Apr.- May. 2000 

4/1
Saturday
9 a.m.
Moderate

Juniper Springs Paddle

This beautiful 7-mile spring run through a variety of protected forest areas ends at Wayside Park where the river crosses SR19. Canoe rentals including shuttle approx. $24. Shuttle fee for personal canoes/kayaks is $5 per person. Participants make their own advance arrangements for rental/paddling partner. Meet in front of canoe rental office at 9:00 AM SHARP! Camping available in Park. Directions: Located on SR40 about 5 miles west of intersection with SR19 in the Ocala National Forest. For canoe rental or camping info contact: Juniper Springs Rec. Area, 26701 E. SR 40, Silver Springs, FL 34448 or call (352) 625-3147. Members and their invited guest only, no reservations required. Host: Peter Blichfeldt (preferred)  kayak@cfl.rr.com or 407-298-6662.

4/1
Sat.
9 a.m.
Leisure

Discover a four mile hike right in the middle of Seminole County. Our trail will follow alongside a stream, past a spring, and over boardwalks to the huge expanse of Lake Jesup. This might be a bit muddy if we've had rain. This is a beautiful walk for being so close to civilization. Directions: We'll meet at 9:00 AM at the south end of Soldiers' Creek Park on 419, between 434 and 17-92. Think of these three roads making a triangle. There are three close entrances to this sports park, we will park at the most eastern end in the grass. The park is closest to 17-92 and, in fact, at one end of the hike we will see and hear 17-92. No reservations required. Hosts: Kurth Chin Fatt and Lynn VanHorne 331-8609. Children welcome.

4/2
Sun.
8:30 a.m.
Strenuous

Come Mountain bike this challenging 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, open to members and guests. Event host: Mary Ellen Bell (904)761-7418 or bellme@cts.db.erau.edu  

4/2
Sun.
9:00 a.m.
Moderate

We will put-in at a small park on north Merritt Island, paddle several miles of the Indian River exploring the eastern shoreline, and then have lunch on one of the spoil islands. Manatees, dolphin, and numerous birds are often encountered in this area. There will be plenty of time for fishing along the flats for trout and redfish (license required). Note: this is an open-water area and may be affected by wind and waves increasing the difficulty. Directions: Take SR528 (Beeline) east toward Cape Canaveral. Continue 6 miles past I-95, then exit onto SR3 (Kennedy Space Center exit). Turn left and follow SR3 north 2 miles, then turn left at stoplight onto Hall Road (Circle K store) and travel west 1/2 mile to Tropical Trail. Turn right and proceed north about 1/2 mile to Manatee Cove entrance on the left. No rentals available. Members and invited guest only, no reservations required. Host: Larry Reed paddleFL@aol.com 

4/7-9
Fri.-Sun.
Leisure

Spend a leisurely weekend base camping at privately-owned Peace River Wildlife Sanctuary near Arcadia. The primitive camp is at the riverbank. On Saturday we will paddle a 14-mile stretch of the Peace River from Gardner boat ramp back to the camp. Relax, hike or paddle on Sunday. This is intended to be a relaxing camp-paddle weekend (vs. day use only). Reservations required by 3/25 and limited to members and their invited guests. Limit 15 boats. Send $5.00pp (made out to WT, as usual) with a SASE to host. Complete info will be provided after registration. Host: Carl Mazorek cliffyNTN@aol.com 2923 Carmia Dr. Orlando, FL 32806 (407) 894-4775. Co-Hosts: Dave & Kim Lippy

4/8
Sat.
4 p.m.

This is a 6.8 mile section of the Florida Trail, located within the Withlacoochee State Forest. We will hike from Hog Island to River Junction, with a lunch stop at the scenic Iron Bridge Day Use Area. The meeting spot will be the trailhead in the River Junction Recreation Area. We will take a minimum number of vehicles to the starting point and hike back. Directions: From the intersection of SR 50 and Florida's Turnpike, west of Winter Garden, go west approx. 36 mi. and turn north on US 301. Go about 5.1 mi. to the yellow blinker and turn left on CR 656. Proceed about 2 mi. and turn left on SW 50th Blvd. Just under a mile down this road, you should see a River Junction Rec. Area sign. Bear left into the Rec. Area. There is good camping (water and restrooms) at both River Junction and Hog Island. Members and their guests. No limit but please notify host by 4/5 if planning to attend. Hosts: Chuck and Gail Russakov at ussakov@mpinet.net  (preferred) or 407-774-5737.

4/15
Sat.
4 p.m.

The highlight of the event will be the election of the new WT Board of Directors and Officers. This is certainly not going to be a day that is all business as we plan to have a lot of fun, too. Make your favorite dish to bring along and share for a pot-luck picnic (WT will provide soft drinks and beer). Bring your canoe or kayak along for a day of paddling on Lake Theresa – we also plan a moonlight paddle. For those willing to participate, we’d like to have a boat exchange – where folks can try other boats to see how they handle. Bring your swimsuit and take a dip in the pool (non-heated). Be sure to bring your hat (not a lot of shade!), camp chair and mug. The event will be held at the home of  Dennis Gonzalez in Deltona.  Members only.

