Black-Necked Stake

Being the atypical gal that I am, all I wanted for Valentine’s Day was to visit Myakka State Park.  For years I had heard of this uniquely beautiful park and the river that gives it its name.  At last I got my wish and wasn’t disappointed.  In fact I was surprised at the seemingly pre-historic beauty of the park and the abundance of wildlife found there.

Located off Highway 72 east of Sarasota, the Myakka River winds through 58 square miles of prairie, wetlands, pineland and hammock.  The diversity of habitat attracts a broad variety of wildlife.  During our visit I had opportunity to photograph birds, wild boar, alligators and even an armadillo (to my husband’s chagrin).

Chillin' in the Florida Sun

One of my goals during our visit was to find out what activities we could plan during a longer stay.  I learned that the park offers canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, camping, over 39 miles of hiking & horse trails, log cabin rentals, airboat rides, birding, an elevated canopy walkway and observation tower and some really awesome homemade gumbo served at the concession.  Being a bit of a foodie I would visit just for the gumbo.

With 39 miles of trails configured in loops the options for a weekend backpacking trip to any of the six backcountry sites are many. This is my plan for our next visit. During this visit we were warned that recent rains have made the hiking trails extremely wet.  Having hiked the swamped trails in Wekiva State Park recently, I respect the warning and plan to time my return to avoid a swampy trek.   It’s either that or I bring waders!  Before planning to hike here call to check trail conditions.

Look for future posts featuring this dramatic Southwest Florida State Park.

Heron

Alexander Springs Swimming Area

Growing up, I went camping many times with my family all over the country. I was thinking it was finally time to go on one on my own. I’m in college, I have a job, and my boyfriend’s birthday presented the perfect excuse to go on a short trip.

We took a lot of time picking out a campsite – we looked at price, whether pets were allowed, what kind of marine life was available there, and the location of the site. After looking at many, we finally decided on Alexander Springs. It costs $18.67 per night, allowed pets (although in the end we didn’t bring our dog anyways), and they had a wide variety of fish. Being only an hour to an hour and a half from Daytona Beach – our leaving point – it seemed perfect. Alexander Springs – Here we come!

We borrowed a tent (a 17’x8’ Field & Stream monster) and most of the camping and snorkeling gear from my father. That saved us a lot of money. One thing we are very glad we brought – even though it took up a lot of room – is a patio umbrella. The shaded site we were in wasn’t shaded for long, and the umbrella kept the September heat at bay.

After getting a little lost and asking for directions at a cute little country store, we finally made it! It only took us about twenty minutes to set up the tent (with LOTS of help from instructions sewn into the bag) and we were ready to relax. The restrooms and showers (very clean for camp baths) were within a two minute walk along a pretty trail, but they were out of view from the site. The campground is only about a fifteen minute walk or a two minute drive from the springs.

Speaking of the springs – they are gorgeous – crystal clear water with a variety of areas that has a fit for each person. At a constant 72◦F, it is definitely chilly. When you are walking up, you see lush green trees and picnic areas. Closer to the water is a small sandy beach area, and there are stairs down into the water. There is no easy place to just jump in, but for the first part of the swimming area it is all shallow water no higher than your knees and white sand that makes it easy to keep an eye on young children. Further out, you start to see a little vegetation and after that is a drop into a gorgeous underwater ravine perfect for beginning divers.

The fish in there are unbelievable – orange, green, silver, and rainbow fish are everywhere. Catch the springs close to closing time and you might get to see this huge turtle that is the size of a spare tire and with a tail a foot and a half long and as thick as a human arm. Josh and I spotted it around that time coming up from the ravine and it was an amazing sight. We snorkeled around several times, and we saw a school of rainbow trout (or so we think), and hundreds of fish just floating around you. It truly is a breathtaking view. Don’t forget to bring an underwater camera!

