swamp trip

dtinnan · 01-03-2009, 08:55 AM

Has anyone been to the okefenokee swamp? I went a coupla years back. we took the green trail from kingfisher landing to bluffs lake and had a wonderful overnight experience. I'm hoping to go back this year, but it depends on how my money situation goes.

dtinnan · 01-12-2009, 07:59 PM

well, we're planning a trip to the okeefenokee in march. put in at kingfisher landing, paddle 8 miles to bluff lake shelter, spend the night n paddle back the next day. three or four of us going so far

HereToday · 01-13-2009, 12:17 PM

I have never been on a swamp trip. What is the best thing about it? What do you see that is the most beautiful or exciting?

dtinnan · 01-13-2009, 07:21 PM

totally cut off from the outside world, we could occasionally here a train off in the distance, but no other sign of civilization. tons of birds, a few allagators, good fishing, maybe if your lucky ya see a bear, or a beaver, maybe a few other animals. just a great chance to be far away from people, and close to nature. beautiful flowers of every kind, blooms everywhere. tight water trails overgrown with tree canopies, poling through while standing in the boat. looking at insects your not familiar with. a lizard sunning himself on the dock. just a great day of adventure, everywhere ya turn

sarahlorrain · 01-14-2009, 04:51 PM

That sounds like a lot of fun. I live in Central TX, so we don't really have swamps around her. I bet the wildlife around swamps are plentiful!

HereToday · 01-19-2009, 05:15 PM

OK, well, about alligators. I have a bit of a fear of alligators, probably because the only time we hear about them is when they've killed and/or eaten something they shouldn't have. How do you camp and avoid gators?

dtinnan · 01-20-2009, 08:45 PM

well... last time we went we only saw three alligators. i was told the kingfisher landing area was the last area purchased and was hunted extensively before the state got it sothere is not as much wildlife there. we still saw lots of birds and plants, though. i don't think allagators are a big threat... they moved to get away from us when we saw them. i dont think they'd get on the dock where we camp.

jason · 01-21-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HereToday

OK, well, about alligators. I have a bit of a fear of alligators, probably because the only time we hear about them is when they've killed and/or eaten something they shouldn't have. How do you camp and avoid gators?

I've lived here in Florida since 1992. I've never had a problem with a gator. I do treat them with respect, and understand I'm in their living area. Most of the time they just stay out of your way. The only time I've worried about them is when I lived on a small lake (man made pond is more like it) and had a small dog. I just worried about them getting the dog, but we barely had a gator in there, and when we did they didn't stay long.

I do stay away from the big lakes where they are reportedly found often. I'm also cautious when swimming in water I cannot see in very far. I am more afraid of water moccasins though. They will attack you for anything where I think gators are more protective of their young.

HereToday · 01-21-2009, 04:36 PM

My Grandma used to talk very descriptively about water moccasins, and scared the Dickens out of me. She neglected to tell me they didn't frequent our area, though.
Sounds like you are very careful and know the alligator's ways, so you're basically safe. I guess you're less scared of things you know about or have experienced first hand. Crazy native LA folks, like me, a little earthquake here and there, tra la la...but alligators? Yow!

shaan · 03-02-2009, 03:40 AM

To visit the swamp, you MUST take a boat tour. The boatmen know the swamp and its wildlife very well; they will point out the birds, plants and animals of interest as they lead you through a maze of tunnel like channels to the mangrove islands where the scarlet ibis roost at dusk. Once the boat engines are switched off, a spectacular scene unfolds: as the birds flock in, an area of green mangrove gradually turns in a bright red. It is not possible to get close to the birds’ roosting spot without disturbing them, so bring along binoculars, or a camera with a powerful zoom lens and you’ll see more than the red specks against the dark green foliage.

01-03-2009, 08:55 AM	#1
dtinnan Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Aragon,Ga Posts: 48	swamp trip Has anyone been to the okefenokee swamp? I went a coupla years back. we took the green trail from kingfisher landing to bluffs lake and had a wonderful overnight experience. I'm hoping to go back this year, but it depends on how my money situation goes.

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01-12-2009, 07:59 PM	#2
dtinnan Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Aragon,Ga Posts: 48	well, we're planning a trip to the okeefenokee in march. put in at kingfisher landing, paddle 8 miles to bluff lake shelter, spend the night n paddle back the next day. three or four of us going so far

01-13-2009, 12:17 PM	#3
HereToday Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 106	I have never been on a swamp trip. What is the best thing about it? What do you see that is the most beautiful or exciting?

01-13-2009, 07:21 PM	#4
dtinnan Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Aragon,Ga Posts: 48	totally cut off from the outside world, we could occasionally here a train off in the distance, but no other sign of civilization. tons of birds, a few allagators, good fishing, maybe if your lucky ya see a bear, or a beaver, maybe a few other animals. just a great chance to be far away from people, and close to nature. beautiful flowers of every kind, blooms everywhere. tight water trails overgrown with tree canopies, poling through while standing in the boat. looking at insects your not familiar with. a lizard sunning himself on the dock. just a great day of adventure, everywhere ya turn

01-14-2009, 04:51 PM	#5
sarahlorrain Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 43	That sounds like a lot of fun. I live in Central TX, so we don't really have swamps around her. I bet the wildlife around swamps are plentiful!

01-19-2009, 05:15 PM	#6
HereToday Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 106	OK, well, about alligators. I have a bit of a fear of alligators, probably because the only time we hear about them is when they've killed and/or eaten something they shouldn't have. How do you camp and avoid gators?

01-20-2009, 08:45 PM	#7
dtinnan Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Aragon,Ga Posts: 48	well... last time we went we only saw three alligators. i was told the kingfisher landing area was the last area purchased and was hunted extensively before the state got it sothere is not as much wildlife there. we still saw lots of birds and plants, though. i don't think allagators are a big threat... they moved to get away from us when we saw them. i dont think they'd get on the dock where we camp.

01-21-2009, 04:36 PM	#9
HereToday Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 106	My Grandma used to talk very descriptively about water moccasins, and scared the Dickens out of me. She neglected to tell me they didn't frequent our area, though. Sounds like you are very careful and know the alligator's ways, so you're basically safe. I guess you're less scared of things you know about or have experienced first hand. Crazy native LA folks, like me, a little earthquake here and there, tra la la...but alligators? Yow!

03-02-2009, 03:40 AM	#10
shaan Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 48	To visit the swamp, you MUST take a boat tour. The boatmen know the swamp and its wildlife very well; they will point out the birds, plants and animals of interest as they lead you through a maze of tunnel like channels to the mangrove islands where the scarlet ibis roost at dusk. Once the boat engines are switched off, a spectacular scene unfolds: as the birds flock in, an area of green mangrove gradually turns in a bright red. It is not possible to get close to the birds’ roosting spot without disturbing them, so bring along binoculars, or a camera with a powerful zoom lens and you’ll see more than the red specks against the dark green foliage.