Western Kentucky

[FW]

Mark W. and I did a couple of dives in western Kentucky this weekend. The first was in Hayes Spring. It was once the water supply for Princton, KY. It had been dived a couple of times last year by Mark, but the visibility was bad, so only about 400' of line was laid. This weekend, the viz was over 10', so we could see both walls, which is great for that area. Our goal was to check on the placement of a well casing that was sunk this summer, and advise where they might drill another well for irrigation. We laid another 250' of line, but had to turn because we wanted to save gas for a virgin sump.

Hayes Spring (click for bigger picture)


The second dive was in Martin Spring. The vis was less there, but I could tell it was it was mostly a cavern. They wanted to put in an irrigation pickup in the deepest area. Since I couldn't really properly survey it, I told them to try where my bubbles came up for the longest time

We spent the following day looking for the closest entrance to the sump, but never did find it. We got "busted" for trespassing on leased land, used by a hunting club :-(
We were on land owned by the same farm co-op that we had permission from, but they failed to tell us that they had leased out part of it


We did find an unknown "dry" cave, so the day wasn't a total bust. Besides, the weather was great for walking around in the woods.

[crawford]

I went and checked that place out a couple years ago, just poked my head in the cave. Is this the one in the middle of Princeton in the little park? If so, just curious how far back till you hit the sump.

[FW]

I went and checked that place out a couple years ago, just poked my head in the cave. Is this the one in the middle of Princeton in the little park? If so, just curious how far back till you hit the sump.

No, but we looked at that one too. Not sure how you would go about getting permission to dive it. Hayes is a couple miles out of town.

Are you sidemount? We will probably be going back, once hunting season is over

[crawford]

I was wondering the same thing about permission. Might be good for the NSS to map it and know the layout in case someone gets lost in there and a rescue is needed. So the Sherrif might be a good approach (Skip had suggested that). Also the cave surely goes under the town, so a survey could help understand the structural considerations for building permits, underground utiliities, etc. So maybe the Town Manager or Mayor?

I'm almost done putting my harness together and will play with it in shallow water here soon. So I'm not sidemount "yet".

[FW]

I highly suspect someone has already mapped it. I don't think any diving was done, if there is a sump. I know some of the "dry" cavers in the area, and they are pretty sure we are the first cavedivers in the area. There are a lot of unchecked sumps, and several more unchecked springs there.

[crawford]

Ya'll gettin' all up in my back yard

I better learn sidemount quick while there's something to be had.

[FW]

...I better learn sidemount quick while there's something to be had.

[tstormdiver]

Ya'll gettin' all up in my back yard

Damn! If that is your back yard, then that's almost at my back door.

[FW]

Damn! If that is your back yard, then that's almost at my back door.

Are you sidemount? If so, I will give you a shout on the next trip.

[FW]

I added a picture to the first post.