My AllTrails hates me.
The map at the kiosk showed the Kitching Creek Loop to be a one-hour walk with a thirty-minute hike along Wilson Creek to get there. I plugged the trail into my app, and four and a half hours after leaving my car in the parking lot, I arrived back to it. This hike—a definite do-over. Funny.
It was hot as heck, and the mosquitos and horseflies feasted on me through the seat of my pants. I came across water on the trail pretty quickly, but I was able to get around it—at first. The more I walked, the more water there was and the more difficult it was to avoid. I passed over the Kitching Creek Bridge and the outlook—which was closed. At this point, the water became deeper and wider, and I concentrated more on getting around the water than where I was heading. I had gone a bit past my turn before my AllTrails suggested that I may have missed it. (“Oops! Did you get off the trail?”) By then, I was facing a shallow pond of water and decided to turn back anyway.
Of course, no one else attempted this trail at this time of day. Even the animals and birds stayed away—with the exception of an ibis or two. I headed back to my car with little guidance from my AllTrails guy—who seemed to think my hike was over and had already ended it.
Most of the Florida trails I’ve hiked have been well blazed. I had difficulty finding signs on this trail. I read that the trail was no longer maintained but did not see an explanation. I’m not certain that is true.
This trail is definitely a do-over—but I’ll wait until the trail is dry.
A definite do-over!
Footprints and Ripples 