Tag Archives: Outing

Pictures: Dead River Sink Hike with a Geologist 2025-11-01

We climbed over, under, and around much Hurricane Helene deadfall on what Dottie Price called a “Class 5 Meander” from the Dead River Sink to the Dry Alapaha River.

Thanks to 30 people who came, to Practicing Geologist Dennis J. Price for leading this expedition, and to Dottie Price for the additional pictures. See also the facebook video by Christiaan Ard.

[Dead River Sink Hike, Practicing Geologist Dennis J. Price, Meander to the Dry Alapaha River, 2025-11-01]
Dead River Sink Hike, Practicing Geologist Dennis J. Price, Meander to the Dry Alapaha River, 2025-11-01

There was a false start at Jennings Bluff Cemetery, where Dennis told the lemmings to go back up the bluff, because of too much deadfall. Continue reading

Paddle with a naturalist for sunset and full moonrise on Banks Lake 2025-11-05

Hahira, Georgia, November 4, 2025 — Join experienced naturalist and swamp guide Chris “Turtleman” Adams for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our mini-Okefenokee just west of Lakeland, Georgia. There may be bats. That’s at 4:45 PM this Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Chris Adams, aka Turtleman, is a very experienced naturalist and former guide at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. He has often paddled with us at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. He runs the Wiregrass Ecological and Cultural Project, bringing awareness to the heart of the Deep South and showcasing its natural & cultural communities. You’ll enjoy his insights.

This Outing is honoring Veterans, who get free entry.

Gather 4:45 PM, launch 5:15 PM, moonrise 5:39 PM, sunset 5:41 PM, end 6:45 PM, Wednesday, November 5, 2025

We will put in and take out at Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Paddle with naturalist and swamp guide Chris Turtleman Adams, Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Sunset, and maybe bats at Banks Lake 2025-11-05]
Paddle with naturalist and swamp guide Chris Turtleman Adams, Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Sunset, and maybe bats at Banks Lake 2025-11-05

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Hike with a Geologist to a Spring, the Dead River Sink, and the Dry Alapaha River

Hahira, Georgia, October 30, 2025 — Join us this Saturday, November 1, 2025, on an approximately 3 mile or 4 hour hike on the Dead River and the dry Alapaha River bed, led by Practicing Geologist Dennis James Price of Hamilton County, Florida.

[Hike with a Geologist to a Spring, the Dead River Sink, and the Dry Alapaha River, November 1, 2025]

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Hike with a Geologist to a Spring, the Dead River Sink, and the Dry Alapaha River 2025-11-01

Hahira, Georgia, October 30, 2025 — Join us this Saturday, November 1, 2025, on an approximately 3 mile or 4 hour hike on the Dead River and the dry Alapaha River bed, led by Practicing Geologist Dennis James Price of Hamilton County, Florida.

[Hike to Dead River Sink, Alapaha River, Jennings Bluff, with Practicing Geologist Dennis Price 2025-11-01]

We will meet at 9:30 AM at Jennings Bluff Cemetery. On a short stop there, we will climb down a steep bank to explore a spring. Then we will drive into public lands to the Dead River Sink where we will hike out to the Alapaha River and hike the river bed.

From Jennings, Florida, go south on US 41 approximately 2.25 miles and turn left onto NW 25th Lane, which dead ends at the Jennings Bluff Cemetery on the Alapaha River. GPS: 30.56693, -83.035297

This area has recently been designated a State of Florida Geological Site.

Much of the year, the Alapaha River is dry for the last eighteen miles from Jennings Bluff to the Suwannee River, because its water flows into the Dead River and down into the Dead River Sink. On June 22, 2016, several Florida agencies put fluorescent green dye into the Dead River Sink. The dye came back up four days later in the Alapaha River Rise, and eight days later in Holton Creek Rise, both off of the Suwannee River.

Bring sturdy boots or shoes, clothes for woods with stickers, water, and snacks.
Also Continue reading

Paddle to explore Big Shoals, Suwannee River 2025-11-05

The Suwannee River is low and shoals are exposed so lets go exploring. We’ll launch from the steps at Big Shoals Tract Launch and paddle one mile to the portage. Then we’ll walk out to the shoals and enjoy the unusual view of shoals that are usually covered with rushing water. This could be the prettiest lunch spot you’ve ever had.

When: Gather 9:30 AM, launch 10 AM, end 2 PM, Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Put In: Big Shoals Tract Launch From White Springs, travel north on CR 135 to SE 94 Street (Godwin Bridge Road); turn right and follow road to Big Shoals, in Hamilton County, Florida.

