summer 2016 summer 2015apalachee.floridatrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/... · 2017. 11....
TRANSCRIPT
SUMMER 2015
SECTION LEADERS FNST: ANF WEST
Al Ingle (850) 509-1162
FNST: ANF EAST
Richard Graham (850) 878-3616 FNST: ST. MARKS
Dale Allen (850) 656-8050
FNST: AUCILLA
VACANT FT. BRADEN TRACT
Howard Pardue (850) 386-1494
ELINOR KLAPP-PHIPPS PARK
Dawn Brown (850) 668-0091 TORREYA STATE PARK
Jerry Herting (850) 878-3426
MEETING PROGRAMS
July 12 “SOCIAL MEETING and TRAIL TALK.” Come meet fellow trail enthusiasts who want to share their experiences. Meet others who share your dream to explore and want to plan a future event but don’t want to go it alone. Share your favorite hike/paddle trails by bringing your guidebooks / maps / scrapbooks and any upcoming backpacking/hiking/paddling plans. Help others working on their bucket list of trails like the FNST, AT, PCT, Santiago de Compostela, other European trails, or perhaps a paddle down the Apalachicola River. Want to take your first day hike or backpack-ing trip, or paddle our rivers? Start planning your adventures! Grab dinner and a beer/wine and meet in a relaxed atmosphere on the patio at Milano’s Pizzeria located at 514 W. Tharpe St. (in the SW corner of Northwood Centre), Tallahassee at 6:30 p.m.
August – NO MEETING THIS MONTH. Enjoy the vacation.
September 13 USED GEAR SALE, VOLUNTEER AWARDS, “TRAIN FOR THE TRAIL.” 6:30 p.m.--If you have used gear for sale, arrive early to get it displayed. 6:00 p.m.--Annual used gear sale--gear for hiking, backpacking, camping, cycling, and paddling! 7:00 p.m.--Presentation of our annual Volunteer Recognition Awards. 7:30 p.m.--PROGRAM: What can you do off the trail, in the way of exercise, to enhance your hiking experience? In this interactive session, exercise physiologist and hiker, David Wheeler, will help you develop a fitness strategy to train for the trail. This program will combine lecture and discussion with active participation. Come dressed and prepared to exercise. Mats will be provided. David is Wellness & Health Recovery Coordinator at Premier Health & Fitness Center and provides fitness training & health coaching for those contending with health challenges and for healthy adults who want to stay that way. Location TBA.
NEW and RETURNING MEMBERS
February 2016 - April 2016
Denise Arnold, Tom & Cindy Clark, JoAnn Fletcher, Rose Goodson, Kathryn & Arnie Johnson, Stephanie Keith, Ken Kuhl, Donna Miller, Jane Parsons, Jack & Laurie Richardson, Steven Staudt, June Wiaz
As of 5/1/16: 260 memberships / 347 members
CONTENTS
1.........Programs / People 2-3.....July-September Activities 4-5.....Articles From the Chair
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY!
Go Green (get the Blaze via email)
6........FTA Membership Form
Dawn Brown (850)668-0091 or Liz Sparks (850)570-5950.
Meetings are open to the public.
SUMMER 2016
CHAPTER OFFICERS CHAIR
Dawn Brown (850) 668-0091
VICE-CHAIR Al Ingle (850) 509-1162
TREASURER
Elizabeth Slack (850) 320-2760 [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP
Lori Gilbertson (850) 420-0132
[email protected] TRAILS COORDINATOR
Richard Graham (850) 878-3616
[email protected] ACTIVITIES
Ray Cade (850) 508-7593
PROGRAMS Liz Sparks (850) 570-5950
PUBLICITY/WEBSITE/VOL. HRS.
Linda Patton (850) 668-4334 [email protected]
NEWSLETTER
VACANT
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. and are open to the public. September’s meeting location TBA; look for it in August on http://www.meetup.com/Apalachee-Florida-Trail-Hiking/events For more information, contact Dawn Brown (850) 545-0351 or Liz Sparks (850) 570-5950.
