TD Training Entry #8: Huntsville State Park

When we first hit the trails at Huntsville State Park this past weekend, we were downright gleeful.  By the end of the day, I wanted my mommy!

Once again, in an effort to get out of the flatlands of Houston and into a hilly area where I could work on my climbing skills, I set up a trip to Huntsville with my wife Amy, and we invited our good friends Pat and Jane.  Huntsville State Park is located about 2 and a quarter hours north of our house in southeast Houston, but was definitely worth the drive.  Christopher Hess, author of Mountain Biking Texas, stated that the trail difficulty was moderate, with lots of smooth, hardpacked singletrack, and that the leg-burning climbs were outnumbered by the amount of exhilarating downhills.  Based on that description, I chose this location, thinking we could each have a long, enjoyable day of riding at our own pace.

Yeah right!  We soon discovered that some of the climbs along the Chinquapin Trail are long, steep, and very technical.  It was like the tree roots were battling each other, thumb-wars fashion, for top position across the trail.  And there were loads of new sand banks everywhere, obviously the recent work of trail crews, which may as well have been vats of molasses under our tires!  I ate it on the first of such sands pits as I took a corner too fast and it surprised me.  Pat felt bad for me and took a spill later to make me feel better.  The wives endured their own trials and tribulations…it turned out to be quite an unexpected challenge for all of us! 

That being said, it was an absolute blast and a magnificent workout.  Also riding the trails that day were about 20 members of the Houston Adventure Racing team, as well as quite a few pedestrians and even some equestrians.  Even so, the trails never seemed crowded.  At one point, a tween on a 29er blew by us as we lounged at the top of a climb, and I wondered how much more prepared I would have been for the Tour Divide if I had been riding like that at his age. 

After Pat, Jane, and Amy had had their fill, I slapped my 20 pound pack back on to my back and took another lap around the 8 mile Chinquapin loop, and I just nailed it full force the entire way.  I started out thinking I’d just take my time, but the trails were pretty empty now that the heat of midday Texas summer was upon the park, and I was in my groove.  So I gradually found myself going faster and faster, almost as if I had no choice.  The climbs were vicious, the heat was unbearable (90+ degrees!) and the downhills were tooth rattling, but man I was having fun!  Up until the point that I started feeling my skin get cold!  I thought it was odd that I started getting chills in 90 degree heat, but knowing that I was making amazing time, I stupidly ignored it.  I passed a trail runner who was as sweaty as me, but a little while later, I heard him sprinting, sprinting, up behind me.  I was still riding at a strong pace 6 miles in, and I was amazed that he was actually running up this hill and gaining on me.  When I heard him getting right up on my back tire, I took a quick glance back to see if I needed to move over, and there was no one there.  His footsteps were actually my heartbeat pounding in my ears.  Stunned, I churned into an impossible sand pit and was forced to stop, exhausted and slightly bewildered. 

Turns out I was beginning to suffer from heat exhaustion.  Living in the heat of southeast Texas all my life, I really thought I had gained somewhat of an immunity to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.  I mean, we live and play in 100 degree heat down here.  It’s the one aspect of racing the Tour Divide that I thought I wouldn’t have to worry about.  The cold, sure.  The heat?  Puuuhhlease.  But it turns out its a good thing I was forced to stop, or I may have soon passed out from driving myself too hard. 

After walking a little ways, cooling down, and sucking in lots of water, I resumed my ride, and finished it at the 52 minute mark.  I don’t know how good or bad of a time that is for a highly technical 8 mile ride loaded with lengthy climbs…I’m sure it pales in comparison to what the Houston Adventure racing team was doing, but I felt pretty good about it.   When I rolled into camp, Pat gave me a satisfying, “You gotta be kiddin’ me!”  lol, thanks Pat!

After I was sufficiently recovered (and chided by my wife) from my little heat scare, we rolled out for some beer and grub, and started talking about where we’d ride next.  We left a lot of trails untouched at Huntsville State Park, but what we rode was challenging and awesome, and I highly recommend it to anyone coming to central Texas!  Sorry we didn’t take more pics than the ones below…guess we were just having too much fun!

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