I had thought a walk in the woods would be fruitful for discovering wilderness subjects. I didn’t expect true panic. 

I had come to find mossy boulders enveloped by tree roots and fern. After a short hike from the dirt road, I found several suitable locations. As the sun descended, I decided to head back on the old woods road I had come in on. The topography map implied it was all downhill to the road. After 15 minutes, I realized I was lost. Panic ensued. I took a mental step back and told myself to use the GPS app I had with me, but had never used before. Would it work? I felt nature tighten its grip on me—a novel experience. I had to continually reorient because, if the GPS was accurate, downhill was taking me sideways rather than directly to the road. I could not see anything through the trees. Twenty minutes later, I stumbled back on the road. A ranger at the gatehouse remarked “Yeah, we love GPS.” I sure did. 

Although Katahdin gets the glory of mountain climbers, the secrets locked in these woods, if ventured into carefully and with respect, can yield their own satisfaction.