THE BLAZE
APALACHEE CHAPTER
FLORIDA TRAIL ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2009
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 PM in Building F, Suite 100 (U.S. Forest Service), the first building on the right as you enter Woodcrest Office Park at 325 John Knox Road, Tallahassee. The meeting room is ground level at the east end of Building F. Look for the Florida Trail signs at wooden door. For more information, contact Terry Tenold (850) 877-1612 or Linda Patton (850) 668-4334. Meetings are open to the public.
May 12 Program: “Voices of the Apalachicola.” Faith Eidse, public information specialist at the NWFWMD will talk about the history of the Apalachicola River and some of the remarkable individuals who lived out their entire lives in this region--people such as the last steamboat pilot on the river, turpentine workers in Tate’s Hell, and a Creek chief descended from a 200-year unbroken line of chiefs. Copies of her award-winning book will be available for purchase.
June 9 Program: “The Apalachicola River: An American Treasure.” Come on an exciting journey down the
Apalachicola river system, exploring its rich history and current issues, and meeting people who live and work along the waterways. Award-winning filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus will be with us to introduce his film--which uses interviews, historical reenactments, photographs by such renowned artists as Clyde Butcher and Richard Bickel and a soundtrack by Sammy Tedder to weave a not-so-simple but well-told story. Copies of his films will be available for purchase.
July 14 Program: "Paddling Trails of the Apalachicola." Concluding this series of summer programs about the Apalachicola River, Liz Sparks of Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will share news about their exploration of some intriguing scenic paddling trails along the River. They are in the process of developing maps and trip reports for an exciting interactive website project for paddlers.
Aug. 11 Program: “Climbing Colorado’s Mountains.” Mountains! Just the thing to cool us off in the heat of
summer. In Colorado, there are 54 mountain peaks over 14,000 feet high. Chapter member Dawn Brown shows
her photographs and recounts her experiences hiking and climbing some of these high peaks.
Those interested in an activity should contact the listed leader at least a full day prior to the event. Dress appropriately for our unpredictable weather and the woods – wearing layers and hiking footwear is recommended. Always bring water, and possibly snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray. Most activities continue as scheduled, even if the weather is less than ideal. An adult chaperon must accompany children. Codes: “P” – Public welcome to participate; “M”Limited to FTA members only; “L”Leisurely; “M”Moderatelydifficult; “S”Strenuous.
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May 2 Saturday P/L
Wakulla Forest Hike
Leisurely 4.5-mile hike through pine/hardwood forest with a pristine double springs in the 4,000-acre Wakulla State Forest in northern Wakulla County. Limit 15 people. Galen Moses 850-926-9476
May 12 Tuesday
Apalachee Chapter Meeting
Program:
“Voices of the Apalachicola”
May 16 Saturday P/L
Wade Tract Birding Hike
This popular hike will take you into one of the best remaining examples of old-growth longleaf pine/wiregrass forest left in the U.S. Jim Cox, noted ornithologist withTall Timbers Research Station, will provide commentary and show us a red-cockaded woodpecker colony. Fee will be from $7 to $15 / person depending on number of participants. Limit 20 people. Kent Wimmer (850) 523- 8576
May 16 Saturday P/M
Paddle Kennedy Creek
Cool off and have a great time exploring on the water as you’re guided on an adventure paddling Kennedy Creek, the Apalachicola River, and Owl creek. We will meet at 8:30 EST at the Sumatra store on highway 65and go to Cotton Landing and paddle to Hickory Landing. Limit 12 boats. Ronny Traylor (850) 643-5517
May 23 Saturday P/M
Torreya State Park Fun Hike
Hike the River Bluff-Torreya Loop trail. View the Apalachicola River, its floodplain, mixed hardwood forest, and longleaf pine woods, and hilly terrain. Bring lunch, water and insect repellant. Meet at 7 a.m. in Tallahassee to car pool. Limit 12. Jerry Herting (850) 878-3426
June 6 Saturday P/L
National Trails Day Hike
Join us for a healthful 3.5-mile hike at the Terry L. Rhodes Trail System (Bear Creek), located on SR 267 south ofQuincy. Help celebrate the 17th annual American Hiking Society's National Trails Day with a leisurely stroll on the Living Forest Trail, and a moderate hike on the Ravine Trail in a portion of the Lake Talquin State Forest. Bring your lunch and join us at the picnic pavillion after the hike for refreshments (water and snacks). Toilets are available at the trailhead. There is a $1 fee per vehicle for use of the area. Limit 20 people. Terry Tenold (850)
877-1612
June 9 Tuesday
Apalachee Chapter Meeting
Program:
“The Apalachicola River:
An American Treasure”
June 13 Saturday P/L
Tree Identification Hike
Join a tree identification interpretative hike, taught by Stan Rosenthal and Chuck Goodheart, at 8 a.m., on Fort Braden Trails. The trailhead is on Hwy 20 about a mile past Coes Landing Road. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather; bring water, bug spray, sun screen, any medications or other personal supplies, a pen and notepad or camera, and an inquiring mind. $1 entrance fee. Space limited so email Howard Pardue at hpardue @fs.fed.us or call (850) 523-8525 for reservations.
