A Creek And Three Branches, A PBX Hike

Teegate

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Sep 17, 2002
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All,

Todays PBX trip has been a long time in the making. Back in March Bob announced that Chris (Hewey) had designed a trip for us, and here is an edited version of Bob's announcement.


PBX Exploring Trip--A Creek and 3 Branches

Winter is gone, gone, gone....put yer rubber boots on...lets get the hell out of Dodge and into the woods!

This trip was designed by Chris and is a true exploration of the wilds of Cedar Creek! We'll meet at 8:30 AM at the Dover Forge Canoe Launch on Saturday, 3 April. From there we'll cross Cedar Creek by canoe, then stash the canoe, and head off into some of the wildest country in Ocean County, or anywhere else for that matter.

On the way, we'll cross 3 Branches of Cedar Creek; Daniels, Newbolds, and Factory Branch, where Chris will show us the famous Freakish Cedar of the East.

From there we'll head east through into some real back-swamp country...the outer outskirts of Double Trouble, which will be our final destination.

Hope to see you there!

Happy Trails!



Unfortunately, March had quite a bit of rain and Bob announced this the day before the hike.


This trip is hereby canceled. It is absolutely outrageous in the Cedar Creek area with flooding. Water is even starting to flow over Lacey Road up at the curve at that little branch before the lake on the Davenport Branch (right past Mule Road). I have never seen that happen before.


With the summer over it was decided today would be the day, and at 8:30AM we finally were able to accomplish what we had waited a half a year to do. On this trip was:

Bob (bobpbx)
Chris (Hewey)
Scott (RednekF350)
Jeff (Woodjin)
Me (TeeGate)
Mike Baker from mikebaker.com
Paul
And for the first time Rob (sandcast69) who I am proud to say made it the complete way without a complaint. Well done Rob!



After a slow start trying to get all of us across the Cedar Creek, we finally were able to head into the woods and get rolling. A group photo while up to our knees in leather leaf.


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While looking over Live Maps, Bob noticed this location on our route. We made a point to check it out.


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It turned out to be a few downed trees.


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And we have to visit a spung on every PBX hike. This one was pretty dry.


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I guess they must have been looking for something on the ground :)


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At an old Blueberry Farm we found two wheels from an old tractor, exactly like the ones found hidden away in the briers at Wescoat Bogs.


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An old outhouse laying on it's side.


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Lunch at the local restaurant. Seating on cinder blocks.


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An interesting looking mushroom!


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Rip Van Winkle taking a nap against a tree.


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Twenty years later he was still there!


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A scenic view.


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What have we gotten into????


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I threw this in.

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And oh so close to being as big as the "Mutha" tree of Jeff's, Chris found this slightly smaller freaky twin. A very nice find!


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On a frustrating note, I took quite a few video's that I am sure you would have enjoyed; however, my video settings somehow switched to the poorest settings and I just am not happy with the results.


And finally, I want to thank Boyd for going above and beyond the call of duty for making me a special map to use in my GPS for the hike. The map allowed me to go paperless for the first time on a PBX hike, and be able to follow along with our route perfectly. I can't say enough how well it worked for me, and how much more I enjoyed the hike because of it. I truly appreciate your contribution to me and PBX.


Guy
 

Hewey

Piney
Mar 10, 2005
1,042
110
Pinewald, NJ
I have been wanting to do this hike for a long time. This is my home chunck of woods with it being less then 2 miles from home. I have spent many days in this piece of woods but never traversed it from one side to the other. Yesterday I finally was able to do it. Great weather, company and woods although very thick at times.

An area at the start of the hike. It reminds me of Maine or Canada.
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A crystal clear spring
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The cedar in The Daniels Branch were virgin and very tall.
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Bob in the Factory Branch Swamp.
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Bob next to the Freak for size comparison.
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The Factory Branch almost to where it flows into Cedar Creek.
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PBX crossing The Factory Branch for the second time.
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Chris
 

Teegate

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Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
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Chris,

You designed a great hike! The photo of the spring turned out very nice. It makes me think I am there.


Guy
 

Boyd

Administrator
Staff member
Site Administrator
Jul 31, 2004
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Ben's Branch, Stephen Creek
Really great photos - looks like you had a fun day! Glad I was able to make a small contribution Guy, and that your Oregon is earning its keep. :)
 

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,358
340
Near Mt. Misery
Chris designed a great hike for us through some very wild pine barrens wilderness. We didn't see any garbage (except for a few old beer cans at a crossroad) on this whole hike.

