Pulled up to the trailhead parking lot a little after 1pm yesterday (1-15). This was the Richards Section of the Lone Star Hiking Trail and the western terminus. The temperature was in the low to mid 60's with a low hanging cloud cover. It looked like rain but all that fell was a light mist intermittently.
As I opened the car door to pull on my boots, the first thing to hit me was the wonderful aroma of the pines. YES, I was indeed back in the forest. This was my first hike since Oct 2003 and long overdue. As I made my way down the trail, I noticed another smell that was competing for my senses--the musty decaying matter. Since the needles and leaves were wet, it made for silent trekking and the birds didn't hear me coming until there was a sudden flush and flutter of wings from the underbrush. I recognized the calls of the bluejay and chickadees but there were other species chiming in as well. Of course, the big old crow had to bellow his presence.
Just past the 2 mile mark, I passed a nice sized frog pond.
I remembered that a couple of years ago I led some family members on this hike and we stopped here for a group photo.
Continued on to the 3 mile mark where there is an interesting 20 to 25 foot gully carved next to the trail. It snakes around into a horseshoe bend and it's curious how the power of the flowing water etches these shapes. A little beyond is the West Fork Trail which crosses over to the Little Lake Creek Loop Trail. I took this as I ambled back in the general directon of the trailhead.
I was walking through open forest as I approached my favorite part of the hike. There was a densely planted stand of 25 to 30 foot pines ahead and the trail resembled a tunnel drilled through them. The trees were so close together that some light was filtered out. It was a little spookey yet magical with the dense carpet of needles underfoot.
I was soon back at the car with muscles aching but pleased to have broken into the hiking mode for 2004.
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