Camping in South Floirda

N

Nomad333

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Mar 18, 2010
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Well my parents and I plan to camp a few times this summer (crappy weather, but hey some family fun).

First we'll probably camp at a camp site (Markham Park).
But I plan to do a little backpacking with a few friends.
I picked up a Coleman Hooligan 9x7 for $75

I was hopping for some gear reccomendations and other reccomendations
 
Regarding gear, I'd recommend rain gear, deet based repellant, tropical weight full brimmed hats... you know how dang hot it is down here already. Tent camping at Markham, I'd also bring a cooler full of ice, a good sized (one of those two burner coleman) stove and generally live it up. It's not real rugged at all there, though there is at least one hiking trail of decent length, and would serve as a real comfortable base camp for when you and your friends aren't out hiking.

As I recall, it's also not very far from Big Cypress and I'd highly recommend doing some wandering around out there. Just be sure to do some research before you go, unless things have changed in the last few years it is pretty unstructured and on some trails, when the water is up, it's possible to find yourself blaze hopping. Canoeing the mangroves is a must do imo! :thumbup:
 
Hey Nomad

If you go to Markham Park, gimmee a call and we can meet up at Uncle Als or something. Note that Hurricane Wilma took a lot of trees out of that Park.

John
 
You need bug juice and sunscreen. A decent hat to keep the sun from cooking your head,I wear a pith helmet. If you go off the beaten path I recommend a hiking staff to probe ahead of you for snakes.
 
Thunderhorse said:
Hey Nomad

If you go to Markham Park, gimmee a call and we can meet up at Uncle Als or something. Note that Hurricane Wilma took a lot of trees out of that Park.

John
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Possibly!
And dang Wilma...worst hurricane I've seen personally (born like a month and half after Andrew).

As for hats, I honestly find a standard cap is fine for me.


And I haven't been to Markham FOREVER, do they have restrooms?
 
I was just camping at the Flamingo campground in South Florida. I found long sleeves were a must! Head nets that keep No-See- Ums out is also a must. My cousin had gloves and I didnt really see the point until I saw what the damn No- see-ums did to my hands and wrists! I here the summer is worse as the mosquitos are in full force as well! I would treat my gear and clothes with Permathin and take an crap load of DEET as well! 20% deet s useless with the no-see ums..
Full brim hat, sun glasses, and sun block are also a must for me as well. A large mosquito/ bug enclosure was nice to sit in at night. If we didnt have that we would have been forced in our tent by 8pm. I usually dont mind bugs, but they were brutal down there in the everglades!
 
tonym said:
I usually dont mind bugs, but they were brutal down there in the everglades!
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They can definitely be brutal. I've heard tales of massive hordes of the little bloodsuckers decimating entire herds of cattle back in the olden days. And now we have those dang tiger mosquitos as well. A year or so back, I noticed an area of disturbed ground and a small hole. As I got closer to see what it was, the mosquitos came flying out of the hole in such large numbers that it looked like a chaotic cloud of smoke. I'm almost certain that they were lying in wait, attuned to whatever small vibrations passing critters or people might make, for a chance to suck the blood out of anything that passed by.
 
roughedges said:
They can definitely be brutal. I've heard tales of massive hordes of the little bloodsuckers decimating entire herds of cattle back in the olden days. And now we have those dang tiger mosquitos as well. A year or so back, I noticed an area of disturbed ground and a small hole. As I got closer to see what it was, the mosquitos came flying out of the hole in such large numbers that it looked like a chaotic cloud of smoke. I'm almost certain that they were lying in wait, attuned to whatever small vibrations passing critters or people might make, for a chance to suck the blood out of anything that passed by.
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:eek: Now thats just crazy! My cousin invited me back don to do some more fishing in the summer. He says the fishing is great, but the bugs are worse. I just haven't made up my mind yet. Your post is helping though. Thanks for the info:thumbup:
 
Great, way to put me off, I had forgotten the swarms of mosquitos...
Should a tent be good enough to keep them out at night?
this one to be exact
2000001591_500.jpg
 
Nomad333 said:
Great, way to put me off, I had forgotten the swarms of mosquitos...
Should a tent be good enough to keep them out at night?
this one to be exact .
Click to expand...

