[ft-l] Hike report (Orlando to Okeechobee)

[ft-l@mailman.backcountry.net (Doug McCoy)]

sorry we didn't get to meet you in Okeechobee. We were probably at the FTA
conference when you came through town. Nomad stayed two nights with us the
previous week. As for your questions, I'll take a stab at 1-rat snake ,
2-air potato. Have a great hike to Key West.

                                            Doug
-----Original Message-----
From: Senthil Kumar <skumaremail@yahoo.com>
To: ft-l@mailman.backcountry.net <ft-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Cc: Sridhar Ramasami <sridharval@yahoo.com>; Suriyan Ramasami
<suriyan@iname.com>
Date: Sunday, March 25, 2001 9:41 PM
Subject: [ft-l] Hike report (Orlando to Okeechobee)


>I just came back after doing an absoloutely wonderful
>10 day backpack trip from Orlando to Okeechobee.
>I am presenting some questions and also some general
>notes that I made from my recollections of the hike.
>In general its GREAT to be out hiking for 10 days.
>It appears that the longer the hike the more enjoyable
>it becomes.
>
>We started off where the Beeline intersects the
>trail (520 road walk) and ended it in the town
>of Okeechobee. I would like to thank the members
>of this list and the FTA for their dedication
>in maitaining the FNST.
>
>--
>
>Questions:
>
>1. We saw two yellow snakes with black stripes.
>   One was about 6 ft long and the other was 4 ft
>   long. What kind of snake was it ?
>
>2. There was a potato like vegetation which we found
>   on the ground. It tasted bitter. We were hoping
>   to be able to cook it. What was it ?
>
>--
>
>General notes:
>
>1. Saw tortoises, armadillos, snakes, deer, foxes,
>   turtles, wild hogs, turkeys, alligators.
>
>2. It was extremely dry.
>
>4. Water source at point 2 in map 24 (Wolf Creek
>   crossing) could not be located. We tried for
>   sometime and gave up. Perhaps a blue blazed trial
>   will help. It does exist according to a local
>   we met in Rodeo Grounds.
>
>5. Pump at point 5 in map 24 (start of the Bull Creek
>   WMA, going south) is non-functional. It has a
>   broken handle.
>
>6. Pump at point 18 in map 24 (end of the Bull Creek
>   WMA, going south) has a leaking gasket.
>
>3. The trail thru Deseret ranch betwen points 20 and
>   21 in map 24 needs to be blazed properly. We had
>   to bushwack that section.
>
>7. Plastic container to prime pump at point 6 in
>   map 33 (intersection of loop trials in Three Lakes
>   WMA) is unusable.
>
>8. A lot of work seems to have been done recently
>   between Boney March WMA and Hickory Hammock WMA.
>   There was this huge HIGH bridge that we used
>   to cross. It was very impressive.
>
>9. We just walked along the railroad to get from
>   point 5 to point 7 in map 35 (End of Hickory
>   Hammock to start of Yates Marsh WMA). Its quite
>   amazing to sleep near the tracks. Saw several
>   AMTRAK and freight trains go by. Very cool.
>
>10. DIY Alcohol stoves made using a soda can are
>    VERY good. I am surprised that more pple are not
>    using them. It now seems idiotic to use anything
>    else.
>
>11. Using a trap as the tent ground-cloth is also a
>    good idea. I might also experiment with using
>    a tarp instead of a tent in the future. Tents
>    are just too heavy.
>
>12. Cost us $45 to go from Orlando airport to where
>    the Beeline intersects 520.
>
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