Identified! FL - Big Cypress Natl Preserve, Male hiker, "Denim" & "Mostly Harmless", Jul 2018 - Vance Rodriguez

[Auntie_Seagull]

Faries has quite obvious receding hairline. Mostly didn't have one, he had a head full of hair.

 

[GatorFL]

Oh, it was just traffic tickets? I thought he had more charges against him which is why people thought it unusual they never connected the two.

From what I found, yes he got some tickets. Nothing major.

 

[GatorFL]

I'm headed to Nobles in the morning! The drive is probably about 100 miles one way. I have water, snacks and other supplies ready to go. Including a minibottle of Crown Royal, I want to pay my respects at the camp site. I plan on snooping around the site for an hour before headed back. I'll take plenty of pics!

 

[UnlicensedPI]

I'm headed to Nobles in the morning! The drive is probably about 100 miles one way. I have water, snacks and other supplies ready to go. Including a minibottle of Crown Royal, I want to pay my respects at the camp site. I plan on snooping around the site for an hour before headed back. I'll take plenty of pics!

Good luck out there, Gator!

 

[branmuffin]

I'm headed to Nobles in the morning! The drive is probably about 100 miles one way. I have water, snacks and other supplies ready to go. Including a minibottle of Crown Royal, I want to pay my respects at the camp site. I plan on snooping around the site for an hour before headed back. I'll take plenty of pics!

Hasn't it been raining in southwest Florida for days due to the tail end of Eta?

 

[elmomom]

Dbm

 

[Tabirey]

I'm headed to Nobles in the morning! The drive is probably about 100 miles one way. I have water, snacks and other supplies ready to go. Including a minibottle of Crown Royal, I want to pay my respects at the camp site. I plan on snooping around the site for an hour before headed back. I'll take plenty of pics!

Safe travels! We'll be with you in spirit and look forward to seeing the pictures.

 

[GatorFL]

Hasn't it been raining in southwest Florida for days due to the tail end of Eta?

Only a 10% chance tomorrow, allegedly.

 

[GatorFL]

Wow, what a day.

I left my house around 7:30 and stopped in Weston to have a sandwich made. Got to the rest stop at around 9:15. I checked out the rest stop, there is actually a Collier County Fire House there. Inside the rest area there is typical vending machine fare and an ice cream machine. No tuna available here, but chips, soda, sticky buns and the aforementioned ice cream. Nothing fantastic to eat. On the north end of I-75 there is a gate to enter the trail to Nobles. There are several other trails here, they all loop around and they all enter the swamp. But the trail to Nobles is an old road, pretty easy walking. 4.7 miles to the camp.

I hiked in and it quickly became hot. I stopped about halfway to drop a water supply. On my way I saw some wildlife. A lot of birds--herons and cranes and one limpkin. I even saw a crayfish of all things in the middle of the road. Down a ways I found the eaten carcass of a snake, maybe 1' long. I heard some larger animals off in the brush. About 4 miles in I saw a bunch of green tape strung from the treetops and then some orange flags. Turns out the road has either a culvert going bad or a spring underneath it so the road was partially out. Passable, but barely. A vehicle could easily get stuck here. There were 2 6-7' alligators in the ditch here. After this point the road started to get overgrown so the walk became more like a hike.

I soon hit the turn and saw the sign pointing to Nobles, 100 yards away. Made that left turn and got into the clearing. It was obvious an FTA crew was in here less than a week ago, they bushhogged the pasture. I saw a note in the log book that they were here at the trailhead. The left a brand new fire ring here, it had not been used yet. I believe this is where the hiker who made the video camped.

The freshwater pond and the camp were off to the left. The campsite where they found MH is under a full canopy of trees. Well shaded. The picnic table is there still, moved to one side of the site, sort of opposite where his tent was found, instead of behind it. I could clearly make out where his tent was because the burned palm and the palm tree log are still there, they are easy to spot in the scene photos. The best place to get water was right there at the campsite, about 40 paces from where his tent would have been.

I decided to spend some time here from the heat. I ate my sandwich and drank some water in the shade at the table. After I felt refreshed I canvassed the site. I saw some evidence of other campers. A fire ring with some ash, an old fuel canister, and some eggshells and a couple of random pieces of toilet paper. The only thing that looked like it could have been a relic from MH's time was the canister. It was well rusted. I had brought a candle and lit it and said a prayer for him. I searched all over for anything he might have left: initials carved somewhere, a wallet hidden in the brush, etc. Nothing. Even on the underside of the table.

The sun shifted a bit and I decided to head back. On my way back I encountered a group of hikers that went through the swamp, on a different trail. They were soaked. They were about 1/2 mile from where I hid my backup water, which I needed. I went though 4 liters of water. Overall it was a nice hike, but very hot. He died in a very secluded spot, 100 yards from the main trail and sort of hidden at the campsite. I still find it hard to believe he didn't speak with others, but there were plenty of spots to disappear if he heard anybody coming.

I'll link some pictures tomorrow, I am spent tonight.

 

[Mind your biscuits]

Wow, what a day.

