Big Spung, Pine Barren exploring

[bobpbx]

Yesterday PBX explored a large area south of the Skit Branch Bridge, just east of Hampton Furnace. I've always wanted to see the area just south of the bridge. I'd been there before with Guy, but I wanted to get an in depth look. Plus, I'd never seen the area called 1/4 mile, so off we went. Mickey, Scott, Chris, and Paul came on this trip.

Here was the general plan. Only 3 miles, but the terrain pushed it to a 5 hour trip.

This area is loaded with savannah’s, mostly made up of Carex striata. Still, they were stunning in their beauty.

Chris in one of the numerous ponds.

Scott and Mickey

Scott’s dog Murph treed a sleek, fat raccoon.

It was a great day. Scott brought great eats and wine that was outstanding. We rated this trip a 9.

 

[RednekF350]

Once again, a masterful hike pulled out of Bob's mind in literally one day. A last minute change of plans on Thursday resulted in a scrapped hike and then a brand new hike the same day. Thank you Bob.

This hike brought a lot of varied scenery and the weather was stellar. I brought my springer Murphy along and his tail wagged at full speed from the time we jumped out of the truck and didn't stop until he fell asleep in my lap on the ride home. His high point for the day was treeing a coon that was holed up on an island in the middle of a savannah. He is pretty well trained but would not respond to my repeated calls for Here! He refused to leave the island and after about 5 minutes the coon shot up a tree just off the edge of the savannah. I had to put him on lead for about ten minutes after that to keep him from breaking back.

The after party was a perfect cap to the perfect day.

Thanks again Bob for putting this together !

Our first stop an old barrel treestand. We found two of these. One was still in a tree. You would stand inside the barrel that was attached to the tree. The one still standing had a gun rest mounted to it.


One of the vistas.


Murphy accompanying Bob and Chris.


Murph.


Asleep, if just for a second in the warm afternoon sun.


Murph and his buddy Bob.

 

[bobpbx]

Oh boy, you take a couple slices of Italian bread and load it up with the roasted long hots, fresh cheese and soppressata...wash it down with homemade wine...it just doesn't get any better than that!

Thanks for the tailgate Scott!

 

[oji]

I hear you saw a turtle at the end

 

[manumuskin]

I love that area.Especially around the big pond at Squeeze Play.Great pics! If I had of had Sophie there she woulda treed a turtle next to Murph's coon.heck she digs em up outta the mud.

 

[bobpbx]

I purposely left out photos of the ruination of the spungs in the southern end by careless motor vehicle activity. Posting them would serve no purpose, we've all seen it before. Although the place is posted as closed to motor vehicles, we did note a few recent new ruts. Still, we can only hope that after a few decades it may return to normal.

However, the place needs a general cleanup. We saw more bud light than miller light cans, but they were certainly running neck and neck. And bottles were everywhere---the riders would just toss them out the window into the brush on either side of the mud runs. It is a big job, but I can see it being done in a day by about 15 people with bags. I hope the yearly Atsion cleanup takes notice of this.

 

[manumuskin]

Last time I was out there I had to step off the no vehicle road to let a pickup with two guys in it drive by.Literacy has taken a definite upswing in this country.I get hit with the same symptoms in front of Posted signs occasionally.That be the road that heads from Hampton Furnace south th quarter mile.

 

[turtle]

so, I made it for the last hurrah.... sometimes funny things happen when you're driving down Carranza road. I purposely positioned Chris and Bob with the sign. They were happy men. On my side, it was a pleasure to finally meet Mickey, quite a gentleman.

 

[Hewey]

What a great hike to start off the PBX season. The weather was great, the company is always good, and the tail gate is always looked forward to.

This was my first time exploring around the Skit. What a great area of the pines! Once you get away from the roads, very pristien with very little human activity. One of the great things was the almost lack of brier the entire hike. Very uncommon for a PBX excursion!

Bob, thank you for putting the alternate hike together in no time flat and for all you do that makes PBX happen. Scott, thank you for the wine and food. Always killer! Terry, it was great to see you again!

A few of my pictures from the day. All smart phone pictures, not the best quality. I was lazy and left my camera in my pack all day.

Much water in the area we explored today.






The big spung by waypoint "SqueezePlay". Very shallow, and I am sure dry sometimes. I was able to cross it in 18" knee boots.


A long forgotten treestand. Still chained in the dead blown down tree.


Chris

 

[Ben Ruset]

Oh man, I'd so love a briar free hike.