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X-Stream Explorations

Experience the thrill of going where no one in their right mind has gone before.

There are still some places, deep in the wild heart of north Florida, which are so difficult to access that few people ever see them. Most of these places have been bypassed by civilization for good reason - they're hard to access and they're usually in wetlands. But, once in a while, the hard-core nature lover who is willing and able to endure the hardships of penetrating the "impenetrable" and passing the "impassable," will find one of these lost worlds. Occassionally, we lead small groups to such places. And, since these are usually wetlands (in Florida, nothing keeps civilization at bay more effectively than wetlands) most of the 'X-Stream trips are by canoe or kayak.

These are places I really wish everyone could see, but realistically, they can't. The same thing which has kept these places pristine (i.e. the difficulty in getting to them) makes these trips unsuitable to many. The only consolation I can offer is to take heart in knowing that such places are still out there.

So, for those of you who rate your outdoor experiences by the quantity of mud you get in your boots, grit in your teeth and crud in your hair, the X-stream explorations might be the way to go. And, if ending the day looking and smelling like a skunk ape (Florida's version of 'Bigfoot') isn't reward enough, take heart in knowing that these trips take us into some truly spectacular areas. A couple of our favorite X-Stream trips are River Styx and Gum Slough.

SPECIAL NOTE - Some of these explorations take us into some very sensitive habitats - including some fantastic roosting and nesting sites of birds like herons, cormorants, anhingas, egrets and wood storks. We require participants to remain quiet and not disturb the wildlife in any way while passing through such areas.

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