CP2 - Chokoloskee
Roughly 70 miles along the coast from Cayo Costa you will come to
Indian Key Pass. The mangrove channel that leads to the fabled Everglades
City. You are at that crucible that will weed out the Men from the boys;
the Women from the girls; and Real Boats from mere puddle hoppers.
Tide Will be a Factor
There are strong tidal currents through these mangrove channels that can make
grown men cry. A huge amount of water flows through these channels so
current can be 2 to 3 knots or so.
Another interesting phenomenon is that as the water level drops or rises
various sand/mud/oyster bars are exposed or covered. Flow changes and
currents become counter intuitive.
Tide tables and local knowledge of how to interpret them will be published long
before the race. Don't get too fixated on the tide problem right
now. If the tide is too strong, you have two basic choices: wait or
paddle harder. I plan to pitch my hammock on Indian Key, or
thereabouts, and nap until the right time. It Is Doable
Having warned you of the terror, I must remind you that this is a doable
entrance that is used by kayaks, canoes, sail boats, and motor boats all day
long almost every day. Some of our discussion forums have gotten carried
away with the difficulty of this checkpoint -- thus the opening paragraph.
If you use Indian Key Pass to enter Everglades City and then use Chokoloskee
Pass to exit Everglades City, you will minimize tide issues and the need for
local knowledge. These two channels a wide enough and well marked so as
to be considered "normal" navigation and difficulty.
Some plan to take a detour and visit Watson's Place instead of take
Chokoloskee Pass. This too should not present any difficulty for classes
1 and 2, but classes 3 and 4 may want to think real hard about trying this
route.
Big Boats Are Everywhere
Big boats are cruising these channels so watch out. Some of
them run at night with no lights. If you must travel these channels at
night, keep lots of lights going on your boat and keep a strong spot light
handy. Access for Family and Friends
This is a regular city on the west coast of Florida with highway
access. There is an article in the Sept/Nov 2000 issue of Paddler
Magazine about Everglades City.
| The resort of choice in this area is Outdoor Resorts of America, Inc. located
at the entrance to Chokoloskee Island. They have RV campsites and cabins
along with full services. Their public restroom at the docks was the
cleanest I've seen at a public spot in a long time. Their phone number is 1-941-695-2881.
This would make a great spot to meet family and friends along the course for a
nice restaurant dinner.
They have kayaks for rent so your family can paddle and have fun while waiting
for you to struggle into the checkpoint. :)
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If You Drop Out
If you drop out at Everglades City, be sure to let the check in
crew know. They will help you arrange for transportation back to Tampa
Bay if you need it. You may have to stay at Everglades City a day or two
(hopefully not more) for the transport to show up. Fresh Water
Fresh water is available at Everglades City as well as restaurants, convenience
stores, and kayak outfitters. Your best bet is the hose at the canoe ramp
at Park HQ or the hose at the docks of Outdoor Resorts or the convenience
stores at both locations. Beware however that availability of bottled
water at these two convenience stores is not guaranteed. There are other
stores in the area within about a 1 mile radius at both locations.
The hoses will be easily accessible, but I recommend that you
filter all water from hoses -- if only for taste. Everglades Park
This is the North Headquarters of Everglades Park. If you are
taking the inside route, you must register with the park rangers. If you
are taking the outside route, you may have to register with the park
rangers. It depends on whether or not you intend to camp on the way to
Flamingo.
Everglades National Park
When you reach Everglades City, you are about to enter the
Everglades National Park. You must follow all park rules and
regulations. Depending on your chosen course (inside or outside) and
whether you will have to camp on the way to Flamingo will determine if you must
obtain a Wilderness Permit
. This is entirely up to you and your decisions about your best course. You
can get more information directly from the park at the following:
You can only get a Wilderness Permit 24 hours in advance at the
Gulf Coast Ranger Station (Everglades City) so in effect you will have to get
it when you arrive at the Everglades City checkpoint. They are open
normal business hours so you may decide to check in first and then go to the
ranger station or the other way around. It depends on what time you
arrive.
In most cases, the outside route will be faster, but your open
water skills must be up to the challenge. This is during the busy season
so have two or three alternate sites in mind for your camping permit.
If you don't get a camping permit, you are not supposed to
camp. However, there is no rule that I know of that prevents you from
stopping for a snack or a break. DO NOT camp without a permit.
Our race IS NOT approved or sanctioned by the park. They
couldn't care less that you are in a race. In fact, they may get alarmed
if you bring it up. We aren't doing anything illegal by paddling or
sailing through as fast as we can, but DO NOT expect any favors from the
park. The best course of action is DO NOT mention the race.
Here is my plan. I am going to purchase a Wilderness Permit
and pick a campsite roughly half way to Flamingo. If I can't get one half
way, my backup is going to be any campsite on Cape Sable. Then along the
way I will take a break when I need it. A hammock in the mangroves for a
few hours won't bother anybody. No worries.
Remember to practice the Leave No Trace principles during this race
and especially while in the park. The Everglades National Park is a
unique treasure that we must help preserve.
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This is the "canoe ramp" at the Everglades City Park
Headquarters. Concrete with some wood slats. Nice huh?
25° 50.72' N
081° 23.23' W
You must come here if you will be camping along the way to Flamingo.
NOTE: This is not the checkpoint. The checkpoint is at
Chokoloskee. See below.
If you need significant food or services, you might consider stopping
here and walking into Everglades city. If you just need convenience store
items, please buy from the resort at the actual checkpoint in Chokoloskee.
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Indian Key Pass is a well marked channel. Just before you get to the
Barron River make a hard right turn and you can't miss the Park marina.
They have a SMALL convenience store and not much else. About 1 mile into
town or so you will find a grocery store. Not a big super market but some
supplies available. This is your best bet if you need anything
serious.
There is a hose at the canoe ramp for fresh water. I recommend a filter
if you are particular about taste. Roughly 3 miles along the
causeway you will come to Chokoloskee Island. You can't miss it on the
chart. This is your official race checkpoint.
Physical Check In Station
The Chokoloskee check point is at the Outdoor Resorts of America
located at the entrance to Chokoloskee Island. You will land on the beach
on the west side of the causeway. The resort is located on the other side
of the road a stones throw from the beach. Check in with the person
running the office. Get your passport signed and make sure your time of
arrival is noted on the checkpoint log.
The Outdoors Resort at Chokoloskee offers a small convenience store, water,
showers, laundry, and an enthusiastic manager, Kenny Brown. The people of
Chokoloskee were very friendly and curious about our race. They like
kayakers here.
There is no tent camping so if you want to spend the night, you will have to
reserve a room. Call 1-941-695-2881 ASAP if you will want to stay here
for a night when you check in. Now would not be too early. This is
a very popular area during March. This is a very nice resort and I was
amazed at how clean their rest room was when I visited.
Note that tent camping in this area has been driven out by
RVs. Most snowbirds come down for several months in the winter and there
just isn't room for tents. However, Pavilion Key and other NP camp sites
are fairly close. If you absolutely MUST tent camp at this checkpoint,
your best bet MIGHT be to find a secluded spot along the causeway and practice
a little stealth camping. I have slung my hammock next to their canoe
landing.
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