April 10 Saturday P/M Torreya State Park Fun Hike.

Hike the River Bluff-Torreya loop trail about 8 miles in hilly terrain. View the Apalachicola River, mixed hardwood forest, and longleaf pine woods. Bring lunch, water, and hiking sticks or poles if desired. Due to the driving distance, meet in Tallahassee at 7:00 a.m. to carpool. Limit 15 people. Jerry Herting (850) 878-3426.

April 13 Tuesday P Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “National Treasures: My Incredible Western Road Trip”

Chapter member Linda Patton will show her slides and tell us how she spent 78 days, 14 thousand miles and one night in a teepee while visiting the mountains, dunes and red-rock canyons of 21 National Parks, Monuments, Forests and Recreation Areas in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota during the summer of 2009. 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.

April 17 Saturday P/L Bradwell Game Farm Tract Hike.

Enjoy hiking about 4 miles on old woods roads in gently rolling terrain through the scenic, historic, game farm tract. View old structures and the Ochlockonee River in the Apalachicola National Forest. Sights include the Red Lodge, old cabin, pet cemetery, and antique car linked to moonshining. Limit 15 people. Terry Tenold (850) 877-1612 totenold49@aol.com

April 25 Sunday P/L Aucilla River Hike.

Hike 5 miles from the Goose Pasture Road along the river section of the FNST. Bring a lunch and water. Please call by April 22 to sign up. Limit 8 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.

March 6 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 there’s been recent rain, expect wading in ankle-to-waist-deep water for over half the hike. Bring lunch, hiking sticks/poles, and extra dry clothes and shoes. Old, but sturdy, boots recommended. Kent Wimmer (850) 523-8576 kwimmer@fs.fed.us

March 9 Tuesday P  Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Open Forum with FTA Directors”

Come hear what is being achieved and worked towards on your behalf, with your support! Executive Director Deborah Stewart-Kent will update us on exciting developments and FTA objectives. Development Director Mike Eurich will outline some exciting activities taking place & answer any giftgiving or legacy questions. This is a rare opportunity to meet State HQ staff face-to face and directly ask the hardhitting questions you want answered. Plan to attend. And bring a friend. 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.

March 12-13 Fri – Sat P/M New River Canoe & Kayak Trip.

Paddle the New River in Liberty and Franklin Counties from Rd 22 Sumatra to Pope Place in Tate’s Hell State Forest. We will meet in Sumatra and then go to the landing to unload gear and work out the shuttle to begin a 2-day adventure through Tate’s Hell. Bring sleeping gear, food, and water for the trip. Limit 12 people. Ronny Traylor (850) 643-5517. ronnytraylor@gmail.com

March 13 Saturday P/L Sopchoppy River Hike.

View native azaleas and other blooming wildflowers along the Sopchoppy River Section of the Florida National Scenic Trail in the Apalachicola National Forest. Hike about 5 miles in gently rolling terrain. Limit 15 people. Galen Moses (850) 926-9476.

March 14 Sunday P/M Nature Conservancy’s ApalachicolaBluffs Garden of Eden Trail.

Enjoy a spring hike along the 3.5 mile round-trip trail that is biologically unique to Florida. Bring snacks and water. A hiking stick or pole may be desirable to assist in negotiating steep climbs and descents. Sturdy shoes recommended. Carpooling. Limit 12 people. Connie Betterley (850) 294-6302 cjbetterley@msn.com

March 20 Saturday P/L Wakulla Birding and Wildlife Festival.

Fun and educational activities for the whole family. The Apalachee Chapter will sponsor an information table on the grounds of the Wakulla Springs State Park. Volunteers are needed to help at the table for 1 or 2 hours, and also enjoy the festival. Call for more information or to volunteer. Terry Tenold (850) 877- 1612 totenold49@aol.com

March 21 Sunday P/L Leon Sinks Geological Area Hike.

