170. LONE STAR SURPRISE A sunny little carving by RTRW of CT meant to be a carrot to get folks out hiking the LSHT to "get the cheese"!

Well, imagine our surprise to hear that the "Lone Star Start" letterbox that we had planted in March of 2005 had melted due to a fire near the beginning of that trail in the Sam Houston National Forest in 2006! "No problem", we said. "We'll just plant another, but this time we'll add a surprise twist". So, on our 2006 Texas trip we planted a microbox very close to the western trailhead terminus of the LSHT about 4 miles east of Richards and just south on forest road 219. However - here's the important part - we hope the box won't stay there! We're actually hoping that all those Texas letterboxers we met, as well as those we didn't, will little by little walk it the 126 miles or so east, so that by the time we get back out there to hike the rest of the trail ourselves, our little black film container will have already covered the whole distance!

So, here's the deal: it's like a relay! Each person who goes to find the box can carry it further along the trail as far as he or she wishes: a quarter mile, a mile, 5 miles, or whatever, as long as it's all done on foot! (No fair taking the box and driving it around to the next trailhead, although creating "shuttles" to hike through to the next road crossing and meet another car there would be heartily encouraged!) Anyway, after the box gets planted in its next temporary "camping spot", we will update the clues here so that the next searcher will know where to pick it up to carry it along on the next leg of its journey. Hopefully, no two groups will decide to do the same leg on the very same day, but to help that not happen, we'll be happy to keep a projected schedule here, as well as listing each hiker's completed walk, and where to find the box next. (Please feel free to take that piece of concrete along to cover the box, too!) Hope this works, and everyone gets a piece of the "cheese"!

Dec 25, 2006 Will's World

'Twas the day of Christmas Along the Lone Star Trail Not a creature was stirring Not even a snail Well, now that I say it That's not quite right 'Cause me and my family Made quite a sight We sloshed and we stomped Through the forest with care Wondering where the end was And when would we get there It had rained the day before And the day before that The ground was soggy And mom wore a hat

Lone Star Surprise, It's journey begun, Hitched a ride with us To join in the fun 3 miles we went Or maybe some more At the end of our travels We were quite sore Soon the December sun Down Texas way Dipped below the horizon To end a very good day.

The new location of Lone Star Surprise is at the trail head of the Little Lake Creek Wilderness section of the Lone Star Hiking Trail. The parking lot for that section is 2 miles south of the junction of FM 149 and FM 1791 on FS 211 (also called Bethel Rd). After you go through the hiker's gate at the trail head walk along the path for 12 steps toward a rise in the trail. Turn left and look for a large Loblolly Pine with two white metal trail markers attached to it 18 steps off the trail. The microbox is located between the pine and a smaller oak tree behind it. The small slab of concrete also made the journey and is proudly sitting on top of the box.

Jan 15, 2007 Catitude

The last we saw Lonestar Surprise It was doing well Waiting patiently To tag along on the trail Along we came Me and Catitude To leave it behind Would have been rude The day was cold The day was wet But when you are racing an arctic front That is just what you get We rambled on Along the muddy track Slipping and falling and knee twisting Till mud covered my back We finished the trip Just before the rain And parted company With just a little knee pain

Lonestar Surprise is now near the North Wilderness Parking Lot located on FM 149, 9 miles north of the junction of FM 149 and TX 105 in Montgomery County. The parking lot is on the west side of the road. You will have to back track a little. From the trail head in the parking lot follow the trail for 125 feet. You will see a tree on the right with a trail marker on it. Look to the right of the trail and you will see an isolated burnt stump that stands about two and a half feet high. Lonestar Surprise is located at the base of the stump underneath the well traveled concrete slab. To send Lonestar Surprise on it's way, you will have to return to the parking lot and cross over FM 149 onto the Kelly section of the LSHT.

Aug 31, 2008 2Grls1Guy

Park at North Wilderness Lot. Carefully crossover FM 149. At trail sign travel approximately 150 steps until trail meets Forestry Access Road. Starting at the corner post count 100 steps to the right (trail splits left after 25 steps) underbrush is real thick. You will find a small log on the left side of the trail. The well traveled concrete slab is on top of the micro box behind log

Apr 4, 2009 2Grls1Guy

We have moved it again, this is a very long trail!! From 149 North, Montgomery, approximately 8 miles to Osburn Rd., turn right approximately 1 mile parking lot on the left. Hint: Facing the trail from the 7 parking poles. Walk 200 steps look for a small oak stump next to a large pine (you are in the middle of a pine forest). Microbox is covered by the well traveled concrete slab.

Jan 2, 2010 Silver Eagle

Directions to nearest LST Trail head: From I45 in New Waverly, go west on FM 1375 for about 9 miles to just past the sign for Montgomery County. Turn right on the dirt road, go about 100 yards and park near LST trail head.

Clues: From kiosk, walk south about 50 yards to LST jct. Go left (east) for about .7 mile to Lake Conroe. Turn left (north) and follow the trail for 210 steps to a 7 foot charred stump on the right. The microbox is behind under bark and leaves.

Happy New Year! Silver Eagle

Aug 14, 2010 Boots Tex

New location of Lone Star Surprise:

From the intersection of I-45 and FM 1375 at New Waverly, drive west 9.5 miles to FS 215 (Forest Road 215). Watch for the sign directing you to Stubblefield Lake and Campground. Turn right and set your odometer to zero. At .6 miles, keep right on Stubblefield Lake Road. At 2.8 miles you'll come to Stubblefield Lake Campground, which is a National Forest Recreation Area. If you go into the campground, be aware that there is a day-use fee. Drive past the entrance to the campground and cross the bridge over the lake. Just across the bridge, at 3.1 miles, you'll see a sign on the left "Overflow Camping" and on the right a sign for the "Hiker Trail". Drive into the overflow camping area, which is also a parking area for the Lone Star Trail.

Park your car and walk back to the road and cross it to the sign for the hiker trail. There is a hikers gate, which is grown over but you can walk around it. Walk along the trail for 115 steps to a "Y" and follow the trail markers to the left. (You should familiarize yourself with the trail marker system before walking the trail). From the "Y" walk 150 steps to a 4 foot tall stump just off the trail to the right. The box is in the top of the stump covered with pieces of bark. Your mission is to move it on along the Lone Star Trail. This will require some planning. Here is a link to an excellent website with printable maps: Map

Planter/Hiker Minibox "campsite" Distance from nearest road: Total distance on LSHT: 1. Wanda and Pete 2nd big pine on L, c. 30 steps from TH sign 0.05 mile 0.05 mile 2. Will's World near trail head of the Little Lake Creek Wilderness section 30 steps 3 miles 3. Catitude near North Wilderness Parking Lot on FM 149 125 feet 8.5 miles 4. 2Grls1Guy near North Wilderness Parking Lot on FM 149 250 steps 8.6 miles 5. 2Grls1Guy near Osborn Rd Parking Lot 200 steps 11.3 miles 6. Silver Eagle near Lake Conroe .8 mile 16.6 miles 7. Boots Tex near Stubblefield Lake Rd 265 steps 20.3 miles 8. next???

Copyright (c) Wanda and Pete. All Rights Reserved.

BEFORE YOU SET OUT, PLEASE READ THE WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER.