Deep Run Lowlands, A PBX Hike

[Teegate]

All,

All members of PBX received this edited email from Bob on 3/25/2023.

There are the Carolina lowlands and there are also the Osage Plains lowlands, over in Oklahoma, Kansas, and parts of Texas. Well, on this trip, we are going to cross the Deep Run Lowlands, where the elevation is only 50 to 60 feet above sea level.

I make no apologies here because I’m giving you fair warning right now. There won’t be vistas of water to enjoy here, no sir. But If you like the deep woods and cedar swamps where few go, then come along!

Happy trails! Bob

On this trip were....

bobpbx (Bob)
TeeGate (Me)
Jessica
RednekF350 (Scott) and his bride Dotty
Hewey (Chris)
Menantico (Dan)
PBX Mark
PBX Paul
PBX Mike


The trip started on Hampton Road at Deep Run and we traveled completely across the lowlands and swamps to Bards Bridge Road where we had left some vehicles. The state in more recent years have acquired about 82 feet of access to Bards Bridge road so we were able to stay on Wharton property the complete route.

Our route from South To North

Taking a break.

We came upon some really nice area's that deserve more exploring in the future.

And as deep as we were we did come upon a deer stand and feeder that a hunter had spent quite a bit of time making a trail to. Notice the camera on the tree.

This nice grove of trees in the Savanah had evidence that the deer were bedding down there. A perfect spot!

Some of the savanahs were fairly large.

Jessica was struggling today. Her new boots are insulated and weigh quite a bit and she was unprepared for how heavy they would be on such a long hike through the woods.

A Wharton property stone that I had visited years ago with Rob from work.

Fiddleheads all over the place on the final stretch to the end.

A massive amount of twayblade orchids along our route.

And the final stretch was a challenge to everyone.

Here is a video of the recent acquisition along Bards Bridge Road. It is not for the casual hiker.


Click Here For Cedar Crossing Video


In the end we rated it between and 8 and 8.5.

 

[bobpbx]

Nice report Guy. That second half was very tough. I'm tired. Some really wild country in there.

Good sized cedars in there. Odd that it seem it has not seen fire in many, many years. Chris and Dan (Menantico) below at a nice sized cedar.

 

[bobpbx]

 

[Hewey]

Today's hike was far from our longest, but the tail end of the hike was one of the more strenuous. The strenuous part is the small price you need to pay to see areas of the pines that very few humans lay eyes upon. It was a great day in the Jersey pines followed with a classic PBX tailgate post hike. At Today's tailgate we had two turkey gobbling not far away just about the entire time we were there. Gobbling turkey, thunder in the distance and good conversation with good people was the perfect end to the day.

From a dike at the start of the hike.

Cedar, sedge and moss.

Bob's find of the day. He found it 100 yards from the end of the hike. We usually find a shed antler or a buck skull on just about every PBX hike.

On my way home to the east side of the pines, I was able to see the smoke plume from the most recent forest fire in Little Egg Harbor TWP.

From Savoy in Chatsworth.

From Lake Rd on the Manchester TWP/Lacey TWP border.

Chris

 

[Teegate]

A little FYI for the PBX members and all others.

When driving down Bards Bridge Road yesterday we noticed that the D.C. Rod and Gun Club has a new name. It is now called Autumn Smoke Rod and Gun Club. I checked into it and on October 5, 2022 it was sold. D.C. Rod and Gun Club owned it since 1954.

NJPineBarrens Maps

maps.njpinebarrens.com

 

[bobpbx]

The fateful "go left or right decision".

 

[RednekF350]

Well it was only about two miles as the crow flies from starting point to finish point. But sadly, we were not crows. We were humans clutching and clawing our way through some unexpectedly tough natural obstacles. The last 1/3 of a mile or so was through a wind-damaged cedar swamp that slowed us down to a crawl. Everyone gritted their teeth and powered through with cedar bark smiles all the way.

God was looking out for us on this one keeping the powerful storms at bay in the afternoon. The tailgate soothed all the pain, as it always does and we peacefully watched the absolute easternmost edge of the thunder storms pass to the west of our spot. Yes Bob, the West !

I wouldn't have missed this outing for anything and I hope we can keep it going another 10 years! Thanks to Bob for assembling another classic Death March.

 

[bobpbx]

Scott, I'm trying to figure out why I was so wrong at the parking spot. Check this out, is this where your truck was and the way your truck was angled?

 

[bobpbx]

Chris, that smoke shot from Savoy Blvd, where was that taken? I don't recall those buildings on that road. Is that south of Savoy, in Chatsworth?

 

[Hewey]

Chris, that smoke shot from Savoy Blvd, where was that taken? I don't recall those buildings on that road. Is that south of Savoy, in Chatsworth?

The first driveway on the right heading out of Chatsworth on Savoy.

 

[RednekF350]

Scott, I'm trying to figure out why I was so wrong at the parking spot. Check this out, is this where your truck was and the way your truck was angled?

View attachment 19781

Yes Bob and north was at a 90 degree angle to the long axis of my truck. That would make it pointing to the top of your north up image as it should.
.

 

[bobpbx]

Yes Bob and north was at a 90 degree angle to the long axis of my truck. That would make it pointing to the top of your north up image as it should.
.

I recall we were standing about 8 feet in back of the truck, and the arrows went like this, roughly. No?

 

[RednekF350]

No. Rotate your arrow 45 degrees clockwise and then you would have it. The truck was parked more or less east-west. We were looking square into the woods from the other hike.

 

[bobpbx]

Okay, but that would put Dave's road south, and 206 west. That is what I was "saying", but I was always "pointing" in the wrong direction. I was only half right and half wrong. Like I said, if I'm in the woods I never trust my judgement unless I have sun and know what the time it is.