Dec. 1999 - Feb. 2000 

12/5
Sun
8:30 AM
Leisure

Hopefully the manatees will be in the spring giving us a chance to get an up close view of these gentle creatures. We will also be paddling to Hontoon Island for picnic lunch and rest. 10-12 miles approx. 5 hours of paddling. Rental canoes are available; contact park for details at 904-775-3663. $2-$4 park entrance fee (depending on party size) at both state parks. Limited to members only. Reservations required by 12/1. Trip Hosts: Chuck & Rita Jones (407) 892-2105 or k3pby@webtv.net

12/9
Thur
9:00 AM
Moderate

8 mile trail through a vital water recharge area which contains the headwaters of several important rivers. The trail first follows an old railroad grade and less than a mile from the beginning a side trail leads to a scenic overlook. The main trail follows a woods road, passing another side trail to the Mott Hammock Campsite. Green Swamp is 20 miles north of Lakeland. Directions: The trailhead is located on Rock Ridge Road, 10 miles northeast of US 98. Please call host if you are planning to meet us at the trailhead. Also, there is the possibility of a car-caravan leaving out of Orlando. Hosts: Mary Kelsh (407) 628-4908 and Mary Ann Freyer mafreyer@juno.com

12/11
Sat
Leisuire

Our day begins at 8 am with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Old Sugar Mill Restaurant. We explore Spring Garden Run, LWNW refuge, and Jones Island. Upon return, swimming and a nature trail are available. Directions: located at PDL & Burt Parks Rd. 7miles north of Deland on US 17; follow brown signs. Admission $4./vehicle, canoe rental $8./. Information: 904-985-4212. Members and their guest, no reservations needed. Leader: Ed Cogle 407-699-1076 or IndyEd@ptcs.net

12/12
Sun
9:00 AM
Leisure

Join us for a fun paddle along a series of winding trails through a scenic mangrove estuary. Home to numerous waterfowl, wading birds, and raptors this time of year – the 3-hour trip covers half the perimeter of the refuge and return. No carry-overs; basic paddling skills a must. From Orlando: Hwy 528 (Beeline) 6 miles past the I-95 interchange to SR 3, then right (south) 3 miles to Hwy 520. Turn left (east) go ½ mile to Burger King, where we’ll meet. (NOTE—You will pass a Burger King on SR 3-this is NOT the meeting place!) Come early to enjoy breakfast; depart 9 AM sharp. No reservations. Members and their guest only. Trip Host: Larry Reed @ paddleFL@aol.com

12/18
Sat
5:00 PM

Wilderness Trekkers Holiday Party

Mike and Alice invite you to join them for the Wilderness Trekker’s holiday party at their home in rural Lake Mary. Their log house, nestled on a 5-acre natural wooded lot and surrounded by acres of woods, will be decked to the hilt with Christmas delights. Beer, mix for drinks, ice, firewood and BBQ chicken will be provided. Bring your favorite dish/appetizer to share. BYO Beverage, a camp chair, your table setting. BYO Swimsuit if you want to relax in the spa. Bring instruments for the holiday sing, if you have them. Limited primitive camping is available for those who would rather not drive home. Be sure to indicate if you would like to camp. Limited to members and their (1) invited guest. Directions: I-4 to Exit 50. (E) Lake Mary Blvd. 2.1 miles; ® 5^th St. 0.2; (L) Washington Av. (½ block) 0.05; ® Ruskin St. 0.2 miles; ® Van Buren Av. (½ block) 0.05; (L) 395 Raccoon St. 0.1. Look for rock pillars and iron entrance gate on left. (Lost? Call 407-323-2538) Questions? (407) 351-9966 or Wildtreker@aol.com  (preferred).

12/28-30
Tue-Th
Moderate

Take advantage of your holiday break and join us for a 3 day, 2 night backpack trip along the beautiful Suwannee River in North Florida between Christmas and New Years. This is a limited, members only trip. For complete details and reservations send your SASE and $3pp to Trip Hosts: Dave & Kim Lippy, 8611 Bay View CT. Orlando, Fl. 32836 (407) 351-9966 or Wildtreker@aol.com

1/7-9
Fri-Sun
Leisure

Join a relaxing weekend of paddling and camping exploring two of Central Florida’s most scenic waterways. 10-12 miles paddling each day. Our weekend base camp will be the primitive group campsite area at Wekiva Springs State Park. Trip limited to members and invited guests. Reservation required by 12/28. Send a check for $10 (non-refundable) per person with SASE to host. Approx. $10 in additional fees per boat/vehicle for parking and launch cost. Complete info provided to each registrant. Trip Host: Chuck Jones, 522 Carolina Avenue, St. Cloud, FL 34769 (407)892-2105 or k3pby@webtv.net

