 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RCM944
Approved
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
|
 Posted: December 30th, 2009 09:40 PM |
     |
|
| Spent about 4 hours hiking around (if you call going in a straight line out and back hiking) the Dismal Swamp yesterday still very interesting. Getting on Lake Drummond could be productive. The rangers scare the you know what out of you about leaving the trial or spending the nite out there which I guess is illegal. Plus you have to be back out by 4:30 at least on the North Carolina side. Just wondering if anyone else has done any recon in this area or has heard any stories of interest? |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: December 30th, 2009 09:50 PM |
|
|
I've thought about driving south to check that area out during the winter months. The mountains around me are just too damn cold at this time of year to stay out for long. I recall the BFRO database has a couple of reports from that area, one right on the edge of the swamp.
Kinda strange that the rangers should go so far out of their way to dissuade you from leaving the trail, much less breaking the law and staying in the swamp over night. Wonder if they know something?
And 4:30 on the NC side, that just sounds nuts. Sun doesn't sink until 5 at mid-winter.
I checked their website out a couple months ago and saw that they do have a campground in the swamp, but it looks like access is from the east side and you might have to boat in. Not sure, but would be worth checking out. If you could camp in their approved campground you might be able to do some discrete poking around once the sun goes down.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RCM944
Approved
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: December 30th, 2009 10:17 PM |
|
|
| Yeah it was odd and I think they knew why I was there. The ranger I was talking to kinda gave me that look well go ahead you can ask. I checked the boat ramp, you do have to boat in and then camp at a lock, interesting the lake is at a higher elevation than the ditches. Didn't realize the lake is 3000 acres not unusual to have white caps. I've got 2 canoes and 1 fishing kayak so I've got us covered boat wise. Google it and you will see the ditches cut to drain the swamp beside each ditch is all the dirt which is now a road/trial that you can look down for what seems like miles. I'm going to try to get back down in the next four days and do some more snooping but it looks good and there could be a city in there and you would'nt know. I did take a couple photos mostly look like deer trials and bear poop. Will keep you posted! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: December 30th, 2009 10:27 PM |
|
|
Good luck and look forward to hearing what you learn. And check your PMs.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bf_prop
Approved
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 102
|
| Posted: December 31st, 2009 01:20 PM |
|
|
| My understanding is that the Dismal Swamp is inundated with gators and is considered their Northern most locale...I'm sure they do get into the Tidewater area of Eastern Virgina but the Swamp seems to be their demarcation line. It is a huge swamp and preserve. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: December 31st, 2009 01:32 PM |
|
|
That's interesting. When I was a kid I heard that gators weren't found much farther north than southern South Carolina. But their populations (and ranges probably) have expanded in the last 40 years. So maybe they're in there. Just never heard of it till now. If that's the case, I'm sure their pretty sluggish at this time of year. It's gonna be darn cold in the Tidewater area for the next few days/weeks.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RobfromWV
Approved
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 186
|
| Posted: December 31st, 2009 03:20 PM |
|
|
| Just an FYI...but on youtube, there's a show called creepy canada, there are stories of BF in the Great Dismal swamp...amongst other stories. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RobfromWV
Approved
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 186
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RCM944
Approved
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: December 31st, 2009 08:19 PM |
|
|
| Did a little more research today went to a kayak shop and picked up a new skirt for my boat and talked to the owner and one customer. They didn't bring up gators (oh great) but they did say bears lots a bears. One guy said he was cruising along and a bear was in a tree right next to him. He did say it must be a spring/summer thing, something in the trees they like to eat or in kayaks (bear ninjas) Also how easy it is to get lost (just don't get it, its a big circle). One other tidbit night boating has been banned even if your camping at the lock area. So that was the clincher for me, guess what body of water I'm spending the first day of 2010 on! Man it's going to be cold, but the winds going to pick up over the weekend. Report to follow! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: December 31st, 2009 08:55 PM |
|
|
Wow, you're more hardcore than me. I hang up my fishing kayak once the water starts freezing. But best of luck. I did a little more googling and map surfing that area and it just looks better and better. No night boating from the campground, huh.
I noticed it's about a 3 1/2 mile paddle to the campground from the boat landing, so not a convenient place to go camp. Might help keep the number of fellow campers to a minimum (although I'm sure you'd be alone if you went camping at this time of year!).
(Edited by monongahela)
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RCM944
Approved
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: December 31st, 2009 09:43 PM |
|
|
Oh no there will be no camping alone! Plan is to get there about 8am and start paddling, out before dark. Should be a good day if the sun comes out. Hopefully no ice!