June 16 Tuesday
Activities Planning Meeting
6 p.m. US Forest Service Bldg F
Come out and help plan our hikes and eat pizza at a buck a slice. David Harris (850) 284-9967
June 20 Saturday P/L
Chipola River Paddling Trip
Paddle the Chipola River from the Highway 20 Park to Scott’s Ferry landing. Meet at McDonald's in Blountstown at 8:30 EST. Ronny Traylor (850) 643-5517
July 14 Tuesday
Apalachee Chapter Meeting
Program:
“Paddling Trails of the Apalachicola”
August 11 Tuesday
Apalachee Chapter Meeting
Program:
“Climbing Colorado’s Mountains”
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NEW CHAPTER CHAIR INVITES EVERYONE TO ‘TAKE A HIKE’
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At the February Chapter meeting, elections were held for two Chapter officer positions: Chapter Chair and Chapter Trails Coordinator. Since Richard Graham could not serve again as Chapter Chair, and I could not serve again as Trails Coordinator, some change was in order. I decided to place my name in nomination for Chapter Chair once again, and the quorum of members present agreed. So for at least the next two years I will chair Chapter meetings, attend Chapter Council meetings in representation of the Apalachee Chapter, and fulfill other Chapter duties.
Carlene Danart, former co-section leader with husband Vic of the Aucilla River/Sinks Section, agreed to be nominated for the Trails Coordinator post. This position is a bit different than other Chapter officer posts in that the Chapter does not actually elect someone, but does send a name in nomination to the FTA Vice-President for Trails. If that VP agrees with the nomination, then it is forwarded to the FTA president for approval. The FTA by-laws have it that way because Chapter Trail Coordinators oversee and nominate new Section Leaders, and, since Section Leaders were in existence prior to the creation of Chapters in FTA, they are also approved by the president of FTA.
The Chapter is also still in need of someone to take the appointed position of Programs Coordinator in relief of Linda Patton. Although not an elected Chapter officer, the Programs Coordinator position is an important one, as presenting interesting programs at Chapter meetings is one of the main vehicles for attracting new members to the FTA and Chapter.
Spring is definitely here and we are well into one of the premier hiking seasons that we enjoy in North Florida. The good hiking conditions can extend into late May, which is early summer for us, and even after the official start of hurricane season in June. I encourage all Chapter members to take advantage of this time of year and get out on one of our hiking activities before the heat and humidity of summer and the proliferation of insects make alternative activities, such as canoeing, preferable.
One that I definitely recommend is participating in National Hiking Day, which is held on the first Saturday in June (see the activity listing elsewhere in this newsletter for details). This date is chosen due to the inclement conditions that exist until early June on many trails in the mountains or up north. Here in North Florida we are truly blessed with a year-round hiking season. The Apalachee Chapter also benefits from one of the most complete sections of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Of the nearly 130 miles of the FNST that the Apalachee Chapter maintains, there are only a few miles where a hiker actually has to walk alongside a road. We also have the oldest certified section of the FNST in the Apalachicola National Forest Trail, which was dedicated in a ceremony at Camel Lake Recreation Area in the fall of 1988.
