Looking Back on 2019 & Trekking Onward into 2020
The Florida Trail Association’s mission to build, maintain, protect and promote our unique Florida National Scenic Trail along with a network of hiking trails throughout the state would not be possible without the collaborative effort of the US Forest Service, our volunteers and partner organizations. As we move forward into this new year and new decade, we want to thank all of our FTA volunteers, members and partners for your tremendous contributions. It is through the dedicated service and advocacy of our FTA community that the Florida Trail can continue to thrive as a vibrant resource throughout our state, from the Glades to the Gulf.
In 2019, over 500 volunteers contributed 23,195 hours to the mission of the Florida Trail Association; 122 of those were new volunteers. Our valuable volunteers and partners establish and blaze the paths to make this treasured corridor accessible. Over 360,000 people every year set foot on the Florida Trail. That number continues to grow as our FTA volunteer community and membership grows.
With our deepest appreciation, we wish you happy trails and good cheer in this new year. We are grateful to our dedicated FTA Chapters as well as these Partner groups we’ve had the pleasure of working with in 2019:
Current Florida Trail Mileage Breakdown:
*Please note: The total trial mileage is fluid as the USFS and the FTA are continuously working to re-reroute and designate new trail
Total Florida Trail length: 1,583.92 miles
Total designated trail length: 1,109.5 miles
Total connector length: 446.66 miles
Total spur trail length: 27.75 miles
- FT on National Forest Service lands: 200.82 miles
- FT on FT Properties & Easements: 18.75 miles
- Apalachicola National Forest: 73.56 miles
- Osceola National Forest: 30.42 miles
- Ocala National Forest: 96.82 miles
- FT on State Forests: 150.55 miles, 8 state forests
- FT on DEP, Division of Recreation & Parks Lands: 154.06 miles
- FT on State Parks: 46.36 miles. 9 Parks
- FT on Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Lands: 73.28 miles, 9 properties
- FT on US Fish & Wildlife Service Lands: 41 miles, 1 property
- FT on Water Management District Lands: 169.67 miles
- FT on Dept. of Defense Lands: 66.2 miles, Eglin AFB
- US National Park Service: 53.37 miles, 2 properties
ArcGIS Map of the Florida Trail
Exciting news from the Panhandle
Panhandle Trail Program Manager, Adam Fryska, writes:
The FTA is happy to announce that the Econfina Section has been re-opened following the catastrophic damage sustained during Hurricane Michael. This was a monumental effort, requiring 4 major staff-supported Volunteer Work parties, 2 multi-week hitches by professional sawyer crews supported by FTA volunteers, and numerous Panhandle Chapter maintenance and scouting days. Well over 2,000 hours of work were logged by FTA volunteers, Framing Our Community staff, and USFS personnel in the completion of this project. We extend a heartfelt “thank you” to the dedicated trail workers who contributed to the re-opening of this much-used and appreciated section of trail.
While the trail has been cleared of major blowdowns and is now passable for the entire distance between the Highway 20 and Scott Road trailheads, conditions still remain difficult. Longtime hikers of Econfina may be shocked by the changes; many sections suffered near-total tree loss, and what was once a pleasant, shady forest path is now exposed to the sun and experiencing tremendous new growth of vines and thorny underbrush. In some areas, hikers are essentially passing through a narrow tunnel of bucked logs and branches from the cleared blowdowns. We will continue to clear and widen the trail corridor this field season, and we’re looking forward to watching this beautiful area start to regenerate.
Keep an eye on the Panhandle Chapter Meetup page for upcoming volunteer opportunities and hikes in Econfina!
3rd Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival (WSFF) was started in 2003 by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL, pronounced ‘circle’), a nonprofit river conservation organization located in Nevada City, CA in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.The organization was formed in 1983 when a small group of concerned citizens banded together to fight against several proposed dams. The festival’s namesake is in celebration of achieving Wild & Scenic status on 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999. The festival celebrates its annual event in Nevada City, CA each January featuring over 125 award-winning films and welcoming filmmakers, celebrities, and activists who bring a human face to the environmental movement.
SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a call to action! The films illustrate not only the challenges facing our planet but the work communities are doing to protect the environment and the places we love. The stories give us a sense of place and what it means to be responsible stewards of the earth.
Once the curtain closes in Nevada City, SYRCL shares their success with other organizations by taking the film festival On Tour to 185+ communities worldwide. The tour is building a grassroots network of organizations connected by a common goal of using film to inspire activism.The Florida Trail Association is thrilled to host this festival for our third time. This year’s event will include an array of inspiring films, speakers, tabling organizations, raffle items, live music, yoga, food and beverages.
