The Apalachee Chapter will hold elections at the February 10 chapter meeting. All members in good standing are urged to attend. A quorum of 10 chapter members is needed at the meeting to make the elections official. Officer positions that will be up for election are Chapter Chair and Trails Coordinator. Chapter officers serve a term of two years and are limited to two full consecutive terms under Chapter Guidelines.

The Chapter Chair serves as the executive officer of the chapter, and presides at the meetings of the membership and at the Chapter Coordinating Committee. In addition, the Chapter Chair is the chapter’s representative to the Chapter Council of the FTA, and attends quarterly meetings of the Chapter Council and the board of directors of the Association.

The Trails Coordinator is responsible for the development and maintenance of trails that are within the chapter’s scope of activity, especially the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST). In addition, the Trails Coordinator nominates section leaders to the VP for Trails of the FTA, performs duties as provided in the Trails Manual for the Florida Trail System, and attends meetings of the Trails Committee of the Association.

The incumbents for the above chapter officer positions, Richard Graham as Chapter Chair, and Terry Tenold as Trails Coordinator, have both served two consecutive terms, and therefore, cannot run for those respective offices again.

There are also non-elective coordinating positions for the chapter, which are appointed at the discretion of the Chapter Chair. Although none are currently vacant, since the last elections, the position of Programs Coordinator has been filled by Linda Patton, who has done a marvelous job getting interesting speakers and programs for our chapter meetings for the past few years. But she would like to step down from this post at this time. Duties include coordinating with scheduled presenters, obtaining biographical information, and introducing speakers at chapter meetings. Linda has many ideas for future programs and she would gladly share them with the new Programs Coordinator.

Any member of the Apalachee Chapter who would like to become more active and serve in one of the chapter officer positions up for election is urged to inquire about nomination. The chapter can always benefit by new ideas and energy in chapter leadership. If you are interested, please contact Richard Graham at 850-878-3616, or r_graham@lycos.com

– Terry Tenold

Apr 4-5 Sat.–Sun. P/L Cape St. George Island. Educational overnight field trip to Little Cape St. George Island. We’ll take a boat ride out to the island off the coast of Apalachicola and enjoy an afternoon trolling the bay waters to see what we can find. We’ll spend the night at the Marshall house on the island and take a walking tour of the island before we head back home Sunday afternoon. Bring your fishing pole. Limit 17 people. Call early to sign up. Gwen Beatty 850-942-7165.

Apr 4 Saturday P/L Wakulla Springs Birding and Wildlife Festival. The Apalachee Chapter will sponsor an information table at the Wakulla Birding and Wildlife Festival. Volunteers are needed to help at the table for 1 or 2 hours, then enjoy the festival.  Call for more information or to volunteer. Terry Tenold 850-877-1612 totenold49@aol.com

Apr 10-11 Fri.-Sat.  P/L  Camel Lake Campout. Camp out at Camel Lake and hike to trail head at Hwy 12. Meet at Camel Lake by 5 p.m., camp, visit and hike next morning. Limit 12 people. Call to reserve a place. Ronny Traylor 850-643-5517. ronnytraylor@gmail.com

Apr 14 Tuesday Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Backpacking Equipment Show-and-Tell.” Our chapter’s backpacking members will display their back-packs, tents/hammocks, sleeping bags/pads, cooking gear, etc. and will be available to talk to you about their gear. 7 p.m. at Woodcrest Office Park, 325 John Knox Rd., Bldg. F (first bldg. on the right). Look for Florida Trail signs on wooden door at east end of building. Free. Contact: Linda Patton 850-668-4334.

Apr 18 Saturday P/M Munson Hills Trail Hike. Hike this multi-use trail 7.5 miles through the scenic Munson Hills in the NE corner of the Apalachicola National Forest.  Travel through a longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem interspersed with ponds and wetlands. Limit 15 people. Terry Tenold 850-877-1612 totenold49@aolcom

Apr 18 Saturday P/L Nokuse Plantation Field Trip. Automobile tour showcasing the research, restoration, education, and gopher tortoise relocation activities at Nokuse Plantation, with short walks on the Florida Trail and to other points of interest. Bring a trail lunch. Approx. 250-mile round-trip from Tallahassee. This is a follow-up to our February 10^th program. Limit 15 people. Linda Patton 850-668-4334.

