Could this be your story?

How a quiet morning hike turned into a moment I'll never forget.

There’s something sacred about early mornings in the woods. That in-between time when the mist still hugs the ground, birds are barely stretching their wings, and you feel like the only person alive. That’s where I was — just me, a trail, and my favorite playlist humming in my ears.

I’d walked this path a hundred times. A quiet, forested stretch that winds along the edge of town, crosses a creek, and for a brief moment — a set of train tracks. The rails cut through the landscape like a forgotten scar, weathered and rusted, weeds growing between the ties. I always thought they looked abandoned.

That morning, I had my hood up. Headphones in. I paused to snap a photo of the sunrise through the trees. As I stepped onto the tracks to get a better angle, the ground seemed to shake — just a little. Then a horn.

Not distant. Not dreamy. Right. Behind. Me.

I spun around and there it was. A train. Close. Too close.

I don’t remember jumping — just the feeling of landing hard in the brush beside the tracks, the wind from the train rushing past like a slap, the boom of its horn echoing down the valley. My heart was racing. I was alive. Barely.

You can make choices so that this story will not become your story!

🚧 What We Can Learn:

• Trains are quieter than you think. Seriously. You don’t hear them like in the movies. No dramatic rumbling, no early warning. By the time you do hear them, it might be too late.

• Tracks are not trails. Even if they look unused or overgrown, they can still be active. Some lines only run once a day or once a week. But they do run.

• Headphones kill awareness. It’s hard to admit, but they cut out more than just background noise — they can block out the one sound you need to hear most.

• You don’t get a second chance. I got lucky. A few seconds difference, and I wouldn't be here to write this.

🌲 If You’re an Outdoors Person, Please Remember:

Respect the rails. Cross at designated points. Keep your ears open, especially in remote areas. Even better — just avoid the tracks completely. There’s always another route, another view, another sunrise.

This story could happen to you — it can happen to anyone. So, if you’re out there exploring, adventuring, enjoying the beauty…

Just stay away from and off the tracks.

Please.