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RCM944
Approved
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: January 2nd, 2010 09:33 PM |
|
|
| Completed a Dismal Swamp trip yesterday. Could'nt get in the water till about 10:30am(fog) temp not to bad if you were paddling (cloudy/45deg). Very hard paddling up the feeder ditch to Lake Drummond (3000ac lake) tremendous out flow of water in the ditch it was about 20ft wide and about 10ft above your head, this was a little weird. The water is very dark the color of the darkest tea you have ever seen. Took about 3hrs to get to the lock at Lake Drummond. At the lock there is a camping area with bathrooms, a very cool boat lift to get boats up to a 1000lbs. to Lake Drummond. Had lunch at the picnic area. Pulled my kayak around the lock and had about a 1/4 mile paddle to Lake Drummond. At this point I have seen no one and heard very little saw lots of water birds(herons, egrets). When I got to the lake it was like glass, 3000 acres of water, perfectly flat and you could have heard a pin drop I was the only person there! It was truly one of my most surreal outdoor experience's of my life almost felt like I shouldn't be there. This place is truly primordial. I applied the Apocalypse Now theory never get out of the boat. You really can't tell how far you would have to go to get to dry land but when you pull up to the edges of the lake you can tell you would have to thread thru trees to get to walkable area's. Super quiet on that day I'm sure during the spring the place is deafening. Starting to get late but at least it was a free ride back on the outflow. Met one fisherman when I got back to the lock. Did get out of the boat on the way back. There is still a private very large farm on one side of the feeder ditch hugh field would love to have had more time to look for tracks around this field. The other side of the feeder ditch is a vast woodland with oddly well used dirt roads not sure if this was private land or roads maintained for when hunting is allowed at certain times. But boy it was tempting but I was running out of light will save that for another trip. This area is unique in how quickly you can be in the boonies can't wait to go back when I have more time and light. If anyone has local knowledge or knows someone who has experience around the swamp please put your two cents worth in if there are areas of interest. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: January 3rd, 2010 12:19 AM |
|
|
Sounds like a great time RCM. You certainly picked the best day for weather. It's turned bitterly cold since yesterday. Bummer about the 3 hour paddle upstream, that means you were only making about 1 mile an hour as you paddled. I had thought that sound recording along the edge of the lake could be productive. Water can carry calls from a long way off. But then there's that no night boating thing. It looks like the roads on the south side of the feeder ditch are accessible from North Carolina, but don't know if there are any gates. And you mentioned that side closes at 4:30 p.m. so there must be some form of control in place. But would be good to know the details. That is a big old chunk of wooded land to play around in. Another option might be bicycle. You can cover a lot more ground on those trails if you wind up only making day trips out of it. Best of luck, and keep us informed.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RCM944
Approved
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: January 11th, 2010 08:37 PM |
|
|
Just wanted to post some pics from the dismal swamp paddle. This place has a lot of ground to explore to say the least. Would like comments on the "bear print" I have not seen a lot of bear tracks in my life but this had no claws and was more of a smear almost like a hand print on the edge of the road, had no other tracks around it. Just there all by itself. Thats what made it jump out. Plus it was fresh! So much leaf litter on this road no other tracks found. The poop was nearby but it looked older. Anyway very neat place plan on going back when the weather gets better.
hers the link http://drop.io/rcm944dismalswamp/media |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Varge30
Approved
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
|
| Posted: January 12th, 2010 09:26 AM |
|
|
| Those are very good pic's, looks like an area which need to be explored more. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: January 12th, 2010 01:25 PM |
|
|
Yes, that's some very squatchy looking terrain, and it goes on for thousands and thousands of acres, most of it inaccessible. Just look at that tea colored swamp water. Reminds me of my youth down south.
I did see a video clip somewhere, probably youtube, of some guy interviewed about the BF research he was doing in dismal swamp. He reported a track find. So there could be someone working the area already. But it would be great if RCM944 set up shop down there and shared his results with us from time to time. It's a big chunk 'o land, plenty of room for more than a few squatchers.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Varge30
Approved
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
|
| Posted: January 12th, 2010 02:04 PM |
|
|
| It would be very interesting to setup shop for a week with recorders, mic's and a thermal. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: January 12th, 2010 06:27 PM |
|
|
The challenge with that place is its only accessible by foot or boat, and there's no overnight camping allowed, with one exception. There's a campground in the middle of the swamp that you can boat into and camp from, but you might be sharing it during the high season.
