Any good hiking trails in the Pines aside from Batona? [Archive]

onehand

07-21-06, 07:16 PM

too may ticks and chiggers this time of year even to walk down the once was roads in the pines, let alone the trails, it's kayak time then after :guinness: :guinness: :guinness: :guinness: :guinness:

NJHIKERADAM

07-21-06, 07:35 PM

wow.....bugs,snakes,heat/cold,bears are all part of the hiking game my friend.....Anyone else with some trail advice?

BEHR655

07-21-06, 07:48 PM

wow.....bugs,snakes,heat/cold,bears are all part of the hiking game my friend.....Anyone else with some trail advice?

If you truely want a hiking experience, go where there are no trails. Just don't go alone. And, like Onehand said, this is not the time of year for that.

Steve

NJHIKERADAM

07-21-06, 08:07 PM

I have done 2 separate hikes there this year.And I did'nt get chiggered...did get ticked..big deal.I hike all year round......Just looking for trails.Guess this isnt a good hiking source.........

NJHIKERADAM

07-21-06, 08:11 PM

And I am not looking for a macho exploration adventure either.Just marked out trails.

onehand

07-21-06, 08:22 PM

I have done 2 separate hikes there this year.And I did'nt get chiggered...did get ticked..big deal.I hike all year round......Just looking for trails.Guess this isnt a good hiking source.........

go to lebanon ranger office off of rt 72, there are trails to mt misery and back about 12 miles or so round trip, you can even modify them with other trails with the maps to get there, sort of mix and match

BEHR655

07-21-06, 08:25 PM

And I am not looking for a macho exploration adventure either.Just marked out trails.

Piney Boy would be your best source for trails on this site. Nothing macho about it but a lot of us here that hike or rather bushwhack, don't use trails. There is much more to see off trail.

Steve

NJHIKERADAM

07-21-06, 08:34 PM

Cool thanks.....Exploration is cool it's just not my thing, im more of a mileage junkie.

Gerania

07-21-06, 09:28 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that it is the Yellow Trail that you can pick up behind the Atsion ranger station and goes down to Batsto area. That leg is 9 miles long.

NJHIKERADAM

07-21-06, 09:53 PM

I know from an old Lebanon State Park trail map that there is a Mt.Misery trail I believe starts at Pakim Pond.

NJHIKERADAM

07-21-06, 09:58 PM

Mount Misery Trail (aka White Trail): The trail links up with the Cranberry trail. There is some elevation gain (60 feet) to the south where there are opportunities for biking on higher, more compact soil. This trail has many branches which can cause some confusion.

NewSchoolPiney

07-27-06, 12:37 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that it is the Yellow Trail that you can pick up behind the Atsion ranger station and goes down to Batsto area. That leg is 9 miles long.

This is a great 'vacation' trail if you take the recommended two days by staying over at the Mullica River Wilderness campsite. It's my favorite hike and legal campsite in the pines. We've done it at least 2 or 3 times over the past few years.

Actually, just last weekend I did a round trip mountain bike ride from Atsion to Batsto, and back to Atsion. The first half from Atsion has some amazing singletrack and tight turns. Though, it starts to turn really sandy once you get to the entrance to the Mullica River Campsite and the majority of the 5 mile Batsto half is fairly sandy. But again, once you get closer to Batsto, it's nicer and more hardpacked with some really technical turns and some bridge riding!

If anyone wants to tackle this on mountain bikes in the near future, let me know. I'd love to do it again.

Justin

ecampbell

07-27-06, 08:11 AM

This is a great 'vacation' trail if you take the recommended two days by staying over at the Mullica River Wilderness campsite. It's my favorite hike and legal campsite in the pines. We've done it at least 2 or 3 times over the past few years.

Actually, just last weekend I did a round trip mountain bike ride from Atsion to Batsto, and back to Atsion. The first half from Atsion has some amazing singletrack and tight turns. Though, it starts to turn really sandy once you get to the entrance to the Mullica River Campsite and the majority of the 5 mile Batsto half is fairly sandy. But again, once you get closer to Batsto, it's nicer and more hardpacked with some really technical turns and some bridge riding!

