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| COOP'S HIKING PAGE |
Hiking in Florida Some Tips Two Seasons - There are essentially two hiking seasons in Florida. From May to October it is hot, humid and buggy. Highs are in the 80's and 90's and lows are in the 70's. From November through April it begins to cool off and the highs tend to be in the 60's and 70's and the lows in the 50's and 60's. There are about 4 weeks total in the coldest 3 months where the lows dip into the 30's to 40's. Special Note on Summer Hiking In Florida - The Summer months can be very uncomfortable hiking in Florida and very different from the more pleasant winter months. Summer hiking here has a special attraction because of that challenge of discomfort from the heat, the humidity and the bugs. You can find beauty in Florida summer hiking - you just need to adjust your expectations. Heat and Sun - The summer is hot and very humid so keeping hydrated is critical and protection from the sun is important. I go through about a quart of water an hour when I'm walking in the hot summer sun. For sun protection I wear a cotton Tilley hat that shades my face and neck, a bandana and baseball cap is a good combination for this as well. Rain - There are often tunderstorms in the afternoons in the summer so keep that in mind. I carry a waterproof breathable rain suit, but rearely use it as the rain feels good as it cools me off. I'll also sometimes pitch a tarp to keep out of the heavy rain. The storms usually pass within an hour. Drinking Water - I try to know enough about the trails that I am hiking to manage my water supply so that I can get drinking water from established water sources like wells and spring fed laks and streams. However; on longer stretches and more remote areas this might not be possible. There are usually plenty of ponds and stream, or at minimum, a puddle on the trail to get treatable water. The challenge is that this water tends to have a bunch or organic material in it and can really clog up a filter. I have gone through a PUR hiker filter in 2 days in the Ocala National Forest - even with a coffee filter as a pre-filter. I have converted to using chemical water treatment. I currently use Polar Pure which is iodine based but I will tinker with other forms of treatment. Bugs & Shelter - I run into ticks, chiggers and mosquitoes. I spray permenone on shoes, socks and pants before the hike (not on skin). I also regularly apply deet to my legs to minimize chigger bites. Chigger bites really itch. For shelter, it depends on the site, but during the summer the mosquitoes are pretty heavy in most places so some protection is needed. A tent or a tarp with bug netting is best. Sleeping Gear - A cotton sheet or silk bag liner works best for me in the Summer. Anything more is simply too hot Mke sure you have some layer of cloth (silk or cotton) between you and your sleeping pad. If you do not you will stick to it and have trouble sleeping. This could be a t-shirt, a sheet or the bottom half of your bag liner. Footwear, Hiking Sticks and Water Walking Clothing - Pants, Shirts, Hats, Cold Weather Clothes, Rain Gear |
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