Amputee hiker

[jburd641]

Howdy.
I'm new here and I'm looking to hike the Batona trail. Can anyone tell me what the first 5 miles are like?
The reason I ask is because I'm a recent amputee and I'm going to use hiking as part of my Physical Therapy. I have a new prosthetic and I regularly walk 3 miles of road near my house but I'm a little worried about the sand. Anything else I should worry about?

 

[Teegate]

I admire your tenacity! Someone here I am sure will help you with your question.

Guy

 

[TrailOtter]

The first five miles are a good place to start. It's a packed dirt trail through the woods with only short distances on a sand road and a paved road.

The trail starts in Ongs Hat on Turkey Buzzard Rd across from Apanay's Cafe which is on Magnolia Rd. I suggest going to Apanays for breakfast before your walk. There's a parking lot at the beginning of the trail 0.1 miles up Turkey Buzzard Rd. The trail gets hilly about 2.3 miles in along Bispham Mill Creek. It's gentle hills in this area.

Two things to keep in mind are the trail crosses Four Mile Road and Route 70 in this five mile section. The trail crosses Four Mile Road 1.6 miles in and Route 70 4.3 miles in.

If you're hiking to the ranger station at Brendan Byrne, it's 5.4 miles in then you follow a blue-blazed trail for 0.1 mile. Five miles in takes you to Ranger Road at the fire tower which has limited parking.

Enjoy your hike! If you need further information, don't hesitate to ask!

 

[jburd641]

Thanks

Just wanted to say thanks for the info. I always loved the Pines but never did much hiking. I'm looking forward to getting out in the woods this Saturday.
Any historic sites along the way?

 

[TrailOtter]

Not along the trail in this section. At Norlemon Road, to the right was the site of Old Halfway on Route 72. There used to be a tavern there but is no longer in evidence. John Bispham had a mill in the area of Bispham Mill Creek. The site is now covered by the Presidential Lakes development which you can see through the woods 3.3 miles in.

Near the campground in Brendan Byrne State Forest is the ruins of the Lebanon Glassworks. This isn't on the trail, but is another historic site nearby. The trail crosses Glassworks Road at 9.5 miles in from Ongs Hat. There was also a CCC camp there in the 1940s - I believe it was Company 235 that was stationed there.

Ongs Hat is a town more steeped in legend than history.

 

[jburd641]

I went for my very first hike since my amputation today. We did the first 4.7 miles of the Batona and were going to go for more but a blister on my stump put an end to the day. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and let me say, I did sleep like a log for a couple hours when we got home. Overall, a great day. A few tweaks to the prosthetic and we'll hopefully be out there next Saturday to put some more miles behind us.
Any help with the next 4.7 will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Teegate]

A few tweaks to the prosthetic and we'll hopefully be out there next Saturday to put some more miles behind us.

Can I ask what the "tweaks" would be?


Guy

 

[TrailOtter]

Any help with the next 4.7 will be greatly appreciated.

Glad you enjoyed your hike! The next stretch is basically the same - hardpacked, some hills. You pass a blue-blazed trail which will take you to the headquarters for the Lebanon State Forest (oops, I mean Brendan Byrne) where you can get maps, etc. You cross Route 72 and the trail becomes hilly after that with one elevation around 150ft. Your hike should take you to Pakim Pond. Watch the briars after Pakim Pond. After your hike, you might want to go to the camp area to see the ruins of the CCC camp/glassworks and the old sawmill.

 

[MarkBNJ]

At Norlemon Road, to the right was the site of Old Halfway on Route 72. There used to be a tavern there but is no longer in evidence.

TrailOtter, I would have put Four Mile there. The maps I have show Old Halfway being just NW of the Union Clay site, more or less due south of Wheatlands, on the old clay pit that you can still see there.

Do you have some different indication?

 

[Teegate]

Old Half Way was at the clay pits.

Guy

 

[TrailOtter]

TrailOtter, I would have put Four Mile there. The maps I have show Old Halfway being just NW of the Union Clay site, more or less due south of Wheatlands, on the old clay pit that you can still see there.

Do you have some different indication?

Nope just mis-interpreted the notes I have did the same thing for New Lisbon which I thought was located where the school is now on Route 70...oops

 

[jburd641]

Can I ask what the "tweaks" would be?


