Tightest Sidemount Cave System ?

[curtschu]

I have been around cave diving since the late 80s and the same questions were asked then. I'm sure there has to be a cave out there in the woods somewhere that has not been found yet. But You'll find everything that is close to civilization a been found, maybe not dove much but you'll find line in there. It's the wholy grail of caving.. virgin passage. I am think places like Brier's might have some going passage back in the pool of naked frogs but I don't know if anyone has humped tanks back there. Anyway just thinking outloud again.

[NitroxWarrior]

If you want tight, just go out to little devil, theres like 5 no-mount restrictions in there...

[Line Squirrel]

If you want tight, just go out to little devil, theres like 5 no-mount restrictions in there...

Little Devil has major blockages at the entrances (both entrances) Brian Kakuk and I tried to get in there a couple months ago, this past January I think. Because of his experiance, Brian took the lead. I watched him pull out rocks the size of basketballs AFTER removing sticks and branches. He couldn't get anywhere...I was nothing more than a spectator at this point. Little Devil will take a lot of work to reopen the passage to what was already a very tight, and short, sidemout cave.

[JDR]

This is the best thread on the CDF in a while. It would be great to hear some detailed stories of tight spaces. I've only been in a few but those were some of my favorite cave diving moments.

Cheers,
Jamie

[NitroxWarrior]

i didnt know it has become so clogged up. last time i was out there i wasnt attempting any penetration...

[bmwcaves]

curtschu wrote:I have been around cave diving since the late 80s and the same questions were asked then. I'm sure there has to be a cave out there in the woods somewhere that has not been found yet. But You'll find everything that is close to civilization a been found, maybe not dove much but you'll find line in there. It's the wholy grail of caving.. virgin passage. I am think places like Brier's might have some going passage back in the pool of naked frogs but I don't know if anyone has humped tanks back there.


To answer a couple of Questions for you.

1. Briars is a cave in Ocala. It has been dived in, various places, not much passage. To see a nice picture of it, go here:http://www.karstconservancy.org/

2. The "Pool Naked Frogs" is located in Climax Cave, Climax Ga. Most of Climax has been dived by Paul Smith and others. Not many people want to drag tanks back through the sand crawls on a 10 hour trip just to lay a few more feet of line. ( If you know of anyone that wants to drag my tanks for me, let me know)

3. One more thing....you'd be suprised at how much virgin cave there is out there, (and it isn't all small stuff either) There's more to life than just Peacock.

Brian

[Signal 20]

3. One more thing....you'd be suprised at how much virgin cave there is out there, (and it isn't all small stuff either) There's more to life than just Peacock.

Brian

you mean there other caves out there other than Ginnie and Peacock?

[rchrds]

Brian beat me to it with the POTNF- and folks have humped tanks back there. (Amazing who I can sucker into a crappy trip) and there is still more passage that could be done- I didnt see all the passage that is on a map that I have seen. (BMW do you have that one- could you send it to me?)

Little Devil isn't that small- it is actually a really pretty 40s dive. I didnt even have to take the tanks off. There is only really one major restriction- the rest you just have to be a little slinky. (your relative proportions may vary.)

I was wondering about the entrances- I hadnt been to Ginnie in years and canoed up there a month or so ago - looked like the entrances to LD were completely covered- I'm sure its from the surface erosion- that would be a great restoration project for a few folks with buckets in conjunction with the management.

I'm with BMW- loads of virgin out there. Even close in. You just have to do the research and expand your techniques.

J

[bmwcaves]

Hey J,

I'll send you what I got on Climax.

Speaking of tight....I've never been there but I think John Jay did Dogwood spring years ago......no mount all the way back, yikes !
Is there even a place to turn around in there ??

[rchrds]

Hey J,
Speaking of tight....I've never been there but I think John Jay did Dogwood spring years ago......no mount all the way back, yikes !
Is there even a place to turn around in there ??

It's not really that small- but what a beautiful little cave. The problem is, that at the very back, the ceiling is unstable- the passage ends in a different sort of limestone that is quite poorly consolidated- parts like to fall off on you. I only went once- I didnt want to do any more damage by just being there. But if you can keep from the need to go to the extreme back of the cave- the front bit is very pretty and can easily be done with a no-mount or SM40s or 30s. The Berman/Masters map (FGC373 Dogwood Springs) is included in the update. Everything beyond what they called the breakdown restriction is bad news. You can turn around in the breakdown room, which is a slopey affair, but if careful, there is enough room. I'm not sure if I wore fins or not. I believe so.

J