OCSJ Spotlight on Anthony Venti
By Vera Stek
Anyone who has hiked in the Pines in the past several years has probably noticed the perfect trail blazes marking the popular paths on the Batona, in Parker Preserve and other areas. Some hikers have speculated that the painter used a stencil to create these perfect blazes, but they are wrong.
It most likely was Anthony Venti, an active member of the Outdoor Club since 2018 and a dedicated volunteer with the trail maintenance crew. Using his background as a draftsman, Anthony has made his mark on the Pinelands, an area he has come to appreciate more and more since moving closer to the area.
Besides painting the perfect trail blazes, Anthony is the perfect club members, getting involved in the club and giving his time and efforts to making the outdoor experience safer and better for all. Here’s his story:
Q. Tell us about yourself.
ANTHONY: I was born in 1957 and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, living in a typical city neighborhood. Married Ruth in 1981 and moved to Haddon Township where for the next 39 years we lived the suburban lifestyle, raising two daughters and being blessed with five grandchildren.
We moved to the Pinelands section of Medford in 2018, which we jokingly call “The Wilderness” when compared to our earlier urban and suburban years. After graduating high-school in 1975, I was employed by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (Department of Navy) as a Draftsman. I advanced up to a Naval Architect Technician until I switched Navy organizations in 1991 and transferred over to the Navy’s engineering station, NAVSSES as a Mechanical Engineering Technician. I retired from NAVSSES in 2017.
Q. When and why did you join the Outdoor Club?
ANTHONY: I joined Outdoor Club of South Jersey many years ago, but was not really an active participant. That changed when I moved to Medford as I am now closer to the Pine Barrens. I wanted to return to hiking and to learn about this unique South Jersey ecosystem. I never really ventured into the Pines before as most of my hiking was in Pennsylvania. I now consider my real OCSJ join date to be 2018.
Q. What benefits do you get by belonging?
ANTHONY: Participating on the OCSJ group hikes and being a member of the OCSJ Trail Maintenance Team, I am continually learning about and experiencing The Pinelands with respect to its vegetation, waterways and wildlife. I have had the opportunity to meet a diverse group of people from all lifestyles. You meet many OCSJ members that grew up in this area and readily pass on their knowledge of the Pines. I have made numerous friends with outdoor interests and goals similar to mine. Also, a couple of these friends introduced me again to backpacking, which had been on a long pause.
Q. What inspired you to get involved with the trail maintenance crew?
ANTHONY: I have worked on and maintained houses and cars all my life probably from 10 years old to present. So it’s just natural for me to be involved with something to do with work and maintenance. Shortly after moving to Medford, I saw a callout in an OCSJ newsletter about trail maintenance and felt this is exactly what I needed to get me back out on trails. I contacted Trail Maintenance Team Leader Ro Mason and here I am. I am also a strong believer in volunteerism, so Trail Maintenance checked that box nicely.
Q. You’re known for your perfectly straight trail markers. How do you do it?
ANTHONY: As previously mentioned, I was first employed as a Draftsman. As a draftsman you were taught and expected to draw straight, precise and crisp lines and lettering. I was an old school Draftsman, before the age of Computer Aided Drawing (CAD), using a pencil, straight edge and scale. I also spent 40-plus years free-hand field sketching for my Navy job. Plus I am a wannabe perfectionist and possess an unwavering attitude for attention to detail which both end up being a curse most of the time. It helps that the chip paint brushes are basically the same length and width as the blazes we paint. And definitely helps that I am part of an awesome Blaze Team consisting of Tammy, Steve, Janet Horton (original club tree painter who introduced me to blazing), and our accompanying brush clippers Janet and Vicky.
Q. What other activities do you participate in? Have you been active outdoors all your life?
ANTHONY: I participate in the group club hikes led by our numerous volunteer leaders, and as recent as last summer started club kayaking. Kayaking along the Pinelands rivers gives me a much closer (in your face) look and different perspective of the Pines. It opened up a whole different world at water level.
Yes, I’ve been outdoors most of my life, playing Philly street ball and recreational biking in my teens, then longer distance biking, elevation hiking, backpacking, and mountain climbing (non-technical routes) in my 20s through 50s to now hiking the flat lands of Jersey in my 60s. With my previous Navy job, I traveled extensively to the East and West Coasts, Gulf of Mexico and occasionally overseas. During these trips, off days and free time allowed me to hike, climb and explore the surrounding areas.
Q. Do you have goals such as a certain miles per week or per year?
ANTHONY: I am currently enrolled in the OCSJ 500 mile club. My goal is to hike 10 miles a week year round. With the numerous club hikes available and hiking with friends that I have met in the club, hiking 10 miles a week is very obtainable and is only limited by my available time.
Q. What are some safety tips you can pass on?
ANTHONY: Hydrate. Continually drink your fluids when participating in your year round activities. Dehydration affects you negatively in many ways and it kind of sneaks up on you without you suspecting. Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and even confusion can occur, none one of which is good, especially on longer hikes or backpacks. Also, for longer outings, bring along a trail mix or energy bar and munch away.
