04-04-2004, 02:15 AM
[center]FWC OPENS BIG BEND SALTWATER PADDLING TRAIL[/center]
March 10, 2004
Contact: Doug Alderson (850) 488-9463
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) saltwater paddling trail gives experienced sea kayakers the opportunity to explore one of the longest and wildest publicly owned coastal wetlands in the United States.
Florida’s Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail showcases a striking array of bird and marine life along 105 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, from the mouth of the Aucilla River south to the Suwannee River.
Flocks of white pelicans soar overhead in winter while great egrets, white as snowflakes, dot marshy expanses. Bald eagles and ospreys entertain with their aerial maneuvers and dives, and in the often-clear waters one can spot crabs, fishes, sea turtles, manatees, cannonball jellyfish and small sharks and rays. One kayaker likened it to paddling over a giant aquarium.
The Florida Legislature designated the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail part of the Florida’s Greenways and Trails System in 1996, but for several years it was little more than a line on a map with few authorized campsites for paddlers. Then, in 2002, the FWC took on the task of establishing a first-rate paddling trail.
“We’ve spent the last year-and-a-half doing exhaustive scouting and mapping, developing primitive campsites and researching the fascinating cultural and natural history of the area,” said Jerrie Lindsey, coordinator of the FWC’s Recreation Services Program. “By developing recreational opportunities like this, we hope to help people recognize the importance of the management area system and support conservation. Paddlers should be prepared for a beautiful experience, although it is not an expedition to undertake lightly. It requires a lot of thought and a lot of planning.”
This paddling trail presents particular challenges because it travels along remote shorelines of the Gulf of Mexico. Paddlers need to consult the guidebook to plan for fresh- drinking-water stops during this nine-day trip.
The 40-page guide is divided into 13 sections. Each section consists of a detailed map covering a five-mile segment of trail, GPS bearings, mileage figures, photos, interpretive information and locations of campsites and drinking water. The spiral-bound guide is printed on durable, water-resistant paper and is designed for easy use in a kayak.
As outlined in the guide, the 105-mile trail includes side trips to springs, wild rivers, historical sites, wildlife havens and small coastal towns. Designated primitive campsites, exclusively for trail users, are spaced 10 to 14 miles apart. Camping permits are required, but they are free. The guide sells for $15. For order information, log on to [url "http://www.myfwc.com/recreation"][#000080]www.myfwc.com/recreation[/#000080][/url] or telephone (850) 488-5520. The guides also will be available through the Taylor County Tourism Development Council. Proceeds from the guide support management of the trail.
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March 10, 2004
Contact: Doug Alderson (850) 488-9463
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) saltwater paddling trail gives experienced sea kayakers the opportunity to explore one of the longest and wildest publicly owned coastal wetlands in the United States.
Florida’s Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail showcases a striking array of bird and marine life along 105 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, from the mouth of the Aucilla River south to the Suwannee River.
Flocks of white pelicans soar overhead in winter while great egrets, white as snowflakes, dot marshy expanses. Bald eagles and ospreys entertain with their aerial maneuvers and dives, and in the often-clear waters one can spot crabs, fishes, sea turtles, manatees, cannonball jellyfish and small sharks and rays. One kayaker likened it to paddling over a giant aquarium.
The Florida Legislature designated the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail part of the Florida’s Greenways and Trails System in 1996, but for several years it was little more than a line on a map with few authorized campsites for paddlers. Then, in 2002, the FWC took on the task of establishing a first-rate paddling trail.
“We’ve spent the last year-and-a-half doing exhaustive scouting and mapping, developing primitive campsites and researching the fascinating cultural and natural history of the area,” said Jerrie Lindsey, coordinator of the FWC’s Recreation Services Program. “By developing recreational opportunities like this, we hope to help people recognize the importance of the management area system and support conservation. Paddlers should be prepared for a beautiful experience, although it is not an expedition to undertake lightly. It requires a lot of thought and a lot of planning.”
This paddling trail presents particular challenges because it travels along remote shorelines of the Gulf of Mexico. Paddlers need to consult the guidebook to plan for fresh- drinking-water stops during this nine-day trip.
The 40-page guide is divided into 13 sections. Each section consists of a detailed map covering a five-mile segment of trail, GPS bearings, mileage figures, photos, interpretive information and locations of campsites and drinking water. The spiral-bound guide is printed on durable, water-resistant paper and is designed for easy use in a kayak.
As outlined in the guide, the 105-mile trail includes side trips to springs, wild rivers, historical sites, wildlife havens and small coastal towns. Designated primitive campsites, exclusively for trail users, are spaced 10 to 14 miles apart. Camping permits are required, but they are free. The guide sells for $15. For order information, log on to [url "http://www.myfwc.com/recreation"][#000080]www.myfwc.com/recreation[/#000080][/url] or telephone (850) 488-5520. The guides also will be available through the Taylor County Tourism Development Council. Proceeds from the guide support management of the trail.
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