Great Swamp NWR

[manumuskin]

These first three pics were taken by me since my wife could not get across some tricky logs to get out to the end of the trail.The area was flooded and the blind at the end could not even be accesses because of knee deep water.

This here is called the Great Swamp Oak.It is huge! A white oak.

and the sole black n white photo

 

[manumuskin]

Discount the first statement.When I posted it totally screwed up the order I had them in.

 

[manumuskin]

I also went to morris county outdoor education center and lord sterling county park,both of which are in the great swamp.
There is another county park near there that has old ruins mentioned in their literature along with survey stones.I found the ruins on Birds eye and intend to investigate later this winter.Also there is a stone on a hilltop known as tripod rock.Geologists claim it is a glacial erratic.It is a mega ton boulder sitting atop three small round stones.Some claim it was put there by celtic settlers a couple thousand years ago.There is another Dolmen/erratic like it at New Salem ,NY. I favor the celtic theory though an erratic is a possibility.I suppose the glaciers built the great round tower at Newport,RI too.
The great swamp was nowhere near as wild as it's namesake in the barrens,much more open though it did resemble bear swamp down my way.One tree species stuck out we don't see here much,Shagbark Hickory.The islands in the swamp in the wilderness stuck up high and were mainly oak and laurel,absolutely no pine and very little briar were to be found,a few hemlock here and there though.The Picataway was flooded and we had to drive through a 100 yards of door deep moving water.I was about to turn around when a local woman came through and went right through it.Not to be punked by a woman in front of my wife I hit the four wheel button and hammered down.I have seen what moving water can do with a vehicle and was somewhat hesitant at first.The flood upstream spread way out and made the area reminiscent of the Atchafalaya basin in winter,we even found one bald cypress growing along a pond bank next to lord sterling visitor center.
The huge oak shown is the Great Swamp Oak in lord sterling park.

 

[bobpbx]

Nice report Al. I always had the idea we should go up there and cross it sideways, or some such.

 

[Bobbleton]

Always a nice place to visit. I've never seen the boardwalk so flooded.

 

[manumuskin]

Bob,
from what I saw of the different sections of swamp most of it is much more open then our swamps and the wetness is of varying degree.All open spots were either open water or cattail marshes.The only really thick spots I seen were small water filled potholes in lord sterling park.the piscataway river floods regularly in winter I gather and it looks like cajun swamps.Would be way cool hiking through that area though that in itswelf is not large enough for a pbx hike.Of course if you waited till spring I'm sure you'd find new plants by the dozen. If Whip is willing I may head back up on a tuesday in jan or early feb.If you can get off a tuesday your invited to come along.

 

[whippoorbill]

This here is called the Great Swamp Oak.It is huge! A white oak.

Alfie! That oak has acquired more girth than you! Amazing!

 

[manumuskin]

probably because it predates me by a few years,more time to beef up.

 

[Teegate]

Al,

You need to get the camera in the hands of your wife more often. She took some nice photo's. Thanks for posting them!

Guy

 

[manumuskin]

She said thank you!