Bigcypresshunter
Gold Member
- Dec 15, 2004
- 27,000
- 3,339
- Detector(s) used
- 70's Whites TM Amphibian, HH Pulse, Ace 250
- Primary Interest:
- Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
Needing to clear my head, and test out a new pair of shoes, I decided to take a long hike yesterday into the deep swamp. My plan was to leave about 5 AM, cross a huge prairie to explore some unknown territory and follow an old loggers trail barely discernable on Google Earth. I was hoping to find the old lost loggers camp. I loaded my pouch and after about 2 hours or so of walking, I jumped a deer. She looked pretty and graceful running and jumping across the treeless prairie. I stood there admiring the deer and a flock of Ibis flying overhead in formation. Suddenly I realized I forgot my Gatorade bottles that I always carry! A quick panic search of my side pockets discovered only 2 small foil drink packs and I was already thirsty. Not wanting to turn back, I figured I would ration my drinks. Afterall, this is not a desert, I thought to myself. Bad idea.
It took me hours to find the old trail thru the cypress trees but I finally found it! This is what I came for! The next few hours I made good time walking down the old trail but it eventually became overgrown with incredibly thick coco plum trees. No fruit this time of year but they survive in these thick pockets protected from winter cold fronts. Not able to get around them, I had to crawl straight ahead for what seemed like a considerable distance. I heard something growl but I couldn't see 10 feet in ether direction. Suddenly a hawk screeched above that started me for a second. I watched him fly away.
Hacking my way down the overgrown trail was more work than I expected. The morning dew was all gone by now. I drank the first drink pac, put the empty foil in my pocket and pushed on. At about 9 or 10 AM maybe, I finally broke into the open and found a secret beautiful swamp area. So pretty and wild, with palms, large ferns, ancient cypress, air plants, orchids, and exotic foilage. I expected to see a dinosaur break the silence and burst onto the scene at any moment.
I wish I had my camera. I look where a Florida Panther scratched his claws on a cabbage palm trunk. I wondered about the growl I heard earlier.
I waded around the waterhole's edge. The scene was so magnificent, I just had to keep pushing on toward my destination. The water looked clear and the green vegetation and lillies looked picture perfect. Walking the next few miles of Bald Cypress swamp was very slow going. The trees eventually opened up and the sun started beating down. I quickly dismissed thoughts of saving my urine lol. If things got bad I could find water in the deep swamp up ahead. But this was dry season.
I drank my last little drink pac.
Wanting to see where the trail ended, I kept pushing and hacking. The news said a cool front was heading down, so I carried heavy clothes that now seemed like unnecessary baggage. It had to be near 85 degrees. I was hoping for rain. My legs were starting to hurt and I was worried about cramping up. I was so close to the deep swamp but I was already thirsty again and didn't know if the water would be any better there. I struggle to lift my feet that stick in the mud with each step. I thought about the Boy Scout that died out here trying to make Eagle, and he was much younger. Boy Scout dies while hiking in Big Cypress National Preserve » Naples Daily News I said its time to head back. I tried to breathe through my nose but my mouth was already getting dry. I now wished I had brought candy or fruit instead of peanut butter crackers. Its a long way back and maybe I should have tried to collect morning dew in my sweatshirt but it was too late now, too muddy, too hot...
I made good time the next few miles. The sun beat down, my hands cut and bloody from the sawgrass, my feet now have blisters and the buzzards circle overhead. I will never make it back without water. My celphone has no reception out here and Im completely on my own. I need to drink from the cleanest mud hole I can find. I remember the beautiful slough on the way in.
I finally stumbled onto the secret hidden slough. The water looked clean but I could see little fish and floating debris; leaves and such. I washed my face, washed my hands and the cool water felt good on my dry lips. I decided to drink some. I didn't have a cup or container but I saved my empty drink pacs. I cut the top off of both of them to make "cups". I waded into the deepest part carefully so as not to disturb the mud underneath. I was hoping a gator didn't live here, or worse a huge Python. I brushed away the surface and took a scoop. It looked good except for the little black specs and a few wigglys. I need to filter through my shirt. I poured the water through some cloth and into the other drink pac "cup." The end result looked very good. I filtered again and I drank it. It had no taste and was actually good. I filtered and drank a few more cups. Too bad I couldn't carry any with me but I felt I would be able to walk back now.
Nothing too exciting the rest of the way but the water invigorated me. I could see where a large Python slivered along my trail. I wondered if he found any animals to squeeze the life out of. I decided to explore a short distance down a well used deer trail. I wish I had a camera. The trail led to a beautiful Bald Cypress dome. I stood on the edge admiring the huge buttressed trees. Remembering the Python, and looking down where I step, I discovered Alligator bones. The head was intact but the jaw busted in half. Maybe that's how he died in a fight with a larger bull gator?
The long walk out and across the open prairie was tough but I made it back safely before dark. The Gatorade in my cooler tasted great!! I exchanged pleasantries with a few tourists who wondered what I was doing. Lesson learned here. From now on, I will carry a container, preferably metal for boiling and some water filtering and/or iodine purification. Here are some pics of the gator teeth.
