Batsto sunrise, Mullica Sunset
- Thread starter Jon Holcombe
- Start date
You can probably make it in your highlander but you might have to deflate down to 12 psi or so. Harbor Freight sells a cheap compressor with a cigarette lighter adapter. There is one section after Park Ave(D daves rd) and heading south, that has the thickest sugar sand you will ever encounter. You may have better luck coming in from Constable. During the wet season there are a few sections that fill with water and look intimidating, but it's not bad if you have the clearance.
Is it the AWD option? Do you air down the tires? What type of tires?
I have seen many AWD Highlanders driving the beach where you have dry and wet sand conditions. Most that get stuck do not air down, others just drive too fast. I've seen more Hummers than anything else get stuck. They offer classes for beach driving, very similar to the sand road driving. Some sand driving tips from the NJBBA;
- ALWAYS air down!Use caution not to get sand in stem or cap. Lowering your tire pressure is easier on your vehicle, on the beach and on the next person to come on the beach.
- Plan your movements. Try not to make last minute decisions. Cross ruts gradually and avoid hard turns. Use pre-existing ruts when possible.
- If you start to get stuck STOP! There is no hard bottom; you will just continue to dig a hole. The throttle is not the answer. Attempt to back up into your own ruts, air down, dig out or get help.
- If you need to be pulled out, always have the towed vehicle in gear if possible. Do not dead pull, a snatch strap and tension is usually all that is needed. Try to avoid 30mph jerk outs they are hard on all the equipment and very dangerous to those nearby.
- Always fill in the holes that are created when you get stuck; the next person will thank you!
- If your vehicle runs hot from beach driving, turn it into the wind and open the hood. Do not shut it down hot!
Joe, you were exactly right. Batsto Fireline Rd was drier than I've seen. I drove all the way down to the intersection, made a left and drove to the end of Sleeper Branch Rd without incident. Sand was pretty soft but the Highlander handled it well, the AWD is very good. I was impressed by all of the feeder streams and water in this area, and saw evidence of old bridges, large flat stone or concrete at the edge of streams, as if there were bridges or a structure there. The three logs were crossing a feeder stream that runs parallel to Sleeper Branch Rd that Google says IS the Mullica, but I don't believe it is. I am wondering if there is a definitive map or reference for these streams? Manumuskin described the Temawahocken to me, but I cannot find that term or many of the other small creeks running from Rt. 206 south, on the maps. The pics are roughly north to south along the Mullica, the last being at the end of Sleeper Branch Rd.
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That's great John! glad I could help you get there and take these fantastic shots! as I said, that road can be nasty at times, but has been mostly navigable for quite a while this year.
The reason I have not purchased a 4x4 is the amount of gas I would use would increase substantially. I travel long distances sometimes both days of every weekend and my gas consumption is fairly low in this car.
Temakwehawken is a name I made up for that stream.it is lenape for beaver creek which is fitting. Tulpehocken mean s turtle creek in lenape.
Don't know if you've looked recently, but the mpg of some are pretty darn good. I regularly get 24-26 on the hiway. My best was 27.1, not bad for a 2 1/2 ton vehicle. With the new drive systems you rarely need to switch into full 4wd; I've only used it in deep snow. I use Fuelly to track my fuel usage and for 23,600 miles my avg fuel cost per mile is $0.099
Teegate, I saw a large flat stone or concrete about 15 yards downstream from the 3 logs photo so perhaps that's where the mill or a bridge was, and a prominent stone at the end of Sleeper Branch Rd at the Mullica. I didn't shoot it because I am sure that this area has been thoroughly explored and you have already shot it. I also saw concrete at this location where the creek widens as if there was a bridge there:
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.70589490906886&lng=-74.7012859582901&z=18&type=hybrid&gpx=
There are lots of creeks and streams with no apparent name (that I can see on the maps) that flow into the Mullica from this area, and I see lots of evidence of old bogs on that side of Batsto-Fireline Rd. I thought this area might be the Wescoat Bogs.