The other day I was humbled (humiliated)...

I have always loved the outdoors. Growing up in the Rocky Mountains I spent countless hours hiking up various canyons or up the face of mountain peaks. I did this dangerously at times by spending a lot of time alone hiking away. Looking back the biggest danger was probably getting hurt because it is pretty hard to get lost in the mountains. If you stray from your trail simply go down. Sure you might not come out the same place you began but you'll make it back to a major road eventually.

Well, it was with this kind of attitude that Heidi, her mother, Henry, our two dogs, and myself headed into Sam Houston National Forest, about an hour from our home. When we moved here we purchased a decent guide book called, "60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Houston." We have already explored a number of these trails but this was our first time we hiked in the Sam Houston National Forest (although I have a hard time calling it a "hike" since the trails are completely flat).

We chose to hike the Big Creek Loops Trail. It was described as an easy, 2.72 mile long path, covered in shade with a small creek winding through. It is an incredible forest, green as can be, dense, covered in towering trees, and quiet. There are moss covered footbridges and log benches scattered throughout Big Creek Loops. You see, the hike is a series of loops of various lengths and we decided to take the longest route possible.

So where did our pleasant time in the forest go slightly wrong? Well, for starters I did not read the entry in it's entirety because if I had I would have read this important memo: "Go past a sign for the Magnolia Trail on the right. This loop is closed due to unsafe conditions and excessive erosion." Guess who mad the decisions that as a group we would take the same Magnolia Trail. Come on! If your going to close a trail make it obvious! There were no signs or postings or alterations to map at the beginning of the trail.

The Magnolia Loop was only half a mile and other than a few broken trees in the way it wasn't that bad (looking back this should have been a clue because National Forest Trails are usually clear). Anyway, we had to have been close to completing the 1/2 mile loop when suddenly the trail just ended. Poof! It was gone! We scoured the area but then the weirdest thing happened, I got completely turned around. I stumbled on the trail where we had been but I swear it was in a different place. I wandered in a different direction then couldn't find any of the trail.

This went on for probably 30 minutes, I ran in random directions, the dogs frantically chasing me, Henry whining from boredom and Heidi yelling at me for single handily bringing down Team Shelton. We discussed who would eat who first and how our new life in the forest would be. I had flashes of headlines about a pathetic, know-it-all husband who doomed his own family. Then Heidi found the trail (in a completely different place than I last saw it) and we backtracked the 1/2 a mile or so to the main path.

It was fun but humbling. I have been a desert rat for too long. The forest is far more complicated than I had assumed. But it was invigorating and I'm excited to go back. If anyone is interested Heidi and I plan on taking a few more adventures to the Sam Houston National Forest this summer. That is if you trust us.