Guy

Well Guy, I'm glad you asked. I like when people ask me about my leg. I had my leg amputated about 6" below the right knee and it sits in a sleeve known as a socket. The way it works is I put a rubber sleeve on my leg with a threaded pin on the end and that slips into the socket and that locks in. The problems I had is that the plastic socket allows my leg to move and that causes friction. The tweaks will be done by taking a heat gun and molding my socket better so my leg is comfortable and doesn't move. It's a very long process and has been going on since 11/01/07 when I got my leg.
Thanks for asking Guy and please feel free to ask anything about my leg, I really don't mind.
I do want to apologize to the biker who was obviously shaken by coming around the curve at about the halfway point of todays hike and not knowing what he just saw while I was sitting there airing out my stump with my leg laying besides me. He went past a few feet and then couldn't apologize enough to me. If I had my leg, he would have probably hit my foot, but since there was nothing to hit, I offer my apologees to him for resting on a semi blind curve. Lesson learned.
I'm looking forward to hitting the trail next weekend. I hope the trail moves farther away from civilization, unless it's historic sites. Thanks for all your info.

 

[TrailOtter]

I hope the trail moves farther away from civilization, unless it's historic sites. Thanks for all your info.

Just wait til you get past Route 532

 

[Teegate]

Well Guy, I'm glad you asked. I like when people ask me about my leg. I had my leg amputated about 6" below the right knee and it sits in a sleeve known as a socket. The way it works is I put a rubber sleeve on my leg with a threaded pin on the end and that slips into the socket and that locks in. The problems I had is that the plastic socket allows my leg to move and that causes friction. The tweaks will be done by taking a heat gun and molding my socket better so my leg is comfortable and doesn't move. It's a very long process and has been going on since 11/01/07 when I got my leg.
Thanks for asking Guy and please feel free to ask anything about my leg, I really don't mind.
I do want to apologize to the biker who was obviously shaken by coming around the curve at about the halfway point of todays hike and not knowing what he just saw while I was sitting there airing out my stump with my leg laying besides me. He went past a few feet and then couldn't apologize enough to me. If I had my leg, he would have probably hit my foot, but since there was nothing to hit, I offer my apologees to him for resting on a semi blind curve. Lesson learned.
I'm looking forward to hitting the trail next weekend. I hope the trail moves farther away from civilization, unless it's historic sites. Thanks for all your info.

Thank you for responding. I always wondered how they stayed on.

I was watching a video online just a few days ago, about complaints from some disabled athletes that runners with the metal feet can run as fast as a normal person or faster. They were concerned that they were at a disadvantage.

I will try to find the video.

Guy

 

[Teegate]

This isn't the video, but it is the same person.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/sports/2008/01/16/curnow.blade.runner.cnn?iref=videosearch


Guy

 

[jburd641]

I happen to agree with the olympic committee's decision. I think it gives a serious spring pushoff to the runner, not to mention that it makes you much lighter.
I never was a runner and don't plan on being one. You won't catch me on the trail with one of those things. During the winter, you won't even know I'm an amp unless you see me drying out the liner to keep it from slipping.
Happy trails and remember, feel free to ask about my leg anytime you get curious. I'm not an angry person, I'm quite happy, especially now that I get to walk in the pines again.

 

[andy1015]

I agree with the commitee also. What happened that they had to amputate your leg?

 

[jburd641]

HOW DARE YOU ASK ME A QUESTION LIKE THAT!!!!!! Just kidding.

I had a foot condition similar to diabetes but it isn't diabetes. It's called Charcot foot and it basically makes your foot curl up and eventually, even after reconstructive surgery, the bones break down in your feet. Amputation was the best option. No more pain.
I'm lucky. I only lost my leg below my knee, not above. Big difference in recovery time.

 

[jburd641]

I have another question about the Batona Trail. When the trail leaves Lebanon tower heading towards Pakim pond, I noticed there are two options. One heads towards Presidential Lakes and the other stays closer to 72. Any suggestions which would make for a better hike? I'm guessing the Presidential Lakes hike would be more scenic just because of the water.
I appreciate any and all input.
One last question, are both sections marked?

 

[TrailOtter]

I have another question about the Batona Trail. When the trail leaves Lebanon tower heading towards Pakim pond, I noticed there are two options. One heads towards Presidential Lakes and the other stays closer to 72. Any suggestions which would make for a better hike? I'm guessing the Presidential Lakes hike would be more scenic just because of the water.
I appreciate any and all input.
One last question, are both sections marked?

If it has pink blazes, it's the Batona Trail...if not then it's something else. I'm not sure what the second trail could be. The Batona continues closer to 72, joins the Cranberry Trail (red blaze), follows it to the end then turns right toward Pakim Pond.