As mentioned in one of my previous posts, I am thinking of trying to hike part of the Florida Trail this winter. The trail was started by Jim Kern, a Miami resident, that returned from hiking part of the AT (Appalachian Trail -- for those that are not keen on the lingo) and wanted a 500 mile trail in his home state. The trail currently stretches across 1,400 miles of Florida, from the Panhandle to the Everglades, with 1,000 miles of the trail within a protected wilderness corridor. Many hikers even hike the trail as part of hiking the Eastern Continental Trail.

Many hikers, especially East coast hikers, aspire to do the entire AT. This is a noble goal and one I have myself, but I think Floridians (and even Alabamians and South Georgians) should appreciate the magnificent trail we have right in our own backyard. I know many that have never traveled to Florida picture nothing but swamp land, similar to the Glades (I know I did before I moved here), but this trail traverses all the terrestrial splendor Florida has to offer. Now, you will not be climbing any 5,000 foot mountains (you won't even see 1,000 feet on your altimeter), but you will see clay hills covered in pines in the Panhandle, swamps in the Glades, natural springs in the Ocala National Forest, scrub palms and pines in the Osceola National Forest, and all gradations in between. See below for some pics from hikers, posted on the Florida Trail Association website. The pictures show, in order: Panhandle section, Osceola National Forest, Ocala National Forest - South (in Central Florida), and Herbert Hoover Dike in South Florida near the Everglades. So, get out there and go hiking!