Pot Springs

[IowaCaveDiver]

After a night of camping and surviving the swarms of rabid flys/nats, the girlfriend and I took turns diving Pot Spring. Basin was pumping clear water, pushing the river water a good 50 from the spring pool. Some catfish species were all over the edge of the river/spring checking out the clear water. I believe the flood altered the enterance because besides the firehydrant flow, i had no issues negotiating the enterance, where on my last visit (Jan) I had a heck of a time fighting the flow and the squeeze... same tanks but was able to slide right in... and i'm 30lbs heavier! Mainline was intact approx. 30' from open water, just inside the cavern tunnel to the left. Ceiling chunks had dropped in a few places covering the line (i moved them aside) and the line was broken just before the "T" and I repaired it... learning i need some lessons in cave knots...hopefully my bowline will hold. Saw two turtle shells along the swim... took the right fork in the "T" and negotiated a very silt laden twisty passage till it ended, turned to reduced viz of 20-25' and then upon returning to the "T" I checked out the pit passage, hoping my silt from the previous tunnel might make its way past the "T" as I was off in the other passage... the no-mount hole in the bottom of the passage seems very enviting... however my current configuration would not be condusive to this manuever. No issues on exit, although viz reduced to 25' or less due to the disturbed silt. It is obvious silt is covering everything due to the flooding, fortunatly it is the sandy type, so not too scary.

**beware of horendous flys... everywhere and bug spray doesn't help. I tried the dryer sheets rubbed on my face and neck and worn as a necklace to keep them from my face... worked alright... anybody have any good tricks for these buggers?

[Kelly Jessop]

Be real careful in that area this time of the year since it is hunting season. Normally they cable the road this time of the year for the hunters. I recall a number of years ago a confrontation that occured between some cave divers and hunters,that fortunately ended well,but had the cave divers a little frightened.

[IowaCaveDiver]

didn't see any hunters or signs of them... we had several groups of people come and go, doing some swimming, bathing and gathering drinking water in bleach jugs (yikes).

[Kelly Jessop]

http://myfwc.com/RECREATION/Hunt_SeasDates0910.htm

Season is just getting started. I only mention it because I understand the people who hunt that area are very possessive,and unkind toward nonlikeminded users.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Thanks for the report