THE BLAZE
APALACHEE CHAPTER
FLORIDA TRAIL ASSOCIATION
AUTUMN 2009
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 PM in Building F, Suite 100 (U.S. Forest Service), the first building on the right as you enter Woodcrest Office Park at 325 John Knox Road, Tallahassee. The meeting room is ground level at the east end of Building F. Look for the Florida Trail signs at wooden door. For more information, contact Terry Tenold (850) 877-1612 or Linda Patton (850) 668-4334. Meetings are open to the public.
September 8 "Hiking Florida's Western Panhandle." From meanders through pitcher plant bogs to hikes on the dunes, author Sandra Friend shares a virtual walk in the woods along hiking trails west of the Apalachicola River. While the Western Panhandle isn't as well known as the rest of Florida, it offers a wide variety of hikes - from easy nature trails to rugged climbs - with spectacular scenery, unusual geology, botanical diversity, and the opportunity for backpackers to get out and stretch their legs on the Florida Trail.
October 13 “Exploring Lost Worlds In Northern South America.” The ancient Guiana Shield region supports mesas--called tepuis by local Amerindians--which jut from rainforest up to 10,000 feet in altitude. Come hear Dr. Bruce Means talk about these tepuis, his exciting herpetological and backpacking adventures during two decades of tepui exploration, and discovery of numerous new frog species, a new family of vertebrate animals and giant earthworms.
November 10 “Adventures in New Zealand and Australia.” Diving the Great Coral Reef and flying high above beautiful Milford Sound, Ken and Ginger Loewe traveled from hostel to hostel throughout New Zealand and the metropolitan coast of Eastern Australia, where they enjoyed climbing on glaciers and espying wild kangaroos and rare yellow-eyed penguins, among other adventures that they will share with us.
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December 8 “Annual Holiday Social.” Bring a covered dish or dessert and an inexpensive wrapped item for the gift-exchange game. Socialize with your fellow hiking and outdoor enthusiasts as we celebrate another year of hiking and outdoor adventures. For more information, call Terry Tenold, Chapter Chair 850-877-1612.
Those interested in an activity should contact the listed leader at least a full day prior to the event. Dress appropriately for our unpredictable weather and the woods – wearing layers and hiking footwear is recommended. Always bring water, and possibly snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray. Most activities continue as scheduled, even if the weather is less than ideal. An adult chaperon must accompany children. Codes: “P” – Public welcome to participate; “M”Limited to FTA members only; “L”Leisurely; “M”Moderatelydifficult; “S”Strenuous.
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September 8 Tuesday
Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program:
“Hiking Florida’s Western Panhandle.”
September 13 Sunday P/L
Wacissa River Canoe or Kayak
Enjoy a relaxing day paddling the Wacissa River. We will paddle approximately 10 miles. You must provide your own canoe or kayak and wear a PDF. Limit 10 canoes. Gwen Beatty (850) 942-7165
September 26 Saturday P\M
Aucilla River Trail Care Hike
Come out and help maintain a section of the 8 miles of trail along this scenic river. Tools will be provided. Bring a lunch and plenty of water. Barbara Donner (850) 766-7493 or Lee Bonninghausen (850) 223-2660
September 27 Sunday P\M
Aucilla Sinks Trail Care Hike Come out and help maintain this popular 4-mile section of trail. Tools will be provided. Bring a lunch and plenty of water. Barbara Donner (850) 766-7493
October 3, Saturday P\L
Sopchoppy River Hike
Enjoy fall colors on this easy, 5-mile hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail along the Sopchoppy River in the Apalachicola National Forest. Limit 15 people. Galen Moses (850) 926-9476
October 10, Saturday P\M
Trail Care Hike on River Bluff – Torreya Trail Loop, Torreya State Park
Help maintain the Torreya-River Bluff Trail. We’ll cut back vegetation, remove fallen limbs, and enjoy being out in the woods. Bring water and lunch. We will meet in Tallahassee for carpooling. Jerry Herting (850) 878-3426, Bob Gilley (850) 592-5985
October 13 Tuesday
Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program:
“Exploring Lost Worlds In Northern South America.”
