+FrioGeo Posted December 20, 2009 Posted December 20, 2009 I'm looking for a week long paddle adventure for early spring... anyone familiar with the guided tours of The Everglades and 10,000 Islands? I'm looking for something rustic... as close to a wilderness adventure as possible. It will be necessary to use an outfitter, since I'm 1500 miles away and won't be transporting my kayak, etc. Any info on the area and / or the outfitters is appreciated. Thanks! Quote
+Isonzo Karst Posted December 21, 2009 Posted December 21, 2009 (edited) I can recommend paddling out of Chokoloskee, here's a cache in town to give you some idea of the location. From there you can paddle the Everglades paddle trail, there are a couple of virtual caches along the route. I HIGHLY recommend GC32AC, as a true wilderness experience. Getting there, you'll pass by GCF353. I don't know if anyone offers to get out to Pavilion Key as part of a guided group. I would think so. It's the largest of the 10,000 Islands. Both those caches on on the Wilderness paddle trail, and there are designated primitive camps along the way. As a paddle trip with over a week, this would work pretty well. Might be possible to manage this as a loop with that much time, but you'd be exposed for a day - ie, outside the barrier islands, could be dicey in a 'yak. We went out and back the same way, to stay in shallow protected water. If no one responds with specific recommendations on outfitters, try an email to the owner of GCF353. She's local and does a lot of kayak caching in the area, would probably be able to name all 3 or 4 businesses ;-) in Everglades City or Chokoloskee. JunglePete, another local cache owner, used to do tours (not kayak tours) in the area; he has moved, but still would know the local businesses well. Edited December 21, 2009 by Isonzo Karst Quote
+FrioGeo Posted December 21, 2009 Author Posted December 21, 2009 Thanks for the great info... the cache you suggested seems to be reason enough to make the trip! Quote
JASTA 11 Posted December 21, 2009 Posted December 21, 2009 We paddled out of Collier Seminole State Park near Naples last year to do GC1BTX6. We used Saltwater Sports on the Tamiami Trail (Route 41) as an outfitter. The rate was fair, no deposit required, and the guys were helpful. You can probably find someplace closer to Chockoloskee, but this place did right by us. Enjoy your trip! Quote
+FrioGeo Posted December 22, 2009 Author Posted December 22, 2009 Thanks for the tip, but it doesn't look like they do multi-day tours. They look like a good option if we just needed the yaks, but we'll also need the camping gear, etc to be provided. Some of the outfitters do boat assisted paddle tours. That sounds like the way to go.... one can travel light and still have all of the necessities (and a few luxuries) upon arrival to ones "wilderness" destination. Quote
+JunglePete Posted December 22, 2009 Posted December 22, 2009 JunglePete, another local cache owner, used to do tours (not kayak tours) in the area; he has moved, but still would know the local businesses well. I still do tours! www.ecosafari.com I hope I still do tours. I better call the boss.... Quote
+FrioGeo Posted December 23, 2009 Author Posted December 23, 2009 Thanks for the response... ecosafari looks awesome, but they don't seem to offer the multi-day camping trip I'm seeking. www.crystalseas.com and www.evergladesareatours.com seem to be options... might you be familiar with them, or have suggestions for others? Quote
+JunglePete Posted December 24, 2009 Posted December 24, 2009 Thanks for the response... ecosafari looks awesome, but they don't seem to offer the multi-day camping trip I'm seeking. www.crystalseas.com and www.evergladesareatours.com seem to be options... might you be familiar with them, or have suggestions for others? I know that Dragonfly does multi-day expeditions in the Everglades - http://www.dragonflyexpeditions.com/ Quote
JASTA 11 Posted December 30, 2009 Posted December 30, 2009 I came across this today. Seems to be like what you're looking for. Quote
+FrioGeo Posted January 1, 2010 Author Posted January 1, 2010 Looks awesome... thanks for the info! Quote
GermanSailor Posted January 1, 2010 Posted January 1, 2010 You want to bring DEET. I was in the Everglades 2006 and the mosquitos and No-Se-Ums just kill you. For the No-See-Um even a mosquito-net won't help. Have fun there! GermanSailor Quote
cloudswinger Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 Camping in the Everglades is best in the Winter, there's the least number of skeeters and other biting bugs. Spring is almost too late. Plus that's the peak of fire season, so it can get smoky or just downright dangerous. We go in January. Even then, we got swarmed around dusk, but that's not nearly as bad as other times of the year. Quote
+FrioGeo Posted January 9, 2010 Author Posted January 9, 2010 That's good info to have.... I was thinking March, but I'll have to see if February will work. Thanks! Quote
+LoneStarKayaker Posted January 24, 2010 Posted January 24, 2010 Go over to the message boards on www.paddling.net. Many people on it paddle there. Quote
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