Florida Mudcutters

10/11/2025

🌲 The Florida Mudcutters: Return to the Far East 🌲
Chapter Two: Mosquitoes, Mud, and Momentum

Today marked Round Two of our jungle crusade through Caloosahatchee Regional Park “Far East” trail — and once again, the Mudcutters brought the thunder.

💪 The summer rains may have left behind a jungle of overgrowth, low-hanging branches, and mosquito battalions, but we weren’t fazed. Armed with chainsaws and polesaws that sliced through the brush like Jedi lightsabers, we carved a path through the wild to reclaim the trail for riders everywhere.

🌧️ Yes, there was mud. Yes, there was standing water. Yes, the mosquitos were relentless. But we were tougher. We battled the elements with sweat, grit, and a whole lot of teamwork— Half the trail is now trimmed and clear — with just another mile to go before we shift gears into erosion repair and feature tune-ups, setting up an epic Florida fall season when the trails dry and the wheels fly.

🚴‍♂️ Every branch we cut, every vine we cleared, brought us one step closer to reopening this beloved trail. And after the mission? We regrouped for a well-earned lunch, swapping stories and laughs like warriors after a victorious campaign.

🔥 Want to help write the next chapter? Join the Mudcutters and make your mark on the trails!

10/10/2025

🪓 Trail Work Day — Tomorrow (Sat 10/11) • 8–11 AM 🪚

We’re back at Caloosahatchee Regional Park knocking back the jungle so the stoke stays local. Meet at Campground – Lot #1 (19130 North River Rd, Alva 33920) at 8:00 AM.

What to expect: trim/drag/clear the corridor and tidy problem spots.
What to bring: closed-toe shoes, gloves, water, bug spray/sunscreen. We’ll have tools—extra hands are the real MVPs. All experience levels welcome; youth must be with a guardian. Earn volunteer hours and help us set up for some fun projects this dry season!

Drop a 👍 if you’re coming, tag a friend, or DM to join our maintenance WhatsApp group.

10/05/2025

🌪️ Florida Mudcutters vs. The Jungle of Far East 🌪️
Chapter One: Chainsaws and Glory

As the sun rose over Caloosahatchee Regional Park this October morning, the air was thick with tension. The summer winds had left behind a tangled, feral mess — a wall of overgrowth that threatened to swallow Far East whole. Riders whispered of branches like claws and vines that reached out like serpents. The trail was no longer a path — it was a battleground.

But then, they came.

Eight brave souls. Armed not with swords, but with chainsaws and pole saws. Their names etched in sweat and sawdust. They were the Florida Mudcutters — a volunteer force forged in grit and camaraderie, answering the call of the wild.

With roaring engines and fearless resolve, they plunged into the thicket. Limbs flew. Vines snapped. The forest trembled. Each swing of the blade was a defiance of chaos; each cleared section, a victory for every future rider. They didn’t just trim back nature — they tamed it.

By midday, Far East began to breathe again. Sunlight pierced the canopy. The hum of chainsaws gave way to the laughter of warriors. And though their arms were sore and their shirts soaked through, the Mudcutters stood tall — guardians of the ride, protectors of the path.

And this was only the beginning — the first of many workdays to reclaim all 2.1 miles of Far East. The jungle will fight back. But so will the Mudcutters.

Want to be part of the legend?
Join us. Bring your grit. Bring your gloves.
Be a hero. Be a Florida Mudcutter.

📝 - Curt Girardin (Member & Chainsaw Warrior)

10/04/2025

🌟 Adventure Awaits for Young Riders! 🚴‍♂️

The Tarpon Coast Composite MTB Team is gearing up for Season 7 — open to students in grades 6 through 12, no experience needed! It’s an incredible way for kids to build confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong love of the trails. 💪🌲

Preseason activities are just around the corner — check out Tarpon Coast’s post below for all the details and registration info!

10/02/2025

🚣‍♂️ 🚵 Trail Update: Kayaks on the Bike Trails?! 🌧️

Caloosahatchee Regional Park soaked up about 3 inches of rain last night, and the trails have officially gone full water park mode. The palmettos? Now shoreline vegetation. The tech lines? Upgraded to Class II rapids. And the gators? They’ve generously offered to form a “cheer section” if you’re brave enough to paddle past. 🐊👏

So yes—we’re proud to announce the first-ever Caloosahatchee Creek-n-Crank Kayak Race: Brazilian-pepper slalom, optional mangrove portage, and style points for surviving the cattail chicane. 🛶😅

…Okay, okay—just kidding. No kayaks on the singletrack (as fun as that would be). Trails are still closed while they dry out and we chip away at the cleanup. But here’s the real way you can help:

🛠️ Upcoming October Trail Work Days
⏰ 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
📍 Caloosahatchee Regional Park - Campground
🚗 Parking Lot #1 - 19130 N River Rd, Alva, FL 33920

🗓️ Saturday (10/4)
🗓️ Saturday (10/11)
🗓️ Saturday (10/18)
🗓️ Saturday (10/25)

Our certified saw crew will keep cutting—what we need are hands on deck to haul debris, knock back the overgrowth, and get the park ride-ready. Whether you’re a seasoned trail gnome or it’s your first time swinging a lopper, you’ll make a big impact.

