Saturday, December 6th, 2025. Pinecrest Group Campground, Big Cypress National Preserve. North end of tenting area. Off m75.9 of the Eastern Continental Trail/Florida Trail Connecter. 68°, 94% humidity, fog, visible humidity, no wind at all. 25.762739,-80.919220
I toss and turn all night again because of discomfort in high humidity. Everything has condensation in the morning. I am in pit toilet pooping with everything packed up at 430am. I’m hoping to be on the road walk in a few minutes.
Walking on the road in the dark, I get growled at by alligators. It’s discomforting. Lol. Some sound much larger than others.
I am eager for the day. I would say nervous. I feel as though difficulties are ahead, lol. Oh, man, the Florida Trail!
I pick up water at the narrow bridge at 82.1. The sun is up, and I am very close to the next level of hiking. Comments on FarOut make it clear that the 8 miles to the Oasis Visor Center will take 7+ hours. I have read about these areas and seen them on YouTube, but it’s about to be first person.
The goal this year is “Key West to Canada and Back,” and I realize now that getting to this point going south will be an amazing feeling. South of this is nothing but easy days. It’s hard to imagine. 11 months from now, perhaps.
I make the trailhead at 733am. Let’s go!
The most difficult bit was north of the Frog Hammock camping area. Continuous water.
By 1130am, I am washing my shoes and socks in the hose provided at the Big Cypress National Preserve – Oasis Visitor Center. The park people let me sit in the movie theater and charge my devices, work on this blog.
A few minutes before 1pm, I am northbound on the Florida Trail. This is so fantastic.
I don’t have any problem admitting to my inner fool. Departing the southern terminus, there was a voice in my mind speaking to the idea that the rest of the Florida Trail would be dry dirt. The Florida Trail, known for being a wet buggy nightmare, was done with being a wet buggy nightmare at m0.0, obviously not the reality.
It is dry for about 100 yards out from the visitors center and around the airport.
At 2:22 p.m., at mile 3, I pass a rain fly for a large two person tent. This is not good. Somebody is gonna miss that. The woman running the information desk at the visitor center, she said that there was a man in the morning with a very large backpack who said he was going to Maine. My thinking is, this is his fly. I expected to see this person walking south, but I never do.
The same voice that was talking about all dry trail for the rest of my life, was also wanting to night hike to a campsite at 23 or 24. This is insane. Walking in the dark here is totally unnecessary. Far to early in season for that kind of work and definitely bad here where the footing really benefits from eyes.
It has been constantly wet, water to calf at most, since the visitor center. I’m exhausted. On a dry spot on trail, I take my pack off and put my water kit in my pocket. Short of my tentsite, when I’m standing in water, I scoop my bag full, carry it like a baby to camp.
By 530, I have my tent set, and I’m not at all disappointed. It’s been a very good day. It took a week and a day to reach mile 0. I’ve made it safely. Somehow, there are far fewer bugs here than last night by a large margin. There is even a breeze. The ground even takes stakes, which has been a problem this whole trip because Florida is all limestone.
This environment is not for me. I like it well enough. I’ve greatly enjoyed walking today. But, the reality is, this place is dangerous, and I’ll be glad to be gone.
There is a picnic table. I try to dry my feet. I watch the sunset. Write all this. The minute the sun goes down, the bugs world goes ape shit. So very happy to be tented.
Milage:
From my campsite at Pinecrest Group Campground, Big Cypress National Preserve to the visitor center and m0.0 of the Florida Trail, Farout says 15.8 miles. My camp is Okalee Wachekaleshke, which I can only spell because of copy and paste, on m9.5 of the Florida Trail. Math says 25.3 miles for the day, seems about right.
Harold Williams Cooney 
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