This is a remarkable production. The story with our words and editing is outstanding. You have a gift and we are all grateful for your dedication and hours of work to invite us along for the journey!
I stumbled across one of your videos while trying to find footage of the Wenonah Wilderness in action. Totally delivered... Anyway, one of the trips I want to take (ended up with a Prism) is the Okefenokee. What an inspiration this video was for that trip. You make a great video dude...
Hey thanks so much for the comment! I am glad you found this in relation to the wilderness. It is not an overly popular boat, part of the reason I wanted to post some videos of it. I hope you make your way to the swamp. It is an absolutely beautiful spot. Hard to find seclusion like that in the SE.
Looks like you slid into Griffis’ just as the sunset, perfect ending to a beautiful video. I know what you mean about losing the solitude from Minnie’s on to the park. This is my favorite route though.
I sure did. I had never paddled that section from Minnie’s to Griffis. I’m not gonna lie when I hit that section after the sill I half expected to spend the night.
Once again, an absolutely beautiful presentation of what it is like to camp in the Okefenokee. It's nice to see some video of the orange trail between Billy's Lake and Canal Run. I remember that it was closed until they used explosives to reopen it in late 2018 or early 2019. It's one of the few sections of trail that we are yet to paddle. We're repeating the super-simple Cedar Hammock and Monkey Lake trip in April. We usually like to go in March (escape Savannah for St. Patrick's Day), but booking was tough this year. I expect it to be warm and buggy.
I appreciate it. It is a beautiful place. Just trying to add to mix to help folks appreciate the beauty. I had no clue about the orange trail! I had always stopped at canal run the first couple of years. Hope you have a wonderful trip! Monkey lake site is not my favorite, but I absolutely love staying there for a nice sunset paddle!
Jim, I never got to paddle in the Okefenokee NWR, but have paddled in swamps in NC and AL. I live in Missouri and there is a swamp at the Mingo NWR, but so far I have only driven through it. your video made me feel like i was there, you really did a nice job with it. it must add a lot of work to do a video like this and just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the effort. the video was excellent! i paddle / camp the rivers here in MO. moving water, mostly class I, but there are some challenges out there. last year i paddled the Buffalo NR (AR)...130 miles from Ponca AR to Buffalo City. it was a magnificent trip, but i overused my right arm and i'm still trying to recover from that. if recovery allows, we are going to paddle it again mid March. MO has a lot of clear running streams. if you ever want to visit to paddle, please reach out. early and late season are best...crowding in the summer and on weekends can really ruin the experience. Del
What a fabulous video Tyler! There is so much to love! What a fabulous place to paddle in the winter. Having that rain patter on the tin roof was heaven although I’m sure there are some sounds from the swamp that are just as soothing. That cabin is such a jewel along with those monster trees! Paddling through the woods has to be just like hiking a trail in the Adirondacks. I hope there are some trail markers but I am sure you need to have good navigation skills as well. I really liked your prusik knots with the built in knot toggles. Works like a charm! And of course you had to get me that gator I asked for! :-). Such a sweet place! I want to throw the canoe on top and head south. I am have paddling withdrawals. Thanks for the ride along. Jeff
I genuinely appreciate the kind words! I refuse to visit this area unless it’s cool out. 😅 Paddling through the cypress trees reminds me so much of the cache river wetlands back home, so a very special place indeed! The navigation the first couple of times was interesting. There are markers out there but they are just white stakes or mile markers that are often missed/missing. Honestly the paper map and learning the vegetation is more rewarding. Avenza is a great tool as well. You have to go check out Dutchware if you haven’t already. They make pretty much all the rigging I use for my hammock and tarp including the prusik knots. Really great stuff!
Where Lone Ventures is paddling is in Georgia, right next to the Florida border. The lake you are talking about is about 40 miles north of the Everglades in central Florida.
Appreciate you taking a moment to check out the video! I think quiet best represents the trip/area. About the only time I talk/hear another voice is when I talk to the gopro.
