Fakahatchee Island by litngbug (with help from anidanid) (2.5/5)
N25° 52.142 W81° 29.244 (WGS84)
UTM 17R E 451168 N 2861271
Use waypoint: GCVHCT
Size: Micro Hidden on 4/18/2006
In Florida, United States
Difficulty:
Terrain: 
| This cache is dedicated to Pittsburgh Transplant, who liked to do challenging caches that take you to new places. (even though it is a micro!) This is a boat only accessible cache! This cache is located on Fakahatchee Island with the permission of Park Manager Dennis Giardina. Park website is here Fakahatchee Strand(will wait to see if difficulty needs to change) |
****NOTE, AS OF OCT-NOV 2006, UNDERBRUSH ON THE ISLAND IS VERY THICK AND HARD TO GET THROUGH** The book Day PaddlingFlorida's 10,000 islands and Big Cypress Swamp by Jeff Ripple is an invaluble tool. Kayak or canoe requires at the minimum 6 hours depending on route, tides and winds. (it took us 8+) Choose your route and study the tides and winds before attempting this by paddling! The route we chose was the East River trail, complete with mangrove tunnels, spiders, lots of downed trees/branches and did I mention spiders? Bug gear is a must when the weather starts to warm up!! Fakahatchee Island is whats left of a Calusa Shell Mound dating back thousands(?) of years. It was inhabited up until the mid 1960's. It even had a school with 13 pupils in 1912. There are many things to see on the island, including a cistern on the NE side, which when you climb up the mound about 8 ft or so gives you a good view of the bay looking north. The occasional boat is all that breaks up the natural sounds and sights out here. Landing point is here N25°52.122' W81°29.182' which is what looks to be a campsite area. Once landing at the campsite on the east side, you are presented with many trails leading off into the island, if you choose the right one, it will lead you to the islands cemetary. Please do not disturb the area even though it is in a rundown state. It is fascinating to see that people lived and died on this island, it had to be a rough life for sure. The area could use some CITO though as it seems to have regular visits. This site has a lot of island history Link to Story Cache is literally inches off the trail, but in a clever spot, (thanks anidanid) so no need to EVER leave the trail! Oh, and bring your own pen or pencil!!
Additional Hints (There are no hints for this cache)
Current at 12/18/2006
6/23/2006 by litngbug
Dropping to log miles so he can be dropped off soon
6/7/2006 by ClayA
Did this one the same time that we did Lulu Key. Take your Deet when you go! The bugs were out in force!
FTF
TNLNSL
ClayA
4/20/2006 by Lehigh Mafia
Look what happen's when you 2 get a day off & a Kayak.. Man Oh Man.. 
PS.. We still have your Pony 
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