Oct 1 Thursday Trail Work on the Florida Trail 8 a.m. Blackwater River Forest Center (11650 Munson Highway – Hwy 191). Come help get the trails ready for our annual Panhandle Trace Hike. Today we will be working on the section between Charlie Foster and Beaver Creek Roads. We will be lopping, mowing, blazing and clearing downed trees on the trail. Check our Meetup site for details and to sign up to help www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate If you have additional questions, contact Ed Williamson 474-5359.
Oct 2 Friday First Friday Dinner Walk 6 p.m. Gulf Breeze Library (1060 Shoreline Dr, Gulf Breeze). Meet in the parking lot behind the Gulf Breeze Library. Join George for a walk around Gulf Breeze with dinner to follow at Aegean Breeze (913 Gulf Breeze Parkway). Leader: George Brinkman 932-0125.
Oct 4 Sunday Wake-Up Hike 7 a.m. Veterans Memorial Plaza (Willing Street, Milton) Start Sunday morning off with a brisk walk with Trudy and Peggy! We will walk for about an hour then regroup for breakfast! Come join us! Check our Meetup site for details www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate Leaders: Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Trudy Walden 434-8861
Oct 8 ThursdayTrail Work on the Florida Trail 8 a.m. Blackwater River State Park (7720 Deaton Bridge Rd., Holt) Meet in the Deaton Bridge north parking lot. 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 (FL) each Thursday. Check our Meetup site for details and to sign up to help www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate If you have additional questions, contact Rusty Diamond 712-7645.
Oct 10 Saturday Trail Work on the Florida Trail 8 a.m. Blackwater River Forest Center (11650 Munson Highway) Meet at the FTA Maintenance Shed. We will work on a designated section of the Florida National Scenic Trail Side Trail, lopping and clearing the trail. We may also mow and blaze. Check our Meetup site for details and to sign up to help. No experience is necessary and we will provide tools if needed. If you have additional questions, contact Helen Wigersma 484-0528.
Oct 11 Sunday Wake-Up Hike 7 a.m. Location: Jones Swamp Nature Preserve (1136 Patton Drive, Pensacola) A one hour hike with breakfast to follow at an area restaurant. Leaders: Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Trudy Walden 850-434-8861
Oct 15 Thursday Trail Work on the Florida Trail 8 a.m. Location to be determined. Check our Meetup site for updated information and details Leader: Ed Williamson 474-5359.
Oct 15Thursday– Western Gate Chapter Meeting – 6:30 p.m. social, 7 p.m. meeting. (First Christian Church, 6031 Goodrich Dr., Pensacola) Meetings are open to the public. Program: Alex Stigliano, FTA Trail Program Director. Contact Rusty Diamond 712-7645
Oct 17 Thursday Trail Work on the Florida Trail 8:00 am Meet at the Tom Thumb Store at the intersection of Highway 87and Nichols Lake Rd, East Milton, FL We will work on the Weaver Creek section of the Florida National Scenic Trail. NOTE: an Eglin Recreation Pass is required to work on this hike. Check our Meetup site for details http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/ Contact: Brad Henderson 417-233-1626
Oct 18 Sunday Wake-Up Hike 7:00 am Location TBD Check our Meetup site for updates and details http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/ Get the day started with Peggy and/or Trudy for a brisk one-hour walk with breakfast to follow at an area restaurant. We will be hiking/walking at different locations each Sunday morning. At each meeting location, look for the blue Honda Odyssey with “Hike” on the front. Easy, fun, healthy and friendly. For additional information contact Peggy Grantham 850-982-9490 or Trudy Walden 850-434-8861
Oct 22 Thursday Trail Work on the Florida Trail 8 a.m. Location to be determined. Leader: Ed Williamson 474-5359.