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PLEASE NOTE: The Florida National Scenic Trail and other forest trails are part of the natural environment. Rough, une-ven, and/or slippery surfaces, protruding roots, encroaching vegetation, fallen branches, mud and water, insects and other wildlife, irritating plants and other hazards may be present. Wear boots and use caution. If you question whether a hike is within your ability, contact the Activity Leader. For more information go to www.apalachee.floridatrail.org and click on “Guidelines for Activity Participants.”
ACTIVITY LEADERS
Dale Allen Gwen Beatty Karen Berkley Cathy Briggs Louis Brooks Dawn Brown Ray Cade Bob Daniels Lori Gilbertson
Richard Graham Dawn Griffin Barry Haber Jerry Herting Ashley Hopkins Al Ingle James Kimbrel Melanie Knapp John Laney Laura Newton
Howard Pardue Linda Patton Adrienne Ruhl Cindy Shrestha Gary Sisco Mike Tucker Carol Watkins George Weaver Kent Wimmer
July 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 Mon. & Wed. P/M Stress Buster Brisk Walks! Join us on our quest to get a bit healthier and slow down the muffin tops! We have been walking 2X a week for 3+ years to burn calories, de-stress and socialize. Mondays we will walk along the Miccosukee Greenway (4-8 miles) and Wednesdays we walk (4 miles) on one of the Lafayette Heritage trails. Meet near the restroom. Come at 5:15 and be ready to hike at 5:30 SHARP. Bring flashlight/headlamp, snack (if needed), and wa-ter. Dress in layers. We will attempt to maintain a pace of 3.0 - 3.2 mph. Come hydrated. Distance and speed is up to you and how you feel that particular day! Walk your own walk. Before starting out, check for dates, meeting location, map, last-minute instructions, and RSVP on Meetup http://www.meet up.com/Apalachee-Florida-Trail-Hiking Contact: Dawn Griffin (850) 509-6103 [email protected]
July 13 Tue. P/L Chapter meeting: Social Meeting and Trail Talk. July 22 Fri. P/L Econfina Creek Day Paddle. Leisurely 6-mile section paddle of beautiful Econfina creek in Bay County. The creek is highlighted by high limestone bluffs, cascades of ferns & crystal clear springs. We'll enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Tallahassee. Limit 12 canoes/kayaks. Contact: Gary Sisco (850) 545-4776 gsisco42@ yahoo.com or Gwen Beatty (850) 539-6027 gfbeatty@ yahoo.com
July 23 Sat. M/L FTA Board of Directors Meeting. Open to all FTA members. Observe the governing process of our organization. Attend and get a broader picture of FTA and the FNST. For venue and meeting time, contact the FTA office toll-free 1-877-445-3352.
Leisurely (L) = 1-2 mph walking pace (Ex.: 8/19) Moderate (M) = 2-3 mph walking pace (Ex.: 7/13) Strenuous (S) = 3-4+ mph walking pace (Ex.: N/A)
Your membership in the Florida Trail Association helps make our activities open and accessible to everyone. If you are a member, thank you! If you are not a member, please consider making a donation to the FTA at outings you attend. Give your donation to the hike leader. Or join the FTA today: http://www.floridatrail.org/make-a-difference/become-a-member
July 30 Sat. P/M Wacissa River and Slave Canal Paddle. A wilderness paddle on the Wacissa River and Slave Canal. Expect many pullovers and low trees on this float through bottomland hardwood forest. Limit 15 canoes/kayaks. Contact: Kent Wimmer (850) 528-5261 [email protected] Aug 1, 3, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 Mon. & Wed. P/M Stress Buster Brisk Walks! Join us on our quest to get a bit healthier and slow down the muffin tops! We have been walking 2X a week for 3+ years to burn calories, de-stress and socialize. Mondays we will walk along the Miccosukee Greenway (4-8 miles) and Wednesdays we walk (4 miles) on one of the Lafayette Heritage trails. Meet near the restroom. Come at 5:15 and be ready to hike at 5:30 SHARP. Bring flashlight/headlamp, snack (if needed), and water. Dress in layers. We will attempt to maintain a pace of 3.0 - 3.2 mph. Come hydrated. Distance and speed is up to you and how you feel that particular day! Walk your own walk. Before starting out, check for dates, meeting location, map, last-minute instructions, and RSVP on Meetup http://www.meetup.com/Apalachee-Florida-Trail-Hiking Contact: Dawn Griffin (850) 509-6103 [email protected]
Aug. 5 Fri. P/L Spring Creek/Chipola River Paddle. Leisurely 4.5-mile paddle down the crystalline waterways of Spring Creek into the Chipola River through floodplain and cypress-lined shoreline seeing lot of birds and fish along the way. What a way to escape the summer heat! Plan to enjoy a late lunch/early dinner at a restaurant in Marianna before returning to Tallahassee. Contact: Gary Sisco (850) 545-4776 [email protected] or Gwen Beatty (850) 539-6027 [email protected]
Aug. 9 Tue. NO CHAPTER MEETING THIS MONTH.
