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Everglades Exploration Network Invitational:
“Halloween on the Taylor Slough“
special edition.
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Continuing on a theme of annual “Invitational” paddling events, the 2015 event revisited the Taylor Slough in the eastern Everglades. The trip was organized and led by contemporary Everglades explorer Terry Helmers of the Everglades Exploration Network. Terry likes to go well off the beaten path and plans the invitationals right at the start of the Everglades camping season, usually late October or first week of Novemeber. Terry’s promise to participants is to never subject paddlers to a “tourist brochure route” and always delivers!
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A previous trip down the slough with a lot more water:
Running down the Taylor Slough
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This year the invitational date fell on Halloween. There was a light fog and the early pre-dawn air had an unsettled, slightly eerie aura to it. Or maybe I felt his because I had already consumed too much coffee this morning.
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The water level was on the low side of “doable” for this time of year. The first stretch out of the airboat ramp involved a litle paddling, but mostly walking our boats over the remnants of the old Ingraham Highway. Also, the trail passes within shouting distance of the well know Anhinga nature trail. On previous Taylor Slough runs I remember clearly overhearing tourist’s conversations.
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The upper part of Taylor Slough is a beautiful area, paddling among Cypress trees and mixed vegetation. The further south we go, the more open and prairie-like the landscape becomes.
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Moving through this grassy landscape at a human pace takes some hard work, but is also immensely satisfying for body, mind and soul!
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Grass paddling is one local Everglades specialty, and usually entails taking advantage of any existing airboat or other trails. Free ranging is possible, but it’s best to save the energy on longer trips such as this one by mostly sticking with the well established NPS airboat trail.
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Poling, pushing, paddling is all good as long as you keep moving through the landscape!
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Grass paddling and poling in the Everglades Water Conservation Areas
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Just as we were about to start lunch, one of the paddlers suddenly appeared to pass out in his kayak. Thanks to quick action by the group, he was quickly pulled out. Turns out that there is such a thing as having too much water to drink! All that water and sweating threw off his electrolyte balance, which when combined with the heat of the noonday sun gave him a mild heat stroke condition. A sports drink remedied this situation. I find coconut water another a good way to keep properly hydrated in the Florida heat.
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Read about a previous trip:
Craighead Pond Canoe Trail
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As we departed the derelict research platform just before sunset, we also departed from the Taylor Slough. From this point on we’d paddle on the Craighead Pond Canoe Trail, staying just north of the mangrove “reef” line that separates the interior Everglades from salty Florida Bay.
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After we all paddled off into the sunset, it got dark, real dark. It really wouldn’t have been a proper Halloween without the darkness!
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We paddled most of the Craighead Pond in the dark under the stars. With no moon out, high power flashlights were essential for spotting the pvc marker posts as we made our way in a general north westerly direction. Thanks to the strong glow of (Miami) light pollution to the northeast it was easy to orient, but the markers were harder to find in the dark.
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ART of Darkness – Camping with the Stars! Part II
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Also enjoy:
ART of Halloween kayaking – a Darkness in the Everglades!
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Once we found the the number 72 marker on the Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail, the going was easy just following the numbers back to the official launch area for the trail.
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Click for 2015 Invitational Paddle discussion and more pics and videos on the EEN forum!
Watch a video of the trip by canoeist Jay Thomas and Frank Fernandez.
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A BIG thanks to Terry Helmers and the Everglades Exploration Network crew for continuing to lead the way in contemporary Everglades exploration!
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Also enjoy:
ART of Dia de Muertos en los Everglades – the skeleton in my kayak!
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Want even more grass paddling?
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Kayaking at Shark Valley – A visit to Seagrape Hammock, aka Willoughby Key!
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Crossing paths of Gladesmen, Gator hunters, Outlaws & Moonshiners: An invitation to paddling forgotten trails of the Everglades!
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Pahayokee to Main Street – probing into the Shark River Slough
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Running down the Taylor Slough!
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Grass Paddling in the East Everglades Expansion Area – History, Gladesmen & more Grass!
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Kayaking the River of Grass – a Shark River Slough Expedition.
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Grass paddling and poling in the Everglades Water Conservation Areas.
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Everglades hiking with an Altitude – exploring the Slough and Sawgrass prairies of Shark Valley.
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© 2015 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com / decoratedreality.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved!
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DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!
With that said..
Blessings friends!
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