2. Parks and Trails

Econfina Wildcattin'

Photos from my 20 Nov 2007 trek with The Kentucky Wildcat to this gem of a trail. We get in a ~10M run (5M out and back) on these sweet singletrack trails along Econfina Creek. To the powerline and back, if that makes sense to anyone. It appears our route duplicated the hike done 10 days earlier by the FTA's Panhandle Chapter. GPS track of our run is here. GPS tracks are always short of reality. My Garmin Edge 305 (a "bike" GPS sort of stapled to the top of my head - see last photo in gallery) showed 15.99Km (100m less than a full 10M) before I uploaded the file to MotionBased. It clocked in at 10.26M on MotionBased. Go figure. I use GPS for mapping not measuring, anyway. Btw, this did include a bit of off-trail, in the creek activity. Load that .kml file into Google Earth for a far better view. We put in at the Scott Road (east) TH, maybe 80M or so west of Tallahassee. From Tallahassee, take I-10 west to Hwy 231 (Exit 130), south on 231 something like 13M to Scott Road. If you miss Scott Road, you'll almost immediately see Hwy 167 on your left. Turn right (west) onto Scott Road (dirt) and follow orange trail marks ~3M to the east trailhead. To read more about this area and see maps, check these links: http://myfwc.com/RECREATION/cooperative/econfina_creek.asp http://panhandle.floridatrail.org/our-trails/ http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/econfinacreek.html http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/panhandlewest/trails/econfina.htm With hundreds of shots, you may find it easier to navigate if you change the gallery "style" (top right) from "smugmug" to "all thumbs." Or "slideshow" (very cool for sequences) or "filmstrip" or . . . you get the idea, it's configurable by you. I usually like "journal." THIS SITE is private property, and doesn't necessarily represent any other individual or organization. You are welcome to download/use my photos for your private enjoyment, including printing them. Any other usage/linking must come from me in writing (email ok), with credit given. Questions, pre-scoldings, comments, ID, complaints? Thanks, John Kalin Email me TallahasseeTrails on YouTube. "If I fall you're going down with me" - Trail running advice from my Dixie Chicks http://www.tallahasseetrails.com/
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  • Here's a saved jpeg from Google Earth showing our out-and-back trek. Start/finish top right. Prepare your own map (and zoom in/out and X/Y to your heart's content) by loading the .kml file into Google Earth from this link: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4479399 If you don't yet have Google Earth, get it (free) here: http://earth.google.com/

    Here's a saved jpeg from Google Earth showing our out-and-back trek. Start/finish top right. Prepare your own map (and zoom in/out and X/Y to your heart's content) by loading the .kml file into Google Earth from this link: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4479399 If you don't yet have Google Earth, get it (free) here: http://earth.google.com/

  • I start off the day by dumping much of my Camelbak's Gatorade all over The Wildcat's truck. Sweeet - literally. My ration for the 10M of these trails ended up being: 1) about one liter of lemon-lime Gatorade www.gatorade.com 2) one sugar-free (don't ask) 16 oz. Rockstar www.rockstar69.com 2) two lemon-lime "Electrolyte Stamina power packs" www.traceminerals.com 3) two 2X caffeine "GU Espresso Love" gel packs www.gusports.com 4) one lemon Starburst www.starburst.com Given our relaxed pace and comfortable trail temps, it worked out fine. A bigger breakfast would have been preferable!

    I start off the day by dumping much of my Camelbak's Gatorade all over The Wildcat's truck. Sweeet - literally. My ration for the 10M of these trails ended up being: 1) about one liter of lemon-lime Gatorade www.gatorade.com 2) one sugar-free (don't ask) 16 oz. Rockstar www.rockstar69.com 2) two lemon-lime "Electrolyte Stamina power packs" www.traceminerals.com 3) two 2X caffeine "GU Espresso Love" gel packs www.gusports.com 4) one lemon Starburst www.starburst.com Given our relaxed pace and comfortable trail temps, it worked out fine. A bigger breakfast would have been preferable!

  • Jo Lena gets her gear ready in a much more professional manner than yours truly. Her hydration pack is a Camelbak "Magic." The Magic is the "sister" version of my "Lobo."

