Harold Williams Cooney

Category: Eastern Continental Trail Florida Trail Connecter

  • D8 – Dude, swamp walking

    D8 – Dude, swamp walking

    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.

     

    The sun is arriving. The moisture is burning off.

    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 beginning of trail! No architecture or signage. At one time, this was the official start of the Florida Trail.
    Double blaze! Let’s go!
    Nothing captures trail like a vertical photo. Limestone from old coral, I think. Challenging footing from here on.
    Most of the footing is manageable because water on the trail is clear. It’s clear because it’s moving. It is very interesting to look, feel, and see the water moving.
    I don’t know what kind of snake this is, but it’s still the kind I don’t touch, lol. It was opening its mouth at me, angry that I was close. I don’t think this snake is very old.
    This is a trail famous spot, the pitcher pump at Frog Hammock Camp. I for sure hope to never camp here ever in my life. Lol.
    Some areas feel tropical.
    Such a fantastic experience.
    This is a strand swamp, I think.
    I didn’t take too many photos because I’m scared to drop my phone in the water. Lol.

    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.

    It begins! I’m so happy for me!

    A few minutes before 1pm, I am northbound on the Florida Trail. This is so fantastic.

    Laughable understatement and misdirection.

    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.

    The first blaze! (I think, lol)
    Looks like great walking. Dry. Pine trees. Should be easy. Right? Lol.

    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.

    It’s painful to see abandoned gear on the trail because it could happen to me. Pay attention, I tell myself. Good luck with that.

    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.

    A more normal section of the Florida Trail.

    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.

    An excellent tentsite. Plus, I’m exhausted. If I’m really tired, everything looks like great camping.

    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.

    Multiple friends living outside my tent as the sun goes down. I gotta say, I’m not really a fan of the juggle. Honestly, fuck your mosquitoes and spiders.

    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.

  • D7 – Mosquitoes and gators

    D7 – Mosquitoes and gators

    Friday, December 5th, 2025. Tented on the north side of the water control structure on m53.0 of the Eastern Continental Trail Florida Trail Connecter. As the sun is rising.  67° and ground haze. Very humid. Wake naturally to the sound of highway traffic at about 630am. 25.761727,-80.553251

    The drama of the evening didn’t really contribute to a great night’s sleep. Very muggy and at wake up, the condensation is so great that it might as well have rained in my tent.

    Packing up, I give it mosquito apocalypse, 2 of 5. So, not great. The top corners of my tent were packed full of mosquitoes. I managed to get myself squared away and walking before 7am.

    I tented in the grass right here. I was entertainment for several hundreds of mosquitoes.
    The moon’s still up, purple skies at the flood control structure.
    Looking east back towards where I tented.
    What’s reported as a sketchy bridge into a restaurant. I’m sorry not to be taking it, I do like a sketchy bridge, but the restaurant does not open until 9am. That’s two hours from now.

    It is quite roasty and humid. I am a sweaty mess. I reached the Value Jet Memorial at about nine thirty.

    More than a hundred died, the memorial is pretty … minumal and unkempt.

    It’s a long hot while along the road. Eventually I make The Miccosukee General Store. I get lunch twice. The lunch special; beef over rice. It was okay. And a Cuban sandwich, which was also almost okay. I eat an ice cream to make it feel better that the resupply selection is so poor. I walk out with two boxes of crackers and some bananas. Lol, sigh. Out 120pm.

    It’s interesting times in America. It never crossed my mind I’d be close to this new national … feature.

    I had to stop on the side of the road twice to rest. The sun and heat did a number on me today. I did manage to get my tent and sleeping bag out into the sun for a few minutes to dry, making a big difference.

    Saw my first on trail gators on Loop Road. There seems to be quite a few of them
    Loop Road.
    That’s a gator bed or slide or whatever to the right there. The water looked clean and beautiful, I bet they are happy. Tons of fish swimming around, easy to see.
    Group of one, please! Gate is closed, so thankful! This means no boy scout troops. I have the place all to myself.
    Me, my tent, and the mosquitoes.

    I decided to call it an early day. I’m not really feeling that great. Need rest. Tent up before 530pm as the sun goes down. I am in my tent, tring to kill all the mosquitoes in there at about 6pm.

    My plan is make an early start tomorrow. I won’t set an alarm. If I can sleep, I want me to.

    Milage:

    Started today at 53.0 and I’m camped at 75.9, so that is 22.9. It’s definitely a short day. Needed it.