I left my house around 7:30 and stopped in Weston to have a sandwich made. Got to the rest stop at around 9:15. I checked out the rest stop, there is actually a Collier County Fire House there. Inside the rest area there is typical vending machine fare and an ice cream machine. No tuna available here, but chips, soda, sticky buns and the aforementioned ice cream. Nothing fantastic to eat. On the north end of I-75 there is a gate to enter the trail to Nobles. There are several other trails here, they all loop around and they all enter the swamp. But the trail to Nobles is an old road, pretty easy walking. 4.7 miles to the camp.

I hiked in and it quickly became hot. I stopped about halfway to drop a water supply. On my way I saw some wildlife. A lot of birds--herons and cranes and one limpkin. I even saw a crayfish of all things in the middle of the road. Down a ways I found the eaten carcass of a snake, maybe 1' long. I heard some larger animals off in the brush. About 4 miles in I saw a bunch of green tape strung from the treetops and then some orange flags. Turns out the road has either a culvert going bad or a spring underneath it so the road was partially out. Passable, but barely. A vehicle could easily get stuck here. There were 2 6-7' alligators in the ditch here. After this point the road started to get overgrown so the walk became more like a hike.

I soon hit the turn and saw the sign pointing to Nobles, 100 yards away. Made that left turn and got into the clearing. It was obvious an FTA crew was in here less than a week ago, they bushhogged the pasture. I saw a note in the log book that they were here at the trailhead. The left a brand new fire ring here, it had not been used yet. I believe this is where the hiker who made the video camped.

The freshwater pond and the camp were off to the left. The campsite where they found MH is under a full canopy of trees. Well shaded. The picnic table is there still, moved to one side of the site, sort of opposite where his tent was found, instead of behind it. I could clearly make out where his tent was because the burned palm and the palm tree log are still there, they are easy to spot in the scene photos. The best place to get water was right there at the campsite, about 40 paces from where his tent would have been.

I decided to spend some time here from the heat. I ate my sandwich and drank some water in the shade at the table. After I felt refreshed I canvassed the site. I saw some evidence of other campers. A fire ring with some ash, an old fuel canister, and some eggshells and a couple of random pieces of toilet paper. The only thing that looked like it could have been a relic from MH's time was the canister. It was well rusted. I had brought a candle and lit it and said a prayer for him. I searched all over for anything he might have left: initials carved somewhere, a wallet hidden in the brush, etc. Nothing. Even on the underside of the table.

The sun shifted a bit and I decided to head back. On my way back I encountered a group of hikers that went through the swamp, on a different trail. They were soaked. They were about 1/2 mile from where I hid my backup water, which I needed. I went though 4 liters of water. Overall it was a nice hike, but very hot. He died in a very secluded spot, 100 yards from the main trail and sort of hidden at the campsite. I still find it hard to believe he didn't speak with others, but there were plenty of spots to disappear if he heard anybody coming.

I'll link some pictures tomorrow, I am spent tonight.

Great post, thanks for describing your hike for us, I really enjoyed it.

 

[acutename]

Wow, what a day.

I left my house around 7:30 and stopped in Weston to have a sandwich made. Got to the rest stop at around 9:15. I checked out the rest stop, there is actually a Collier County Fire House there. Inside the rest area there is typical vending machine fare and an ice cream machine. No tuna available here, but chips, soda, sticky buns and the aforementioned ice cream. Nothing fantastic to eat. On the north end of I-75 there is a gate to enter the trail to Nobles. There are several other trails here, they all loop around and they all enter the swamp. But the trail to Nobles is an old road, pretty easy walking. 4.7 miles to the camp.

I hiked in and it quickly became hot. I stopped about halfway to drop a water supply. On my way I saw some wildlife. A lot of birds--herons and cranes and one limpkin. I even saw a crayfish of all things in the middle of the road. Down a ways I found the eaten carcass of a snake, maybe 1' long. I heard some larger animals off in the brush. About 4 miles in I saw a bunch of green tape strung from the treetops and then some orange flags. Turns out the road has either a culvert going bad or a spring underneath it so the road was partially out. Passable, but barely. A vehicle could easily get stuck here. There were 2 6-7' alligators in the ditch here. After this point the road started to get overgrown so the walk became more like a hike.

I soon hit the turn and saw the sign pointing to Nobles, 100 yards away. Made that left turn and got into the clearing. It was obvious an FTA crew was in here less than a week ago, they bushhogged the pasture. I saw a note in the log book that they were here at the trailhead. The left a brand new fire ring here, it had not been used yet. I believe this is where the hiker who made the video camped.

The freshwater pond and the camp were off to the left. The campsite where they found MH is under a full canopy of trees. Well shaded. The picnic table is there still, moved to one side of the site, sort of opposite where his tent was found, instead of behind it. I could clearly make out where his tent was because the burned palm and the palm tree log are still there, they are easy to spot in the scene photos. The best place to get water was right there at the campsite, about 40 paces from where his tent would have been.

