Sierra Club outing participants enjoyed the winter magic of south Florida in a guided swamp walk in Big Cypress National Preserve on Saturday January 4th, 2003. After viewing a short video on the history and functions of the preserve we faced sunny blue skies that belied the chilly waters below. We soon worked up a sweat "mud-skating" through the prairie dotted with dormant dwarf cypresses en route to a cypress dome, and were blessed with fly-bys from endangered wood storks and glimpses of hawks. As well as finding orchids and "gator holes" for us, our knowledgeable guide briefed us on a variety of environmental issues affecting the preserve before we headed back to enjoy our lunch. See it - believe it - preserve it.

All photos ©2003 Michelle Kelleher