There is a mountain of stone piled in the Wells Mills bus lot that is slowly making its way to the mountain area roads, primarily Jones Rd at this time.
Forked River Mountain Hike
- Thread starter JackWardell
- Start date
Knowing all too well about that notorious puddle of mud, given the recent dry spell we've had, I decided to drive to the FRM.
Started from Jones Rd all the way to the junction with Bryant Rd. Bone dry. Got to the notorious mud pit and with was also bone dry. Aside from many whoops and some soft spots of sand, the trip there was without issue in my Xterra. Took about an hour from 539 to the base of the hill.
I had seen there was some recent confusion to whether or not motor vehicles are prohibited from this area. Some people say it's off limits, others say it's open. I only saw two signs that said ATVs/ORVs were prohibited. Nothing about registered motor vehicles. If I'm wrong, my apologies and I'll make the trek on foot next time.
The FRM has seen significant erosion from ATVs, dirt bikes, and other vehicles, so to not further disturb anything, I parked in a drainage side cut at the base of the hill and trekked up on foot.
I was quite surprised to see how clean the place was. Aside from a few cans and wrappers wedged in between the deliberately cut logs (used to slow the erosion and cut access to ATVs) there was very minimal garbage. One tree at the view point was recently charred. Gorgeous day outside.
Started from Jones Rd all the way to the junction with Bryant Rd. Bone dry. Got to the notorious mud pit and with was also bone dry. Aside from many whoops and some soft spots of sand, the trip there was without issue in my Xterra. Took about an hour from 539 to the base of the hill.
I had seen there was some recent confusion to whether or not motor vehicles are prohibited from this area. Some people say it's off limits, others say it's open. I only saw two signs that said ATVs/ORVs were prohibited. Nothing about registered motor vehicles. If I'm wrong, my apologies and I'll make the trek on foot next time.
The FRM has seen significant erosion from ATVs, dirt bikes, and other vehicles, so to not further disturb anything, I parked in a drainage side cut at the base of the hill and trekked up on foot.
I was quite surprised to see how clean the place was. Aside from a few cans and wrappers wedged in between the deliberately cut logs (used to slow the erosion and cut access to ATVs) there was very minimal garbage. One tree at the view point was recently charred. Gorgeous day outside.
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The mountain is only clean because the Forked River Mountain Coalition cleans it each year. I myself was part of the crew last year, as was German, and Dawn Jennings, and a group of active teenagers. About 5 or so bags of cans and bottles were taken out.
By the way, that is very nice looking vehicle you have, and it's a real treat to see someone actually using one like yours in places it was built for.
PS: no license on the front. Either blacked out, or from out of state, or a temp tag on the back?
By the way, that is very nice looking vehicle you have, and it's a real treat to see someone actually using one like yours in places it was built for.
PS: no license on the front. Either blacked out, or from out of state, or a temp tag on the back?
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On a similar subject, have you noticed cars with NJ tags that are black and gold? The car was black and gold as well. Then I saw another car with the tag black and gold. My daughter says you can send your tags to a company that will strip them and paint them a color of your choice. Completely illegal I am sure but they are out there.
I guess if you are driving the car you just send one to be painted and when it comes back you send the other?
Looks like a NJ registration sticker on the windshield. I see NJ cars with no front plate pretty often and wonder about that. A Google search just now says that front plates are currently required, however a bill and petition were introduced in 2022 to only require rear plates. Apparently, it did not pass.
At least one version of this is sold as a "wrap kit" with decals in all kinds of color combinations and you can do it yourself at home. The companies that sell them list them as "for retired plates only" or "for showroom use, not DMV approved" etc. Likely illegal and I'm sure you can be ticketed for it, the same as you can be ticketed for not having the front plate installed - but I do see them on the road from time to time.
Jersey plates. I've never run a front plate on any of my vehicles. Nobody's ever given me an issue. Extra plate stays in the glove box.
I have an electric blue Xterra.Great woods truck. I don;t dig holes with it but I"ve gotten out of a few
Not caring is why I don't
Lost one (fell off) and not paying for replacement
Other vehicle is from out of state, has a plate somewhere but no mounting bracket
3rd car has a front plate but it's so old and road debris blasted it's almost bare aluminum
That "wrap kit" sounds interesting, unless I just take it off! LoL
My daughter got her first car. It didn’t have the front bracket. She really didn’t want to put it on. I warned her she might get pulled over. Within a month she got pulled over for it. That night she ordered the bracket
We visited the Forked River Mountains early this morning. Stopped at my campsite that I first visited 50 years ago this year. Checked out the well we dug back then.
The cover is still somewhat intact.
The hole is still there.
The road to it is a mess and still has water. There is quite a bit of clay in that road.
Then visited the main mountain to see the hanger.
The cover is still somewhat intact.
The hole is still there.
The road to it is a mess and still has water. There is quite a bit of clay in that road.
Then visited the main mountain to see the hanger.
There are piles of stone and dirt on the road in from 539. Nobody has tried driving up them...yet.
I noticed tall tubular poles along the road in from 539 spaced about the same distance apart and for the most part the same distance from the road on each side. They were marked with surveyor tape. Not sure what they are but I will take a guess. It appears the road has been surveyed and it most likely is a 60 foot wide road. So the poles are about 30 feet from the center on each side. If I am right I wonder what that would be for???????? And I could be completely wrong.
Is this a camp site you camped in as a teenager? you dug a hole to collect seep water to drink or did you make an actual well? a hole with no brick or stone to shore it up that lasted fifty years would be quite amazing