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What a great time of year to be out in the woods
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Guy
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Chris
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Can you spot the rabbit in this photo. It was probably the first human encounter he had.
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shelter
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Bob and Chris in the thick of it.
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Fall colors at the edge of a dry spung
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Jeff
 

manumuskin

Piney
Jul 20, 2003
8,678
2,593
60
millville nj
www.youtube.com
great pics! I really liked the factory branch shot and the medder shots.wish i was there but working 4 to 12 yesterday couldn't make it.will have some weekends off starting in january.hope to make a pbx hike or two then.
Al
 

mudboy dave

Explorer
Oct 15, 2008
950
19
43
atco
opentrailsnj.org
Everytime I see these reports I want to go more and more. Time is a killer for me now though. I hate leaving Court alone with the 3 kids since I do it 5 days out of the week already. Looked like an awesome time.
 

sandcast69

New Member
Jan 4, 2010
15
0
Mays Landing, N.J.
Thanks for a great time Saturday, I had a blast! You guys are the Delta force of bushwhacking.
I'm sore, bruised, cut up, and killed a set of hip waders. It was a good day!


sandcast69
 

Teegate

Administrator
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Sep 17, 2002
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Thanks for a great time Saturday, I had a blast! You guys are the Delta force of bushwhacking.
I'm sore, bruised, cut up, and killed a set of hip waders. It was a good day!


sandcast69

I am glad you enjoyed yourself. There is always uncertainty on anyones first outing, and I suspect that was why you were so quiet. I am sorry if I kept asking if you were okay but I did not want you to have a problem and us keep going like we did not care. At times it was a little intense and you did quite well.

Guy
 

oji

Piney
Jan 25, 2008
2,129
549
64
Browns Mills
Sorry that I missed this one! You had beautiful weather and scenery. Do you think the tractor wheels were switched for a different type and then forgotten about?
 

Teegate

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Sep 17, 2002
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Do you think the tractor wheels were switched for a different type and then forgotten about?

That certainly could be true. Those type of wheels must have been popular.



At Wescoat Bogs.


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Guy
 

RednekF350

Piney
Feb 20, 2004
5,064
3,341
Pestletown, N.J.
It was good to get back into the big woods after the long hiatus since the May trip.
Chris put together a killer hike and we saw a lot of remote country that few have ever tread.
The cedar swamp stretch in the afternoon damn near killed me as I struggled to keep up with the hippers holding me back.
Sandcast did well and I hope he gives it another shot in the future.
At 46, he was the third youngest out of the 8 that made the trek. The oldest was 62 and he is a marathoner.

One of the things I appreciate the most about these trips is knowing I am healthy enough to complete them.
They are not easy hikes and one has to realize what 6 miles from point A to point B through woods, spungs, deadfall filled swamps and streamcrossings feels like when there is no path made for you in between.

Your health is the most precious thing you have in this world and this past week put it more into perspective than ever for me.
My wife of almost 28 years underwent a lobectomy (removal of a portion of the lung) last Monday and is recovering slowly at home right now.
We have been together since we were 17.
Completing the hike last Saturday, with her encouragement to take part in it, meant more to me than words can express.

As for tangible trip highlights, here is a picture of a unique find. It appears to be a small railway used to haul logs from a swamp. We tried tracking it a little ways under the mud with no success.
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As for the wheel, it wasn't a last minute tire change. The axle housing was snapped.

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Thanks for looking.

Scott
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
25,984
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One of the things I appreciate the most about these trips is knowing I am healthy enough to complete them.
They are not easy hikes and one has to realize what 6 miles from point A to point B through woods, spungs, deadfall filled swamps and streamcrossings feels like when there is no path made for you in between.


So true! A couple places along that route was very challenging.



Guy
 

sandcast69

New Member
Jan 4, 2010
15
0
Mays Landing, N.J.
My favorite part of the hike had to be toward the end in the area we found the railway tracks. I've never seen so many pitcher plants in my life! Thanks again for letting me tag along, I'll definitely be doing that again.
 

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,358
340
Near Mt. Misery
My favorite part of the hike had to be toward the end in the area we found the railway tracks. I've never seen so many pitcher plants in my life! Thanks again for letting me tag along, I'll definitely be doing that again.

Glad to hear that Rob, it was a pleasure having you along.

Jeff
 

Hewey

Piney
Mar 10, 2005
1,042
110
Pinewald, NJ
I've never seen so many pitcher plants in my life! Thanks again for letting me tag along, I'll definitely be doing that again.

I have thought the same thing about that area.

It was good to have you along. we will see you on the next adventure.

Chris
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
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No doubt it was a great hike. That area is ripe for exploring and I have already found a few places I want to visit.

Guy
 

jburd641

Explorer
Jan 16, 2008
410
22
Port Charlotte, Fl.
Thanks for the great pics. Those of us who no longer live in the great state of NJ can still enjoy the pines through your adventures.
Scott, the pic of the railroad tracks is cool, amazing, and intrigueing. One question: any tics?

Best wishes to you and your wife for a complete recovery Scott.
 
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