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Posted for Bill Dunn:
Craig's Mill is a big sinkhole. The main tunnel is over 500', average width is 200', depth at the back is just over 100', average passage height is 50'. Visibility averages around 50', I have seen it as much as 100'. If it rains, it never drops below 20'. October is usually pretty dry, though. Temperature is around 58 degrees.Quote:
Originally Posted by bdunn
Sweet.Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
Hmmm, sounds like the place, but last time I was there (about 14 years ago) the water temp was 52 degrees and the depth was much deeper. Also I remember having to saw a tree in half which was blocking the "dual tire track passage" and navigating several 4' deep mud holes to get there. :-) Oh yeah, the percolation was considerable during the exit, but then again we didn't stick too closely to the main line route. And don't forget those BLACK walls. When you swim across the basin it looks like your swimming into the mouth of a skull. All in all it's certainly an adventure!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
The drought has lowered the water level a lot. There are still deep spots, but not along the main line. Percolation is still an issue, and I make the circuit, so I don't have to backtrack through it.Quote:
Originally Posted by scooter
The new owner has cut down all the trees along the road, and put in a gravel driveway over the low spots. It is actually pretty nice now.
I've told the wife and she has not said no :)
Looking forward to seeing everyone there. I think Sam is going to try to make it too.
Cheers,
Jeff
Someone PMed me about guided dives. We can provide guides, but the system is pretty simple, and once you find the Grim Reaper sign (about 40'-50' deep), it is a continuous circuit, going all the way around the one big room.
Is there some more info on the TAG event in general? This hole sounds interesting, might have to come up for the weekend.
Forrest and I are working out the details now. As soon as we have them finalized we will post them on the CDS website, as well as on here.
Forrest, I will pass this on to Chrissy, she may want to come.
Jason
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? :D
I am really looking forward to seeing a local cave.
Cheers,
Jeff
Light the fire under whomever is supposed to post the details on the CDS site. Is it an all-day event, an overnight event, or what? If it's all day, I can drive up that morning and drive home that night. If folks are going to camp, I could do that. Friday night? Saturday night? Both?
I'm looking forward to this. I need to go ahead and order my new drysuit, because 52° is too cold to be in a leaky suit!
I am just planning on a day trip.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
That was how it sounded to us. We might be able to make it down, have to let you know at TAG.Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
Here is the information on the CDS TAG Social and Dive. This promises to be a great time! Be sure to check the CDS website for diving condition updates a week or so prior to the social.
NSSCDS Tag Social and Dive
This year’s NSSCDS TAG Social and Dive will be held on Saturday October 24th at James H. Floyd State Park near Summerville, Ga. We will be located in Picnic Shelter #2 ( take the first left as you enter the Park(at the sign). Follow the road around the lake to the picnic shelter and parking area at the top of the hill). The social will begin at 9:00am. Meet fellow cave divers from the Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia area and discuss cave diving in the TAG region. Folks from Florida are welcome too! Go cave diving at a very special TAG dive site, Craig’s Mill Blue Hole. There will be drawings for door prizes throughout the day. For lunch, we will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs and will also be serving salad and drinks. All activities are free! Come get reacquainted with old cave diving friends and make some new ones!
Directions:
From I-75 - Take exit 306 for GA-140 toward Summerville/Adairsville
Take GA-140 to it’s end at Armuchee. (16 miles); Turn right on US-27(Summerville Rd.) toward Summerville (appox. 11.5.miles) to Floyd State Park sign, Sloppy Floyd Lake Rd.
Turn left at Sloppy Floyd Lake Rd.(Floyd State Park Sign) go appox. 3 miles to the park.
Georgia State Parks charge a daily $3 per vehicle parking/entry fee, if you do not have an annual state park pass.
