Being as I doubt I’ll be able to attend the group camp at Batona, I decided to go there myself and do a cold weather gear test, since I have my Colorado trip planned for later this year. I had all my gear thrown in my truck, but typically, it wasn’t well organized. Due to work and family, I didn’t get as good of a jump in the morning as I had hoped.
I stopped at the Batsto Office to get my camping permit, and was on my way.
I had brought some firewood, but between the office (by their directions) and Batona Camp, there were several places with stacked wood offered for sale. I didn’t stop, so I’m not sure if they are open for business during this off season time. As I’ve never been to Batona Campground, I was a little unsure of where I was going. The Office did give fairly good printed directions.
Following their directions, I made it to the Carranza Memorial.
The turn into the camping area is on the right, a short bit before the memorial. There isn’t much to let you know you’ve arrived on site. There is one Batona sign, two out houses, and one water pump. No picnic tables and no metal fire rings, just the remains of old fires, and unfortunately evidence of other less than ethical campers.
With my late start, I didn’t have much light left to set up camp.
I had the best intentions to take photos of each stage of my set up, but cold, fading light and general forgetfulness conspired to make me fail. I started with my 12 X 12 Sportsman’s Guide ‘Neo’ tarp in my home made black mesh one piece skin.
Of course, I forgot to take a photo of my Clark NA set up. (I use the Neo tarp, and keep the smaller stock tarp as a stand by)
When the sun was down, but I still had a bit of light, I heard voices. You’d think that with 25º on a January Wednesday night, I’d have had the place to my self, but it wasn’t to be. Two hikers doing the Batona Trail started to set up camp near by. I hadn’t noticed, but they had left tarp covered fire wood there before they started their hike. It turns out, one was a reporter with the Courier Post, and he was doing an article on winter camping. After introductions, I left them to make their camp. They later stopped by to share my fire and we talked for a bit.
http://blogs.courierpostonline.com/i...batona-tonite/
A full story on winter camping is supposed to be in the Courier Post on Sunday, January 25th.
They seemed interested in the hammock set up and Kevin, the reporter, asked questions about gear and winter camping. His partner Don is a manager at the Marlton REI. He was Kevin’s unofficial guide on their trek.
This is how I was set up:
12 X 12 Neo tarp
Clark NA
Cheap blue pad inside hammock
Zero degree synthetic bag
Bass Pro Red Head top & bottom under layer (think Under Armor)
Polypro bottoms
Fleece pants
Wood sox (one pair)
3 layers on top, fleece
Wool hat
That night by the fire, and the next morning, it was 25º. Wind was calm.
While talking fireside, we weren’t ever cold. After they turned in for the night, and I waited till my fire had died down, I started to get cold. I turned in, and have to say I didn’t sleep very well, but not due to cold.
I’m not much of a camper, and I still need to learn to relax and just sleep instead of listening for the approach of coyotes, bears, Bigfoot or the Jersey Devil. If I had just walked 18 miles like my neighbors did, I bet I’d have slept better.
While never uncomfortably cold, my feet were a little chilly. I meant to try the hot water bottle method, but didn’t get a Klean Canteen yet, and didn’t want to trust a Gatorade bottle, leak wise.
I woke right at dawn, and got up to see my new friends off on the next leg of their journey. As we chatted and they struck camp, it started to snow. Very nice. After they were gone, I took a walk around, and got some photos. It was during this walk I policed up the trash that other losers had left behind:
(assembled under my tarp for the photo: 3 plastic bottles, two fireworks boxes, two candy bags, one broken lighter, one box of Graham Crackers {1/2 full}, and one empty Colman Fuel container).
My JetBoil didn’t want to light. I could have used something else to spark it, but I used my Trail Stove instead. I’m sure it wasn’t as efficient as the JB, but more reliable as it turns out. After I lit my Trail Stove, the JB did light once, but when I added water to use it, it again failed to light, and I gave up. I’ll have to work in it.
Since I once again planned a trip having to work the next evening, I was packed and on my way by 10:30. This seems like a good place to stage out from to visit other near-by attractions. There are canoe options, and several trails to walk around on. I did see some deer on the drive in, and have no doubt if you bring binoculars it would be worth it.
As I told my unexpected guests, I was somewhat disappointed that I didn’t have the solitude I expected, but have to admit they were good company. You’d think a vegetarian (Don) and a bow hunter (me) sharing the same fire might result in some controversy, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Funny how people with good manners can have a civilized discussion.
Over all I liked this place, but if I failed this past Wednesday to be alone, I doubt I’ll have much of a chance to summer camp there and be alone with my son. I’m sure you could walk a bit and make a stealth camp if you wanted to. At least four times vehicles rode by in the dark, but since they never stopped I wasn’t sure if it was park police or private citizens.
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