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Tag Archives: “Florida State Forest”
Spelunking along the Florida Trail, Citrus County.
I am drawn to the cave opening carved into a small limestone cliff. I spot an opening low to the ground that could only be entered by crawling. At this moment, I decided I am going inside to explore or spelunk. Spelunking is a word of Greek origin that means “the art of exploring caves.” Continue reading
FWC Volunteer: Installing Red Cockaded woodpecker nesting boxes
While volunteering for the (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) this past week, my assigned duty was to assist with installing three nesting boxes for the Red Cockaded Woodpeckers that live in the Withlacoochee State Forest – Croom Tract. Nesting boxes are often installed to provide roosting and nesting cavities for the federally endangered Red Cockaded Woodpecker. These woodpeckers only reside in live long leaf pine trees and can take up to five years to create a new nesting cavity naturally. Once these cavities are created, they often loose the cavity to other cavity nesters such as flying squirrels, Red-bellied woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, screech owls Continue reading
Visit Tate’s Hell Dwarf Cypress Boardwalk to immerse yourself into a rare Florida habitat!
…I decided to top it off with a visit to the famous Ralph Kendrick Dwarf Cypress Boardwalk that sits in the midst of Tate’s Hell State Forest. The view of this natural phenomenon was a perfect ending to an already stellar day! After a four mile drive along dusty forests roads, the less than one-half mile stroll takes you out into a majical land of dwarf cypress trees. The boardwalk is built high enough that it towers over the trees to allow the view overlooking a vast strand of these six foot wonders.
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Hike Withlacoochee State Forest Annutteliga Hammock loops for a sampling of the challenging Brooksville Ridge
As I follow the loop around the back I begin to notice a pile of loose rocks and a dome shape over near a small Cedar Tree. I walk over only to find a small well that penetrates at least 15 feet down. The hole is lined by rocks with tree roots growing through the opening allowing enough room for only a small animal to fall. I use my headlamp to study the walls and floor. The walls are smooth solid limestone rock with periodic ripples and the floor is covered with oak leaves. I did not see any remnants of animal bones but I am certain that there are some hidden below the debris. Continue reading
Hiking the Citrus C loop offers challenging pine ridges with caves and large sinks.
The Citrus C Loop is a 13 mile trek located in the heart of the karst cartography of the Brooksville Ridgeboasting large sinks and at least one known cave entrance. There is parking available at the Mine Holder Campground, just a 1.5 mile hike off the loop. I chose to save a few steps and park where Forest Road 17 intersects the B Loop and hike down to the connector. The west side of the trail has challenging pine ridges that gave my legs a good workout as I ascended and descended the hills numerous times. I made my way past the B-C connector loop and entered an area that had been recently burned. There was not a pine needle left on the ground! Continue reading
Posted in Adventures, Backpacking, Camping, Florida, Florida Trail Adventures, Hiking
Tagged "Florida State Forest", Adventure Vacations, Backpacking, Camping, Citrus C Loop, Citrus C Trail Map, Citrus County, Florida, Florida Trail, Hiking, Withlacoochee State Forest Citrus Tract, Withlacoochee State Forrest
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