SECOND ANNUAL FLORIDA HANG: Buck Lake, Ocala NF Jan 13-16 2012

**FLRider** · 10-30-2011, 20:38

Originally Posted by olddog

Be extremely cautious when around either of these two plants, not because of the plant but it's residences. Wasp love to hang their nest under the fronds, scorpions gather in the boots, rattlesnakes and coral snakes will hid under the accumulated dead fronds at the base.

Not to mention that "saw" palmetto is very accurately named. Found that one out mountain biking the first month after I moved to Florida. Not so much fun, especially as I was in shorts.

**Flackfizer** · 10-31-2011, 19:32

I dont dont have nearly enough knowledge of edible plants. I tried to look over what was on the AT to eat, but you are really not supposed to harvest as you hike, so I dropped it. I will speak for the trekkers in the group and say, that if anyone wants to carve out a space to teach these skills and even prepare some food to eat, I will make sure we trumpet it.

**NorseAmerican** · 10-31-2011, 20:43

Originally Posted by Flackfizer

I dont dont have nearly enough knowledge of edible plants. I tried to look over what was on the AT to eat, but you are really not supposed to harvest as you hike, so I dropped it. I will speak for the trekkers in the group and say, that if anyone wants to carve out a space to teach these skills and even prepare some food to eat, I will make sure we trumpet it.

Good Idea! It would be a great side attraction if someone knowledgeable in wild plant food could demonstrate.

**hangNyak** · 11-01-2011, 22:06

Hi folks. I'm on vacation and have spent the last few days here at my mom's place. She lives 20 minutes from the Buck Lake campground. Yesterday, I attempted to find the place, to get a view of the area. The road numbers do not jive with Google, and as I attemted to drive it, the roads seemed a little iffy. It was raining and there were alot of potholes, so I decided to turn around, as I drive a 2WD truck. How are the roads leading into the campground and what's the deal with the road numbers?

**MAD777** · 11-02-2011, 12:09

There is a very small sign on Hwy 19 at the turnoff to Buck Lake.
The dirt road last year was dry and I had no problem driving a sport sedan to the lake.
It has been very wet lately, but it should theoretically be dryer in winter.

**JaxHiker** · 11-02-2011, 12:30

I think I have GPS coordinates at home. And yes, the FS changed the road numbers. I believe they used to have both old/new numbers posted but have since removed the old ones.

**samsara** · 11-02-2011, 12:47

Originally Posted by MAD777

There is a very small sign on Hwy 19 at the turnoff to Buck Lake.
The dirt road last year was dry and I had no problem driving a sport sedan to the lake.
It has been very wet lately, but it should theoretically be dryer in winter.

If we haven't dried out a fair bit by January then I'm going to start building an ark

**hangNyak** · 11-02-2011, 13:01

On further review in Google Earth, I turned on the wrong road. The sign said Buck Lake, but the road you guys are using is about another mile up 19. My bad. Oh well, I'll be back there at Thanksgiving and I'll check it out then. On a side note, my mom has bears in her neighborhood every other night!

I camped in the forest quite a bit as a teenager and never saw a bear. Guess "breakfast from the hammock" is out!

**sigma_pete** · 11-02-2011, 14:05

I was there in September with the scoot troop. The road in is in better shape now than it was last year, even though it was very wet out.

There was bear scat (lots of fresh berries in it) in several places along the road in front of the campfire area and further west. Only saw deer, sandhill cranes, and squirrels that weekend though. At last year's hang, I saw a red fox.

**josh813** · 11-02-2011, 15:07

So what I'm gathering so far is its going to be like a group food situation? Who do I send the $ to.

Or each their own? I will have no problem sharing. Just may have to see about letting some food ride with someone from the Tampa area as I always like to make a ton and say dig in. Lol. Just can't carry a whole lot on a motorcycle.