Spots I went to previously had issues where it was too water logged, had too much plant growth / layers that would make it difficult if not impossible to do anything meaningful. Alternatively the peat was too woody (abrasive) and / or seemed to settle / thick the deeper it went making it harder to get past waist deep. Or other pits that were too wet for it to be a worthwhile sinking experience. Basically just water and peat mix that you just float in neck deep. Or more dangerous situations for example a peat area that after sinking 4 feet deep into it turned out to be floating on water; for this one it was firm enough around the edges to pull myself out, almost always the top layer is vegetation so can use that for support but this is not a guarantee.
But I finally found a spot I consider to be good and worth making a trip for again. I went on a drive to check out a lake. I hiked the trail for about a 1 1/2 miles and then had to walk for about 600 ft through dense forest. Highly recommend wearing gloves and long sleeve shirt if you decide to do this. Also watch out for branches getting into your eyes (I should have worn a pair of Oakley's or even safety glasses). Eventually I was able to get to the lake after what seemed to be an eternity. You move much slower through dense bush than you would otherwise. Maybe 1/10th the speed or slower (worth keeping this in mind when you venture out)
The edges of the lake had grass which from my experience thus far is usually a good sign. If the area turns out to be covered in bushes / shrubs then it's probably going to be a waste of time venturing further. However by the "shore" the area had about 6 inches of grass layer which if broken through was about a foot of water followed by watery peat. Not much fun and potentially dangerous if one gets careless.
Going more in land to my surprise I was able to find another grassy looking meadow. it was water logged. It had rained earlier so it had about an inch or so of water at the surface. Had a hunch to check it out. Glad I did. To my surprise the grass layer there was much thinner 2 / 4 inches. So it was easy to break through. And immediately after there was peat that had the perfect consistency. Thick enough that you can sink into it after the initial plunge to waist deep and also consistent thickness so it was fairly easy to sink shoulder deep by making the right (or wrong) moves. I felt no bottom. I ripped up a hole in the top layer of about 3'x3' and had a blast. I think if the area was not water logged so the hole wouldn't fill with water it would have been better. I did churn it up and mix it to a point where it got better consistency. But a few minutes after I got out it basically looked like a puddle since it filled in with water.
I always carry a plank of wood with me in my backpack. Rope seems impractical to me unless you're with someone. However getting out didn't take too much effort. Maybe 30 seconds at most. Didn't really need any tools but better to be safe than sorry especially if going alone (although preferably better to go with someone if you can).
Clean up was a bit tedious and I didn't plan for it well.
I think for this one in the future I have two options:
1. go to the lake and go for a "swim" to get the peat off the clothes and then walk back wet hoping it will dry by the time I get to my car. The hike is short and it takes extra effort to bush wack to the lake. So probably won't really dry off unless it's a heatwave. Also would want to change clothes anyways before driving home. If the lot is crowded might be inconvenient to do this.
2. Carry a garden spray bottle with water (and maybe soap or tea tree oil). Also have two small towels. One a wash cloth and the other to dry off. Of course a change of clothes when closer to the trail but still out of view.
Luckily on the way back there was no one there anymore so changing clothes at the parking spot was no issue. Conveniently I parked at a corner of the gravel lot so I just opened both front and rear doors of my car as a privacy guard. In the future I might not be so luck and need to go back in the woods to change which is inconvenient.
Another thing I learned about using satellite maps to pick a spot to venture out. Those can be out of date. It's good to use different sources. They may have different visuals and based on what you find you can decide which source is more reliable. For example one source showed a spot that looked to be all mud (like a dry lake bed) and another showed that it was full with water. Guess which one was accurate.
I've also been getting to my spots by foot. This can be a pain and time consuming. I think in retrospect it would have been more efficient to use a bike where possible (i.e. bike closer to the spot along the trail and then ditch it to bush wack to the spot). Just remember to save the spot on your phone so you don't lose it! I've read some advice around here about using a canoe or a raft. Might be something to look into although carries more risk especially if inflatable and it springs a leak.
Some other things make sure to have potable water, and energy bars for food if needed. A small first aid kit is good to have. And if you go into the deep woods consider getting a radio / emergency locator transmitter. A compass is a must and a water proof phone / gps too. If your phone isn't water proof then make sure to seal it in a plastic bag when you reach a wet area so you won't destroy it.
A stick / hiking pole is a useful tool and not for the reason you'd think. Yes testing depth is good but more importantly when bush wacking through uneven ground that's unstable and may have hidden rocks etc. better to test with your stick than to make a wrong step and sprain your ankle or worse yet break a bone.
Anyways hopefully this post is helpful to any hopeful sinkers out there. Hopefully will be able to go back at least one more time to the spot before it gets too cold to venture out. Maybe it will dry up a bit too which would make it perfect. Maybe also bring a small shovel with me next time as well as well to make a bigger opening
