Meeting Programs
CHAPTER MEETING PROGRAMS: Our chapter meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. in the training room of the Early Learning Coalition, Suite 70, Northwood Centre, 1851 North Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (at the intersection of Northwood Blvd.), Tallahassee, FL. Drive into the Northwood Centre, go to the end of the entrance road and turn right. Then look ahead and on the left for the canopied building entrance. The building entrance has an ELC sign on the left of the canopied walkway. Enter the building door, stay on the left side of the wide hallway, and walk all the way to the back. The ELC entrance door (Suite 70) will be straight ahead. Look for the Florida Trail signs at the ELC door. Please try to arrive before 7:00 pm — after that time the door will be locked, and you will have to call the cellphone number posted on the door so that one of our members can come from the meeting room to let you in. For more information, contact Holly Parker (850) 567-3393 or Howard Pardue (850) 386-1494. Meeting programs are free and open to the public.
Click on the map below for a larger view of the location of our meetings.
SUMMER 2012
May 8 “A.T. Adventures.”
Join speaker Thomas Lynch as he discusses his 2009 Appalachian Trail thruhike that he completed with his hound dog, Rufus. Thomas will share pictures and tales from the trail. Get his tips and advice for those interested in thruhiking either alone or with a dog. We’ll be sure to save time for Q&A. Information: Holly Parker (850) 567-3393 hollyep@gmail.com
June 12 “Movie Night: Big Cypress Swamp.”
It’s movie night with the Apalachee Chapter! Join us for a screening of award-winning Big Cypress Swamp: the Western Everglades–the story of Florida’s famed river of grass, highlighting people who share their passion for this wild place, seasons of scenery that pull you into the rhythm of the swamp, and a chorus of nature sounds scored into a symphony. Follow filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus as he captures some of Florida’s most unique scenery, while sharing its fascinating conservation legacy–on a journey through one of Earth’s great treasures. Information: Holly Parker (850) 567-3393 hollyep@gmail.com
July 10 “All About the Panhandle Chapter.”
Enjoy a presentation by Charissa Thacker from the Panhandle Chapter of the Florida Trail Association. Get to know the section of the Florida Trail that stretches from the Apalachicola River and Blountstown, through the beautiful Econfina Creek area and Pine Log State Forest, and finally to the Choctawhatchee River. Learn about their traditional Chapter events such as the Annual Hike to the Springs, Annual Pine Log Gathering, and Annual Flower Hike. And learn about kayak/canoe and other hiking trails in the Panhandle Chapter area. Information: Holly Parker (850) 567-3393 hollyep@gmail.com
August 14 “Climbing Denali.”
Join Leon County Commissioner Bryan Desloge to learn all about his three-week summit of Mt. McKinley, the highest point in North America. Bryan spent 18 months training for the expedition by dragging around a sled on weekends, and climbing stairs while carrying a 60 pound pack. This dangerous climb left six people dead while he was on the mountain. Hear all about Bryan’s adventures and pointers for those interested in tackling Denali’s 20,320 peak. Information: Holly Parker (850) 567-3393 hollyep@gmail.com
SPRING 2012
January 10 “30th Anniversary Kickoff with The Florida Trail’s First Thru-Hiker”
Twenty two years after being recognized as the first person to hike the Florida Trail in one concerted effort, Steve Sheridan has finished and published his experiences in “Florida Any Way You Can.” Steve will kick off the Apalachee Chapter’s 30th Anniversary with a presentation and discussion of his experiences while becoming The Florida Trail’s first thru-hiker! For information contact Holly Parker 850-567-3393
February 14 “Wilderness and Back-country First Aid”
Join Megan Eno for a refresher course on the essentials of Wilderness First Aid. Brush up on life-saving skills and participate in hands-on demonstrations. Stay safe on the trail this hiking season! [also Chapter Elections] For information contact Holly Parker 850-567-3393
March 13 “What the Heck is a Geocache?”
