There is a difference between enjoying nature and being trapped in what feels like the opening scene of a horror movie. I learned that distinction while working today, helping clean up a trail that I can confidently say I never want to visit again.
It was one of those days when the sky was gray, the wind was blowing, and everything looked just a little more ominous than it needed to. The trail was already creepy enough on its own, but the weather made it feel like the universe was actively trying to warn me to turn around.
Then there were the branches. At one point, a branch nearly fell on me, which did absolutely nothing to improve my opinion of the place. I was already on edge, and suddenly the trees were trying to take me out. I started wondering why I was voluntarily spending my day cleaning up a trail that looked like it belonged in a true-crime documentary.
To make things worse, parts of the trail ran near a farm with cornfields. I know cornfields are completely normal, but something about walking beside them on a cloudy, windy day made them feel deeply unsettling. All I could think about were horror movies where someone gets lost in the middle of nowhere and makes every possible wrong decision. I was not interested in becoming a character in one of those movies.
The funny part is that I was there to do something good. I was there to maintain a trail so other people could enjoy it. Instead, I spent the day feeling like I was the one who needed rescuing. I suppose working outdoors teaches you to appreciate nature in all its forms. Unfortunately, it also teaches you that nature can be beautiful, unpredictable, and occasionally terrifying. I might appreciate the trail from a distance next time.
Pro Tip: If you are going to work outdoors, check the weather before you go. A cloudy, windy day right before Halloween might not actually be dangerous, but it can feel like the setting of your personal horror movie.
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