Newsletter from the NFTB Chairperson.
March 04, 2013.

Greetings fellow hikers! Spring is near and peak hiking season is upon us! March and April provide excellent hiking weather and we plan to take full advantage.

My “newbie” hike is scheduled for this Saturday. This activity is open to folks new to hiking in Florida and/or new to this organization. I limited this activity to 20 participants (excluding co-leaders). The hike is currently full, but if it interests you, put yourself on the waiting list as folks DO cancel.

Section Leader Janie H organized and executed an excellent “Moonlight Hike” at Gold Head Branch the other week. This was a unique hiking experience and a great time was had by all. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, near Keystone Heights, is an excellent state park with all sorts of recreational opportunities INCLUDING a section of the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST)! Want to find out more about Gold Head? Visit: http://www.floridastateparks.org/mikeroess/default.cfm

There is another moonlight hike scheduled for March 23rd. Come on out and hike the FNST during moonlit hours. This is a hiking experience you will not forget!

Trail Coordinator Cary B pulled off another amazing work hike yesterday, March 3rd. Some background: Trailblazers took “jurisdiction” of a new section of trail and it presented some, shall we say, “Challenges”. After considerable hard work, this section is now in great shape and presents another great hiking opportunity! The section in question runs from Swift Creek to Barton Gap Road in the area of Olustee Battlefield State Park. Special thanks to ALL of the work hikers who attended, you contributed greatly to safe and enjoyable hiking on the FNST!! Interested in learning more about Olustee? Visit: http://www.floridastateparks.org/olusteebattlefield/default.cfm

REI store is now open in the St. Johns Town Center. This is the ONLY REI store in Florida. Did you know that REI is sponsoring our chapter? If you are looking for outdoor gear, head out to the REI store at the Town Center. For more information, visit http://www.rei.com/

Trailblazers needs more Activity Leaders! Think you have what it takes to be an “AL”? ALs are volunteers dedicated to nurturing current and future generations of Florida Hikers. ALs must possess initiative, leadership talent, organizational skills, communication skills, good judgment, and a love of hiking! Anyone interested in pursuing their AL credentials should feel free to contact me or Membership Chair Leslie on Meetup.

Did you know? Dehydration is your #1 enemy on the trail. The hot weather conditions of Florida will cause your body to lose fluids rapidly. When on the trail, you may have few, if any, opportunities to refill your water bottles. I generally recommend that hikers bring AT LEAST one pint (0.5 liter) of water for every hour they plan to be on the trail. You generally hike at about 2 miles per hour, so a 6 mile hike demands that you bring AT LEAST 3 pints (1.5 liters) of water with you. The best place to store water is in your body, so be sure to consume your water at a steady pace throughout your hike.

Have a great week, all, and happy hiking!
Regards,
Bill Gentry
NFTB Chapter Chair