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Kev's Hiking

I finally made a website, about 10 years after everybody else. It's about hiking and backpacking.

Here are some important things to bring to the wilderness.

Get a decent little first aid kit and complement it with anything you might think is missing.
 
 		MEDICAL KIT
 
I'm not a great proponent of chemicals but rubbing alcohol is an exception. It's very important to have some handy.
 
 		RUBBING ALCOHOL
 
The most important thing about a backpack is that it fits your back well. Don't pay a penny for the brand name, that's nothing but a scam anyway. There are completely unknown brands that are much better than the biggest brands in the industry.
 
 		BACK PACK
 
Warm enough sleeping bags for the coldest possible weather to accommodate all the people you're bringing.
 
 		SLEEPING BAG
 
One of the few things that really saves the day is your multi purpose tool. Swiss army knife or Leatherman tool doesn't matter so much, they both have advantages over the other.
 
 		TOOL
 
I've used my Trailstove for a couple of years now in both summer and winter, it is absolutely amazing. Get one and you're hooked for life.
 
 		BACKPACKING STOVE
 

CATCH ANIMALS WITH A ROLLING SNARE

Pick a spot where animals have an easy time passing by surrounded by natural obstacles where they would have a hard time passing through and where there is a small tree.

Find a piece of wood about an inch in diameter and a few inches long, cut a notch in it.

Find another piece of wood also about an inch in diameter but about a foot long. Cut a notch in this piece of wood too close to one end. Sharpen the other end of this stick, the notches on the two pieces should be such that they fit in each other and can take a good amount of pull along their axis but let go easily if the smaller stick is pushed sideways.

Make a lasso type knot on the string you will use and tie the string to the shorter stick in such a way that the lasso reaches the stick when open.
Bang the sharp end of the longer stick into the ground with a rock.

Tie the rope to the tree at an appropriate height and with an appropriate length of string. You may need to adjust this later to get it right.
Hook the notch of the short stick to the notch of the long stick.

Suspend the loop in the air with a couple of small twigs. That's it, all done.

Check your snares often since an animal may be able to escape, if you want you can attach some type of noise maker that goes off when an animal gets pulled up in the air. It's very important that you beat the animal to death before you take it out of the snare since they will bite you if they get a chance.

Everglades National Park

Homestead, FL

Spanning the southern tip of the Florida peninsula and most of Florida Bay, Everglades National Park is the only subtropical preserve in North America. It contains both temperate and tropical plant communities, including sawgrass prairies, mangrove and cypress swamps, pinelands, and hardwood hammocks, as well as marine and estuarine environments. The park is known for its rich bird life, particularly large wading birds, such as the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blue heron and a variety of egrets. It is also the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side.

Everglades National Park has been designated a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance.

   

CONTACTS

Email - EVER_Information@nps.gov

Fax- 305-242-7728

Write to
40001 State Road 9336
Homestead, FL 33034-6733

Phone
Visitor Information - 305-242-7700

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
The park is open all year.

The main park entrance (near Homestead and Florida City) is open 24 hours a day. The Shark Valley entrance is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Chekika is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Park waters are open 24 hours a day.

Getting There
PLANE - The closest airports are Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Fort Myers.

CAR - Main Park Entrance and Flamingo: Visitors coming from the Miami area and points north may take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it ends, merging with U.S. 1 at Florida City. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336/SW 344th St.) and follow the signs to the park. Visitors driving north from the Florida Keys should turn left on Palm Drive in Florida City and follow the signs to the park.

Shark Valley Entrance: On Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) 25 miles west of the Florida Turnpike exit for S.W. 8th Street. From the Naples area, take U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) east to Shark Valley.

Gulf Coast: 5 miles south of Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) on Highway 29, south of Everglades City.

Chekika: 6 miles west of Krome Avenue (State Road 997/SW 177th Ave.) on 168th Street.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - None.

Weather & Climate
The Everglades is mild and pleasant from December through April, though rare cold fronts may create near freezing conditions.

Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures around 90 degrees (32?C) and humidity over 90%. Afternoon thunderstorms are common and mosquitoes are abundant.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season is June-November. Tropical storms or hurricanes may affect the area.

Accessibility
Accessible facilities and trails may be found throughout the park.

All of the park's visitor centers, most interpretive trails, some of the Flamingo boat tours, and the Shark Valley tram tours are wheelchair accessible.

There are accessible campsites at the Long Pine Key, Flamingo, and Chekika campgrounds. One primitive wilderness campsite, at Pearl Bay, is accessible to people with mobility impairments.

Audio programs and captioned movies are available at most visitor centers.

