We had a most enjoyable time at the ALDHA Gathering in Shippensburg, PA a few weeks ago, sharing our knowledge of the Florida Trail with the long-dist

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We had a most enjoyable time at the ALDHA Gathering in Shippensburg, PA a few weeks ago, sharing our knowledge of the Florida Trail with the long-distance hiking community. We're looking forward to many of them coming down to Florida this hiking season!

Here's the first round of updates for The Florida Trail Guide, including some corrections but mostly changes along the trail. Print out a copy and keep it with your book.

UPDATES, NOVEMBER 2013

p. 18 A hiker at ALDHA advised us that the Miccosukee Casino can be a great help in getting you to the Southern Terminus, but you must call ahead and make arrangements for an overnight stay, which cost him $100. With your stay, they provide a free continental breakfast AND transportation. They'll pick you up at the Miami International Airport and bring you out to the casino. You can purchase your initial groceries for the trek at the Dade Corners convenience store across the street, and there are restaurants inside the casino/hotel. And you can arrange to have them take you to the Oasis Visitor Center. The hiker did stress that you have to make it clear to the folks who drop you off that they don't need to pick you up at Oasis Visitor Center later in the day, or at all.

p. 35 The Army Corps of Engineers has recently closed the Florida Trail atop the Herbert Hoover dike between John Stretch Park, mile 87.4, and their offices in Clewiston at mile 95.9, which means no access to the Clewiston Campsite along Lake Okeechobee. Your alternative is to roadwalk the broad berm of US 27 for 9.5 miles into Clewiston, passing Crooked Hook RV Resort, 6.9 miles north of where the FT normally crosses US 27 to John Stretch Park, on the west side of the highway. Tent sites available. 863-983-7112, http://www.crookedhookrv.biz.

The Florida Trail remains closed towards South Bay from John Stretch Park.

p. 46 map: Don't mind the :: cows :: warnings on the map: Cattle are no longer grazed at Chandler Slough South, Chandler Slough East, or Micco Landing, making for a bull-free experience (especially appreciated at the campsites).

p.69 Construction at mile 368.7 - the crossing of CR 46A on the Seminole-Wekiva Trail - appears to be a pedestrian tunnel in progress. Just cross the street on the south side, walk past Publix, and use the crosswalk north of Publix to continue on the bike path. There are several "urban forest" stealth opportunities on public land around 369.5 miles, just past the apartments north of Publix as well as just north of Orange Blvd.

p.77 Reroute of the Florida Trail is complete at Farles Prairie between mile 413.5 and mile 417.3. The trail now follows the east side of the lake north of Farles Prairie Recreation Area and meets the original trail approximately 4 miles north of the recreation area.

p97-98 - The map that belongs with the Osceola National Forest data is on page 100, shared with the beginning of the Suwannee section.

p. 81 The junction of the eastern and western corridors of the Florida Trail is being moved north of mile 448.3, closer to The 88 Store. Watch for signage.

p. 121 Between miles 744.0 and 747.1, the trail may be permanently relocated to the high water route due to the difficulty of maintaining the regular route. We'll let you know for sure once the route change is confirmed.

p. 122 We missed a trailhead! It's not on any of the FTA maps so we never went looking for it. It's the Medart / Carraway Cutoff Trailhead (30.076313,-84.410090) off US 319 on the way to Sopchoppy, at mile 785.5.

Directions: Follow US 319 (Crawfordville Highway) south to the southern intersection of US 319 and US 98 in Medart. Follow US 319 to right (west) towards Sopchoppy for approximately one mile to Carraway Cutoff road. Turn left (south) onto Carraway Cutoff and follow this dirt road for 1000 feet to the trailhead on the left (east) side of the road. This trailhead is within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and serves as the eastern trailhead for the Apalachicola National Forest and the western trailhead for the Refuge. The Florida Trail passes through the trailhead. Thanks to Linda Patton for updating us on this one.

p. 125 The Thompson House / field office is on the SOUTH side of US 98.

p. 147 Although a new entry to Eglin Air Force Base is planned this season across from Nokuse, for now, the trail remains a roadwalk paralleling US 331 to Eglin Portal. No permit is needed until you reach Eglin Portal.

p. 172 map: Pay special attention to the closures marked on the map, as they are not noted in the narrative. These closures may lift at any time and new closures may be put in place.

The Army Corps of Engineers has reopened the Florida Trail between South Bay Recreation Area and Canal Point Recreation Area. The trail remains closed between Canal Point Recreation Area and Port Mayaca Recreation Area, with the only alternative through that section a roadwalk along US 441 on a narrow berm with high-speed truck traffic.

p190 map - There is no parking area along East Haven St, just a pulloff and deep soft sand at the trail crossing.

p194 map - The trail crosses East Haven St at an angle NE heading northbound, coming out to Pleasant Hill Rd just a bit south of Kimberly Ln, eliminating a short stretch of roadwalk.

p. 203 Between miles 477.6 and 479.7, The Florida Trail is being relocated at the northern end of the Western Connector in the Ocala National Forest to meet the main trail closer to The 88 Store. We'll inform you of mileage updates once we have them.

If you're out there hiking and run across updates we need to know about to keep The Florida Trail Guide up to date - whether changes to the trail or changes to services - please let us know! Send a message to info@floridahikes.com with the information.

If you haven't picked up a copy of the book yet, we're running low! We're already arranging a second printing so we have enough inventory for Christmastime.

Cheers, Sandy & John
FloridaHikes.com

PS. We use this mailing list for sending out updates to the book as we have them, no more than monthly. If you'd rather not receive updates, you can unsubscribe here.

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