1/8-9
Sat-Sun
Moderate

Join us for an overnight trip. Located in Frostproof, we will hike a total of 11 miles along Reedy Creek and Lake Arbuckle. We’ll traverse terrain from forested wetlands to ancient dry scrub communities. Members only. Limited trip, reservations required. For trip brochure, map & directions send $3 pp to Trip Host: Theresa Bradley, 560 Northbridge Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL (407) 292-2878 or tabrad@yahoo.com

1/9
Sun
8:30 AM
Strenuous

Spruce Creek Trail Ride

Come Mountain bike this trail near New Smyrna Beach. It takes you to high overlooks of Spruce Creek and it’s tidal waters. We’ll ride along a swampy spot with lush vegetation and meander through hilly oaks and pine. Helmets are mandatory. Reservations required, limited trip, members only. Trip Host: Mary Ellen Bell (904)761-7418 or bellme@cts.db.erau.edu

1/15
Saturday
Leisure

We’ll put-in at Wayside Park (Hwy 40 bridge) and start the trip with a short trek up the Silver River for a strenuous upstream paddle against a 4-5 mph current. We will reverse course and enjoy a leisurely pace back and then on to Gores Landing for an approx. 10 mile paddle. The area has abundant wildlife, including turkey, otter, birds, deer, bear and even the occasional wildcat and panther. Bring your camera! Registration required, members and guests only. Limit: 12 boats. Trip Hosts: Dennis Gonzalez  dennis-gonzalez@worldnet.att.net (preferred).

1/15-16
Sat-Sun
Moderate

Wekiva Backpack/Camp

Spend a leisurely weekend backpacking and camping in beautiful Wekiwa Springs State Park. With a short 3 mile pack in, this trip is specially designed for those new to backpacking, checking out new gear, or anyone that would just like to spend a lazy weekend under the beautiful Oak trees at the primitive Wekiwa Live Oak camp. We’ll meet at the Sand Lake parking lot at 10:00 a.m. Bring enough water for the weekend and snacks for the trail. Members only. Reservations by SASE & $3pp camping fee to Trip Hosts: Jerry & Donna Ellis, 703 Fox Valley Dr., Longwood, Fl. 32774. (407) 869-4338 Ellistrek@aol.com

1/15-18
Sat-Tue
Strenuous+

Big Cypress Extended Backpack

From Oasis Ranger Station, on US 41 to SR 84 (I-75). Very strenuous hike mostly through water and mud. See Cypress domes, hardwood hammocks, and prairies. $5pp (made out to WT as usual) to help pay for gas and toll for volunteer shuttle drivers. Reservations required to determine car pool requirements. For reservations and complete details, send $ & SASE to Trip Host: Daryl Wells 12119 Armenia Gables Circle, Tampa 33612 (813) 930-2278.

1/20
Thursday
9:00AM
Moderate

Bull Creek Day Hike

An 8.6 mile loop includes natural habitat types and a historic railroad tram. The trail is flat as it passes through flatwoods, cypress-dotted prairie, scrub oak, cypress and hardwood swamps. The east side of the loop trail follows the west side of Bull Creek and may be wet. Directions: Fl. Turnpike to Exit 244, St. Cloud. Left (East) on SR 192, 25 miles. Right (south) onto Crabgrass Rd., 6 miles to check station. Please call host if you are planning to meet at the trailhead. Possibility of a car caravan from Orlando. Trip Hosts: Mary Kelsh (407) 628-4908 and Mary Ann Freyer mafreyer@juno.com

1/30
Sunday
1/22
Saturday
Moderate

Little Econ Paddle   Date Changed

We will put in at the Hwy 419 bridge, about 8 miles north of Hwy 50 in Chuluota. The take out is the Snow Hill Bridge on Hwy 426. We will handle our own shuttle. The paddle is about 10 miles with possibility of some pullovers. Expect to see gators, bald eagles and assorted other wild life. We will meet at 9:00. For members and guest only, reservations required. As we get closer to the date I will provide detailed driving directions. Trip Hosts: Peter & Shirley Blichfeldt kayak@cfl.rr.com or (407) 298-6662.

1/23
Sunday
9:30 AM
Leisure

A hike for the non-armchair athletes. The 7.5 mile Croom Hiking Trail is located in the center tract of the 113,000 acre Withlacoochee State Forest. It affords the hiker dry, all weather hiking, crossing a deep ravine, slightly hilly terrain passing through sandhill scrub, oak thickets and stands of pine and past creek bottoms and cypress ponds. This will be LEISURELY; green-blur hikers need not apply (:>). Directions: From the intersection of SR 50 & US 301; go west on SR 50 3.5 miles; north on Croom-Rital Rd. 9.5 miles to Tucker Hill Tower. Trip Hosts: Dave & Kim Lippy, (407) 351-9966 or Wildtreker@aol.com (preferred).