Aug. 19 Fri. P/L Wine, Women and Walking! Downtown Tal-lahassee. Start off the weekend with a leisurely 3-mile stroll, walking past historical places and through Cascades Park. Bring your favorite wine (or other beverage of choice), chair/blanket and an appetizer to share after the walk. Meet other fab-ulous women who like to walk-hike-backpack too. Meet 5:30 PM at the DOT Credit Union Parking Lot adjacent to Cascades Park (corner of Myers Park Road and Suwannee). Wear comfortable walking shoes/light colored clothes. Contact: Dawn Griffin (850) 509-6103 [email protected]
Aug. 19-21 Fri.-Sun. Pacific Crest Trail Days. Marine Park, Cascade Locks, OR. The latest outdoor recreation gear from exhibiting sponsors, free classes & activities, raffles of awesome products, local food and beverages, trail work opportunities, hikes and bike rides, camping under the stars, and a beautiful outdoor setting. PCT Days is family-friendly and free to attend; small fee for overnight camping. Raffle proceeds go to
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the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the American Long Dis-tance Hiking Association-West. http://www.pcta.org/about-us/events/pct-days
Sep. 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 Mon. & Wed. P/M Stress Bust-er Brisk Walks! Join us on our quest to get a bit healthier and slow down the muffin tops! We have been walking 2X a week for 3+ years to burn calories, de-stress and socialize. Mondays we will walk along the Miccosukee Greenway (4-8 miles) and Wednesdays we walk (4 miles) on one of the Lafayette Heritage trails. Meet near the restroom. Come at 5:15 and be ready to hike at 5:30 SHARP. Bring flashlight/headlamp, snack (if needed), and water. Dress in layers. We will attempt to maintain a pace of 3.0 - 3.2 mph. Come hydrated. Distance and speed is up to you and how you feel that particular day! Walk your own walk. Before starting out, check for dates, meeting location, map, last-minute instructions, and RSVP on our Meetup site http://www.meetup.com/Apalachee-Florida-Trail-Hiking Contact: Dawn Griffin (850) 509-6103 [email protected]
Sep. 13 Tue. Chapter Meeting: Used Gear Sale, Volunteer Awards, “Train for the Trail.”
Sep. 15-18 Thur.-Sun. North Country Trail Assoc. Rendezvous and Fall Campout. The Cambria Hotel and Conference Center, West Fargo, ND. The theme of the celebration is Building Trails and Discovering History in our Prairies, Valleys, and Wood-lands. You will get to explore North Dakota prairies and grasslands, hike along interest-ing riverfront trails in urban Fargo-Moorhead, and venture into the beautiful Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota. Interpreters on buses and hikes will help you understand the scenic, natural, cultural, and historic features of these areas and explain how the environment and history affect trail building activities in unique ways. The Celebration is designed especially for members of the NCTA and is also open to the general public. The schedule will give attendees time to hike, learn, socialize, and relax. In most cases, you will travel to the event venues on comfortable, air conditioned coach buses with snacks and beverages provided. Besides a great collection of hikes of all types, non-hiking events will be available each day as well. https://northcountrytrail.org/get-involved/special-events 2016-celebration-fargo-nd
Sep. 16 Fri. P/L Moon Over Miccosukee Night Hike. See a 7-mile section of Miccosukee Greenway in a unique way, cast in shadows and moonlight. We may meet at 5:30 p.m. for dinner before heading over to meet the group at 7:30 p.m. at the Crump Road trailhead (across the street from the brick house at 4955 Crump Road) and carpool to the Fleischman Road trailhead to begin our hike. The first 1.5 miles of the trail are natural path. The remainder of the pathway is broad level gravel. The white stones will make following the path an easy task. Wear comforta-ble closed shoes and bring water, a flashlight or headlamp, and bug spray. Before starting out, check for dates, meeting location, map, last-minute instructions, and RSVP on our Meetup site http://www.meetup.com/Apalachee-Florida-Trail-Hiking Contact: Dawn Griffin (850) 509-6103 [email protected]
Sep. 23-25 Fri-Sun. M/M Annual Trail Skills Training.
