Student Canoeists Find Warm Florida Welcome

Florida's warmth is measured not only by the mercury; the reception given to 18 undergraduate canoeists on an expedition to the Everglades during spring break by the Miami Dartmouth Club went far beyond what the group had expected. There was lunch at a Cuban restaurant, an evening party and reception (with a half keg of beer), and lodging for the weekend for all paddlers at the home of J. WestonDunaway '43, past president of the Miami Club.

Miami's sights, including the Seaquarium, the Monkey Jungle, the Serpantarium the Jai-Alai Fronton, and, of course, the beaches, were the cap on a six-day, 120-mile glide along the Wilderness Canoe Trail in Everglades National Park.

Eight hours of paddling per day in two-man canoes brought the group through the most remote and exotic parts of the Park, including the Mangrove Wilderness, and sightings of a great variety of birds, some snakes, and a few alligators. One traveller made direct contact with a scorpion but fortunately recovered from the sting. It was imperative each night to reach the campsites, literally carved out of the jungle and only two feet above water level; the alternative would have been sleeping in the canoes. And it was sad to find evidence that the Everglades is changing character, with salt water replacing fresh as cities to the north pump increasing amounts for their use.

A concensus pronounced the trip a tremendous experience and participants proved their enthusiasm and endurance even though several had never before paddled a canoe.

Josh Warach '76

The author is vice president of the LedyardCanoe Club and led the Everglades expedition.