Trip report
Ocean to Lake Trail - milepost 40-47
Hiking/Walk DATE: 09/24/2016 - 09/24/2016
Trip/Event Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
US
Trip Leader(s):
Max # People: 10
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Strenuous
THIS IS REPEAT POSTING FOR THE HIKE IN JULY WHERE THE ROAD WAS WASHED OUT & DELAYED ACCESS TO THE TRAILHEAD – SO 2ND TIME WILL BE A CHARM!
The Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) is 1 of
I95 to EXIT 77. NORTHLAKE BLVD **WEST** TO BEE LINE HIGHWAY (710) NORTH. NORTH GRADE ROAD IS JUST PAST W. INDIANTOWN ROAD (706) ON LEFT. HAVE TO CROSS DIVIDED HIGHWAY USING ACCESS PATH.
I'm recommending a meet-up at 7AM at the NORTH entrance to J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area Where BEE LINE HIGHWAY meets NORTH GRADE ROAD. It will take 30-60 minutes to drive to the trailhead and get going & to get most of the hike in before the midday heat.
Trip Report/Photos
This hike went as planned with an interesting but unexpected ending. This became a solo hike. Ignacio had not hiked recently nor ever in the Everglades & Rene was out of town. This is the wet season. We saw this in July & virtually the entire trail was foot deep plus water. I started early, found the trailhead & felt great. I made 1-1/2 miles per hour & made the 7.2 mile trek to Dupuis Management area as planned by 1:30 stopping for lunch, pix & sights.
The plan was to use one of the in-park access trails, mostly used by ORV's, to return. Since they crossed the Ocean to Lake trail various times I could see they were flooded as well. But not completely. But service road flooding could be hundreds of yards long and waist plus deep in the centers. I feared a little for gators. But at 1:30 I decided to make that choice.
The in-park access trails seemed to be ok at first but got progressively worse and are not well marked. Using my map I made some turns and by 4pm I was completely out of trail. It just ended. And thunderstorms were close by. I had to bushwack & my only navigation was to head east. Then I had to move to a tree line to wait out heavy lightning. I could see those thick bolts stay in the sky up to 10 seconds. But the worst of the storm stayed a mile or so away.
I figured I had 3 hours daylight left and to be honest was getting concerned. My guess is between 5-6PM I found myself back at an intersection of an in-park access trail & the blazed trail I hiked that morning. But after awhile, now clouds breaking, I realized I was heading west – the wrong direction. I turned around and power hiked until after 7. Using my flashlight to see a blaze then see my steps. All this time – water was everywhere. No place to even sit down. Then about 7:30 I was at a cross section of several in-park access trails & a canal crossing. It was dry about 100 yards in each direction. Semi-open. I am convinced I had a power greater than me guiding me. I figured I was 3 miles from my start point that morning. It was too dark & I was too tired to continue. But I had some respite.
I didn't panic. Although not planned I was prepared. First, knee high dry socks with plastic bags because the shoes were still wet. Then canal water purified with tablets & I also had a backwoods filter device for my water bottles. I had dried fruit w/ sugar that kept the hunger away. Then I started a fire with dead palm fronds. Proudly I started with one single match. The rain was not so heavy that many dry palm fronds were laying around I was able to keep at least a small fire or coals going all night. I used the fire to dry my clothes almost completely. Had plenty of Deet to keep bugs off. I used fresh palm fronds to make a makeshift mattress.
I dozed now and then but did not want to sleep thru the nite as critters may be about. The canal was small & there was a water management culvert that would keep any gators from making near where I was their stomping ground. Lightning continued in all directions on the horizon all night – but the sky was crystal clear & was able to use some star constellations to confirm E & W.
A little after first light around 7 I again decided to use the in-park access trails back to the surface road and my car. I think I may have hiked 15-17 +/- miles (in & out) - all in water. But more and more the in-park access trails were not flooded. & I began seeing humans again out in their ORV's. If I couldn't walk on my own I could get help.
I've thought a thousand thoughts, should have waited 'till dry season; shouldn't have gone alone; shouldn't have gone so far; should have back hiked on the trail; a cell would not help since no signals, but all-in-all it was a very energizing & learning experience. I have absolutely zero regrets & it's an experience I will think about & treasure for some time to come. Talk about “off the grid”.
The pictures stop at 4PM with me in my poncho waiting out the storm & I decided to focus on my situation and not take any more pix or anything that wasn't necessary.
It may have been my farewell “swamp” hike. I don't mind hiking thru some water – but for 10+/- total hours – I'll probably plan some dry trails for awhile. Thanks for reading. See you on the trail.
- The Trip Has No Photos -
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