Bird’s eye view aerial of Fisheating Creek at Ingrams Crossing dry season edition.
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Hiking through Fisheating Creek WMA
So if a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, then a new site begins with the first post! What better way to fire off this site than with a 3 day, 36 mile through-hike of beautiful Fisheating Creek in Palmdale, Florida..
I’ve been wanting to do some real adventure hiking, and joined up with the excellent folks who are the Happy Hoofers, a local chapter of the Florida Trail Association. It was a real pleasure to meet and spend some quality time hiking, camping and exploring with this great group! Special thanks go out to David D, Dave R, Larry & Chris .. actually everybody for their leadership, patience, company and for all that filtered river water!! 😉
It started out innocently enough~
First section was just a dirt road
The Fort Center area has a lot of history and there have been some major Native American archaeological digs there. It’s a great place for day hiking!
In the shade at Fort Center
Aerial near Fort Center at Fisheating Creek WMA
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East section aerial of Fisheating Creek, Cowbone Marsh
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We set off on a good pace
I’m showing one small thumbnail, but there were many life-size Cow dung patties in this section!
! Dung
Bird’s eye view from a Palm
These lil piglets didn’t sniff us out until almost right on top of us!
Hog traps were empty though we saw several hogs
is it what’s for dinner? 😉
Taking an hourly break in the shade
Gorgeous flowers at FEC
We saw lots of cows, hogs, some deer and several Swallow-tailed Kites flying around.
It was nice and quiet too, no machinery noises.
Hiking amongst Cypress gnomes
Aerial of Cypress Dome and gator hole at Fisheating Creek WMA
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Namesake of Cowbone Marsh
This individual did not make it out!
In the only wet section of Cowbone Marsh that we had to cross
Our feet were dry until we had to cross this small bog on the fringes of Cowbone Marsh.
Dashing across the mostly dry Cowbone Marsh inside Fisheating Creek WMA
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The group – Day 1 (Click for larger version)
Oranges growing wild
The wild growing oranges looked inviting so I ate one. I’ll say it was juicy and “refreshing” though not bred for sweetness! I felt the vitamin C boosting, the acidity was overwhelming. I can see why they grow so well here, being full of seeds .. but a little seed never hurt anybody! 😉
First night’s camp setup
Dinner with sunset over Rock Lake or is it Paradise Lake?
Camp #1 by the fire, bad jokes were told! Later we listened to Coyotes howling
Aerial of Rock Lake camping area at Fisheating Creek WMA (Paradise Lake)
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Rock Lake, Fisheating Creek WMA
Milk Thistle
Dry season at Fisheating Creek WMA
http://www.awakenthegrass.com
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After a day of peaceful hiking we had to sprint across Hwy 27 with trucks barreling down.
Just across the higway are the remains of the Tom Gaskins Cypress Knee Museum which was once a main attraction here. Today, (sadly) it has the look of a crackhouse..
Somebody had their fun with the lettering .. 😉
Sadly – a trash dump just off Hwy 27
Decrepit recycling bins with Palmdale firetower in the background
Walking up old railroad track to the Fisheating Creek Outpost just up the road
Fisheating Creek WMA – entrance to the campground
The Fisheating Creek Outpost store sells water, drinks, snacks and also has a boat launch ramp with canoe / kayak rentals available.
Squirrel’s eye view of Fisheating Creek boat launch in Palmdale, Florida
at fisheatingcreekoutpost.com
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Along our route (and a must when visiting FEC) was a stop at the famed tree swing. Well at least one of us was able to play Tarzan! 😉
Tarzan on the famed tree swing at Fisheating Creek .. thump chest as you let go!
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Filtering more water .. MUST_HAVE_WATER !
knees, knees, everywhere!
Beautiful ferns in the Cypress forest
Hog tracks ?
Remains of a Turkey Vulture, probably~
Map check
Magic Cypress forest in Fisheating Creek WMA
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No magic here -not a mushroom to mess with !
Moss on the forest floor
A woodpecker’s aerial view through Cypress forest along Fisheating Creek
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Beautiful Live Oak everywhere around .. grow crazy like octopus tentacles!
Larry shows off his sleeping hammock for Chris
Chill camp night #2 under a big ol’ tree with a small fire
Buenos Dias!
Sunrise through Spanish Moss
Lots of airplats, bromeliads
Beauty in the simple details and light!
I saw this from a distance – the light and the color combo is what makes this shot!
Several long segments were along the perimeter fence with Lyke’s Bros property – which was just recently plowed over for a fire break.
If you’ve ever tried walking across a freshly plowed field – you know!
Hiking along perimeter fence felt like Boot Camp!
Fisheating creek WMA
Tough going along the perimeter path of Fisheating Creek WMA
Fascinating Red Carnivorous plant along path
trail ? no trail
Some really overgrown sections!
Ingrams Crossing at Fisheating Creek in the dry season
Bird’s eye view aerial of Fisheating Creek at Ingrams Crossing dry season edition
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This is right at the northern terminus of the perimeter path in Fisheating Creek
Entry into Platt Branch WEA
Platt Branch is mostly scrub / pine type habitat and we walked on sandy dirt tracks. Platt Branch is a great place for birding, but the deep sandy trails can be challenging.
Burns in Platt Branch WEA most likely by prescription! 😉
Maybe Coyote tracks ? Platt Branch WEA
Miles and miles of sandy trails on day three finally led us to the (entrance) to Platt Branch WEA 🙂
A pre-shuttled vehicle awaited us, tired hikers (Thanks Chris & David D!)
Approximate route was about 36 miles through Fisheating Creek WMA and Platt Branch WEA
Our hike and Fisheating Creek WMA in relation to Florida
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Enjoy!
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© 2013 Flex Maslan / Awakenthegrass.com / digital029art.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved.
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DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so be prepared and use good judgement before venturing out!
With that said..
Blessings friends!
