Positive Attitude

While watching a program on the History Channel the other day, I heard these words of wisdom - People think of danger out in the woods as snakes, wild hogs, bears, falling, etc - these are dangers, but a real danger is a person's attitude, if you go on a hike with a negative attitude, the hike is doomed! I always hike with a positive attitude! I'm always aware of what is going on around me, but the main thing is the hike and enjoying every minute of it. So the moral of this entry is, don't worry - enjoy the hike and the great outdoors! One other thing, a friend told me the other day that her brother-in-law got two broken legs -- while loading groceries into his car in a parking lot. It seems a little old lady hit the gas instead of the brake and ran right into him. Now where is the most dangerous area - a trail or a parking lot?

My Favorite Tree - the Cypress

As anyone who has viewed any of my pictures will tell you, I take a lot of pictures of Cypress Trees. I see so much in these trees as I'm out and around in Florida. Not only are many of trees very unique in their own way, many of the "knees" are also works of art. I feel bad when I see cypress mulch in the stores, I can not imagine that there are enough trees out there to support the mulch industry. The Tosohatchee WMA has one of the largest cypress forest around. It is located mainly along James Creek. Some of the prettiest cypress trees can be found along the St Johns River between RT50 and RT528. That area has provided me with some wonderful pictures. Below are a few of the pictures of many that I have taken while out and around. Just double click on a picture to see the screen size version. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Cypress Trees and Trunk Sculptures - Click to Enlarge

Irritating things in the Field

The most irritating thing that can be found out there in the woods is bugs! The worst one for me is the "chigger". The welts left by these things just drive me crazy. The next worst and very close is the common tick. To try and discourage both of these critters from crawling up my leg, I spray some deet on my stocks and shoes before each outing. Of course, if you encounter a swarm of mosquitoes, that can be brutal in it's own right! I have been in sections where I had to brush them off they where so bad. So all and all, any biting bug is bad, some just worst than others!

My Most Dangerous Thing - Tree Root Tripping

There are many things in Florida which people consider dangerous - top of the list are alligators and poisonous snakes. Strange as it might seem, in my many hours and miles of hiking around Florida the most dangerous thing I have encountered is a cypress knee (defined as a distinctive structure in a root of a cypress tree which protrudes up from the ground). I have tripped over a few in my time, going flying to the ground. I have taken some pretty nasty falls tripping over a small "knee" in the green ground cover. My biggest fear always is that I will land full force on another knee sticking up. I have hit different parts of my body on "knees" as I've fallen, with some real mean resulting black and blue marks. I have been very lucky never to land on one in the chest or face, I think that could be a deadly situation! Another bad thing, not as bad as "knees", is roots and other obstacles found along a path. I have gone flying more than once when I tripped over something which I hadn't noticed on the trail. So rather than be obsessed with some critter getting you, be more concerned about taking a fall you might not get up from ;-)

This photo shows what cypress knees look like exposed (click on to enlarge)

High water mark and some cypress knees hidden by the weeds

Some more cypress knees in the greens

Exposed cypress knees, but still dangerous

One Mean Water Moccasin

It seems that during my many miles of hiking wet areas I have come across a few water moccasins (cottonmouths). They all would have certainly done me in if they had a mind to. In all cases they just displayed their very deadly fangs as they opened their mouths as wide as they could. In each case I recognized why they are called “cottonmouths”! They never attempted to strike me, just warned me to stay back. I met some old-timers once and they have told me that there were a lot of water moccasins in Florida once upon a time and they would actually chase you. If you should encounter one of these snakes, or any snake for that matter, show it respect. I never harass them, taking a few pictures and moving on. If you see one, just go around it and I'm sure you will be alright - but always border on the side of caution! I have run into a few snakes during my hiking (not really that many considering where I go and how many miles I cover) that I now wear snake gaiters to protect me (when I remember too). I use a pretty expensive set, TurtleSkin SnakeArmor's snake protection gaiters, but there are cheaper ones out there.

This is a Water Moccasin I almost stepped on while hiking Moccasin Island Tract. I assume because it was a cool day that is why he didn’t strike at me. I looked down when taking a picture of a flower and there he was! I jumped back, he just kept threatening me until I moved on (click on pictures to enlarge).

 
Another mean boy I ran across - if looks could kill I suspect I wouldn't be here! (click on pictures to enlarge)


 

A smaller Water Moccasin I almost stepped on why hiking around the St Johns River - it was just as mean as the big boys. I'm sure if he could have, he would bitten me and made my life miserable. Two things I had going for me that day - it was cool and it was sluggish and I had on my very protective snake gaiters. (click on pictures to enlarge)

I almost stepped on this very fat water moccasin while hiking a swamp in the very northern section of the Tosohatchee WMA. He just slithered up to a small mound and opened his mouth to show me his very intimating fangs. It wasn’t that cool of a day, so not sure why he just stayed there. It was very dry in this wetland area this day, so maybe the lack of water made him a little docile. I was very happy that he didn’t attempt to test my snake gaiters! I took his picture and moved on. I only saw one other snake that day, a small green one. There may have been many out there, but I doubt it. It seems that they are part of what I call “nature’s demise”. (click on pictures to enlarge)

Some of the Wildlife I Have Come Across In The Field

While hiking around Florida I have come across a variety of wildlife. As of this post, none of them have threaten me to any great degree -

• Alligators - from very small to very, very large
• Snakes of all kinds - Water Moccasins, Coral, Pygmy Rattlers, Timber Rattlers, Garter, Black Racers, Indigo, just water snakes in general and some other small ones
• All kinds of turtles
• Gopher Tortoises
• River Otters
• Armadillos
• Opossum
• Raccoons
• Coyotes
• Bobcat
• Hogs - from small ones to pretty big ones
• Cattle and Bulls
• All kinds of wading birds
• All kinds big birds - Owls, Bald Eagles, Cara-Cara, Ospreys, Hawks, Vultures
• All kind of songbirds
• Pileated woodpecker and many other types of woodpeckers
• Florida Panther - only saw tail as it left a trail I was on, but it was a big tail

I'm sure there are others I've forgotten about. There is a lot to see when you get out and round int fields and woods of Florida.