Quality Time on the Lone Star Trail

I learned a new word this past weekend. I got it off an Instagram post of all places. (Who says social media is bad for you?)

Friluftsliv is a Norwegian term that translates to “open air living” or “free air life,” which is a pretty cool concept any day of the week, but the term is used more commonly to mean the spiritual or physical well-being gained by spending part of your life outdoors. Since I’m not Scandinavian, I will say “according to the Internet, Friluftsliv is pronounced ‘free-loofts-liv.'”

This weekend I spent some much-needed time outside, backpacking with my wife and son along the Lone Star Trail. Our trek wasn’t epic unless epic means a four-mile out-and-back, and there weren’t any bear or mountain lion encounters, but we did stop for fast food twice, so it was an adventure for everyone yesterday.

Seriously, though, I haven’t been backpacking in about two years, so I was exhilarated to be back on the trail. For anyone who doesn’t know about the Lone Star Hiking Trail, it is a 96-mile trail that winds through the Sam Houston National Forest in East Texas. It begins at a trailhead outside Richards, Texas and ends south of Winters Bayou, which is north of Cleveland. I’ve been wanting to hike it, which is probably why I was chomping at the bit to get there.

Credit to the Conroe Courier for the map.

For those who were paying attention to the news, less than two weeks ago (February 16-18) Texas was covered in snow from an arctic flexing. This blast left many people without power in frigid temperatures. Pipes burst. Houses were badly damaged. Some people lost their lives.  It was awful! Cut to February 28 — it was so hot that I was in shorts, and I sweated half a gallon. In February!

So much mist back there…where’s the T. Rex?

Because of the humidity and heat in Houston, spring is the popular time to visit the Lone Star Hiking Trail. If you are able, and you are looking for a nearby thru-hike or just a day hike, I recommend it. If I’d known more about the trail when I was younger, I definitely would’ve spent many more days on it. For one, from February to late September, camping is permissible along the trails – no fees are needed. There are places where you can reserve a campsite, such as the Stubblefield campsites that were up the trail from us, but if I’d known I could enter the trail for free and camp for free, I probably wouldn’t have spent so much time in state parks. (Ms. Badass’s note: State parks have always been more than adequate and have bathroom facilities!!)

Lone Sour Hiking Trail?

And while it wasn’t vastly different from the state parks in the area (part of the Lone Star Hiking Trail passes close to Hunstville State Park, just to give you an idea of the similarity in ecosystems), it is very special to hike for a few miles, only pass a few people along the trail, then stop for lunch and not hear a soul. There was some quality tranquility on the trail, and I was glad I got to spend time with my family, embracing Friluftsliv.

Hey, thank you for reading and I hope you are enjoying my posts. I’m a writer from Texas who dreams of one day writing full-time. I write the Zombie Dog books, which you can find here both digitally and paperback. I also have a Patreon account here.