🌴Suncoast Outdoors🥾

Let's show the Withlacoochee State Forest from Ridge Manor a little love! We will hike the orange and blue trails and enjoy a lovely combo of open sky and forest canopy, and pine needle/dirt and sugar sand trails that loosely follow the curves of the Withlacoochee River. There's lots to see including the river, cliffs, cypress domes, oak hammocks, pine nurseries, wildlife, and hopefully a few colorful flowers.

We will hike at least 10 miles.

Please do not signup for this hike if you can't maintain a pace of 2.5 miles over 4 hours on uneven terrain. If this is your first hike with Suncoast Outdoors, please message me before hand to introduce yourself.

Because of the season, this should be a dry hike with lots of sun. If it looks like rain, I will still see you there, maybe with your rain gear on :). We will hike at a steady and moderately-brisk pace and take a couple of short breaks plus one 20 minute break for a snack.

On the day of the hike, please meet me at 8:45 am at the pavilion next to the bathroom and the parking lot. We will leave at 9 am sharp. You will need at least 3 liters of water, snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, a hat, hikers, and anything else you deem necessary for your comfort. There are very few benches so you may want to bring a ground cloth to sit on during the snack break. There are bathrooms and water at the trailhead only.

For information about the hike, visit https://floridahikes.com/florida-trail-croom-river-trail/ but keep in mind that we're not going as far as crooked river.

My number on the day of the hike is 813-713-2492.

I am asking that everyone signs up (no guests) so everyone can agree to the waiver and agree to the following conditions:

ASSUMPTION OF RISK
YOUR ATTENDANCE AT A "SUNCOAST OUTDOORS " SPONSORED EVENT IS YOUR EXPRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF FULL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR ALL ASSOCIATED RISKS.

Possible risks from participation include, but are not limited to: injury from a trip and fall, venomous snakes, stinging insects, venomous spiders, wildlife encounters, heat stroke, dehydration, hypothermia, noxious vegetation, weather related injury, insect or airborne transmissible virus and disease, smoke inhalation, wildfire, and falling trees.

I am not a professional guide, just a volunteer for the group.
Any questions or concerns, please comment below. Thanks.

🌴Let's Talk Florida Hiking! 🥾
Dec.14, 1:00 -- 2:30 pm
REI Tampa - register here REI Event Registration

• Are you new to Florida?
• Is there really hiking here?
• How do I get started?
• Where do you hike?
• What do I bring?
• How do I prepare?
• Are there are venomous snakes, gators and bears? (YES!)

We'll discuss these and other relevant topics while having fun doing so!! Although my intent is to gear this towards newbies to Florida, wannabe, novice level hikers, and curiosity seekers, all levels are welcome.

I am a native born Floridian and have lived in the Bay area since the early 80's. I have grown to love and NEED the outdoors, in particular the REAL FLORIDA
I've long since learned that in spite of Florida being so densely populated and growing more so, there is still a tremendous amount of protected forested public lands available for our recreation and benefiting healthy lifestyle.
In addition to your RSVP on our page, kindly register with REI as well.
REI Event Registration
There is no cost to attend!

My favorite bike trail over the years has been the 32 mile Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail. We had ridden this trail several times in the past before I got active in hiking. Gainesville Hawthorne Trail

I am going to ride it out and back on Wednesday the 17th. If you want to join me you are more than welcome to. I am going to stop at a few spots along the way that may or may not be of interest to you. I won't be attempting to keep pace with anyone who is naturally faster. Conversely, I don't expect anyone to lag behind just to keep me company. Helmets are recommended.
I plan to stop midway in the quaint town of Hawthorne for late lunch / early dinner The Wrap Shack.

After the ride I am headed to my campsite at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. I will be there the 17th and 18th.
Paynes Prairie Preserve Stare Park We are hiking on the 18th. Hike is posted separately

Meet at the Boulware Springs trailhead in Gainesville, noon on the 17th.

YOUR RSVP TO ATTEND A "SUNCOAST OUTDOORS " SPONSORED EVENT IS YOUR EXPRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF FULL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR ALL ASSOCIATED RISKS.

Possible risks from participation include, but are not limited to:
Injury from a trip & fall, venomous snakes, stinging insects, venomous spiders, wildlife encounters, heat stroke, hypothermia, noxious vegetation, weather related injury, insect or airborne transmissible virus and disease, smoke inhalation, wildfire, falling trees, drowning

I will be camping Wed. the 17th & Thursday the 18th
Paynes Prairie Preserve Stare Park
Thursday morning the 18th, I am leaving from my campsite and plan to spend the day hiking around the park. You are invited to join me.

Paynes Prairie is known for its wild bison and cracker horses. I have only encountered the bison herd twice in about 15 visits over the years. I have seen the wild horses more frequently. The day will include 8 miles in full sun on the Cone's Dike Trail.

If anyone wants to make it an overnight stay you can make your own camp reservation. I am in the walk in tent section #22. Several already are.

Quote from WILLIAM BARTRAM, Colonial naturalist and botanist, commenting on Florida's natural splendor, during his exploration in the pre Revolutionary mid 1700's. He wrote much about the Alachua Savannah, now known as Payne's Prairie, and has been described as "the first naturalist who penetrated the dense tropical forests of Florida"
"Whilst I, continually impelled by a restless spirit of curiosity, in pursuit of new productions of nature, my chief happiness consisted in tracing and admiring the infinite power, majesty, and perfection of the Great Almighty Creator"
Travels of William Bartram 🌿🍃 © 1928

Thursday I plan to eat dinner at Pearl Country Store. It is just down the road apiece on US 441. They close at 7:00 pm.

YOUR RSVP TO ATTEND A "SUNCOAST OUTDOORS " SPONSORED EVENT IS YOUR EXPRESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF FULL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR ALL ASSOCIATED RISKS.

Possible risks from participation include, but are not limited to:
Injury from a trip & fall, venomous snakes, stinging insects, venomous spiders, wildlife encounters, heat stroke, hypothermia, noxious vegetation, weather related injury, insect or airborne transmissible virus and disease, smoke inhalation, wildfire, falling trees, drowning