If anyone wants to tackle this on mountain bikes in the near future, let me know. I'd love to do it again.

Justin

Will they let you leave a car at Batsto over night?

NJHIKERADAM

07-27-06, 06:14 PM

Is this whole trail the yellow trail?

TeeGate

07-27-06, 06:17 PM

Will they let you leave a car at Batsto over night?

You going biking Ed???

Guy

Piney Boy

07-27-06, 06:20 PM

Lots of choices off of the Batona. Penn State Forest offers Lake Oswego, eagles, open trails free of undrergrowth, cranberry/blueberry bogs, dwarf pines, and bear swamp hill. Out of Batsto you can take the Mullica River Trail up to a campsite on the river a little over 6 miles up.
Down in the Southern end you have the East Creek trail in Belleplaine. 7 plus miles through some excellent open swamps, although the trail was flooded in spring.
There's also The Unexpected Wilderness Sanctuary in Buena with 10 miles and heavy beaver activity.
I have been on about 10 trips this season with twice that many bag nights, and I'll still say the Pines are as tick infested as they come. It may not have the danger in PA rocks or climbs, but that sand and little bugger tick can be more than enough trouble. Don't worry about other critters big and small, but do constant checks for ticks. Humidity should be kickin' high, stay hydrated and wear some gaiters. Have a good time.

NJHIKERADAM

07-27-06, 06:29 PM

bobpbx

07-27-06, 10:59 PM

http://www.upsod.com/_dreamless/chigger.jpg

woodjin

07-28-06, 01:07 AM

http://www.upsod.com/_dreamless/chigger.jpg

whoa! I'm itchy just looking at that!!

Jeff

Piney Boy

07-28-06, 08:29 AM

Will they let you leave a car at Batsto over night?

Anytime you want to overnight just let the ranger station know of your plans and they'll give you a pass to display in your car window. This is especially important because you need a permit to use Lower Forge or the Mullica River Wilderness Campsite.

Piney Boy

07-28-06, 08:33 AM

After my past couple Pines hikes. I will be wearing a nice coat of 100% deet and hiking with tweezers in hand. I am opting out of carrying a purifier and instead will refill at Batso, Batona Campsite Area and at Pakim Pond..I carry a 3 liter reservoir and may add 2 nalgene bottles to the mix. On 20 mile plus days I typically drink a gallon of water....I may just hike in my zipoffs as I usually were shorts .....To help counter act tick exposure....

I usually leave the purifier at home on Pines trips to, I dont mind packing in what I'm gonna use. Convertibles are a good idea, thats what I do most of the time, they come off at breaks, camp, and water plunges.

Boyd

07-28-06, 10:52 AM

After my past couple Pines hikes. I will be wearing a nice coat of 100% deet and hiking with tweezers in hand.

Don't waste your time with Deet if you're trying to keep ticks away, it really doesn't work for that. But Permetrin is amazingly effective. See my comments in this thread: http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=2749

NJHIKERADAM

07-28-06, 04:39 PM

Funny because I have been using Ultrathon the past couple years when I feel it is needed and I have been tickless and LYME free. also I am tested once a year. And that product only uses 34% deet.........

NJHIKERADAM

07-28-06, 04:40 PM

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=1045&memberId=12500226

Is this the product??????

Boyd

07-29-06, 10:59 AM

That's a different brand from the stuff I got, but it's the same ingredient.

Piney Boy

07-29-06, 03:16 PM

That's a different brand from the stuff I got, but it's the same ingredient.

Good stuff, but the trick is you can't use it on treated clothing. Wicking or other similar "sport" clothing lose their nature when sprayed with strong compounds. During tick season I use long pants with gaiters and short sleeves with deet on my arms. Big ol' hat is a must to, but I wear hats whenever hiking.