All event proceeds will go to support the Florida Trail Association and the U.S. Forest Service’s efforts to complete the Florida Trail by closing gaps in the FT through long-range planning, acquisition and agreements for long term protection of the trail corridor.
Footprint Magazine
FTA Southern Regional Conference
Hosted Dec. 13-15, 2019 by the Loxahatchee Chapter – Photos captured by Jennifer Jones-Reynolds
FTA The Choctawhatchee Chapter Seeks Participants in the Panhandle
Gum and Big Fork Creeks @ Eglin, Volunteer Work Party January 11 and 12, 2020
Come help the Choctawhatchee Chapter install fiberglass roofing shingles on two major boardwalks on the Eglin Reservation. The project objective is to reduce potential hiker injury from slippery, wet boardwalks and bridges on the Florida Trail in Walton and Okaloosa Counties. The project began in 2016 with the donation of shingles from a local contractor. Since then volunteers have installed shingles on over 5,000 feet of boardwalks on Eglin. The objective for this phase is Gum and Big Fork Creeks. Between the two creeks there are over 1,500 feet of boardwalks. Crews will be transporting and installing shingles on these boardwalks.
Volunteers should bring: plenty of fluids, lunch each day, insect repellent, gloves, hard hat, hammer and utility knife. Due to the nature of the work and location, NO PETS will be permitted during the workday. Safety equipment will be provided. This is a two-day chapter-led, weekend work party with the option of signing up for one or both days on the Choctawhatchee Chapter Meetup. LINK: https://www.meetup.com/Florida-Trail-Choctawhatchee-Chapter/events/htsvkrybccbpb/
Volunteers are responsible for their own lodging and meals. The crew leader, Tom Daniel (850 341-1389), is camping at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park starting Friday, Jan. 10th leaving Monday, Jan. 13th. Others are welcome to join him at the park! LINK: https://www.reserveamerica.com/explore/fred-gannon-rocky-bayou-state-park/FL/281065/overview If there is enough interest the chapter will host a pot luck meal at the park on Saturday night.
FTA Board of Directors
Nominations for the Florida Trail Association’s 2020 Board of Directors are now being accepted
Board Director, Darryl Updegrove, writes:The call for nominations is now open for FTA’s 2020 Board of Directors, and we are seeking candidates for at-large Board Member positions and three Officers.FTA has a 15-member Board. Nominations may be submitted for Vice-President Membership, Vice-President Trails, Treasurer and four at-large board members. Terms for officers is two years, and at-large positions is three years, beginning after the annual meeting on April 4, 2020.The Nominating Committee will select the slate based on nominations received. A slate of officers and at-large Board members for 2020 will be voted upon via electronic voting beginning sometime early 2020. The elections will be announced at the April 2019 Annual Meeting. Serving on FTA’s Board of Directors is a rare chance to help the organization face challenges, provide creative solutions, contribute to a fast-growing trail program, andaffect long-term positive change. Board service also offers you the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, to develop valuable skills in non-profit governance, gain unique experience and make lasting connections with a team of other passionate and motivated professionals.Please consider serving on the Board and submitting a nomination for the 2020 Florida Trail Association Board of Directors. For more information on our current Board of Directors, and Board Member Responsibilities, click here. To review the FTA Bylaws as well as the Duties & Powers of the Board Officers, click here.Please send your nominations to Darryl Updegrove at: [email protected].Nominations should include the following information:
1. Name of Nominee, address and contact information (including email address);
2. Brief statement or cover letter outlining why the nominee would like to be a board member;
3. Resume or short background on the candidate in question (work history, non-profit experience, involvement with the FTA, interests etc.); and
4. Reference (optional).Thank You,Darryl UpdegroveFTA Nominating Committee Chair***Deadline extended: NOMINATIONS CLOSE JAN. 15, 2020 ***
Save the Date
2020
January
17-19: Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area Trail Maintenance
17-24: Juniper Prairie Wilderness Trail Maintenance
25: 3rd Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival
February
05-11: Big Cypress 13 Mile Camp Backcountry Trail Maintenance
07-09: Pine Log State Forest Boardwalk Project (more details to come)
27-01: Withlacoochee State Forest Trail Maintenance (more details to come)
March
06-07: 12th Annual Ididahike
Volunteer Opportunies
12th Annual Ididahike
March 6 – 7, 2020 Inverness, FL
