Florida Panhandle September 3rd and 4th

I need to get out again. I've checked into the various options, and the best looking overnight trail that I'm willing to drive to is going to be the Titi Creek section of the Florida Trail.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...95310026_n.jpg

The current plan is that the wife is on her way to buy my camping permit at Jackson Guard in Niceville (this section of trail is inside the Eglin Air Force Base boundaries and you are required to have a recreation permit to enter, and a camping permit to spend the night.), then I'll have her drop me off at the eastern trail head off from highway 285. I intend to hike through to the Jr Walton Pond campsite and make a comfortable night of it there. It should, SHOULD be a leisurely hike back out to the western trailhead on highway 85. There I'll wait for my dear sweet wife to come pick me up. Fortunately for me she works in the area, so this isn't going to be something I'll have to owe her for... ;)

I am sure I'll have wet feet most of the trip, especially with all of the rain we've had. It's been listed as being 15.4 miles. Which should make for a fairly easy two day trek.


If anyone's interested in joining, please feel free to contact me. Maybe my trip write up about this hike, won't be filled with another report of being afraid of the dark, if someone ends up going with me... :D


(Here's Ty Handy's report on their hike. There's a few places with information on this stretch.)

http://hikingflorida.blogspot.com/20...eglin-air.html

I really wish I could join you on this one, but I have a commitment Saturday evening. I have hiked most of that section. Be sure to check out Speck Pond before you hop on the trail (off 285) and take the 50 yard side trail to Pearl Creek campsite at the other end.

I really can't imagine any part of the trail that will actually be wet. The bridge over Honey Creek is high above the water; Silver Creek is a bit more swampy, but there is a full bridge from the banks, so I doubt you will have any problems here.

If you stay at Walton Pond, consider staying on the east shore, as there is a beautiful meadow high overlooking the pond. The western shore is more "formalized" campsites with picnic tables. I have hung on the NW corner of the pond, but the eastern shore is always so inviting. Plenty of places to hang either way. Looking forward to your report.

Saturday? I'm going out on Monday and Tuesday.

I was trying to figure that out. Your post title says September 1st and 2nd (Saturday and Sunday). :eek:

Fixing that now!

Oh. Sorry, I cannot make it on Monday/Tuesday. After this past 5 day weekend, it is probably not advisable for me to request an extra day off. ;)

Yeah. Well, I'm only getting those two days off. A solo trip it might be...

Yesterday went well enough, until at the end...

Not to go into too much detail, I'm working while others are on holiday vacation. These periods always prove to be a little extra interesting at work.

Sixteen hours of work time +/-.

I really need to get out into the, as Shug would say... "the piney woods"!

About fifteen hours away from hitting the trail...

There's still tome to join the hike.

Have a great trip and remember to drink plenty of water. Was 110 here in Tally yesterday. I will be interested in seeing your write up as I am thinking of doing this section in the spring.

--louis

I have three water bottles. I also have a new filter to test out.

I am quite sure finding water along the way will not be an issue. In fact my only concern is that with all of the rain we've had lately, that it might be a little troublesome to navigate this trail.

I intend to do a very detailed report. It promises to be a short easy trail, which I could do in one day, and am splitting it up between two. Two rather full days, since I'm being dropped off in the morning as my wife goes to work, then I won't have a ride until she gets off from work the next day. This gives me plenty of time to do a lot of contemplating, photograph taking, and even the chance to try to do some video work as well.

All is going well so far. lying in the hammock next to Jr Walton Puddle, I meant Pond. This sound woke me up twice last night. I had never heard it before, until about midnight it erupted from about a hundred feet behind me... http://www.google.com/url?q=http://w...pGs_-4LD4SMp0Q

Trip is complete. Gear is being hung to dry, or in the dryer after a thorough wash. Hopefully I won't suffer from too many chigger bites, and my new blisters heal quickly so I can get back out for another hike next week. Pictures soon...

The first crossing I came to was Pearl Creek.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...77744962_n.jpg


An interesting tree in the creek.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...18980951_n.jpg



Self portrait while I was still feeling fresh and lively.

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Eastern Fence lizard, check out his camo!

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...79270808_n.jpg


Speaking of camo, check out this spider. I had gone to this flower to take a picture of a butterfly that was sitting amazingly still. Too still. I tried touching it, nothing... I tried to pull it from the flower, and I noticed legs holding onto it. ARGHHH!!!!!! What a scene from a horror movie. Peaceful butterfly stopping at a beautiful flower to take some nectar, then one of the flowers grows arms, reaches out and pulls the butterfly to a pair of vicious fangs....

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...56232647_n.jpg


Found quite a few of these mushrooms on the trail. Can't say I recall ever seeing this type before.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...43792483_n.jpg


As I broke from the woods, and arrived at the pond I would be camping at.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...25223109_n.jpg


The pond as I crossed the dam.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...40142845_n.jpg


My DIY bush buddy style stove. This thing works amazing, and uses nothing but little twigs for fuel.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...98026781_n.jpg


Home sweet home, for the night. My tarp isn't crooked, I have a porch roof!

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...12223961_n.jpg


Breakfast of champions...

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...69901703_n.jpg


I hade made it through one storm, and it looked like I was about to get another..

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...23028833_n.jpg

Some small oaks.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...19260118_n.jpg


It was raining pretty good, by the time I made it to Dog Creek.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...75081057_n.jpg


The Dog Creek snot log bridge.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...34880726_n.jpg


Big Fork Creek Bridge

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...29298642_n.jpg


Gum Creek, almost to the end of the trail!.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...74814901_n.jpg


Gum Creek trail bridge.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...67369001_n.jpg


It's raining outside, but it's always dry inside my Warbonnet Outdoors Superfly tarp,

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...05449724_n.jpg


I had ended my hike at Speck Pond on highway 285. It was still raining pretty good and I had a few hours before my wife could come retrieve me. So I set up a camp, changed into some dry clothes, and settled in for the wait.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...89185610_n.jpg


A break in the storm.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...51317010_n.jpg

Excellent pictures, thanks for the trip report.

looks like was an overall decent trip too bad about the timing and noone else could accompany you

Looks like it was a fun trip! Challenging trail, weird wildlife, and wet weather combine to make for an interesting time.

Thanks for sharing!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BlackHand

looks like was an overall decent trip too bad about the timing and noone else could accompany you

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There's always next time...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FLRider

Looks like it was a fun trip! Challenging trail, weird wildlife, and wet weather combine to make for an interesting time.

Thanks for sharing!

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It was even better than that. I'm working on a more detailed report for my blog. Gun toting dads, a funeral pile, and a Chupacabra.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FlyingMonkey

It was even better than that. I'm working on a more detailed report for my blog. Gun toting dads, a funeral pile, and a Chupacabra.

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This isn't one of those stories that ends with, "Everyone's out of the hospital now, but we need a little help posting bail," is it? :lol:

No jumping ahead to the end of the story!

A little more complete report on this hike here...

http://monkeyweazeladventures.wordpr...e-first-cross/