Conditions:
Craig’s Mill is a steep sided sinkhole. The cave itself is huge. There is almost no flow in the cave and there is heavy silt on the floor of the cave. Away from the main lines the cave is subject to considerable percolation from the ceiling. Water temperature is likely to be 52 – 55 degrees F. At this time we don’t know exactly what the visibility will be, but because of the recent heavy rains in the northwest Ga. Area we expect the visibility to be down. Water levels are known to fluctuate up to thirty feet in this sink. Because of the recent rains, water levels may be high. Divers should be prepared for depths of up to 130’ on the main line. Depths can reach 180’ in certain spots in the cave. We will check conditions at the site closer to the day of the social and post those on the CDS website.
Diving:
“Full” cave divers may dive without a guide, however, guides will be available if requested in advance. There may also be guided diving available for divers at the Basic/Intro and Cavern levels depending on visibility at the site on the day of the social. Because Craig’s Mill is a fragile cave on private property the number of dive teams at the site at any one time must be limited. Diving will be by reservation. To make a reservation to dive, email: Secretary@nsscds.org with your name (and the names of your dive team); your(and the team member’s ) cave certification level; and whether you would prefer to dive in the morning or afternoon. If you aren’t coming to the social with a buddy you can buddy with another diver at the Social. You will receive an email response confirming your reservation. Directions to the dive site will be provided upon check-in at the Social.
Camping/lodging:
For those who want to camp in the area, tent and RV camping is available at Floyd State Park. The campground is very nice but small, so reservations are advised by the park since this will be one of their big fall leaf weekends. Website is: http://gastateparks.org The nearest motels are in Summerville( appox. 5 miles from the park). Here is the web address of the newest one: http://www.coachinnsuites.com/
So, who all is going?
I certainly am. I am going up this weekend (Oct 10-11) to check on visibility.
I am going
Jeff (icestac) will be there as well
Dang it, wish I could go....all the cool kids will be there!
I plan on going unless the vis is really horrible.
Looks like I will be working until 7am on the 24th, but I may be able to drive up after finishing the shift. Sounds like it would be fun !!!
Friday the 23rd is a school holiday (???) so I'm trying to see if there's any reason for me to go up early - maybe do something in Atlanta - and camp Friday night. Is anybody planning to camp?
What school holiday? We aren't off then. I might go up and camp, if anyone else is going to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
Greetings All
I cannot make it that weekend, however, if any of you have NOT seen Little River Canyon, its only about 40-50 miles away, and it is worth the drive. Class III through Class VI rapids. There used to be rafting vendors up there, its a blast!
http://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm
you FL folk are welcome to drive up. it would only take you about 7 hours or so:roll:Quote:
Originally Posted by sskasser
Probably a little longer from way down in this part of FL!Quote:
Originally Posted by sam
Maybe next time, cuz I'd sure love to! I'll be heading into some tiny little Florida caves that weekend instead (Eagle's Nest and DiePolder 3).
I do love those GA caves!
I have a previous engagement in a FL cave, but I would like to see this become an annual event. Sounds like a blast, hope you guys have a great time. Maybe next year. I'm trying Forrest, but I just cant seem to get in dem northern caves. Still dying to get into that Mid Tenn cave you've been telling me about. Maybe one day.
Hmmm...cavers gather in GA, and the GA caver goes to FL? :smt102 :smt079Quote:
Originally Posted by RHolmesJr
Yep, the TN caves are definitely worth it! Ya gotta get up there...heck...I gotta get back up there!
Obligations!!!! ;)
We went by Craig's Mill this weekend. I spoke to the landowner, and he said the big flood last month didn't get far out of the banks of the creek. It did cause the water level in the sink to rise several feet. It has dropped back down some, but is still pretty high. I suspect 32% will be to high for the back part of the cave. You will probably hit over 110' at the back fo the cave. The visibility is still pretty good, but it is still raining, so I "think" it will be over 20' by Oct 24. It could be more, if it doesn't rain that week.
Thanks for the update Forest!