GPS: 30.3529705, -82.6879375

[Explore Big Shoals, Suwannee River, Day Paddle, 2025-11-05]
Explore Big Shoals, Suwannee River, Day Paddle, 2025-11-05

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Hike to Dead River Sink, Alapaha River, Jennings Bluff 2025-11-01

Update 2025-11-06: Pictures: Dead River Sink Hike 2025-11-01.

Update 2025-10-30: Press release, Hike with a Geologist to a Spring, the Dead River Sink, and the Dry Alapaha River 2025-11-01.

Join us on an approximately 3 mile or 4 hour hike on the Dead River and the dry Alapaha River bed.

Initial meetup at Jennings Bluff Cemetery. Short stop there where we will climb down a steep bank to explore a spring. Then a drive into public lands to Dead River Sink where we will hike out to the Alapaha River and hike the river bed, led by Practicing Geologist Dennis James Price.

This area has recently been designated a State of Florida Geological Site.

When: Gather 9:30 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 1 PM, Saturday, November 1, 2025

Put In: Jennings Bluff Cemetery. On US 41 go approximately 2.25 miles south from center of Jennings and turn left onto NW 25th Lane, which dead ends at the cemetery on the Alapaha River.

GPS: 30.56693, -83.035297

[Hike to Dead River Sink, Alapaha River, Jennings Bluff, with Practicing Geologist Dennis Price 2025-11-01]
Hike to Dead River Sink, Alapaha River, Jennings Bluff, with Practicing Geologist Dennis Price 2025-11-01

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Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-11-05

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddla on our mini-Okefenokee just west of Lakeland, Georgia. Watch the sun set, the moon rise, and there may be bats.

Chris Adams, aka Turtleman, will be leading this paddle. He is a very experienced naturalist and former guide at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. He has often paddled with us at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. You’ll enjoy his insights.

This Outing is honoring Veterans, who get free entry.

When: Gather 4:45 PM, launch 5:15 PM, moonrise 5:39 PM, sunset 5:41 PM, end 6:45 PM, Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-11-05, Sunset, Moonrise, and maybe bats]
Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-11-05, Sunset, Moonrise, and maybe bats

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Arnold Springs, Mozell Spells, Withlacoochee River 2017-10-14

Update 2025-10-13: better picture format, and links to the previous parts.

A fine fall day on the Withlacoochee River with WWALS Watershed Coalition and Suwannee Riverkeeper, diving and landowners at Arnold Springs, Old Clyattville Road Bridge, exotic invasive Japanese Climbing Fern, Horn Bridge. and Mozell Spells (State Line Ramp). Thanks to all who came to paddle from as far as two hours from Gainesville, Florida and four hours from Pine Mountain, Georgia.

[Clear spring water, 2017-10-14, 15:13:01, 30.6410851, -83.3367726 --jsq for WWALS]
Clear spring water, 2017-10-14, 15:13:01, –jsq for WWALS 30.6410851, -83.3367726
Blue-green Arnold Springs water meets tea-colored Withlacoochee River water.

The Quitman Gauge (US 84) read 2.17 feet (85.67 NAVD88), which was slightly above our recommended low level, and just fine for Arnold Springs. Here are some pictures and a Google Map. A few videos will follow.

This part of the outing was all in Georgia, but we paddled downstream from Florida to get there; see Continue reading

Cleanup and outing, Nankin, Mcintyre and Arnold Springs, Mozell Spells, Withlacoochee River 2017-10-14

Update 2025-10-13: improved image format, and separated the shoals into another post.

Tires and trash cleaned up at Nankin Boat Ramp, saw Clyatt Mill Creek, and swimming and diver tales at McIntyre Spring. This was also a Georgia Rivers Alive cleanup, all on a fall day on the Withlacoochee River with WWALS Watershed Coalition and Suwannee Riverkeeper. Thanks to all who came to paddle from as far as two hours from Gainesville, Florida and four hours from Pine Mountain, Georgia.

[A free diver, 2017-10-14, 12:47:33, 30.6416153, -83.3661699 --jsq for WWALS]
A free diver, 2017-10-14, 12:47:33, –jsq for WWALS 30.6416153, -83.3661699

Here are some pictures. There are more in the following two parts. Continue reading

Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-11-05

Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddla on our mini-Okefenokee just west of Lakeland, Georgia. Watch the sun set, the moon rise, and there may be bats.

Chris Adams, aka Turtleman, will be leading this paddle. He is a very experienced naturalist and former guide at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. He has often paddled with us at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. You’ll enjoy his insights.

This Outing is honoring Veterans, who get free entry.

When: Gather 4:45 PM, launch 5:15 PM, moonrise 5:39 PM, sunset 5:41 PM, end 6:45 PM, Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-11-05, Sunset, Moonrise, and maybe bats]
Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Banks Lake 2025-11-05, Sunset, Moonrise, and maybe bats

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