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 thought Canada was a deserted island to begin with


... no really, we do similar things up here in NC and uninhabited parts of the outer banks. Particularly Shackleford banks right around cape lookout. Its an awesome trip if you're one to brave the elements.

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

This is meant to be funny. I hope someone thinks it's a little humorous.

When I first read the post I thought:

What do you call four Canadians, sailing three Darts, on an Everglades Island?

Gator baight

Mary, was the title supposed to be "deserted island'?
8

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.

You gotta wonder what four men plan to do to pass time for seven days on a desert island where they may be nothing but mosquitos. Is 'catch and release' sport fishing allowed there?

GARY

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://www.bright.net/~jmhoying/sailing/prindle.htm

Yes, it is Nest Key. The rangers told them the outhouses are not there any more. Maybe they took them away because of the nest. Funny thing about Nest Key is that birds usually do NOT nest there, which is why the Park allows people to go ashore.

That picture is hilarious... I'm imagining the person going ...

"eenie meenie minee moe.."

So they took away the ONE place the birds DID nest?!?

Sounds like the FL Park Service...

Kirt

Here's a sunset from our (deserted) or whatever, island over thanksgiving 02. We were there 10 days.

This is what happened last time I went to a deserted island...



Yes that is the remnants of Hurricane Isadore, and no, it wasn't supposed to be there. It was a day early :P

(I was in that small cabin boat asleep when the storm front hit)

Although Isadore missed the TX coat, the surf was EPIC at the freeport jetties, here on the TX gulf coast. I"ll probalby never surf such large, clean waves again. Sorry about the off topic.

Ok, one more of our not so deserted island.

Here's a photo of Nest Key from January 2nd.

Jack

Looking good, Jack and Brenda. Real good!

What's that red thing in the leech?

GARY

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://www.bright.net/~jmhoying/sailing/prindle.htm

We did the same thing, except we flew the red and white of NCSU baby! See you this fall, Buckeyes :P