So- the Cave-In is over, I missed it again (2nd year in a row, after 13 years of making it) and Chrissy spent the weekend either drunk, in the hottub, dancing, underground or a combination of all those. How did the dive go? Did anyone else make it?
Jason
The Cave-In is a different event from the still upcoming TAG social. That will be on the 24th of Oct.Quote:
Originally Posted by rchrds
I did see Chrissy in the parking for Cemetery, with a couple of cute "dry" cavers :-D
Haha- I will tell them you said that- She was there with our own Clarksville Grotto- or what is left of us. Ha. Damn, so looks like I will miss the TAG Social as well. Figures. Dang it.
J
I'll come down, but only if there's no visability, it's a long way to haul gear, it rains, and my tent blows away!Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
I'll be there with a few of my dive buddies. I'm looking forward to meeting more cave divers and diving a North Georgia cave. Are there any updated condition reports?
Last time we checked, visibility in the cave 20', visibility in the basin 5'-6' due to algae. Water temp 55. If we don't get any more rain between now and the social, conditions in the cave may improve. We'll just have to wait and see Saturday morning ....
On the news this morning, they were saying 30% chance of rain on Thursday and Saturday and 80% of Friday with up to 2 more inches.
Hopefully, the system will come through early rather than late.
Or just wait, and arrive on Sunday!Quote:
Originally Posted by gander
Today's forecast (Thursday), calls for rain Friday, but only partly cloudy Saturday.
I will bring some rope to rig handlines in the sinkhole, in case it is slippery. The picnic part should be good though. There is a shelter, so we will be there rain or shine.
Harry Averill is trying to set up the "new" CDS website today. One of the things that has not made it to the new site yet is the info on the TAG Social including directions to James H. Floyd state park (the location of the social). Talk about poor timing. In case anyone needs them, here they are again. Looking forward to seeing a lot of you Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee folks there!
From I-75 - Take exit 306 for GA-140 toward Summerville/Adairsville
Take GA-140 to it’s end at Armuchee. (16 miles); Turn right on US-27(Summerville Rd.) toward Summerville (appox. 11.5.miles) to Floyd State Park sign.Sloppy Floyd Lake Rd.
Turn left at Sloppy Floyd Lake Rd.(Floyd State Park Sign) Appox. 3 miles to the park.
Georgia State Parks charge a daily $3 per vehicle parking/entry fee, if you do not have an annual state park pass.
Now there's a Georgia sounding name! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by bdunn
I probably shouldn't laugh - in Vermont we have Sodom Pond, Skunk Hollow, and Ticklenaked Pond.
Mike
I sure am glad no one from Alabama is coming... :yawinkle:Quote:
Originally Posted by bdunn
The funniest part is that park was named after a Georgia politician :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by MORGAN
LOL! That is funny... I can think of some Vermont politicians that ought to be the namesakes of Sodom Pond and Skunk Hollow.Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
Mike
I just looked at the weather, and it appears the front is weakening, so conditions should be OK.
I am in Summerville, GA. The front has gone through, the weather is great, and there wasn't much rain.
Conditions should be great, see y'all in the morinig.
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.
I'm standing here beside my door.
Wake me up real soon so I can dive.
I'm leaving for a dive trip... :D
That should read "I'm standing here by the doe" :roll:Quote:
Originally Posted by icestac
It was nice to get a dive in and meet more of the community.
The social went very nicely. There were around 16 people total. We all got to meet people we didn't know, and some we hadn't seen in awhile. If we do it again, it needs to be a little earlier in the year, it was a little cool with the front that passed through.
Seven of us went diving. Conditions were less than ideal, though. All the rain in north GA had reduced the visibility to around 10', and the banks of the sink were slippery. We rigged ropes, but it was still "fun" getting in and out. Several people shot pictures, so hopefully someone will post a few.
There are some photos and a brief article about the TAG social/dive on the CDS website.
Thanks for the update.Quote:
Originally Posted by bdunn
Here are some pics from the dive site.