I'm glad I didn't run into the "dinosaur" that killed him. 
It took me hours to find the old trail thru the cypress trees but I finally found it! This is what I came for! The next few hours I made good time walking down the old trail but it eventually became overgrown with incredibly thick coco plum trees. No fruit this time of year but they survive in these thick pockets protected from winter cold fronts. Not able to get around them, I had to crawl straight ahead for what seemed like a considerable distance. I heard something growl but I couldn't see 10 feet in ether direction. Suddenly a hawk screeched above that started me for a second. I watched him fly away.
Hacking my way down the overgrown trail was more work than I expected. The morning dew was all gone by now. I drank the first drink pac, put the empty foil in my pocket and pushed on. At about 9 or 10 AM maybe, I finally broke into the open and found a secret beautiful swamp area. So pretty and wild, with palms, large ferns, ancient cypress, air plants, orchids, and exotic foilage. I expected to see a dinosaur break the silence and burst onto the scene at any moment.
I wish I had my camera. I look where a Florida Panther scratched his claws on a cabbage palm trunk. I wondered about the growl I heard earlier.I waded around the waterhole's edge. The scene was so magnificent, I just had to keep pushing on toward my destination. The water looked clear and the green vegetation and lillies looked picture perfect. Walking the next few miles of Bald Cypress swamp was very slow going. The trees eventually opened up and the sun started beating down. I quickly dismissed thoughts of saving my urine lol. If things got bad I could find water in the deep swamp up ahead. But this was dry season.
I drank my last little drink pac.
Wanting to see where the trail ended, I kept pushing and hacking. The news said a cool front was heading down, so I carried heavy clothes that now seemed like unnecessary baggage. It had to be near 85 degrees. I was hoping for rain. My legs were starting to hurt and I was worried about cramping up. I was so close to the deep swamp but I was already thirsty again and didn't know if the water would be any better there. I struggle to lift my feet that stick in the mud with each step. I thought about the Boy Scout that died out here trying to make Eagle, and he was much younger. Boy Scout dies while hiking in Big Cypress National Preserve » Naples Daily News I said its time to head back. I tried to breathe through my nose but my mouth was already getting dry. I now wished I had brought candy or fruit instead of peanut butter crackers. Its a long way back and maybe I should have tried to collect morning dew in my sweatshirt but it was too late now, too muddy, too hot...
I made good time the next few miles. The sun beat down, my hands cut and bloody from the sawgrass, my feet now have blisters and the buzzards circle overhead. I will never make it back without water. My celphone has no reception out here and Im completely on my own. I need to drink from the cleanest mud hole I can find. I remember the beautiful slough on the way in.
I finally stumbled onto the secret hidden slough. The water looked clean but I could see little fish and floating debris; leaves and such. I washed my face, washed my hands and the cool water felt good on my dry lips. I decided to drink some. I didn't have a cup or container but I saved my empty drink pacs. I cut the top off of both of them to make "cups". I waded into the deepest part carefully so as not to disturb the mud underneath. I was hoping a gator didn't live here, or worse a huge Python. I brushed away the surface and took a scoop. It looked good except for the little black specs and a few wigglys. I need to filter through my shirt. I poured the water through some cloth and into the other drink pac "cup." The end result looked very good. I filtered again and I drank it. It had no taste and was actually good. I filtered and drank a few more cups. Too bad I couldn't carry any with me but I felt I would be able to walk back now.
Nothing too exciting the rest of the way but the water invigorated me. I could see where a large Python slivered along my trail. I wondered if he found any animals to squeeze the life out of. I decided to explore a short distance down a well used deer trail. I wish I had a camera. The trail led to a beautiful Bald Cypress dome. I stood on the edge admiring the huge buttressed trees. Remembering the Python, and looking down where I step, I discovered Alligator bones. The head was intact but the jaw busted in half. Maybe that's how he died in a fight with a larger bull gator?
The long walk out and across the open prairie was tough but I made it back safely before dark. The Gatorade in my cooler tasted great!! I exchanged pleasantries with a few tourists who wondered what I was doing. Lesson learned here. From now on, I will carry a container, preferably metal for boiling and some water filtering and/or iodine purification. Here are some pics of the gator teeth.
I'm glad I didn't run into the "dinosaur" that killed him. 
Attachments
Last edited:
. That is a beautiful skull and well worth hauling out. I imagine each trip into the swamp will teach a man something new.
Even though a human baby was recently eaten by an pet, the Burmese Python is not considered a danger to humans yet. They have however become a real serious danger to the ecosystem. Wild hogs are gone and small mammals are disappearing fast. The aggressive African Rock Python is expected to be a different threat. Biologists dont know what type of dangerous hybrid will result from cross-breeding. We will have to wait on the Anaconda to see.. We need to kill as many a we can, there is no debating that. Someone may keep an African lion as a pet, but it would be irresponsible to release it when it becomes too large to safely handle.
Dont you watch Discovery channel lol? This is indeed a monster but it wasnt I that created it. 
Note I removed the picture so as not to offend anyone. I didnt realize the head was "whacked off."