💧 Bring water, gloves, closed-toe shoes, and maybe a joke or two for morale. Let’s get these trails back before the dry season stoke really hits.

10/01/2025

🚵‍♂️ Every trail tells a story—be part of ours!

From the volunteers trimming back the jungle, to riders connecting on the trails, to our community working together to protect and grow the sport, to shaping fresh lines and building features for rider progression—your membership helps keep it all rolling.

💥 Membership still starts at just $39/year and this October when you join, renew, or upgrade with the Florida Mudcutters, you’re automatically entered to win one of six incredible prize packages—worth up to $525!

👉 Join or renew now: https://join.hivepass.app/mudcutters

🙌 Huge thanks to Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association and the giveaway partners for supporting local trails and riders!

09/28/2025

🌿🚵 Trail Work Update – Strong Turnout! 🚵🌿

We had a great volunteer turnout this morning with some special guests from Paradise Bicycles Cape Coral – one of our many key community partners helping propel Caloosahatchee Regional Park to the next level. 🙌

✅ Cleared 1.5 miles of debris (0.5 miles left to go!)
🔧 Next up: repairing erosion, mowing, and string trimming 4 miles of the green trail
💪 A few dedicated volunteers will also be out during the week making progress ahead of Saturday’s Trail Work Day.

Once these tasks are finished, and the weather cooperates, LCPR may be able to open the park – with Far East and a few other sections remaining closed until clearing and repairs are fully completed.

Want to get more involved? Shoot us a message to be added to our WhatsApp group chat where we coordinate ongoing maintenance efforts.

Big thanks to everyone who came out today to sweat it out and keep the trails moving forward!

📸 Here are some photos from this morning’s work (and the well-earned tacos after!). 🌮

09/21/2025

💚 Support the Florida Mudcutters Trail Crew 💚

We’re beyond grateful for all the kudos and thank-yous we receive for keeping the trails alive—but the truth is, it takes more than sweat and time to keep this operation running. Fuel, oil, w**d whacker string, chainsaw chains… you name it. During the wet season, we essentially turn into a full-blown landscaping crew, and our funds are starting to run low.

If you love having trails to ride, please consider supporting us. Whether it’s through donations, becoming a member, or both—it all makes a huge difference. 🙏

👉 Learn more & support here: https://www.mudcutters.org

Every bit of support goes right back into maintaining the tools and equipment that make trail work possible. Thank you for helping us keep the trails open, safe, and ready to ride! 🚵‍♀️🌿

The Florida Mudcutters are the local SWFL chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA). Our mission is to build, maintain, and advocate for sustainable mountain bike trails, fostering a thriving community of riders who share a passion for adventure and stewardship.

09/21/2025

🚧 Work Day Recap – Operation Chop & Drop 🌿

With Caloosahatchee Regional Park still closed due to flooding, our skilled and certified polesaw operators were set loose on Operation Chop & Drop! 💪 They lifted the drooping Brazilian pepper canopy and widened the trail corridor—critical work that sets us up for the dry season and clears the way for exciting new projects ahead.

So far, we’ve created over ¾ of a mile of trimmed vegetation that’s ready to be dragged off the trail. But the work isn’t done yet—there’s still another 3 miles of trail that needs trimming before we can call this phase complete.

This system lets our saw operators focus on cutting, while upcoming larger volunteer workdays will tackle removing debris. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or thinking about helping out for the first time, we could surely use your help in clearing the trails and keeping them ride-ready. 🌲✨

Stay tuned for the next trail work opportunity—and come be part of the crew that keeps the trails alive and ready to ride! 🚵‍♂️🔥

09/18/2025

🌿 Trail Work Day – Saturday, Sept 20 🌿

Even though standing water is still lingering out at Caloosahatchee Regional Park, the vegetation hasn’t slowed down one bit. 💪 Come help us knock it back and keep the corridors clear so that when the trails dry, they’ll be ready to ride! 🚵‍♂️

Your efforts now not only keep things rideable but also set us up to hit the ground running on some new projects this coming dry season! 🌞✨

📍 Caloosahatchee Regional Park
🕗 8 AM – 11 AM
📌 Meet at the campground – Lot #1

Let’s keep pushing forward together. Hope to see you out there!

09/12/2025

🌧️ Trail Update + Upcoming Events 🌧️

Caloosahatchee Regional Park has soaked up nearly 8 inches of rain this past week, leaving many sections of trail with standing water. It’s going to take some time for things to dry out—but that’s not slowing us down. We’ll keep working to keep the trail corridor clear and ready for when the time comes to ride again.

Upcoming Opportunities to Get Involved:
🪏Trail Work Day – Saturday, September 13 from 8 – 11 AM
📝Board Meeting – Monday, September 15, 6:30 PM (food & drinks to follow) at the Collaboratory, Fort Myers
🪏Trail Work Day – Saturday, September 20, 8 AM – 11 AM

Whether you want to roll up your sleeves with us at the park, or join the conversation at our board meeting, we’d love to see you get involved with keeping our trails alive and growing. 💪🌲🚵