The American Hiking Society is encouraging all hiking organizations to join them on June 6, 2009, in celebrating the 17th anniversary of National Trails Day (NTD). This is an invitation to all Americans to get outside, connect with local hiking and environmental clubs, local outfitters, local parks and recreation departments, and state or federal land management agencies to experience everything the great outdoors has to offer. NTD is the largest and premier single-day trails and outdoors celebration designed to promote healthy lifestyles, connect the general public with trails in their communities, and build partnerships to protect trails.
The Apalachee Chapter invites you to experience and enjoy a trail in the Big Bend area, joining many others in hiking in nearby parks, refuges, and forests. We encourage you to decide now to take steps toward improving your physical and mental well-being by participating with us on NTD in hiking some of the trails at the Terry L. Rhodes Trail System (Bear Creek) in the Lake Talquin State Forest. I hope to see all of you there.
--Terry Tenold
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APALACHICOLA NATIONAL FOREST HAS A LONG HISTORY
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The Apalachicola National Forest was proclaimed by Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 13, 1936. This was land west of the Ochlocknee River. Also during this time, land was being acquired by the Resettlement Administration and called the Wakulla Agricultural Demonstration Project. Lands which were not primarily suitable for cultivation were acquired, and the families that owned them were resettled on other more arable property.
In addition, large tracts of clear-cut land were acquired by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in Wakulla County. The Apalachicola National Forest was expanded to the east side of the Ochlocknee River by Presidential Proclamation on June 21, 1938. This transferred all SCS land to Forest Service administration. The east side of the Forest was originally divided into two districts, the Leon and Wakulla. They were later combined into one Wakulla District.
Over the last nearly 30 years of archeology conducted on the Apalachicola National Forest there have been many interesting sites located. The Forest holds sites from different cultural periods dating to over 10,000 years ago. A site is considered historic if it is at least 50 years old. The types of sites include campsites, home sites, turpentine and logging camps, fire towers, cemeteries, cattle dip troughs, sawmills, resorts, towns, sawdust piles, historic roadways, trams, bridges, and historic refuse/trash piles.
Some of the prehistoric sites in the Forest have been investigated by archeologists since the late 1970s. These sites include habitation areas occupied by Native Americans from the Late Archaic/Norwood period, the Weeden Island period, and the Mississippian. These sites are located over the entire Forest area. Archeologists feel that the Forest was used by Native Americans much as it is used today.
There are many home sites located in the Forest area which are evidenced on the set of 1937 aerial photographs done for the Forest Service. These structures are also present on early maps of which the Forest Service is custodian. The Langston House, for one, was located in the community of Smith Creek, parts of which are on Forest Service land.
The Gopher, Frog, and Alligator (Georgia, Florida, and Alabama) railroad runs through a very large portion of the Apalachicola National Forest. The original line ran from Carrabelle up into Georgia, operating from the early 1880s through the late 1940s. Currently, the Forest Service is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to create a Rail-to-Trail hiking path on a portion in Leon County. This trail will include interpretive signs for helping visitors understand the early railroad systems in Florida, as well as the Helen Logging Camp and town of Springhill, located in Leon County just north of the Wakulla county line.
From: U.S. Forest Service, National Forests in Florida
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TORREYA PROJECT IS A SUCCESS
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A hearty group of volunteers braved near-freezing overnight temperatures in February to reroute a section of trail in Torreya State Park, north of Bristol. Fortunately, the day-time weather was quite pleasant for the work on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22, to reroute the Gregory House South Connector Trail to the River Bluff Trail. The project was sponsored by the Florida Trail Association in cooperation with Torreya State Park.
A total of 19 volunteers were involved in the project to replace a steep, badly eroded section of the trail along the Apalachicola River with a new trail following natural contours to maintain sustainable (less steep) grades and allow rain water to sheet-flow across the tread. Getting water off the trail is essential to controlling erosion.