4/22-23
Sat.-Sun
Leisure

Cancelled

We will take an easy backpacking trip into Juniper Prairie Wilderness area to the Hidden Pond primitive campsite. There we will learn the skills of personal shelter construction, fire building, water purification, and share information about edible wild plants. Around the campfire in the evening we will further discuss details of wilderness medicine and self-care. This will be an enjoyable and easy 2 day event with an emphasis on camaraderie. Please bring food and shelter: we will NOT be required to overnight in our creations nor eat grubs for the evening meal. Beginners welcome. Registration required; members only, limit 15. Please send a SASE & $5.00 pp nonrefundable check (made out to WT) to 16601 NW Hwy 329, Reddick, Fl. 32686-3042. Host: Bruce Ferguson naturalvet@earthlink.net  or 352-591-0868. Co-hosts: Dave and Kim Lippy

4/28
Fri. – Sun.
Moderate

Follow the musical waters to an emerald world hidden in a Deep-South gorge. Verdant forest, too beautiful and too far not to spend more than a weekend. Come and enjoy the enchanting beauty on a backpack in Bankhead National Forest’s Sipsey Wilderness in Double Springs Alabama. We will backpack through the hollows filled with ancient yellow pines and eastern hemlock in this 26,000-acre wilderness area. We’ll descend the hollow until it becomes a canyon, narrow and shallow at first, then deep and impressive with huge boulders. The canyons resonate with music of the water, tumbling in cascades from the canyon rims or dropping with wild abandonment off the bluffs or cliffs. We will meet at the Forest Service Office in Double Springs, Alabama Friday at 9:00 AM and car caravan to the trailhead and be off the trail by Sunday afternoon. Registration is required, members only, limit 10. This trip will be moderate to strenuous. For a complete information packet, send a SASE to the trip leader. Registrants include a $10.00 check made out to Wilderness Trekkers. Trip Leader: Jason Preston, Co-Leader: Kelly Preston 205-991-1761 (evenings only). 3060 Riverwood Terrace, Birmingham, AL 35242 

KellyPrestonRN@aol.com or HikerPreston@aol.com

4/29-30
Sat-Sun
Moderate

Cancelled due to low water level.

We’ll put in at SR 50 and paddle through the Croom Tract, of the Withlacoochee State Forest, taking out at Nobleton. Camping will be at Crooked River Campground. Limited to 10 boats. Members only. Canoe rental available. Call outpost at (352) 583-4778. For reservation and details send SASE and check, made out to WT, for campground fee and shuttle, to host by 4/15. $10 / boat plus $3 / person. Host: Chuck Russakov 306 Cambridge Dr., Longwood, FL 32779; russakov@mpinet.net or (407) 774-5737. Co-host: Pat DeSalvo desalvop@n-jcenter.com 

5/6
Sat.
8:00 a.m.
Strenuous

Located just east of Ocala, the Silver River and the surrounding area is filled with beauty and splendor. Several major springs form the headwaters making this river one of the largest crystal clear flows in the state. Numerous wildlife can be seen along the banks to include a large colony of monkeys (left during the Tarzan movies). This is not going to be a leisurely, easy outing. This is a 10 mile round trip with the first 5 miles a strenuous (2 ½ - 3 hr.) upstream paddle against a five mile per hour current. The entire trip will take about 5 hours. Although, the entire river is a no wake zone, we will have to get an early start to stay ahead of the motor boat traffic that will build up later in the day. We will meet at 8:00 AM sharp at Wayside Park at the intersection of SR 40 and the Ocklawaha River. Directions will be provided later. Registration is limited to 14 boats. Members and their guest only. Hosts: Dennis Gonzalez dennis-gonzalez@worldnet.att.net 

5/7
Sun.
8:30 a.m.
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, open to members and guests. Host: Mary Ellen Bell (904)761-7418 or  HYPERLINK mailto:bellme@cts.db.erau.edu
bellme@cts.db.erau.edu

5/7
Sunday
9 a.m.
Moderate

The Scenic Bulow Creek canoe trail is a saltwater estuary giving way to sweetgum swamp. We will paddle upstream a few miles and then back downstream past the put-in to Boardman Bridge for a total distance of about 8 miles. Rental canoes are available by the hour ($4) or day ($10) from the Site office. Parking is $2 /vehicle. Directions: Take I-4 north to I-95, then north 17 miles to exit 90. Turn right (east), travel 0.5 mile to Old Kings Rd, then left (north) 2 miles to Bulow Creek Historic Site entrance on the right. Members and invited guest only, no reservations required. 
Host: Larry Reed paddleFL@aol.com 

5/13
Sat.
9 a.m.
Leisure

Join us on this beautiful wilderness river located on the western edge of the Ocala National Forest. We will paddle from the Hwy. 40 bridge to Gores Landing. The put-in will be at the Wayside Park ($3.00 county park fee) located at the SW side of the Hwy 40/Ocklawaha River bridge just east of Ocala. We will enjoy a leisurely pace (with the current) to Gores Landing ($2.00 county park fee), which is approx. 10 mi. The area has abundant wildlife, including turkey, otter, birds, deer, bear and even the occasional wildcat and panther travel this area. Remember to bring your swimsuit as there are many places to take a dip along the mostly spring fed river. Registration required, members only and limited to 12 boats. Directions to be provided later. Host: Shelly Claudin claudin@bellsouth.net  (preferred) or (407) 281- 7181.