October 20 Tuesday
Activities Planning Meeting
We have exciting new ways to advertise your hike, come and learn how the information super highway can help you plan Chapter activities. David Harris (850) 284 -9967
October 23-25 Friday-Sunday
Regional Hiker Conference
Don’t miss this gathering of FTA members from Chapters in North Florida. Camp on scenic Choctawhatchee Bay in the Florida Panhandle near Niceville and explore trails in the area. (See story on page 4 for more details.)
Tom Daniel
Marsha Ankeney
November 7 Saturday P/L
Wade Tract Birding Hike
This popular hike will take you into one of the best remaining examples of old-growth longleaf pine/wiregrass forests left in the U.S. Jim Cox, noted ornithologist with Tall Timbers Research Station, will provide commentary and show us a red-cockaded woodpecker colony. Fee will be from $7 to $15 / person. Limit 24 people. Kent Wimmer (850) 523-8576 .
November 10 Tuesday
Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program:
“Adventures in New Zealand and Australia”
December 5 Saturday P\M
Trail Care Hike On Torreya Challenge Trail, Torrey State Park
Help maintain the Torreya Challenge Trail. We’ll clip back vegetation, remove fallen limbs, and enjoy the trail. Bring water and lunch. Meet in Tallahassee for carpooling. Jerry Herting (850) 878-3426, Bob Gilley (850)-592-5985
December 8 Tuesday
Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program:
“Annual Holiday Social”
December 20 Sunday P/L
Day Hike Fort Braden Trail
Plan to hike 6 miles, part of which will be along beautiful Lake Talquin Gwen Beatty (850) 942-7165
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SUMMER HEAT WILL SOON GIVE WAY TO FALL HIKING SEASON
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As I write this, enjoying the Independence Day holiday in Minnesota (where folks start talking about how warm it is when the thermometer creeps over 80 degrees), I reflect on the ferociously hot June we all endured in North Florida. It is weather like that, combined with the hoards of biting insects, that convince us that the year’s hiking days are over for a while and that alternative outdoor activities, like bicycling, canoeing and kayaking, are preferable for a few months. Or, you may opt, as I did, to escape to the north country to cool off. Right now I am experiencing a July in Minneapolis that reminds me of a seemingly long ago April in Tallahassee.
Nevertheless, I will return to the Land of Flowers in early August to be once-again reminded that summer time in Tallahassee resembles the feeling of having a steamy wool blanket snatched from the dryer still damp and flung over my head. I will not be a happy camper! However, I know that come December my opinion on which part of the USA is preferable will flip-flop once again and I will be loathe to leave Florida for the frozen north, even though the Holiday Season is one of my favorite times of the year. Perhaps this is why a steady-state climate like Hawaii is so appealing to so many.
Regardless of the summer threats of heat and rain, we were able to get our National Trails Day hike in on June 6 before the blast-furnace days of just a week later. Although our group was modest, being only eight to accompany me, we had an enjoyable 2-1/2 mile hike on the Ravine Trail out at the Bear Creek Educational Area, which is an outlying tract of the Lake Talquin State Forest. This was the 17th consecutive year that the American Hiking Society has sponsored the NTD event, and the Apalachee Chapter has hosted a hike each year as well.
Later in the year, more agreeable hiking conditions will return and it will be time (October) for the North Florida Regional Camping and Hiking Event. This year it is being hosted by our newest Chapter, the Choctawhatchee Chapter, based out of Destin. I don’t have the details in front of me, but if you are interested, information on dates, places and event activities can be found on the FTA website and in the box on the following page. This is a good opportunity to get out and experience another part of Florida along with your fellow FTA’ers. You may see some old friends, or even make some new ones. I hope to see you there or out on the trail this fall.
--Terry Tenold, Chapter Chair
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PROTECT YOURSELF FROM TICKS AND LYME DISEASE
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The most prevalent tick-borne disease in Florida is Lyme Disease. It is transmitted to people by bacteria from bites of infected deer (black-legged) ticks. Most, but not all, victims will develop a “bulls-eye” rash at the site of the bite. Other signs and symptoms, may be non-specific and similar to flu-like symptoms, such as fever, lymph node swelling, neck stiffness, generalized fatigue, headaches, migrating joint aches, or muscle aches.