See native azaleas and dogwoods in bloom. The interpretive trail winds through scenic and varied terrain, including major sinks, a natural bridge, a disappearing stream, and swamps. Trailhead fee per vehicle, so call for car-pooling arrangements. Limit 15 people. Terry Tenold (850) 877-1612 totenold49@aol.com

March 26-28 Fri – Sun P/L FTA Annual Conference and Meeting.

At the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center, Haines City, FL. Details in the FOOTPRINT or online at floridatrail.org

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 Sunday P/L Aucilla Sinks Hike.

Hike 4 miles along the sinks section of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Bring a lunch and water. Please call by Feb. 4 to sign up. Limit 15 people. Barbara Donner (850) 514-4284 or (850) 245-8453.

Feb. 9 Tuesday P  Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Outdoor Photography.”

Wildlife photography adds a whole new dimension to enjoying the outdoors. In this program, local author and photographer Doug Alderson will focus on wildlife photography techniques and suggested equipment. What makes a good wildlife photograph? What are some tried and true methods of photographing wildlife? Where are the best places to take wildlife photographs in this area? Doug will show many types of photos, from winners to bloopers, and he’ll also cover some basic landscape photography techniques. 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. 16 Tuesday  M  Activities Planning Meeting.

6 p.m. US Forest Service Bldg F Terry Tenold (850) 877-1612.

Feb. 28 Sunday P/M Aucilla River Hike.

Hike 6 miles round-trip from the trailhead to the rapids along the river section of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Bring a lunch and water. Please call by Feb. 25 to sign up. Limit 20 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.

Jan. 12 Tuesday Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Ocean to Lake Trail”

Johnny Molloy, author of dozens of outdoor guidebooks, will give a slide show and presentation about his 2009 thru hike of the Ocean to Lake Trail (O2L Trail), a 70 mile east-west spur of the main Florida Trail, running from Port Mayaca on Lake Okeechobee to Hobe Sound on the Atlantic Ocean. Molloy will give an overview of the trail, terrain and campsites so you can plan your trek on the O2LTrail. Bring your questions! 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.

September 8 Tuesday P/L  Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Hiking Florida’s Western Panhandle.”

From meanders through pitcher plant bogs to hikes on the dunes, author Sandra Friend shares a virtual walk in the woods along hiking trails west of the Apalachicola River. While the Western Panhandle isn’t as well known as the rest of Florida, it offers a wide variety of hikes - from easy nature trails to rugged climbs - with spectacular scenery, unusual geology, botanical diversity, and the opportunity for backpackers to get out and stretch their legs on the Florida Trail. 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.

September 13 Sunday P/L Wacissa River Canoe or Kayak.

Enjoy a relaxing day paddling the Wacissa River. We will paddle approximately 10 miles. You must provide your own canoe or kayak and wear a PDF. Limit 10 canoes. Gwen Beatty (850) 942-7165

September 26 Saturday P\M Aucilla River Trail Care Hike.

Come out and help maintain a section of the 8 miles of trail along this scenic river. Tools will be provided. Bring a lunch and plenty of water. Barbara Donner (850) 766-7493 or Lee Bonninghausen (850) 223-2660

September 27 Sunday P\M Aucilla Sinks Trail Care Hike.

Come out and help maintain this popular 4-mile section of trail. Tools will be provided. Bring a lunch and plenty of water. Barbara Donner (850) 766-7493

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.

October 3, Saturday P\L Sopchoppy River Hike.

Enjoy fall colors on this easy, 5-mile hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail along the Sopchoppy River in the Apalachicola National Forest. Limit 15 people. Galen Moses (850) 926-9476 galenmoses@aol.com

October 10, Saturday P\M Trail Care Hike on River Bluff – Torreya Trail Loop, Torreya State Park.

Help maintain the Torreya-River Bluff Trail. We’ll cut back vegetation, remove fallen limbs, and enjoy being out in the woods. Bring water and lunch. We will meet in Tallahassee for carpooling. Jerry Herting (850) 878-3426, Bob Gilley (850) 592-5985

October 13 Tuesday P/L  Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Exploring Lost Worlds In Northern South America.”