Q. What’s your most important piece of hiking equipment?
ANTHONY: Hiking and backpacking boots. Proper footwear for your outdoor activities is essential. Your feet are the foundation of your body and take a lot of abuse throughout the day, when hiking and especially backpacking. Well made, supportive and proper fitting footwear supports your feet and protects them from injury. I tend to wear mid and full height boots with good arch support. Many hikers prefer low hiking shoes or even trail runners. Whichever your preference, purchase the best proper fitting and supportive shoes/boots your budget allows.
Q. What are some of your favorite places in the Pine Barrens?
ANTHONY: My favorite is section hiking on the Batona Trail. Since returning to hiking with OCSJ, I have completed the 52.7 mile Batona Trail (end to end) four times. I am currently working on my fifth time before the summer humidity and bug season kicks in. My ongoing goal is to complete the Batona Trail once if not twice a year for as long as I am able.
A close second is hiking in the Franklin Parker Preserve. The red trial is my favorite with its suspension bridge, oversized Adirondack chairs, former cranberry bogs, wetlands, beaver lodges and dams. The yellow trail is pretty good too.
Q. Do you go on active vacations? If so, where have you been?
ANTHONY: Yes. Each year, I would take an adventure vacation plus a family vacation. Past adventures took me on multi-night backpacks in the Grand Canyon National Park, with one being a Rim-to-Rim backpack. I’ve completed five backpack trips into the Canyon to date and hoping to add at least one more before I hang up my pack. I’ve climbed Mt. Rainier twice with the goal of summiting. Unfortunately I was not successful in summiting either time. I climbed Mt. Saint Helens and hiked up Mt. Washington from Joe Dodge Lodge.
Fun fact (at least for me), I reached Mt. Washington summit via all three available ways; hiking, Cog Railway and driving the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Auto Road was the scariest. I completed the Presidential Traverse staying at three AMC high mountain huts in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I’ve also hiked/climbed Humphreys Peak in Arizona and completed day hikes in the Shenandoah, Grand Canyon, Mt. Rainier and Olympia National Parks. And more recently, backpacked sections of the Appalachian Trail (MD, WV, & VA) with my OCSJ friends.
Q. Any places on your bucket list?
ANTHONY: I’d like to visit and at least day hike in all the National Parks on the US mainland. With 51 Mainland NPs, I best get moving. Also return to Grand Canyon National Park and backpack a section of the Tonto Trail. There is much to enjoy and experience in our country. Our only limitations are our health, time and budget.
Q. What are some of your other interests?
ANTHONY: Each house I’ve owned, I have remodeled and rebuilt extensively. Ruth and I are on our third (and hopefully final) undertaking. I enjoy building, improving and remodeling; it started out as a necessity (first house) but since then it has evolved into an enthusiastic hobby.
Also maintaining and upgrading my vehicles. I currently have a 1999 Ford Cobra Mustang and 2003 Mercury Marauder which both require constant attention due to their age. I have wrenched on automobiles since I was 18 years old starting with my first car, a 1969 Plymouth Sport Fury.
I have a love and appreciation for American muscle cars from the late 50’s through early 70’s. I enjoy attending local car shows as often as I can.
Q. What’s something about yourself that might surprise others to know?
ANTHONY: As a federal civilian employee, I had the unique opportunity to join in and participate with the crew of the USS LaSalle in the “Crossing the Line” Ceremony. While sailing on the Navy ship from Bahrain through the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, we crossed the equator en route to Kenya. This crossing the equator ceremony is a long standing Navy tradition. As first time crossers we were looked down upon and treated as Slimy Pollywogs by the veteran line crossers, Honorable Shellbacks. After enduring a series of initiation rituals (by the Shellbacks) and participating in festivities over a two-day period, we Pollywogs were inducted into the “Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep” by King Neptune as lifetime Honorable Shellbacks.
Q. Anything else you’d like to say about anything?
ANTHONY: Consider volunteering your time. Volunteers help keep many organizations operational and running. Due to limited budgets, high cost of labor, and operating expenses many organizations rely on volunteer help. The OCSJ is made up entirely of volunteers, from the Board of Trustees, down to the volunteer activity leaders. And OCSJ runs volunteer trail maintenance days on select Saturdays throughout the year often assisting other organizations. Organizations such as NJ State Park Service, Rancocas Conservancy, Black Run Preserve, Burlington County Parks, Whitesbog Preservation Trust, and others constantly look to volunteers for help. Help out if you can.
Stay active all your life. It definitely benefits your health and well-being in your later years. On our club hikes I meet members hiking in their late 70s and 80s. It reassures me that if I stay active, eat healthier and with a bit of good health luck that could be me in the several years to come.
Thank You Rosemarie and Diane Mason (Trail Maintenance) for your unselfish and never-ending commitment to maintaining the Batona Trail as well as several other Pineland trails. Your dedication to the OCSJ and the Pinelands is amazing and much appreciated.
And Thank You to the Club’s Trustees, Activity Chairs and activity leaders, your involvement and dedication allows this club to exist and function for all members to enjoy.
And finally a bumper sticker I saw in New Hampshire, “When all else fails, find a moose”. No idea what it means but it works for me.
