FL>Hidden Pond, ONF>Sept 25-27>4th Annual Summer's Last Gasp Hang

**jshay** · 09-22-2015, 14:36

Originally Posted by hmchristian

I am part of the +2.

Originally Posted by jshay

I'm now +2. Is it Friday yet?!

To clarify: our group includes me, hmchristian, and 2 others who are newbies. We'll be leaving Gainesville around 2:30pm on Friday.

**Moonshiner** · 09-22-2015, 15:54

Can't make it this weekend, schedule just won't allow for time. Had all the gear ready, hate to miss another one ugh!

**Duffy** · 09-23-2015, 06:12

Ya'll have a great time out there. MightyMouse and I would like to be added to the "With you in spirit, always" list. We will be back for HangCon1.

**MAD777** · 09-23-2015, 07:58

Duffy & Mighty Mouse, not a gathering goes by that you two aren't mentioned. Always there in spirit!

**Ashhang** · 09-23-2015, 16:19

Might have to work on Saturday. So instead of the morning it will be the afternoon. Still don't know yet I will find out by fri.

**Shannan** · 09-23-2015, 16:43

Guys, I am thinking about making this hang and should be able to. Patches will be with me so, I wouldn't be able to leave until I pick her up from school on Friday and get final packed and moving by 3PM. That puts me there 5-6pm(depending on the route/entry). I have looked at the map for the West entry and haven't found much info except the GPS loc from LilRicky. How far is if from the west entrance to the camp? I have not found any maps of that jeep trail into the camp.

**Shannan** · 09-23-2015, 17:05

Originally Posted by zukiguy

Just my $.02. I've done Pat's Island a few times and the trail is pretty well marked and hard to miss or lose along the way. It's only like 3.5 miles or so and there's ample parking. It's a bit off the beaten path but I don't believe anyone has ever had any vehicle vandalism or other problems.

Tropikal and I did the hike in from Juniper last time. The hike was a bit longer (5.5 maybe??) but it irks me to pay $12/night just to leave my car there. A dip in the spring would have been nice on the trip out but we were preempted by a gator in the spring so they closed down the swimming area.

We hiked out the hidden pond short last time. While it is a "straight" shot there are a number of doglegs that go around old dry ponds. The old road bed is easy to follow in long sections then virtually disappears for a few hundred yards through scrub. We had a guy coming in to meet us last trip that ended up bushwhacking to make it to the pond because he lost the track. Tropikal and I got turned around a few times on the way out and this was in daylight. Trying to find your way in the first time in the dark might pose a challenge. However, if you're following your GPS the "trail" is just the old marked roadbed so it's certainly doable.

I might choose to park at Pat's Island and do the 3 miles in....

**FireSweeper** · 09-23-2015, 18:40

Originally Posted by Shannan

I might choose to park at Pat's Island and do the 3 miles in....

If you do, I will be arriving around the same time.

**zukiguy** · 09-23-2015, 18:44

Tropikal and I are hoping to hit the trail early Friday to beat the heat coming from Pat's Island. Anybody else heading up around that time?? I'll be the slow guy on the trail carrying the ridiculously large external frame pack.....

**Floridahanger** · 09-23-2015, 19:16

Duffy, you and MM are always with us. Like Mike said, you are always talked about. As a matter of fact, I got a down vest at Sam's Club last month and thought of MM wearing hers at Hidden Pond a few years ago for this very hang.

Shannon, glad to hear you and Patches will be at this hang. Bring your bathing suits. And bring rain gear, it always seems to rain out here in the afternoons on the hike in.

Lilricky made a video of the Hidden Pond Short trail last year. Hope this helps.