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Trip Number: 13400B
Price: $995
Deposit: $100
Capacity: 14
Staff: Patrick Nichols
Highlights:
- Camp beachside in the tropics
- Enjoy local guides, lots of wildlife, lots of activities
- Kayak around islands, mangrove tunnels, and the swamp
Includes:
- All meals cooked and served by the leaders
- Kayaks, kayaking gear, and instruction
- A traditional Dixie-style New Year's Eve
The Trip
Photo: Gregory Pflug
At the southernmost corner of the eastern United States stands a rare natural
marvel: the Everglades. This incredible land boasts endless horizons, an eternity
of glittering water and waving grasses, and an infinity of life forms spanning
this subtropical wilderness found nowhere else in the world. The Everglades
is comprised of low islands (keys), tangled mangrove swamps, flat saw-grass
prairies, pinewoods, and tropical hammocks, and is the third largest national
park in the U.S. For sports fishermen, this is the world's best flats fishing,
with spotted sea trout, red fish (red drum), black drum, tarpon, snook, blues,
Jack crevals, and Spanish mackerel all nipping at the lines.
Each day we will make our way into the Glades or out into the bays for exploration.
Paddling into the Glades, we will experience mangrove tunnels and stop to learn
the three types of mangrove and their purposes. We will also see an abundance
of unique wildlife. While keeping our distance, we will spend time identifying
birds, reptiles, and mammals. As we make our way into Florida Bay and the Gulf
of Mexico, we'll be able to observe the coastal makeup of Florida's subtropical
beaches up close. This offers us yet another unique environment with its own
separate flora and fauna. Each night we will return to our base camp for a huge
meal that's served around the evening's campfire. Nights will be perfect for
fishing, stargazing, and moonlight strolls.
Itinerary
Photo: Gregory Pflug
The leaders will make every reasonable effort to meet the goals outlined in
the itinerary. Please keep in mind that weather or other conditions beyond our
control may cause us to modify the itinerary in order to ensure the safety and
well-being of the group.
Our rough itinerary will be as follows:
The leaders will pick up all participants from the Miami International Airport
at 1 p.m. People driving should meet at 3 p.m. on day one at the Flamingo Ranger
Station. A participant roster will be mailed out prior to the trip to assist
participants in arranging carpools.
Day 1: Meet at the Flamingo Ranger Station at 3 p.m. We will
have a brief orientation followed by basic instruction in kayaking and loading
kayaks. We will spend the early afternoon paddling and setting up our base camp.
Before turning in, the leaders will discuss the week's agenda, answer any questions,
and review a few of the environmental concerns regarding the Everglades.
Days 2-5: We will explore tropical beaches and endless mangrove
tunnels, and have the opportunity to get extremely close to wildlife. There
are dozens of water/canoe trails that we can choose to explore near our base
camp. There will be ample time to fish or just relax on the beach.
Day 6: We will prepare a special breakfast to share during
our last sunrise together. Afterward, we will pack up and head out. The trip
will end at noon on the last day.
Getting There
Photo: Gregory Pflug
The trip leader will be picking everyone up at the Miami International Airport
on Sunday at 1 p.m. We will meet in the lobby of the only hotel in the Miami
Airport. For any reason you might be late, please call the leader, Patrick Nichols,
at 407-616-6359. We will then make the hour-long drive to our base camp, stopping
for lunch en route. Participants wanting to meet at the base camp will be mailed
maps and directions upon approval on the trip.
Accommodations and Food
All meals will be prepared and -- with luck -- caught by the leaders. Meals
will reflect local cuisine. Participants with special diets should contact the
trip leader prior to the trip start. Accommodations will be at the campground
at Flamingo. Our group campsite is near restrooms and the beach.
Trip Difficulty
This trip is geared for adventurous beginners; however; a seasoned paddler
will not be bored. Trip routes and daily itineraries will depend on weather,
tides, and strength of the group. Actual paddle times will be small but playtime
will be enormous. Boredom will not be an issue. Most days we shoot for 4-6 hours
of paddling time.
This adventure will take us into a wilderness area with real wild animals,
such as alligators, saltwater crocodiles, bears, snakes, panthers, and sharks.
It is possible to avoid all contact with these creatures and to observe the
creatures from a great distance. Please educate yourself about keeping a distance
from all wild animals and the dangers involved with letting wild animals become
comfortable around humans. If at any time during the trip you have any concerns,
please approach the leaders.
Equipment and Clothing
Photo: Gregory Pflug
A detailed equipment list will be sent with participant approval.
Since this is a wilderness trip please leave all electronic games, cell phones,
watches, palm pilots, walkmans, radios, or anything else that distracts from
the natural environment at home or in your car.
References
Books:
- Grunwald,
Michael, The Swamp.
- Smith, Patrick,
A Land Remembered.
- Douglas,
Marjory Stoneman, The River of Grass.
- Brown, Loren
G., Totch: A Life in the Everglades.
Websites:
Conservation
Photo: Gregory Pflug
"Clearly a paradise in jeopardy," the Everglades is dying of thirst and other
maladies. Upstream demand for water by the sugar industry and growing cities
has slowed a much-heralded restoration program to a crawl. Promised federal
funding has not been forthcoming. The national park is not over-visited, but
off-road vehicles have scarred Big Cypress. "A culture of big swamp buggies,
high-speed watercraft, and airboats does little to preserve the more fragile
areas." Birding is still good, if only a shadow of what it used to be. "Rapid
development on all sides has created an unpleasant, unattractive gateway to
one of the planet's unique places."
Trip Price
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details
about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.
The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Staff
It's not Patrick Nichols' 35 years of wilderness experience or his extensive background as an outdoor enthusiast and wilderness educator that distinguish his tours from the ordinary. It is the exquisite attention to detail: from gourmet cuisine to the intricacies of paddling on quiet waters propelled by kayak. He is an ACA instructor, has trained with Red Cross water safety and is a wilderness first responder. His calling is to use the quiet skills of his lifetime to benefit every traveler, to ensure his skills and knowledge are shared by every voyager with an open heart and a curious mind.
E-mail: flakayak@bellsouth.net
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips