Financial and volunteer support to preserve the unique ecology and cultural heritage of Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park and to educate the public about its importance.

Outdoor Afros dodge gator in 10 mile hike in Fak

Outdoor Afro hikers check out an orange discovered along the trail.

Outdoor Afro hikers check out an orange discovered along the trail.

by Ta-Shana Taylor

Gators, panthers, black bears, oh my! On October 15th six Outdoor Afros, including Outdoor Afro Miami Leader Ta-Shana Taylor, hiked over 10 miles in Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve as part of a national  #UndergroundTrailMode  movement.  Outdoor Afros is a national organization dedicated to connecting African Americans to outdoor experiences.

The pristine swamps of Fakahatchee were perfect for getting in touch with the experience slaves had along the Underground Railroad while braving the wilds of Florida on the way to the freedom of the Caribbean. And boy, did they get the full Fakahatchee experience! Their hike was almost cut short by an angry hissing gator that wouldn’t clear the trail, almost forcing them to turn back around. Luckily, Fakahatchee volunteer Skipper showed up as he was on his way to take well water samples at the Fakahatchee Hilton.  He saved the day by driving his truck and encouraging the gator to leave the trail.

With the help of Fakahatchee staff, the Outdoor Afros continued to the Hilton where they enjoyed lunch before tackling the overgrown trail that extends even further.  On this less-visited portion of the East Tram Trail, they saw fresh black bear tracks and a half-eaten opossum that was clearly someone’s lunch. Their teamwork made handling the thick brush an adventure filled with shared stories, laughs, and smiles. They also enjoyed learning about the edible plants on the trail from Yanique, an Outdoor Afro from Lake Worth who’s knowledgeable in ethnobotany.

After hiking 10 miles, their efforts were rewarded with seeing both a panther and a black bear on Jane’s Scenic Drive while leaving the park! The moment passed too quickly to get a picture, but all of the Outdoor Afros agreed that the beauty of Fakahatchee is one of Florida’s hidden gems and a great way to connect to black historical experiences.

  Editor’s note: Ta-Shana has seen panthers on her last two visits to the Fakahatchee!