Swamp Stomp: An Adventure into the Everglades
January 12, 2008
Left to Right
At the beginning of the day: Kimberley McVoy, Dr. Christopher McVoy, Dr. Anne Gibson, Candice Telles, David Telles, Chelle Crandall, Mirza Halilbasic, Benjamin Graham, Samara Ferreira, Dolores Sierra, Amanda (Zoe) Doherty, Meghan Walles, Rachel Burns, Libby Comeaux, Dr. Margaret K. Chojnacki
Cypress gives way to Pine forest
Relaxing in the hardwood hammock
Swamp Stomp 2008 followed one of the southernmost sections of the Florida Scenic Trail in the Big Cypress National Preserve adjacent to Everglades National Park. We stomped about 7 miles through cypress forests, pinelands, and a lush hardwood hammock. The trail was often muddy up to our ankles, sometimes in water up to our knees, and rarely was our footing dry. It was a great way to get to know where we are on Planet Earth and who is on the journey with us.
Student comments:
I was surprised how drastically the ecosystems changed in such a short amount of space. It was basically dry and lifeless at first, then lush and tropical, then lots of water towards the end. I would definitely do it again, and will probably brag about it for days to come. Editorial comment: Even though the dry parts appeared lifeless, they actually teem with life, as we readily see whenever the water returns!
The ecosystem, or ecosystems rather, are quite different from anything else I've ever experienced. It was very neat to see one type ecosystem on your right side and another completely different on your left.
I wouldn't really say the experience was spiritual, but it was relaxing being out in nature with only the sound of the wind (and sloshing mud.) Everything was a lot simpler, and we didn't seem to have time to worry about a lot of things besides putting one foot in front of the other.
Thank you for the great trip. It was a totally new experience for me, which I expect to be the first of many others. Most importantly, this trip makes us understand how necessary it is to preserve the animals and vegetation that inhabit the Everglades.
From a 60-something staffer:
My essential Saturday response as the trek wore on was, "Nature is sure inconvenient!" That's actually not a bad lesson - in fact, Mr. Gore thought a bit about that very fact. Just becoming more aware of how spoiled and dependent on human-centered conveniences I have become - and how nonessential most of them really are - was worth the day and the struggle.
From the trip leader:
I have been hiking in the Big Cypress for about 15 years now. Each time I go I see something I hadn’t seen before or I see things from a different perspective. It has also been interesting to be there at different times of the year and notice how the natural features of water and vegetation change with the wet and dry seasons of the year. More recently I have noticed the significant impact of the extended drought we are experiencing in Florida. It really puts one in touch with the necessity of conserving water wherever we can.