OCALA 3-DAY BACKPACKING - Suncoast Triple Crown Event # 2

Join us for the second event of the 2025 Suncoast Chapter Triple Crown backpacking series. FTA members who complete all three events will win an inaugural t-shirt plus bragging rights. Registration priority on this trip will be given to people who attended the April Croom event and plan to attend the January Green Swamp outing.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: If you RSVP, you will have to answer screening questions and you will be placed on the waiting list. Activity leaders will screen the waitlist in order of joining and move you to the "Going" list assuming you clear screening. A registration fee of $15.00 is due to attend this event. Though not required for registering, preference may be given to dues-paying members of the Florida Trail Association. You can join the FTA at Contribute – Florida Trail Association. Please read the rest of the material below!

WHAT: 3 days and 2 nights of backpacking and primitive camping along the Florida National Scenic Trail (Eastern Corridor) through Ocala National Forest. 29 miles total hiking. We're aiming for the "thru-hiker experience" compressed into three days!!

WHO: You have some experience doing a fully self-supported overnight backpacking trip and you have the necessary gear and know how to use it. Necessary gear means shelter, food, water, cooking, backcountry hygiene (you've purposely pooped in the woods...responsibly), rain protection, sleep gear and clothes for all weather conditions.

WARNINGS: Honestly assess your skill level, gear and fitness for this trip. Though rescue is possible, the shame will be long-lasting. Wear something orange, it's hunting season in the forest. Weather can be unpredictable, from hot to cold, dry to wet and nights can get downright chilly. Sleeping cold all night is no fun. You must sign an assumption of risk at the orientation.

OUTLINE:
Friday, October 10: 11 miles from Juniper Springs Recreation Area to Dispersed Camping just north of Hopkins Prairie. Access to the (untreated) water pump at Hopkins Prairie.
Saturday, October 11: 8 miles from Hopkins Prairie to Salt Springs Spur. We'll dispersed camp about one mile up the "Salt Springs Spur" off of the FNST. Optional two mile "slack pack" walk up the Spur into town for Odd Todd's Tacos or any other re-supply. Probably ground water we can gather near the camping area ... otherwise, we'll stash enough Gallon Jugs up the Spur nearer to the road, which will need to be retrieved.
Sunday, October 12: 9 miles from Salt Springs Spur to The 88 Store. Back down the Spur one mile to FNST ... and then finish the section hike out to The 88 Store. If you've never been there ... I can't describe it to you. If you've actually been there ... you won't be able to forget it!!

LOGISTICS:
Many folks will want to tent camp the night of Thursday, October 9th at Juniper Springs Recreation Area; 26701 FL-40, Silver Springs, FL 34488. We have a block of Tent Sites reserved (roughly $30 per person with two tents per site). One of the questions (below) is whether you want to stay the night of the 9th. If you reply "YES" to the relevant question, we will save one of the reserved block for you.

For those who do not, we will gather somewhere near Tent Site # 61 at 9:30am on the 10th. When you plan your timing from home, remember this is a Friday/workday for many people!! Folks arriving on the 10th will need to pay $6 admission, and will end up parking in the nearby Overnight Lot for $9 per vehicle per night. Aiming to get on the trail at 10:00. In the words of Jon "Not Magellan" Lemole: "To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is to be left behind."

The Thursday people will station some cars at The 88 Store so they are available three days later to take all the Car Drivers back to Juniper to retrieve all the cars. We will try to co-ordinate CAR-POOLS for Thursday afternoon and for Friday morning to minimize how many cars need to drive over to OcalaNF and park at Juniper or The 88 Store.

ADDED DETAILS:
WATER – As mentioned above … we will be drinking untreated water which has never seen a jug nor a pipe. You must have a method to screen, filter, and/or treat water.
BEARS – This area is habitat for black bears. Much smaller and less fearsome than the brown or white ones … but still not good to interact with. You must have some way to secure your food (and other scented items, like soap and toothpaste). Canister, bear-proof sack, or proper Food Hang are all good answers; but we each need to have an answer. [Keeping food away from bears is mostly for their safety since “a fed bear is a dead bear.”]
WEATHER – Something to keep a close eye on as we get nearer to that weekend. If we get a very rainy September, or a poorly-timed large storm, we may need to adjust our planning. But in any case, be ready for hot, cold, wet, and dry … since we probably will see them *all* over the three days!!
HUNTING – We are hiking outside all of the major hunting seasons. But, other than the first nine miles within the Wilderness Area, small game and archery hunting is allowed other places in O.N.F. Wasn’t there a book or a movie about “Orange Is The New Black?”
MONEY - There is a Registration Fee of $15.00 to attend this event. If you are moved from the Waitlist to the Going list, we’ll get in touch over MeetUp Messaging to arrange Paypal/Venmo/Zelle. Folks staying in the reserved block of tent sites Thursday night, add $30 to this number.