Buck Run, A PBX Hike

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
26,285
9,140
All,

On April 9, 2025 all members of PBX received this edited email from Bob.


Our next trip is on Sunday, May 4th. We’ll meet at the Harrisville Lake parking spot at 9:00, and from there consolidate ourselves into enough vehicles to travel up to the parking spot right before the bridge over Buck Run. We are going to explore the wilds of Buck Run. I’ve always wanted to do this one and it’s not a long one and likely not that difficult. In fact, it’s only about 2.5 miles. The point is to get out there again and share the comradery. We’ll explore at our leisure, maybe go further up the top leg if you want.

I’ve decided that if you have teenage kids that are capable of doing this and want to do it, you can bring them along with you. You have to herd them around is all if they need it (a labor of love).
Let me know if you plan to come.
Happy Trails!

Bob

Because of bad weather it was rescheduled for today.

Jessica and I left the house early and stopped on the way along 206 to check on a location we usually see Lady Slippers. After doing so we walked back to our vehicle and was yelled at by a woman asking if we had a permit to be there. It turns out the woman was member "Turtle" who many of us know. She was with her mom and we had a nice conversation that we have not been able to do for a long time.

We then headed to Harrisville Lake to the meeting location.

Attending today was:

Me (TeeGate)
Jessica
Bob (bobpbx)
Dan (Menantico)
Steve (Behr655)
John (Smokejumper)
John's son Cole on his first PBX Hike
And on his first PBX Hike, John Abrams (M1Abrams)

We drove to the bridge at Buck Run above Martha and our adventure began knowing it would be an easy hike. But as always, PBX hikes are never as easy as we think they will be.


The woods burned a few years back and the vegetation and briers are growing in thick.

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Steve motoring along.

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Buck Run in the distance.

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Much easier crossing than we thought. The water is really low.

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Dan found this Bass River monument. It turns out I had visited it back in November of 2016. It is the property corner for the Oswego Gun Club property now owned by NJCF. The top is made from lead and over the years the letters disintegrate and this one is no exception. In 2016 you could see some of the lettering.

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Today they are gone. It says NJ 401BR

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Smokejumper and his son Cole

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Jessica

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Me, Steve, John and Cole

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It was a tougher hike than expected taking about 4.5 hours to travel around 3 miles.

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And then it was over.

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Gathering at the end to discuss our rating. It was an 8.0

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Steve was a trouper today. With bad knees and other issues he completed what had to have been a hard day for him.

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bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,969
5,282
Pines; Bamber area
Good company and a good day. It was tougher than I thought it would be, for sure. I think the briars were heavy due to the elevation of that area. Kind of low for some sections that were supposed to be somewhat upland in nature.

Here below is where we crossed, but we had planned to go to 'First Try'. I think it was 50-50 that First Try could be crossed on the other branch, so we had to choose one or the other. Ron and I are going back to that area in a couple weeks to look for orchids, so we'll see if First Try is even doable. It would have been a whole lot easier because there are clearings on the way to First Try, plus we'd come out very close to where we parked.

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RednekF350

Piney
Feb 20, 2004
5,144
3,515
Pestletown, N.J.
Sorry to have missed this one everyone, but as I get older, I literally think about how many more hunting trips are in the cards for me. I love all types of hunting and if the season is open, I am going. My persistence this turkey season finally paid off yesterday. I was able to shoot a large Tom with an 11" beard and 1-1/8" spurs with 45 minutes left until the noon quitting time.

I hope to meet up with everyone on the next PBX hike.
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
26,285
9,140
I have added this hike into the complete PBX hike list. This hike is # 88.

 

M1 Abrams

Explorer
May 4, 2023
223
491
67
Burlington County
Confessions of a rookie PBXer

Not long before joining NJPB in May 2023, I stumbled across some old PBX reports. As I told my fellow hikers after we finished, the best comparison I could think of to my reaction was that from The Godfather of Michael Corleone in Sicily when he first saw Apollonia, and was "hit by the thunderbolt." I just looked at these enterprising folks doing deep hikes through the woods to amazing places, and longed for the chance to join their number. I would imagine what it would be like to hike with them. Of course, there is generally a big difference between theory and practice. What one imagines very rarely corresponds to crystallized reality. It virtually never happens.

It happened Saturday. It was all I imagined it would be...and I imagined a lot! Seven great companions to share a beautiful day in the woods. Just glorious.

The fabulous Mr. Abrams
In my 67 years, Bob, I do believe you're the first one to link my name to the adjective "fabulous." But who are you trying to kid? There's only one fabulous person on the forums, and her name is Alfreda. :D

disguised as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
LISTEN, BOB! I've been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I'm out there busting my buns every night! Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes!

When he speaks it's usually profound
I don't know about being profound, but I can tell you, I am stubborn and dogged. Now that I've gotten my ample foot in the door, I'm sorry, but PBX is stuck with me for the duration!

I think his smile says it all.
OK Bob, you got me there. It was a great day.
 

M1 Abrams

Explorer
May 4, 2023
223
491
67
Burlington County
My persistence this turkey season finally paid off yesterday. I was able to shoot a large Tom with an 11" beard and 1-1/8" spurs with 45 minutes left until the noon quitting time.

I hope to meet up with everyone on the next PBX hike.
Congratulations Scott! Be it hunting or other sports, a winning shot with time expiring is sweet. The hope to meet at the next PBX hike is mutual.

Good job of sneaking an Airplane quote into the trip report! :D
Roger Murdock sends his regards, Boyd. :)
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Boyd
Well believe it or not I recovered fairly well from this hike. So much so that I went on my scheduled 4 mile hike with a friend today. Saturday I was certain I was going to have to cancel. But what a difference trails/old roads make, no wonder they were invented!. We parked by the ruins at Hampton Furnace and found our way to Hampton / Lower Forge Rd. and hiked out to Bull Dozed/ Push Line Rd. going past the Lower Forge camps sites. It was a beautiful day and it was easy!
It looks like my bushwhacking days are over unless they are very easy. Some dry savannahs maybe?
Again, thank you all for not leaving for the buzzards.
Steve
 

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