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Jeep? Pickup? No. For Pinelands exploration, you really want something like this. (Seen this past week at Bass River State Forest, checking in for camping.)

Post-fire drone video from NJ.com: https://www.nj.com/burlington/2019/04/drone-video-reveals-charred-aftermath-of-11k-acre-forest-fire-in-nj-pinelands.html Another article - rules out cause being a prescribed burn, no lightning, no power lines - therefore human activity. "Started in an area...

I think the investigation is ongoing but they likely know exactly where it started. Would it surprise anyone if it turns out that it started at a known 'party' spot in the woods? Where people gather, drink beer, light bonfires from pallets and other scrap wood? No? Maybe it was lightning, then.

Back to the topic of tree clearing around the Bass River fire tower, the Pinelands Commission website has 2 documents up, if anyone is interested in 'original source' info. You can find them linked from: https://www.state.nj.us/pinelands/home/meetings/index.shtml 1. "Bass River Fire Tower...

https://www.nj.com/burlington/2019/03/fire-rips-through-state-forest-in-south-jersey.html Article was posted at 6:42pm, quoting DEP at 6:15pm said 1000 acres and 0% containment. Includes a short video from Ocean County Sheriff's office.

More coverage of the application and meeting here: https://pinebarrenstribune.com/forest-fire-service-resubmits-request-to-clearcut-trees-in-bass-river-twp-p2802-165.htm As they often do, Pine Barrens Tribune does a commendable job covering local issues. Their reporter actually read the new...

Bass River Township Board of Commissioners wants to move the Pinelands boundary a bit, so New Gretna is entirely "outside": https://pinebarrenstribune.com/bass-river-commissioners-seek-to-expand-area-outside-pinelands-restore-los-p2783-165.htm What do you think? Does it have a chance?

Summary: At this Friday's 3/8 Pinelands Commission meeting, the re-submitted DEP application to clear trees that are blocking the fire tower visibility will be heard, with public comments. What's in the revised application is apparently secret until Friday, but it would not surprise me if it...

And let's all drive carefully out there... Stage Rd, Bass River; Fri 2/22. A car went off the road, rolled over and ended up on its side in the woods. The driver got out himself, unhurt but shaken up. Remember, if your tire goes off the pavement onto the soft roadside - like here - do not try to...

We didn't see any trees down at Bass River SF, not yet, although I would be surprised if we didn't lose a few. One wind casualty though - snapped right off its footings:

On Monday, with temperatures around 50, the lake was still frozen, and it had tracks of a different kind: the 2-legged human kind. I don't get why people would take a chance like that, walking out into the lake and back, but apparently plenty of people did. Or maybe the same person several times.

Whether it gets enforced or not... I think just having the law will stop SOME people from smoking / drinking. There are honest people out there. Others may 'cheat' but be discreet about it - keep that beer can out of sight and take the empties with you when you leave. Then there are the people...

Frostbite, probably... Yes you can smoke in your car with the windows/doors open, I guess, as the law does NOT prohibit it. [Oops, fixed it]

The new law is now in effect. No smoking or vaping anywhere (except inside private vehicles) in State Parks, Forests, Historic Sites, and Recreation Areas, including camping areas. The law does not cover WMAs. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/PL18/64_.HTM Driving in to Bass River SF on...

Those are great. I can see the tail - or is that the body - dragging along, plus the little feet.

An otter would be very cool. Did I mention that the path does not seem to touch the shoreline of the lake at any point? That's why we thought perhaps a winged thing. But an otter would be more interesting than a duck or goose.

Oh. I was hoping some kind of interesting creature did it... Here's a closer crop, and I increased the contrast.

Lake Absegami, Monday 1/14. Other than just in front of the spillway, the lake seems to be frozen over. But something made this meandering path. I couldn't see any place where the path reached the shore. Our best guess was a duck or goose landed and walked around a bit while the lake was not yet...

Dual-sport motor bikes, some with visible license plates but some without, driving by or transported on trailers; 'monster' trucks - those things with the huge tires; 'quads' or ATVs, some driving on the road and some on trailers, pickup trucks loaded with wood pallets (haven't figured that one...

The Keith Line (wikipedia) was surveyed in 1686. In our area it is part of the boundary of Ocean and Burlington counties, including one side of that weird pointy tip of Little Egg Harbor Twp. I heard that the Atsion hike, run by Outdoor Club of South Jersey (OCSJ), usually gets around 100...