All,
On 3/1/08 this edited announcement arrived in the inbox of all members of PBX.
Get your swamp-stomping shoes on. We’re taking in the scenic sites of the West Jersey Pine Barrens.
The title of our next trip is “Alquakta Branch” We’ll meet at 8:45 AM on Saturday, March 29. The meeting spot is 2.5 miles south of Tuckerton Road on Jackson / Medford Road
Dig this. Where we park, the stream that crosses the road heads west, then north toward the mighty Rancocas. But we ain’t going that way. We’ll be heading in the opposite direction, into the wilds that make up the start of the mighty Mullica River watershed.
In fact, in less than 1/3 of a mile, the water flow will slowly start to creep and lean and wend its way toward the mighty Atlantic. This is the flow that eventually makes up the Alquakta Branch. By the looks of it, this branch supplies a lot of the headwater of the Mullica. I mean, for God’s sake, look at the size of that swamp. It’s a real Mother!
Guy and I designed this trip. This trip is about 5.15 miles if a crow flies, but we should plan for 6 miles at least. I would wear knee highs on this trip.
Happy Trails………bob
So after meeting up this morning we headed off for a day of exploring. On this hike from PBX was:
Gabe (pinelandpaddler)
Bob (bobpbx)
Me
Scott (rednekf350)
Jeff (woodjin)
Tom (long-a-coming)
Chris (chrisnj)
and two non members
Mickey
Paul
Our first scenic view
Then we came upon this piece of technology that we just had to try out. Let me tell you, the owner of this has some interesting photo’s to look at. Move aside Britney
The beginnings of the Mighty Mullica.
Bob
Another interesting visit.
Jeff testing the waters.
What would a hike be without stone searching, and this was no exception. This stone is for the corner of one of many pieces of property purchased in the area in 1767.
Jeff
My calculation on the next stone put it in the middle of a spung, which is quite unusual. After a few minutes of searching I called it quits and asked everyone to move on. In what was a stroke of luck, Mickey pushed his walking stick into the ground and hit something hard, and sure enough he found another one.
Discussing it
Another view
Then at lunch they decided to kill Gabe, even leaving him in the road. Here they are deciding what to do with his body.
It bothered me so much I just had to leave.
When they finally told me it was just a joke, we headed off and Bob found what we believe to be a charcoal ring. Notice the ringed depression and the rise in the ground. There were at least two at this location.
Scott discovered this rather large Sassafras tree that may just be a record size.
Chris in a savanna.
Here is where the day gets a little disturbing, much like when they killed Gabe. This time we can blame this on ATV’s.
Entering the longest and largest savanna in the pines.
Jeff planning his strategy.
Paul
In the end it was 6.7 very hard miles, and we all rated it an 8.9. A great day with great people, just how it should be.
Guy
On 3/1/08 this edited announcement arrived in the inbox of all members of PBX.
Get your swamp-stomping shoes on. We’re taking in the scenic sites of the West Jersey Pine Barrens.
The title of our next trip is “Alquakta Branch” We’ll meet at 8:45 AM on Saturday, March 29. The meeting spot is 2.5 miles south of Tuckerton Road on Jackson / Medford Road
Dig this. Where we park, the stream that crosses the road heads west, then north toward the mighty Rancocas. But we ain’t going that way. We’ll be heading in the opposite direction, into the wilds that make up the start of the mighty Mullica River watershed.
In fact, in less than 1/3 of a mile, the water flow will slowly start to creep and lean and wend its way toward the mighty Atlantic. This is the flow that eventually makes up the Alquakta Branch. By the looks of it, this branch supplies a lot of the headwater of the Mullica. I mean, for God’s sake, look at the size of that swamp. It’s a real Mother!
Guy and I designed this trip. This trip is about 5.15 miles if a crow flies, but we should plan for 6 miles at least. I would wear knee highs on this trip.
Happy Trails………bob
So after meeting up this morning we headed off for a day of exploring. On this hike from PBX was:
Gabe (pinelandpaddler)
Bob (bobpbx)
Me
Scott (rednekf350)
Jeff (woodjin)
Tom (long-a-coming)
Chris (chrisnj)
and two non members
Mickey
Paul
Our first scenic view
Then we came upon this piece of technology that we just had to try out. Let me tell you, the owner of this has some interesting photo’s to look at. Move aside Britney
The beginnings of the Mighty Mullica.
Bob
Another interesting visit.
Jeff testing the waters.
What would a hike be without stone searching, and this was no exception. This stone is for the corner of one of many pieces of property purchased in the area in 1767.
Jeff
My calculation on the next stone put it in the middle of a spung, which is quite unusual. After a few minutes of searching I called it quits and asked everyone to move on. In what was a stroke of luck, Mickey pushed his walking stick into the ground and hit something hard, and sure enough he found another one.
Discussing it
Another view
Then at lunch they decided to kill Gabe, even leaving him in the road. Here they are deciding what to do with his body.
It bothered me so much I just had to leave.
When they finally told me it was just a joke, we headed off and Bob found what we believe to be a charcoal ring. Notice the ringed depression and the rise in the ground. There were at least two at this location.
Scott discovered this rather large Sassafras tree that may just be a record size.
Chris in a savanna.
Here is where the day gets a little disturbing, much like when they killed Gabe. This time we can blame this on ATV’s.
Entering the longest and largest savanna in the pines.
Jeff planning his strategy.
Paul
In the end it was 6.7 very hard miles, and we all rated it an 8.9. A great day with great people, just how it should be.
Guy
That is probably for the best.