Carl has a different perspective on the Lake Wales Ridge. As a glider pilot, he appreciates the warm thermals of air the Ridge provides. While he is soaring with the bald eagles, swallow-tailed kites, and vultures, he is able to view the pockets of scrub that still exist. "This is a fascinating part of Florida--the fact that plants thrive in white ball-bearing sand amazes me," says Carl.

Carl also spends time on the ground hiking in those pockets of scrub. As a co-founder of Polk County Rails-to-Trails and a member of the Florida Trail Association, Carl has visited a number of natural areas around the region.