Batsto to Lower Forge
OR
How to keep a fire in the Rain
It was a nice Saturday morning. On my way to meet Lost Soul and Skinner at The Emiliano Carranza Memorial action seemed to be everywhere. Just past Atsion Lake a huge trail ride was getting under, there must have been fifty horse trailers. The horses anticipated a morning out and they snorted out approval in cold air answers. I saw a red tail hawk cross my path twice on my way to the car drop off point. It even looked as if the Sun might fight its way through the clouds. The day looked promising indeed.
I arrived on Carranza’s dirt road at 8:05 and wondered when the day would begin. It turns out not for twenty minutes, because I sat parked in a different spot then the fella’s. I didn’t see them till I took a walk over to the memorial, I heard Mark call out my name. We said our hellos with a dead skunk in spitting distance, was all that bad sign though? I don’t think so, but maybe it was some kind of strong smelling rainy omen. So we flashed down dirt route 532 to get over to Batsto for our start
We picked up a pass for the night and were informed a fire ban was in effect, not my kinda news, but that’s that. In the Parks headquarters some fine new exhibits on the area have gone up. Examples of the wildlife are done in these very tasteful exhibits. A stuffed coyote displayed along with details of the animal’s resurgence in the area was very interesting. These exhibits were filled with great area artifacts and cool audio playbacks. Others show the native culture that lived there and other periods of colonization. After a short look around, I bought a patch, and we moved out.
The weather was overcast but very comfortable to hike in. The first three miles were up the white trail out of Batsto. It has some nice views of the Mullica River and also gave us the opportunity to walk a little on a swamp line. Most of the trail, besides the swamp line, follows a recently re-cut fire-line that runs with sugar sand. It can be a struggle on undulating terrain that quickly has you trying to pick your feet up out of it or walk above the trail. Once off the fire-line we jumped on the Batona for another 5 miles up to the Forge campsite. While we crossed some nice swamps on the way up we also crossed a good deal of controlled burn. Those thick pine and oak trees of the area are fire resistant. While scorched they were intact for the most part. Only the underbrush and fuel was gone though, the trees remained intact.
The Lower Forge campsite has been one of my favorite for years; it sits on the Mullica River with some really nice side trails that lead into adjoining swamps. Unfortunately, the State has run a series of burns through the campsite, not only removing its secluded feeling, but also one that’s unappealing for the hikers. I will not return until some regrowth starts. I understand the need for the removal of underbrush and fuel, but the state should have thought about some other measures, or in the least they need to make hikers aware of the conditions they are going into. Around 230 the rain slowly started, nothing bad at first, just enough to get the rain gear out. We sat and talked and puzzled over the concept of “elevated fire”, that’s what was to be allowed in the area. So with temperatures dropping we decided to make an elevated dirt mound, a little Cahokia if you will. The rain continued and then a large Boy-scout Troop arrived. Mind you, I’m happy to share a campsite, but shouldn’t the scouts be hiking? They appeared to have come from an illegal sand road a mile away, bringing with them ALL the comforts of home. The rain came harder and one of the scouts took to whistling rain drops keep falling on my head over, and over, and over. If I had had a pepsi-can stove I would have hurled in their general direction, ala Molotov cocktail, to quiet the incessant noise. If they would have hiked in I bet the noise would have been a lot lighter.
The rain never reached downpour, but it was steady all through the night. As it got colder I retreated into the tent to warm up and eat a nice dinner. Skinner and Lost Soul were troopers. They did there best to bring that fire to life. I lay there, snug in my bag, picking at some dinner while the guys fought the good fight. At one point Skinner yelled out, “Hey Joe! Look! The fire is going!” At which I rolled over, saw the flames through my little window and yelled out congratulations. After which I preceded to lie back down and laugh to myself about there persistence. Good job fella’s.
We rose early because the weather forced us into the sack early. Once the rain stopped we made a hasty breakfast packed up and hit the trail. This was an experimental weekend for me. I decided on going lite and carried maybe 22 lbs. Gotta say it was fantastic! I ate up trail, felt strong, and led the entire time. It was exhilarating, and I plan to add myself to the ultra light gang from now on. Don’t get me wrong, there is something to be said for weight sometimes. If Lost Soul didn’t have that monster pack of his I wouldn’t have gotten those extra stakes I needed to guy out my tent, thanks bro. Truth is though, I think I’m hooked on this light weight concept, I will not return to kitchen sink hiking again. The hike out, as in, was rain free, overcast, but nice hiking weather. Turned out to be about 5 miles out. We ran over more burn, one of which looked un-controlled. Otherwise it was uneventful except for a few deer. On a side note, a motocross rally was going on through side trails around us and every now and then we saw one screaming by. Looked like a fun way to spend the day. Around ten we hit the relay cars and said our goodbyes. Skinner took Lost Soul back to Batsto to retrieve his vehicle and I was off for home. Nice hiking with 12 miles or so, lazy boy scouts, and a fire in the rain.