Ticks do not jump, crawl or fall onto a person. They are picked up when your clothing or hair brushes a leaf or other object they are on and then they crawl to a favorable site to feed.
Protect yourself with these precautions:
* Wear light-colored clothes to spot ticks more easily.
* Wear long sleeves; tuck pant legs into socks or boots and tuck your shirt into your pants.
* Wear high boots or closed shoes that cover your feet completely.
* Wear a hat and tie back loose hair.
* Use tick repellants, but not on your face.
* Shower as soon as possible to remove loose ticks.
* Wash and dry your clothes at high temperature.
* Examine yourself for ticks after you get home. Remove any attached ticks promptly and carefully with fine-tipped tweezers by gripping the tick near the mouth pieces and pulling outward with a steady pressure.
* Clean the area with antiseptic.
* Do not use petroleum jelly, a hot match or nail polish to remove a tick.
-- Deb Blick, FTA Trail Resource Coordinator
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CHAPTER WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBERS
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The Apalachee Chapter is pleased to welcome three new Florida Trail Association staff in Tallahassee. Joining the trail staff are Dan McKeague (pronounced McKeg), John Bauer and Susanna Sovran.
After two years as the planning intern, Dan has joined FTA staff as the Land Acquisition Planner. Although he was born in Tallahassee, Dan is a first-generation American with international experience in trails and land management. Dan graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Forestry and has recently completed an M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State.
His recent work experience includes his time with the New Zealand Department of Conservation, Alaska State Parks, and the St. Johns River Water Management District. As the new FNST land acquisition planner, Dan will be working with Howard Pardue to expand the land acquisition program and continue our work towards completing the Florida Trail.
As an avid backpacker, trail runner, mountain biker, road cyclist, and paddler, Dan tries to enjoy everything the Apalachee area has to offer. Now that
Dan and his wife, Lauren McKeague, are settled in Tallahassee, they are looking forward to becoming active members of the Apalachee Chapter.
John Bauer is FTA’s new Trail Crew Coordinator. John spent most of his childhood in Connecticut, but for the past six years he has been based in Wisconsin, where he pursued a degree in cultural anthropology. John loves to travel the world, and he is a big New York sports fan. Backpacking is his favorite activity, and in John’s spare time, he enjoys writing/composing music.
John is the perfect person to follow Bob Woods because of his passion for service and love for trails and the outdoors. John has extensive experience and training in leading crews on the Ice Age and North County trails and in Utah with the USDA Forest Service. He has worked on many trail crews with Wisconsin DNR, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Utah Conservation Corps and Southwest Conservation Corps. In the summer of 2006, John completed a 1,200 mile thru-hike of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, becoming the 14th person to thru-hike the trail.
Susanna Sovran is the new FNST planning intern. She is a fourth-generation Floridian from Kissimmee. Susanna’s love for the outdoors came from being a member of Girl Scouts to hiking on her grandmother’s property. She attended the University of Florida, earning a B.A. in Political Science and a certificate in Public Leadership through the Bob Graham Center for Public Service. In graduate school, Susanna is studying Transportation Planning, with emphasis on environment and urban design.
I hope you will join me in welcoming these dynamic new members of the Florida Trail family, and please invite them to join you on your hikes and adventures so they can learn about our area’s special places.
--Kent Wimmer
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FLORIDA TRAIL ASSOCIATION. JOIN TODAY… ENJOY HIKING FLORIDA’S GREAT OUTDOORS!
Florida Trail Association Member’s Code:
I understand that I am entitled to all rights and privileges of a dues-paying member, and that only members may hike the Trail across private property. When on the Trail, I agree to protect wildlife; hike only marked routes; not carry firearms; leave gates as found; use crossings on fences when possible; where permitted, keep fires small, then drench and obliterate; carry out all refuse; report irregularities to property owners; pick up after those who have gone before; leave only footprints. I understand that hiking the Trail is a privilege and that I do so at my own risk. Neither the Association nor landowners are in any way liable for any injury or accident I might sustain while hiking the Florida Trail.