The Florida Trail Association is hosting its 4th annual Trail Skills Training from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday at Camp LaNoChe, 41940 Boy Scout Rd., Paisley, FL, which is located north of Orlando, adjacent to the Ocala National Forest. Join us to learn a variety of trail skills--through hands-on training and practical scenarios--that will better prepare you for volunteering on the Florida Trail (FNST). We will provide food, housing, and instruc-tion. This training is provided at no cost to you. At this event, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and connect with the Florida Trail Association staff and other volunteers from across the state. It’s a great opportunity to network, learn, and have some fun! Sessions include: crew leader training, how to provide food for your trail maintainers, practical trail maintenance training, how to respond to emergency situations, and effective tools and methods for community outreach and fundraising. There will also be sessions on preventive maintenance for your mechanized equipment, and how to report the work that you do on the trail
and why it’s important. Feel free to bring your favorite blazing tools and personal protection equipment (hard hats, gloves, etc.) to show us what you use to make the perfect blaze. Meals are provided. Camping type: Tent sites, bunk-houses (single-gender), and RV (no hookup) sites are available, and the camp has shower and bathroom facilities. Please register based on whether or not you are staying in a bunk-house, RV camping, tent camping, or sharing someone’s RV or tent. Please note: RV camping with hookups (water, sewage, electric) is available at the Clearwater Lake Recreation Area, Ocala National Forest. You are responsible for making your own reservations, and space is limited to first-come, first-served. This type of RV camping is not included in our event package, and is provided to you at an additional cost. To register for this type of RV camping visit Recreation.gov. This is a 18-yrs.-old+ event. Check http://www.floridatrail.org/ volunteer/volunteeropportunities for the regis-tration link when it becomes available.
Sep. 24 Sat. National Public Lands Day. (NPS, NWR, & USFS fee-free day) National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest, single-day
volunteer effort for public lands. Seven federal agencies as well as nonprofit organizations and state, regional and local governments participate in the annual day of caring for public lands. National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, that worked from 1933-1942, to preserve and protect America's natural heritage. NPLD educates Americans about the environment and natural resources, and the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands; builds partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America's public lands; and improves public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work. http://www.public landsday.org
Sep. 24-30 Sat.-Fri. Take a Child Outside Week. Take A Child Outside is a program designed to encourage children and adults to spend time together outdoors. http://www.takeachildoutside. org
Oct. 20-23 Thur.-Sun. P/L FTA 50th Anniversary Conference. Sanborn Center, 815 South Alabama Ave., Deland, FL. Put this on your calendar now. More details to follow.