1/29
Saturday
8:00 AM
Leisure

Orlando Wetlands Park Bird Watch & Hike

We’ll get an early start for bird watching in the OWP. This 1200 acre man-made wetland is great for viewing waterfowl and wading birds. Over 150 bird species are known there. We will hike the dikes for about 4 miles. Directions: from Orlando go east on Rt. 50 to Christmas, then left on Ft Christmas road (CR 420) for 2.3 miles, then right on Wheeler road for 1.5 miles. Trailhead, parking & kiosk on left. Members and their invited guest, no reservation required. Trip Host: Ed Cogle (407-699-1076) or IndyEd@ptcs.net

2/5
Saturday
9:30 AM
Leisure

The Wekiva River flows slowly through seasonally flooded wetlands and flood plains. Fed by both Wekiva Springs and Rock Springs, the Wekiva is one of the most beautiful rivers in Florida. Wildlife includes Florida black bear (very rare), deer, ibis, wood stork, great blue heron, egret, river otter, owls and pileated woodpeckers. We’ll start at Wekiva Marina and paddle to Katie's Landing. Fee: $3.00 to launch, $3.00 to take out, approx. 9 mi. Reservations required. Limit: 12 boats. Members and guests only. Trip Hosts: Dennis Gonzalez  or dennis-gonzalez@worldnet.att.net

2/5-6
Sat-Sun
Moderate

Seminole State Forest Backpack/Camp

This beautiful forest is located approximately 35 miles northwest of Orlando in Lake County composed of 10,013 acres of mixed hardwoods, pine, marsh, streams. With over 1700 acres of sand pine scrub, a rapidly disappearing biological community found solely in Florida. We will hike in, having lunch along the way, set up camp in the afternoon, soak our feet in Shark’s Tooth Springs and eat our dinner around a campfire. Great for beginners. All levels welcomed. Provide your own food and equipment. Members only, reservations required by 1/31. Send $3.33 pp & SASE to Trip Hosts: Lynn & Kurth Chin Fatt, 710 Georgia Av., Longwood, Fl. 32750-4427 (407) 331-8609 KurthCF@aol.com

2/6
Sun
Strenuous

Spruce Creek Trail Ride

Come Mountain bike this trail near New Smyrna Beach. It takes you to high overlooks of Spruce Creek and it’s tidal waters. Start: 8:30 AM. We’ll ride along a swampy spot with lush vegetation and meander through hilly oaks and pine. Helmets mandatory. Reservations required, limited trip, members only. Trip Host: Mary Ellen Bell (904)761-7418 or bellme@cts.db.erau.edu

2/19-21
Sat-Mon
Leisure
*Early
Deadline

Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, Georgia Hike and Camp

The Cabretta Island campsite within the RJ Reynolds Wildlife Refuge on Sapelo Island for the holiday weekend has been reserved. Set in a pristine natural barrier island environment...escape to a true sub-tropical setting within the coastal Georgia maritime forest, salt marshes, beaches and dunes all close at hand.... Hikes, leisure camping, and more. Expected cost $30-$40 per person, includes ferry and the camp. Limited trip, members only. Trip Host: Erica Johnson (407) 834-7786 or ericaj@magicnet.net

7/16-23
Sun-Sun
Moderate
*Early Deadline

Toiyabe National Forest, Austin, NV. Help build new section of trail along Kingston Canyon in mountains of central Nevada. Free camping at old historic ranger station. In cooperation with USDA Forest Service, Austin Ranger District (where John Browning is seasonal Recreation Ranger). Mostly grubbing out sagebrush and building up trail. Central breakfast and dinner (everyone cooks and cleans). Tools provided by Forest Service. Lake for swimming, trout fishing, hot springs 10 miles away, petrography, lots of hiking areas. Remote area. Car pooling/transportation from Reno Airport. Primitive camping available. Must provide own camping gear and work gloves. RV camping available also (no hook ups and away from tent camping). Transportation provided from Reno Airport to Kingston campsite (200 miles one way). Meals provided. $60pp (checks made out to AHS). Register: American Hiking Society at www.americanhiking.org/events/vv/register.html or Shirley Hearn (301) 565-6704 x206. Trip Hosts: Daryl Wells, 12119 Armenia Gables Circle, Tampa 33612, (813) 930-2278 dwells1@tampabay.rr.com and John Browning, 892 E. Board Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787, (407) 656-2408