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?

[Swamp Hunter]

Better take it easy daniel.

I reread my above long post. I meant perceive not conceive lol or something like that. Cant edit anything now.

 

Pam, do you have the coordinates of the tin roof camp with all the beer cans? It would be cool to check it out. It should have a wellhead. My guess it was accessed from the north trail (trail with the cables tied across). Someone told me this was an old dozer run where the loggers went in and knocked down all the trees with a dozer. I discovered old trac alongside the trail. In some places loggers pulled lumber out with cables and winches when the water was high enough to float the logs..

One place on the trail was so dug out it created today a beautiful water hole. To fill in these old ruts would be a mistake.

[Swamp Witch]

Coordinates are N25 49.314, W81 03.943.  These coordinates are about 0.2 miles north of the Center W coordinates N25 49.166, W81 03.938.  Beer cans were pull tab.  There was a water hole to the east, and vultures to the west.  Watch out if they're still in the area.  They had a nest in a dead palm tree without fronds.  An egg had fallen out of the nest and was at the base of the tree right in the path of least resistance.  I ran.  Can a vulture egg survive a fall of 20-feet?  I guess the ground out there is pretty squishy.  I don't get hurt hitting the ground, it's the Cypress knees that trip you that cause all the damage.  Instead of Old Man Willow, there must be something else out there, Ghost of Calusas Past, Skunk Ape, something...

Can't wait to read about all your adventures!  Wish I could be there.

[Swamp Hunter]

Can a vulture egg survive a fall of 20-feet?

 

I read that vultures lay eggs on the ground in very secluded places away from human disturbance but I have never found a vulture egg. I know they roost in trees. I once very quietly and cautiously climbed a large oak tree at about 4 AM in complete darkness to get in position to hunt. As it got closer to sunup, I started hearing strange disturbances above me. Unknown to me, a venue of vultures were waking up. One by one, they flew away as the sun started to rise. A commune of large flapping wings makes quite a disturbance and they have a habit of pooping on their own feet... enough said.

 

The Miccosukis tell me the Swamp Ape is a spirit.  Its also known as the Skunk Ape and the Indians tell me it smells like a wet dog. I have had the experience of catching this scent off the old tram road but to me its more like an old wet dish towel. Its a very pungent odor and there is no mistaking it. Could I have smelled an old nasty boar hog?  The first bend before the Gauntlet was always a hangout for wallowing old boar hogs. 

 

There is another old tree stand just north of the Gauntlet. Not too far, but far enough away as not to be able to see what comes down the main trail. I sat quietly in this tree one calm December morning. The water was high and I could hear something very large slowly and deliberately limping toward the Gauntlet trail, coming from the west. It actually sounded human with a severe limp. It was very strange. I sat quietly listening as it got closer and the splashing became much louder.  I thought to myself, what injured person would be limping in an easterly direction down the main trail? Was it Ole Slewfoot? Was it a Swamp Ape? I will never know because I sat frozen 10 feet up a cypress tree, as the large creature slowly but surely limped across the entire Gauntlet.. Of course bears can climb but I didnt get out of my tree til hours later.

[Bill Riley]

I should be there around 6:30 so i'll play catch up.

[Swamp Hunter]

Im packing my truck now.

[daniel]

have fun you guys... can you put up some pics when you get back? be safe.

[Keith W]

We did it.

We now have a marked trail through center of the W out to the open cypress on the 3rd leg. There is a lot of fine tuning still needed, but the worst is over and marking the rest of the trail out to the FST at Roberts Lake will be cake compared to what me, Dale, and Bill did on Saturday. It took us 2-1/2 hours to push through 150 yards on the way out, and only 20 minutes to walk back the same distance on the return trip.  The new trail runs through some of most beautiful cypress jungle that I've ever seen. As good or better than the best of the Fakahatchee Strand. No still photos, I didn't take my camera, but I got a lot of GoPro video that I'll post a link to as soon as I can get it put together.

[yakmaster]

Maybe the 2014 Invitational will be a hike, instead of a paddle!?!??

[Dallas]

Nicely done everyone!

[Swamp Hunter]

Im still trying to recover lol.

[Jay]

Congratulations!  Looks like you had some fantastic weather.  Great accomplishment! 

Dale, I happened to see one of my friends with good contacts with the local scouting district.  He thought they would be very interested in taking some scouts out there when the time was right.  That could really help establish the trail.

[Zoltan Torok]

Hi everybody,

This is my very first comment on this forum but have been following the conversations since I have joined this group. I am making a wildlife film for three years about the Everglades / Big Cypress / Fakahatchee for NatGeo (only wildlife, no interviews or presenters) and this year I plan a shoot at Robert's Lake when the big gator congregation happens. I checked the trail one month ago (the one that runs southbound from Oasis center) but it was too early, water was too deep.

How is the situation now? Does anyone know? It seems Keith hiked from the other direction. I may try (yet without camera) this week. 

Thanks.