Panhandle and Blackwoods, ?info?

[Mammoth]

Hello everyone

My partner, Mozzie, and I, Sprite (was Mammoth), have recently returned from five months on the AT and we're now living in Dothan, Alabama. On a jaunt to Panama City, we saw the signs for the Florida Trail along the road. Since we have all of this broken in gear and boxes of hiking food, we're thinking about doing a section of this trail sometime soon... when it cools off a bit.

We are wondering if anyone has information on the Panhandle section, or on the connection to the Blackwoods trails at the western terminus of the FT. We are thinking about a 30-100 mile section, so if you have a favorite panhandle area, please tell us.

Also, we need to know what guidebook is best for this area and if we require maps for this trail. And what permits are required and how to get them.

We've been to the website for the FT Association, but there is a ton of info to sift through and it doesn't say much about the Blackwoods trails, other than that they exist.

We gotta get out in the woods again, and the FT is so close that we can't ignore it any longer. Thanks!

[chiefdaddy]

is this Mammoth and mozzie that Chief and I met in Ga?

[wahoo]

I'm a big fan of the St. Marks/Bradwell Bay area.

Take a look at some of the books by Sandra Friend, her encyclopedic knowledge of the FT is a great resource. Her site, Floridahikes.com, will help you out a great deal.
Plus, she posts here as well, so keep checking for her response!

[Hammock Hanger]

Are you meaning Blackwater?? The northern erminus from Blackwater is very nice. Howeveryou will run into a bit of road walking before entering into Eglin AFB. The AFB is one of my favorite hikes in No FL.

The Thru-hiker Handbook or the Pocket Data book are great.

[floridahikes]

Hi, Sprite,
It might be you're looking on the FT website for "Blackwoods" instead of "Blackwater," which is the Florida Trail section that connects to Alabama. Here's where you'll find info: http://www.floridatrail.org/Regions/...lackwater.html

Click on the Hikes tab to get to the details for the two sections, Blackwater North and Blackwater South. It's a great hike, especially in spring, lots of wildflowers, waterfalls, and even a tall cliff to stand on top and look down over Juniper Creek.

In the Central Panhandle, there are two great FT sections to take on between all the roadwalks: the Econfina Creek section (24.1 miles) and about 50 miles on Eglin Air Force Base between US 331 (south of DeFuniak Springs) and SR 87 (south of Crestview). Info:

(Overview) http://www.floridatrail.org/Regions/...Panhandle.html
(Details) http://www.floridatrail.org/Hikes/fl...finaCreek.html
http://www.floridatrail.org/Hikes/fl...le/EglinE.html
http://www.floridatrail.org/Hikes/fl...le/EglinN.html

In October, a new 20+ mile section of the Florida Trail will open between Seven Runs (north of Bruce) and US 331 through Nokuse Plantation, getting the FT off SR 20 and US 331 and into the woods for the first time, bypassing Freeport. They haven't posted the details online yet but you can see the dotted line on the map where the new trail will be: http://www.floridatrail.org/Hikes/fl...le/Nokuse.html

Info on Eglin, Blackwater, and Econfina Creek is in the Florida Trail: The Official Guide (buy online through Amazon.com) and the Florida Trail Companion Guide for Long Distance Hikers, plus the Florida Trail map set. Buy from www.floridatrail.org online store.

Thanks, Wahoo, for the kudos ;-) I've been heads-down in deadline-oriented work, no time to play since my hike last Wednesday! Guess I need to post some more hikes on www.floridahikes.com in the Panhandle!

Cheers, Navigator

[wahoo]

Hi, Sprite,

Thanks, Wahoo, for the kudos ;-) I've been heads-down in deadline-oriented work, no time to play since my hike last Wednesday! Guess I need to post some more hikes on www.floridahikes.com in the Panhandle!

Cheers, Navigator

I know the feeling. I'm still reeling from the Muck-About, it's funny how three days away will set you back like two weeks.....!