It was drizzly and it rained on Floyds Island, but everybody enjoyed it anyway.
![[Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-10-11, Suwannee River, and Middle Fork]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/gretchen/2024-11-10--floyds-island/fbmany.jpg)
Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-10-11, Suwannee River, and Middle Fork
Thanks to Brack Barker for leading this Floyds Island Campout, 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River in the Okefenokee Swamp.
Thanks to Gretchen Quarterman for these pictures.
Not many gators were visible, but there was a tree full of wood storks. Continue reading
“A great paddle with 8 boats and 13 paddlers! Beautiful sunset and moonrise!” said expedition leader Kimberly Godden Tanner about the Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle 2024-11-15 at Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon 2024-11-15 Sunset and Moonrise]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-15--banks-lake-full-beaver-moon-pictures/many.jpg)
Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon 2024-11-15 Sunset and Moonrise
She added, “We had people from Tennessee, Alabama, and Tallahassee, Florida on this paddle.”
For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. Continue reading
Update 2024-11-25: Pictures: Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-23.
Rescheduled to 2024-12-23 2024-11-23 due to water too high and contaminated at previous date after the flash flood.
Join us between the Little River Confluence and GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River seeking deadfalls to chainsaw and trash to collect.
Canoes, kayaks, and other jon boats are welcome to join the WWALS jonboat and outboard. You can also walk along the right bank of the Withlacoochee River.
Hurricane Helene blew down many trees, so we should find plenty of deadfalls.
Nobody has to use a saw of any kind. You can help by photographing, collecting trash, pulling limbs out of the way, or just being there.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, November 23, 2024
Put In:
Troupville Boat Ramp,
19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.
![[Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-11-23, after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-23--withlacoochee-chainsaw-cleanup-troupville/fbmany.jpg)
Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-11-23, after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp
Join us for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on Banks Lake, our watery living room just west of Lakeland, Georgia.
Since things are still unsettled after Hurricane Helene, bring extra PFDs and paddles if you have them, just in case.
This Outing is honoring Veterans, who get free entry.
When: Gather 4:30 PM, launch 5 PM, moonrise 5:18 PM, sunset 5:35 PM, end 7 PM, Friday, November 15, 2024
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Banks Lake Outdoors, Lakeland, GA]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-15--banks-lake-full-beaver-moon-paddle/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Alapaha River Water Trail, Banks Lake Outdoors, Lakeland, GA
That was a very productive chainsaw cleanup, even though we didn’t even get three miles up the Little River from Red Roberts Landing.
Here are some video snippets:
https://youtu.be/kw0agoUEObA
It was a nice day down on Rountree Road. Continue reading
Update 2024-11-15: Rescheduled to 2024-12-23 2024-11-23 due to water too high and contaminated at previous date after the flash flood.
Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp 2024-11-23.
Update 2024-11-15: Changed to November 16, 2024, due to schedule conflicts.
Join us, walking between the Little River Confluence and GA 133 on the Withlacoochee River seeking deadfalls to chainsaw and trash to collect.
Hurricane Helene blew down many trees, so we should find plenty of deadfalls.
Nobody has to use a saw of any kind. You can help by photographing, pulling limbs out of the way, or just being there.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, November 2, 2024
Put In:
Troupville Boat Ramp,
19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.
The water level is well below our recommended low level for paddling,
but if you do want to put in a kayak or canoe,
you might try sliding it down the sand slope under the GA 133 bridge.
The water level was not too low on the Little River, but it was too low on the Withlacoochee River for the WWALS jon boat with outboard. So, there was no chainsawing.
We’ve been waiting for the Withlacoochee River to get down to a level where we can do a walking chainsaw cleanup. With no rain in sight, it will be plenty low next Saturday, so that will be the time.
![[Water too low for jon boat outboard, Withlacoochee River, Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-10-26]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-10-26--upstream-withlacoochee-troupville-chainsaw-cleanup-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
Water too low for jon boat outboard, Withlacoochee River, Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-10-26
Thanks to TJ Johnson for driving an hour from Live Oak to get there with chainsaws to lead this expedition, and for helping haul the jon boat back upstream on muscle and trolling motor batteries after the outboard did not restart after Trashy Shoals. Continue reading
Update 2024-10-27: Pictures.
Kayaks and canoes and jon boats are invited to join the WWALS jon boat with 9.9hp outboard seeking deadfalls to chainsaw and trash to collect. After Hurricane Helene, there are probably new ones. We will go as far up as we can and have time for with sawing, maybe to the GA 133 Bridge, the I-75 Bridge, or even Sugar Creek.
Nobody has to use a saw of any kind. You can collect trash, photograph, video, pull limbs out of the way, or just paddle.
First we will jaunt downstream past the cleaned-water Outflow of Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant and Spring Branch to pick up a couple of PFAS water sample collection devices we planted on September 14. If they’re still there after the hurricane.
If you’re paddling, you can just turn left at the Little River Confluence and go on up the Withlacoochee River.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 9:30 AM, end 2 PM, Saturday, October 26, 2024
Put In: Troupville Boat Ramp, 19664 Valdosta Hwy, Valdosta, GA 31602. I-75 exit 18, west on GA 133 (St. Augustine Road) away from the Valdosta Mall, at the traffic light for Val Tech Road, turn left down to the boat ramp, in Lowndes County.
Continue readingUpdate 2024-11-26: Pictures: Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17.
Come out and join us for a leisurely sunset and full moon paddle.
When: Gather 6:30 PM, launch 7 PM, moonrise 7:31 PM, sunset 7:35 PM, end 8:30 PM, Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Put In: Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).
![[Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, Georgia]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-09-17--banks-lake-full-harvest-moon/fbmany.jpg)
Banks Lake Full Harvest Moon 2024-09-17, Banks Lake NWR, Lakeland, Georgia
Update 2024-09-13: Brack Barker got a Floyds Island camping permit for Sunday, November 10. Since Monday, November 11, is a federal holiday, Veterans Day, that should work.
Join us to paddle 9 miles upstream on the Suwannee River for primitive camping on Floyd’s Island in the Okefenokee Swamp.
You must RSVP on meetup to get a spot.
This is the farthest you can get from any road in Georgia, with very dark sky.
You can camp inside the century-old Hebard Cabin, or in your tent or hammock outside.
Yes, you will see gators, and probably other wildlife.
When: Gather 9 AM, launch 10 AM, end All Day, Sunday, November 10, 2024
Launch 9 AM, end 1 PM, Monday, November 11, 2024
Put In: Stephen C. Foster State Park Ramp, 17515 GA-177, Fargo, GA 31631. From Fargo, travel south on US 441 to CR 177; turn left and travel to Stephen C. Foster State Park in Charlton County.
Continue reading![[Many deadfalls, Little River Chainsaw Cleanup, Red Roberts Landing 2024-09-21 Darlene Ray, Paris & Tommy Stoeffler, Tish Hall, Lon Kemeness, John S. Quarterman]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-09-21--red-roberts-little-river-chainsaw-cleanup-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
![[Walking Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-11-02, after Hurricane Helene, Troupville Boat Ramp]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-02--walking-withlacoochee-chainsaw-cleanup/fbmany.jpg)
![[Upstream Withlacoochee River Chainsaw Cleanup 2024-10-26, From Troupville Boat Ramp, After Hurricane Helene]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-10-26--upstream-withlacoochee-troupville-chainsaw-cleanup/fbmany.jpg)
![[Floyds Island Campout, Okefenokee Swamp 2024-11-02-03, Suwannee River, Fargo, GA, Stephen C. Foster State Park]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-02--okefenokee-floyds-island-campout/fbmany.jpg)