Gator checks his equipment before departure.

Some much needed rest before the trip.

Setting up the group cooking area at night.

Hawkeye places his foilpack on the hot coals with the rest of the group.

Delicious sweet potatoes and and steak for dinner!

The campsite in the middle of nowhere.

A better view of the whole site.

A delicious breakfast, courtesy of Gator, Boar and Chipmunk.

After seeing this picture, Kodiak understands why Bear hates this hat.

Boar and Panther enjoy their breakfast while in the background someone gets ready to begin the setup from hell.

How the heck do you set this thing up?

Let's get more help. That should work.

Kodiak calls upon his inner strength to get the job done.

After what seemed like hours, the job is done.

Where we hiked in Manatee Springs State Park (notice that some of it is off the boundry of the park!)

Later in the day, the Trekkers explored the North Trail system of Manatee Springs.

The crew stops to snack on GORP.

Bear explains the rules to the "Exothermic Olympics"

Gator stands ready with the starting whistle

"On your mark....get set....."

Run (through the) forest, Run!

"GO!"

Hawkeye breezes past the competition.

Capturing the flag deep in the cypress swamp was quite a challenge.

Deep in the middle of the cypress swamp.

Trees blocked the runners' paths.

The holes in the ground lead to many trips and falls.

The tide was low (see the tide line on the tree), allowing this sport to occur.

If a bear falls in the woods...and nobody hears it...

The destination of many of the races in the Exothermic Olypmics.

The agony of defeat?

And the end result for some of the EO's participants.

Hoot grabs the flag from its swampy island resting place.

When it was all done - everyone was exhausted.

The trekkers pause to figure out where they are.

Some try to get warm.

Bear tries to figure out where we are....then heads off the trail.

Below the trekkers, three foot deep mud awaited them.

The giant tree, one of several in the area - the trekkers' reward for perserverance in the mud an in the face of wild boar.

Later, at camp, a fire gets built.

Otter waits while the delicious stew is cooking.

Marshmallows get roasted.

Everyone tries to stay warm in the freezing cold temperatures.

With soaking wet clothes, not much can be done about preventing hypothermia.

The next morning, a beautiful sunrise in a cloud-free sky greeted the trekkers.

Bobcat tries to warm herself by the non-existent fire.

Hot cocoa serves as a final goodbye to Death Hike II.