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?

[Keith W]

The logging tram on the topo is accurate. I have this on my Natl Parks East map set for my Garmin and followed it most of the way through, only losing the tram in the hairy center of the W. After you get past the center of the W and make the turn to the SE the railway crossties are visible again on the 3rd leg of the W but there is no double-track like on the second leg. When the tram turns back to the NE the double-track starts to become evident in spots and you can follow this most of the way up to the Fl Trail. This section skirts the strand where the water is deeper and the tram has become overgrown with pond apple and coco plum in spots that you have to go around. About halfway up this section it runs to clear double-track the rest of the way up to the Fl Trail. Many people, including myself, have marked this section coming down from Oasis, and it is abundantly flagged and easy to follow. Once you get that far you're pretty much done. I'd concentrate on finding as close to the true path of the tram as possible in the center of the W where the trail is most easily lost. I plan on spending a weekend out there sometime in March or April before it gets too warm. The strand is drying up nicely for walking but the recent rain gave the water levels a little bump. Bob Sobczak's Go Hydrology! site has hydrographs of the Big Cypress. The one for Roberts Lake Strand is here.

[Swamp Hunter]

Yes Bill the trail is probably accurate on this topo map but actually walking it and marking it is a lot of work.  The NPS several years ago cleared the trail to 002, following my trail.(my 15 years of work)..The workers camped there, just around the bend, but went no further. They never entered the Gauntlet. I continued marking (by myself) the light blue trail, through the Gauntlet, across the next elevated dike (I actually had to crawl on my hands and knees) and into the beautiful area.  . The lost pump is somewhere within the orange circle. The purple line is pretrty much lost and needs to be found and marked. I believe I found the center (missing space). 

 

I marked the 4th and final leg years ago but not the 3rd.. There is another trail that branches off the 3rd leg and goes north to Tamiami Trail with a pretty waterhole in the middle. I will post this later.

 

 

 

 

[Bill Riley]

Thank you both for the replies, This has been alot of help determining where to focus. I can't wait to see this beautiful area. 15 years, man you must have seen everything. I wish I knew about this place a long time ago. This weekend I'm going to focus on Just after the gauntlet toward the center W as much as I can. In a few weeks when I go back I'll start trekking around in the oj circle looking for that pump maybe even plan for an over nighter, although I don't have a hammock tent atm.

[Swamp Hunter]

Ive been exploring the swamps since the early 70s.  It took me 15 years to clear the trail to that point lol.  . I was hiking the old tram before it was an official trail. But I only hiked it several times a year. The park service came later and did a better job clearing but only so far.

[Dallas]

You can sleep on dry ground at the spot where the pump (the one that doesn't work) is. I have slept there a few times without any issues. 

Bill Riley said:

Thank you both for the replies, This has been alot of help determining where to focus. I can't wait to see this beautiful area. 15 years, man you must have seen everything. I wish I knew about this place a long time ago. This weekend I'm going to focus on Just after the gauntlet toward the center W as much as I can. In a few weeks when I go back I'll start trekking around in the oj circle looking for that pump maybe even plan for an over nighter, although I don't have a hammock tent atm.

[Swamp Hunter]

One thing you may have noticed on the old topo map is the deadend extensions. I point to them in orange arrows. If you look closely, you can see them curving south into deep swamp to remove the large trees.. I think its possible that the old loggers camp lies on one of these tram extensions but I didnt realize it at the time.  I thought it was an island but it may be manmade. The extensions are hard to find but it may be worth a shot..

 

Thanks Keith for commenting and good to hear from you. Next year we will go to the Indian party if you stop by again.

 

Thanks Swamp Witch for posting your map. Its a big help. I will comment on it later. Im still impressed you walk so far in the wet season. Do you walk by yourself?

 

Bill, Holey Rock is just a name I made up.

 

 

 

 

[Swamp Hunter]

I dont think I can make it this weekend but I want to say if you, Bill,  or anyone finds the lost pump it would be best not to post the coordinates online just yet.  If you do that, its a good chance the NPS will destroy it in their continuing efforts to preserve the area back to its natural state. IMO that would be a loss for all involved.

 

I am hoping you will contact me or Keith in person or by email. I will then try to contact the NPS or maybe someone here has connections. Maybe the trail people can help. I may say whats on my mind, as I wear my heart on my cuff, but I support the NPS in their preservation efforts and I support law enforcement.  Its still legal to primitive camp anywhere inside the Loop Unit and I am hoping we will be allowed to keep the existing deep well at this primitive campsite..Its not far from the now official Gator Hook trail and IMO it would be a perfect fit.

 

Actually its good I lost it or I would never have posted this information online. I would have kept it my little secret. Im getting older now and I realized I may not find it in my lifetime and I could use the help.,

 

So please dont post the coordinates online. I notice the EEN is now coming up on search engines and everyone will be reading this.

 

 

 

Bill Riley said:

Thank you both for the replies, This has been alot of help determining where to focus. I can't wait to see this beautiful area. 15 years, man you must have seen everything. I wish I knew about this place a long time ago. This weekend I'm going to focus on Just after the gauntlet toward the center W as much as I can. In a few weeks when I go back I'll start trekking around in the oj circle looking for that pump maybe even plan for an over nighter, although I don't have a hammock tent atm.

[Swamp Hunter]

 Ill tell you something else. This logging tram continues on the west side of Loop Road (across the canal) and follows the northside of Gator Hook Strand all the way to Gator Hook Swamp.  Someone tells me its not obvious on Google Earth but its there. This may be another project for the future lol. We need to finish this one first.

 

 

[Bill Riley]

If I find it I'll get with you and you can get with whoever is needed :). As far as the west side I'm good for walking anywhere. New project after this would be cool. Let me know whenever you want to go out I'm usually good for most Saturday's except the following one (3/2) as I have a camping trip planned with the wife.

[Swamp Hunter]

The NPS has a 3 hour ranger led hike called "Walk on the Wild Side" starting at 1PM every other Saturday so you may not be alone. It wouldnt hurt to talk to them. We may learn something. I doubt they go very far. http://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/upload/Final_RLAS-2012-2013.pdf

 

I never noticed until now that this park ranger appears to be pointing to a ribbon on the tree. I wonder if they remove them?

 

[Keith W]

She is more likely pointing to the flower spike on that brom.

I'm not sure where the Park rangers take their tours at Gator Hook but they spend 3 hours so its more than just the tourist loop at the start of the trail. Rick Cruz runs an Eco Tour  operation and has the concession to walk people out to the big dome at 25°49'38.23"N   81° 5'50.06"W (the one I call Clyde's Dome) and I imagine the rangers might go the same route.

[Swamp Witch]

I’ve gone on this hike twice.  They only go in 3/4 of a mile along the elevated portion and then come back through the water and then visit the big dome you mentioned.

I’ve had a lot of fun on these hikes especially the first one.  It was only me and the 2 rangers.  They loved looking for orchids, etc. and they pointed out so many plants to me.  I really enjoyed it.  On the second hike, the ranger talked more about the human activity in the swamp.