Winter Break Backpacking in Ocala National Forest, Fl

OVERVIEW

Sooo, classes don’t start until Wednesday, January 18th, let’s go backpacking!

Ocala National Forest in Central Florida has about 70 miles of continuous trails that run through a mix of pine and hardwood forests, prairies, lakes, and swamps. The plan is to backpack the the majority of the length of the forest over 6 days. Here is a great resource with info about the trail http://www.floridahikes.com/florida-trail-ocala.

Itinerary:

January 9th (Monday): Leave Charlottesville, drive 10 hours, camp near trailhead

January 10th-14th: Hiking (Tentative mileage: 10,10,15,10,10)

January 14th: Start the drive home and camp somewhere cool (near/on the beach)

January 15th (Sunday): Arrive home (Or January 16th depending on group preference)

What you bring:

Backpack (club can provide)

Sleeping bag and pad (club can provide)

Headlamp (club can provide)

Appropriate clothes (could drop to 30s-40s at night)

Raingear

Bowl and Utensils

Capacity to carry at least 3 liters of water

Snacks

Reading material

Anything else important that I’ve forgotten

Club provides:

Space in a car

Gas up to $150 per car

$6/day/person for food

Water Filter

Tents

Finally, because we have to shuttle cars, the trip can’t go out unless another driver signs up. Everyone is on the waitlist at first so I can figure out logistics. Drivers will be moved off the waitlist first.