Hiking Florida

Florida!

Florida Trail through Osceola National Forest to Suwannee River

February 26-March 1, 2006 - After ending a two-night, three-day trip on the Oklawaha River (Ocala National Forest) with my brother, Nick, I drove up to White Springs and caught a shuttle to meet up with Johnny in Osceola National Forest near Ocean Pond. The shuttle dropped me off next to a Johnny-awaitin' beside the forest road. We hiked about 4 miles to a shelter surrounded by nothing put pines. That next morning, we hiked through swampy areas, pine plantations, and on an old railroad berm through burned wetlands. We set up camp near a big oak - the hardwood forest was a nice change from all the pines. I was really enjoying the different terrain along this small section of the Florida Trail.

The second morning, we started our road-hike to the Suwannee River. We hiked through private fields and through a few country neighbourhoods until we got to Big Shoals Lands. The campsite we picked was on a bluff overlooking the black ribbon of the Suwannee, and inside this black ribbon was swirls of white foam from Big Shoals. I was mesmorized. We took turns washing off in the river and entertaining ourselves with a ruthless praying mantis hungrily munching on a struggling fly.

The third morning of this backpacking trip, I hiked along the Suwannee with Johnny until we got to the highway bridge that goes into White Springs. He continued along the Florida Trail and I hiked into town to my car. This is where the footpounding ends on this trip and the paddling pounding begins.
Read about that here!

Florida Trail through Osceola National Forest