NJ>Lower Forge>3-29-14

[njredneck]

I'll keep my schedule clear, though I'd kinda like to do the longer hike going in, shorter hike leaving.

I'll have the boys with me and we average 2-2.5 mph on the trail with many breaks. The short hike will take us 3-4 hrs. My thinking was to take it real easy on both days and let the boys really enjoy being on the trail and not make it a forced march to get to camp before it gets dark. The other option would be to paddle in. I have a canoe and a kayak would only need to figure out logistics of moving vehicles.

And as they say HYOH.

[silentorpheus]

I'll have the boys with me and we average 2-2.5 mph on the trail with many breaks. The short hike will take us 3-4 hrs. My thinking was to take it real easy on both days and let the boys really enjoy being on the trail and not make it a forced march to get to camp before it gets dark. The other option would be to paddle in. I have a canoe and a kayak would only need to figure out logistics of moving vehicles.

And as they say HYOH.

That's right, NJRedneck. Don't you let SS bully you into hiking at his speed.

[silentorpheus]

Wow - just noticed that at some point I topped 1000 posts. Who knew I had that much to say?

[SilvrSurfr]

The other option would be to paddle in. I have a canoe and a kayak would only need to figure out logistics of moving vehicles.

I would really like to paddle in to Lower Forge one day.

Could you fit my canoe on your truck too? We could meet at Hampton Furnace, drop off boats/gear, then take your truck to Batsto Village and drive my car back to Hampton Road to start the paddle.

When we arrive at Batsto Village, we load canoes on your truck, drop me and canoe off with my car. Only question I have is where the heck would I leave my car around Hampton Furnace that's safe.

SilentOrpheus, would you be up for a paddle?

http://www.pinelandsalliance.org/exp...todo/canoeing/

[Ratdog]

Ok, I'll fess up.
Yes I know about sherpa options at Lower forge.
I haven't used it in 30+ years, always go in by canoe or walk in.

I probably can help with shuttle. Will double check calendar. If I'm not up north, I can assist.

Do not leave a car at Hampton Furnace.

I can throw the racks in the truck and haul 1 canoe and 1 kayak up top and 1 canoe in the bed with the bed extender.

Will either drop you off or have a sherpa and driver follow me to drive my truck out.

When I checked Hampton last year or the year before, it was tight and overgrown up there.
Maybe we could touch base with the Rangers and see if we can clear a little bit of the waterway. Not sure if that is allowed but we could ask.

[Ratdog]

Logistics-wise, we could actually just drop everything at the put in, leave some folks to run some real world hammock tests, and then one car would have to make the run down to Batsto. Atsion might be open, they usually open around April 1, that would make things easier.

I can lean on Max to shuttle us in from the Ranger station and let him have the truck for the weekend. Unless he wants to come.

[njredneck]

I would really like to paddle in to Lower Forge one day.

Could you fit my canoe on your truck too? We could meet at Hampton Furnace, drop off boats/gear, then take your truck to Batsto Village and drive my car back to Hampton Road to start the paddle.

I can fit 2 canoes on top of the rack they have to overlap a little but they will fit.

[njredneck]

Paddle in means we will need a real menu and no need to scavenge fire wood.

[SilvrSurfr]

Paddle in means we will need a real menu and no need to scavenge fire wood.

Yeah, all this real food lately is making me wonder if my Pack-it Gourmet meals will expire before I eat them. Not complaining, just saying.

[silentorpheus]

Yeah, all this real food lately is making me wonder if my Pack-it Gourmet meals will expire before I eat them. Not complaining, just saying.

Can that stuff really 'expire'?