This was my first attempt to make it across Big Cypress Preserve. I destroyed my camera equipment luckily I was able to save the footage. All together I spent 6 days crossing these waters. I hope you enjoy. It gets more wild the further I go.

@MiaMeezy

3 жыл бұрын

Thats awesome thank you for sharing. We too are from Florida, in Colorado now, but moving back in a month or so. Did you stress swamp foot?

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Definitely needed to dry out after being out there for so long, but most stressful thing is the water, is demoralizing on the legs after a few miles, and the holes can be very dangerous.

@Cgh432

3 жыл бұрын

I give you credit on doing that in leather boots 👍 I wear trail runners so hey drain .

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed the boots, was super comfortable... especially great ankle support for the holes. I have altras but really starting to hate them.

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Yes definitely follow instincts, you feel danger I would turn around as well!!!

You rock the rainbow knife friend, don’t let anyone take that from you. We all carry things people laugh at.

I wouldn't say that Big Cypress was the most 'dangerous' part of the FT. Definitely the most challenging, but on my FT thru-hike I personally experienced all of my close brushes with death while walking on roads, almost being hit by passing cars who clearly didn't expect to see me there. Stay safe, dude.

@edbraunn7720

2 жыл бұрын

humans are the most deadly species!

Thanks for all of the extra miles you did just to film yourself hiking.

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Paul!!! 🤗 more exercise 😎

@bezdroznik

3 жыл бұрын

This is so true ppl can't even imagine :-)

I am glad you showed your rainbow knife and told us you learned to not worry so much about what people think. I am embarrassed to admit that I carry bear spray when I hike, in Oregon. Even though I have lived in Oregon for over 50 years and never actually saw a bear here, lol.

Big respect for hiking that section, I’ve done parts of the south side of I-75. It’s challenging but fun and exciting at the same time. I have a suggestion, please don’t carry your knife in the open position while you’re hiking. Especially while walking through water on slippery rocks. please 🙏

Did this section in April. 10 miles out and back was absolutely brutal with no water on trail and insane heat. Rock on you badass.🤘

The KZread algo suggested this video to me tonight, prolly because I'm obsessed with this section of the Florida Tail. Cory, you were INSTANTLY likeable! What a character. Now I'm going to dig into more of your videos. Cheers!

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Means a lot!

“This is where I belong” - I feel that so much!

You have such a joyful soul Cory ...thanks for sharing this amazing swampy trail!

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊 ❤️

Florida Trail is high on my list. Love your rainbow knife!!!! Glad to see you are still out there hiking! I’m back on the PCT again this year with low water in desert this year.

Bad idea to have the knife out when hiking. I tripped on a cypress knee once and my walking stick branch went into my arm. Good video.

I love your bright and sunny disposition. It’s easy to see you’re an absolute gem. Be careful out there buddy.

@SecondChanceHiker

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, i appreciate this comment. Others want me to act tougher, but I enjoy my personality 😎

It was so much fun seeing you have such joy in what you were doing.

I grew up in central Florida -not afraid of alligators as much as I am of water moccasins! So many people think it’s only theme parks and beaches lol swamps are beautiful in their own way. And you’re right- do what makes you happy and stop caring about what someone else might think. Good to see you on the trail

I would’ve been more scared of Cottonmouths than gators. Be of wishes to you on your journey through our great state of Florida.

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

You know I didn’t see any snakes until the last day, and walked into a dryer jungle section and wow saw 4 snakes... I was so glad I didn’t camp in that section. Alligator snapping turtle does try to bite me in upcoming videos.

God bless you brother been watching you since before your injury on the PCT. Very inspired by you wish I had the funding to hike with you. Till then your in my prayers 🙏 and notifications 💎👑

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Much love back brother 🤗!!! Thank you

Can’t wait for the next episode! I’m living vicariously through you right now. 😃😃

Heck yeah brother rainbow knife!! Keep living your best life, no regrets. See you on the trail someday!

Nice camera work. I appreciate the effort and the extra steps you put in to make this video. From the Witch Trail to Croatia to the swamp, Wow, your 2020 was an effort but you made it work. Be safe and healthy, Happy New Year, Happy New Life!

