NOTE: More wonderful photos are on the Meetup pages. On Meetup, click Photos, then this trip. http://www.meetup.com/Houston-Sierra-Club-Outings/photos
There we were, sixteen individuals, ready to get away from the city and all the hurly-burly of life. I was really happy to see everyone, some old stalwarts like David, Regina, Michael, Allen, Carol, and Jane, and some new folks like Lori, Sara, Magaly, Andrew, Laurie, Yong, Amit, Pat, and Cindy. What a crew! As always people were friendly, curious, and ready for fun on a fine, fall, day.
The weather, which I joked about ordering, was cool, with a light breeze, sunny, and perfect for hiking and being out in Sam Houston National Forest. After the interminable sign-in routine and short talk about why we were gathered there (for fun, for education, for new places, and for conservation) we were off.
After heading west on FM 1375 for a few miles we pulled off the side of the road and parked the cars next to the U.S. Forest Service Red-cockaded Woodpecker wildlife viewing area. This cluster (the nesting and roosting area for this federally endangered bird, about 10 acres in size) consisted of tall, widely spaced, large Loblolly Pine trees with few understory or midstory trees.
I talked about this rare bird's unusual life story with helper birds for raising chicks; making cavities in living, old, pine trees; 200 acres of foraging area; and being very faithful homeowners where their cavities exist in their clusters. I was very impressed by everyone's interest and the range of questions folks asked. As I told people when we recrossed FM 1375 to get back into our cars, “This is the most dangerous part of our day, crossing the highway”.
We drove several more miles on FM 1375 until we crossed Lake Conroe and parked at the trailhead for the Stubblefield Section of the Lone Star Hiking Trail. We were not the only ones parked at this trailhead since we saw a bow hunter come back out of the forest after his hunt for White-tailed Deer. Allen gave a short talk about the Lone Star Hiking Trail and off we went. The wind whipped through the pines above and felt cool on our bodies. Blue Mistflower, aster, lobelia, and spurge bloomed along the side of the trail. We stopped and examined Pokeweed and Devil's Walking Stick.
Before we knew it we had hiked the 0.6 miles to the shoreline of Lake Conroe and we oohed and aahed at the scenic view of the water. Someone was camping next to the lake and I thought, “You lucky ducks!”. We looked at Loblolly Pine and Shortleaf Pine trees that grew right next to each other and discussed the differences between these two species. We also admired the American Basswood and Eastern Hophornbeam hardwood trees that grow within a few dozen feet of the shoreline.
We then turned around and hiked back and took off again. Our ride down FM 1375 ended when we turned left onto Osborn Road and followed it to FM 149. We then drove down FM 149. I was engaged in such a wonderful conversation that I passed the trailhead where we were to stop. How embarrassing! Just call me “wrong-way Mannchen”.
After we parked at the trailhead we crossed FM 149 at a very dangerous corner and then melted into the shadows of Little Lake Creek Wilderness Area as we strolled down the Lone Star Hiking Trail. We did not have time to really hike the wilderness area (what a shame) but we did talk about why it is important to protect some areas (wilderness) so that there is someplace where humans were not in charge. In wilderness, “Nature calls the shots” and we bend in humility to that age-old proposition. We need a place for solitude, quiet, and awe where we can reflect that we are part of the “community of life” and that animals and plants are our neighbors and not our enemies. A couple came up the trail while we were talking and we invited them to stay for the conversation.
Unfortunately, time was slipping away! I had promised folks that we would have a wonderful lunch in the town of New Waverly and we were running late. I could tell people were hungry and we still had two stops to make. So let's go!
When I turned onto Welch Road from FM 149 I knew that people were wondering where we were going. Not only were we in Sam Houston National Forest but the roads changed from more civilized asphalt to rural gravel limestone pretty quick as we kicked up dust galore.
Our fourth stop was at a blackland prairie I call Welch Prairie (in honor of the road). We walked about 40 yards onto the prairie, first through some shrubby brush, and then the prairie opened up and took hold of our imaginations. People were amazed to see a prairie completely surrounded by forest. Some thought the prairie was human made but I told them it was a natural, alkaline, Fleming Formation, blackland prairie. We saw blazing star, Snow-on-the-Prairie, and other wildflowers blooming as Little Bluestem waved in the wind.
Finally, we were on the way to our final destination. But it took awhile! We bumped and rolled over about 15 miles of gravel road through the heart of Pine dominated uplands in Sam Houston National Forest. We finally turned onto FM 1374 and when I turned right onto Forest Road 222 I was glad our tour was almost over and lunch was just over the horizon.
Instead of taking a short hike, we parked the cars, walked about 30 feet off the road, and I let the mystery and exotic look of a Palmetto-Hardwood Forest sink into people's minds. Folks understood immediately how easy it would be to get lost with Palmettos and Switchcane grabbing at your legs as you waded through the brush. This floodplain of East Sandy Creek is a beautiful place but I suggested that Winter and early Spring were better times to hike because the foliage would be less dense and easier to see and move through.
Finally, our tails flagging, we made it to the Waverly House at about 1:45 pm. We were all tired, hungry, and ready for some conversation. We ordered our food, some from the buffet table and some from the menu, and had a great meal with fabulous companionship.
I love the woods, I love Sam Houston National Forest, and I love the camaraderie that you get on Sierra Club outings. The cooler Fall and Winter and coming up. I can't wait to find out what we will see and who we will meet. Come join us!
Brandt Mannchen
October 11, 2015