Central Florida hang?

I wanted to see if there would be any interest in having a hang down here on the forest that I manage. It is in central FL (an hour and a half southwest of Orlando and about an hour due east of Tampa) on the Lake Wales Ridge (Lake Wales Ridge State Forest) southeast of Frostproof.

This would be a bit more of a rustic/in the woods type hang but I can probably arrange for a vehicle to haul a few people, tables, ice chests, etc. out to the site that can't make the 20-30 minute hike. Dogs would have to be on a leash (by rule plus there is a FL panther living in the area so if Spot runs away then Spot will likely become dinner that night), kids would be optional but if they misbehave then they definitely need to be on a leash :D

If we can scare up some funds then I might even be able to get a couple of porta-johns out to the site. There wouldn't be any potable water available but the camp site is next to a beautiful stream. There are lots of trees but you would have to spread out into the woods to find your spot (it isn't a campground) and be careful of dead/dying trees and limbs.

Activities (aside from the normal socializing) could include

• Hiking (I could lead a 5 hour or so hike to showcase some of the forest). The trail is a side trail/loop of the Florida Trail. Hikes can be as little as a foray away from the camping area, to the 5 hour hike, or if you want some alone time the full loop is about 22 miles
• Canoe/kayak out on the creek, out to a large lake (Lake Arbuckle), or even a longer trip to a county boat ramp/campground where you could arrange for a shuttle back to the forest (half day total)
• Swim in the creek *insert standard gator warning here*
• Fishing, bird watching, photography
• Relax and enjoy the scenery and the company :)

I was thinking that this could be in mid-March while the weather is still good (and gator mating season hasn't started) but is a couple of months after the greater FL hang so that we don't have overlap. Everyone would be welcome but I might need an experienced hammock guru to look at the site to see if they thought there was a limit to how many people it could hold.

Well, what does everyone think? Too close to the main event in January? Not enough interest? Let me know if I should start planning this event or not (I will probably need a bit of help)

Dave

Sounds like a blast....One of my hiking buddies lives in Frostproof so I'm sure he'd be in as well.

We are interested as well. A little to far out to say for sure, but is sounds fun.

Well, it's a bit of a drive for me, but I'd be willing. Mid-March sounds just about right, though it would have to be dependent upon which weekend.

My anniversaries (yes, plural; the one where I met my wife and the one where we got married) both fall in that month, so as long as it's not one of those weekends I'd be more than willing to go.

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Originally Posted by samsara

I wanted to see if there would be any interest in having a hang down here on the forest that I manage. It is in central FL (an hour and a half southwest of Orlando and about an hour due east of Tampa) on the Lake Wales Ridge (Lake Wales Ridge State Forest) southeast of Frostproof.

This would be a bit more of a rustic/in the woods type hang but I can probably arrange for a vehicle to haul a few people, tables, ice chests, etc. out to the site that can't make the 20-30 minute hike. Dogs would have to be on a leash (by rule plus there is a FL panther living in the area so if Spot runs away then Spot will likely become dinner that night), kids would be optional but if they misbehave then they definitely need to be on a leash :D

If we can scare up some funds then I might even be able to get a couple of porta-johns out to the site. There wouldn't be any potable water available but the camp site is next to a beautiful stream. There are lots of trees but you would have to spread out into the woods to find your spot (it isn't a campground) and be careful of dead/dying trees and limbs.

Activities (aside from the normal socializing) could include

• Hiking (I could lead a 5 hour or so hike to showcase some of the forest). The trail is a side trail/loop of the Florida Trail. Hikes can be as little as a foray away from the camping area, to the 5 hour hike, or if you want some alone time the full loop is about 22 miles
• Canoe/kayak out on the creek, out to a large lake (Lake Arbuckle), or even a longer trip to a county boat ramp/campground where you could arrange for a shuttle back to the forest (half day total)
• Swim in the creek *insert standard gator warning here*
• Fishing, bird watching, photography
• Relax and enjoy the scenery and the company :)

I was thinking that this could be in mid-March while the weather is still good (and gator mating season hasn't started) but is a couple of months after the greater FL hang so that we don't have overlap. Everyone would be welcome but I might need an experienced hammock guru to look at the site to see if they thought there was a limit to how many people it could hold.

