Announcing the 2024 Apalachee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association Backpacking Transit Trips!
IMPORTANT!!! These events are open to active Florida Trail Association members ONLY!!! Please read this entire trip’s information. Signing up to “Attend” here on Meetup does NOT guarantee you a spot for this limited-space trip. Please read the full information below to fully understand how to “sign up” for this trip!!!
This event is part of a series of backpacking trips, conducted over several weekends in early 2024, to transit the Apalachee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association’s entire ~150-mile section of the Florida National Scenic Trail (Florida Trail). NOTE: We will be excluding most “road walks”, so the total mileage covered will be ~126-miles, with an additional ~10-miles during our Ft. Braden Shakedown trip.
Detailed information on each trip (Meeting location, section information, etc.) will be communicated directly via email to those signed up. We continue to scout and assess the prospective sections of trail and campsites. Therefore, slight changes to the itinerary and daily distances may occur and will be communicated as soon as they are set.
Monday, November 6, 2023 – Introduction to Backpacking:
This series will kick off with an “Introduction to Backpacking” meeting! Join the Apalachee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association and REI Tallahassee on Monday, November 6, 2023 at 6:00 pm at our local REI store in the Market Square Shopping Center (1415 Timberlane Rd Suite 201, Tallahassee, FL 32312) to get all the information needed to get out there and enjoy all that our beautiful trails have to offer! Meet your Activity Leader and Co-Leader! Anyone can sign up (no need to email us) at the following link: https://www.meetup.com/apalachee-florida-trail-hiking/events/296778001/ .
Saturday, January 27 – Sunday, January 28, 2024 – Fort Braden Trails Shakedown Trip (Total: 10-miles.):
Day 1 – Hike 5-miles / Camp. Day 2 – Hike 5-miles.
The Fort Braden Trail is a great place to experience the natural beauty of Florida. The trail passes through a variety of habitats, including hardwood forests, pine flatwoods, and sandhills, also offering stunning views of Lake Talquin. This “shakedown” will be the perfect opportunity to test all of your backpacking gear/systems and develop your fitness with a short hike, followed by a night of camping, and followed by another short hike after breaking camp. This is where you will learn what works, what doesn’t, what you need, and what you don’t. Also a great opportunity to really get to know your Activity Leader and Co-Leader! (NOTE: This is also a great trip for those wanting to see if backpacking is even for them… regardless of if they’re interested in or planning on participating in any of the later trips.)
(Bad weather makeup dates: Saturday, February 3 – Sunday, February 4, 2024.)
Saturday, February 17 – Sunday, February 18, 2024 – Aucilla Section Trip (Total: 14.5-miles.):
Day 1 – Hike 9.5-miles / Camp. Day 2 – Hike 5-miles.
The section of the Florida Trail running through the Aucilla River and Aucilla Sinks sections is a unique and scenic stretch of the trail that winds through limestone sinks, along river bluffs, and past ancient cypress trees. Highlights of the Aucilla section include the Aucilla Sinks, a series of sinkholes that the Aucilla River disappears into and out of, as well as the Aucilla Rapids, a set of rocky shoals that offer an extremely popular photo opportunity in this section. The trail offers hikers a chance to experience some of Florida’s top natural features in one hike.
(Bad weather makeup dates: TBD.)
Friday, March 8 – Sunday, March 10, 2024 – St. Marks Section #1 Trip (Total: 22-miles.):
Day 1 – Hike 8.5-miles / Camp. Day 2 – Hike 7.3-miles / Camp. Day 3 – Hike 5.5-miles.
The section of the Florida Trail running through the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge offers a diverse and scenic hike that takes you through a variety of ecosystems, including coastal swamps, marshes, pine forests, and hardwood hammocks. Highlights of this particular section are the Cathedral of Palms, a beautiful area where cabbage palms form a canopy over the trail, and beautiful Shepherd Spring, a natural spring that provides a refreshing place to rest and experience the natural beauty of Florida. This section affords unmatched opportunities to see alligators, turtles, snakes, birds of prey, migratory birds, and white-tailed deer.
(Bad weather makeup dates: Friday, March 15 – Sunday, March 17, 2024.)