    Jo Lena gets her gear ready in a much more professional manner than yours truly. Her hydration pack is a Camelbak "Magic." The Magic is the "sister" version of my "Lobo."

  • Just a map on each side of this East TH sign, a parking corral, no facilities/water, you're on your own! Pack it in, pack it out.

    Just a map on each side of this East TH sign, a parking corral, no facilities/water, you're on your own! Pack it in, pack it out.

  • Decode that and you get a cookie.

    Decode that and you get a cookie.

  • Away we go. Just follow the orange blazes! Things will change looks drastically in a few hundred meters.

    Away we go. Just follow the orange blazes! Things will change looks drastically in a few hundred meters.

  • A few hundred meters along, it's beginning to look promising. Note how we're now losing elevation. Temperature's cooling off down here. It'll get cooler the lower and nearer to the creek we get.

    A few hundred meters along, it's beginning to look promising. Note how we're now losing elevation. Temperature's cooling off down here. It'll get cooler the lower and nearer to the creek we get.

  • "Walsingham Bridge - 10M Fender Bridge - 5M" We ended up going about a half mile past Fender Bridge to The Powerline.

    "Walsingham Bridge - 10M Fender Bridge - 5M" We ended up going about a half mile past Fender Bridge to The Powerline.

  • During our run, I took turns leading and trailing The Wildcat. This back-and-forth photojournalist's prerogative resulted in many "Get out of the way!" exclamations. And I got the joy of ten miles of STOP! SNAP! GO! style running. It appears the Nikon D70's 800 ISO setting w/the 18-70 f/3.5-4.5 kit lens prevented too much blurring down in the shady woods. Keep in mind I'm a runner with a camera in my hand, not a photographer, okay? If any blurring bugs you, buy me one of these: http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm

    During our run, I took turns leading and trailing The Wildcat. This back-and-forth photojournalist's prerogative resulted in many "Get out of the way!" exclamations. And I got the joy of ten miles of STOP! SNAP! GO! style running. It appears the Nikon D70's 800 ISO setting w/the 18-70 f/3.5-4.5 kit lens prevented too much blurring down in the shady woods. Keep in mind I'm a runner with a camera in my hand, not a photographer, okay? If any blurring bugs you, buy me one of these: http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/18200.htm

  • This is great, and we haven't even gotten to the creek yet.

    This is great, and we haven't even gotten to the creek yet.

  • Down down down

    Down down down

  • DSC_9989

    DSC_9989

  • DSC_9990

    DSC_9990

  • DSC_9991

    DSC_9991

  • Lots of sturdy puncheon bridges crossed feeder creeks/seeps and areas that would be wet - if we would ever get consistent rain. (Rains came a couple days after we were here.) Puncheon technology once ruled the road-building world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plank_road

    Lots of sturdy puncheon bridges crossed feeder creeks/seeps and areas that would be wet - if we would ever get consistent rain. (Rains came a couple days after we were here.) Puncheon technology once ruled the road-building world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plank_road

  • I tried to knock that tree down on her, but she was too quick. I keed! I keed! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_the_insult_comic_dog

    I tried to knock that tree down on her, but she was too quick. I keed! I keed! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_the_insult_comic_dog

  • DSC_9994

    DSC_9994

  • Move!

    Move!

  • DSC_9996

    DSC_9996

  • DSC_9997

    DSC_9997

  • That's ok, Jo Lena. I've fallen off a bridge wider than that. As far as I know, she had Gatorade, not 'shine in her Camelbak.

    That's ok, Jo Lena. I've fallen off a bridge wider than that. As far as I know, she had Gatorade, not 'shine in her Camelbak.

  • I think this is what passes for surfin' back home in Kaintuck. Read about other Wildcat hometown culture, here: http://tinyurl.com/2wr3en

    I think this is what passes for surfin' back home in Kaintuck. Read about other Wildcat hometown culture, here: http://tinyurl.com/2wr3en

  • DSC_0001

    DSC_0001

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    DSC_9990.JPG
    DSC_9991.JPG
    Lots of sturdy puncheon bridges crossed feeder creeks/seeps and areas that would be wet - if we would ever get consistent rain. (Rains came a couple days after we were here.) Puncheon technology once ruled the road-building world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plank_road