Back in Flamingo!

Greetings Followers!

The entire expedition team is alive and well.  That is right, all made it, and not only survived the journey, but THRIVED on the journey!

The reason we completed a day early is due to a front moving in and the fear that if the predictions held we could have been stranded out unable to paddle in.  So a team decision was made last night after checking on weather to push on with one long day and complete our trek.  Crew members are tired but in great spirits.  This particular "old" crew member is also feeling the past week's miles (but very high spirits!).      

We have many photos and video clips from all expedition members (multiple cameras) from the past several days.  As a team we decided that it all needs to be compiled and evaluated by all for the blog.   So please stay tuned and check in regularly on the progress.  I can assure you it is very BLOG worthy!!!

Many highlights to share and as this evening proved the adventure is far from over!

Share the Journey!  

Rounding the tip of Cape Sable

I continue to be amazed at the distance our trusty Conservation Corps has moved--very impressive when you look at the maps in a series (see below).

The last spot locator report showed the crew camping at the tip of Cape Sable, very near their final destination back in Flamingo. I reposted the same reference map since Flamingo doesn't show up on the spot locator links. The team should move back into Internet access again tomorrow, so come back soon to see reports on the last five days. I, for one, can't wait.

Follow their journey by clicking through the maps from start to finish:
Map 1, December 28 at 1:20 pm
Map 2, December 28 at 6:19 pm
Map 3, Friday, December 30 at 5:31 pm
Map 4, Saturday, December 31 at 6:16 pm
Map 5, Sunday, January 1 at 10 pm

Who made this trip possible?

Once again we send a huge thanks to our very generous sponsors who made this year's Conservation Corps possible, especially lead support from Baldrige Assets Management, a grant from Infinera Corp., a grant from the Sandy Hollow Arts and Recreation for the
Environment or S.H.A.R.E., and Zwada Enterprises. We also are grateful to the caring individuals who generously sponsored one or more corps members flight to Florida.

At a time when everyone talks about the need to get kids outdoors, these folks are making it happen, one person at a time. THANK YOU SO MUCH! If you would like to learn more about helping to support the Conservation Corps in 2012, please contact:

Todd Bauman

Director of Land and Facilities

610-756-6961

bauman@hawkmountain.org

By contributing blogger M. Linkevich

Making miles

New location via the Spot Locator shows the crew made some major miles while they rang in the New Year. Based on their location, they're on schedule, having moved south of Ponce de Leon Bay along the Gulf of Mexico. They are to return to Flamingo, fully circling Cape Sable, by January 3....stay tuned!

http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=6lPeq

For reference, Cape Sable is noted on the map below:

new location via spot locator

Although the Conservation Corp is now in an area without a strong enough connection for Internet and full blog posting, the trusty GPS Spot Locator does work and a new location was recently posted. Follow their journey via the locator link:

http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=6k-8f

(Posted by contributor M. Linkevich)

Out of Touch for the next Six Days

Greetings HMCC Everglades Expedition Followers!

I just want to let all know that the team will be heading into the remote region of the park and completely out of contact until January 3rd.  But please check on the BLOG and our progress by our SPOT locations as we navigate around Cape Sable Island of the famed Everglades wilderness.   Team is excited for this component of the adventure and camp preparation is underway.  It will be an early morning with about ten miles of open water to paddle to first camp.

This team has already overcome many work and logistical challenges and the best is yet to come!

Please,
Share this Journey!!

Todd Bauman

Finishing at Bear Lake and Feeling the Call of the Wilderness by Lucas Wessner

Day 3 12/18/11 Part 2

After lunch we came upon an obstacle in the canal. A red mangrove blocked any canoes or kayaks from getting through. We spent a good time sawing and clipping away at it until it was no longer an obstacle. Afterwards we tied up our canoes to shore and walked to Bear Lake, where we were finally exposed to sunlight after spending several hours in the dense forest.

The lake was very large and did not smell nearly as bad as the canal. In the distance a few of us spotted a fairly large splash. I can’t wait to get onto to our canoes tomorrow to see some of this wildlife up close. After heading back to our canoes and paddling back to the cars, we split up. Some of us went with Tom and others went with Todd since we can’t all fit in one car. I happen to go with Tom. He decided to drive us to where the destination of our trek will be. He told us all types of stories and filled us with lots of life lessons. He seems to have experienced a lot in his life, and for this reason he does not fear death from the dangers of his job. What I get out of his stories is, if you don’t try you’ll never know. For example, some people stand at the edge and try to experience things from a distance. There may be some dangers, but unless you really put the fear behind, you’ll never know. I like to think of our trek that way. I don’t feel I’m truly experiencing the Everglades at this point. I can’t wait to depart for our trek tomorrow where I know I will experience the Everglades.

-Lucas Wessner

The Calusa Natives by Ben Gangaware

Day 3 12/28/11

HMCC on a gumbo-limbo tree

            When I woke up this morning I did not want to leave my tent. I had an excellent night’s sleep. After eating breakfast we got ready to meet Tom at 9 o’clock and head back out into the swamp. Today Tom showed us a Calusa mound. A Calusa mounds are built of earth and shells and is where the Calusa Natives buried their dead. They also lived on these mounds as they were high and dry. You can tell it’s a Calusa mound because the Everglades are flat and in the middle of the woods is a large dirt mound that is fairly narrow but long.  The one we explored was about two soccer fields long. 

Tom with a Calusa tool from a conch shell

These people controlled the Southwest region of Florida and were encountered first by the Spanish in the 1500's.  The Calusa fed on the rich diversity of the region, but were known for their diet of shellfish of which they built their mounds.  By the 1700's this culture had been decimated by slavery of other tribes and disease introduced by the Spanish and French explorers.   

We ate our lunches on top of the mound. For lunch we had summer sausage and Colby jack cheese on a tortilla, along with gorp and carrots. We all sat on a gumbo-limbo tree and listened to Tom talk as we ate our lunch. I learned a great amount of information from Tom. One thing Tom said was “ No matter what talent you possess whether it’s doing backflips or being able to balance things on your nose or thumbs, don’t ever sell your self short”. 

-Ben Gangaware