Well, what does everyone think? Too close to the main event in January? Not enough interest? Let me know if I should start planning this event or not (I will probably need a bit of help)

Dave

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I think it's a great idea! Timberrr and I might be in, depending on his school schedule and the date. We were considering doing another hang at Canaveral sometime in the February/March timeframe.

I like the idea too. Any thought to getting something together this Fall? Maybe a get together October - November? I like the thought of getting out somewhere.
Temps should be pleasant then too.

Mid-March? Hey, that's my birthday! I think I'll give myself a present by going hiking in Lake Wales Ridge. Count me in :D

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Originally Posted by islander

I like the idea too. Any thought to getting something together this Fall? Maybe a get together October - November? I like the thought of getting out somewhere.
Temps should be pleasant then too.

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Mid-November is a definite maybe :D

It would have to be a much simpler affair... basically just a "let's go" and everyone hikes out, no shuttles, no frills, just a place to go. The weather should be really nice then and the muskooters have already gone waaaaay down (I have been playing with a homemade wood backpacking stove in the back yard and haven't been eaten alive).

I'm way too busy this fall to do much planning other than meeting everyone at the trailhead/parking and heading out for the weekend. The guided hike still stands and if anyone wants to coordinate their own shuttles for kayaks then that is fine too (really do-able so don't assume it would be too difficult to pull off).

That would also put me under the gun for getting a hammock done in time... so don't laugh if I end up using my tent :)

We would have to squeeze it in between archery season and muzzleloader. Looking at the calendar that would make the first three weekends in November fine. How about Veterans Day weekend? It could be a nice three day weekend trip. Show up Friday noonish, leave Sunday noonish.

Like I said, this one would have to be a show up with everything you need, carry everything you need on your back to the camping area (I think it is about a 30 minute hike roughly), pack it out, take care of yourself but relax and have fun. If you, or anyone else is interested in something like that then I'm game for that as well (it's in my back yard after all... literally). It might be a good opportunity to scout things out before the big event in March.

Dave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by samsara

It would have to be a much simpler affair... basically just a "let's go" and everyone hikes out, no shuttles, no frills, just a place to go.
Dave

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That's my kind of affair! The big Buck Lake Florida Hang satisfies my complicated side. Just sayin'

Count me in on both, being reading on area hikes and this was going to be one of my next. Did the Lakeland Scrub a couple of weeks ago and it was HOT. It's been a long hot summer for me, missed being in Maine this summer. Still finishing up new kit myself. Thanks samsara.

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Originally Posted by olddog

Count me in on both, being reading on area hikes and this was going to be one of my next. Did the Lakeland Scrub a couple of weeks ago and it was HOT. It's been a long hot summer for me, missed being in Maine this summer. Still finishing up new kit myself. Thanks samsara.

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I hear ya! It can be rough out there. We were burning last week and I got overheated worse than I've ever been. I was in rough shape but finally managed to make it out to the road after lots of rests and a bottle of water poured on my head/neck and down my back. It took me about 20 minutes. Not fun... :eek:

Dave

Wait a second, you mean to tell me, we have a State Forest employee in our midst? Boy are we glad to see you! We may need your services Samsara to convince the Florida State Forest Service to allow hammocks in their forests! Kinda nice to have someone on the inside!

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Originally Posted by lilricky

We may need your services Samsara to convince the Florida State Forest Service to allow hammocks in their forests!

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Lil Ricky meant, "State Parks" I believe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by samsara

I hear ya! It can be rough out there. We were burning last week and I got overheated worse than I've ever been. I was in rough shape but finally managed to make it out to the road after lots of rests and a bottle of water poured on my head/neck and down my back. It took me about 20 minutes. Not fun... :eek:

Dave

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I can imagine it would be rough on you coming out of the NW. I spent most of my life out in the Florida outdoors and after just the 6 summers in maine it's hard. Looking forward to get out.

The Arbuckle Tract was on my list this fall/winter. Veteran's weekend sounds good to me.

It took me about 30 minutes to hike to the site but if you are going for your first time and taking some time to look around, ask questions, take pictures, etc. then it will take longer.

The site is a bit damp and buggy right now but should be nice in March. There are plenty of trees to choose from and you can spread out all you want for your own little piece of solitude.