Back at the campsite, we were neighboring with two interesting groups. To our left, we have what I named the Rowdy Drunks who got kicked out their first night there for noise. They were certainly interesting – and loud. On our right we had the “Cheaper by the Dozen” knock-offs, a large, loud, and very rude family of about ten that had five tents total (of course, the middle-school girls set their tent up about ten feet from ours and were singing songs from Shrek all night).

The last night we were there we saw something that I had to share in this article – don’t forget all the poles to your tent. A group of three City Girls came and left not long after realizing they had forgotten the tent poles. They soon showed up with a brand new tent. After setting it up, it appears they had greatly overestimated the size. It was a single person tent, no where near large enough to hold three people. So what did they do? Took their original tent, hung it up on the lantern hook, and used rocks to hold the ends down. Trust me – that was a sight to see. Free entertainment, right?

We had a good time – our grill went out so we cooked on the fire (which tasted better anyways) and a raccoon scared me one night, but it was a perfect. We are already planning our next trip – and this time, we’ll bring and underwater camera.

- Leanne M. Wiggins

PS – We did bring the hammer my mother mentioned, it is very handy.

TRO maintains a stock of local aviation charts.

Exciting news for our local customers – the Trail Ridge Outdoors store is now mobile. We have configured our credit card processing to support sales in the field. After reviewing our customer profiles we discovered that a large percentage of our local customers are based at the Orlando/Apopka Airport so we now offer free delivery to the airport. Customers may now call or email us and pay by check or credit card on delivery.

Another new feature we have added is standing order service on aviation charts. Customers will automatically receive the most current editions of charts as soon as they are published.

Until now there has not been a local supplier for the airport. Additional items will be added to the mobile inventory as we receive feedback from our customers.

The next phase of our mobile unit is to bring outdoor adventure gear to local events and festivals in the Central Florida Area.

Kayaking one of Florida's spring fed rivers.

Fall is knocking on our door at last. In Florida fall arrives later than for most of the country, but I think we appreciate it more. After a summer of hot humid days spent cooped up inside an air-conditioned house, the first cold front to arrive is a relief.

You see, we don’t do spring cleaning, we do fall cleaning. This is the first time in months we get to throw open the windows and air out the house, inspiring a major cleaning spree in my house. It’s also time to sweep the cobwebs from the soffits, clean off the patio and get ready to resume outdoor living.

This is when I start to plan family campouts and backpacking trips. By November the weather will be ideal for Florida adventures. The Florida Trail stretches for more than fifteen hundred miles passing through temperate and subtropical ecosystems. Florida also has a multitude of fresh water springs providing swimming, canoeing and kayaking opportunities. Campgrounds such as Juniper Springs also offer shady campsites and easy access to trails.

Of course I’ll miss the sleepy days of summer. The quiet waterways and beaches were a real pleasure. So were the summer deals many hotels and restaurants offered. But those days will be back, and for now it’s time to get outside and enjoy the first breaths of cool air in months.

This article offers a few more ideas to keep your next camping trip eco-friendly so that we may all continue to enjoy what is left of our wilderness.

Eco Friendly Eco Wise ~ From TotalEscape.com

“Seems you can’t go deep enough. The further into the forest you go, you still seem to see it – evidence of neglect for our land. In every outting these days, we constantly notice tons of litter & graffiti. Deliberate disrespect for the open spaces & valued wilderness lands. What is going on here?” Click to Read: Eco Friendly Eco Wise

My son and I spent four days packed with activities in Rabun County last week. Our base was the Tallulah Gorge Campground. Located on the north rim of the Tallulah Gorge, this campground offered wooded campsites, hot showers and a reasonable price. An added bonus – it is dog friendly. The campground also provides access to the gorge rim trails.

On the first day in camp my son headed down the 620 steps to the gorge floor and back up – in flip flops. It’s a good thing the Lord looks after the innocent. His reaction was a testament to the beauty of this place. Over and over he commented on the scenery and sounds of the river plunging through the gorge carved in granite.