Not too bad at all. Perhaps the first couple of times it can be a bit confusing when you get into the wetland prairies, but overall it is pretty straightforward. Keeping track on a traditional map is my preference, but if you absolutely needed it Avenza works well too.
Hello again! I finally got it worked out for a 2 night trip next week. Starting at SFSP to Canal run the first night. Then to Floyd's Island for the second night ending back at SFSP. Im hoping the water level is not to low. I know its been dry but im hoping the rain we've got lately will help. Just wanted to see if you would have any idea? Also I'm thinking ill need my kayak cart to cross Floyd's Island! Im paddling a fishing kayak so it's a little heavier than your canoe lol
Lone Ventures, please tell me you are doing another Oke trip this year. I broke my shoulder, and don't expect to be able to do long distance paddling until 2024. The last year that I didn't overnight in the Oke was 2015. Mountains, here I come!
I did take a trip in January. I have shot some video for the gear load out, but ultimately I did not record any footage from the trip. I had some medical issues last year that kept me out of the boat for 7 months. Really needed to get out and just enjoy the trip this past January and not worry about the camera.
It’s one of my favorite places! Canoe is a Wenonah Wilderness in Innegra/Aramid layup with internal skid plates/ash gunwales/sinker cypress thwarts and handles/swift canoe and kayak seat.
I'm looking at doing 2 nights and would you recommend going this route or going to Floyd's Island first? I'm paddling a fishing kayak and was wanting to go against the current on the first day if possible while I was fresh lol. For the second night I am wanting to stay at Round Top if that's not to far of a paddle back on the last day. If so I'll stay at Canal Run. Thanks!
I'd be happy to give you some tips if you would like. I've stayed at every shelter, some multiple times, and have paddled all but the orange trail between Billy's Island and Canal Run, and the little chunk between the red trail and Floyds Island. There is virtually no current anywhere in the swamp. Generally, though, go north to south. Where do you plan on coming out? The sill isn't a common exit point for most overnighters. Generally, most people come and go from KF, SCRA, or SCF-- Kingfisher Landing, Suwanee Canal Recreation Area, and Stephen C. Foster, respectively. I can give you some tips if you tell me your plans. :)
I will admit the first 2 times I went out there I was lost a bit. 😬 There are markers, but they are easily missed sometimes and/or missing. There are definitely clear signs at major intersections though. Avenza is a great tool, but the last two seasons I’ve been learning the routes/vegetation transitions and only using the paper map. I make some alterations to that when I find some discrepancies based off landmarks/signs. Appreciate you checking out the video!
Hello, different spelling of the lake name but similar enough for me to think it must be near where you paddle. I receive weekly emails from NASA focussing on unusual weather or land events. Today’s mail highlights the algae bloom on the Okeechobee lake. Here is an excerpt of the email “As it has in most recent summers, Lake Okeechobee has been teeming with blue-green algae in 2022. Fueled by warm summer temperatures and abundant nutrients in Florida’s largest freshwater lake, the algae have been blooming since May but significantly increased in abundance through June. As of July 14, 2022, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported that 45 percent of the lake was covered with algae or had conditions very conducive to it. The coverage is comparable to levels in July 2021 and 2020, but not as extreme as in 2018, when cyanobacteria blooms covered about 90 percent of the lake.” Hopefully you aren’t encountering similar problems? Regards, Paul from south east Australia 🇦🇺
Beautiful video by an accomplished canoeist & outdoorsman.
Thank you for this! I have been missing the swamp; you did a great job capturing part of my heart.
Well done! Appreciate the extra effort went into your cinematography! Thank you for giving us a glimpse of this beautiful, peaceful area. 👍
Hey thank you! I am glad you got some enjoyment from it.
Right on. Great stuff
This is a remarkable production. The story with our
words and editing is outstanding. You have a gift and we are all grateful for your dedication and hours of work to invite us along for the journey!
Hey thank you for the wonderful comment! It is a truly beautiful place!
Thank you for this video! I definitely need to add this to adventure list!
Absolutely! Definitely worth checking out!
