Meet Florida Trail Assoication Executive Director 8/8

**JaxHiker** · 08-08-2011, 10:36

Sorry for the short notice but if you're in the Jacksonville area tonight you can meet the Trail Association's new Executive Director Dennis Miranda. I had the opportunity to meet him last month and I think he's going to do great things for us in Florida. He'll be talking to the North Florida Trailblazers tonight from 6:30-8:30. The location is different from our monthly meetings and will be held at the Pablo Creek Branch Library (13295 Beach Boulevard). Hope to see you there!

**TFC Rick** · 08-09-2011, 09:06

This was a cool meeting. Dennis was a great speaker and I feel like I got a good handle on where he wants to take the Florida Trail Association.

Hopefully we can have him work on some hammock initiatives as well.

Thanks for the invite Kudzu!

Rick

**JaxHiker** · 08-09-2011, 11:40

Argh! Why didn't you remind me about the hammocks last night? I'd planned on asking him about the state park issue and it completely slipped my mind.

Glad you were able to make it out!

**TFC Rick** · 08-09-2011, 15:50

Sorry about that, I actually wanted to engage in some more talk about how and why joining the FTA would benefit me as a non/new hiker etc., but was afraid to push the patience of the 6 year old too far.

My favorite part is when she was watching Word Girl on Netflix and yelled out "Word Up!" at the perfect time. Glad it didn't seem to phase anyone.

**JaxHiker** · 08-10-2011, 08:11

Always have to keep the kids happy. Mine always wants to play cars & trucks with the speaker. I wondered what she was watching.

**JPsax** · 08-16-2011, 14:29

What state park issue? are hammocks frowned upon in Florida State Parks?

**Gumbo** · 08-16-2011, 14:52

Hammocks are not allowed to be used in Florida State Parks. Hanging anything from a tree is prohibited. That said, as long as you are not camping in sight of the general populace and are using tree straps the rangers usually look the other way.

I usually just camp on Water District Management lands with permission. National Parks such as Everglades, Canaveral National Seashore and Ocala Nat. Forest don't have those same restrictions.

**jima59** · 08-20-2011, 18:12

You would think the State Park people would worry about other things such as entrance roads so bad that I don't use the three closest to me anymore, afraid I might break an axle. After reader about hammocks these past 3 months I know they probably do less damage than most tenters.