Earlier in the week Andrea booked a shelter at Lake Houston Park. The kids have been bugging us for an overnight campout. It was a breeze to pack since the park is 15-miles away and we only planned to be there for 20-hours. The shelter was new and the location was incredible. Everyone had a great time.
A couple hours before sunset, I took off for a trail run. I had my eye on eleven miles, but only made it to eight miles (plus 2 miles walking) before I ran out of light. The run rocked! I found a new out-and-back trail that is by far the best single track trail in the park.
On the far Southeast side of Peach Creek loop is a sign for primitive camping. I’ve never ventured onto the trail because I assumed it was short. Once I turned onto the Primitive camping trail I looked at the GPS, so I would know the mileage. What I assumed was a short trail ended up being 2.8 miles!!! When added to Peach Creek loop it’s a nice little run.
Today I ran Peach Creek loop three times, plus the addition I wrote about above, Hoot Owl trail, and the Magnolia Interpretation loop. This is probably the first time I’ve run at the park without traveling east of the power line easement.
Mosquito’s took over our campsite while I was gone. When I returned from running Andrea and the kids had enough as was ready to return to the comforts of Kingwood. Even though the trip was cut short, it was a lot of fun.
Walk:
1.75 miles
30:11
17:14 pace
Run:
8.22 miles
1:33:14
11:20 pace
I've lead beginner backpacking trips to the primitive spots there.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I was the first one to use it when the park switched from a state park to Houston.
When checking in, I asked about the fire rings, if we were supposed to pack in firewood (??) or if we were allowed to collect wood (not usually allowed). They said the rings were left over from when it was a Girl Scout camp. BUT, we could buy firewood from them and they would deliver! WOW!
We got to the site, set up, went for another little hike and were wondering about the wood. We went to check the park road just past the sites and nothing. It had been several hours and was getting dark, so we thought maybe they forgot(?).
Then finally two rangers came down the trail carrying the wood!
They explained that they started out on the Gator, but it got stuck or had problems or something, so then they switched to a dolly, but it kept getting stuck in the mud, so they finally just carried it back to us.
And we were the first, and the LAST, to have a fire in the primitive camping area.