I stumbled across one of your videos while trying to find footage of the Wenonah Wilderness in action. Totally delivered... Anyway, one of the trips I want to take (ended up with a Prism) is the Okefenokee. What an inspiration this video was for that trip. You make a great video dude...
Hey thanks so much for the comment! I am glad you found this in relation to the wilderness. It is not an overly popular boat, part of the reason I wanted to post some videos of it.
I hope you make your way to the swamp. It is an absolutely beautiful spot. Hard to find seclusion like that in the SE.
Looks like you slid into Griffis’ just as the sunset, perfect ending to a beautiful video. I know what you mean about losing the solitude from Minnie’s on to the park. This is my favorite route though.
I sure did. I had never paddled that section from Minnie’s to Griffis. I’m not gonna lie when I hit that section after the sill I half expected to spend the night.
Once again, an absolutely beautiful presentation of what it is like to camp in the Okefenokee.
It's nice to see some video of the orange trail between Billy's Lake and Canal Run. I remember that it was closed until they used explosives to reopen it in late 2018 or early 2019. It's one of the few sections of trail that we are yet to paddle.
We're repeating the super-simple Cedar Hammock and Monkey Lake trip in April. We usually like to go in March (escape Savannah for St. Patrick's Day), but booking was tough this year. I expect it to be warm and buggy.
I appreciate it. It is a beautiful place. Just trying to add to mix to help folks appreciate the beauty.
I had no clue about the orange trail! I had always stopped at canal run the first couple of years.
Hope you have a wonderful trip! Monkey lake site is not my favorite, but I absolutely love staying there for a nice sunset paddle!
Expert paddler. 👍
I don’t know about expert but I do enjoy it!
Jim, I never got to paddle in the Okefenokee NWR, but have paddled in swamps in NC and AL. I live in Missouri and there is a swamp at the Mingo NWR, but so far I have only driven through it. your video made me feel like i was there, you really did a nice job with it. it must add a lot of work to do a video like this and just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the effort. the video was excellent!
i paddle / camp the rivers here in MO. moving water, mostly class I, but there are some challenges out there. last year i paddled the Buffalo NR (AR)...130 miles from Ponca AR to Buffalo City. it was a magnificent trip, but i overused my right arm and i'm still trying to recover from that. if recovery allows, we are going to paddle it again mid March.
MO has a lot of clear running streams. if you ever want to visit to paddle, please reach out. early and late season are best...crowding in the summer and on weekends can really ruin the experience.
Del
What a fabulous video Tyler! There is so much to love! What a fabulous place to paddle in the winter. Having that rain patter on the tin roof was heaven although I’m sure there are some sounds from the swamp that are just as soothing. That cabin is such a jewel along with those monster trees! Paddling through the woods has to be just like hiking a trail in the Adirondacks. I hope there are some trail markers but I am sure you need to have good navigation skills as well. I really liked your prusik knots with the built in knot toggles. Works like a charm! And of course you had to get me that gator I asked for! :-). Such a sweet place! I want to throw the canoe on top and head south. I am have paddling withdrawals. Thanks for the ride along. Jeff
I genuinely appreciate the kind words!
I refuse to visit this area unless it’s cool out. 😅 Paddling through the cypress trees reminds me so much of the cache river wetlands back home, so a very special place indeed! The navigation the first couple of times was interesting. There are markers out there but they are just white stakes or mile markers that are often missed/missing. Honestly the paper map and learning the vegetation is more rewarding. Avenza is a great tool as well.
You have to go check out Dutchware if you haven’t already. They make pretty much all the rigging I use for my hammock and tarp including the prusik knots. Really great stuff!
Where Lone Ventures is paddling is in Georgia, right next to the Florida border. The lake you are talking about is about 40 miles north of the Everglades in central Florida.
Love the 10 commandments! Very cool.
It was pretty cool to see the old documents!
Nice and quiet just like I like it! Thanks for sharing!