Here are a few pics I took:

The a panorama of the creek (about 20 feet from the picnic table)
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/p...ictureid=11023

The creek looking downstream
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/p...ictureid=11021

The wet hiking trail
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/p...ictureid=11020

A panorama of the campsite
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/p...ictureid=11017

Some wildflowers along the way
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/p...ictureid=11016

I had a couple of other pictures but it looks like I didn't copy them off of my phone (maybe later).

Dave

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Originally Posted by MAD777

Lil Ricky meant, "State Parks" I believe.

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Yeah, I don't think DEP is going to listen to me (but I'll make some calls just for the heck of it) :)

Dave

Looks good! Gear tinkering time! :D

I'll be at both if I can get the days off work.

Dave, Looking at LWR maps and google earth this am. Is the site along the Paula Dockery Trail At Reedy creek?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by islander

I like the idea too. Any thought to getting something together this Fall? Maybe a get together October - November? I like the thought of getting out somewhere.
Temps should be pleasant then too.

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Hey Islander!!!! Glad too see you back.
Shug

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Originally Posted by olddog

Dave, Looking at LWR maps and google earth this am. Is the site along the Paula Dockery Trail At Reedy creek?

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Yep, this is actually a new primitive camp site that we just put in this spring. When the Paula Dockery trail starts heading away from the creek there is a new trail heading to the east to get to this site. It is a few hundred yards down that trail. I don't have the exact location gps'd but that should be enough to get you in the general direction :)

Dave

This will get you in the neighborhood (the marker is at my best guess for where it is located)...

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/p...ictureid=11024

March is the perfect time for a walkabout on the "ridge". I am planning a section hike on the AT the first part of March (this Florida boy is going to freeze), but would be looking to join up towards the end of the month.

Thanks for the invite to join you. Keep us informed.

edo

Count me in. Would also be glad to help out in any way

I have a proposal for everyone interested in doing a group hang in this area. In the interest of getting some exposure in state parks how would everyone feel about trying to get permission to do this group hang at Lake Kissimmee state park instead? Obviously I would need to get permission from the park manager first, get an estimate of the number of campers who will be using a hammock, and find a suitable spot.

If you look at this thread you can see my last comment. I think that if we want to get some official acceptance then we need to get as many people out there hanging (in large groups), with park permission, show them that hammockfolk are great customers who have less impact than everyone else, and that not allowing hammock camping will be a revenue hit as well as excluding a decent sized user group.

Maybe we could shift this hang to the state park as a trial to see how things go and then starting next fall we can try for one large group hang a month in a state park (different parks each time if possible) during the cooler months.

What does everyone say? Yes? No? When in March does everyone like? I know that the best weekend for me would be St. Patricks weekend but others are possible. Let me know if we want to try this out and if we do then I need a head count by the end of November so that I can talk to the park manager and see what he thinks.

Dave

I think the "demonstration hang" in state parks is a great idea for hammock acceptance. I would like to find a site away from the car camp crowd. Somehowin my mind, camped next to a bunch of folks tossind empty beer cans into the woods and grilling steaks (bear bait) next to me takes away the aura of the piney woods.

Set a time and place and I will do my best to be there.

However, I don't want to cancel this LWR trip next month. Plans for a state park hang at a different time should be posted in a new thread.

Sounds good to me. Just checked the state park regulations on the group camping requirements part of which are "recognized, registered, non profit organization". I think most of us have the non-profit portion covered.

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Originally Posted by olddog

...I think most of us have the non-profit portion covered.

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:lol: :lol: :lol:
THAT'S for sure!!!

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Originally Posted by MAD777

However, I don't want to cancel this LWR trip next month. Plans for a state park hang at a different time should be posted in a new thread.

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No worries... I have the new (dry) site reserved for next month. Once I get a few moments to breathe at work I'll make a new map and get a gps point. I'll talk to the park manager at Lk Kissimmee and see what our options are for a group hang up there and as long as it's kosher I'll post a new thread.

Dave

Regards Kissimmee park: I'm still in. I live in the general area and can pretty much "go with the flow".
(hopefully, it's won't be too deep!!<G>)

Bit of a trip for me, but I might be able to swing it - the LWSF hang - could put the wife and kids up at the House of Mouse for the weekend and make an all around fun trip.

If plans firm up, let me know - I'll check the calendar for Scouting and work conflicts and see what I can finagle. I'd love to hang in Central Florida - heck, I'll love to hang just about anywhere .... :laugh: