Wharton Trails....
- Thread starter Davesnhere
- Start date
Due to the heat, humidity and bugs, the WSF TM and ride schedule runs October to April. Prelim fall/winter WSF schedule has already been posted on JORBA calendar.
John, me and whoever else is around will head back during the warmer months if there is a request from the front office, or if there is a section that annoys us. Case in point would be last Saturday, when I spent ten (!) hours back on three different, loooooong sections of the PBT, running the mower. Met about a dozen riders having fun. Even met Davesnhere heading out on a sunset ride.
Worth noting is that the WSF trails are still young and have yet to establish the tread-brush equilibrium of older sNJ trail systems, like Estell or Allaire.
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theranch
Active Member
Awesome Kurt! That's dedication!
scrub oaks and detours
Just a heads up. We're using a handheld power scythe to trim back those scrub oak sections on the northeast side of the Penn Branch Trail. The scythe allows us to reach further off the corridor, but sometimes leaves a few small branches behind. Not a big deal if you're riding SS. But if you're riding geared you might want to soft pedal those sections the first time through.
If you drive through Nesco on your way to Batsto, you'll see a public works sign warning that a section of rt.542 will be closed for several days starting on June 20 for repaving.
Just a heads up. We're using a handheld power scythe to trim back those scrub oak sections on the northeast side of the Penn Branch Trail. The scythe allows us to reach further off the corridor, but sometimes leaves a few small branches behind. Not a big deal if you're riding SS. But if you're riding geared you might want to soft pedal those sections the first time through.
If you drive through Nesco on your way to Batsto, you'll see a public works sign warning that a section of rt.542 will be closed for several days starting on June 20 for repaving.
Trail report from sj_rick says that the Penn Branch Trail escaped the wrath of el derecho last Saturday 6/30.
Am hoping to brush back one or two sections of orange and maybe blue next Saturday 7/14. If you're interested in helping, let me know. Hotasballs summer TM hours apply, roll out by 7:00, quit by 11:00.
Am hoping to brush back one or two sections of orange and maybe blue next Saturday 7/14. If you're interested in helping, let me know. Hotasballs summer TM hours apply, roll out by 7:00, quit by 11:00.
theranch
Active Member
Hmm, I'm supposed to go to Launch Bike Park for PMBA day next Sat but I'll let you know if I skip that for some TM time. Thanks for the heads up!
Nesco Rd cr.542 is still closed fo repaving. If you're driving to Batsto from Hammonton and Nesco, you'll be detour'd down Columbia Rd. cr.658, to Elwood Rd cr.623, then back onto 542. Its probably quicker to drive down the White Horse and then turn onto Elwood Rd.
It took a little longer to get the trailer back to the tm worksite yesterday... spent some time sawing and clearing blowdowns off of SmellSour Rd. to make it drivable, but we did manage to mow the western third of the Huckleberry Trail and some nearby sections of the PennBranch Trail.
Earlier in the week, I used the handheld power scythe to clear out another scrub oak section on the Penn Branch. (Directly east of the Jemima Feed Strip, if you're playing along on a topo map at home.) If you're riding this section and see any loose branches, please toss them off the trail. Thanks!
It took a little longer to get the trailer back to the tm worksite yesterday... spent some time sawing and clearing blowdowns off of SmellSour Rd. to make it drivable, but we did manage to mow the western third of the Huckleberry Trail and some nearby sections of the PennBranch Trail.
Earlier in the week, I used the handheld power scythe to clear out another scrub oak section on the Penn Branch. (Directly east of the Jemima Feed Strip, if you're playing along on a topo map at home.) If you're riding this section and see any loose branches, please toss them off the trail. Thanks!
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July 21 thanks
Thanks to pibbles, sj_john, two mowers, 2 gallons of gas, and several packages of keebler scooby doo snacks, four+ miles of the Patriots Loop was brushed back today. Making the blue Huckleberry Trail and north white Oak Hill Trail faster and swoopier... And the red Teaberry Trail ridable again. 🙂
Figure on seeing the south white Oak Hill and several north orange Penn Branch Trail sections being brushed in the near future. 😀
Thanks to pibbles, sj_john, two mowers, 2 gallons of gas, and several packages of keebler scooby doo snacks, four+ miles of the Patriots Loop was brushed back today. Making the blue Huckleberry Trail and north white Oak Hill Trail faster and swoopier... And the red Teaberry Trail ridable again. 🙂
Figure on seeing the south white Oak Hill and several north orange Penn Branch Trail sections being brushed in the near future. 😀
theranch
Active Member
Great to hear. I was out of commission due to a hamstring tear so I missed the action. I'll be up for the next TM day!
theranch
Active Member
Got out around 11am and did the Penn Branch loop which is supposed to be 19mi but I never get more than 17 using Strava app on my phone.
http://app.strava.com/rides/18613142
Anyway... the parts that were mowed were great, it was nice to get to those after the half-way point!
I rode counter clockwise and dealt with the over growth knowing there was mowed sections ahead. Can't wait to get out and help clip some brush.
There are a lot of small pines in the first mile that are clogging the trail, can those be thinned out?
No ticks or chiggers were found on me so even though it was humid the ride was nice! It's great to have a big loop like that close to home.
http://app.strava.com/rides/18613142
Anyway... the parts that were mowed were great, it was nice to get to those after the half-way point!
I rode counter clockwise and dealt with the over growth knowing there was mowed sections ahead. Can't wait to get out and help clip some brush.
There are a lot of small pines in the first mile that are clogging the trail, can those be thinned out?
No ticks or chiggers were found on me so even though it was humid the ride was nice! It's great to have a big loop like that close to home.
Because of the many turns on the trail, GPS milage differs from rolling odometer milage. Rolling milage on the PBT was confirmed by a group of Explorer Scouts from Hammonton. This is the same group that spent the hours making and hanging the milage signs on the PBT. Inner loop rolling milage was confirmed by forestry staff.
theranch
Active Member
I believe you...I was just mentioning since I posted a link to my strava map.
The mowed sections were really nice Kurt!
