Delaware Valley Chapter-June Trip

[Jim Wilson]

This month we will be paddling the Mullica River in the NJ Pine Barrens. The date is this Saturday, June 10. Put-in is just below Atsion Lake at Rte 206. The river is pretty small at this point, but as we continue downstream, it gets more water and much more easily navigated. If the water is low, we can expect a carry over or two, but as of now, the levels look fine. The river feels very remote and gets much less traffic then many of the other Pine Barrens streams. Lots of good lunch spots. We can pick one as we go. Take out is in Pleasant Mills near historic Batsto Village.

All paddlers are invited to join in for the day. No need to be a chapter member. We would love to have you.

Please bring the usual safety equipment for you and your boat., and don't forget lunch, water, bug juice (Hopefully we WON'T need it) and sun screen (Hopefully we WILL need it).

Anyone interested should contact me at 610-827-9761 or paddlewils@comcast.net.

 

[Jim Wilson]

Trip Recap

We had a gorgeous day for Saturday's paddle on the Mullica. Windy, but since the river is small and runs through dense forest, you barely noticed it.

We had a small contingent for the trip. After running the shuttle, we were on the water by 10:15. The water level was perfect, and we cruised along at a good pace. Ducking under lots of overhanging limbs and dodging obstacles in the water. Part of the appeal of these Pine Barrens rivers is that they keep you busy. Inattention will put you up on a log, into the bank, get you clonked on the head or even upside down.

Lots of turtles enjoying the sun. Great blue herons and hundreds of redwing blackbirds were out and about too.


We found a nice lunch spot on a sandy bank and relaxed for a bit before returning to the warter. Continuing on downstream, the river became a bit larger. We stopped for another break at the Mullica Wilderness Camp, where we have camped for the night on other trips. Someone had rigged up a rope swing over the water, but Kenny Wilson was the only one brave (foolish?) enough to try it. To everyone else's disappointment, the rope didn't break, and he stayed dry.

Two more hours of paddling got us to our take out point. We finished the day and realized that we had not seen another boat on the water the whole way. It would have been hard to ask for a better day of paddling, but we will try and order one for our next trip.