5/14
Sun.
9 a.m.
Leisure

This River tumbles gently down the lush valley colored by green, gray and brown. The banks flow by without the slightest hint of damage. The water is coffee brown from the tannic acid. This is a unique opportunity to see the Santa Fe River "begin" as it rises to the surface after dipping underground in O’leno State Park. We will put in at Hwy 441 above High Springs and paddle up to the River Rise. After playing at the river rise, we will canoe downriver at a leisurely pace to the take-out just before the Hwy 27 bridge. We’ll explore many of the three dozen springs along the way - many of which are classified as first magnitude - so bring your snorkel, mask & fins if you have them. Rentals available; call (904) 454-2050 for information. Total trip is about 9 miles. Reservations required by 5/10, limit 14 boats; members only. Host: Bruce Ferguson (352) 591-0868 (weekdays only) naturalVet@earthlink.net , Co-host: Douglas Boyce fl_mtnbiker@hotmail.com  (preferred) or (904) 264-2864.

5/20-21
Sat.-Sun.
Moderate

Join the Wilderness Trekkers for a weekend of paddling and camping activities centered at Hillsborough River State Park located near Tampa. On Saturday we will paddle a 10 mile stretch of the Hillsborough River from Sargent Park to Trout Creek Park. On Sunday we'll paddle and explore a portion of Trout Creek and plan to be off the water by early afternoon. Both of these waters offer outstanding wilderness scenery, great birding and are very shaded by a dense canopy of large oak and cypress trees. Our weekend base camp will be at Hillsborough River State Park which has excellent facilities including a swimming pool. There will be a Saturday night group campfire and activities. This is a very popular park and it is advisable to make your camping reservation ASAP by calling the park office at (813) 987-6771. This is a limited trip (12 boats) for members and their invited guests. Participants should have good maneuvering skills and there may be some pull overs. Contact the trip host by 5/14 to reserve your spot. Host: Chuck Jones 407-892-2105 or k3pby@webtv.net 

5/27
Sat.
9 a.m.
Leisure

The clear, 72 degree water flowing out of this spring at the rate of 80 million gallons a day makes this a very pleasant place to paddle. Archaeologists say the area around the springs has been inhabited for some 1,000 years. We shall paddle/float down stream for a couple of hours, stopping for lunch at a location that has just recently had a burn off. Must bring bow line to tie up your boat at lunch area. After lunch we will paddle back to the put-in point and maybe do a little swimming on the way. Do not worry about that 80 million gallons flowing against you. It is not noticeable when paddling. There is little canopy so bring lots of sun screen, hat and/or cover up. Host: Peter Blichfeldt kayak@cfl.rr.com 

6/3
Sun.
8:30 a.m.
Strenuous

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, open to members and guests. Host: Mary Ellen Bell (904)761-7418 or bellme@cts.db.erau.edu , Co-host: Shelley Claudin

6/3
Sat.
Leisure

Circumnavigate Hoonton Island. We will paddle from Blue Springs to Hontoon Dead River by way of an old logging channel, then down river to Hontoon Island State Park for lunch. Return will be via the St. Johns River. Directions: I-4 north to exit #54; SR472 west to it’s dead end; right(south) off ramp onto US 17-92 South 1.7 miles; right onto French Ave. 2.1 miles; left into park 1.2 miles to put in. Canoe rental is $28, but you must be at the put in on time so allow yourself time to rent. $2 entrance fee for one person, $4.00 for up to eight people in one vehicle. Members only. Limited trip. Reservation required. Host: Larry Blundell larry.b.blundell@lmco.com or (407) 381 4969. Co-Host: David Counts Dcounts@prodigy.net 

6/10
Sat.
9 a.m.
Leisure

Wildflower Photo Workshop

An SLR-type camera is required. We will be working on controlling the light and wind while photographing the wildflowers. We will meet at the Dead River Park parking lot (located NE of Tampa off of Hwy 301) at 9:00 AM continue to noon and break for lunch before ending the day. You may want to also join us on Sunday for a leisurely paddle on the Hillsborough River (see 6/11 event). Registration required; limited to 6, members only (again, bring your SLR-type camera). For camping information see the Hillsborough River Paddle event on 6/11. Host: Maryann Tempest m_tempest@MSN.com or (813) 986-5595, Co-host: Suzanne Redditt

6/11
Sun.
9:30 a.m.
Leisure

Join us for 5-6 mile paddle on the beautiful scenic Hillsborough River. Our start and finish points will be the Hillsborough River State Park (located NE of Tampa). Camping is also available at the park ($13.00 per night). For camping reservations call (813) 987-6771. Canoe rentals are also available at the state park or from Canoe Escape (813) 986-2067 or www.canoeescape.com  Reservations required, members only; limited to 16 boats. Host: Maryann Tempest m_tempest@MSN.com or (813) 986-5595, Co-host: Suzanne Redditt.

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