  • D6 – No running my tent over

    D6 – No running my tent over

    Thursday, December 4th, 2025. Room 105 at the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Florida City. Way off m22.8 of the Eastern Continental Florida Trail Connecter. 67°, overcast, amazingly great.

    I probably shouldn’t complain about my seedy hotel, but I did. It was the room not having any toilet paper that set me off. The no towels thing, no problem. Beds that might be dirty, but maybe that’s me. People parting in the neighboring room to 345am, probably I’m just insecure and jealous. But, can’t shit because no toilet paper? There will be complaints!

    I don’t sleep well because of mental health. I have a couple of good stretching sessions to try and settle me out and ease my physical discomfort, which is good. But, yeah, grumpy at wake up. I pack my stuff and complain at the front desk. Eye rolls in return. That makes sense.

    I walk to Cracker Barrel (lol, fuck) for breakfast. I charge my stuff and update this blog. I don’t have any trouble explaining the obvious to myself: I am so lucky to have the life I do, NO COMPLAINTS!

    From Cracker Barrel to Walgreens. I get bug stuff and manage to make important water bottle change. I was carrying 6x 1l bottles, which is something out of New Mexico. I buy 2x 1.5l bottles and ditch 4x 1l bottles. So now, 6l max in 4 bottles. Still, a lot of water. Map says I need it.

    Starbucks for coffee and water to fill my old bottles. I call for a Lyft, it costs less than yesterday and arrives almost instantly.

    Just before 930am, me and my lucky, lucky Starbucks life is back on trail. Warm and sunny.

    Back on trail (road).

    Wonderful walking. Hot in the sun but not exhaustingly so. I make decent time and enjoy watching the world on the far side of the canal.

    Farming in Florida is crop diverse, trying to understand what is growing, what is being harvested, and is quite impossible for me. I have a hard time distinguishing for certain between human food and landscaping plants.

    The businesses seem quite small, 10s of acres. I see a few workers here and there and wonder what their schedule is like this time of year.

    Just before SW 168th Street / Richmond Drive, I walked past a model airport. AMPS R/C Club is one of the coolest experiences I have had on trail. While walking, I have dozens of flyovers from jets that perhaps have a 4 foot wingspan. So great!

    After the airport, I turn right and am quickly at an outdoor Cuban spot that to me seems built to cater to the agricultural labor that works the fields I have been passing. They don’t speak English but I manage to order asada and black rice, it was pretty good. Two Mexican like frozen dessert bars and fill my bottles. El Pirata Ranch, do recommend. If one is less gringo than me, probably the food situation is even better.

    El Pirata Ranch

    Up and out at 4pm. Good times.

    Above the canal north of SW 136th
    Sun goes bye-bye at 530pm

    No bugs all day. Not a one. As soon as the sun goes down, it’s a mosquito world. Yikes. But, I did buy a bottle of bug stuff, and even though I’m against wearing it, I find myself rushing to get it out of my pack and on my skin. Real quick. Lol, fuck.

    The trail crosses the Tamiami Trail (Highway 41) to be on its north side. It’s quite a busy road and under construction. The trail crosses a canal that’s north of the road and travels west in a straight line for some time.

    There is a campsite proposed in FarOut less than 3 miles from crossing the  highway. I get there, and it is definitely not great. Trash, including broken glass. Tall grass that already had beads of moisture on it. Looks unappealing. But I set up anyway.

    I’m in my tent at about 10 pm. It’s not long after that a car of some sort comes. They use a handheld beam to light my tent up. Someone in the vehicle says something about running the tent over. I yell back at them and get out of the tent to go face to face. By the time I do, they have driven off.

    I get back in my tent, and a few minutes later, there is another vehicle. I do not know if it’s the same one. Things feel sketchy. The second vehicle drives a little ways looking to gage my response.

    I make the decision to pack up and move. Nightmare, but I do an okay job. I go not very far to a gate on a lock. I reset camp beyond the gate and a little control building of some kind.

    At both locations, mosquitoes in the tent tent tequire much killing after getting inside. Takes time and effort.

    Also, at some point in all of this, I feel the sharp strain of accute back pain. Nightmare.

    It’s now 11:10 pm. In tent exhausted ish. Worried for my back. Also concerned about returning tent visitors.

    Milage

    Started at m22.8 and am tented at the “water control structure” on m53.0, so 30.2 for the day. I’ve only had a few incidents in hundreds and hundreds of nights backpacking where I’ve been openly threatened. Quite unusual. I’m thankful to end the day alive and well enough.