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According to the Florida Trail Association's newsletter, Footprint, as of
the end of 1988, no one in the FT's history has claimed to being a
continuous thru-hiker of the main trail. My goal was to be the first to do it.
I had completed hiking the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (ANST) in September, 1988. I was looking forward to another long distance hike. My first thought was to hike the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCNST). I changed my mind, after reading that Footprint piece. (Did start on the PCT in April, 1990). I joined the Florida Trail Association, in order to obtain the maps to hike trail, and because to hike some sections of the FT requires one to be a member.
Living near the Ocala Forest section of the trail, I decided to flip-flop my hike. I would start at the Southern terminus, the Big Cypress National Preserve, and hike North to Ocala National Forest. Then, I would go to the Northern terminus, Blackwater State Forest, and hike South back
to the Ocala Forest.
The FT is discontinuous at different places along its route. I would
hike the connecting roads, as I planned no shuttle. As it turned out, I
hiked many miles on those roads, rarely did I get a lift. I'd prepackaged
my food supplies, sending the boxes general delivery, to the following
towns, on or near the FT. Lorida, Southport, St.Marks and White Springs.
I supplemented them with stops at Mom & Pop stores along the route.
I started my hike on March 11, 1989, at trail section 1A, Big Cypress
National Preserve swamp. Following the FT orange blazes North, I hiked
the trail west, around Lake Okeechobee. (The FT also goes east around
the lake.) I arrived at Ocala Forest on April 2, 1989.
On April 12, 1989, I started Southward from the Red Rock picnic area of
Blackwater River State Forest. I completed the FT back at Ocala Forest,
on May 12,1989.
The FNST is the only semitropical trail in the National Trails System.
It's both wild and tame. The tame part is the many back and main roads it
follows. Smooth hiking can be done in the Ocala Forest and many other
offroad segments. The wild parts are the swampy, sometimes waist-deep
waters of the Big Cypress National Preserve or the Bradwell Bay
Wilderness. The wildlife and ecosytems are very diverse. Wildlife species
along the trail include alligators, armadillos, bobcat, eagles, otters,
owls, panther, snakes, turkeys, turtles and vultures. Ecosystems range
from cypress swamps, palm and oak hammocks, palm tree stands, piney woods,
sawgrass and salt marshes. Landscapes are not all flat, there are hilly
sections. The footpath follows rivers, ravines and sinks.
Only the St. Marks River has to be crossed without a bridge, but there is
a marina at the crossing. Only two or three times did I have a problem
where to set camp for a night, and those were when I was on connecting roads.
I carried at least two quarts of water, as getting it was sometimes a
problem. There are only two shelters on the whole trail, so I carried a
tent.
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