The Everglades Challenge (or EC) is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but until now I just couldn’t make things come together for it. In the past, getting enough time off in February/March was nearly impossible. Couple that with trying to be in shape in March to paddle 300 miles when all of our lakes have been frozen solid for two months just seemed unlikely. This year I was able to wrangle enough time off to come to Florida just before Christmas in order to have some time to train. In other words, I’ve run out of excuses!
In a nutshell, the EC is a 300 mile (approximately) long unsupported adventure race. We leave from the beach at Ft DeSoto Park (near St. Petersburg, Fl) on Saturday, March 1st and battle our way down the Gulf or ICW to Chokoloskee where we enter the Everglades National Park. From there it’s a wild and winding trek along the Wilderness Waterway to Florida’s southern tip at Flamingo. After a short portage and a microwaved burger from the marina store, it’s back into the salt for the last push across Florida Bay. Favorable tides and good navigation willing, we arrive in Key Largo before Sunday, March 9 at 7am. Really, we’re aiming to be in Key Largo by Friday night in order to rest up for the big party and awards ceremony on Saturday night.
So, to sum it all up— 300 miles, 8 days, no assistance. Sharks ‘n ‘gators ‘n snakes, oh my!