The only other option would be to find some area along the edge of the swamp where a landowner won't mind you hanging out, banging on trees, and howling at all hours of the night.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RCM944
Approved
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: January 12th, 2010 07:16 PM |
|
|
| Work is going to have me in that neck of the woods tomorrow. I'm going to try to snoop around the south/west side of the park for just that, a place to sorta work from that's on the edge. The customers I'm meeting with are locals. Going to ask about "hunting and fishing" in the area. Got a book about the swamp and it's history, it was privately held I think into the 70s mostly logging and farming got a feeling access might have to do with what people would find that may not be so "green" by todays standards. Gotta tell you this place has kinda got it's hooks in me after the kayak trip! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Varge30
Approved
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
|
| Posted: January 13th, 2010 09:36 AM |
|
|
| I would interested to find out where in that area.You could due remote camping in that area, away from general public. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RCM944
Approved
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: January 13th, 2010 09:38 PM |
|
|
| Did not get to do much exploring. But did spend time with a 10 year resident of the area who I have know for the same amount of time. He is an avid hunter and fisherman. I asked about fishing and hunting the area and got around to the swamp later in the conversation, never brought up biggie. When speaking with the long term older residents of the area he is told to stay out of the swamp there's no reason to go there. The other story of note, he was involved with a tree installation project at a very expensive house on a 12 acre property that back's up to the refuge. The trees were being installed to screen a 12' high chain link fence being installed around the house. The owner was told that bears would find a way thru or under/over the fence. Everyone on site was told in a very agitated way by the owner "Im not worried about any bears" and made it very obvious he didn't want to talk about it anymore just get it done. The house was only 3 months old. I asked him about his visits to Lake Drummond fishing he said the one thing that he "felt" was when he got out of the boat to answer the call of nature he has always felt rushed to get back in the boat. That was an interesting statement from this person just not his style. He made numerous suggestions on different areas to put in for fishing some of the tributaries in the area that also look promising. I told him I was very interested in his help with getting to know the area and he said he would be more than happy to be my tour guide. He never brought up biggie I had asked about any interesting stories he had heard about the area. Will keep you posted! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Varge30
Approved
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
|
| Posted: January 14th, 2010 02:06 PM |
|
|
| Very Intertesting. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RCM944
Approved
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: January 14th, 2010 06:52 PM |
|
|
| Got some news today the street name of the house with the "bear fence". Google 3688 Kentucky Trail Cheasapeake Virginia 23323 go to the end of the cul-de-sac look for the huge house with the pond, you can't miss it, the line of trees has the fence in between the rows, very interesting indeed! |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: January 14th, 2010 07:05 PM |
|
|
That's interesting. Lots of fodder for speculation there. Nice house too. You could walk right out the side door and be in deep swamp in no time.
That's a good approach, hooking up with a local who knows how to get around the area. He can show you where to go, and where not to go. Otherwise you could spend months trying to figure it out. It would be a lot of fun to kayak all those little canals. There are miles of them in there, and they get into some really remote parts of the swamp.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
narrowfoot
Approved
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 256
|
| Posted: January 14th, 2010 10:20 PM |
|
|
Sounds like ivory billed woodpecker territory, as well as Bigfoot's!
"Technological advances are not limited to human populations." |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andy
Approved
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2382
|
| Posted: January 15th, 2010 09:42 AM |
|
|
Would a chain-link fence be strong keep a bear out?
Or would you have to add a little bit of voltage to that?
I mean, up North they just go right through the walls of the cottages--they rip out the doors and windows, and they weigh more than you expect. But not as much as your usual Swamp Booger!
(I think 12 feet would be high enough to keep most deer out, though.)
seeing is believing |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: January 15th, 2010 12:10 PM |
|
|
I don't think a bear would even notice a 12 foot chain-link fence. Last year I watched one vault over a 5 foot fence like he was a house cat over a foot stool. With their climbing abilities most trees are no challenge, so a 12 foot fence would be a breeze.
After looking at the guys place, you really have to wonder what he's trying to keep out. I doubt he's trying to keep anything in. Dogs don't need a fence that high. Deer are a logical thought, but 12 feet!? Kinda weird.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: January 15th, 2010 12:13 PM |
|
|
Quote:
narrowfoot wrote:
Sounds like ivory billed woodpecker territory, as well as Bigfoot's!
|
Actually, I think the Dismal Swamp website says something about the Wildlife Management Area being a direct benefit to the local pileated (sp?) wood pecker. Ivory bill maybe? Seems a bit far north but I guess this used to be part of their historic range.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WI Richter Gary
Approved
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
monongahela
Approved
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 341
|
| Posted: January 15th, 2010 02:48 PM |
|
|
Hey, now that's a really nice view of the campground that RCM paddled in to, and past. If I make it down that direction this year, I'd love to jump in with my kayak and spend a couple nights camped out there. Nice add, thanks.
Monongahela
sites.google.com/site/mongahela |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined:
Posts:
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
