The National Geographic Public Lands map arrived in the mail. I opened it, admiring the greens, golden yellows, and tans symbolizing the lands that belong to all Americans across the United States. Tearing my eyes away from the West I drifted down south to the boot shape of Louisiana. Hmm. Well we do have National Forests and Wildlife Refuges and I have crunched the leaves, hiking trails in some of them.
Shifting my line of vision over a little, I discovered about an hour north of Baton Rouge there is a patch of medium green representing Homochitto National Forest in Mississippi. Later, packing the car we were on our way.
Essie, (my new dog who I named Escalante because she is the color of the Navajo sandstone in the Grand Staircase Escalante, a daily reminder of that magical place) wagged her tail and jumped around on her short legs feeling the fun and anticipation.
The directions given by the owner of three secluded cabins on the edge of the Forest were very detailed. From the major interstate and highways we were finally on the forest service road-----oh so familiar from the days of the trek. Seeing the dirt and gravel was like seeing an old friend.
As the bottom of my little Camry scraped the mud, grass, leaves and branches in the middle of the road, I wished for the durability and security of the Honda Pilot and CRVs that had taken us so many demanding miles.
We finally turned in, unlocked the gate according to instructions and drove down the smaller dirt road. The cabin came into view, smuggled in the trees on the edge of a ravine. The landscape rolled with gentle forested hills accentuated with surprising drop-offs dotting the area.
The cabin was one of three, hidden even from each other. The pot-bellied stove was the only warmth on the chilly nights. We delighted in forging the icy creek, exploring, climbing up and down, amazed at the 100 foot limestone cliff on the ridge near our cabin.
Being there brought back memories of the trek of course, memories that are warm and vivid. Experiencing public lands is not only the enjoyment, the healing, the comfort, the re-creating of the moment, but also stepping away with those things as part of us forever. Each trip makes us richer in our souls.