Friday, March 22 – Sunday, March 24, 2024 – St. Marks Section #2 Trip (Total: 21-miles.):
Day 1 – Hike 10.5-miles / Camp. Day 2 – Hike 7-miles / Camp. Day 3 – Hike 3-miles.
The section of the Florida Trail running through the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge includes a diverse range of coastal habitats, such as saltwater marshes, islands, tidal creeks, and the estuaries of seven north Florida rivers. It is home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, otters, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, amphibians, alligators, snakes, freshwater and saltwater fish, and many different species of birds. Highlights of this section are enjoying the abundant wildlife while hiking along the levees and in shadow of the second oldest lighthouse in Florida, the St. Marks Lighthouse; visiting the ghost town of Port Leon, wiped out by a hurricane in 1843; and the only place on the Florida Trail where you can’t progress on the trail with your own two feet, the St. Marks river crossing (We will have a boat shuttle!).
(Bad weather makeup dates: Friday, March 29 – Sunday, March 31, 2024.)
Saturday, April 6 – Monday, April 8, 2024 – Apalachicola National Forest Section #1 Trip (Total: 27-miles.):
Day 1 – Hike 8.5-miles / Camp. Day 2 – Hike 10.5-miles / Camp. Day 3 – Hike 8-miles.
The section of the Florida Trail through the Apalachicola National Forest winds through a variety of ecosystems, including pine flatwoods, titi swamps, and cypress swamps. It is one of the most remote and challenging sections of the trail, but it also offers some of the most rewarding hiking in Florida. Hikers on the Apalachicola section of the Florida Trail can expect to see a variety of wildlife, including deer, bears, alligators, and snakes. They should also be prepared for wet conditions, as the trail crosses many swamps and streams. Highlights of this section are the Sopchoppy River, a scenic river that the trail follows for several miles, and the famous Bradwell Bay Wilderness, a vast, trackless titi thicket that is home to a variety of rare and endangered plants and animals.
(Bad weather makeup dates: Saturday, April 13 – Monday, April 15, 2024.)
Saturday, April 20 – Monday, April 22, 2024 – Apalachicola National Forest Section #2 Trip (Total: 25-miles.):
Day 1 – Hike 11-miles / Camp. Day 2 – Hike 10.5-miles / Camp. Day 3 – Hike 3.5-miles.
The section of the Florida Trail through the Apalachicola National Forest winds through a variety of ecosystems, including pine flatwoods, titi swamps, and cypress swamps. It is one of the most remote and challenging sections of the trail, but it also offers some of the most rewarding hiking in Florida. Hikers on the Apalachicola section of the Florida Trail can expect to see a variety of wildlife, including deer, bears, alligators, and snakes. Highlights of this section are beautiful Porter Lake and the majestic pine flatwoods.
(Bad weather makeup dates: Friday, May 3 – Sunday, May 5, 2024.)
Saturday, April 27 – Sunday, April 28, 2024 – Apalachicola National Forest Section #3 Trip (Total: 16-miles.):
Day 1 – Hike 7.5-miles / Camp. Day 2 – Hike 8-miles.
The section of the Florida Trail through the Apalachicola National Forest winds through a variety of ecosystems, including pine flatwoods, titi swamps, and cypress swamps. It is one of the most remote and challenging sections of the trail, but it also offers some of the most rewarding hiking in Florida. Hikers on the Apalachicola section of the Florida Trail can expect to see a variety of wildlife, including deer, bears, alligators, and snakes. Highlights of this section are beautiful Camel Lake and the majestic pine flatwoods.
(Bad weather makeup dates: Saturday, May 4 – Sunday, May 5, 2024.)
IMPORTANT!!! These events are open to active Florida Trail Association members ONLY!!! Signing up to “Attend” here on Meetup does NOT guarantee you a spot for this limited-space trip. If you are interested in attending this trip, please email the Activity Leader, Judi Harrison (JudithLHarrison80@gmail.com) *and* the Co-Leader, Ron Harrison (RonaldWHarrison68@gmail.com), identifying the specific trips you are interested in attending. NOTE: Preference for these limited-space trips will be given to those interested in attending ALL trips and that attend the “Introduction to Backpacking” event.