Old foot bridge at Batona Camp

[kayak karl]

There appears to be remains of an old foot bridge behind Batona Camp.

I couldn't see a traill beyond this point. was this just for hunters or was it a shortcut at one time for other reasons.

i plan to hike around to other side in a few weeks, but if anyone has any insight, it would be appreciated.
Thank You.
KK

 

[PBFog]

I was wondering about this too, hopefully someone has some info.

 

[ecampbell]

It was once the Batona Trail. I remember the bridge back in the 70's. If you look closely you can still see the pink on trees leading down to it. The Batona Trail has been moved several times along it's route. It used to follow the road from Lower Forge to Quaker Bridge, now it's in the woods. You can see old pink there also.

Ed

 

[kayak karl]

It was once the Batona Trail. I remember the bridge back in the 70's. If you look closely you can still see the pink on trees leading down to it. The Batona Trail has been moved several times along it's route. It used to follow the road from Lower Forge to Quaker Bridge, now it's in the woods. You can see old pink there also.

Ed

thanks ed, i should of asked you when i saw you. i'm still gonna hike it

are there old maps of this??

 

[ecampbell]

thanks ed, i should of asked you when i saw you. i'm still gonna hike it

are there old maps of this??

I have many old maps and brochures of the trail but nothing of the detail that would support my previous post, nor could I find one on line.
I did however find this ammusing site for a hike on the trail for the bargain price of$1000. They will even sell you equipment, check out the menu.

http://www.fatpacking.com/2010/BT.aspx

Ed

 

[PBFog]

I did however find this ammusing site for a hike on the trail for the bargain price of$1000. They will even sell you equipment, check out the menu.

http://www.fatpacking.com/2010/BT.aspx

Ed

That is hilarious. I like how the fee includes 6 days of trail food. 6 days to hike the Batona? And what kind of menu is this anyway? Vegetarian sausage. Tofurky. Sushi. Some trail food! I'd be happy to be a trail guide at half the price! hahaha oh geez

Anyway, thanks for the info!

 

[kayak karl]

That is hilarious. I like how the fee includes 6 days of trail food. 6 days to hike the Batona? And what kind of menu is this anyway? Vegetarian sausage. Tofurky. Sushi. Some trail food! I'd be happy to be a trail guide at half the price! hahaha oh geez

Anyway, thanks for the info!

I've seen this stuff played out in the Whites, but you hike to a hut with bunks and stuff. to lure somebody to the pines from Philly for a thousand?? I'm in the wrong business

 

[imkms]

thanks ed, i should of asked you when i saw you. i'm still gonna hike it

are there old maps of this??

If you walk the current trail North from the Batona campground, when you turn left and cross the bridge over the Skit branch, about 50 feet up on the left would be where the trail used to intersect here. I have not been down there in a while, but you may still be able to follow what remains of the trail back towards the campground and the old footbridge. If I remember correctly, the footbridge was actually pretty long and the part that is visible from the campground may be less than half of the original length. It was probably a maintenance nightmare.

 

[Boyd]

are there old maps of this??

Don't know that this will help, but have you seen these?

http://stephencreek.com/njpb/batona1.JPG
http://stephencreek.com/njpb/batona2.JPG
http://stephencreek.com/njpb/Batona.pdf

BTW, my vector-based Map of the Pines will also work nicely on your Oregon if you want something with more coverage plus the ability to use in Mapsource on your computer. I spent quite awhile updating the roads in core pine barrens areas, based on the USGS maps and 2007 NJ aerial photos: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/276/

 

[kayak karl]

finally hiked the old section behind Batona Camp. 0.6 miles from old bridge to Skit Branch bridge.

looking back on camp

looks like motor cycles kept it clear

there is about 40' of rotted swamp bridge.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/581892550GvgDxl?vhost=outdoors

 

[Teegate]

Thanks for the photo's karl.

Guy