Lynda Tiefel, president of the Tallahassee Area Geocachers, gives us an introduction to geocaching- a high tech treasure hunt! Lynda has found almost 2000 geocaches, a number of which were hidden along the Florida Trail. Find out how you can become a geocacher and try your hand at locating a “cache” around the Florida Trail office! For information contact Holly Parker 850-567-3393
April 10 “The Bird is the Word!” Florida’s public and private lands provide habitat for more than 500 bird species! Join the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to learn about the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail and get to know the basics of birding. Find out what species live in our neck of the woods and how you can locate them. For information contact Holly Parker 850-567-3393
FALL 2011
September 13 “FNST Adventures: Aucilla River and Sinks” plus Hiking Season Kick Off. Kick off the hiking season with a used gear sale, meet and greet with Dennis Miranda, the new Executive Director of the Florida Trail Association, and see a presentation on the Aucilla River and Sinks. This 21-mile portion of the Chapter’s section of the FNST is home to rapids and the unique “peek-a-boo” underground river. GEAR SALE: Bring your used hiking/camping gear/clothing, marked with a price, and arrive at 6:30 to display it for sale. Be sure to get there early if you’re looking for great deals on gear! Information: Holly Davenport (850) 567-3392.
October 11 “Hiking and Backpacking in Central and South America.” Benjamin and Johanna Poston will describe their hiking and backpacking travel adventures through scenic Central and South America. They will present a photographic tour and share stories about their favorite trails to active volcanoes, cloud forests, waterfalls, ancient ruins and Andean mountaintops. We’ll also be presenting our annual Chapter volunteer awards, so be sure to join us!
November 8 “Invasion of the Exotic Plants!” You don’t have to look far to realize that invasive exotic plants are taking over our neighborhoods and public lands. Identification and eradication of these species is a must if we are to preserve the botanical integrity of our roadsides, wetland areas and uplands. Join Leon County Master Gardener Gary Griffin for a discussion of what you can do to help rid our trails (and your yards!) of these unwanted plants. Information: Holly Davenport (850) 567-3393.
December 13 “Annual Apalachee Chapter Holiday Party.” Celebrate the season by joining our holiday potluck and gift exchange. Bring a dish to share (ham and turkey provided by the Chapter) and a wrapped gift to participate in the exchange. The gift should be trail or outdoors related if possible, and can be purchased-but-inexpensive, a white elephant, or hand-made. If you’re feeling extra festive, write a short poem/limerick describing the gift.
SUMMER 2011
May 10 “FNST Adventures: Apalachicola National Forest-East.”
This 32-mile section of our Chapter’s FNST, running from St. Marks NWR at US319 west of Medart to Porter Lake on Forest Hwy 13, is home to the beautiful blackwater-and-cypress Sopchoppy River, the infamous Bradwell Bay, and the historic Langston Homestead. Section Leader Richard Graham and Trail Master George Weaver will present a photographic tour and give us information on how to hike it. Kent Wimmer will talk about his annual Bradwell Bay “Swamp Stomp.”
June 14 “FNST Adventures: Aucilla River and Sinks.”
This 21-mile section of our Chapter’s part of the FNST extends from CR 14 in the north to St. Marks NWR in the south. The northern portion with its scenic river and rapids, and the south with its unique “peek-a-boo” underground river make this one of the most interesting places on the FNST. Section Leader Barbara Donner will present a photographic tour and give us information on how to hike it.
July 12 “FNST Adventures: St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.”
Section Leader Dale Allen will present a photographic tour of our 48-mile coastal section and give us information on how to day-hike or backpack it. This part of our Chapter’s trail traverses the greatest variety of forest types and wildlife zones on north Florida’s FNST. It is also rich in natural history, with Indian mounds, Confederate salt works, tram roads, and old Port Leon. Where the trail passes through the town of St. Marks, Fort San Marcos de Apalache (est. 1679) is nearby.
August 9 “FNST Adventures: Apalachicola National Forest-West.”
This 46-mile section of our Chapter’s FNST runs from Porter Lake west to the Apalachicola River. Section Leader Ronny Traylor will present a photographic tour and give us information on how to hike it. One of the most remote sections in Florida, it’s where you’ll find remnants of the old settlement of Vilas and savannas with ground orchids and a profusion of pitcher plants.
SPRING 2011
January 11 “Twelve Days through the Grand Canyon.” Chapter member Dawn Brown will discuss her rafting and hiking trip down the Colorado River, through the Grand Canyon. From the put-in at Lee’s Ferry to the helicopter ride out at mile 188 the trip was filled with rapids, scrambles up waterfalls and incredible views of the most striking geological feature in the USA. Come share the adventure.
February 8 “Tunisia.” Once Rome’s bread basket, Tunisia is now a contrast in cultures: from metropolitan youth in the north’s city apartments to nomadic Bedouins in tents on the south’s Sahara Desert. Ken and Virginia Loewe will present pictures of Carthage/Roman structures, olive and date palm farming, ancient granaries, modern fish markets, and shopping in the medinas’ labyrinth-like alleys. If some of the pictures look familiar, it may be because parts of “Star Wars’” were filmed on Tunisia’s lunar–like landscape!
