Day Hiking in the Rainy Season (pic heavy)

WolfTracker

WolfTracker

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Mar 8, 2007
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I headed up to Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Jupiter, FL to see how well I could do 8-10 miles in the summer and on submerged sections. My goal is to do some serious 'swamp walking' in a few weeks. Following are some photos and a video of the day. All in all, 8 hot and wet miles. :D

Upon arrival, I found that the nature loop had been burned most likely in a controlled burn to clean out underbrush. Fortunately, I only had to walk through it on my way to the trail head of the Florida Trail.



This is where the 'real' trail begins...



Here is the first foot bridge over Kitching Creek. Seen an otter in there before, just not today





More of Kitching Creek



Wild Bromeliad



Bobcat!



Big raccoon (possible meal of bobcat as both were going in the same direction



Continued...
 
More:

Let the fun begin. This was one of the first holes on the jeep trail section of the FT



I expected this to be growing from my feet at day's end



This was the average depth of the water on the trail. The soles of my old "water" boots separated and I walked like Bozo the Clown for another 5 miles.



This section was probably the deepest and longest slog of the day. The water was above the middle of my thighs. Oh yeah, it wasn't a refreshing wade through any of this, as it was warm as piss.



More fun... After exiting that section, this section ran for about 3 miles in water above the ankles



Saw a total of three deer. The first just bounded across the trail, this little gal pretty much let me walk right up to her. The last one was a large doe that I spooked and it just exploded from munching and bolted off





Gopher tortoise looking to build a new home after being burned out of his old one. Damn meth labs...



Continued...
 
More:

Made it home before the skies opened up. Notice the mammatus clouds. From June to October, you have to start out early and be home by 2-3



Headed my way. In the Tropics you go from a blue sky to BOOM in very short order



Finally, I was treated to a double helix rainbow in the backyard. A great end to a great day




Thanks for letting me ramble...

Chris
 
Great pictures...my wife is from North Florida (just outside Panama City) and we love camping up around that area. She has family down South...hopefully next summer we'll make the trip...looks like a lot of fun!

ROCK6
 
Come on down... We'll be waitin'!

Dude... Not to be a wuss, but that knocked the hell out of me. Add the heat and humidity into that equation. You need a minimum of 3 liters of water and that weighs 8 pounds by itself.
 
Beautiful Pics. I did a similar but shorter hike down near the Big Cypress National Preserve. The actual road was off state route 94. I don't remember the name now. It was called the Gator Hook Trail. I have a few pics, but not as nice as yours.

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I really love Florida. I wish I'd had more time to explore, but I was down there for work. I just took the day and went for a walk.
 
Im glad your in good enough shape to make it. Doesnt look like fun to me. Great pics. i enjoyed them.:thumbup:
 
gaaahhhh I need to get back to florida bad. Great pics mate! Thanks for posting!!!!
 
Awesome pics! I love Florida. I remember when living down there; it rained about the same time everyday. Sunshine to rain, and back to sunshine:thumbup:


ROCK6 said:
Great pictures...my wife is from North Florida (just outside Panama City) and we love camping up around that area. She has family down South...hopefully next summer we'll make the trip...looks like a lot of fun!

ROCK6
Click to expand...

Thats a great area Rock! I was stationed about an hour west of there. Have you ever checked out the Eglin Range.
 
Nice pics! I've never done that section. The nice thing about hiking in the summer in Florida is that there is usually no one else out there. It looks like you got back just in time, it really came down from 2:00 to 4:00 or so. You are right, trudging through water all day really takes it out of you. The soles on my last pair of boots separated on my last swamp walk too...
 
awesome pics man...:thumbup: i have yet to make it to Florida and see those swamps...:o
 
Thanks for the pics man ,brings back a lot of fond memories. I grew up in Jupiter,moved when I was 27. Miss the swamps man. Spent alot of time on Kitching creek and the Loxahatchee River. If you cross that footbridge and continue to the right there are some Indian mounds back along the river.
 
Thanks for the nice comments, fellas.

Skunk, how far back to the right along the creek? I'll go looking for them and see if I can snap some pics.

Mikeal... Must be that black water that eats your boots :D We should get SIXFOOTER and the three of do a trip. Be warned though, I'm only 5' 6" and I take 2 steps for every one that most folks take. I tend to hike at varied speeds.

Boom: No gators... To far inland from the river
 
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