The Skit branch, a tributary to the Batsto, is a wonderful and often neglected watershed. I have spent time on the skit north of Carranza road but not much south of that. A brief stop in that area lead me to a causeway that was strikingly similar to Mary Ann Forge. Looking over some historical photos, I could see the origin of the causeway. Here is a photo from 1930. The skit bogs are to the right (hampton to the left.
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.77249360373185&lng=-74.67613220214844&z=15&type=nj1930&gpx=
These bogs do not appear on the 1833 Gordon map, but do appear on the '50's topo. However, going to historicaerials.com did not show much there in the '50's. This is not too unusal since the topo often indicates former cranberry bogs as a body of water. Looking closely, you can see a possible compromise to the north causeway in the 1930 photo. Possibly the bogs were out of operation by that time.
Anyway, I decided to investigate the two causeways as they appear in the 1930 photo by way of kayak. I thought this the best method since I wouldn't miss anything inbetween. Not to mention I love paddling some of the more obsure waterways. Here is a modern satellite image of the old bog system.
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.77272449369705&lng=-74.66999530792236&z=15&type=k&gpx=
Here is the first and northern most causeway. There were two cement "steps",almost buried now, near the begining of the causeway.
If you have ever been to Mary Ann forge you might see the similarities with this first causeway (the point where I entered the river).
The west side
Looking North into the former lake bed
West side looking east. The slanted dead cedar looks as though it once had a rope for jumping off into the river.
The eastside causeway
The water was very deep here
Upstream was very wide with much grass and some very deep areas along the bends.
Further down stream was similar with many, many beaver dams and amazing cedar stands. I thought I uploaded more photos but I'll show what I have here. At times the skit became more narrow and very very deep.
Shooting over this beaver dam was ALOT of fun
Sometimes the beaver dams deferred water into so many directions, that finding the main channel was a bit of a challange. Here I made the wrong choice but ultimately returned to the river
The water was strikingly clear. Something I noticed everywhere this fall.
Okay, I eventually came to the southern causeway and was very pleased with my discovery. This causeway is less acessable than the previous one, and perhaps as a consequence, is better preserved.
The cedars closed in on the river as I approached the southern causeway
The western side (note the old bridge submerged)
Close up of the western side
Looking down from the western side to the skit branch. Yes it is high up
On top of the western causeway
Slag found on the causway
While still on the river I noticed this man-made canal along the side of the west causeway
Turns out, there is a dug canal that wraps around the entire western causeway creating a moat of sorts around the area. Therefore the causeway, and the area slightly south of it are an island. The drop from the causeway to the "main land" across the moat was a dramatic slope of approx. 30'. Due to dense vegetation, I was unable to get a good photo. the land to the south of the causeway (and still on the island) was flat and clear. I want to investigate this further for ruins at a later date.
Okay...the eastern side. Sorry for the poor photo but notice the remains of the bridge protruding from the water up the bank.
The remains of the bridge underwater
From the eastern causeway looking west
There is a "dry" pond on the southern side of this causeway. Probably an area dug up to build the causeway.
A view just downsteam of the causeway
Well, if I have to copy and paste another picuture I am going to freak! So this concludes the report. Pretty cool stuff huh?
Jeff
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.77249360373185&lng=-74.67613220214844&z=15&type=nj1930&gpx=
These bogs do not appear on the 1833 Gordon map, but do appear on the '50's topo. However, going to historicaerials.com did not show much there in the '50's. This is not too unusal since the topo often indicates former cranberry bogs as a body of water. Looking closely, you can see a possible compromise to the north causeway in the 1930 photo. Possibly the bogs were out of operation by that time.
Anyway, I decided to investigate the two causeways as they appear in the 1930 photo by way of kayak. I thought this the best method since I wouldn't miss anything inbetween. Not to mention I love paddling some of the more obsure waterways. Here is a modern satellite image of the old bog system.
http://maps.njpinebarrens.com/#lat=39.77272449369705&lng=-74.66999530792236&z=15&type=k&gpx=
Here is the first and northern most causeway. There were two cement "steps",almost buried now, near the begining of the causeway.
If you have ever been to Mary Ann forge you might see the similarities with this first causeway (the point where I entered the river).
The west side
Looking North into the former lake bed
West side looking east. The slanted dead cedar looks as though it once had a rope for jumping off into the river.
The eastside causeway
The water was very deep here
Upstream was very wide with much grass and some very deep areas along the bends.
Further down stream was similar with many, many beaver dams and amazing cedar stands. I thought I uploaded more photos but I'll show what I have here. At times the skit became more narrow and very very deep.
Shooting over this beaver dam was ALOT of fun
Sometimes the beaver dams deferred water into so many directions, that finding the main channel was a bit of a challange. Here I made the wrong choice but ultimately returned to the river
The water was strikingly clear. Something I noticed everywhere this fall.
Okay, I eventually came to the southern causeway and was very pleased with my discovery. This causeway is less acessable than the previous one, and perhaps as a consequence, is better preserved.
The cedars closed in on the river as I approached the southern causeway
The western side (note the old bridge submerged)
Close up of the western side
Looking down from the western side to the skit branch. Yes it is high up
On top of the western causeway
Slag found on the causway
While still on the river I noticed this man-made canal along the side of the west causeway
Turns out, there is a dug canal that wraps around the entire western causeway creating a moat of sorts around the area. Therefore the causeway, and the area slightly south of it are an island. The drop from the causeway to the "main land" across the moat was a dramatic slope of approx. 30'. Due to dense vegetation, I was unable to get a good photo. the land to the south of the causeway (and still on the island) was flat and clear. I want to investigate this further for ruins at a later date.
Okay...the eastern side. Sorry for the poor photo but notice the remains of the bridge protruding from the water up the bank.
The remains of the bridge underwater
From the eastern causeway looking west
There is a "dry" pond on the southern side of this causeway. Probably an area dug up to build the causeway.
A view just downsteam of the causeway
Well, if I have to copy and paste another picuture I am going to freak! So this concludes the report. Pretty cool stuff huh?
Jeff