March 8 “Southern Brothers in the Far North.” Ryan and Harley Means’ epic 150-mile trek through the vast Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska: an 80-mile backpack to the head of the Chisana River, a 65-mile float downriver in solo packrafts and a final 5-mile bushwack thru taiga to the Alaska Highway. They have decades of experience, but Alaska provided the greatest wilderness experience of their lives. They went in search of solitude and communion with nature on the grandest scale; they discovered that sticking together and having each other’s backs was the only way to complete the journey.
April 12 “Five-Star Western Trails.” Jerry Lawrence is a local veterinarian who has hiked and photographed over a hundred trails in the western United States. This program is a photographic review of his favorite hikes in California, the Pacific Northwest, the Colorado Plateau, and the Rocky Mountains.
FALL 2010
September 14 “Cool Down with the Cypress Giants on the Sopchoppy River along the FNST.” VIDEO: Celebrate the survival of summer and the kick-off of the hiking season with Ern Jones’ video of paddling on the Sopchoppy River. USED GEAR SALE: Bring your used hiking/camping gear/clothing, marked with a price, and arrive at 6:30 to display it for sale. See old and new friends at our Fall “Homecoming.” Be there before 7:00 to get some good gear deals and enjoy ice cream and other special desserts.
October 12 “Creating Wilderness Trail Experiences in Your Own Back Yard and Beyond.” With the help of David Copps we will identify patterns and features of natural landscapes, talk about recreating them in our residential areas, and maximizing the appeal of natural landscapes with trails. David is a landscape designer with more than 25 years of experience in landscape design and conservation.
November 9 “Sneak Preview of Outdoor Gear Just in Time for the Holidays.” Holiday gift list, here I come! JC Gayhartt, owner of Trail and Ski, and Georgia Ackerman, co-owner of The Wilderness Way, will bring us the newest and best in outdoor gear.
December 14 “Apalachee Chapter Annual Holiday Party” Bring a covered dish or dessert and a wrapped present to our fantastic December meeting. The present for our fun gift exchange should be trail or outdoors related if possible, and can be purchased-but-inexpensive, a white elephant, or hand-made. Liven up the exchange by writing a short poem/limerick describing the gift or the kind of person it might be good for. For more information, call Terry Tenold, Chapter Chair 850-877-1612.
SUMMER 2010
May 11 “Bucky McMahon – Adventure Journalist, Artist, Author.“ In 1992, Bucky McMahon, FSU graduate and native of the Southeast, published his first article with Outdoor Magazine which was to become the beginning of a long and strange adventure in the travel writing business. Come join us for an evening of story-telling which will inspire and perhaps terrify, depending on your tolerance for the wild and unusual. For more information regarding Bucky and his work visit http://www.fsu.edu/~fstime/FS-Times/Volume5/sept99web/8sept99.html
June 8 “Wilderness First Aid.” Bring your first aid kits and worst case scenarios for an evening of Wilderness First Aid basics with Megan Eno, Florida Trail Staff, Wilderness EMT and Wilderness First Aid instructor. We will cover what everyone should have in their first aid kit, how to best prepare for a backcountry trip with safety in mind and a round of injury scenarios where we can discuss as a group, “what would you do?”
July 13 “Incredible India!“ Ken and Virginia Loewe share their visit to India, where the majesty of the Himalayas meets the mystery of religious rites, seducing the senses and challenging one’s world view. Their introduction to north and central India includes amazing architecture, jewel-colored saris, spicy cuisine, hikes through rural villages, and many friendly faces.
August 10 “Film Presentation: ‘The Saint Andrew Bay Watershed’.” Travel down one of Florida’s precious Corridors of Life in this film – a collaboration between the Northwest Florida Water Management District and Dr. Bruce Means who explored the hydrological, geological and ecological features of the St. Andrew Bay Watershed just north of Panama City, starting at the headwaters of Econfina Creek and finishing at Deer Point Lake. This area is home to our Econfina Creek section of the Florida National Scenic Trail. A representative from the NWFWMD will introduce us to the film.
SPRING 2010
January 12 “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!
February 9 “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.
March 9 “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.
April 13 “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.
AUTUMN 2009
September 8 “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.
October 13 “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.
November 10 “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.
December 8 “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.