I decided to spend some time here from the heat. I ate my sandwich and drank some water in the shade at the table. After I felt refreshed I canvassed the site. I saw some evidence of other campers. A fire ring with some ash, an old fuel canister, and some eggshells and a couple of random pieces of toilet paper. The only thing that looked like it could have been a relic from MH's time was the canister. It was well rusted. I had brought a candle and lit it and said a prayer for him. I searched all over for anything he might have left: initials carved somewhere, a wallet hidden in the brush, etc. Nothing. Even on the underside of the table.

The sun shifted a bit and I decided to head back. On my way back I encountered a group of hikers that went through the swamp, on a different trail. They were soaked. They were about 1/2 mile from where I hid my backup water, which I needed. I went though 4 liters of water. Overall it was a nice hike, but very hot. He died in a very secluded spot, 100 yards from the main trail and sort of hidden at the campsite. I still find it hard to believe he didn't speak with others, but there were plenty of spots to disappear if he heard anybody coming.

I'll link some pictures tomorrow, I am spent tonight.

In November you were really hot and drank 4 liters of water.
So in July....? Wonder if we will ever find out what was going on in MH's head.

 

[GatorFL]

I want to add these tidbits.

Before the gate to get into the trail there is an information billboard. It's just a map of the trail system and also the self-service permits for campers, etc. There is also a sign in booklet contained in sort of a desk after you enter. I should have brought some of the MH posters and put them in each spot.

Even though Nobles is only 4.7 miles from the rest stop, it is remote. I encountered exactly 10 people today, and all of them were at least 2 miles south of the campsite. You could walk right by the campsite on the main trail and never see or hear anyone back there.

The campsite itself is very close to the freshwater pond. The pond is mostly fenced off from the campsite. It was pretty damp there though. I know the scene photos show one foot as waterlogged and I can see why.

I was extremely dirty from this hike and almost all the dirt came from the campsite, not the road that I hiked in and out on. We know he was dirty, there was nowhere for him to bathe, IMO.

I pulled two ticks off my body on the ride home. One on my right shoulder and another off my right forearm.

 

[GatorFL]

In November you were really hot and drank 4 liters of water.
So in July....? Wonder if we will ever find out what was going on in MH's head.

Temps today were around 90 degrees. So not too far off from July, maybe 6-8 degrees cooler.

The campsite itself was a godsend, nice and shaded and definitely cooler, maybe to around 80 degrees.

I would not want to spend an extended period of time where he was found. A night, maybe 2, max.

 

[Catmommy]

GatorFl, thank you for this. It is the only way that some of us can have even somewhat of an idea of the area and how things were for MH/D. I appreciate this IMMENSELY.

 

[GatorFL]

GatorFl, thank you for this. It is the only way that some of us can have even somewhat of an idea of the area and how things were for MH/D. I appreciate this IMMENSELY.

Thanks, I went because I thought it would help others to have a narrative of the area.

 

[Catmommy]

Thanks, I went because I thought it would help others to have a narrative of the area.

I agree 100%. Since you are GatorFL, I know you understand the humidity factor. It is soooo underrated by those who have never experienced it. While the weather has changed for the better in the deep south, you verified that November can still be muggy and warm. It is not unusual to have Christmases near 80 degrees. That does affect remains.

 

[Catmommy]

And alive people too.

 

[PatLaurel]

Wow, what a day.

I had brought a candle and lit it and said a prayer for him.

SBM


We were there with you in spirit! Thank you @GatorFL!

 

[Laura Avery]

You right beautifully Gator, sounds like a beautiful if somewhat exhausting day xx
You mentioned ticks, is it possible he had lymes or rocky mountain fever, apparently you don't always get a rash and in some cases it doesn't show up in blood work. Some symptoms of progressed Lymes are Extreme vertigo, lack of appetite and excruciating pain. Death by lymes isn't that common and at the end is usually from heart failure but I could guess you are feeling in so much pain and sickness and lack of appetite you could just pass away from being able to care for yourself. (Nearly happened to me With pneumonia whilst being alone) .
Remind me his autopsy didn't show any organ failure does it?
Not that this will help id him of course.
Just sounding out a thought. x

 

[mitzy]

Except he was drinking, died with a full bladder and most intestinal issues make you have diarrhea. He didn't, full colon.

not that I add anything to the discussion and I am quoting this from a few pages ago, but intestinal issues don’t always mean diarrhoea.

speaking from experience here, after a really bad acid reflux episode (caused by stress) that’s lasted over 9 months, I got to a point of losing about 20 pounds in a matter of months, despite eating. although eating at times was hard and I only ate soup, anything else would be hell to eat. no diarrhoea, if anything issues with constipation. it’s hard to move food through your body when you aren’t eating enough, aren’t moving, can’t eat everything and can’t drink anything or even a lot because the reflux hurts. and makes it impossible to sleep even in an upright position. just hell and this was with medication at first.

I’m not saying this is what MH had, but you never really know. all I know is that I felt like dying and that’s with everything at my reach - the best food, sleeping arrangement (for upright sleeping), etc. I’m better now but struggling to gain my weight back.

having tests done, my esophagus looked normal and nice, nothing to indicate I was having issues (but I was).

ETA We might never know what exactly happened with MH, but it’s crazy that no one knows him in this day and age. It reminds me of Stevik but MH was from a different era, smart phones and everything, it’s wild.