Apr 25 Saturday P/L Phipps Park Botany Tour. Spring botany tour at Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park. Emphasis on tree identification. Chuck Goodheart, botanist and urban forester now with Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Dept., will be our guide. We will car-caravan through the park, with short walks to areas of interest. Limit 24 people. Linda Patton 850-668-4334.

Apr 26 Sunday P/M Aucilla River Hike. POSTPONED — NEW DATE IS MAY 10 — Aucilla River is still too high for hiking on April 26. Hike 8 miles along the river north of Goose Pasture Road.  Bring a lunch. Limit 15 people.  Barbara Donner 850-514-4284 or 850-245-8453.

All activities are free unless otherwise noted.
Codes:
“P” Public welcome to participate
“M” Limited to FTA members only
“L” Leisurely
“M” Moderately difficult
“S” Strenuous

Please read the GUIDELINES FOR OUTING PARTICIPANTS before signing up for an activity. This will make for a better outing experience for all concerned. Click here for a copy of the Guidelines.

Mar 7  Saturday P/S Annual Bradwell Bay Wilderness Swamp Stomp. Slog about 8 miles, in the heart of the Apalachicola National Forest, through one of the largest swamp forests in Florida.  Rated by BACKPACKER magazine as one of the 10 toughest hikes in the USA.  If we’ve had rain, expect wading in ankle-to-waist-deep water for over half the hike. Bring lunch, hiking sticks, and extra dry clothes and shoes.  Old, but sturdy, boots recommended.  Kent Wimmer 850-523-8576 kwimmer@fs.fed.us

March 10 Tuesday Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Hiking in New Mexico’s Fabulously Diverse Backcountry.” Will Sheftall presents six trips to the Sangre deCristo Mtns. (Pecos Wilderness, Carson NF), Gila Wilderness (Gila NF), Sacramento Mtns. (Lincoln NF), Guadalupe Mtns. (Guadalupe NP, TX), and Davis Mtns. (TX) — one of The Nature Conservancy’s “Last Great Places.” 7 p.m. at Woodcrest Office Park, 325 John Knox Rd., Bldg. F (first bldg. on the right). Look for Florida Trail signs on wooden door at east end of building. Free. Contact: Linda Patton 850-668-4334.

Mar 13-14 Fri. – Sat. P/M Paddling Trip–New River, Liberty and Franklin Counties. Paddle New River from Rd 22 Sumatra to Pope Place in Tate’s Hell State Forest. Bring sleeping gear, food, and water for the trip. Limit 12 people.  Ronny Traylor 850-643-5517 ronnytraylor@gmail.com

Mar 14 Saturday P/L Florida National Scenic Trail. View native azaleas and other blooming wildflowers on the FNST along the Sopchoppy River in the Apalachicola National Forest.  Limit 15 people. Galen Moses 850-926-9476.

Mar 21 Saturday P/L Leon Sinks Geological Area Hike. The trail winds through scenic and varied terrain, including major sinks, a natural bridge, and a disappearing stream. Trailhead parking fee–call for car-pooling arrangements. Limit 15 people. Terry Tenold 850-877-1612 totenold49@aol.com

Mar 22 Sunday P/M Apalachicola Bluffs & Ravines Preserve near Bristol. Enjoy a spring hike along the 3.5-mi. loop trail that is biologically unique to Florida. Bring snacks, water, and perhaps a hiking stick to assist with steep terrain. Limit 12 people. Car pool from Tallahassee. Connie Betterley 850-294-6302 cjbetterley @msn.com

Mar 27-29 Fri.–Sun. Florida Hiking Festival & 2009 Annual Meeting & Conference. Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs, Florida. More information can be found on page 4 of the Spring newsletter and at http://www.floridatrail.org/News/Latest-News/2009-FHF-1st.html

All activities are free unless otherwise noted.
Codes:
“P” Public welcome to participate
“M” Limited to FTA members only
“L” Leisurely
“M” Moderately difficult
“S” Strenuous

Please read the GUIDELINES FOR OUTING PARTICIPANTS before signing up for an activity. This will make for a better outing experience for all concerned. Click here for a copy of the Guidelines.

Feb 7 Saturday P/S Torreya Challenge. We will hike 10 miles up and down hilly terrain, primarily through hardwood forest with many impressive trees and picturesque creek crossings. Carry water, lunch, and perhaps a hiking stick. Meet at 7 a.m. in Tallahassee to carpool. Jerry Herting 850-878-3426.

