Camping on a desert island
Four Canadians on three Darts left our beach today to do some seriously primitive camping for seven days on a deserted island out in the backcountry of Florida Bay, in Everglades National Park. Talk about Survivor Island! A while back the Rangers even removed the porta-johns that used to be out there, so the "survivor group" has taken a shovel along.
Attached is a picture of the boats ready to leave the beach, heavily laden with supplies and gear. They will be taking lots of pictures while they are out there and writing a story that will be in a future issue of "Catamaran Sailor."
I have done a fair amount of camping on desert islands and can proudly say that I have never left any trace of my visits, with use of shovel. I treat the islands as Primative Lands and I take everything out that I take in. My method of human waste disposal involves the use of the Wag Bag. What is a wag bag?
Frequently Asked Questions about the Wag Bag.
"Leave No Trace"
Gary,
Thanks for pointing that out. With the growing popularity of recreational "water trails", the topic of waste disposal has consistantly been at the top of the list of concerns. One of my favorite orgainizations, the Maine Island Trail Association, has done a lot to promote the responsible use of wild islands.
Leave No Trace on Maine's Fragile Islands
It's desert AND deserted. Definitely no gators -- it's out in the middle of salty Florida Bay, and gators like fresh water. I suppose an adventurous crocodile (they like saltwater) could manage to swim that far from Key Largo. The only reason Everglades Park allows people on this particular island is that there is nothing there to attract any member of the animal kingdom except mosquitoes -- and I don't know how they survive, either.
Actually, it is a couple and two men. They said they don't fish. They just plan to do a lot of sailing. The back-country of Florida Bay is surreally beautiful for sailing. Flat water clear as glass, dotted with mangrove islands, no boat traffic except when weekenders come out to picnic on the island or play in the water. And not even much of that this time of the year. Sailing out there in the "backcountry" is like making first ski tracks on fresh powder in the mountains.
My guess is that they are out there for the sailing and to experience the "back to nature" thing. Mary, are they on Nest Key? If so, the outhouses were still there on January 2nd, although a Heron or Egret has built a hugh stick nest on top of one of them.
Jack Hoying
Fort Loramie, Ohio
Prindle 18 #1645
http:/
Gary,
That red thing on the leach is an Ohio State University flag. We were in Florida during the days leading up to the National Championship game (Miami vrs OSU) and thought it would be fun to fly the colors in enemy territory. Turns out a small flag doesn't get much attention.
In case anyone forgot, Ohio State won!!
Jack Hoying
Fort Loramie, Ohio
Prindle 18 #1645
http:/
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