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Christmas backpacking trip 2020

Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 4:47 am
by jsuber
Left HWY 98 at Aucilla River and hiked west to St Marks Refuge road. Left in the afternoon and while on the primitive trail section I stubbed a tor on an infant knee knocker. While trying to catch my balance stubbed the other toe on another knee knocker and crashed down driving my good knee directly into another knee knocker. All knee knockers we’re about 4” tall in some high grass on a primitive path. I writhed in pain for a considerable amount of time before regaining my composure and returning to the trail for a few miles to make it to camp. Camp was beautiful and weather was great. Very nice and cool.

Went from Waypoint 11-5 to 11-8 at a leisurely pace.
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The second day is when the elements kicked in. The walk there was fairly mundane but that all changed as I neared camp after noon. The wind had picked up to 20 and just started raining. I was at the ring dike site with little protection and set up almost on the road to get protection from some palm frawns and scrub oaks. Site has no water source and is supposedly for kayak camping however I’m not sure why they would venture that far out of their way. Wind picked up to 45 mph for about 11 hours and rained for 8 of those hours. Temperature dropped to 31 deg F but everything held up.
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Bridge has been out for a while. Have fun fording that in the winter.
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Finished up the hike and caught a ride to the house with a trail angel. Pretty sure he is a famous naturalist that is elderly and writes for the Wakulla paper on occasion. He gave me a ride for Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Re: Christmas backpacking trip 2020

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 7:57 am
by fishinbug
Helluva an adventure, Jeff. How are your knees today?

Re: Christmas backpacking trip 2020

Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2020 12:20 pm
by jsuber
Its much better and here is the video.


Re: Christmas backpacking trip 2020

Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2021 7:17 am
by fishinbug
That had to be a grueling 11 hours. Thanks for posting the video.

Re: Christmas backpacking trip 2020

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 5:45 am
by fishinbug
Are you camping out ahead of the cold front headed our way, @jsuber? :A1

Re: Christmas backpacking trip 2020

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 6:49 am
by jsuber
Nope, but I am in contact with some hikers on the Florida trail moving SOBO and they are in town today and moving through here this weekend. Some made it through the swamp last night.