Up the Middle, Down the South, a PBX hike

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
25,603
8,181
At 9AM this morning the members of the Pine Barrens Explores (PBX) hiking club set out on our quest to go " Up the Middle, Down the South" on the Middle Branch and South Branch near Waretown.

We met at the Super WaWa on Route 9 and then proceeded to the back of an industrial park where we began our hike. From this site we had:

Bobbleton
BobM
Behr655
Ecampbell
TeeGate (Me)
Onehand
Woodjin


We visited some rare plant sites, fought our way along the North Branch, traversed a few roads, climbed a few small hills, and basically had a great time. I did not take many photo's because I was concentrating on staying on my feet; however, here are a few to view.

Group shot form left to right Steve, Jeff, Paul, Stu, BobM, Mickey, Bob, Ed, and me.

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Bob holding his find deep in the wilds of Middle Branch.

6322.JPG


It is a wild area, and parts of it are the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge which holds many rare plants such as Bog asphodel. We visited an area where BobM about 3 years ago found contained Bog asphodel and was being destroyed by off-road vehicles. Through his efforts the federal government blocked off the area and we found today that they have recovered quite nicely.

A good day with good friends.

Here is an edited portion of our notification earlier this month from Bob.

Fellow swamp stompers,

The title of our next official Pine Barren Explorers trip is entitled: Up the Middle, Down the South. We will meet at 9:00 am on Sunday, 29 January at the Lacey Industrial Park off route 9 about a half-mile north of the Oyster Creek Power Plant.

We will be on the trail for about 5.5 miles, running a course west, parallel to the Middle Branch of the Forked River, then South toward the South Branch of the Forked River. We will then follow the South Branch heading east.

This is an interesting area, truly pine barren landscape. There is a very primitive-looking area west of the parkway, and we'll be hitting a couple of low hills in the middle of the swamp. The Middle Branch area has also been identified as harboring many endangered plants. East of the Parkway we will stop at the spot where vehicles tore up a pretty little pristine stream that was harboring Bog Asphodel.

The mileage may not seem like a lot, but there are a lot of twist and turns in rugged country on this one. Bob.


Guy
 
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bobpbx

Piney
Staff member
Oct 25, 2002
14,154
4,258
Pines; Bamber area
I have to say, that was a rugged five miles Guy. Nice report. I am looking foward to sleeping tonite if I can. The bronchitis is taking its toll. I wish there were a quick cure for it.
 

onehand

Explorer
Apr 11, 2005
374
1
potter co. pa.
wet from top (overhead at times) and bottom (swamps), and there was the making of the rotten wood bridge to cross over a slght water problem

then there was climbing over the downed trees (seemed like alot)

good views, some wildlife, rare plants. one tick

all and all a good day in the woods

yep a tough 5.8 miles
 

Bobbleton

Explorer
Mar 12, 2004
466
46
NJ
It was an excellent day--a tough hike, I learned some things, b.s.ed with some good guys, and in the end I came out of it (relatively) dry and not bleeding. Who could ask for more than that?
 

woodjin

Piney
Nov 8, 2004
4,338
326
Near Mt. Misery
It was a very nice hike! Some very wild, isolated areas. Finally got a chance to check out an area I've been curious about for years!!

Jeff
 

Teegate

Administrator
Site Administrator
Sep 17, 2002
25,603
8,181
woodjin said:
It was a very nice hike! Some very wild, isolated areas. Finally got a chance to check out an area I've been curious about for years!!

Jeff

You know I have been there before also, but it may have been across Lacey road though. Not sure. I will post photo's later.

guy
 
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