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad you realize the extra steps 🤗, happy new year and new beginnings!!!

You're in my home state and my fa orite trail! I didn't realize you're from fla. Love watching your adventures! And a happy new year to you

Damn son! I haven't checked in on you in a long time and you're looking GREAT! I remember when you were in SoCal taking two days to walk ten miles or some shit. Wow, you are a changed man!

So glad you are doing this, this time of year. I might have been on some of it, but it would have just been a day hike. My courage is next to zero at the moment and it helps to see you doing something brave.

Oh I spent some time there camping and birding....really enjoyed it, Take care Corey.

Glad you still have a great sense of humor. I would be really scared there.

Looking great Cory! (the incredible shrinking man)

Glad you are out on the trail. Take Care and Keep Exploring The Outdoors.

I'm glad you've learned to do you, be you, face your fears, and not worry much about what others think. Yay

Corey, hell to the naw! You have got cahoonas the size of TX!! You’re STILL amazing us! Can’t wait to see the next episode! You rock!!

Always a pleasure to share your adventures!

You are a brave man! A big Nope 👎🏻when it comes to water snakes. I’m sure the sun, and Florida heat makes your trek tough. Would you consider using the hands free backpack umbrella? Thank you for taking us along with you on your journey. Happy trails.

I can relate to your adventurous spirit. Seeking something out. I have this thing for seeing an alligator, too, so these videos really resonated with me

Very entertaining. Looking forward to more videos!

🐊 😮 I would've been super scared ALL the time out there. You just did the dangerous part and it was some really nice footage. I can't wait to see more from your adventure on FT 🤩❤

I’d never be able to hike that without a walking staff. And I’d have everything on a lanyard!

I love it❣️I wouldn’t do it, you are way braver than I. But I will love watching every step you take and minute you share. You are the man, my friend❣️👍👍 I lived in FL for years, in the Ocala national Forrest, in Silver Springs. I canoed many lakes and spring runs, saw some awesome natural beauty, but that as far as I would go to see it. Happy trails, Cory❣️😎

What's up second chance!? Looking great my dude!

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Austin, Doing well, thank you brother 😎🤗

Love your energy keep it 💯

This guy has balls of steel.

Love the video! And love the rainbow knife keep it up would love to go for a hike with you sometime but I live in North Florida

my second time ever being in florida, I accidentally stumbled across a HUGE aligator, there's no way I'd travel in that lol

@Oldsparkey

3 жыл бұрын

Just make sure that log you plan on stepping is is a LOG.

@turtlemcturtleson

3 жыл бұрын

@@Oldsparkey lol

I'd like to add my thanks for all the shots of you hiking and the extra miles you must of walked to get them. Your videos are really becoming polished. I'll also second that I'd be a lot more afraid of the cottonmouths than the gators. Question though. did you see any signs of the skunk ape?

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

I saw some statues by a boating place lol... thank you 😊 extra exercise

SCH rocks the Florida Trail 💯

I would love to hike this trail one day I love swamp hiking I would definitely start it in December like you did or January when the dry season sets in when the cold fronts begin and the reptiles are less active!...I would have taken a nice stout hiking stick to repel any attacks with a bonk on the snout....man I miss the sound of the swoosh in the swamp during hiking!..

@azrock235

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a great plan Hike with Mike!

Cory! You look amazing! You've lost so much weight! Wow! 🌻🎉🎉 The video is nice! What an interesting trail! Thank you for sharing!🌻👍

You have become a stud!

With all those walk-by's you will be hiking some sections of the trail three times. Is that a sign of Dawinonthetrailism? The natural selection of the hardest working vloggers. You are looking healthy and happy. Great to see you on a trail again.

As someone that grew up around big cypress,dude is crazy to hike without a firearm..all kinds 4 legs and 2 legs of creatures that with kill your ass in there,plus skunk ape..

Be doing the FT this year 😀 good on you Cory

Rough section cory your the man for doing it several times..nothing can stop u now!

wow, I know why I'm a high desert woman. This trail is my worst nightmare. LOL, Very cool video!

