NJ/Mullica River CG/Oct 24-25/quick out n back

**natureboy68** · 10-17-2014, 20:39

I think I have healed enough from my Achilles tendon surgery to hit the trails again, want to do an easy rehab hike, so gonna hike from Atsion to Mullica river CG, site #8 reserved Friday night, then hike out Saturday via Batona trail to batona CG, then take abandoned railbed back to atsion, getting back Saturday PM. One night, about 5 miles in, I figure about 12 miles out. John4 is tentative as well as another friend of ours...we prolly won't get to the trailhead till 4ish, will leave LI around 2:30...

**silentorpheus** · 10-17-2014, 21:22

I'd double check the length of your trip out.

It's about 11.5 - 12 miles from Atsion to Lower Forge if you take the railroad tracks to Carranza/Batona, then down the Batona trail to LF. Then it's at least 3 miles from Lower Forge to Mullica River camp. So you're looking at close to 15 miles out the second day if you take the route you're taking about.

I think a lot of the local crew are going to be up at the Stokes hang next weekend - but October is a great time for hanging in the Barrens, and site 8 is nice and private, so enjoy!

**SilvrSurfr** · 10-17-2014, 21:39

From memory (without looking at an actual map) I think SO is right on that second day.

It's two miles from Mullica Campground to Quaker Bridge, then 6.8 from Quaker Bridge to Batona Campground, then 6 miles from there to Atsion for a grand total of 14.8 miles.

**SilvrSurfr** · 10-17-2014, 21:40

Okay I looked at the map: it's 14.8 miles.

http://www.njhiking.com/nj-hiking-ma...-trail-map.pdf

**silentorpheus** · 10-17-2014, 21:42

Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr

Okay I looked at the map: it's 14.8 miles.

http://www.njhiking.com/nj-hiking-ma...-trail-map.pdf

Yeah, I used that in conjunction with the trip report/first hand account from when you and NJR hiked it - his GPS app said you did like 11.7 miles from Atsion to LF.

15 miles isn't a huge jump from 12 - but if you're still on the mend, and were looking at 12 miles as your stretch goal, then 15 might be pushing it. Only you can decide that one though.

**natureboy68** · 10-17-2014, 21:44

Thanks for the clarification! 12 miles was a rough estimate...15 is still doable!

**SilvrSurfr** · 10-17-2014, 21:49

I'll be at the Stokes State Forest hang - otherwise I'd join you. I'm probably gonna slack pack that 9.2 miles section of the AT.

When njredneck and I did this a while back, we got sick of the overgrown railbed and used some road off to the right. When we got to High Crossing it was impassable with water, so we had to backtrack a couple hundred yards around some swampiness to get back on the railbed (to the left of the road).

Enjoy!

**SilvrSurfr** · 10-17-2014, 21:53

Originally Posted by silentorpheus

Yeah, I used that in conjunction with the trip report/first hand account from when you and NJR hiked it - his GPS app said you did like 11.7 miles from Atsion to LF.

We kinda lost the Batona Trail a few miles north of Lower Forge - ended up on some darned road that shaved a bit off, plus I think his app was off somehow.

**The Tree Frog** · 10-18-2014, 08:00

Nature boy! As was said, we are all going to Stokes. Change your plans and come with us. My son keeps asking about you and John. He really liked knowing that teachers are real people and enjoyed talking to you both.

If you can, we would love to have you hang with us again.