F-Troop Rides Again! Econfina Creek, Dec 8-10

F-Troop, Trail Crews Comments (0)

F- Troop Volunteer Trail Crew
Trail Maintenance Work Party
Friday – Sunday December 8th – 10th, 2006
Econfina Wildlife Management Area, north of Panama City 
Sponsored by a partnership with the Florida Trail Association and the USDA Forest Service

There are three main goals of the F-Troop: 1.) Be safe 2.) Have fun 3.) Get dirty!

By keeping these goals in mind we will all have a good time, while getting some much needed work done on the trail. Keeping with FTA customs, first we eat! A hearty trail crew breakfast will be served at the camp around 7:30am. Then we will take a few minutes to load up any tools and pack a “brown bag” lunch for the trail. The crew will regroup for a morning Safety Tailgate Session and then head on out to the trail. We may split up and work in smaller groups to keep things from getting too crowded.

There are several different projects we’ll be working on including bridge repairs and trail maintenance. We will take a lot of breaks to re-hydrate, have snacks, rest, and admire the progress made. A leisurely lunch will be enjoyed somewhere along the trail under a nice shady tree. We will finish up for the day and head back to camp around 4 o’clock. That will give us plenty of time to clean ourselves up, make dinner, and relax. Dinner will be served around 6:30pm. Then we will gather around the campfire and watch the stars, swap bear stories, and tell tall-tales of adventures on the trail. The next day, we wake up and do it all over again.

Some of the local volunteers may meet us in the morning if they are not camping. There may be new volunteers showing up each day. Sunday morning after breakfast, we will head back out on the trail if there is anything left to finish up. After lunch, we will break down the basecamp and everyone will head home with a great sense of accomplishment of a job well done. Below is a schedule of what will happen during the event. The schedule is a guide and will remain flexible to changes beyond our control such as bad weather. Hopefully it will be warm and sunny. If it drizzles, we still work. If it rains, we take a break. If it just pours, we play cards and socialize at camp.

Daily Schedule
Thursday Dec 7th
Arrival & Set up Day 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Campers arrive at Sparkleberry Pond Group Camp 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Dinner 8:00 pm – ?? pm
Campfire & star gazing

Friday Dec 8th Day #1
7:30 am – 8:30am Breakfast & pack a bag lunch for the trail
8:30 am – 9:30am Project details, Trail Maintenance 101 & safety tailgate session
9:30am – 4:00 pm Head to the trail and begin working
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Head back to camp, clean up, relax
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
8:00 pm – ?? pm Campfire & star gazing

Saturday Dec 9th Day #2
7:30 am – 8:30am Breakfast & pack a bag lunch for the trail
8:30 am – 9:00am Safety tailgate session
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Head to the trail and begin working
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Head back to camp, clean up, relax
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
8:00 pm – ?? pm Campfire & star gazing

Sunday Dec 10 Day #3
7:30 am – 8:30am Breakfast
8:30 am – 9:00am Safety tailgate session
9:00 am – 12:00 pm Head to the trail and finish up
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Head back to camp for lunch
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Pack up base camp and head home

How To Get There: Directions to the F-Troop Basecamp We will be setting up camp at the Sparkleberry Pond Group Camp. It is located about 2 miles north of Highway 20 off of Blue Spring road. Blue Spring road is about 6 miles west of the intersection of Highway 20 and 231. I wasn’t able to find a decent map of the area that made any sense. There will be “FT Event” signs directing you to the camp. A big tent will have the camp kitchen and dining area. There are portable restrooms and running water, but unfortunately, there are no showers. Campers can set up their tents anywhere in the area and there will be plenty of room for small self-contained RV’s.

The trail that we will be working on extends over a large section of the Forest, which means we will have to carpool to access the trail.

What to Bring: Suggested Gear List
Essential Items Boots, Rain Jacket, Tent, Long Pants, Water bottles (at least 2), Sleeping bag, Daypack, Flashlight, Sleeping pad, Personal items (toothbrush, etc.)
Non-Essential Items (but they are nice to have) Musical Instruments, Mug for hot drinks, Binoculars, Camp Chair, Camera and Film, Spare Batteries, Bug Repellant, Sunscreen, Towel Playing Cards & other games, Shoes (for camp)

We will supply work gloves, tools, hard hats, safety gear, cooking equipment, food, and first-aid supplies. If you have any questions, please give me a call.

Bob Woods, Trail Crew Program Coordinator
Florida Trail Association
325 John Knox Rd., F-100 Tallahassee, FL 32303
Cell: (850) 528-5267 Office: (850) 523-8533 Email: bwwoods@fs.fed.us

For more information on the area:
FT CENTRAL PANHANDLE FACT SHEET
http://www.floridatrail.org/web/content/factsheets/12-CentralPanhandle72.pdf
North Florida Water Management District website http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/econfinacreek.html
FWC website:
http://www.floridaconservation.org/recreation/cooperative/econfina_creek.asp

Megan Eno @ November 30, 2006