I can't imagine doing the trail in a single day. That's quite an accomplishment. The first time I walked it, I was a whippersnapper and thought I was doing great by walking the length in four trips.
Bill
Bill
The times are very impressive but it just doesn't sound like much fun to me.A member of our PBX hiking club who is a marathon runner and plant photographer, walked the Batona in one day. Here is his times and a photo of him after.
http://mikebaker.com/personal/longwalk_98.html
http://mikebaker.com/images/Mike41mi.jpg
Guy
It definitely is a good form of excersize, and personal goal setting, discipline, etc... Kind of in the same class as people who try to set speed records for thru hiking the AT and PCT. When I hike I find myself naturally alternating between zoning out and walking faster, and taking it easy and enjoying the surroundings. I personally like both the excersize and the rejuvinative effects that hiking gives and wouldn't like to forego one for the other.Hiking the entire Batona trail in one day is indeed an accomplishment. But, it seems that like is more a form of exercise than a hike. For me it's more the journey than the destination, but to each their own. I do admit that I would like to be able to walk/run this far in one day! :colbert:
The only things listed on the Batona Trail map published by the NJ Park Service as prohibited on the Batona Trail are horses and mountain bikes.Can anyone shed some light on what the pet policies are? Is this area pretty dog friendly? I do clean up after them if they do what bears do.
WATER: Heading north to south (ongs hat to stage road) you can find tap water or well water at the following locations:when hiking the batona are there many places to draw water and how far are the campsites spaced out? got a map on the way but there is nothing better than first hand.
I can say that in the winter when it has been below freezing and especially after a rain, I can drive my car on almost any sandy road that I always get stuck in. The sand actually gets hard allowing me to not sink in. It also makes it much easier to walk on.How much does the sand slow you down, in the winter?
you will have tap water at Brendan Byrne State Forest, Batsto and Bass river. there is a pump at Batona camp that should work. i would carry Aqua Mira or a Sawyer water filter (super walmart sells both of them). you will pass alot of water sources for filtering.How much does the sand slow you down, in the winter? Based on that Batona in a day website, it looks like they were able to do 3+ miles per day. I am thinking about trying to crank out the trail in 2 days in December.
You idea sounds like a good plan to travel light. I however, could not enjoy my trip knowing my comfort and safety was dependant on someone deciding to not steal my gear if they found it.Sandy areas really aren't a problem. I think the worst spot for sand is maybe a 1/10th mile inclined stretch as you're approaching Apple Pie Fire Tower from the south, but you can easily walk around it. I find horse manure to be more of a problem than sand near Carranza. GRRRRR....LOL
A good option for doing the entire Batona Trail in two days is to cache some bottled water along your route where the trail crosses roads, then cache your tent, sleeping bag, dinner & day 2 food, and all of your camping gear at Lower Forge campground, which is the halfway point. Then you can hike very light with a day pack. When I do that, I put all my camping gear in dry sacks and hide it well under brush and leaves in an area not normally travelled by people on foot, and I always leave a note on my dry sacks just in case somebody finds them explaining that this equipment was left here by a hiker whose safety is depending on it being here when he arrives tonight.
I pack my stuff in dry bags then conceal it very well under branches and pine needles in a spot off the trail where it's very unlikely somebody will be walking. I pick some place where the brush is so thick, people would naturally walk around the area to avoid it.You idea sounds like a good plan to travel light. I however, could not enjoy my trip knowing my comfort and safety was dependant on someone deciding to not steal my gear if they found it.
Thieves have ruined more than one outdoor experience for me, and unfortunately they have changed my view of my fellow outdoorsmen. I try to avoid leaving myself open to another disappointment.
Hey Tom, Just open a Earl Scheib Paint shop! He'll paint any car for $29.95!!!Yea Like Caranza Memorial. kids seem to vandalize Vehicles that are left there.
Tom---I do not think the technology exists enabling you to safely bury and keep edible a gallon of BUG JUICE and 4 full-length WAWA :rofl:tunafish hoagies every 5 miles along the BT!!!!!! LOL !!!! Unless, of course, you run 5 mph along its entire length!!!!!!!I've always wanted to do the whole Batona Trail and never thougt of cacheing equiptment, sounds like i now have a new quest to undertake!