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I want to begin this article with an observation from one of the most skilled trail builders I know. Ian Barlow and his crew, “Framing Our Communities,” have been working with the FTA on construction projects and trail skills training for a number of years. He says, “Florida hates trails.” You can build the most beautiful and perfect trail in the world and Florida will do anything it can to destroy your work. Vines and limbs grow across it at an incredible rate. Thunderstorms cause limbs and whole trees to come down across it. The aquifer floods and your beautiful trail bed is buried under a foot of water. If you build a trail and do nothing for 6 months and come back the trail is gone. All this is not meant to point out the futility of trail building in Florida. It’s meant to point out the necessity of maintenance. Personally, maintenance is not my favorite trail activity. It’s one of my least favorites. Major building projects are my favorite trail activities. I was on the crew that built the Spring Creek East Bridge. It was a great eight days of hard work, but I learned more about trail building than I thought possible. I’ve also been on several rerouting projects at Torreya State park. We designed and built sustainable trails on the steep bluffs. People from all over the state came and joined in. Great weekends. When the next Spring Creek boardwalk project is announced, I will sign up the next day. I know several of you who feel the same way I do. But our beautiful bridges and Class 5 trails don’t mean much if people can’t walk on them. Nobody will be able to see the work if the trail is overgrown with weeds. Or blocked by limbs that have come down. My next favorite activity is hiking. I try to get out at least 3 times a week. Sometimes it is to train for a more challenging hike, but sometimes I just like to amble alone in the woods. Sometimes I’m going some place new I’ve never been before. Sometimes I’m taking an old favorite to see if anything has changed. I know lots of you would agree with this sentiment. Our Meetup site is full of great hikes every weekend and they are well attended. But sometimes these hikes are not so much fun. Sometimes it might be cold and near dark and rainy and the trail is so overgrown you can’t even find a blaze. Or maybe it’s hot and you’re wearing shorts and the smilax is cutting into your legs at every step. And don’t forget this is an ideal environment for sand fleas lurking in palm fronds overhanging the trail. Have you ever come to an unfamiliar trail intersection and you can’t find any blazes at all? This is the no-fun of hiking and that’s why maintenance is the most important and fundamental job of our Chapter. I guess we all assume that the maintenance will be done by a few Section Leaders and Trailmasters, but in reality that can’t be the case. Our chapter is responsible for over 130 miles of the FNST. That is way too much to be left in the hands of just a few people. We all need to get out there and pick up a set of loppers, or a paintbrush, or some other trail tool. If everyone would participate in just one work hike a year, we would have the best kept section of the FNST in the state. Recently, I gave a survey to the members of our Chapter Coordinating Committee. The purpose was to assess how individuals felt our chapter was doing on a number of its missions. Most of the respondents felt we were a strong chapter and were doing quite well in most areas. The one area everyone felt was our biggest weakness, however, was maintenance. We have a new set of transit hikes coming up this winter; and our Trail is traversed by FNST thruhikers, some of whom are international visitors. In what condition will our trails be found by all these hikers? It will reflect on us as a chapter. (continued)
~~ WANDERINGS ~~ from the desk of Dawn Brown CHAPTER CHAIR
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY !!
NEEDED: Trailmasters--Apalachicola National Forest--West Section. Pick from 2 to 5 miles (or more) within this 32-mi. section of the FNST to lop and inspect for problems before others do the mowing.
To learn more, contact the Section Leader, Al Ingle: (850) 509-1162 [email protected]
Go GREEN, save our Chapter MONEY, and get a COLOR COPY of THE BLAZE with EXTRA PAGES. Opt into receiving ‘The Blaze’ by email as a PDF (in color) and opt out of receiving a black-and-white copy by mail.
Each member who does so saves the Chapter about $2.40 per year. Currently, 130 members are saving us about $312 !! If you would like to receive the newsletter via email, contact Linda Patton at [email protected]. THANK YOU !!
WANDERINGS ~~ continued... I’m planning to make maintenance on the FNST one of my top priorities for the coming hiking season. I put in plenty of hours at the side trail where I’m the Section Leader, but it’s been a number of years since I’ve really gotten out and worked on the FNST. We have lots of work opportunities coming up in the fall. And Al Ingle may lead some trail care hikes this summer (I understand there is AYCE watermelon involved). His work hikes aren’t scheduled for specific dates—just spur-of-the-moment when conditions are right—so they won't be on our calendar of activities. But he will put you on his contact list and notify you when he plans a maintenance day—just let him know at [email protected] or 850-509-1162. This coming September (23rd-25th), FTA will have a Trail Skills Training weekend workshop. I think it would be great if we could get a whole crew to go down and train together. Then next fall/winter we can put together some trail care weekend events. I think this is a great new direction for our chapter and I’m looking forward seeing you all, loppers in hand, out on the trail.
September 23-25, 2016 4th Annual Trail Skills Training
Camp LaNoChe, Paisley, FL
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Dawn Brown Chair, Apalachee Chapter, FTA 14219 Otter Run Road Tallahassee, FL 32312
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