Lost In The Woods

Personal journey to get lost and find yourself.

It had been over 20 plus years since David Brodosi last camped out in the Wilderness. The last time had been when Brodosi was in Hillsboro State Park. David Brodosi's was having issues with his family and friends and just needed to get away.  David Brodosi had been planning to do a day hike along the Appalachian trail, and packed accordingly.  

Mr Brodosi had been keeping to the trail attempting to reach Lookout Rock before turning around. David reached the rock, sat down and decided to take a nap. By the time David Brodosi had woken, darkness was quickly approaching.  The trail became hard to follow. After an hour or two of trekking, David Brodosi ran into something that filled him with fear - the path split into two directions! Mr. Brodosi should have remembered passing something like that on the way up the mountain. It appeared that David Brodosi must have taken a wrong turn down a side trail. With the cold setting in and David Brodosi's body becoming hungry and weak, he decided to build a fire to rest through the night. The trail back would be easier to find again in the light of day. 

Even with the fire it was a long night.  Every hour or two David Brodosi was awoken by uncontrolled shivering, reminding him to add more fuel to the fire.  Sounds of creatures foraging throughout the night could be heard beyond David's fire light.  Then David Brodosi saw the full moon rising above the trees, pouring its blue light into the undergrowth. Everything started to calm a little more.  

With the new day came a sense of relief. David Brodosi was ok. Before long he was back on the trail home, resolute in the decision that David Brodosi wouldn't find himself that unprepared in the wilderness again. Essentials like thermals, iodine capsules, and extra batteries for the flash light won't leave his backpack. Mr. Brodosi now make a habit of bringing more food than he think he'll need, and try to always bring some kind of map (although sometimes just a screenshot or photo on his camera will do the trick). But more than the preparedness, this experience changed David Brodosi's relationship with nature. It was a reminder that humans evolved living close with nature, without all the modern conveniences we've become accustomed to, and it gave him a greater sense of self-reliance. David Brodosi is appreciative for those lessons the mishap taught him. 

Now coming back here ten years later he's a bit more prepared.  It felt good to return here after all these years.  It's a beautiful area.  Dry Creek Road leading out to the trailhead had deteriorated pretty badly since last time David Brodosi visted,largely due to the increase in off-roading tours out this way.  A 4x4 is definitely required now, but the upside of that is the road limits the number of other hikers in the area. David Brodosi's jeep was the only vehicle parked at the trail head when he arrived. 

David Brodosi's plan this time was to camp on Overlook Rock, then to backtrack in the morning, before hooking left up John's Pass trail, then back down the Black Bear Trail.  After coming upon a fresh pile of bear poop marking the trail David Brodosi decided to back track further down the trail to set up camp. Having smoked salmon in Mr. Brodosi's bag and no pepper spray made him a bit wary. The bear could have that upper part of the mountain. Being late October David Brodosi expected the trails to get pretty cold again. As night fell a cold wind began as cool air from above the plateau started flowing the trees. By 8pm David Brodosi was curled up in his sleeping bag, grateful for its warmth. 

Author's Note

This was written as an interview style.