The next day we rafted Section IV of the Chattooga River. For this we headed to Southeastern Expeditions on Highway 76 near Clayton. I have rafted and kayaked with them five times and never have been disappointed. Our guide reminded us to keep our “nose and toes out of the water” if thrown from the raft. “This is known as the whitewater swim position,” she explained, “there is a risk of foot entrapment in the rocks however; there has never been a case of butt entrapment.”

Rafters Near Raven Rock

Exhausted but ready for more, my son signed up for a kayak clinic the next day. He and his guide ran Section III of the river while my son learned some kayaking basics. Meanwhile I headed out to one of the many hiking trails in the area. I chose the Raven Rock trail which leads down to the river near the cliff which bears the same name. Knowing this is the same place where the movie Deliverance was filmed, I felt a bit apprehensive driving miles down a dirt road to the trail head. “Keep driving – you are not hearing banjos,” I told myself.

The Chattooga at Raven Rock

This area is home to the Bartram Trail, Chattooga River Trail and is near the start point for the Appalachian Trail. Besides these well know long trails there are numerous shorter options for day hikes and loops. Just over the SC state line, the Andrew Pickens Ranger District has just published one of the best maps of the area covering both the GA and SC sides of the Chattooga River.

After all of our hiking and kayaking we were ready for a big dinner. The Dillard House Restaurant is famous in this area for its all-you-can-eat family style meals. My teenage son’s eyes popped when he watched the waiter fill our table with a wide variety of meats, sides and breads. In the end it looked like we hadn’t touched the food yet we were stuffed.

Wanting to master his kayak roll, my son headed back to the river for another day. I went about exploring Main St. in Clayton. My first stop was Prater’s Bookstore. Greeted by a cat and a thoughtfully stocked store I was in heaven. Then I noticed that they serve coffee too. Angels were singing…

Having busted my budget buying a stack of books in Prater’s, I set out to find a new restaurant called Zeppelins Pasta House. The first thing I noticed was the funky color scheme and the album covered walls. Classic rock played – but not too loud. The menu is all homemade and organic featuring flat bread pizzas, pasta and grilled items. I had a great lunch. Full and impressed by this new addition to Clayton’s cuisine I vowed to return. The owners, Mark and Cappy Taylor, have done a great job from concept to performance with Zeppelins.

Occasionally an area has so much to offer I find myself planning the next trip even before I get home. This is one of those places. Years ago I backpacked my way down the river for four days and I plan to do it again. I also suspect that my son’s new love of kayaking will bring us back regularly.

The Optimus Nova Plus Fits in the Palm of Your Hand (Click for Details)

This is a good article on backpack cooking. I enjoy creating new meals for the trail from what I find and my local supermarket or health food store. The possibilities are endless now that so many instant products are available.

Backpacking Gourmet Cooking, by Jessica Linnell

Our store offer a full selection of backpacking stoves, accessories and maintenance kits for your next adventure. If you don’t see what you need give us a call.

Alpen Light XT - Lightweight 4-Season Tent

“What hammer?” was not what I wanted to hear. Setting tent stakes was hard enough in this campground’s packed clay – without having to use a rock. After mashing a few knuckles, I decided I would have a better plan next trip.

One of the hardest parts of packing for a camping trip is gathering everything from throughout the house and garage without forgetting something. After considering a “master packing list,” I went one step further. We love to camp, a lot. For us the best option was to dedicate our camping equipment rather than take regular household items.

This method does a good job of saving time and can be economical. Once we put it in place, all we had to do was load three boxes and shop for food on our way out of town. We also found that we camped more often now that it was so simple.

Here is how to set up your own “quick escape” camping system.

1) Write up a master list of everything you normally pack for camping. I found the best time to do this is when you return from a camping trip. Not only will what you packed be fresh in your mind, but so will what you forgot.

