North of Lower Forge

[SuperChooch]

After the thread on Mannis Duck Pond, I remembered I wanted to hike the area north of Lower Forge, specifically, this little dog leg off of the main trail:

The trail was nearly completely reclaimed in places, but fairly open in others. Sometimes it was hard to even find:

I came across this tree that had the bark stripped off in a line from the top to the bottom. My guess is a lightning strike?

You can see how high the stripe goes:

And it went right down to ground level:

Up close. I thought if it was lightning, it would be burned, but I didn't see any char:

Also stopped at location of this structure marked on the map:

Nothing there but a depression:

Continued in reply, can't post any more images....

 

[SuperChooch]

Then I headed up to the location that Don Catts has previously identifed as the Lower Forge hunting club:

Nothing there remaining however, I did just find a new lunch spot for kayaking on the Batsto.

I noted this square on the township border. I wasn't sure if that meant if there was suppossed to be some sort of marker there. I'm sure Guy will know I looked around briefly but didn't see anything.

This little guy was doing his best to hide from me:

This was my track. A little over 4 miles.

 

[smoke_jumper]

Definitely a lightning strike.

 

[smoke_jumper]

That is a nice area. One that I haven't been to in a while. I've always wanted to explore the eastern side of the Batsto in that area but never have yet.

 

[Boyd]

That "structure" looks round to me. If so, it would indicate some sort of a tank and not a building. See: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/TopographicMapSymbols/topomapsymbols.pdf

Also look at the "control data and monuments" section there. As I interpret it, that "square" is marking 41 foot elevation with no monument. But, of course, Guy knows a lot more about that than I do.

 

[Teegate]

The square on the Shamong / Washington Township line was officially called "Stone B" by the Wharton Survey Team. Many of the stones on township lines have various letters and numbers which I have to assume was assigned by them or someone before them for mapping purposes. That stone was there in the 1950's but when I looked about 12 years ago I found nothing. That is not to say it is not there as it may be underground. I have the exact GPS cords and could go back and poke for it but I suspect it is no longer there.

John, if you are ever going to the area again and want to meet up to poke in the ground for it I will certainly be interested. I have the exact coordinates of it so we would be within 15 feet or so with the accuracy limitations of our GPS units.

Guy

 

[Oriental]

Does anything remain of the old dam at Hampton's Lower Forge - aka Washington Forge? If so, was it located above or below the current Lower Forge campsite?

 

[pinelandpaddler]

Does anything remain of the old dam at Hampton's Lower Forge - aka Washington Forge? If so, was it located above or below the current Lower Forge campsite?

Above the campsite, here:

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.72489931662992&lng=-74.67427510421754&z=17&type=nj1930&gpx=

Just upstream from the campsite was where Burr's Mill was located.

 

[Ben Ruset]

For what its worth, I looked through all of the available images on Historic Aerials for the building marked on the topo but was only a depression and didn't see a thing.

 

[SuperChooch]

The square on the Shamong / Washington Township line was officially called "Stone B" by the Wharton Survey Team. Many of the stones on township lines have various letters and numbers which I have to assume was assigned by them or someone before them for mapping purposes. That stone was there in the 1950's but when I looked about 12 years ago I found nothing. That is not to say it is not there as it may be underground. I have the exact GPS cords and could go back and poke for it but I suspect it is no longer there.

John, if you are ever going to the area again and want to meet up to poke in the ground for it I will certainly be interested. I have the exact coordinates of it so we would be within 15 feet or so with the accuracy limitations of our GPS units.

Guy

Will do Guy, and vice versa if you are heading out there.

 

[Teegate]

SuperChooch,

I was walking by the location of Stone B this morning and stopped to look around some more. I spent a little time poking in the ground looking for the stone. I really doubt it is there as I have thought each time I have stopped there. I did not grid it out and do a thorough search which I guess I will have to do when the weather cools.

Guy