SUMMER 2009
May 12 “Voices of the Apalachicola.” Faith Eidse, public information specialist at the NWFWMD will talk about the history of the Apalachicola River and some of the remarkable individuals who lived out their entire lives in this region–people such as the last steamboat pilot on the river, turpentine workers in Tate’s Hell, and a Creek chief descended from a 200-year unbroken line of chiefs. Copies of her award-winning book will be available for purchase. 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.
June 9 “The Apalachicola River: An American Treasure.” Come on an exciting journey down the Apalachicola river system, exploring its rich history and current issues, and meeting people who live and work along the waterways. Award-winning filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus will be with us to introduce his film–which uses interviews, historical reenactments, photographs by such renowned artists as Clyde Butcher and Richard Bickel and a soundtrack by Sammy Tedder to weave a not-so-simple but well-told story. Copies of his films will be available for purchase.
July 14 “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.
August 11 “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.
SPRING 2009
January 13 “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.
February 10 “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.
March 10 “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.”
April 14 “Backpacking Equipment Show-and-Tell.” Our chapter’s backpacking members will display their backpacks, tents/hammocks, sleeping bags/pads, cooking gear, etc. and will be available to talk to you about their gear.
FALL 2008
September 9 “The Florida Trail and YOU.”Get inspired at our hiking season kickoff meeting! See some short trail videos–including a brief history of the Florida Trail. Learn about building it, supporting it, and hiking it. Hear about the Trail’s current status. Find out how to get hiking information. Honor our Chapter’s volunteers–past and present–and learn how you, too, can help.
October 14 “So What’s New?” J.C. Gayhartt, owner of Tallahassee’s Trail and Ski outfitters, and an avid hiker, will show us the very latest in outdoor clothing and hiking gear.
November 11 Hiker’s Guide to the Prehistory and Archaeology of North Florida.”Ryan Means will inform hikers where and how to experience north Florida’s extensive archaeological record. He will tell us about the prehistoric human cultures and animals that went extinct during the last 15,000 years of our history and will teach us about projectile points–their types and ages. He’ll bring a teaching collection of artifacts for an interactive, hands-on experience.
December 9 “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 Richard Graham, Chapter Chair 850-878-3616.
SUMMER 2008
May 13 Program: ‘Florida’s Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail.’Beginning near Pensacola, extending around the Florida peninsula and Keys, and ending near the Georgia border, this trail is a 1,550-mile sea kayaking paradise. Doug Alderson, Florida Office of Greenways and Trails field director for this project, will show photos from nearly all of the trail’s 26 segments & discuss a new statewide group recently formed to support the trail.
June 10 Program: ‘Carnivorous Plants of the Panhandle.’ These plants are fascinating because of their great beauty and intrigue. The Florida panhandle has 30 of the 33 naturally-occuring Florida species of these animal-eating plants. Dr. Loran Anderson of FSU will present a program of color slides of most of the thirty and discuss their life histories and the variety of mechanisms through which they attract, capture, and digest their prey.
July 8 Program: Tracks and Scat: Is Our Poop Fascination Hardwired?’ Trackers, hunters and trappers of yore and primitive cultures depended on reading the woods for their survival. Will Sheftall, Natural Resources Agent for UF’s Leon County Extension Office, will give hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts a chance to ramp up their skills. Learn to identify animal tracks, scat, and other traces and signs found on our trails and woods roads.
August 12 Program: ‘Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail.’ Larry Thompson, a 54-year-old county Extension Office agent at the time, and his 26-year-old son, Matt, thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1996. They had no idea what they were getting into. “Old Swamper” and “Grasshopper” will discuss preparation for–and the mental and physical difficulty of–a long-distance hike and show images of the Trail and of the other backpackers they met that year.
SPRING 2008
January 8 Program: ‘Trekking in Viet Nam.’ Journey with Apalachee Chapter members Ken and Virginia Loewe through the lush topography of this scenic country, where they hiked on rice paddy dikes, dodged motorbike traffic, enjoyed homestays, survived rickshaw rides, and sailed the Mekong Delta.
February 12 Program: ‘Tales from the top of Africa.’ Member Dawn Brown will present the story of her successful summit attempt of Mt Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft.), the highest peak on the African continent. She will also speak about her walking safari and descent into the Olduvai Gorge in the Angata Kiti area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area; driving safari in the Ngorongoro Crater and cultural exchange with the Massai people.
March 11 Program: ‘Hiking the Florida Trail: 1,100 Miles, 78 Days, Two pairs of Boots, and One Heck of an Adventure.’ Johnny Molloy, outdoor adventurer and prolific guidebook writer, will wow us with images of his 2005 thruhike, talk about his trail experience–the good, the bad, and the ugly– and let us in on his thoughts about the Florida Trail. His newest book is the very first narrative of a Florida Trail thruhike.
