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EVENT: |
SWAMP THING Everglades Backpacking Trip |
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Dec 18-20, 2010 (Sat - Mon) (3 Days / 2 Nights) |
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$75 (plus backpacking meals) |
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TO REGISTER: |
Call or email to sign-up! Pay online or by check to lock-in your spot. |
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START TIME: |
Dec 18 (Sat)
7:30am (Departure time from GTD office)
10:30am (Meeting at the trailhead at I-75 Rest Area; Mile Marker 63) |
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ENDING TIME: |
Dec 20 (Mon)
2:00pm (Complete hike back to I-75 Rest Area; Mile Marker 63)
9:00pm (Return back to the GTD office by 9pm) |
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LOCATION: |
Big Cypress Swamp (Everglades) - FL |
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BASE CAMP: |
Ivy Camp in Big Cypress Swamp (very small pineland island) |
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MAP & GPS |
Click here for MAP | GPS: 26° 07.609'N; 81° 03.538'W |
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CANCEL DATE: |
Dec 13, 2010 (If minimum # of participants is not attained) |
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MIN. PEOPLE NEEDED: |
4 |
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MAX. PEOPLE: |
15 |
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AGE RANGE: |
16 & older |
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ACCOMMODATIONS: |
- Jungle Hammocks
- NO Restrooms
- NO Showers Available |
JUNGLE HAMMOCKS
AVAILABLE THRU GTD | |
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ADVENTURES: |
- Backpacking (3 miles in; 3 miles out; 2 miles exploration = 8 miles total)
- Set up Base Camp (cut down high grass/weeds; build fire pit)
- Exploration (Visit nearby swamp areas) |
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DEPARTURE INFO: |
See "START TIME" above |
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RETURN INFO: |
See "ENDING TIME" above |
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REQUIRED WAIVERS:
[Please print & complete prior to arrival] |
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(Any participant under 18 must
also have parent/ guardian
sign each waiver) | |
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PHOTO ALBUMS: |
Click here to see some pictures from previous trips. | |
| ABOUT OUR BASE CAMP |
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POISON IVY WARNING: Our Base Camp is at a place called "Ivy Camp". There is poison ivy scattered throughout the camp. You will be exposed to posison ivy.
BASE CAMP SURFACE: Pineland Island - Dry
BASE CAMP SIZE: Very Small (15-20 people max)
BASE CAMP CONDITION: Usually overgrown. Each year we spend the first few hours setting up our base camp by chopping down any overgrown weeds, etc & building our fire pit.
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Cocoon hammock set-up VIDEO |
| ABOUT THE TRAIL |
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check out this swamp race video!
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TRAIL LENGTH: 3 Miles (One Way)
TRAIL CONDITIONS: Dry Land (25%), Swamp - Ankle Deep+ (50%), Sludge (25%)
TRAIL BLAZES: This hike is part of the Florida Trail and is marked with orange blazes.
HIKING PACE: Expect to hike at approx 1 mph (3 hrs one way)
FYI: GATOR vs PYTHON
In this photo provided by the Everglades National Park, the carcass of a six-foot American alligator is shown protruding from the mid-section of a 13-foot Burmese python Monday, Sept. 26, 2005 in Everglades National Park, Fla., after the snake apparently swallowed the alligator resulting in the deaths of both animals. Pythons have become a problem in the Everglades. |
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| ABOUT THE TRAILHEAD & REST AREA / PARKING LOT |
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DRIVING DISTANCE FROM LARGO: 200 Miles (3 hrs) (Mostly Interstate)
TRAILHEAD FACILITIES: Restrooms, vending machines, picnic shelters, water hose, trash cans, cell phone tower, electricity. This will only be available at the start/finish of the trip.
PARKING: We will be parking in front of the cell phone tower. If you are meeting at the trailhead you need to consider this: GTD can not guarantee the safety of your vehicle (your vehicle may be stolen, broken into, towed, or damaged). Park at your own risk! |
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| DAILY AGENDA OVERVIEW |
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SAT |
SUN |
MON |
Depart for Everglades
Pick up Subway for Lunch
Arrive at Trailhead
Welcome & Intro
Pack Backpacks & Eat Lunch
3 Mile Hike to Base Camp
Set-Up Base Camp
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Breakfast
Morning Devos
Explore Everglades
Lunch
Relax @ Base Camp
Dinner
CHRISTmas Gift Exchange |
Breakfast
Morning Devos
Break Camp
Hike Out 3 Miles
Lunch (Backpacker Meal)
Changes Clothes
Pack Vehicles / Depart
Celebration Restaurant Dinner | |
| ABOUT BACKPACKING MEALS |
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WHERE TO PURCHASE: Most grocery stores such as Publix have great selections at low costs. Sporting good stores do carry specialty backpacking meals & usually cost more.
AMOUNT: Bring enough food for 7 camping meals plus trail snacks.
SIZE, WEIGHT, & PACKAGING: Food should be lightweight & waterproof. Seal it in zip-lock bags. Try not to bring heavy canned foods.
STOVE & COOKWARE: There will be camp stoves, utensils, mess kits, and cooking pots supplied.
BACKPACKING MEAL EXAMPLES: Some examples of backpacking foods are instant mashed potatoes & instant gravy, tortillas & pepperoni with sealed cheese, Ramen noodles, Lipton pasta packets, vacuum-sealed tuna fish, vacuum-sealed salmon, vacuum-sealed chicken breast, Ragu 6-pack spaghetti w/sauce, granola/breakfast bars, pop tarts, freeze dried foods, pastas, oatmeal, dried fruits, peanut butter, jelly packets, hard rolls, nuts, m&m's, raisins, sunflower seeds, trail mix, etc. PLEASE DON'T BRING MAC & CHEESE - IT BURNS TO THE COOKING POTS.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO freeze a small steak or some type of meat and let it thaw as we hike to our campsite so they can enjoy it for their first meal... be creative =). Also, make sure you keep it in a cooler until we start the hike.
MEALS DURING TRANSIT: Bring money for meals during transit. We will be eating at 2-3 restaurants such as Subway, Cracker Barrel, Sonny's, Wendy's etc. |
| WHAT IS INCLUDED |
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Transportation for first 7 participants, full time guides, Backpacks, cocoon jungle hammock, some camping supplies, cooking supplies, daily devotions & spiritual emphasis, a God-awesome lifelong memory! |
| WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED |
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Backpacking food, sleeping bag, water bottles, meals during transit, items listed on checklist (see below). |
| PAYMENT OPTIONS |
| GTD events can be paid for with cash, checks, or debit / credit cards (online only). To pay online with a debit or credit card scroll to the top of this link and click on the Pay Now button. Click here for cash & check payments.
GTD ALSO OFFERS PAYMENT PLANS |
| EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS |
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GTD
1.888.697.2479 (GTD Main Office - Toll Free)
727-394-9483 (GTD Main Office - Tampa Bay area)
727-692-0250 (GTD On-Call cell phone)
727-692-5296 (GTD Trip Director cell phone - Doug Garner)
BIG CYPRESS RANGER STATION
239-695-2000 (Big Cypress Headquarters) | | |
