Hunting Dates for Central Florida’s Eastern and Western Corridors of the Florida Trail

With November now only a month away and temperatures (hopefully) beginning to cool, we are finally approaching backpacking season in Central Florida. But as most Florida Trail lovers know, many of the great places to backpack here, including most of the forested sections of the Florida National Scenic Trail, are on land that we’ll have … Continue reading Hunting Dates for Central Florida’s Eastern and Western Corridors of the Florida Trail

As State Parks Go, Colt Creek State Park is Great for Longer Hikes

Anyone familiar with my book or my prior blog posts knows that I am borderline-obsessed with the Green Swamp located an hour west of Orlando. But I’m ashamed to admit that, until this weekend, I had not yet visited nearby Colt Creek State Park. I’m glad my wait is over, as Colt Creek is certainly … Continue reading As State Parks Go, Colt Creek State Park is Great for Longer Hikes

Check out my latest essay in Wilderness House Literary Review

I was honored to have an essay of mine titled "A Suburban Desk Jockey’s Weekend Adventure in the Green Swamp" published today in the summer issue of Wilderness House Literary Review. In this essay, I describe my first point-to-point backpacking trip last June in the Green Swamp West Tract and the Richloam Tract of the … Continue reading Check out my latest essay in Wilderness House Literary Review

For hiking with a taste of history and old school soda, check out the Richloam Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest

Anyone who has read my book or my most recent essay on FloridaHikes.com knows I am enamored with the Green Swamp, a huge stretch of forest about an hour west of Orlando. But perhaps equally as beautiful is the adjacent Richloam Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest that lies directly north of the Green Swamp … Continue reading For hiking with a taste of history and old school soda, check out the Richloam Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest

Check out my latest love letter to the Green Swamp on FloridaHikes.com

I was honored (again) to have Sandra Friend, the author of The Florida Trail Guide and many other great books on backpacking, post another essay of mine on the FloridaHikes.com. The piece, titled "A Forest is Reborn in the Green Swamp," recounts my experiences hiking and backpacking in the Green Swamp East Tract this spring … Continue reading Check out my latest love letter to the Green Swamp on FloridaHikes.com

The Green Swamp West Tract: A Section of Florida Trail that is Backpacking Paradise

In my recent discoveries of Central Florida trails, I’ve fallen in love with sections of the Florida National Scenic Trail, Florida’s answer to the Appalachian Trail that runs from the Everglades to the Florida panhandle, and perhaps my favorite place to do one-night backpacking trips near my home in Winter Garden is the section of … Continue reading The Green Swamp West Tract: A Section of Florida Trail that is Backpacking Paradise