Warning!!! I would not recommend doing this cache on your own as there is a high risk of: snake bite, spider bite, wasp sting, alligator attack, panther attack, poisonous plants, heat stroke, anhinga pooping, mosquito exsanguination and becoming bear food. It is always good to bring an expendable hiking companion in this kind of situations.
Now here is my check list, before you decide to enter this wonderful part of our beloved swamp, I want you to read it. If you by any reason can’t put a check mark on all of these rules, then please stay home and go back to the PnGs. No offence but I am very serious about this list, to enter this primitive and forgotten land is a privilege no a right!
1. ____ I will not take anything from the Strand such as: plants, small animals, bones, old pieces of bark or dead wood, FLOWERS, rocks or anything else that might look cool to you as all that is here is protected under federal law. I promise to leave only with great photos and my mosquito’s bites.
2.____ I will respect and obey all the laws and regulations of the Strand.
3.____ I will respect Mother Nature all times by not altering the land scape or killing any living organisms native to the Strand.
4.____ I will take all of my trash, garbage or any other junk that I make while hiking and I will also do my best to CITO as much as I can.
5.____ I will not start a fire of any kind unless is in an emergency situation.
6.____ I will make sure to take enough water for my personal use so I won’t get a heat stroke in the middle of the swamp and therefore have to bother our great Park Rangers with a rescue operation.
7.____ I will inform others of my whereabouts before I start hiking and when I return to my vehicle.
8.____ I will return safely to my love ones with a big smile on my face.
If you were able to check every single rule on my list then congratulations you a worthy cacher for this adventure and here is your reward.
Welcome to a journey to the center of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve or as most of us call it “the Florida’s Amazon” a forgotten part of our great state which very few have ever lay foot on it, could you be one of these few? LOL. Prepare yourself for a 10 mile hike round trip (more or less) that might take you about 6 to 8 hours, there will be lots of bush whacking and don’t forget the danger that I mentioned before.
On June 18 2011 a group of crazy nature loving geocachers (lorriebird, footTRAX, HuricaneJuan, CosmicMiami, BabyRuthie & jrcbec) and 1 nature loving muggle (Eric ) led by footTRAX decided to embark on an amazing journey to an incredible destination at the center of this enchanting swamp called The Fakahatchee Strand. Our hike began at the posted parking coordinates on a warm Summer Saturday morning. It was one of the most difficult hikes that I have ever encountered as we made our own trail under exhausting heat accompany by high levels of humidity, but in the end it was well worth it as we finally reached our destination.
When you embark on this journey I will guaranty you the most exciting adventure that you might have ever had in which you will see and experience what the Strand really has to offer. You will be seeing our very own flora and fauna at one of its most primitive environments, lots of saw grass, native rare plants, amazing flowers, big cypresses, Pop ash trees, unique bromeliads alligators, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, tortoises, wading birds, turkey vultures, hawks, barred owl, osprey, bald eagles, panthers, black bears, an assorted variety of insects including our friendly mosquitoes asking for a “small” blood donation.
This is an enchanted placed lost in time, great area to discover new and exciting things, but please do not take this place lightly as beautiful as you see it also have its dangers enjoy your journey but mostly be safe at all time this is a hike that I will only recommend to expert seasoned hikers if you are still “green” make sure to take a more experienced hiker with you.
I wish you luck on you journey my adventurous geocachers, happy trails to all. (if you find them lol).
Special thanks to lorriebird, footTRAX, HuricaneJuan, CosmicMiami, BabyRuthi, jrcbec and muggle Eric for making this adventure one to never be forgotten.
FTF gets a $20 gift certificated to the store of your choice for the troubles, email me for details
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