Just practice on getting in and out quick. Then plan on spending 20 minutes killing any bugs that got in regardless of how quick you got in. Do not go to sleep with any mosquitos alive in the tent.(not that you would be able to anyaway ;) )
 
Nomad333 said:
Great, way to put me off, I had forgotten the swarms of mosquitos...
Should a tent be good enough to keep them out at night?
Click to expand...

It should be though I have seen them thick enough that a dozen or more might follow you in as you get in for the night. Just try not to go in and out like a revolving door, keep the mesh zipped up at all times you're not entering or exiting, etc. Whenever they are real bad, one of the best things to do imo is to find some old brown saw palmetto fronds and throw them on the fire. They smoke like the dickens but do provide some relief, a few minutes at a time.

In some places, the no see ums are even worse than the mosquitos and you have to decide on which is more important to you, adequate ventilation or not getting bit. I know some guys who swear by Avon Skin So Soft for biting insects but it never worked that well for me. Bring deet, 30% or more is what I like, and all should be fine. Unless you run out. :)

Also, and I have nothing but my own personal observations to back this up, but Florida natives seem to do better than people who come from more temperate climates. I've seen people, all from north of the Mason Dixon line, scar up from one season's worth of mosquito bites down here whereas, for myself, the bites generally disappear entirely over night.

Anyway, it's just like anything else. Don't worry too much about it but do prepare well beforehand. And, above all, have fun! :thumbup:
 
Haha, when I get a bad bite it redens, grows, stays for like 3 or 4 days or more sometimes. I've lived in Broward since I was a few days old.
Do those anti-mosquito candles really work?
 
Nomad333 said:
Haha, when I get a bad bite it redens, grows, stays for like 3 or 4 days or more sometimes. I've lived in Broward since I was a few days old.
Do those anti-mosquito candles really work?
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If you mean the citronella based candles and torches, I've found that they do work but usually requires a lot of them and because of this, for me at least, are better suited for back yards gatherings. You can pick up some mosquito coils, either online or at a big box store like walmart, though. They are pyrethrum based,work well for small areas, and don't take up much space at all. Personally, I don't usually bring any thing like that unless it is during a dry spell when open fires are prohibited.
 
Yo TonyM,
Stick to the north woods. You going to Marty's for PEACE?
 
tonym said:
I should but the fishing is so good don there...
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Looks like freshwater is going to be where it's at for at least the next few years. From what "they" are saying, that oil leak in the gulf is going to mess up the salt for a long time to come.
 
Well Markham would be with my parents.

My best friend and I were considering getting a few friends and camp in the middle of nowhere (slight backpacking?) and camp. But not without letting others know the general area.

Any good places, he suggested the keys...
 
Nomad333 said:
Well Markham would be with my parents.

My best friend and I were considering getting a few friends and camp in the middle of nowhere (slight backpacking?) and camp. But not without letting others know the general area.

Any good places, he suggested the keys...
Click to expand...

Kinda quick and dirty because I need to get a move on here. :)

John Pennekamp is, I think, the first park as you enter the Keys. There are two short loop trails that show some of the native habitat, tropical hammock and mangroves, quite well. Also, the glass bottom boat tour is pretty neat- especially if you've never been snorkeling/scuba diving before. Lots of tourists though.

Bahia Honda is probably where I would camp if I were heading off to the keys- though the beach is so dang pretty that it has always been packed whenever I've been there in the summer. There are a couple neat little trails there as well that have never been crowded when I was there.

You also might consider the Everglades National Park (just do your research first, it's huge) and the Falkahatchee Strand Preserve. Both are real nice examples of environments not found anywhere else in the country and, in the case of the Glades, probably the world.

They are on the other side of the state, in the Ft Meyers/Sanibel area, but I've always been meaning to check out the Ding Darling (cool name, tons of birds and maybe crocodiles) Bird Preserve and Corkscrew Swamp which has the largest cypress left in our area. Don't know about hiking or camping in either though.
 
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