I spend a good deal of time throughout the week exploring my options for weekend adventures. I pour over trail maps, looking for interesting places I haven't visited or locations I have not been recently. Trails and paddling routes often change, and places I've explored previously always have something new to discover at different times of the year.

So, where did I end up this weekend? I attended one day of the Florida Trail Association's Big "O" Hike -- a nine-day, 110-mile trek around Lake Okeechobee. Yes, I could only attend one day, but hopefully next year I will be able to stay for the complete hike. 

More than 100 hikers started out from Pahokee, heading 12 miles to Port Mayaca on top of the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee. From the top of the dike you have a panoramic view of the lake, while herons and eagles soar overhead. It's a terrific hike that is perfect for everyone, from solo hikers to families. There's even a "wimp walk", a shortened three-mile walk for those who do not want to commit to a full day of hiking.

If you want to learn more about this or next year's hike, visit Florida Trails Loxahatchee Chapter  for information. 

See you on the trail!