We wanted to start early but Maple and i had to go to Batsto for permit. took the dirt roads past Speedwell and Hawkins Bridge. All went well and talked to friends for a bit. on the way back on Hawkins Bridge Road we passed a car who asked how to get the Batona camp. It was Skypainter lost in the Pines
. he followed us back to camp and all was well. The group got together six of us Silversurfer, Sweetbabyd, Maple, Bob Mac, Kaia and myself. I flipped a coin and South won (i think they got a little worried at this point) so we set out on our hike.
The puddles went on for about a mile or two. Most of them look more like lakes. We finally reached our destination Hampton furnace. I don't think the rest of the group realized I just had them hike to a pile of rocks, but they weren't upset with me. I think it's because it was a nice day and we were eating lunch.
This is the link of our trip.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/145766070
For you history buffs.
Information on the Hampton Furnace is very scarce, but from what I can tell
the furnace was opened in roughly 1795 and was in operation until about
1850. As other forms of producing Iron and later steel was becoming more
cost effective. The Hampton Furnace smelted Bog Iron found in near by
swamps and bogs. Bog Iron is carried to the surface in a solution form and
deposits in waterways as it oxidizes when in contact with oxygen. This site
may have also produced cannonballs and shot for the War of 1812. I also
believe that nails were also among one of the products produced there, as
you can find various nails of different size and shapes in and around the
furnace site. Slag which is a byproduct of the smelting process can also be
found in large amounts in and around the site.
Foot Note
or read "Iron in the Pines" by Aurther D. Pierce
TY
KK, Maple & K
Bookmarks