NJHIKERADAM

07-31-06, 05:55 PM

On of my buddies did a hike at Lebanon Saturday..No bug spraqy at all and not one tick or chigger.....You guys are pulling my leg...........

TeeGate

07-31-06, 06:57 PM

On of my buddies did a hike at Lebanon Saturday..No bug spraqy at all and not one tick or chigger.....You guys are pulling my leg...........

I don't think so! Jes and I walked a road to a sawmill on Saturday and we had ticks all over our shoes and legs along with a few chiggers.

Guy

NJHIKERADAM

07-31-06, 07:02 PM

No really........He hiked at Lebanon Saturday..........No spray......No ticks...No chiggers.........

I was up at the Stonetown Circular near Wanaque and no ticks.....but after went over to the Torne and had a couple ticks on me there....

NJHIKERADAM

07-31-06, 07:07 PM

I am gonna be down in the Pines this weekend to survey the bug situation..But I did take your guys advice and got some spray for the clothes

Boyd

07-31-06, 09:52 PM

As they say, "your mileage may vary." But I'd be careful this time of year if I were you...

NJHIKERADAM

07-31-06, 10:25 PM

Quote:As they say, "your mileage may vary." But I'd be careful this time of year if I were you...

What exactly are you referring to?

Boyd

07-31-06, 11:01 PM

Just meant that because your friend didn't get any ticks, I wouldn't assume that you don't need some kind of protection...

NJHIKERADAM

07-31-06, 11:06 PM

Oh.. I got spray for clothing........And 100% Deet for any exposed skin......Any which way only a couple weeks left till my hike and I am amped.The Pine Barrens is a place like no other.

bobpbx

07-31-06, 11:13 PM

I am gonna be down in the Pines this weekend to survey the bug situation..But I did take your guys advice and got some spray for the clothes

Adam, it depends on a lot of variables in the Pines. On sunny dry days, I usually don't have a problem with pine flies. But humid sultry days are a killer. Mosquitoes are not bad in the uplands, but in lowland pine forests or damp swamps they can be real bad. I too have walked in areas with no ticks only to be covered in the next mile. Chiggers are hit or miss too.

But come on down and survey anyway. I cannot count how many times I made an excuse to myself to go out in the pines. Everything from being tired of people to wanting to see a plant I passed on the road days ago.

ecampbell

08-01-06, 01:15 PM

You going biking Ed???

Guy
No, I have one, a hybrid, but it is uncomfortable for me to ride. My body dosen't like being leaned forward and even with a gel seat, putting your weight on you prostate just dosen't feel good. I'll sitck to horses.

deesweet

09-09-06, 01:57 AM

go to lebanon ranger office off of rt 72,

just so that you know the sigsn for Lebanon know say Bryne (they renamed the forest). I was there a few days ago and the bugs weren't that bad/didn't bother me.

TeeGate

09-09-06, 07:29 AM

just so that you know the sigsn for Lebanon know say Bryne (they renamed the forest).

Most of us still like Lebanon so we use that. It just sounds better :)

Guy

woodjin

09-09-06, 10:59 AM

Welcome to the forum Deesweet. Guy (Teegate) is right. Old habits die hard, Lebanon still seems to be the name to go with. I live in Lebanon SF and always refer to it that way despite the name change. Nothing against Brendan Bryne though, the man that is.

So Deesweet, what got you into the pines?

Jeff

Boyd

09-09-06, 11:55 AM

I still call it Lebanon myself. I don't have anything against the man either, but it bothers me that they would replace a historical name with the name of a politician.

Dee: I hope you don't wear those shoes when you're around in the pines :) In spite of my best precautions, I still keep getting more chigger bites on my feet!

TeeGate

09-09-06, 03:05 PM

I have never come upon anyone wearing shoes like that in the pines. If I do you can rest assured I will get a photo. I might not pass it on, but I will get one :dance:

And just like you I can't get away from the chiggers. I still have bites from last weekend, and today we walked around with the bottle of OFF in our hand. There were millions of them on us but they quickly died :)

Guy