October 24 Saturday – Panhandle Trace Hike Day 1 This is the first day of our annual 100-mile Panhandle Trace Hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Side Trail. This hike is open to the Public. The hike begins on Day 1 at the Florida/Alabama line north of Blackwater River State Forest and will end on Sunday, November 1 at Fort Pickens in Gulf Islands National Seashore. Each day has a different starting location. See the Western Gate Meetup site for details about each day's hike. Participants may come for one day or all days. Christine Hale will lead the hike each day. For additional information contact either Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Helen Wigersma 484-0528
October 25 Sunday – Panhandle Trace Hike Day 2 A continuation of our annual 100-mile Panhandle Trace Hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Side Trail. This hike is open to the Public. Each day has a different starting location. See the Western Gate Meetup site for details about each day's hike. http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/events/ Participants may come for one day or all days. Christine Hale will lead the hike each day. For additional information contact either Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Helen Wigersma 484-0528
October 26 Monday – Panhandle Trace Hike Day 3 A continuation of our annual 100-mile Panhandle Trace Hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Side Trail. This hike is open to the Public. Each day has a different starting location. See the Western Gate Meetup site for details about each day's hike. http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/events/ Participants may come for one day or all days. Christine Hale will lead the hike each day. For additional information contact either Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Helen Wigersma 484-0528
October 27 Tuesday – Panhandle Trace Hike Day 4 A continuation of our annual 100-mile Panhandle Trace Hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Side Trail. This hike is open to the Public. Each day has a different starting location. See the Western Gate Meetup site for details about each day's hike. http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/events/ Participants may come for one day or all days. Christine Hale will lead the hike each day. For additional information contact either Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Helen Wigersma 484-0528
October 28 Wednesday – Panhandle Trace Hike Day 5 A continuation of our annual 100-mile Panhandle Trace Hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Side Trail. This hike is open to the Public. Each day has a different starting location. See the Western Gate Meetup site for details about each day's hike.http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/events/ Participants may come for one day or all days. Christine Hale will lead the hike each day. For additional information contact either Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Helen Wigersma 484-0528
October 29 Thursday – Panhandle Trace Hike Day 6 A continuation of our annual 100-mile Panhandle Trace Hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Side Trail. This hike is open to the Public. Each day has a different starting location. See the Western Gate Meetup site for details about each day's hike.http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/events/ Participants may come for one day or all days. NOTE: an Eglin Recreation Pass is required to participate on this particular hike since the trail is on Eglin AFB property. Christine Hale will lead the hike each day. For additional information contact either Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Helen Wigersma 484-0528
October 30 Friday – Panhandle Trace Hike Day 7 A continuation of our annual 100-mile Panhandle Trace Hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Side Trail. This hike is open to the Public. Each day has a different starting location. See the Western Gate Meetup site for details about each day's hike. http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/events/ Participants may come for one day or all days. Christine Hale will lead the hike each day. For additional information contact either Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Helen Wigersma 484-0528
October 31 Saturday – Panhandle Trace Hike Day 8 A continuation of our annual 100-mile Panhandle Trace Hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Side Trail. This hike is open to the Public. Each day has a different starting location. See the Western Gate Meetup site for details about each day's hike.http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/events/ Participants may come for one day or all days. Christine Hale will lead the hike each day. For additional information contact either Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Helen Wigersma 484-0528
November 1 Sunday – Panhandle Trace Hike Day 9 The final day of our annual 100-mile Panhandle Trace Hike on the Florida National Scenic Trail and its Side Trail.This hike is open to the Public. Today's hike will start at Casino Beach and end at Fort Pickens in Gulf Islands National Seashore. Come out and join in this 10-mile hike or drive out to meet the hikers at Fort Pickens as they complete their nine-day trek. See the Western Gate Meetup site for details about today's hike.http://www.meetup.com/ftawesterngate/events/ Christine Hale will lead the hike each day. For additional information contact either Peggy Grantham 982-9490 or Helen Wigersma 484-0528
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Florida Trail Association calendar