The ancient Guiana Shield region supports mesas–called tepuis by local Amerindians–which jut from rainforest up to 10,000 feet in altitude. Come hear Dr. Bruce Means talk about these tepuis, his exciting herpetological and backpacking adventures during two decades of tepui exploration, and discovery of numerous new frog species, a new family of vertebrate animals and giant earthworms. 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.

October 20  Tuesday M/L Activities Planning Meeting.

We have exciting new ways to advertise your hike.  Come and learn how the information super highway can help you plan Chapter activities. David Harris (850) 284 -9967

October 23-25 Friday-Sunday M/M Regional Hiker Conference.

Don’t miss this gathering of FTA members from Chapters in North Florida. Camp on scenic Choctawhatchee Bay in the Florida Panhandle near Niceville and explore trails in the area. (See story on page 4 of the Autumn 2009 newsletter for more details.) Tom Daniel perdidotcd@aol.com or Marsha Ankeney msank2@yahoo.com

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.

November 7 Saturday P/L Wade Tract Birding Hike

This popular hike will take you into one of the best remaining examples of old-growth longleaf pine/wiregrass forests left in the U.S. Jim Cox, noted ornithologist with Tall Timbers Research Station, will provide commentary and show us a red-cockaded woodpecker colony. Fee will be from $7 to $15 / person. Limit 24 people. Kent Wimmer (850) 523-8576 kwimmer@fs.fed.us.

November 10 Tuesday P/L  Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Adventures in New Zealand and Australia”

Diving the Great Coral Reef and flying high above beautiful Milford Sound, Ken and Ginger Loewe traveled from hostel to hostel throughout New Zealand and the metropolitan coast of Eastern Australia, where they enjoyed climbing on glaciers and espying wild kangaroos and rare yellow-eyed penguins, among other adventures that they will share with us. 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.

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.

December 4-6 Friday-Sunday P\M Trail Reroute, F-Troop, Torreya State Park.
The F-Troop crew will be working to re-route a section of trail in Torreya State Park to help minimize erosion as a result of traffic on the trail tread. Volunteers will get to experience construction of a rolling contour trail, a unique experience for our Florida folk who rarely get to work on hilly terrain! Hand tools will be used to remove vegetation for the new tread-way. We will also remove failing wooden steps from the old trail and take measures to encourage natural restoration. Butch Siegel, who has extensive trail-building experience with both the Ice Age and the Florida Trail, will be on hand to explain how to build sustainable rolling contour trails. More information: Jerry Herting (850) 878-3426 and http://www.f-troop.org/?page_id=70.

December 8 Tuesday  P/L  Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Annual Holiday Social”

Bring a covered dish or dessert and an inexpensive wrapped item for the gift-exchange game. Socialize with your fellow hiking and outdoor enthusiasts as we celebrate another year of hiking and outdoor adventures. For more information, call Terry Tenold, Chapter Chair 850-877-1612.

December 20 Sunday P/L Day Hike Fort Braden Trail.

Plan to hike 6 miles, part of which will be along beautiful Lake Talquin Gwen Beatty (850) 942-7165

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.

August 11 Tuesday Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Climbing Colorado’s Mountains.Mountains! – just the thing to cool us off in the heat of summer. In Colorado, there are 54 mountain peaks over 14,000 feet high. Chapter member Dawn Brown shows her photographs and recounts her experiences hiking and climbing some of these high peaks. 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.

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.

July 14 Tuesday Apalachee Chapter Meeting Program: “Paddling Trails of the Apalachicola.” Concluding this series of summer programs about the Apalachicola River, Liz Sparks of Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will share news about their exploration of some intriguing scenic paddling trails along the River. They are in the process of developing maps and trip reports for an exciting interactive website project for paddlers.  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.

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.