Hiking The Florida Trail by Johnny Molloy

Hiking The Florida Trail is a narrative account of Johnny Molloy’s journey as he hikes the entire length of the Florida Trail in one three-month stretch. The book is an engaging story that is peppered with outrageous and charming characters.

Molloy’s peanut butter thermometer and his “Five Foot Radius Theory of Camping” for tired hikers will make experienced backpackers smile knowingly. Novice hikers will find his insider tips priceless.

The book provides a comparison between the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Florida Trail (FT). The FT is surprisingly long, contained entirely within the state of Florida, and is still more than half the length of the AT.

The FT is 30 years younger than the AT but much farther behind it in terms of completeness. The AT succeeds in being mostly rural with shelters along its length. Many parts of the FT still cross land that is privately owned or send hikers along roads because cross country hiking land hasn’t been acquired; shelters are seriously lacking.

Despite hiking in the driest and coolest time of the year in Florida, Molloy barely encounters more people maintaining the trail than hiking it during his journey.

Numerous parts of the Florida trail such as the Everglades and Bradwell Bay in the panhandle are NEVER dry, whole sections of the trail close frequently due to rainfall, hikers in the winter can experience temperate variances between 80s and 30s in the same week, and mosquitos rarely ever stop biting.

What I Liked

This book has so many things that I like: anything by Johnny Molloy; backpacking; long trails; and travel books with jokes making fun of Florida. Loved it!

What I Did Not Like

Nothing – great book.