Billionsofakind met me in Huntsville late Sunday night to join me for a overnight trip into Little Lake Creek Wilderness. We grabbed a room and tried to get some sleep in preparation for the next days hike.

The next morning we headed south on I45 down to Sam Houston National Forest and pulled into the headquarters to check in about ponds and other water sources available along the trail. There wasn't much information to get there but I did manage to buy a map of the SHNF to help prepare for any future trips. We left the headquarters and headed for the South Wilderness parking lot. When we arrived, we sorted through our gear, loaded the packs, and headed onto the trail.

This was Billionsofakind's first backpacking excursion and he was excited and a bit curious how he would handle the hiking and the packweight. We crossed the road and entered into Little Lake Creek Wliderness.

The trail started out well defined and easy to follow along the first section that extends about 1.8 miles until it meets Pole Creek Trail. This section of trail runs along side a small creek and then dips down and crosses the small creek from time to time regaining ground after the low crossings. Along this stretch there was very little water that we saw. The water we did see was stagnant looking and would need to be filtered and purified in my opinion. Along the way we saw an interesting mix of trees and fauna ranging from oaks, elms, and the dominant pines as well as a great many variations of fauna.







Our first view of Pole Creek came as we reached the junction of the two trails. We took a moment to walk out across a log that spanned the creek and take a look in either direction and check the water situation. Pole creek would provide us with plenty of water along this section of the trail. We saw another crossing that wasnt spanned by a log but would have required us to walk through the water, which at that point looked a few feet deep. Fortunately, crossing wasn't required at this point. The trail would simply run parallel with the creek for a bit longer until we would be required to cross.








We checked out the first primative site along this section of the hike. A sign points out the campsite to hikers and is about 50 yards off of Pole Creek trail. The site was large, with enough room to put up at least 3 tents and probably more. There was a firepit and even some wood already at the site for whoever might spend a night or two there next. We moved along down the trail, enjoying the cool April temps that were made even more comfortable by the natural canopy of the forest. Eventually we came to the point that we were required to cross over Pole Creek. Our crossing was a simple one as water levels were low and we were able to stay dry the entire time. Even so, there was plenty of water in pools in the creek and a hiker would not have a problem refilling at this point or at other points along Pole Creek. I imagine that during the wet times, crossing this creek could be very difficult.





We continued down Pole Creek trail for a bit of time until we came to a number of blue blazes that seem to point us in the opposite direction we were planning on going. We were expecting to take a left at some point when we reached the junction of the Pole Creek and Lone Star trails, but these blazes seemed to be sending us in the opposite direction. To make it more confusing, the blazes were pointing us onto a trail that seemed to run through well marked private property. Another trail veered to the left in the direction we anticipated going. A third trail seemed to fade in the trees and brush ahead of us. We stopped and looked over the situation for a few moments and then decided to take the trail to the left, as there were no blazes apparent on any of the trails.

This would be a mistake on our part, and in hindsight we should have pulled out the map and compass and taken a bearing. The trail we took actually turned into a service road eventually, and took us a good half mile off our course. After a while we double back and returned to the mystery junction. We traveled further up the trail that seem to fade into the trees and brush, and it was there that we found some markers. Not blazes mind you, but markers none the less. Among them, a survey marker, and a couple of bearing trees. Hiking a bit further up we finally found a blue blaze and were able to regain our proper trail and continue forward.





We eventually made our way to the junction of Pole Creek and Lone Star Trails, and decided to sit down and make a bit of lunch. BOAK was looking as if some food might lift his spirits, so I pulled out the Coleman F1 ultralight I was testing and quickly boiled some water and made a Mountain House Lasagna. After a brief rest and filling our stomachs, we headed on down tha LoneStar Trail section of our hike and towards the Little Lost Creek Loop so that we could find the pond we hoped to fish and camp at for the night.



We pushed forwad along the trail occasionally seeing a creek that would parallel us and the disappear into the brush again. Whe we did get a decent look at it, it was dry and offered no water for a weary hiker. We zigged and zagged through the wooden gates that announced one was entering or leaving a particular wilderness area, eventuall pushing back into Little Lake Creek Wilderness. This stretch of the hike was rather pleasent as the canopy created by the forest kept us shaded and a nice breeze would occasionally push through. I imagine that later in the year this area would be hot, humid, and heavily mosquite ridden.

A good portion of this section of trail was on eleveated planks and bridges that would allow the hiker to pass through this naturally swampy and boggy area. There was water present around us at the time though far less than I expect there usually is. What water was present looked dark and slick at time and would definitely require a filter to make it palatible I would imagine. Chemical treatment would be recommended to purify as well.



Eventually we made it to Little Lost Creek Loop and found our pond and our campsite. The pond water was treatable if one was careful not to stir up it's silt bottom. On this day we had packed in the First Need Deluxe Purifier because it was BOAK's first time out and he was a bit hesitant about using only Klearwater. The First Need performed wonderfully and our water tasted great and we never felt any ill effects in the weeks to follow.



We spent the evening fishing and hanging around our campfire, eating dinner, snacking, drinking coffee and enjoying the peace and quiet. The fishing actually turned out fairly well, as I brought in a number of fish. None of them large or worth cleaning, but all of them fun to reel in.



The next morning we awoke, got some cowboy coffee in us, and decided to double back the way we came in. We pounded out the miles quickly and were back to the trailhead in what seemed to be no time.

BillionsofaKind held his own all along the trip and had a great time. I fully expect he will be back on the trail again in the near future.