares our area from off road vehicles and hunting. It is a nice refuge to get away from the city and be in silence.

[Amazon Bill]

The BCNP gps had a trail called Add Lands Blue Loop North Cut which is the same trail as Florida Trail 527 which has Yellow blazes.   I attached the backcountry permit that was on the BCNP website.

[Swamp Hunter]

"I hope the management plan for the Big Cypress spares our area from off road vehicles and hunting. It is a nice refuge to get away from the city and be in silence".

 

Yes its a beautiful refuge and I respect your opinions Vivian. I believe hunting and limited off road use will continue despite opposition and senseless lawsuits. Its in the original Congressional Mandate to continue traditional recreational use when the Preserve was created. Keep in mind its not a National Park, its a Preserve created by concerned landowners, hunters and enviromentalists.. 

 

Dont worry, there is room for hikers too and that includes myself.  Im sure you will be able to keep your hiking trail off limits to off road vehicles. Just like the traditional swamp buggy trail south of the Alley was converted to the hiking only Florida Trail we know today.  

 

IMO Its time we all join back together instead of fighting each other  The hunters want to keep it and the hikers want to take it away but there is room for all of us. 

Most of the hunters that worked so hard to create the BCNP can no longer hike because of age and they are afraid they are now being shut out and its not fair. Im trying to patch the rift instead of making it larger. Cant we all get along and share?

 

[Swamp Hunter]

Yea thats the permit Bill. You will find them in the box at the trailhead. I guess its a good idea to print one up just in case. The originals are on waterproof paper.

 

I agree with Vivian, you need to travel light!

[vivian]

We will respectfully differ on this issue.  I have gratefully enjoyed access to an area of the Big Cypress where I did not have to call to find out what hunting season it was in order to be aware so I would not get accidently shot.  Not listening to the distant gunshots or the roar of ORV's was calming. It's also nice to go on or off trail and not find ORV destruction. 

The plan calls for issuing an additional 630 ORV permits, create 130 mile  network of ORV trails, open access along I75 to many areas that now require you have to work to get there.

The hunters have  plenty of areas to roam we only ask for this one tiny corner. But as you say, it will pass because the hunters and ORV folks have way more money and power than hikers.

I fish and have owned powerboats, have nothing against hunting. This to me is an issue of having just one area where we can recreate in true "wilderness".

[Swamp Hunter]

The plan was put in place by Congress in 1974 but it has not yet been implemented because of all the lawsuits. The landowners and hunters gave up their land to create a beautiful place that we all can enjoy. They were allowed to keep only 5 acres. The trails are already there just grown over perhaps.  Hunting season is over January 1.  How often do you hike in September thru December?  Nobody hunts small game season and March turkey is shotgun only til 1 PM.

.   

As far as one tiny corner statement, we already have the entire ENP off limits to hunting and ORV's including the newly created East Everglades. Not to mention the hunters being pushed out of Fakahatchee and the Panther Preserve.  The environmentalists and clubs such as the Sierra Club have a lot of money too.

 

You are asking for too much and you wont get it. I realize this is not a hunting forum. I respect you, I respect your opinion and I respect this forum but I disagree. Hunters are not bad people and they are losing more and more every year. We need to share and try to get along.

 

I think the access will be off Snake Road, as far as I know, and I hope I will be working there if it ever reopens.. Yes I think the plan will finally be implemented but not because of money because its right and its fair and the Government of the United States needs to keep some of its promises when they take peoples land away. 

 

I do disagree however with the Indians. They should not be allowed to hunt year round, kill does and fawns and cut trees with absolutely no regulation in the BCNP. This needs to stop IMO and stop now.  They can do what they want on their own reservations. They no longer need to kill for food.  If you want to fight for a cause, fight them.

 

Maybe Ive gone too far with my last statement but its not right to kill pregnant does and Ive seen enough to make me sick.  Its a pleasure speaking with you Vivian and listening to your thoughts and opinions. We may have differences but we both have much in common.