Most hikers are not aware that our primitive campsites have a notebook log for hikers to leave comments and thoughts on the day.  Some of these logs were getting weathered and I asked a few trail stewards to collect the old material and refresh the notebook with shiny new paper.  The recent Blogs we’ve posted are mostly reflections from members of the Club Board.  This one is almost exclusively composed by hikers themselves.  In the many pages of notes, hikers have expressed a lot of thanks, bits of wisdom, reflection on life, and a few fun thoughts.  We have grouped the entries having similar thoughts or themes.  

This particular collection was extracted from the Big Woods Primitive Camp logbook and reflects a selection of logbook entries from October 2020 through March 2025.  Approximately 40 thru-hikers provided an entry and the most faraway hiker shown was from Chicago.  Some beginning hikers were just discovering the forest on day hikes; others were seasoned backpackers.  Hikers have different needs on the trail and on life’s journey.  I think you’ll find a connection with many of these entries.  I certainly did. 

ENCOURAGEMENT and INSPIRATION

• Solo thru hiking after this point.  Only about 40 miles to go.  P.S.  Was thru hiking with someone else but they left.  P.S.S.  Just keep going.  The pain in your feet gets better or pain anywhere for that matter.
• End of Day 5.  Knee has been slowing me down.  Not ready to give up yet.  Keep on, keepin’ on!
• Big Woods has been my favorite section so far.  15 Miles today thinking maybe skip the next hunter camp and do 15-16 again.  My feet hurt but spirits are high.  I needed this.  21 years in the Army and I guess there really is something to walking it off.  The AT is next.  
• You can do hard things.  Keep Pushing!
• Looking for the end of the rainbow.  May I never find it.  Eastbound LSHT.
• 2 days post rain storm and I am a muddy mess.  Thank you for the bench to cook lunch on with stove.  “Off to the woods I go.  To lose my mind and feed by soul”.  J. Muir.  Mosquitos and caterpillars everywhere!
• Nice looking campsite.  Stopped by for lunch.  2023 thru-hike.  Keep on moving!
• Solo hiker here…Love the campsite.  Good job guys for keeping it clean.  Well only 40 miles left to go.

LEARNINGS

• We lost our shoes.  Those raccoons are wily.  Hope to find some mac and cheese soon.  Lovely area.  Came to the realization that the filet mignon I brought isn’t okay after a couple hours in the sun. 
• We are doing the trail backwards. Yesterday, we scooted ourselves across the San Jacinto River over a felled tree ¼ mile back.  It was an incredible experience!  I would NOT recommend it!
• Grateful to have an established campsite.  Am a little surprised we’ve made it this far, I am not a hiker so this is an experiment. Love:  ferns – big ol pines that are singed – PB&J tortillas --& flowing water.  Don’t Love:  mosquitoes – snakes (4 spotted) – caterpillars – stagnant ponds – road walks – children at Huntsville St. Park.  Leaving a deck of cards, iodine tabs, and good vibes.  
• Thru hiking solo from TH1-->TH15.  Has been great!  First time on the trail.  In Texas 10 years and just discovered it few months ago.

OFFBEAT PERSPECTIVES

• Something is following me, please tell my mom & dad I’m sorry and I love them....It’s getting close....Gotta go!  BEWARE!!!
• Section-hiking from Trailhead #8 to #15.  Enjoying this bench by the firepit to rest my weary bones.  Saw a skunk on the trail this morning.  Luckily they didn’t see me, I stink enough already.
• P.S.  Found the spork on the trail.  Left in box for whoever needs it.  Make sure to give it a good rinse!
• Night hiked here from TH9.  This section gives off a “Blair Witch” vibe at night.  Heard some coyotes
• The pines just seem to be an endless maze.  Glad the gully appeared almost like a glitch in the system.  3 miles down, one to go.  Not planning to become a ghost in the repeating trees.
• Thru-hike!  Looking forward to Perla’s Taqueria#2 tomorrow night!

I forgot my Spork!

I found in the mailbox!

The trail will provide!

A true trail magic haiku by Squarepeg

GRATEFULNESS

• On a westbound thru hike.  Started @ TH15 2 nights ago (this is night #3).  All camps super nice.  THANK you maintainers!!! 
• The bench and fire ring appeared like a beautiful mirage!  Thru hiking #15-1, Day 2.  MUCH THANKS for the great campsite.  Keep on hiking!
• Such a great, well-kept trail and campsite!  We enjoyed it and were so thankful for a fire ring.  Thank you volunteers!
• This is a very clean and nice site.  Thanks to all the people taking care of the trail and sites like this.  It’s going to be 37F tonight and the Knorr Rice side from the box will help.
• Came in from Phelps primitive campsite.  Never done 21 miles before.  Found beautiful rest here.  Good vibes. 
• This is my 3rd night thru-hiking E-W…Great trail!  Great campsites.  Especially happy about spending the night in the Big Woods!  Thanks volunteers!!!
• Lunch stop on Day 3 Eastbound after nights at Tarkington & Magnolia.  It’s all great!  After a big storm last night, unseasonally cold which is great.  Now for lunch and a nap.   Thanks for the maintenance!
• Day 2 of my WBound hike.  Ended up taking a zero here.  The campsite was much more than I expected.  Thank you!  I’ll be energized and ready to go tomorrow.  We hikers love y’all!!.
• Great trail!  Thank you maintenance people!
• Thank you to all the volunteers!
• Great time on LSHT!! Thanks for the volunteers keeping it open
• Stumbled into camp after dark after a 15 mile day (big for us beginners).  Was so thankful this site was nice with flat spot for a tent and no obvious widowmakers.  Started at trailhead #1, 40 miles to go; beautiful trail.  Feel blessed to be out here…
• This is out night 5 of thru hike from west to east.  Big Woods was beautiful and the camp came at just the right time!  It was lovely.  Thank you trail volunteers & trail angels.  

APPRECIATION OF THE FOREST

• Friend and I came out for a holiday weekend hike and overnight trip.  Beautiful spot at night with the bright moon!  Merry Christmas
• Stopped here for lunch on Day 6 of our thru-hike west to east.  Lots and lots of spiders on the trail!  We saw a coral snake in the Phelps on Day 5, pretty cool.  Last night we heard an owl and got to see a fantastic light show by the fireflies…
• Passing thru; the trail in the Four Notch was closed due to prescribed burn.  Hiked around kinda smokey.  Camped ½ mile into the Big Woods.  Nice cool weather today.
• Great campsite.  One of the quietest campsites I’ve been to up here—so little anthropogenic noise pollution!  Thanks for keeping it clean and maintained.  
• LSHT.  Got rained on!  Everything is drenched and I love it.  Great to be in nature.