calculating infinity
01-14-2009, 15:32
i have stealth camped, biked, day hiked and bushwhacked a lot in south florida my whole life but now im starting to get into backpacking and legit camping (read: not walking out into the bush and hanging your hammock wherever you please though always following the LNT ethic) and i have some questions i never bothered/needed to ask before.
are wood burning stoves allowed on the florida trail (something along the lines of a diy bushbuddy)?
ive always been able to carry as much water as needed for my short overnight trips and ive heard many times that florida water is exceptionally bad for you. on longer trips is chemical treatment enough to keep me from getting sick? what about pollution? from swimming in lakes in canals throughout childhood without becoming ill im assuming as long as i dont pick terribly stagnant/gross water then yes.
since most of my outdoors experience has been off trail ramblings through woods, marshes and swamps i havent been able to determine if on the trail, solo hikers experience a lot of harrassment and problems from townspeople and weirdos. should i always have a partner and/or some pepper spray with me? (ive always found it funny that im more scared of people than of alligators and water moccasins.)
i now live near UF and was hoping someone could let me in on some nice day hiking here. ive already been to paynes prarie, beautiful place but i really miss my south florida swamp/marsh hikes.
one last thing, im trying to find a class or something where i can learn about foraging for wild edibles in florida but i havent had much luck. does anyone know where i might find some information on the subject?
thanks to anyone who has posted info on here already, its been a great help. i hope to be financially ready to thru hike by jan 2010 though i may have to put it off due to my insatiable appetite for paris.
are wood burning stoves allowed on the florida trail (something along the lines of a diy bushbuddy)?
ive always been able to carry as much water as needed for my short overnight trips and ive heard many times that florida water is exceptionally bad for you. on longer trips is chemical treatment enough to keep me from getting sick? what about pollution? from swimming in lakes in canals throughout childhood without becoming ill im assuming as long as i dont pick terribly stagnant/gross water then yes.
since most of my outdoors experience has been off trail ramblings through woods, marshes and swamps i havent been able to determine if on the trail, solo hikers experience a lot of harrassment and problems from townspeople and weirdos. should i always have a partner and/or some pepper spray with me? (ive always found it funny that im more scared of people than of alligators and water moccasins.)
i now live near UF and was hoping someone could let me in on some nice day hiking here. ive already been to paynes prarie, beautiful place but i really miss my south florida swamp/marsh hikes.
one last thing, im trying to find a class or something where i can learn about foraging for wild edibles in florida but i havent had much luck. does anyone know where i might find some information on the subject?
thanks to anyone who has posted info on here already, its been a great help. i hope to be financially ready to thru hike by jan 2010 though i may have to put it off due to my insatiable appetite for paris.