Appreciate you taking a moment to check out the video! I think quiet best represents the trip/area. About the only time I talk/hear another voice is when I talk to the gopro.
Love seeing people tripping in different places. This is very cool an unique. How easy is it get turned around in the swamp?
Not too bad at all. Perhaps the first couple of times it can be a bit confusing when you get into the wetland prairies, but overall it is pretty straightforward. Keeping track on a traditional map is my preference, but if you absolutely needed it Avenza works well too.
Hello again! I finally got it worked out for a 2 night trip next week. Starting at SFSP to Canal run the first night. Then to Floyd's Island for the second night ending back at SFSP. Im hoping the water level is not to low. I know its been dry but im hoping the rain we've got lately will help. Just wanted to see if you would have any idea? Also I'm thinking ill need my kayak cart to cross Floyd's Island! Im paddling a fishing kayak so it's a little heavier than your canoe lol
Lone Ventures, please tell me you are doing another Oke trip this year.
I broke my shoulder, and don't expect to be able to do long distance paddling until 2024. The last year that I didn't overnight in the Oke was 2015.
Mountains, here I come!
I did take a trip in January. I have shot some video for the gear load out, but ultimately I did not record any footage from the trip. I had some medical issues last year that kept me out of the boat for 7 months. Really needed to get out and just enjoy the trip this past January and not worry about the camera.
That place looks magical! Great video....What canoe is that?? Thank you
It’s one of my favorite places!
Canoe is a Wenonah Wilderness in Innegra/Aramid layup with internal skid plates/ash gunwales/sinker cypress thwarts and handles/swift canoe and kayak seat.
Hello! what size and type of cooler do you use? I know canoes are different sizes, but I want a roundabout idea. Thanks for the help
Cooler or canoe? The cooler is a lunchbox from RTIC. The canoe is a Wenonah Wildereness in Innegra/Aramid layup.
I'm looking at doing 2 nights and would you recommend going this route or going to Floyd's Island first? I'm paddling a fishing kayak and was wanting to go against the current on the first day if possible while I was fresh lol. For the second night I am wanting to stay at Round Top if that's not to far of a paddle back on the last day. If so I'll stay at Canal Run. Thanks!
I'd be happy to give you some tips if you would like. I've stayed at every shelter, some multiple times, and have paddled all but the orange trail between Billy's Island and Canal Run, and the little chunk between the red trail and Floyds Island.
There is virtually no current anywhere in the swamp. Generally, though, go north to south.
Where do you plan on coming out? The sill isn't a common exit point for most overnighters. Generally, most people come and go from KF, SCRA, or SCF-- Kingfisher Landing, Suwanee Canal Recreation Area, and Stephen C. Foster, respectively.
I can give you some tips if you tell me your plans. :)
Looks like a great trip! Is it easy to get "misplaced" out there or is it well marked? Do you have a chart of your course?
I will admit the first 2 times I went out there I was lost a bit. 😬 There are markers, but they are easily missed sometimes and/or missing. There are definitely clear signs at major intersections though. Avenza is a great tool, but the last two seasons I’ve been learning the routes/vegetation transitions and only using the paper map. I make some alterations to that when I find some discrepancies based off landmarks/signs. Appreciate you checking out the video!
Hello, different spelling of the lake name but similar enough for me to think it must be near where you paddle. I receive weekly emails from NASA focussing on unusual weather or land events. Today’s mail highlights the algae bloom on the Okeechobee lake.
Here is an excerpt of the email “As it has in most recent summers, Lake Okeechobee has been teeming with blue-green algae in 2022. Fueled by warm summer temperatures and abundant nutrients in Florida’s largest freshwater lake, the algae have been blooming since May but significantly increased in abundance through June.
As of July 14, 2022, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported that 45 percent of the lake was covered with algae or had conditions very conducive to it. The coverage is comparable to levels in July 2021 and 2020, but not as extreme as in 2018, when cyanobacteria blooms covered about 90 percent of the lake.”
Hopefully you aren’t encountering similar problems? Regards, Paul from south east Australia 🇦🇺