OR
How to keep a fire in the Rain
It was a nice Saturday morning. On my way to meet Lost Soul and Skinner at The Emiliano Carranza Memorial action seemed to be everywhere. Just past Atsion Lake a huge trail ride was getting under, there must have been fifty horse trailers. The horses anticipated a morning out and they snorted out approval in cold air answers. I saw a red tail hawk cross my path twice on my way to the car drop off point. It even looked as if the Sun might fight its way through the clouds. The day looked promising indeed.
I arrived on Carranza’s dirt road at 8:05 and wondered when the day would begin. It turns out not for twenty minutes, because I sat parked in a different spot then the fella’s. I didn’t see them till I took a walk over to the memorial, I heard Mark call out my name. We said our hellos with a dead skunk in spitting distance, was all that bad sign though? I don’t think so, but maybe it was some kind of strong smelling rainy omen. So we flashed down dirt route 532 to get over to Batsto for our start
We picked up a pass for the night and were informed a fire ban was in effect, not my kinda news, but that’s that. In the Parks headquarters some fine new exhibits on the area have gone up. Examples of the wildlife are done in these very tasteful exhibits. A stuffed coyote displayed along with details of the animal’s resurgence in the area was very interesting. These exhibits were filled with great area artifacts and cool audio playbacks. Others show the native culture that lived there and other periods of colonization. After a short look around, I bought a patch, and we moved out.
The weather was overcast but very comfortable to hike in. The first three miles were up the white trail out of Batsto. It has some nice views of the Mullica River and also gave us the opportunity to walk a little on a swamp line. Most of the trail, besides the swamp line, follows a recently re-cut fire-line that runs with sugar sand. It can be a struggle on undulating terrain that quickly has you trying to pick your feet up out of it or walk above the trail. Once off the fire-line we jumped on the Batona for another 5 miles up to the Forge campsite. While we crossed some nice swamps on the way up we also crossed a good deal of controlled burn. Those thick pine and oak trees of the area are fire resistant. While scorched they were intact for the most part. Only the underbrush and fuel was gone though, the trees remained intact.
The Lower Forge campsite has been one of my favorite for years; it sits on the Mullica River with some really nice side trails that lead into adjoining swamps. Unfortunately, the State has run a series of burns through the campsite, not only removing its secluded feeling, but also one that’s unappealing for the hikers. I will not return until some regrowth starts. I understand the need for the removal of underbrush and fuel, but the state should have thought about some other measures, or in the least they need to make hikers aware of the conditions they are going into. Around 230 the rain slowly started, nothing bad at first, just enough to get the rain gear out. We sat and talked and puzzled over the concept of “elevated fire”, that’s what was to be allowed in the area. So with temperatures dropping we decided to make an elevated dirt mound, a little Cahokia if you will. The rain continued and then a large Boy-scout Troop arrived. Mind you, I’m happy to share a campsite, but shouldn’t the scouts be hiking? They appeared to have come from an illegal sand road a mile away, bringing with them ALL the comforts of home. The rain came harder and one of the scouts took to whistling rain drops keep falling on my head over, and over, and over. If I had had a pepsi-can stove I would have hurled in their general direction, ala Molotov cocktail, to quiet the incessant noise. If they would have hiked in I bet the noise would have been a lot lighter.
The rain never reached downpour, but it was steady all through the night. As it got colder I retreated into the tent to warm up and eat a nice dinner. Skinner and Lost Soul were troopers. They did there best to bring that fire to life. I lay there, snug in my bag, picking at some dinner while the guys fought the good fight. At one point Skinner yelled out, “Hey Joe! Look! The fire is going!” At which I rolled over, saw the flames through my little window and yelled out congratulations. After which I preceded to lie back down and laugh to myself about there persistence. Good job fella’s.
We rose early because the weather forced us into the sack early. Once the rain stopped we made a hasty breakfast packed up and hit the trail. This was an experimental weekend for me. I decided on going lite and carried maybe 22 lbs. Gotta say it was fantastic! I ate up trail, felt strong, and led the entire time. It was exhilarating, and I plan to add myself to the ultra light gang from now on. Don’t get me wrong, there is something to be said for weight sometimes. If Lost Soul didn’t have that monster pack of his I wouldn’t have gotten those extra stakes I needed to guy out my tent, thanks bro. Truth is though, I think I’m hooked on this light weight concept, I will not return to kitchen sink hiking again. The hike out, as in, was rain free, overcast, but nice hiking weather. Turned out to be about 5 miles out. We ran over more burn, one of which looked un-controlled. Otherwise it was uneventful except for a few deer. On a side note, a motocross rally was going on through side trails around us and every now and then we saw one screaming by. Looked like a fun way to spend the day. Around ten we hit the relay cars and said our goodbyes. Skinner took Lost Soul back to Batsto to retrieve his vehicle and I was off for home. Nice hiking with 12 miles or so, lazy boy scouts, and a fire in the rain.
