This site was created by Florida native Mike Ruso. Mike has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Florida Trail,  and the California section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Mike and his paddling partner Dan Dick were the first to kayak the 1500-mile long Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail from west to east. Advice for paddling Florida's CT is at our sister site Thru-Paddle Florida. Mike also blogs about literature, film, photography, and environmental issues at mikeruso.com, and his nature photography is on Instagram @mikerusophotography.