2) Divide the list into perishable items such as most food and non-perishable items such as tent stakes and salt.

3) Look through the list for the items that you gathered from your regular household equipment. For example, plates, pans and hammer (maybe). Could you dedicate any of these things to your new camp boxes without replacing them? I had too many pans in my kitchen and lots of extra utensils, so I dedicated the excess to camping.

4) Make a list of the items you can’t dedicate to your camp boxes and buy “camp” versions of those items. I’m not suggesting spending a bunch of money. Visit discount stores for things such as plastic plates, bowls and a hammer, or visit Good Will for an extra set of flatware. They don’t need to be pretty, but anything that can “nest” together is a plus. All of my cups and bowls stack tight to save space and I didn’t spend more than 50 cents apiece.

5) Place all of your camping equipment in one location and try to estimate what size and number of boxes/bags you will need to contain it all. I divided my equipment based on function – one box for cooking stuff. And where it must be stored – sleeping bags and pillows stay inside the house. I ended up with two large boxes, one small box and a couple of big laundry bags for sleeping bags etc.

6) Label the boxes with a list of what is stored in each one. This makes it easy for helpers to pack up at the end of your trip. Also keep a list of standard perishable items you want to bring such as butter or milk. This speeds up your shopping or you may want to use what you already have in the refrigerator.

Over the years I have tweaked my boxes and you will too. I keep a full set of spices, coffee fixings and cooking spray in my “kitchen” box now. This works only if you camp often. I also remove all batteries from flashlights and lanterns at the end of every trip. If they leak (burst) inside of your equipment it will be ruined.

If you enjoy backpacking also, this system works well for that too. I store everything I can in my pack. The sleeping bag lives in a laundry bag when not in use so that it doesn’t get over-compressed (reducing its lifespan).

You are now ready to go camping on short notice. Just grab the boxes and bags, do some shopping and you are set.

Happy trails folks!

Lizard Light - Click Image for More Info

To see more fun lights CLICK HERE Too cool!

We planned to hike from the Glacier Gorge Trail-head. The trail was initially crowded with families until we reached Alberta Falls 0.6 miles up the trail.

Alberta Falls

Past the falls the crowd thinned and I felt privileged to overhear a teenage boy tell his friend that this trail made him “want to paint a picture with words.” I felt inspired as well. This trail really is about both the journey and the destination. Just when I thought the view was as stunning as it could be – there was another around the corner that stopped me in my tracks.

The trail continued upward and entered a rocky basin bordered by shear rock faces. I was intrigued by how beautiful such harsh terrain could be. Throughout RMNP the contrast between harsh rock, vegetation and water combine to form beautiful landscapes rarely found elsewhere.

A Trail of Contrasts

As we approached Mills Lake the trail was under snow and then crossed a massive rock slab marked with cairns. Similar rock formations plunged into the clear water of lake providing a perfect lunch shot. Areas of snow along the shore added to the beauty. From here we had views of Longs Peak, Pagoda Mountain, and Chiefs Head Peak. Continuing up the trail to Jewel Lake which is bordered by softer terrain and grasses we noticed that the weather was returning. Time to head down.

Though this is an out and back hike, the return offered a new perspective just as enjoyable as the hike out. The rest of our group missed one of the nicest hikes of the week.

From the trail head to Jewel Lake is a 2.9 mile hike. This hike – at over 9900’- had me catching my breath in a few places. Especially on a set of steps just before the lake that I have dubbed the “Stair Master.” Over all this is an easy to moderate hike. The parking lot at the trail head fills up early – plan on parking at the park and ride. Pack a warm coat and a rain shell for any hiking in this area. The mountain weather changes fast.

To see a trail profile for this hike visit: The Spirit of th Rockies

Many thanks to @RMNP4MS for recommending this trail. Check out his forum RMNPFORUMS.com or follow him on Twitter for updates on Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rock Cairn

Mills Lake - Clouds are Rolling In