June 20, 2025

Welcome to the Friday Waypoint where you'll find the latest updates about opportunities & activities with the Florida Trail Association.

This week, we're featuring NEW Florida Trail merchandise, stories from the trail, and how your purchase supports our mission.

Kick it old school with this vintage-inspired tee that honors the volunteers and visionaries who built the Florida Trail from the ground up.

The new version is pictured on the trail today, right alongside a snapshot from the archives of Sylvia Dunnam and Paul Cummings scouting levees in South Florida in the 1970s, laying the groundwork for what would become the Florida Trail.

Whether you're out for a weekend walk or thru-hiking the full 1,500 miles, the Florida Trail Passport is a fun and meaningful way to track your journey.

With 50+ official stamp sites, this updated edition connects hikers with local businesses, historical landmarks, and Gateway Communities across the state. It’s the perfect trail companion. Part travel log, part souvenir, and totally Florida Trail! 

Lightweight, breathable, and built for the Florida sun, this hat is made to go the distance.

Designed for ultrarunners, speed hikers, and anyone who knows the meaning of swamp slog, it wicks sweat, offers crucial sun protection, and fits low so it won’t bounce around or block your view.

🌞 Whatever the trail has in store for you, this hat has your back (and your scalp)!

🐻 New! Florida Black Bear Tee

Celebrate one of the Florida Trail’s most iconic wild residents with our newest shirt featuring hand-carved woodblock artwork by Florida-based printmaker Brandie Dziegiel. This bold design pays tribute to the Florida black bear and the wild spaces they call home.

🎨 Brandie is a Florida-based printmaker whose work explores our connection to wild places. Inspired by the mangrove estuaries she sought out as a child, her woodblock prints blend myth, memory, and conservation to honor Florida’s threatened natural heritage.

👣 As you explore the Florida Trail, remember:

• Give bears space. Never approach or feed them.
• Store food securely. Use a bear hang or canister.
• Stay alert and make noise to avoid surprise encounters.
• Respect the wild. Observe, don’t disturb.

Designed for trail comfort with a splash of FT spirit, these moisture-wicking socks are perfect for hiking, trail work, or everyday wear.

These socks are made with New Zealand merino wool, so when one of our volunteers wore them at his wedding in New Zealand, we couldn’t resist sharing. Talk about full circle! Whether you’re tying the knot or logging miles, these socks are up for the adventure!