The Mullica put-in at Atsion has been slightly bulkheaded with poles Dec. 29, 2007.
Chris next to a beaver hut on the upper Mullica's "Beaver Expanse" Dec. 29, 2007.Mullica River 12/29/07
Trip: Atsion to Batsto / Left Manahawkin: 8:40 / Arrive at Batsto (take-out): 9:07
Put-in (Atsion): 9:30 a.m. / Take-Out: 2 p.m.
Could the Kayak Gods have been smiling down on us (me and Chris) more than today? Don't think so. After a month of good rains the Mullica was finally runable and made for a great trip. Among the highlights:
* Spotted three snake skins (shed) hanging from trees over the river. I brought one home to show Mike; he'll know what it is.
* An unseasonably warm day: in the 50s, the breeze across Beaver Expanse felt good.
* A great winter river flow: 1.44 to 1.46 (web gauge accurate) at first gauge and9.4 at second gauge at bridge (not on web). Pushing at 100-110.
At Beaver Expanse we saw a much different landscape than our last visit. A fire (not sure when) had decimated parts of the surrounding forest and lake making for the beginnings of new understory and Pine regrowth. The multiple beaver dams in the Expanse were down to 2 as opposed to about 6-8 in previous trips. But the beaver(s) have been busy (hence the saying) and have refocused their efforts on damming up portions of the river - at least at 3 noteworthy spots. A split at the breakstop at the end of the Expanse leaves two nice little 1-foot drops -- nothing mind-blowing here, just a nice little push. After either choice, there's another little 1-footer just around the bend. Made us plain giddy.
We paddled at a good stroke and finished in 4 1/2 hours. We even took a few breaks.
End notes: Before you reach the end you'll pass under one road bridge, then a foot bridge, then a last road bridge. (There's also a rope swing somewhere in there.)
It's about 15 minutes between put-in and take-out
I had 4 bars (Cingular) at put-in (Atsion) and no bars at take-out (Batsto).
Put-in (Atsion): 9:30 a.m. / Take-Out: 2 p.m.
Could the Kayak Gods have been smiling down on us (me and Chris) more than today? Don't think so. After a month of good rains the Mullica was finally runable and made for a great trip. Among the highlights:
* Spotted three snake skins (shed) hanging from trees over the river. I brought one home to show Mike; he'll know what it is.
* An unseasonably warm day: in the 50s, the breeze across Beaver Expanse felt good.
* A great winter river flow: 1.44 to 1.46 (web gauge accurate) at first gauge and9.4 at second gauge at bridge (not on web). Pushing at 100-110.
At Beaver Expanse we saw a much different landscape than our last visit. A fire (not sure when) had decimated parts of the surrounding forest and lake making for the beginnings of new understory and Pine regrowth. The multiple beaver dams in the Expanse were down to 2 as opposed to about 6-8 in previous trips. But the beaver(s) have been busy (hence the saying) and have refocused their efforts on damming up portions of the river - at least at 3 noteworthy spots. A split at the breakstop at the end of the Expanse leaves two nice little 1-foot drops -- nothing mind-blowing here, just a nice little push. After either choice, there's another little 1-footer just around the bend. Made us plain giddy.
We paddled at a good stroke and finished in 4 1/2 hours. We even took a few breaks.
End notes: Before you reach the end you'll pass under one road bridge, then a foot bridge, then a last road bridge. (There's also a rope swing somewhere in there.)
It's about 15 minutes between put-in and take-out
I had 4 bars (Cingular) at put-in (Atsion) and no bars at take-out (Batsto).
Chris paddles over a little beaver dam at the second "drop" after Beaver Expanse on the Mullica, Dec. 29, 2007.
