Rob Rogers
Author, attorney, backpacker, and lover of the outdoors
Category: Uncategorized
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Don’t Let Ticks Ruin Your Time Hiking and Backpacking in Florida
As a review through my recent summer posts will show, your Central Florida Backing Desk Jockey has not written much lately about backpacking and hiking, particularly backpacking in Florida. The truth is that I have not been on the trail much recently—I haven’t hiked in Florida outside a state park in several months, and I’m Read.
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Finding My Way Home won the 2025 President’s Bronze Medal for Autobiography/Memoir
Kara and I had a great time attending the President’s Book Awards dinner on Saturday at FAPACon, the annual conference for the Florida Authors and Publishers Association, where my book, Finding My Way Home: Fighting Depression Backpacking in Central Florida, won the Bronze Medal for Autobiography/Memoir. I also had the privilege of getting to know many Read.
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Thank you, Outdoors Unlimited, for featuring my book
I was honored to have my book, Finding My Way Home: Fighting Depression Backpacking in Central Florida, included in the “Bookshelf” section (page 28) of Outdoors Unlimited magazine’s Summer 2025 issue. Outdoors Unlimited is the official magazine of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, which I joined earlier this year and which includes as members Read.
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Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park near Gainesville is great for history, hiking, and horses
Anyone driving past Gainesville on I-75 will be familiar with Paynes Prairie, the huge savannah north of Micanopy that offers a panoramic break from the surrounding forests. But the state park that includes Paynes Prairie and lies just south of the University of Florida is worth a closer look. Beyond providing a sanctuary for gators Read.
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If you’ve thought about paddleboarding or kayaking in Central Florida, check out King’s Landing
With summer in full blast, I’m reminded that there are no better places to cool off in Central Florida than in our region’s spring-fed rivers. My family purchased our first paddleboard two years ago for that purpose (we now own two), and our go-to spot for kayaking and paddleboarding is King’s Landing on Rock Springs Read.
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Going to Grand Tetons National Park? You must hike in Cascade Canyon
My family and I returned last weekend from a vacation in Montana and Wyoming and had the privilege to do several day hikes in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. If you’re lucky enough to hike in Grand Teton, you’ll likely try the popular trail to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point near Jenny Lake. But Read.
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Check out my latest essay in Wilderness House Literary Review
I was honored to have an essay of mine titled “A Suburban Desk Jockey’s Weekend Adventure in the Green Swamp” published today in the summer issue of Wilderness House Literary Review. In this essay, I describe my first point-to-point backpacking trip last June in the Green Swamp West Tract and the Richloam Tract of the Read.
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If you’re looking to sail near Disney, check out Orlando Sailing
I wrote earlier this year about a great place in Sanford to learn to sail boats longer than 22 feet. But if you’re looking to try sailing on smaller boats that don’t require experience, especially if you’re looking for a place not far from Disney, I recommend checking out Orlando Sailing. I found Orlando Sailing Read.
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Check out my article in Go World Travel
My first-ever article in a travel magazine was published this morning in Go World Travel. Titled “Bogesundslandet Nature Reserve: Backpacking Paradise Minutes from Stockholm,” it gives practical details about the nature preserve in Sweden where I backpacked last summer. This was the place also described in Chapter 12 of my book and in my recent Read.
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With more than just springs, Wekiwa Springs State Park offers some of Central Florida’s best hiking trails
Long before I began backpacking last year, I rekindled a love of hiking on the Volksmarch Loop at Wekiwa Springs State Park. Wekiwa Springs is one of Florida’s most popular state parks, particularly because of the large swimming hole surrounding its spring head and the terraced hill above it full of sunbathing and picnic areas. Read.
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