Feb 8 Sunday P/L Aucilla Sinks Hike. Hike 4 miles along the sinks south of Goose Pasture Road. Bring a lunch. Barbara Donner 850-514-4284 or 245-8453.

Feb 10 Tuesday Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Nokuse Plantation and its Gopher Tortoises” The FNST now passes through a portion of Nokuse Plantation–a 48,000 acre private preserve with a goal of restoring natural communities to their pre-European- settlement conditions. “Turtle” Bob Walker will tell us about this restoration effort and the approximately 500 wild gopher tortoises on the property, along with the relocation of over 1800 tortoises rescued from development sites where they would otherwise have been buried by developers with “incidental take” permits. 7 p.m. at Woodcrest Office Park, 325 John Knox Rd., Bldg. F (first bldg. on the right). Look for Florida Trail signs on wooden door at east end of building. Free. Contact: Linda Patton 850-668-4334.

Feb 14 Saturday P/M Trekking with Richard. This will be a hike into the Apalachicola National Forest, from FR 321 to Oak Park Bridge. Dress for the weather, bring lunch, water and bug spray. The hike is about 4 miles. Richard Graham 850-878-3616.

Feb 17 Tuesday Activities Planning Meeting. 6 p.m. US Forest Service Bldg F David Harris 850-284-9967.

Feb 20-22 Fri - Sat P/M Torreya State Park Trail Rerouting. Help reroute portions of the River Bluff Trail to reduce erosion. Ronny Traylor will explain trail construction techniques. Work on Saturday and Sunday or come for a single day. Shared camp sites available Friday and Saturday nights; bring your own tent. Sign up early to allow for camping and food arrangements. Limit: 12 campers. No limit on day-workers. Jerry Herting 850-878-3426.

Feb 28 Saturday Nokuse field trip RESCHEDULED — NOTE NEW DATE: Saturday April 18 P/L Nokuse Plantation. Automobile tour showcasing the research, restoration, education, and gopher tortoise relocation activities at Nokuse Plantation, with short walks on the Florida Trail and to other points of interest. Bring a trail lunch. Approx. 250-mile round-trip from Tallahassee. This is a follow-up to our February 10^th program. Limit 15 people. Linda Patton 850-668-4334.

All activities are free unless otherwise noted.
Codes:
“P” Public welcome to participate
“M” Limited to FTA members only
“L” Leisurely
“M” Moderately difficult
“S” Strenuous

Please read the GUIDELINES FOR OUTING PARTICIPANTS before signing up for an activity. This will make for a better outing experience for all concerned. Click here for a copy of the Guidelines.

Jan 10 Saturday P/M Trekking with Richard. This will be a hike into the Apalachicola National Forest, from US 319 to FR 321. Dress for the weather, bring lunch, water and bug spray. The hike is about 4 miles. Richard Graham 850-878-3616.

Jan 13 Tuesday Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Colorful Peru” Ken and Virginia Loewe will present highlights of their introduction to the resilient cultures and hospitable habitants of an ancient land, where stone-age ruins contrast with the current floating villages of Lake Titicaca and the shanty towns of modern-day Lima. The presentation will also feature their venture into the amazing Amazon rainforest with its unusual tree-top trails. 7 p.m. at Woodcrest Office Park, 325 John Knox Rd., Bldg. F (first bldg. on the right). Look for Florida Trail signs on wooden door at east end of building. Free. Contact: Linda Patton 850-668-4334.

Jan 24 Saturday P/M Apalachicola Ravines and River Floodplain Winter Hike. A winter hike though woods roads and ravines along the Apalachicola and the floodplain. A different hiking experience on non-groomed trails and uneven ground. We will look for giant tupelo trees.  Wear sturdy shoes/boots and bring water, lunch, a hiking stick, bug spray and dress for the weather.  Meet in Tallahassee at 8 a.m. to carpool. Limited to 15 people. Howard Pardue 850-523-8525.

All activities are free unless otherwise noted.
Codes:
“P” Public welcome to participate
“M” Limited to FTA members only
“L” Leisurely
“M” Moderately difficult
“S” Strenuous

Please read the GUIDELINES FOR OUTING PARTICIPANTS before signing up for an activity. This will make for a better outing experience for all concerned. Click here for a copy of the Guidelines.