Backpacking The Remote and Rugged Ocala Wilderness 

Hey Mike. This section is definitely a great area to explore. Winter months are always the best as you know. The camera going dead was unusual. I always have some type of activity around my basecamp in the evening. Probably bears, but I didn't catch them on the camera this trip. I will be heading out there again soon to see if I can catch any of the activity. The Ocala Ecosystem is very unique as you know, and I enjoy doing these overnighters. Thanks for commenting.

I have not traveled into the Big Cypress Preserve, but I will make it a point to plan an adventure there. Ocala has 4 wilderness areas, and I recommend either the Juniper Prairie Wilderness or the Alexander Springs Wilderness. Either one will provide you a great adventure. Make sure you have bear spray at the least since there is a lot of bear activity in both wilderness areas. Thanks for watching and commenting.

Still using the earth park to supplement my other gear.

Thanks Joe. I used my GoPro Hero 8 and my iPhone. The Hero 8 shoots great videos and you will not go wrong using your Hero 7 on your Appalachian Adventure. One of the nice things about using the GoPro other than the great videos it takes is that it is small/lightweight and you can charge the batteries via a solar panel. I use iMovie as my editing software, but I am going to try Final Cut Pro. iMovie has its limitations and Final Cut will allow me to up my game when I edit my movies. I have not heard of KineMaster, but when I watch your videos they look great. Crime happens in all wilderness areas. Ocala has had its reputation but from my point of view it is an ecosystem that many would enjoy. It is harsh and sometimes unforgiving but if someone heads out there prepared they should be fine. That is why I have done those safety videos and I wanted to talk about it in this video. I get some unusual comments on my Ocala video that I usually edit out do there content. Take care Joe and I am looking forward on your next video. Andy

@@TheAmericanBackpacker Thanks man. I have backpacking trips planned for the next three weekends. Going to be field testing my gear for my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. One of my trips will be with two other backpacking RU-vid channels. Backpacking with Jason and As the Crow Flies Hiking. I'm a little nervous about it. I usually backpack alone.

Outstanding, Working with other channels will help you grow your channel. I have yet to do that since I like you prefer to backpack alone.

There is a variety of wildlife in the Ocala National Forest. The more prominent predator being the black bear. If you see water assume that there also is an alligator in it. There are a variety of poisonous snakes as well due to the low lying areas and water. Ocala is a very unique ecosystem that I enjoy taking on its challenges time after time. It is a harsh ecosystem that can challenge the most experienced outdoorsman or women. As for the insects, they too can be hazardous so make sure you take the necessary insect repellent and treat your clothing with permethrin if possible. Thanks for watching my videos, and I hope they will give you some good information on how to make your future stay in this unique environment safe and more enjoyable.

I carry a S&W .44 mag ( Model 329PD)