Jackson Blue Line Conditions versus Peacock/Ginnie/LR

[jj1987]

Does JB still have the spider web in the back when you need a bag of clothpins? Only went there once, beautiful cave. Had 12 pins ad ran out, so we turned. Edd told me he used over 25 and had to turn when he ran out. I thought he was kidding. Hole is the same way.

Yes, you cross easily a dozen T's on the way back to the banana room. They're all white line T'ed into gold line. Whoever ran the line did an excellent job however, the navigational decisions are very visible and fast to navigate on a scooter.

[Wizard]

A lot of folks dislike white T's tied in the gold line. But if you are that far back, you should have advanced navigation skills.

[harmstrong]

A lot of folks dislike white T's tied in the gold line. But if you are that far back, you should have advanced navigation skills.

The gold line beyond the Trash Pile was laid with an eye toward scootering rather than swimming, as given the distances and the traditional level of flow, that was the only way to get back there. Ts were all marked on the outbound side. We actually cut back a number of the Ts when we ran the gold line, as prior to that there were 27 Ts between the Trash Pile and the Banana Room, all exploration line tied into exploration line. Back in the late 90's, early 2000's (essentially prior to Edd moving to Marianna), Jackson Blue wasn't really on the "map" so to speak for most cave divers, it was considered out of the way and wasn't frequented by the large numbers of people that dive there now. The same was even more true of Twin and Hole in the Wall. Those of us who did dive there regularly had a pretty standing agreement that whenever we laid line anywhere in the back, we Td in and marked the outbound side, which should give you all some explanation as to why the lines in the Middle Grounds are run as they are as well. Things have changed bit in the intervening years, but if you know your way around, its actually quite easy to navigate.

[Sludge]

But if you are that far back, you should have advanced navigation skills.

But not advanced buoyancy skills.

(As evidenced by all the marks in the floor.)

[dogwatch]

as prior to that there were 27 Ts between the Trash Pile and the Banana Room, all exploration line tied into exploration line. Back in the late 90's, early 2000's (essentially prior to Edd moving to Marianna), Jackson Blue wasn't really on the "map" so to speak for most cave divers, it was considered out of the way and wasn't frequented by the large numbers of people that dive there now.

.. and quite a bit of it was done >15 years before that

[harmstrong]

.. and quite a bit of it was done >15 years before that

Certainly I was just giving a bit of semi-historical perspective, though my history doesn't extend as far as some!

[dogwatch]

Certainly I was just giving a bit of semi-historical perspective, though my history doesn't extend as far as some!

Yeah - just had to put in a plug for old guys and gals - i bet some of the newer folks would have a hard time believing how "difficult" it was to dive Jackson Blue during certain periods on history.

[CaveMD]

Yeah - just had to put in a plug for old guys and gals - i bet some of the newer folks would have a hard time believing how "difficult" it was to dive Jackson Blue during certain periods on history.

I heard once upon a time you had to pull and glide there

[Sludge]

In 2005 there was no glide involved. It was pull and pull.

Before 1998 it was worse than that - JB was one of those "if you don't have a scooter, don't bother."

But I can remember as recent as 2007 not being able to make any forward progress at p800' on my Mako unless I was also kicking.

[dogwatch]

I was referring to access to the site, but yeah, sometimes the flow was unbelievable. We once had to pull (no glide) with a Tekna wide open just to get in.