Getting Around
The park may be explored by personal vehicle, commercial tour bus, bicycle, motor boat, or canoe.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
PEDESTRIAN/CYCLIST
$5.00 for 7 Days

PRIVATE VEHICLE
$10.00 for 7 Days

Activity Fee
CAMPING
$14.00 for Day

Local Passport
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK ANNUAL PASS
$20.00 for Annual

CAMPING

Chekika
Chekika is presently open for day-use only. The campground is not available. Located six miles (10 km) west of Krome Ave (State Road 997) on SW 168 Street.
For More Information on this campground please call 305-242-7700

Flamingo Campground
Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Open All Year
Located at the end of the main park road in Flamingo. It has 234 drive-in sites, including 55 with a view of the water and four group sites, and 64 walk-up sites (20 on the water's edge). It also provides cold water showers, two dump stations, picnic tables, grills, an amphitheater for winter programs, and a public telephone. There is an observation tower at Eco Pond, located adjacent to the campground area. Flamingo has several hiking trails and canoe trails, and opportunities for saltwater fishing are plentiful. Limited groceries and camping supplies are available at the Flamingo Marina store.
For More Information on this campground please call 305-242-7700

Long Pine Key Campground
Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Open All Year
Located seven miles (11 km) from the main entrance, just off the main road. It has 108 drive up sites for tents and RVs, including one group site. There are rest rooms, water, telephones, and a sewer dump station with fresh water fill, but no showers or hookups. A picnic area is nearby, with fire grates and rest rooms. There is also a pond for fishing, an amphitheater for winter programs, and several hiking trails in the area.
For More Information on this campground please call 305-242-7700

LODGING

Flamingo Lodge, Marina, and Outpost Resort
Open All Year
The Flamingo Lodge is the only lodging available in the park. It is open year-round, with 103 rooms, and 24 cottages with kitchen facilities. A restaurant and cafe are open during the winter.
For More Information on this lodging please call 1-800-600-3813

FACILITIES

Visitor Centers
ERNEST F. COE
Open All Year 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
Phone - 305-242-7700
Location - Located at the main park entrance west of Homestead and Florida City
Exhibits - Educational displays, orientation films, brochures, and information are available.
Available Facilities - Books, film, postcards, and insect repellent may be purchased in the bookstore. No trails start from this visitor center.

FLAMINGO
Phone - 941-695-2945
Location - Flamingo is 38 miles (61 km) southwest from the main entrance at the southern end of the park.
Closures - Open intermittently during the summer.
Exhibits - Natural history exhibits and information in the Florida Bay Museum.
Available Facilities - A restaurant, gift shop, lodge, and campground are nearby. Boat tours and canoe rentals are available at the marina. Several hiking and canoeing trails begin at Flamingo or nearby, including the south end of the Wilderness Waterway. Abundant wildlife may be found here year-round.

GULF COAST
Open All Year
Phone - 941-695-3311
Location - The Gulf Coast Visitor Center is located in Everglades City, in the northwest corner of the park.
Special Programs - A 1 hour 45 minute narrated boat trip provides an overall description of this saltwater ecosystem.
Exhibits - The visitor center has natural history exhibits, park information, and issues backcountry permits and park passes.
Available Facilities - Gulf Coast is the gateway for exploring the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangrove islands and waterways that extends south to Flamingo and Florida Bay. Canoes may be rented to explore Chokoloskee Bay and the Turner River. For the more adventurous, the 99 mile (159 km)Wilderness Waterway, accessible by canoe, kayak, or small motorboat, winds through the mangrove islands all the way to Flamingo. Backcountry permits are required for camping.

ROYAL PALM
Open All Year 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Phone - 305-242-7700
Location - Located four miles west of the main entrance station
Special Programs - Anhinga Amble: join this daily ranger-led walk to find out why this trail is an attraction to wildlife; anhingas, alligators and Florida gar can all be seen along this trail Glades Glimpses: Not much time? In 20 minutes, a ranger will introduce you to the subtropics, alligators, and other Everglades tidbits.
Exhibits - Artist Charles Harper's stylized images of Everglades wildlife are on display with recorded messages that interpret the park's unique ecosystems.
Available Facilities - The Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo trails begin here. Books, film, postcards, and insect repellent are available for sale, and vending machines dispense snacks and soft drinks.

SHARK VALLEY
Open All Year
Phone - 305-221-8776
Location - Shark Valley is located along U.S.41 (Tamiami Trail) on the northern border of the park.
Special Programs - A two hour narrated tram ride provides an overview of the freshwater Everglades.
Available Facilities - Exhibits, information, and book sales. A fifteen mile (24 km) not open to private motorized vehicles) extends into the marsh, offering one of the best opportunities to view alligators and the endangered snail kite in Everglades National Park. Bicycles are available to rent. Those wishing to explore alone can walk the short trails and portions of the tram road, or bike. An observation tower located halfway around the tram road provides a spectacular view into the sawgrass marsh.

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