Florida Trail Association sets October events

A nine-day hike on the Panhandle Trace highlights October events for the Florida Trail Association’s Western Gate Chapter. (Special to the Press Gazette)

MILTON — The Florida Trail Association’s Western Gate chapter has scheduled these October events:

  • Oct. 2: Wake-Up Hike, 7 a.m. at Naval Live Oaks (1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze). Get the day started with Peggy and/or Trudy for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant. For additional information, contact Peggy Grantham, 982-9490, or Trudy Walden, 434-8861.
  • Oct. 6: 8 a.m. Work on the Florida Trail. Meet at Blackwater River State Park (north parking lot of Deaton Bridge). The Western Gate chapter of the Florida Trail Association regularly schedules trail work on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Sidetrail in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties each Thursday. Leader: Ed Williamson, 474-5359.
  • Oct. 7: 6 p.m. First Friday Night Event at Gulf Breeze Library (1060 Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze). Bring a flashlight for a walk through the woods and along the shore in Shoreline Park, followed by dinner at the Aegean Breeze Restaurant. Leader: George Brinkman, 932-0125
  • Oct. 8: 7 a.m. work on the Wiregrass Trail. Meet at Blackwater Forestry Center (11650 Munson Highway, Milton) to pick up equipment and tools and then carpool to the work site. Focus will be on mowing and lopping the trail from Kennedy Bridge north to the Florida-Alabama state line. Leader: Cheryl Gardner, 516-9038
  • Oct. 9: Wake-Up Hike, 7 a.m. at Wayside Park (1500 E. Gregory, Pensacola). Get the day started with Peggy and/or Trudy for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant. For additional information, contact Peggy Grantham, 982-9490, or Trudy Walden, 434-8861
  • Oct. 13: 8 a.m. work on the Florida Trail. Meet at Blackwater River State Park (north parking lot of Deaton Bridge). Western Gate Chapter of the Florida Trail Association regularly schedules trail work on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Sidetrail in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties each Thursday. Leader: Ed Williamson 850-474-5359.
  • Oct. 15: 8 a.m. Work on the Florida Trail. Meet at Munson Forestry Center (11650 Munson Highway, Milton). Western Gate Chapter of the Florida Trail Association regularly schedules trail work on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Sidetrail in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties each Thursday. Leader: Helen Wigersma, 484-0528.
  • Oct. 16: Wake-Up Hike 7 a.m. at Bayview Community Center (2000 E. Lloyd, Pensacola). Get the day started with Peggy and/or Trudy for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant. For additional information, contact Peggy Grantham, 982-9490, or Trudy Walden, 434-8861.
  • Oct. 20: 8 a.m. Work on the Florida Trail. Meet at Blackwater River State Park (north parking lot of Deaton Bridge). Western Gate Chapter of the Florida Trail Association regularly schedules trail work on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Sidetrail in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties each Thursday. Leader: Ed Williamson 850-474-5359.
  • Oct. 20-23: Florida Trail Association Conference. See details and registration at the FTA site (http://www.floridatrail.org/fta50/)
  • Oct. 22-23: FTA Volunteer Work Party. The event focuses on clearing the Florida National Scenic Trail in and around Eglin Air Force Base from the Weaver Creek Section south toward Navarre. Limited to 15 volunteers. Primitive camping available Friday and Saturday nights and meals provided. Arrive at camp on Friday night; work on Saturday and Sunday. Those volunteers who choose not to camp may still come out to help and may register for one or both days. Free camping at Escribano Point WMA and free meals will be available for volunteers from Friday through Sunday night. Details and registration available on the FTA site: http://bit.ly/2cUOtOk
  • Oct. 23: Wake-Up Hike 7 a.m. at the University of West Florida (parking lot by the soccer field). Get the day started with Peggy and/or Trudy for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant. For additional information, contact Peggy Grantham, 982-9490, or Trudy Walden, 434-8861
  • Oct. 27: 8 a.m. work on the Florida Trail. Meet at Blackwater River State Park (north parking lot of Deaton Bridge). Western Gate Chapter of the Florida Trail Association regularly schedules trail work on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Sidetrail in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties each Thursday. Leader: Ed Williamson 850-474-5359.
  • Oct. 29: 8 a.m. Panhandle Trace Hike — Day 1. (Meet at East River Bridge Boat Ramp (on Highway 87, north of Navarre). Take an 8.3-mile hike on the Weaver Creek Trail on Eglin AFB property. An Eglin Recreation pass is required. Details: Christine Hale, 723-5112, or Helen Wigersma, 484-0528, or Peggy Grantham, 982-9490.
  • Oct. 30: 8 a.m. Panhandle Trace Hike — Day 2. (Meet at Kennedy Bridge on South Hurricane Lake Road, in Blackwater River State Forest). Take a 9.4-mile hike starting at the Florida-Alabama state line. Details: Christine Hale, 723-5112, or Helen Wigersma, 484-0528, or Peggy Grantham, 982-9490.
  • Oct. 31: 8 a.m. Panhandle Trace Hike — Day 3. (Meet at McVay Road, off Highway 4 east of Munson). Take a 12.3-mile hike from Kennedy Bridge to McVay Road. Details: Christine Hale, 723-5112, or Helen Wigersma, 484-0528, or Peggy Grantham, 982-9490

All activities are free except as noted, but donations from non-members are welcome and will be solicited. See http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/ for more information on the group. 

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Florida Trail Association sets October events