East Fern Trail - Bog Loop Clockwise

7Jan2012 GPS track of West Fern and all of the East Fern Bog Loop, middle connector and exits to Whetherbine and Park/Richview. Connector from West Fern to Tom Brown Park at Weems Road/Goose Pond Trail. Connecting East Fern to Higher Ground Bikes mountainbike shop. Mid-April '09 Update: This months rain "events" have resulted in multiple creek snags. This is causing the creek to back up and flood. Things are taking longer to dry out. Expect mud and some areas of standing water! The north "half" is in better shape overall. The newer middle connector does flood. The old Polos bridge got floated out of position during the worst of the storms. It's clear out the creek snags or pray for drought if you can't deal with the muck. 19 March '09 Update: Mostly on the northwest section, someone has done a bit of ghastly trail clearing. Several small trees were cut leaving about four inches still above ground. Examples here and here. My take is that two of these removals might be justified. I don't want to do anything to encourage more unnecessary cutting on this wonderful little nature trail. However, if you undertake to remove a tree, you must do it in such a way as to remove it "roots and all, or not at all." Happy to demonstrate. Don't leave a punji stick. As of 22 March, I think I've found (and removed) all the dangerous remnants. On the northeast section, a few "showcase" vines were cut. Example. I'm not skilled on a bike, yet I learned to duck and twist while passing under to clear these vines. Nice vines may be tied back rather than killed. Please, let's avoid the temptation to LCD (lowest common denominator) these trails. Thanks! As always, I'd love to discuss if anyone has comments. Better yet, let's meet on the trail. THIS GALLERY: Walking around clockwise (and pedaling - see videos below) on this ~1.1M rooty singletrack treat south and east of the Fern Trail's Polos Bridge. Yes, there will be an anti-clockwise version as well. As a matter of fact, here it is. As of 21 Feb '09, there's another middle connector north of the existing one which does not cross the creek. See second map below. Makes for a nice ~2Km "figure-8" loop that I've run a few times. Video of just that north middle connector. A suggestion of where to park if you need to drive here. Go behind Power Mill Court businesses, around retention pond, head southwest to woods, enter Fern Trail. See map - "Power Mill" is visible top right center, if that makes sense. If you're running or pedaling here from the west, this may be of use. NOTE: I shot the majority of the photos at a 35mm equivalent focal length of 27mm. In other words, things are nearer than they appear. Clockwise two part VIDEO tour is now viewable for the full loop, minus the middle connector. There's also a short video coming across the new Polos bridge and turning south (anticlockwise) onto the Bog Loop, and a video showing how to bypass all this, head over to Tom Brown Park, and return. Photos of the ~100m "middle connector" are at the end of this gallery. Special thanks and inspiration from the mystery red rake, creator of ~250m of trail from near the Polos Bridge southward, and the northern middle connector. My part? As I related elsewhere, total cost was exactly zero dollars. Recycled all of my green flagging tape, and my plastic rake suffered no depreciation. The northern segment of this trail (Polos Bridge to the "T" just past the log ride) has been in regular use for many years. (Since 1995?) Similarly, the section from that "T" southward to the Whetherbine Dog Walk has been in regular use since the late '90s. From the Dog Walk south toward Park went into disrepair once the four laning of Park took out the trail entrance from the Whetherbine (Breckenridge-on-Park) neighborhood. This ~500m section and the entire west section up to the Polos bridge and the middle connector were opened up in late January '09. Expect the singletrack in many sections to narrow considerably once we get into the growing season. The intent was not to make another "flowy" trail. If you prefer a bit more room around your shoulders, elbows, and head, please find a more "civilized" trail. Feathered buddies I regularly hear and see in here include red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, and pileated woodpeckers. You'll know it's a barred owl if you hear this. Look carefully for animal tracks along the sandy shoreline at the south creek crossing. During summer on the tighter sections, I don't go more than a few seconds between running my face through banana spider webs. That's best done at night with a helmet-mounted light. Web strands at eye level look like wires. Favorite flora include Ironwood, Magnolia, American beech, Spruce pine, and during the winter/spring, Trillium, I think this one. With a gallery full of shots, you may find it easier to navigate if you change the gallery "style" (top right) from "smugmug" to "all thumbs." Or "slideshow" 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/