<a href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2012/01/guest-post-sasha-martin-on-the-keystone-ancient-forest/hiking1/" rel="attachment wp-att-9191"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9191" title="Keystone Ancient Forest" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hiking1-500x347.jpg" alt="by Sasha Martin" width="500" height="347" /></a>

<em>This weekend residents of the Tulsa area have a rare opportunity: <a href="http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/hiking-at-keystone-ancient-forest-jan-14/" target="_blank">The Keystone Ancient Forest west of Sand Springs is open to the public</a>. This only happens about once every month or so, and it's an exciting chance to both enjoy the outdoors as well as get a feel for what Native Americans and early European settlers had to deal with as they crossed from the eastern portion of the state to the west. <a href="http://thislandpress.com/08/22/2011/the-forest-that-ate-washington-irving/" target="_blank">I wrote about it in my Done That column at This Land Press</a>; today, <a href="http://www.globaltableadventure.com/" target="_blank">Tulsa-based blogger Sasha Martin of Global Table Adventure fame</a> takes us along with her and her family into the forest. </em>

I had my doubts as we pulled into the gravel parking lot for <a href="http://sandspringsok.org/category.php?cat=1001">http://sandspringsok.org/category.php?cat=1001"&gt;the Keystone Ancient Forest Trail</a>. I wasn't worried about the trail — I'm always up for an adventure — but rather about taking my then-20-month-old daughter hiking. Especially considering she'd only started walking at 15 months.

<em>This could be a huge mistake</em>, I thought to myself.

<!--more-->

I hoisted Ava out of her car seat and we walked over to the trail head. My husband, Keith, put together our equipment: An apple, water and a backpack for Ava, should the trail prove too difficult. Five volunteers greeted us with guide books, smiles and a pile of walking sticks. We chatted for a few minutes about what we could expect from the short, three-mile trail. We were given the option of going with a guide or alone.

We were feeling brave, so we opted to go alone.

The trail was wide, at times the width of an average one-car drive, and mostly flat. Ava took great pleasure in chasing the dragon flies, running from the one snake we saw and, most of all, carrying a walking stick, just like mama and papa.

We took our time, going Ava's pace, and were soon passed by a group of 10 year-olds, all chattering excitedly. This was definitely a family-friendly trail. No bikes. No pets. Nice, roomy.

About halfway out we stopped to admire the view of the water, just visible through the still-bare trees, and snacked on our apple. Down the hill at the side of the trail was a cluster of small, scraggly, old trees - 500 years old, to be exact.

So there we were with our 15 month-old, a smattering of 500 year-old trees, and an apple, on one of the 12 days each year these ancient trails are open to the public. It was a great Saturday.

<a href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2012/01/guest-post-sasha-martin-on-the-keystone-ancient-forest/hiking2/" rel="attachment wp-att-9192"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9192" title="Ancient Forest" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hiking2-500x347.jpg" alt="by Sasha Martin" width="500" height="347" /></a>

<a href="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/2012/01/guest-post-sasha-martin-on-the-keystone-ancient-forest/hiking3/" rel="attachment wp-att-9193"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9193" title="Ancient Forest" src="http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hiking3.jpg" alt="by Sasha Martin" width="432" height="500" /></a>

Want to hike the Keystone Ancient Forest yourself? You can do exactly that this Saturday. Get the details on <a href="http://dowhat.thislandpress.com/events/hiking-at-keystone-ancient-forest-jan-14/" target="_blank">the January Keystone Ancient Forest Hike at DO WHAT?</a>