Destruction at Mount

[nek]

Playing devils advocate here. These folks probably don't know what a cellar hole is or its significance. It's a shame that its not possible for the state or one of the non-profits to put something as simple as a sign at an historic spot to signify what it is. If someone then trashed it, I'd be all in favor of castrating them or worse

Maybe the state could finally set aside an area where these folks could go to play, like was promised :words: It really can't be that hard to do.

Good point. I often find myself out in my truck, and while I do stay on the trails I'd like to know the significance of a cellar hole, or it's origination.

If these depression are important, it really is a shame that they're not better marked.

 

[maxwellandson]

 

[james ungehajer]

Nice pics Chuck, i really do not want to see it, but it is definitely time for a fence or guardrails like the one in Friendship, maybe some of those bricks and stones can be saved.

Jim

 

[Mts83]

I hate to bring this up again... but with the nice weather yesterday I took a several mile hike in the Batsto area. Upon coming up to Mount, I discovered even more damage had been done since my last visit back in March.

Here are a few pictures... there wasn't "fresh" dirt turned up, but there were certainly even more bricks churned up, and crushed. And, to top it all off some idiot decided to use it as a FIREPIT! . I had a friend along with me who had never even been there before, I mentioned that it's been talked about how the state should put a guardrail up. In his opinion, the site had already pretty much been destroyed.

Taken 4/26/09:

Firepit in the cellar hole

Bricks along the side

Crushed bricks

Burned logs

Bricks dug up and tossed around.

Here are some from March, when I went with Chuck (Maxwellandson), and his son (Bubbamax) to the site:

We all cleaned up a bit

Its a shame, but this site is really getting to the point of needing a guardrail.

 

[MarkBNJ]

Nice of you guys to clean up. I would almost say that rather than put a rail up they should just fill it in and cover it over.

 

[mudboy dave]

Nice of you guys to clean up. I would almost say that rather than put a rail up they should just fill it in and cover it over.

oh and that would be SO much better than people driving threw it??????? i don't support going off of teh main trail, but if people are complaing about it "getting destroyed", how could you even suggest filling it in? it would take away the historic factor all together right?

 

[woodjin]

I think he was being sarcastic. Sometimes it is hard to tell with just written text.

 

[mudboy dave]

true, i just didn't take it that way. i know there are sometimes I'm just being sarcastic and people get their panties in a bunch.............oh wow, did i just do that

 

[MarkBNJ]

oh and that would be SO much better than people driving threw it??????? i don't support going off of teh main trail, but if people are complaing about it "getting destroyed", how could you even suggest filling it in? it would take away the historic factor all together right?

Not at all. It could always be excavated later by professionals if that was deemed worthwhile. There is a lot of precedent for covering over historic sites to protect them from neanderthal testosterone freaks and relic hunters. Martha Furnace is one example. I would much rather that nothing have to change, but if the only answer to these dumbass wheelers is guard rails in the woods I'd rather they just fill the damn thing in.

 

[tom m]

Hey Mt if you were along the batsto then you might have seen a blue canoe fishin, my bro and me were chillin on the water , it was a gorgeous day for being in the pines.

 

[Mts83]

Hey Tom, I heard about that... I put my reply over in the Snake ID thread. It was a great day to be out there, temperatures were in the 90s, but it didn't feel as hot. The GPS registered at just about 7 miles.

 

[woodjin]

Not at all. It could always be excavated later by professionals if that was deemed worthwhile. There is a lot of precedent for covering over historic sites to protect them from neanderthal testosterone freaks and relic hunters. Martha Furnace is one example. I would much rather that nothing have to change, but if the only answer to these dumbass wheelers is guard rails in the woods I'd rather they just fill the damn thing in.

It is true there is precedent, like Martha, but it seems like filling in a celler hole when there is little else to preserve is basically elminating the historical site altogether. Also, personally, it seems to me that the main value of these areas are in our heads. That is to say, the appreciation we have for history. If you bury the remains, it is no longer there for us to appreciate and only holds value for an archeologist who might or might not dig it up in the future.

I don't think they should have buried Martha.

Jeff

 

[MarkBNJ]

It is true there is precedent, like Martha, but it seems like filling in a celler hole when there is little else to preserve is basically elminating the historical site altogether. Also, personally, it seems to me that the main value of these areas are in our heads. That is to say, the appreciation we have for history. If you bury the remains, it is no longer there for us to appreciate and only holds value for an archeologist who might or might not dig it up in the future.

I don't think they should have buried Martha.

Jeff

It's a catch-22 situation, I guess. I don't want anything buried, but I don't want guard rails in the woods, either.

 

[kingofthepines]

http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh224/beaniamyota/5-2-09/

 

[Teegate]

Well, they pretty much tells the story.

Guy

 

[Mts83]

Looks like the damage is fresh again, as of today (5-2)

That puddle they have videos of is just north of Mount. When I was there last weekend, somebody had a large log across blocking access.

 

[bobpbx]

http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh224/beaniamyota/5-2-09/

King, do you know where the area is around frames 26-40? I have a sinking feeling that is East of the Batsto River, and just south of where the Skit enters the Batsto. That is a very special place botanically.

 

[woodjin]

King, do you know where the area is around frames 26-40? I have a sinking feeling that is East of the Batsto River, and just south of where the Skit enters the Batsto. That is a very special place botanically.

I know where you are thinking about Bob, but I don't think that is it. I think they were just south of the tracks below rider's switch, west of high crossing. there is alot of Truck damage in there and the area is very sensitive.

You know, why don't we just put up a sign next to Mount stating that it is a historical landmark. These guys in the photo don't look like kids, they should really know better. They are ignorant, I guess. Maybe a sign would make them think twice.

Is there anyway to contact these people?

Jeff

 

[bobpbx]

I know where you are thinking about Bob, but I don't think that is it. I think they were just south of the tracks below rider's switch, west of high crossing. there is alot of Truck damage in there and the area is very sensitive.

You know, why don't we just put up a sign next to Mount stating that it is a historical landmark. These guys in the photo don't look like kids, they should really know better. They are ignorant, I guess. Maybe a sign would make them think twice.

Is there anyway to contact these people?

Jeff

I agree about the sign Jeff. I've been thinking of that for my area at Forked River Mountain. They have really eroded one side of it. I've also though of a dumping sign that will be posted on Dover Road in Bamber Lake:

WARNING: IF YOU DUMP HERE WE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND KILL YOU!

 

[woodjin]

I agree about the sign Jeff. I've been thinking of that for my area at Forked River Mountain. They have really eroded one side of it. I've also though of a dumping sign that will be posted on Dover Road in Bamber Lake:

WARNING: IF YOU DUMP HERE WE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND KILL YOU!

that is a good idea for a sign, but it should read: WARNING: IF YOU DUMP HERE WE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND KILL YOU...AND THEN DUMP YOU IN THE WOODS!!

I was thinking the sign at Mount could be a little less threatening though.

BTW the spot where I think the photos were taken is here;
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.7586882750465&lng=-74.66673374176025&z=16&type=topo&gpx=

You can actually see the damage form the aerial.

I know where you are thinking and I know it gets abused sometimes also.



Jeff