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

Join us for the second event of the 2026 Suncoast Chapter Triple Crown backpacking series. FTA members who complete all three events will win a t-shirt plus bragging rights. Registration priority on this trip will be given to people who attended the March Croom event and plan to attend the January Citrus Tract 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 $25.00 is due to attend this event (to cover any water, firewood, shuttles, group-camps plus future shirt for folks who complete all three). 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. 30-or-so 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.

Friday, October 23: Meet at Juniper Springs Recreation Area at 9:00am. Remember, Friday is a work day when you calculate driving timing. This is a one-way hike, so we will be leaving cars at one end and shuttling people to the other end; details TBD. Entry to Juniper costs $6 and there is a fee to leave a vehicle overnight.

BEFOREHAND:
Many folks will want to tent camp the night of Thursday, October 22th at Juniper Springs Recreation Area; 26701 FL-40, Silver Springs, FL 34488. If so, you will need to reserve your own tent site (near Site # 61) for $60 (can share with one other tent). We can co-ordinate via eMail/MeetUpMessages as we get closer.

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 October, 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, small game and archery hunting is allowed various 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 $25.00 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.