Recent storms have impacted the trails and swept away bridges. All of the trail was closed earlier this year and portions remain closed until critical maintenance can be completed. Our attention has been drawn to the trail and the work necessary to restore it. Custodians of the trail rightly prioritize limited resources to the deteriorated physical condition of the path. On a recent hike, though, I reflected on trail users. For the trail is there foremost as a public resource for the various human needs in the forest. I thought about memorable trail encounters I have had and relate a few of them below.
The Birder - On a cool, brilliantly sunny day in February a few years ago I was returning to Trailhead #1 after a morning hike and encountered a slow moving backpacker ambling eastbound at about Mile 2. We paused and exchanged pleasantries about the fine weather and the trail, and I noticed he had a camera and binocular swinging from his neck like battling pendulums. Backpackers I know would quickly deal with floppy and loose gear, but here he was, quite satisfied with the arrangement. He explained that he was on the trail for the birds, which explained the gear at ready. And not only that, he was on his first day of a thru-hike, having started just after sunrise. I did some quick mental math and calculated he was traveling less than 1/2 mile per hour. He could see my gears turning and continued to explain that he was retired and was under no pressure to rack up miles. His motivation was birds and joyfully related that he had already spotted a nesting pair of Red Cockaded Woodpeckers and an Eagle. That morning, I was merely walking; he was experiencing the forest at a much deeper level.
The Students - A few years ago, there used to be a substantial log at the intersection of West Fork Trail and the Little Lake Creek Loop trail at about Mile 3. That log, and the intersection, made the location a logical place to stop, rest, and take in the sky. There, I came upon a group of young people chatting away and I injected myself into their conversation. These were students from College Station and they said the trail is their place to clear their minds after a week of study. It provides a place to socialize, to reflect on the week, and get away from the confines of a dorm room. With youthful enthusiasm they talked about their fields of study, career objectives, and howled with laughter about the less serious stuff of college life. Not only was the trail a place to recreate, for them it was a place re-create life trajectories. That day, I was merely sweating in the sun; they were learning the skills of work-life balance.
The Veteran - I was cooling off after a hike at Trailhead #2. I set up a folding chair and reflected on the day. And there I sat. Another hiker approached after what I figured was the end of her hike. We chatted for a little bit and I learned that she was a veteran having served in a combat zone overseas a while back. She related that after all her experiences serving our country, the trail and the forest provided a much needed place for reflection and just clearing her mind. Her prior experiences were so far removed from anything I knew; I just listened to her appreciation for the forest and what it meant to her. That day, I was merely cooling off; she was renewed in the forest.
The Italian - I was taking a snack break in Four Notch and a day-hiker approached, stopping briefly to chat. He asked if I had anything to do with the trail, and after confirming that I did, he continued to explain that he is Italian but living in Houston for about a year. In Italy, he related, he took daily walks with family in the Italian Alps. He stared off into the woods and described typical Italian hikes and the connectedness he had with the mountains and his family. Then he went on to say how grateful he was for the Lone Star Hiking Trail—it isn’t the Alps, he lamented, but it provided an outlet to continue the cadence of frequent hiking in the forest and in some way, maintain a closeness with his family so far away. His walks brought him echoes of Italy. That day, I was merely walking; he was in thoughtful reverie of home.
The Scout - For three successive years, a father and son signed up to participate in one of our trail maintenance days. The young man was in Scouting, and part of the advancement requirement was to be involved in community engagement projects. When I first met them, he was working on the First Class rank. The second year, he was seeking the Star rank and like clockwork, the following year he was completing his Life rank. It was interesting to play a small part in his Scouting journey and hear of his adventures. And while I’m sure part of his motivation was to put a tick in the box of advancement requirements, he seemed to build a maturity beyond his age. He genuinely believed the time spent in the forest was important and his effort made an impact on someone other than himself. It was Servant Leadership personified. He was not only seeking a rank, he was unknowingly preparing himself with solid values, decision-making skills, and personal development. That day, I was merely whacking away at yaupon; he was gradually becoming a better citizen.
The vignettes above provide a glimpse into the ways people benefit from the Sam. The trail is one thing; embracing the forest is another. Although clearing trail and reconditioning structures is something I enjoy, connecting people, their needs, and the trail experience is the greatest reward. Some days I merely hike; the best days are those that bridge a human need with the forest. Those bridges cannot be washed away by storms.