April 8 Program: ‘The Geology of Florida’s Springs.’ Florida has over 700 springs–possibly the largest concentration in the world– due to the presence of underlying limestone and dolostone which dissolve away over time, leaving voids that fill with water–the Floridan Aquifer System. This is both a curse and a blessing. Harley Means of the Florida Geological Survey discusses the issues facing our Florida springs.
FALL 2007
Sept 11 Program: “The Florida Trail: Florida’s Own National Scenic Trail.” By Seidler Productions of Sopchoppy, under the direction of the FTA and the USFS, a version of this film was previewed at the 2007 FTA Annual Conference. The completed program debuted May 27th on WMFE-TV in Orlando. Robert Seidler brings us this wonderful film to kick off our Florida Trail hiking season, and also shows a selection of short films on successful green economic programs involving nature-based and heritage tourism, trails and greenways. (Related FNST hike on Sep. 15 )
Oct 9 Program: “New Zealand and the Milford Track” Chapter member Dawn Brown will present her hiking and kayaking trip to New Zealand, including a hike of the dramatic and awesome Milford Track. Milford Track traverses the heart of Fiordland National Park–the wildest, wettest and most isolated part of the country–and has long been described as “the finest walk in the world.”
Nov 13 Program: “The Nature Conservancy” Deborah Keller, coordinator of TNC’s Northwest Florida Greenway Project, will talk about the urgency of preserving Florida’s remaining open spaces and methods of funding the protection of high-quality habitats. She will highlight the use of military lands as conservation and recreational places. (Related hike on the FNST at Eglin Air Force Base: November 17)
Dec. 11 Program: “Annual Holiday Social” – Please bring a covered dish or dessert and an inexpensive 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 Richard Graham, Chapter chair, at 878-3616.
SUMMER 2007
May 8 Program: “The Australian Outback.” Harley, Ryan and Bruce Means spent three weeks driving across the “top end” of Australia, investigating the geology and natural history of this wonderful continent, with its geological wonders and critters of all kinds.Harley Means tells us what it is like to be immersed in the real Australian Outback!
June 12 Program: “Tales of the Great Outdoors.” Edwin McCook, Public Use Coordinator for the Suwannee River Water Management District, talks about recreation opportunities available on the District, reaching from the Wacissa River to the Waccasassa River and including the path of the Florida Trail along the Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers. (Related hike on June 16.)
July 10 Program: “An Arctic Adventure.” Ryan Means and Rebecca Meegan backpacked nine days in the heart of the Brooks mountain range in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, encountering the Porcupine caribou herd, dall sheep, grizzly bear, and musk ox.Ryan will recount their trip, presenting Arctic natural history and the importance of preserving great wilderness.
Aug. 14 Program: “Butterflies of North Florida.” Most of the 120 species of butterflies in North Florida can be found along the trails we hike–like in Elinor-Klapp Phipps Park, with 78 recorded species. Dean and Sally Jue, of the Florida Natural Areas Inventory and the local Hairstreak Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, will provide an overview on local butterfly identification and good places to see a variety of them. (Field trip on Aug. 18.)
SPRING 2007
Jan. 9 Program: “Geology and Paleontology from the Aucilla to the Apalachicola.” Harley Means, District Geologist from DEP’s Florida Geological Survey, will talk about the geology and paleontology of the area along the Florida Trail between the Aucilla and Apalachicola rivers. Harley will lead a hike to Alum Bluffs & Ravines on Jan. 27.
Feb. 13 Program: “Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail with ‘Awol’.” David Miller, whose trail name is ‘Awol’, will discuss his 2003 thru-hike of the A.T. His talk will be accompanied by slides with A.T. facts and beautiful scenes from the trail. He will bring his backpack and exhibit the gear used during his hike. Come and learn how it’s done.
Mar. 13 Program: “Alaska, the Yukon and Northwest Territories.” Vic and Carlene Danart will present a slide show of their 2006 trip to Northwest Canada and also Alaska, from the Arctic Circle to Juneau, with maps and a video of the pipeline. Brochures of these areas will be available.
Apr. 10 Program: “Hiking and Paddling in WMAs.” Liz Sparks, Recreation Planner with the Office of Recreation Services at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will tell us about opportunities for hiking, paddling, and wildlife viewing in FWC’s Wildlife Management Areas within a day’s drive of Tallahassee. Maps, brochures and area information will be available.