Monkey Creek Bridge Dedication
Reconnecting the Florida Trail along the Sopchoppy River
By Sandra Friend
It’s been five years since the original Monkey Creek Bridge along the Florida Trail between Sopchoppy and Bradwell Bay washed apart in floodwaters, so the dedication of the new Monkey Creek Bridge on Saturday, February 3 was a very special event. Not only did it kick off a month-long celebration of Florida Hiking Trails Month, but one of the most spectacular sections of the Florida Trail in the Apalachicola National Forest has reopened in its entirety just in time for the fragrant blooms of azalea this spring. The Sopchoppy section of the Florida Trail starts at the trail crossing along US 319 just 4 miles south of Sopchoppy, and meanders through pines and oaks for 13 miles. From the FR 321-C bridge north, the trail traces the sinuous path of the Sopchoppy River, offering views from the bluffs of the deeply-tannin-stained water and massive cypresses.
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The Monkey Creek Bridge under construction, as seen from the north shore. PHOTO CREDIT: Kent Wimmer / Florida Trail Association
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The
completed Monkey Creek Bridge on February 3, as seen from the south
shore. PHOTO CREDIT: Kent Wimmer / Florida Trail Association
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Because of drenching rains on the morning of February 2, the Sopchoppy
River was overflowing its banks when more than 30 people converged on
the trail crossing at 9:30 AM along FR 329 near the Bradwell Bay East
trailhead. Because of the high water, activity leader Galen Moses
opted to cancel the planned hike to the bridge. Dedication of the
trail segment went ahead, emceed by Kent Wimmer, Liaison for the
Florida National Scenic Trail. The immense volunteer contribution to
building the new bridge was recognized, with many members of the
F-Troop trail crew who made it happen in attendance. More than 30
volunteers from 9 different Florida Trail Association chapters across
the state converged to spend 9 days and 1,250 volunteer hours to
construct and place the 5-1/2 ton footbridge. At the time, the trickle
of water beneath the bridge construction made participants question
whether the bridge wasn’t overbuilt. Monkey Creek provides the only
drainage to the natural basin that is Bradwell Bay. When it rains, the
creek rises from a step-across trickle to a raging flood more than 12
feet deep.
USDA Forest Service representatives Susan Matthews, Deputy Forest
Supervisor for the National Forests in Florida, and Michelle Mitchell,
Florida National Scenic Trail manager, helped cut the ribbon reopening
the trail, as did Florida Trail Association Executive Director Deborah
Stewart-Kent, Crews Supervisor Bob Woods, and F-Troop volunteer Butch
Harrison, from Wisconsin. Afterwards, a handful of intrepid hikers
attempted to continue south on the trail towards the bridge, but were
turned back by icy cold floodwaters rising up over the footpath.
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The
official ribbon cutting reopening the Sopchoppy section of the Florida
Trail. L to R: Susan Matthews, Deputy Forest Supervisor of the National
Forests in Florida; Michelle Mitchell, Florida National Scenic Trail
Manager; Deborah Stewart-Kent, Executive Director of the Florida Trail
Association; Butch Harrison, F-Troop volunteer; and Bob Woods, Florida
Trail Association Crews Supervisor. PHOTO CREDIT: Sandra Friend /
Florida Trail Association
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L
to R: Ian Barlow, Kent Wimmer, Michelle Mitchell, and Judd Goodlin
participate in the ribbon cutting on the Monkey Creek Bridge for the
benefit of Robert Seidler's camera. PHOTO CREDIT: Sandra Friend /
Florida Trail Association
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Another small group took to their four-wheel drive vehicles and
followed flooded forest roads back to the bridge site, where Robert
Seidler of Seidler Productions was waiting with Ian Barlow of the USDA
Forest Service. Ian oversaw the problem-solving details of F-Troop—
how to move the 11,000 pounds bridge using only human power and pulleys
across the creek. At the site, we saw firsthand the importance of the
heft and height of the completed bridge, as Monkey Creek had overflowed
its banks, and staged a mock ribbon cutting on the bridge for the
benefit of Seidler’s camera. Seidler is producing a new 28 minute
video documentary about the Florida Trail that will debut on March 16
at the Florida Trail Association Annual Conference.
For more information about the Monkey Creek Bridge project, F-Troop, and other Florida Hiking Trails Month events, visit www.floridatrail.org. You can also view the Monkey Creek Bridge being built on YouTube.com: search for “Monkey Creek.”
Sandra Friend is the
Communications Director of the Florida Trail Association and author of
numerous guidebooks on Florida hiking.
This article originally published on February 8, 2007.
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