Truth is hubby was extremely nervous dropping me off for my trail run in Lake Mineral Wells State Park. The plan was, my youngest and middle boys, nephew and sister-in-law along with my husband would dig for fossils about ten miles away, and I would meet them later IN Lake Mineral Wells.
I felt a little insulted by hubby’s worry, I mean, really, Glen Rose was a fluke for me. But I needed Glen Rose (Dinosaur Valley). I learned A LOT. So, while I still cringe a little when I think about Land of the Lost, I know that the experience did me good. Still, that embarrassment and worry that my husband suddenly seems to posses about me running trails persists. I imagined while driving into the ranger station at Lake Mineral Wells my photograph hanging on their wall – “Do not let this woman in your park.”
Their map seemed extremely straight forward – lots of equestrian trails, just ONE single track that I would take to some “primitive” campsites. I even stopped and talked to the ranger about the map. She was a “tough cookie” with straight forward answers.
Posing for hubby at trailhead
The trails were serene, shady, gorgeous, HOT, and downright humid. I took the first half-mile of trail giddy, so delighted I was with the rugged terrain. Boulders covered with greenish lichen littered the trails. In some cases the boulders were laid out like a staircase.
Not a half mile in, this supposed ONE-TRAIL single-track system forked! Okay, okay, I told myself, “Let’s learn where you’re at!” So I ran one fork down until I came upon a huge boulder in the trail. I thought that was a good landmark to turnaround and go back to the other fork. There the trail climbed up rocky terrain to a series of wood signs with arrows! Glory, glory! You can be sure that’s the trail I ran.
Soon the arrows ended and a web of trails began to branch off of the supposed ONE trail. You can imagine my thoughts. I took care to realize my every surroundings. I memorized my footprint, often stomping into the dirt to refresh my memory what it looked like. And at forks, I marked them with two horizontal branches (small ones that I broke apart) and then one pointing in the direction that I was running. I studied the map closely before it deteriorated and counted the number of times I should cross an equestrian trail.
I made it to the “primitive campgrounds” after crossing the appropriate number of equestrian trails, feeling very warm. My temperature was only 1.1 degrees above normal. I witnessed 2 White-Tail deer run by at surreal speeds, amazed that they didn’t smack into a tree. I also crossed two bridges over dry creeks and did not see a single camper in this wilderness campground. (Though on the way in, I saw a hiker with a hat and towel draped over his head and a backpack on his back).
Crossing bridge into “primitive campground”
I can guess why no one was camped at this “primitive” campground. It was no where near water, the creeks were dry. And to hike food, tent, water, etc., would be a terrible burden in this summer heat.
The campground was a double loop, kind of like rabbit ears. And at one point on my run out of the campground, I found myself running in an area I didn’t recognize. Quickly turning around, I fast came upon one of my markers at the side of the trail pointing the direction. I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN WORKS.
I ran back to the trailhead feeling good about my direction, noticing many of the landmarks I had committed to memory, except for one portion. This part of the trail had no lake view (which is an awesome direction marker) so I searched the floor for my footprints going in the other direction and quickly found them. Off in the distance, two more White-Tail deer ran through the forest at crazy speeds. And off I ran, all the way to the trailhead, where I ran along the road, across the damn and to the “beach” where my family was swimming after fossil digging. I was so dang hot, I took my shorts off right on the beach and quickly pulled on a pair of “board shorts”. Yanking off my pack, hat and garmin I swiftly made it across the burning sand into the lake.
A lovely, successful run.
Miles logged today: 7.10
Elevation Profile:
