From the Chamberlain to Long Causeway

[Teegate]

All,

Jessica and I along with Bobpbx and his dog Buddy spent a few hours today exploring the big woods. My goal was to search out and find the elusive #20 mile marker for the Lawrence Line along the Chamberlain Branch. On the way there I was also going to look for a 1959 survey monument for the Greenwood Forest. Within 5 minutes of entering the woods Bob noticed Buddy was at full alert that something was not right up ahead. Suddenly a bell started ringing that sounded just like a Christmas bell and something started running through the woods past us. Now I don’t believe there are Reindeer in the pines, but for a few seconds I was beginning to doubt my beliefs. There was something running by us ringing a bell! Bob and I quickly gave chase but we were no match for this elusive Reindeer. Common sense would tell us that it was a hunting dog; however, like a UFO we never will be sure.

Ultimately, we did not find the monument or the stone, and my days of searching for that particular one are over. There had been extensive logging at that location and the stones demise is quite possible. On the way back I took this photo of the sign for the gun club on the Chamberlain Branch.

From there we traveled over to Long Causeway where my favorite photo of the day was shot. Here is Bob checking out the alterations to the bog there. It is believed that digging up the bogs will promote diversity in the plants that grow there, and a more suitable habitat for the creatures who make it home.

Long Causeway and the reservoir. Notice the Snow Geese in the far middle.

Then we did some more serious hiking. There was a remote savannah not far away that Bob wanted to check out. This photo shows Jessica and Bob disappearing into the unknown.

Bob and Buddy in this merged three photo shot. Buddy moved a little and is slightly blurry.


http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/12062008/merged.jpg

A wonderful day to explore the pines and get in shape for future endeavors

Guy

 

[bobpbx]

Heres the best I could do. Tundra Swans I think is another name. Same as snow geese?

 

[RednekF350]

They are Tundra swans.
Snows are the same size or a tad smaller than a canadian goose.
You are more apt to see snows in a field feeding in the middle of the day than cruising around a pond.
You will usually see snows in large flocks too, not just a few individuals.
Looks like a nice little outing boys and girl!

 

[dragoncjo]

Guy, never knew that was called long causeway. Glad they dug up those bogs there, they literally had nothing in them, no water turtles, nothing. The centers were like concrete.

 

[bobpbx]

My pine barren brother poses in a nice cedar swamp with a clean, deep stream. Bringing you reports from the deep woods for about 40 years now.

 

[Teegate]

The hair color shows it has been 50 years

Guy

 

[bobpbx]

Guy, never knew that was called long causeway. Glad they dug up those bogs there, they literally had nothing in them, no water turtles, nothing. The centers were like concrete.

Chris, I didn't mind them they way they were. I don't care for it much when they dig them up like that. There is, to me at least, some aesthetic beauty in an abandonded bog. The long vision range it creates after being in the close woods is often welcome.

It had plenty of plant life, and over time the organic material created may have surprised us by the diversity changes that develop naturally. We have plenty of time on our hands.

By the way, there was a lot of oils released when they dug them up. Do you think that was swamp methane or perhaps the heavy equipment may have leaked some of its lube oil?

 

[Teegate]

Guy, never knew that was called long causeway. Glad they dug up those bogs there, they literally had nothing in them, no water turtles, nothing. The centers were like concrete.

Chris,

I can’t get some of my maps to open in the proper viewer; however, here are a few I quickly found. This is the Burlington County map that is available on this site.

And if you use USAPhotoMaps and turn on the feature that displays the places of interest, you will see this.

I would imagine sometime in the recent past the name of the road was changed to Baptist Road. If you follow that road it turns into Long Causeway Road.


http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.77008570508645&lng=-74.42044258117676&z=15&type=m&gpx=

Guy

 

[dragoncjo]

Bob, I guess we have different views of aesthetic beauty

Those bogs though in that state provided little habitat to the critters of the barrens. Now that they are opened up they provide great carpenter frog, fowler toad,pbtf,leopard frog painted, spotted, snapping turtle, and water fowl habitat. I appreciate the history of those bogs, but also appreciate the area going back to its original state. As for the oil.....I'm guessing it is a result of dead organic materials being brought to the surface.....sometimes when the ice melts on top, all the dead trap gases come up at once.....just a total guess though.

