"Thru-hiking" the Batona
- Thread starter smadigan
- Start date
I'll try that, and let you know how it worksBEHR655 said:Go really fast. Maybe you can out run them.
I recently saw these chigmums for the first time (I am a NY native). I went on a solo backpacking trip last weekend on the batona. I was trying out a new ultralite packload and figured there was no better place to do it than there. Well, I started at the fire tower off of 70, and headed south on the Batona. Luckily I am an overpreparer, so I had tan pants on and had them tucked into my socks. After about five minutes on the trail I saw this red mass on my leg. I thought, "these are the tiniest stickums I have ever seen". Well, these stickums started to move! I immediately got out the DEET and went to town on them! The all died or jumped off. Needless to say, I spent the rest of my overnight trip on the wider trails in the area! Thankfully none of them stuck around to eat me. What I would like to know is how did so many get on in one spot so quickly?
The rest of the trip was great BTW! I spent the night at the campground and headed out before dawn to amke the 6 mile trip back to the truck. It is amazing hiking through the pines when a full moon is out! Great trip!
Sean
The rest of the trip was great BTW! I spent the night at the campground and headed out before dawn to amke the 6 mile trip back to the truck. It is amazing hiking through the pines when a full moon is out! Great trip!
Sean
Shoefly...why is wearing pants not an option? I wear lighteight tan pants whenever I mountain bike in the pines. No problems.
Sean
Sean
I guess it is an option, just one that I do not choose. With the heat and humidity, I just prefer riding in shorts. I may have to reconsider this option, however, to avoid future chiggering
top to bottom on the Batona
I wouldn't quite call doing the Batona "through hiking" being its only 50 miles long, but it is a nice hike from top to bottom. I guess I have done it about five or six times over the years, mostly in the cooler months. It's about two and half days at a quick step, or three if you are slower moving. The best campsite is Lower Forge because of its relative backcountry feel, although if you start at Carranza you can get there in under and hour and a half. While some people rightly pointed out you miss some of the nuances of the Pines on the Batona, because its mostly Green Highway hiking, you still get Apple Pie Hill, Pakim Pond area, Deep Hollow Pond, and Batsto village. With the size of the Pines its really to bad there isn't more remote campsites, legal ones that is. Most are car camping sites, which can be fun sometimes, but not so great if you are looking for a weekend of seclusion and backpacking. Actually I'm going to be doing the whole thing in November with a couple of friends, looking forward to some nice bag nights in the Pines.
I wouldn't quite call doing the Batona "through hiking" being its only 50 miles long, but it is a nice hike from top to bottom. I guess I have done it about five or six times over the years, mostly in the cooler months. It's about two and half days at a quick step, or three if you are slower moving. The best campsite is Lower Forge because of its relative backcountry feel, although if you start at Carranza you can get there in under and hour and a half. While some people rightly pointed out you miss some of the nuances of the Pines on the Batona, because its mostly Green Highway hiking, you still get Apple Pie Hill, Pakim Pond area, Deep Hollow Pond, and Batsto village. With the size of the Pines its really to bad there isn't more remote campsites, legal ones that is. Most are car camping sites, which can be fun sometimes, but not so great if you are looking for a weekend of seclusion and backpacking. Actually I'm going to be doing the whole thing in November with a couple of friends, looking forward to some nice bag nights in the Pines.
Piney Boy said:
One of the guys we hike with had done the entire trail in one day. I believe he said it took 14 hours. Talk about a quick pace!!! Oh yeah, he is a marithon runner but this was done walking.
Steve
Piney Boy said:
This is what I've been saying since I started camping in the Pine Barrens 4 or 5 year ago. I hate feeling that every time I camp, it's illegal. I still just go out into places I find on Terraserver that look cool and camp there. One big fine/times illegally camped = $2 fee they charge at the legal ones per night camping.
Justin
We don't call it illegal, we call it "stealth camping". Being serious though, it is a problem I think can be remedied with help from a group like The Batona Hiking Club or even the ATC. It really shouldn't be as hard as it is to find nice legal campsites in a wilderness the size of the Pines. Guess its some food for thought.