Hike #514 9/18/10
9/18/10 Batsto and Atsion with Jillane Becker, Evan "Joe Millionaire" Van Rossum, Amanda Rosenblatt, Eric Pace, "Action Adam" Stevens, Jack Lowry, and Susan Duncan.
Taking a break, I think near Constable Bridge
My next hike would be another connection in the Pine Barrens of Wharton State Forest. This time, I'd make a connection between Atsion and Batsto using the Mullica River Trail and other area trails prior.
We met in the morning at Atsion and shuttled cars to Batsto. This historic village had one of the nicest state visitor centers I'd ever seen.
The northern terminus of the Mullica River Trail in Atsion NJ
Trail map in Batsto Village, NJ
Joe Millionaire and I in the Batsto Visitor Center restroom
After spending quite a bit of time at the visitor's center we followed a bit of the Batona Trail north, then left on a blue trail.
Along one of he Batsto area trails, Wharton State Forest
The blue trail took us out to a sand road which we followed to the right. We kept on this until we got to the lakeside trail and turned left. This took us to some outstanding views of Batsto Lake and then headed back south in the direction we had come.
Upper end of Batsto Lake, Wharton State Forest
Batsto Lake, Wharton State Forest
The trail was lined with many mushrooms, and was soft sand, but hard packed enough to make for nice walking.
Jillane found a mushroom
Batsto Lake view
Checking out an information marker along Batsto Lake
Caterpillar in Batsto
Caterpillar in Batsto
We stopped along the way to check out little caterpillars that were crawling all over things.
I think this picture is so cute
We soon came to where we could see some of the buildings on the opposite end of the lake through the trees.
View across Batsto Lake
View across Batsto Lake
We walked from the end of the trail up hill to the old Batsto Village and walked around for a bit. The place was full of great old buildings.
Batsto Village
This one was particularly great because many of the buildings were open, and even had people inside doing history talks about the area. It reminded me of what Waterloo Village used to be like, which is so sad to think about since that place is almost abandoned.
Messing with the camera in Batsto Village NJ
Jillane found a dress she liked in Batsto. She's got the perfect build for antique clothing.
Batsto Village
After looking around we headed back down hill and across the outlet of Batsto Lake at the dam. Eric got stuck behind chatting with one of the guys giving a history talk, but he soon caught up with us.
We took a break on the opposite side of the bridge where there was an awesome old mill.
Old mill in Batsto Village
Old mill in Batsto Village
I went inside to have a look around, and found something that said "Triumph" and it was made in Hackettstown NJ!
Wow...from back in the day when things were made in Hackettstown, all the way down to Batsto.
After our break we continued onto the long sand road through more of the old town.
Main drag, Batsto NJ
Old house in Batsto NJ
There were a lot of houses, mostly very small, probably built to house workers in the area. There were more interpretive signs, and most of the buildings were open with displays so we could go right in. This was a really nice surprise, since most government facilities were scaling back and/or shutting down.
Mullica River Trail crossing it's namesake stream
We soon reached the trailhead for the Mullica River Trail, and crossed the river on a foot bridge. It followed I believe the left side fo the river a short distance and came to another tributary crossing. The bridge was pretty badly damaged, and we stopped here, not because we couldn't get across but because there was a side trail.
Messed up bridge on Mullica River Trail
Side trail from Mullica River Trail, Batsto
Only Joe Millionaire, Amanda, and I opted to take the trip on the side trail which made a short mile loop. Amanda wasn't even going to come at first, but she soon caught up. This trail was particularly beautiful with wetlands and a dune like open area around mid way.
Side trail from Mullica River Trail
side trail near Batsto
side trail near batsto
side trail near batsto
There was even a nice section of boardwalk as we continued along to close in the loop.
Boardwalk trail
Strange trees near Batsto
The branches of these trees near Batsto grew into the ground
One of the strangest things we encountered was that some of these small trees had healthy, or I'd assume healthy branches growing out and then down into the ground. I was thinking mabe they were like the Quaking Aspens out west that grew new leaders off of a common root system. It was rather strange.
Messed up bridge, Mullica River Trail
Messed up bridge, Mullica River Trail
Messed up bridge, Mullica River Trail
Jillane at the messed up bridge
We soon returned to where we left Jillane at the messed up bridge. We took another little break here since it was a neat looking site before moving on.
Messed up bridge, Mullica River Trail
We continued along the trail which came close to the Mullica again, and it was soon on high hillsides above the river. We came to a great little spot I remember we had to stopped to swim the first time I paddled the Mullica in 1997.
Nice swimming spot from my youth
Beautiful spot along Mullica River Trail
We continued from here along the river winding it's way through the forest. This section looked pretty well used but we never passed anyone else on it.
Double fisting along Mullica River Trail
Mullica River
We eventually came to a sand road where the trail took us right. We soon reached Constable Bridge, a wooden bridge which carried the sand road across. The only time I remember seeing anyone other than our own group was at this site, fishermen. Usually I jump off of Constable Bridge but I don't remember if I had done it this time because of the fishermen.
We continued north along the trail from here, and I think we passed a camp site along the way. It was overall about the same. At one point there was a connector trail which went to the Batona Trail to the east but I don't even remember seeing it.
Along Mullica River Trail, Wharton State Forest
Mullica River Trail, Wharton State Forest
At one point the trail came to an area that overlooked a vast wetland to the left. I remembered paddling through this area. The Mullica became incredibly wide in the wetland, and instead of following the regular course of the river a shortcut was possible through the marsh. I remember swimming in the middle of it with my boy scout friends.
View of wetlands from Mullica River Trail, Wharton State Forest
Wetlands view from Mullica River Trail, Wharton State Forest
We continued north along the trail, which had become much narrower the further we went. After a while we were eventually joined by Action Adam who had started at Atsion and headed south on the Mullica River Trail. When he showed up he was dressed somewhat as a pirate.
Action Pirate Adam on Mullica River Trail
Northern Mullica River Trail, Wharton State Forest
A bit after this we were then joined by Jack and Susie who had done the same thing. All of us continued along the trail heading north.
Spot where I first put in to the Mullica River in 1997.
Action Pirate Adam
We soon came to another place I recognized, the put in spot for the canoes. I remembered it from my previous trips paddling the Mullica.
Former CNJ tracks near Atsion
Former CNJ tracks near Atsion
We soon came to the former Central Railroad of NJ, so we knew we were really close to Atsion.
Abandoned building in Atsion
It wasn't long before we came to an abandoned building nearing the old villlage of Atsion. Nothing like Batsto, this area had been full of abandoned buildings for a long time, but many of them were razed. This one was wide open, so we couldn't resist the urge to go on inside to look around.
Abandoned building in Atsion
Abandoned building in Atsion NJ
Abandoned building in Atsion
Abandoned building in Atsion
Abandoned building in Atsion
We didn't really find anything, and then we continued along the trail back out to where we were parked to end the hike.
We all went from here to Carol and Rob Creamer's house for a party to close out another fun day.
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