Lost in the woods

(Apr 21 2:53 p.m.)

Saturday marked the first day of spring where zero snow could be found on the property of our house.  Little bits lingered in the driveway for a while… and then— poof— it was gone.

That isn’t to say none remains in other places around these parts.

(Apr 21 3:10 p.m.)

So I ventured down the nearby trail to survey the current conditions of the season.  (And to get better photos than last time’s journey down the trail.)  The animals are out, and nothing made that more clear than a massive ruffling of leaves ahead to my right at one point… or more unclear as I couldn’t find any cause of the disturbance.

Down the southward path of the intersection, I presume (the longer, denser end), I saw a chipmunk to my left and a squirrel to my right… both of them scared of my presence, of course.

(Apr 21 3:14 p.m.)

That Snickers® box must have been blown off by strong winds.

(Apr 21 3:18 p.m.)

Caution: tree debris and broken bridges ahead.

(Apr 21 3:18 p.m.)

Seriously unsafe. (Apr 21 3:20 p.m.)

(Apr 21 3:21 p.m.)

Mind the big nails.

(Apr 21 3:23 p.m.)

Up the hill, and unto the “dead end” I hit in 2016, this time I didn’t stop at the bushy tree and the blue markings.

(Apr 21 3:28 p.m.)

I kept going in this particular direction.  Partly blue skies brought out some violets in tree bark and some plants.  I found some … “suspicious” sand.

(Apr 21 3:30 p.m.)

Shell casings.  Obviously this area was used as a shooting grounds.  I’ll leave the legal questions regarding that up to the professionals.

I saw some houses ahead, and someone walking on the property, which means this path has necessarily come to an end.  I did not want to get in trouble, shell casings, and all, so I turned back.

(Apr 21 3:35 p.m.)

I made my way past the plant life and wood debris.  I took in the view.

One problem arose, in all the walking: I went too far in one direction.  I made my way up a hill… perhaps the hill with the tree with the blue marking.  Nope.  I kept walking.  But I could not find the tree, nor anything resembling the trail.

(Apr 21 3:55 p.m.)

I was lost.

Before Saturday, the whole saying that I’m a Mainer who’s lost in the woods was a figure of speech.  This time I was literally lost in the woods.

But I didn’t panic.  I kept walking.  In theory, if I continued in one direction, and back if it goes nowhere, I could eventually land on the trail.  But even after I found a piece of orange tape/marker on a tree branch (“humans were here”), I got stupid, and walked mainly northward after going so far west, up hills, through un-groomed forestation (lots of toppled trees from storm weather) and hopped across moss and mud.

(Apr 21 3:42 p.m.)

At least I was given new photo opportunities.  (Provided I made it back in one piece, which was probable.)

(Apr 21 4:15 p.m.)

I found an apparent lookout, and discovered some houses from a hill standpoint.  I wasn’t about to potentially disturb any more people.  And, as far as I knew at the time, with the designs of the houses, it looked as if I was close to home— that I just had to make my way north.

(Apr 21 4:22 p.m.)

There were numerous streams and other bodies of water.  I followed one, briefly.  This stream, above, was heard audibly rippling around rocks.  I deleted Abbey Road from my phone just to make room for the videos, and carefully made my way across a not-so-sturdy log like a bridge.

(Apr 21 4:06 p.m.)

I’m not sure if you could call these areas marshes… but I was careful where I stepped.

(Apr 21 3:53 p.m.)

Why, what a large, hanging tree fragment!  That doesn’t look at all dangerous.

Brown leaves that turn pink under blue skies. (Apr 21 4:32 p.m.)

Rocks set up for fencing… or at least they tell you where the boundaries are.

So many of these signs. (Apr 21 4:33 p.m.)

I soon found a snowmobile trail.  I wouldn’t say it was maintained as of late, considering the unmoved, fallen branches.

I thought this trail would connect to the trail I’m familiar with.

(Apr 21 4:36 p.m.)

I was mistaken.

Stepping over fallen branches up to around knee level, I arrived at a barn and another property in the distance I didn’t wish to disturb.   If anyone saw me and asked what I was doing, I would’ve answered “I got lost in the woods.”

Magenta tape markers, yellow arrow signs…

(Apr 21 4:43 p.m.)

…an uncompleted shed-like structure.  For… maybe more hay?

The journey is a learning experience, after all.  At least I had a compass in my iPhone… that told me I was going in the wrong direction. 🙂

(Apr 21 4:51 p.m.)

I followed the snowmobile trail going southwest (apparently), crossing a bridge, debris, puddles and mud, and stacks of logs to the left and right.

The word “pond” comes to mind. (Apr 21 4:52 p.m.)

Thankfully, the snowmobile trail crossed a familiar road, so I could walk straight home.

(Apr 21 5:03 p.m.)

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little two-hour journey into the woods.  And, indeed, I made it out in one piece… save the superficial scrape on my right leg and a strained knee.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this, getting lost in the woods, it would be: use the compass!  Or better yet, connect the phone for GPS.

In other things, I’ve been asked to blog about the life of the rose plant in the living room.  It’s getting tall.  So a post on that will be happening soon.

Until next time, dear readers…

(Apr 21 3:41 p.m.)