That trail big nope for me. I am afraid of snakes, and probably gators. Your brave!

Wild! Too bad about the equipment. Well done Cory! ✌💌

I love the rainbow knife!

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Wait until I get my extra extra rainbowy knife that the handle is rainbow as well 🤗

Six days! Wish I had that kinda time. I completed it this past weekend. 1/8/21 17miles first day 1/9/21 10 miles 1/10/21 3.8 miles to finish by 11am. Amazing experience. Love my natural Florida. Solo as well!

Enjoyed your hiking adventure, crazy water trail! lol.. May I ask the song at the end of the video? Liked it!

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Blood in the water, by layup... I tend to use a lot of their songs but a few fans said I can never ever use “every mile” again hahaha which I agree.

Now that you went thru that section, if you had to do it again, would you have used trecking poles through the water?

@bruceleez5292

Жыл бұрын

Yes as an experienced big Cypress hiker those solution holes can hurt. I recommend trekking poles.

Dude you rock, going in the swamp in shorts?! Keep that blade sharp, no matter the colors ;)

Lol. cottonmouth moccasins 😂😂 water moccasin and cottonmouth are one in the same...

You go brave man! I’m from Texas and the rattlers and copperheads are “plentiful “ in my neck of the woods. I have shot more than I can count around my house and around my barn. One struck at me when I jumped out of my truck in my driveway. I’ll take that any day over walking thru that water. Not happening for this Texas girl!!

Excellent!!~former Rogue Life

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Oh good to see you!!! 🤗

You constantly amaze me with your bravery, determination & positive attitude! Keep it up! 💪Your awesome! Much love from St.Louis! 💗

You make it sound hard when in reality it's only wet and muddy. You will find most of the trail ( except the sand hills ) are wet and muddy during the rainy seasons. Personally I think the up and downs on the AT are a lot worse , I hate hills being a Florida flat lander. Alligators , Moccasins and the rest of the critter's normally leave you alone. The Mosquitos , Yellow Fly's and ticks , the Brown Dog tick and the Deer tick ( Lyme Disease ) seem to hunt you. Only state where I got Lyme disease is here in Florida and it's been two times.

I would make waders that come up to my chest part of my gear. I know they weigh about fifty pounds, but there is no way I could walk in that water!

perfect music.

I didn’t know you lived in Florida, I’ll have to see if I can find you and shed a few pounds on a hike with you 💪

People are just as crazy in every state. Florida is the only state that makes charges public before conviction.

I’m not sure that little rainbow knife will protect you from them gators. You are a brave man! And that is a pretty cool knife.

Whats the elevation gain? LOL! Good to see you back on the trail.

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂

@roguetuber4377

3 жыл бұрын

Sea level

Swamp hiking is not appealing to me. You're a brave man. I'd be terrified of alligators.

That rainbow knife is Ranger Approved! Sorry about your camera.

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Aww every time I see your face I smile Ranger 🤗 miss you

@trailninja6046

3 жыл бұрын

@@SecondChanceHiker you too buddy. Maybe we'll get a chance to share some trail this year.

When you're wading through water, how do you keep the trail. How do you know where to come out? I'm pretty adventurous, but I would NOT do this alone. and sleeping there? no way on earth! MAYBE, maybe with 4 or 5 other people. You are brave, Cory.

@emrags15

3 жыл бұрын

Looks like there are orange blazes.

I have been on my own weight loss journey. Down 65LBS but then back up 10 over the holidays. Very depressing. But I am back at it and looking forward. Someone asked me today what they should do to get motivated to lose weight and get healthy. I told them to check out Second Chance Hiker on YT.

You got guts.

How did your feet fare? Prepare for the normal wear and tear or does the water exacerbate things? Thanks!

I live in Florida and I think the most dangerous thing about that crossing is falling and drowning because you can’t get back up. However, the Sierras on the PCT. Well that’s what I call dangerous. Freezing to death and falling to my death on shake rock. I’ve been in the outdoors for 58 years and been bit by a snake once and that’s because I kicked it. And alligators are more scared of us.

