Wild Island Adventure

Ferry to Cumberland Island

After arriving and setting up camp at Crooked River State Park, I visited the ticket for Cumberland Island to inquire as to the possibility of camping on the island, but missed the reservation people by five minutes.  The lady that was still there told me to come back early the next morning with my gear ready to go in hopes that there would be a spot for my tent on the island.  I got up early the next morning and got my backpack packed full of gear that would last me for two nights on the island.  I got to the ticket office and the same lady greeted me.  As soon as she heard that I wanted to go backpacking up into the wilderness area on the island she assured me that there was plenty of room for me.   I was able to book a three day, two night backpacking adventure on Cumberland Island!

Taking a break on the beach

I retrieved my gear and , after fielding a lot of questions about if I was running away (yes. . .on a much grander scale than they were thinking!) and how much stuff I really need for a day at the beach (well. . .when it’s three days, a lot.), boarded the ferry.  After a most relaxing and enjoyable forty-five minute boat ride and a very thorough camping orientation, I hit the trail!  I enjoyed the palm tree lined trails and the many small lizard creatures along the trail, but I was ready to see the beach, so I found a dune crossing and started hiking with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and beautiful, rolling sand dunes on the other!  I got back on the trail when I got to the first remote campsite.  I continued hiking until I tragically realized that I had just hiked 2.2 miles the wrong way!  I had just done the same hike I had done on the beach and was back (practically) at the beginning!  I plopped down on the trail, drank some water, had a snack, then got back up and did the (all too familiar by this time) 2.2 miles again! 

A most welcomed sight!

Since this was clearly taking much longer than I had anticipated, I planned on getting more water when I got back to the first remote campsite, but somehow I missed the water (clearly my navigation skills weren’t too keen on this particular day).  Luckily, I had my marathon runner determination to draw upon.  I was able to make it another three and a half miles to the next spot with water. After quickly filtering and drinking some of the glorious (although funny tasting) water, I completed the last half a mile of the hike to Yankee Paradise.  I set up my tent, hung my backpack (barely) out of the reach of the critters, and collapsed for a well-deserved nap.   

Plum Orchard

When I was well rested and reasonably well hydrated, I wandered down the trail to see Plum Orchard, a huge mansion that was a wedding present for one of the Carnegie children and his wife.  On my stroll over, I saw a whole heard of wild hogs (adults and babies)!  When I got to Plum Orchard, there were a few wild horses grazing and an armadillo searching for food.  As for the house . . . that’s some kind of wedding gift!  It is huge and very impressive!  I enjoyed wandering around the grounds and looking out over the water as the sun set! 

Hiking over the dunes to
the beach.

The next day, I hiked back to the funny tasting water (to ensure not to have a repeat of the day before) then took a trail that led the beach.  It was so lovely to be the only human in such glorious wilderness!  There was such a variety of vegetation from the middle of the island, where it was forest with pines, live oaks, and spanish moss to the dunes with sea oats, delicate flowers, and palm trees, to the vast and beautiful ocean!  I even found some sharks teeth on the beach during a water break! 

My view from my
skylight at
Stafford Campground

I set up camp at Stafford Campground, did a more respectable job tying my gear up in a tree this time, then I went to the beach. . .my own, private, wild beach!  I headed back to my private campground after a most relaxing and rejuvenating afternoon for my last night in the wilderness. 

The ruins

The next morning, the plan was to head to the beach first, then hike back to the dock, but when I got halfway down the path to the beach, there was a wild horse grazing.  I waited for a while, but he seemed pretty hungry and not in much of a hurry to move on, so I headed back to camp and traded my sandals for hiking boots.  I made it down the trail and back to Sea Dock without incident.  After quickly changing and ditching my gear on the porch of the ranger station, I walked to the south portion of the island.  I went to the Ice House museum and learned a bit more about the history of the island (it involves a lot of really rich people), then headed to the Dungeness ruins (another huge  house, only this one isn't in such good shape).  I was even able to catch the trail end of the tour!  I wandered around the ruins, then over to the beach.  I again, had the beach (almost) to myself as I ambled north towards Sea Camp.  When I got closer to the trail that lead back to the dock, I laid claim to a small section of sand and enjoyed my last few hours on the island!  I even saw some dolphins near the shrimp boats while I was swimming! 

The beach where the dolphin siting occurred! 

See. . .I told you it was wild!

After getting back to the mainland, I went back to Crooked River State Park.  I got the same camp site with the same palm tree nook!  I took the most glorious cold shower ever, then after reaching a level of hygiene that made it appropriate to be around civilized humans, I headed back to town and ate two plates of the most delicious shrimp ever!  If you ever want to get your money’s worth on an all you can each situation, go after you’ve been hiking in the woods for several days!!!  With my belly delightfully full of shrimp, my body wonderfully clean, feeling just the right amount of worn out, I drove back to Crooked River with the windows down and fantastic songs playing on my ipod.  It was a perfect moment topped off my falling asleep after gazing at the many stars through my skylight!