So January 3rd We are about to embarq with 9 of us (2 adults and 7 scouts) on a 20 mile backpacking trip with a 15-20 mile canoe. We are meeting at american canoe adventures (386-397-1309, http://www.aca1.com/) , who is transporting all of us to our starting point at Suwannee Springs(sec 37.5) and we will hike to White Springs, US41 & SR136, (sec 17.6). American Canoe Adventures will then pick us up and take us to our canoe portion where we will paddle back to our starting point of Suwannee Springs.
Weather is expected to be between 20’s at night and 40’s during the day.
DAY 1 Arrived with rains and low 20’s everything is frozen, we delay our take off until 2pm when rains where done. Upon starting on the trail sun had come out and weather looking great, about 2 hours in temp raised to mid 30’s causing a rain forest effect, so we had rain gear on the whole day as ice feel upon us. Camped around sec 31.5 (6 miles in) along the bluffs, plenty of easy water and a stream nearby allowed for good clear water. Temps dropped quickly in the night and we all were in tents by dark.
DAY 2 Got to 23 degrees coldest day since 1989 they say. The night was damp and cold but everyone but one person slept well. We had 2 youths that had limited dry clothing and 1 adult that did shiver in the morning from the cold. We decided to end the trip early for safety concerns so we exited near 34.8 where we walked to SE 91 trail and CR 25A where we meet American Canoe Adventures who picked us up and brought us back to our vehicles. So no canoe trip and home we went to sunny Cape Coral, Fl. Pictures at https://www.facebook.com/pg/Troop4BoyScouts/photos/?tab=album&album_id=872406629585426