October 30th, 2008 Sandra Friend
Episode 005: A Walk at Green Cay Wetlands (18:43)
Earlier this month, I stayed with my friends Ted and Trudy Winsberg on their farm while I was participating in the Diabetes Walk event in West Palm Beach, and I had a chance to walk with Ted along the boardwalks of Green Cay Wetlands one morning. This spectacular wetlands park is their legacy to the people of Florida. Not long ago, it was part of their bell pepper farm. Now it’s a re-created Everglades habitat, a haven for birds and hikers alike. This episode is an edited version of a walk through the preserve with Ted.
Music included in this podcast:
“The River Bank” by Shaun Harris, RoyaltyFreeMusic.com
Get details about and directions for the hike at http://www.floridahikes.com/greencay
I shot video a little later this same day, so I plan to add that as my next vidcast on the Florida Hikes channel.
Play or download the podcast with the tools below. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed for the Florida Hikes! podcast, or download the series from iTunes.com
Episode 005 - Green Cay Wetlands [18:43m]:
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October 10th, 2008 Sandra Friend
Thanks to recent heavy rains in South Florida, the Everglades is flush with water like it hasn’t been in a long time. What does it mean to hikers? Closures! I was down there in Big Cypress for Labor Day Weekend and the water was already waist-deep on me in places that are normally knee deep. I can’t imagine just how deep things are now. Here’s two alerts I came across in the past day:
“The River of Grass is flowing” Water levels at Shark Valley may impact your visit…. Essentially, the paved road is underwater so the tram isn’t running as often, your bicycle needs water wings, and hikers will share the road with the all-too-feisty ‘gators. Read more…
Water is flowing over Loop Road. Don’t even THINK of driving to the southern terminus of the Florida Trail until it recedes or you may find your Toyota in the canal with the rest of the wildlife. Here’s the official alert.
Meanwhile, enjoy the wet wilderness while it lasts … and take a snorkel!
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October 6th, 2008 Sandra Friend
This weekend, I joined my friends from the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association for an American Diabetes Association fundraising walk in downtown West Palm Beach. Drenching rains couldn’t keep this group of hardy hikers away, even if we were walking the urban jungle - 2 miles through the canyons of downtown West Palm Beach - instead of the natural one. Brought together by outdoor writer Warren Resen, the Florida Hikers team finished early, well ahead of the rest of the walkers. Spending the weekend in SE Florida gave me some small opportunities to hike in natural areas, too. More on that later!
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September 29th, 2008 Sandra Friend
According to a recent story in the Fort Myers News-Press, both Lee and Charlotte Counties were successful in obtaining grants to acquire new lands that will benefit both the Florida Saltwater Circumnavigation Trail and Florida hiking.
Galt Preserve includes 105 acres on Pine Island which will be rid of its exotic species before amenities are added, including observation deck and fishing pier, picnic tables and hiking trails, and a launch point for paddlers. Where Buck Creek flows into Lemon Bay, Buck Creek Preserve will include similar amenities and an open-air classroom.
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August 24th, 2008 Sandra Friend
I did so with friends when I completed the Seminole section of the Florida Trail some years ago. This is a remote spot south of Clewiston as you head from the sugar cane fields into Lake Harbor. Now I’m especially glad we heeded recommendations from Joan Hobson not to camp along that section. Here’s why, from the Palm Beach Post:
The water management district is still working on the canal and still finding cars. “We wait until they’ve got about 20 car locations identified before we go in and pull them out,” said sheriff’s detective Justin Wallace of the auto theft division. As of late last week, 107 cars had been removed from about a 6-mile stretch of canal beginning where the paved road ends and continuing to U.S. Sugar’s railroad track bridge.
Read the whole story….
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August 22nd, 2008 Sandra Friend
A new free resource for hikers: head on over to the Florida Trail website to download yourself a set of Grab-and-Go Hikes. I just finished them up today as one of my wrapup projects as I close out my days as an FTA staff member. These are mini-guides to popular day hikes (many with opportunities for camping) along the Florida Trail, and include mileages, directions, and a map. The set includes:
- Juniper Prairie Wilderness (Ocala)
- Juniper Creek Trail at Blackwater River State Forest (Pensacola)
- Little Big Econ State Forest (Orlando)
- Big Oak Trail at Suwannee River State Park (Live Oak)
- Hickory Hammock Trail (Sebring, Okeechobee)
- Green Swamp West (Lakeland, Dade City)
- Etoniah Creek State Forest (Palatka)Download, print, grab, and go! Just in time for hiking season.
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August 6th, 2008 Sandra Friend
It’s that time again! Labor Day Weekend is coming up fast and it’s time to sign up for the ever-popular swamp walks at Clyde Butcher’s Muck-A-Bout in the Big Cypress Swamp. This is where I met the fellow who is now my husband five years ago, and we’ve both continued to go back and volunteer year after year, leading hikes and assisting around the very busy and popular special event. Rob draws his famous caricatures for a donation. C’mon down to Big Cypress and get your feet wet in one of the most spectacular freshwater habitats in Florida, and see Niki Butcher’s full collection of hand-painted black and white photography as part of this year’s event. Hope to see you there! Sign up through Clyde Butcher’s website.
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July 17th, 2008 Sandra Friend
North of the main portion of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and its hiking trails in Boynton Beach, a new 3-mile hiking and biking trail opened June 16 at Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West on CR 880, south of Southern Blvd (US 98) at Nine Mile Bend. The trail includes a 200-foot boardwalk and interpretive information about the restoration of this former farm to wetlands. For more information, see this story in the Sun-Sentinel.
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