Palm
Hammock Trail
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Titusville, Florida
07 25 2020
2:44 PM EST
28°38'39"N 80°43'01"W
82° F, 27.7° C
82% RH
ESE 8 mph
Scrub, Coastal Hammock, Oak Canopy, Wetland
National Park, Hiking
We enter the trail and cross a small footbridge over a red maple swamp leading into hammock thick with oak and saw palmetto. Immediately we hear the buzz of cicadas. The trail narrows into a thin line between tall shrubs and open-air. We spot twisted, knobby oaks, blanketed with Spanish moss, their limbs stretched toward the sky. We arrive at the tracks of the former NASA Railroad and cross another footbridge covered in algae, a sign it is often submerged.
Deep in the Palm hammock are large, golden orb-weavers perched in spiral webs and crane flies bouncing against tree trunks. The term “hammock” refers to a plot of ground higher in elevation than surrounding wetlands. In Florida, this elevation difference may only be a few feet, but it is enough to create a section of dry land that supports vegetation that cannot grow in wet areas.
Deep in the Palm hammock are large, golden orb-weavers perched in spiral webs and crane flies bouncing against tree trunks. The term “hammock” refers to a plot of ground higher in elevation than surrounding wetlands. In Florida, this elevation difference may only be a few feet, but it is enough to create a section of dry land that supports vegetation that cannot grow in wet areas.
As we walk, we are surrounded by marsh. The thick soil is damp and slippery with large roots underfoot. We can hear the whine of mosquitoes. They swarm our clothing despite covering ourselves in “deep woods” bug spray. We do not hear the wind but short gusts blow through and set the tops of the trees in motion.
It begins to drizzle. We are mostly protected from the rain by the density of the trees; everything smells clean and fresh. As the trail loops around to take us back the way that we came, we hear a faint grunt. We stand motionless as it gets louder and more persistent. It is possible we hear a feral hog and — it sounds like there are quite a few beyond our line of sight. We do not wait to confirm our suspicions and quietly keep going, recording the various grunts as we press forward. We encounter a turtle in the middle of the path. He does not hurry to run away so we pass him slowly to keep from startling him. As we exit the trail, we notice the rain has stopped and the clouds have cleared.
It begins to drizzle. We are mostly protected from the rain by the density of the trees; everything smells clean and fresh. As the trail loops around to take us back the way that we came, we hear a faint grunt. We stand motionless as it gets louder and more persistent. It is possible we hear a feral hog and — it sounds like there are quite a few beyond our line of sight. We do not wait to confirm our suspicions and quietly keep going, recording the various grunts as we press forward. We encounter a turtle in the middle of the path. He does not hurry to run away so we pass him slowly to keep from startling him. As we exit the trail, we notice the rain has stopped and the clouds have cleared.