FRANK KUMMER / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER – A miles-long, sandy stretch of road dominated by thousands of acres of pitch pine trees suddenly yields the most primeval of scenes in New Jersey’s Pinelands — a healthy Atlantic white cedar swamp so thick and cool that the temperature can drop 15 degrees just a few feet within.

The 100-year-old cedars spire straight and tall, 80 feet, and only a tenth of the way toward their possible 1,000-year life span if undisturbed.