Sleepy Creek and Salters Ditch

[ecampbell]

Can someone help me with the location of Sleepy Creek and Salters Ditch in the Atsion, Mullica river area?

Tkanks,
Ed

 

[Jerseyman]

Can someone help me with the location of Sleepy Creek and Salters Ditch in the Atsion, Mullica river area?

Tkanks,
Ed

Ed:

Sleeper Branch is a variant name for Mechescatauxin Branch. It is also sometimes called “Sleepy Creek” in some documents.

Salter’s Ditch is a canal Joseph Salter, manager of the Atsion Works, dug from the Mechescatauxin Branch to the Atsion River to increase the head of water in Atsion Lake for more power at the Atsion Forge. Hence, the name. It appears on the 1872 Beers Map as a canal extending from Fruitland over to the Mechescatauxin Branch.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[pinelandpaddler]

http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.73626727603397&lng=-74.76018190383911&z=17&type=nj1930&gpx=

 

[ecampbell]

Thanks Jseseyman, that map did the trick.
Gabe, my question was inspired by your trip
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=5161

I plan to go soon and see what I've been missing.

Ed

 

[Teegate]

Ed,

Just cross the Plastic Bridge and turn left on the real sandy road that was the train tracks. Salters Ditch is right ahaead of you. I am sure you have crossed it before.

Guy

 

[Teegate]

Here is a photo of the boards that at one time allowed you to cross. The old cement pipes are laying around in the area. This is the old Atco spur road.

Guy

 

[ecampbell]

Guy, you are right, I have been there before.

Ed

 

[Teegate]

Jessica and I visited another location along Salter's Ditch today. We were going to walk the length of it after the big fire and never did, so this fall we are going to finally get to that since it still will be semi easy to do because the fire has cleared away much of the brush along it.

Guy

 

[MarkBNJ]

Interesting. Does the water still flow down toward Atsion? Or is that just localized seepage?

 

[Teegate]

The water flows well. There is a location a 4x4 can drive through it. I may have been able in my car but decided against it. I found one spot where trees have grown along the edge and the roots have extended into the ditch allowing dirt to collect, and I was able to step right across the 1 foot gap.

Guy

 

[james ungehajer]

Was the lint roller full after yesterday's outing ?

Where is the section of the ditch that is 4 wheel driveable ?

Jim

 

[Teegate]

Was the lint roller full after yesterday's outing ?


Jim

No bugs yesterday. The ticks have really died down.

Guy

 

[mudboy dave]

Was the lint roller full after yesterday's outing ?

Where is the section of the ditch that is 4 wheel driveable ?

Jim

If you go down rairtan and cross over where a previous picture shows, there is a right hand turn, its a rather small trail. it will follow down the side of the ditch for a while and eventually the trail will curve across it, it is not much of a steep incline and it is a hard packed sandy bottom with shallow water. I can usually do it in 2wd with my jeep cherokee without spinning the tires. once in a while with high waterlevels i put it into 4x4 for precautionary reasons.