Monday June 19 – BIG MUNSON Nature Hike

After breakfast, Zach led the crew on a nature hike of BIG MUNSON Island. During the hike, Zach reviewed the history, wild life and fauna of the island.

We saw how the Red Mangrove Trees are adding land to the island. How crews are trying to save Gumbo Limbo trees blown over by hurricanes. The Gumbo Limbo trees are righted, tied off with ropes and a couple of feet of sargassum is piled around the base of the tree.


We got to see the oldest tree on the island, a 3,000 year old Silver Palm. We also got to see the third biggest Button Wood Tree in the world. The Button Wood Tree would be the largest Button Wood Tree in the world but it has been hit by lightning three times.

Our hike took us to the salt flats in the center of the island and also home of the islands emergency helicopter pad.



The crew had hoped to kayak the maze of Red Mangrove in the middle of the island but low tide prevented it.

We hiked back to camp, had lunch and prepared to hike our gear back to the floating docks for pick up and our return to the Brinton Center.



The boat ride back to the Brinton Center left us with one of the great memories of the Adventure. We were just entering the marina when Doug placed one of the five gallon drinking water bottles to his lips. Everyone else in the crew knew the drinking water was gone and the water in the jug was sea water from the wade out to the floating dock. No one said anything until Doug had taken a big drink – and promptly spit it back out. A good laugh was had by all.