Is that picture of Guy in the cedar swamp off of lauries road, right in the spot were the cedar stream floods the trail?

 

[dragoncjo]

Now that I think about I wonder what the original state was.....was in woods converted into cran. bogs.....or white cedar swamp turned into bogs?

 

[Teegate]

Is that picture of Guy in the cedar swamp off of lauries road, right in the spot were the cedar stream floods the trail? I'm thinking right here I could be totally wrong though... 39°47'50.98"N, 74°28'57.08"W.

The same swamp, but a different location. We were checking out the cedar cut to the right of that. After visiting there we were trying to decide how long ago that cutting occurred, so looking at the evidence there we came to a decision it was at least 50 years ago. Last night I did some investigating and you can see for yourself we were not quite accurate.

1972

1995

If you look closely you can the small savanah that was and still is there. The merged photo of Bob above was taken there.


Guy

 

[Teegate]

Now that I think about I wonder what the original state was.....was in woods converted into cran. bogs.....or white cedar swamp turned into bogs?

Ben's provides an answer to that. You just have to decide what you think. I say that are is too light to be a cedar swamp. Look at the cedars to the right.

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.79373223849999&lng=-74.49198246002197&z=15&type=nj1930&gpx=


Guy

 

[Teegate]

Here is a survey map of the Jones Mill tract that shows Long Causeway. This was when the mansion was still on Chatsworth Lake and the Beers family owned this property. Portions of this are still the property line of the PP. I am still looking for a stone there. Frustrating!

Guy

 

[dragoncjo]

Guy thanks very much for all that info...much appreciated. I'm thinking that it was cedar swamp on the outside, the middle is tough to say....maybe youngish cedars, savanah's?

 

[bobpbx]

Guy, Chris's coordinates are right on. That is where we were when I took that photo of you. Remember when we got out of the truck and walked down to where an old road crosses the Shreve's Branch?

PS: In that link you posted above, the ground is unaturally white on the West side of the Shoal Branch. I first told myself they cut the living hell out of the cedar there. Now I think they did do that, but I'll bet that white area is bulldozed preparation for the bogs after they took the cedar.

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.79373223849999&lng=-74.49198246002197&z=15&type=nj1930&gpx=

 

[dragoncjo]

I guess I spent to much time out there(nevermind you can never spend enough time out in the pines). I use to(and still do) marvel at how some of the guys on here can see a picture and know exactly where it was. Its funny how I'm now able to recognize places in the pines. You would think in the big woods that looks very similar throughout it would be tough to do.....but its really not. BTW, that is one of my favorite places in the pines back there....what do you guys think?

Bob, I think your right....looking at it now it looks like whitesbog when they dug up all the bogs a couple years back(illegally i think)....its all the dug up sand on the surface giving that appearance on the map.

 

[Teegate]

Guy, Chris's coordinates are right on. That is where we were when I took that photo of you. Remember when we got out of the truck and walked down to where an old road crosses the Shreve's Branch?

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I completely forgot about walking down there, and even now don't remember the photo being taken there.

Guy

 

[NJBill]

In many areas of the Preserve I've noticed what appears to be "piles" of sand throughout the old bogs and of course from reading here assumed this was part of their process of "restoring" them back. Is this the extent of the "restoration"? From a distance it looks like loads of earth/sand were just dumped in piles but from the photo in this post it's as if they just take a scoop of earth and pile it to the side. I've yet to wander out into one myself to actually see.

Does anyone know the exact process or expected result? Is this all that will be done or just a stage and they have more to complete?

Its rather unattractive in this state for sure and was just digging for more info on the process, wondering if it is something proven and what we might try to picture the longterm result looking like years from now.

Bill

 

[bobpbx]

BTW, that is one of my favorite places in the pines back there....what do you guys think?

I think I agree with you 100%. Whenever I see a little stream that is running tight between its banks, and I know that it comes from the deep piney woods, I relish that. Here is the stream further upstream from the photo of Guy. My kinda woods for sure.

After we reached the little stream (about 30" wide), we followed it into the deep recesses of the cedar swamp for awhile. Now, I ask you ladies and gentlemen...how can you beat that?

 

[woodjin]

Very Nice report and photos gentlemen!!