Oh wow scary!

is that off 8st tamiami trail the oasis ranger station? i did like a 5 hour hike there, saw 3 snakes blocking trail and went off trail and got lost i had to climb a tree to c if i seen anyt civilization luckily i saw some antenna tower in distance and got back to main trail, if i wudve been farther in i wudve been totally lost once u go off main trail it all looks the same easy to get lost, i was able to get back by dusk a few more hours and i wuda spent the nite clinging to a treetop!

You mean about to "FEED" the gators. Lol

I plan to hike the Florida Trail as soon as they put in the swamp bridge walkways. Jest sayin'...

Okay so maybe an airboat or canoe would be better on these “trails” that can’t really be a trail when you can’t see it , its under water. It’s more like a scene from the Steve McQueen movie Nevada Smith!

Fun times they said! lol...

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Lol right 🤗

First and I’m so excited!

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

YAY Larry, much love my friend!!!!

@youngheart1065

3 жыл бұрын

@@SecondChanceHiker Great shots! Love to see that sunshine too!

Extra rainbowy

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Extra extra rainbowy 🌈 now you know what I need for my birthday 🥳 😉 lol

Is there a long section of the trail(100+ miles) that doesn't have bogs. I would prefer to stay dry(ish)

Anything new with second chance? Haven't seen anything in a couple weeks

i havnt deen gators in that part of trail but theres alot of snakes poisonous moccasins, maybe even more dangerous the gators u usually see and keep distance

Animals have nothing to do with travelling with another person, its more likely IF YOU GET INJURED. Like on a certain snowy slope . . . walking through opaque water, you can't see the bottom and you could easily go down on a root or fall in a gator hole.

That is a trail? Is it drier in the summer?

I would DEFINITELY be afraid of night hiking in GATOR COUNTRY!!!! Don’t forget there are also huge boas out there that are feral..

Oh good glory...just no to the water!

I only learned this factoid when I saw Anderson Cooper scuba diving with massive gators in the Everglades! All those critters you spoke of Gators, Venomous Snakes, Etc. are in States of "Hibernation" right now and as a Native Floridian I would like to think you know this? So, your timing is safe from all those critters as I am safe here in the desert from Africanized Bees, Rattlesnakes, Etc.. Hike On!

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah we shouldn’t fear them at all. However I learned being alone in the wild those fears come back. They are out basking in the sun mostly, you are correct about them not wanting to eat when the water is below 73 degrees. A woman was still attacked in January of 2020 while hiking with her class in Florida. I think almost no attacks tho.

@thatlarryguy6841

3 жыл бұрын

@@SecondChanceHiker They like bite sized snacks. Small dogs, etc. etc.

Is that the limestone of the aquifer your walking in

@SecondChanceHiker

2 жыл бұрын

The rock felt like limestone and dangerous all those holes.

Does the rainbowing make the knife more effective? Personally I would have choose a machete, in any color(s).

My every day pocket knife is pink, totally dig the rainbow. Biggest live gator I've jumped on is 7 feet. Moral of the story, dont underestimate guys who like pretty things😁🙏

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

I love you already ❤️, what job required you to jump on gators?

@alancalkins2656

3 жыл бұрын

@@SecondChanceHiker the gator was just for fun😁

I hunted that area for many years. That Airstrip used to be a favorite among Drug Smugglers.

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

So curious what did you hunt? Was it hard? Night hunting?

@mikepreslar8686

3 жыл бұрын

@@SecondChanceHiker Deer and Turkey. Usually in drier times.

You’ve done nothing to improve my opinion of Florida but good for you.

Rambo Knife 2.1 = Rainbow Knife no Arrows Corry starring in First Swamp :)

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

🙌🤗🙈

Where does one train in alligator knife fighting?

@SecondChanceHiker

3 жыл бұрын

Lol I did speak to an alligator wrestler before hiking, knife won’t do much good... day one it just gave me peace lol... it was freaky being alone in those waters

them cotton moccasins