About 1½ hours east of Orlando near Brooksville, a playground for outdoor enthusiasts beckons for hikers that offers that rarest of commodities in our state: Hills. Anyone who has driven on I-75 north of Tampa has passed through them. By Florida standards, they are a bit rugged. They are also a great place to backpack … Continue reading Hills in Florida? The Croom Tract in the Withlacoochee State Forest Has Them
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Thank you to Sandra Friend for Posting My Piece on FloridaHikes.com!
I was honored today to have Sandra Friend, the author of The Florida Trail Guide and many other great books on backpacking, post my first article on the FloridaHikes.com website and feature me as an author there. The piece, titled "It's Raining in the Ocala National Forest," is a humorous account of my first backpacking … Continue reading Thank you to Sandra Friend for Posting My Piece on FloridaHikes.com!
Florida Hikes is THE website for anyone hiking and backpacking in Florida
Anyone who has planned a vacation knows it can be difficult to mull through a world of online information to figure out the best places to go, stay, and see. For backpackers, there is just one definitive website for planning hikes and camping trips in Florida, and it is FloridaHikes.com. If you’re a novice backpacker looking … Continue reading Florida Hikes is THE website for anyone hiking and backpacking in Florida
Disney Wilderness Preserve: A Great Place Near Orlando for Families to Hike
The Nature Conservancy has several great hiking destinations in Florida, and perhaps the best one near Orlando for families is the Disney Wilderness Preserve. Located in Poinciana not far from the Disney parks, the Disney Wilderness Preserve is close to the attractions but feels far away. It also has several interconnected trails ranging in length … Continue reading Disney Wilderness Preserve: A Great Place Near Orlando for Families to Hike
Lake Louisa State Park: A Great Place to Learn to Backpack
When I began dreaming about backpacking 14 months ago at age 47 after impulsively purchasing a tent, I did not think I would be solo backpacking on national scenic trails by now. I only wanted to sleep under the stars away from city lights and the noise of parking lot campers. I eventually learned to … Continue reading Lake Louisa State Park: A Great Place to Learn to Backpack
Sleeping on the Trail—Tips for New Backpackers on Tents, Sleeping Bags, and Other Items that Will Help You Rest Between Hikes
When you hike in the backcountry or even at a state park, you often need to sleep at a primitive campsite that has nothing but a firepit and possibly a picnic table—indeed, that’s much of what makes it fun. But unless you’re a deer or a pooch, you’ll need a comfortable place to sleep that … Continue reading Sleeping on the Trail—Tips for New Backpackers on Tents, Sleeping Bags, and Other Items that Will Help You Rest Between Hikes
The Little Big Econ State Forest: A Great Way to Taste the Florida Trail
The following article was first published in the January 2025 issue of The Footpath Newsletter, the newsletter for the Central Florida chapter of the Florida Trail Association. Having recently written a book about several one-night backpacking trips I did last year while discovering backpacking in Central Florida, I had not yet actually done a trip … Continue reading The Little Big Econ State Forest: A Great Way to Taste the Florida Trail
“Non-Necessities” I Always Take Backpacking
Backpackers live and die by weight. Abiding by the commandment that you should never carry more than 20 percent of your body weight (not an easy feat for a fit demographic), competent backpackers obsess about ounces, always consider the weight of anything they take on the trail, and avoid even light luxuries that they’ll feel … Continue reading “Non-Necessities” I Always Take Backpacking
My book is now on sale at Sunshine Book Co. in Clermont
I'm thrilled to announce that my book has now been picked up for sale at the Sunshine Book Co., a local independent bookstore located in a pretty house in the heart of Clermont's historic district. This is the first bricks and mortar store to sell my book, so I'm thrilled to now be there! They … Continue reading My book is now on sale at Sunshine Book Co. in Clermont
Thank you to the Florida Trail Association for hosting my first book signing!
Thank you again to the Central Florida chapter of the Florida Trail Association for inviting me to present my book at their chapter meeting last night, and especially to the friends who came (including my Central Florida Gator Club pals). This was my first book signing, and it was a blast. I was also lucky … Continue reading Thank you to the Florida Trail Association for hosting my first book signing!
