ginnie springs

[aw]

I think it would be funny to place back-to-back line arrows halfway between a traverse and label one "Mexico" and the other "United States".

[aainslie]

I think it would be funny to place back-to-back line arrows halfway between a traverse and label one "Mexico" and the other "United States".

...Or we could mark them "the ear" and "the eye"!

[Narcosis]

As a new basic cave diver I would agree cluttering up a cave with signs would be bad. But couldn't they at least mark on the maps where the gold lines are.

I just did Ginnie, Devils ear. I bought the map so I could see before hand where I was going. I figured if I could familiarize myself with where the line was and what I should be seeing, I'd have a better idea as to where I was along the way. I ended up asking some other cave divers to show me on the map where the gold line was. Oddly enough the map did show where the jumps were, but unless I asked, I'd have had no idea as to where I was otherwise.

Do some maps have the gold lines marked ?

[Moonfuzzy]

Do some maps have the gold lines marked ?

I think that the lines are often left off the maps -maybe because lines are replaced every so often, and are sometimes moved. Also maybe because they are there for emergency exit, not really to help with penetration.

[Jim Wyatt]

Do some maps have the gold lines marked ?

Jeff Hancock's map of the Devils' system has all the lines on it.

[aainslie]

I think that what narcosis is saying is, they don't mark which one is the GOLD one.

This is generally the case. However anyone in the parking lot or a store near the cave you're considering who has dived the system can show you pretty quickly which is the gold line.

Also, not many lines tee onto AND off of the gold line. This helps you work out which one it is.

[Narcosis]

I think that what narcosis is saying is, they don't mark which one is the GOLD one.

The 2 maps I have. one of Peacock showing P1, P2, and Orange (just labeled "Peacock Springs Cave system"). The other of Ginnie (labeled "Devil's Eye Cave system, Map #1") doesn't show any lines at all. The Devils eye map has symbols for jumps, but thats it.

Obviously the line has to start somewhere near the entrance, but once you get away from the entrance on the map there isn't much to help you figure out where you'll be heading while your following the gold line. On the Ginnie map you can sort of figure it out to some degree by figuring that the line has to go through the lips, then near "cornflakes it probably goes through the southern most of the three passages because the other 2 ways are marked as restrictions. After that point I'd be guessing using that map.

I'm not trying to make a big deal out of this, Just wondering why they don't show the line is all. As a newbie i'm sure there is a perfectly logical reason for this, I'm just not aware of it yet. If I had to guess, I'd guess it had something to do with discouraging OW divers (who can easily purchase these maps) from finding and following the line. In other words, a safety thing?

[FW]

I think that the lines are often left off the maps -maybe because lines are replaced every so often, and are sometimes moved. Also maybe because they are there for emergency exit, not really to help with penetration.

Absolutely correct!

[cavediver256]

For reference, I draw in the lines on my laminated map with a ultra-fine sharpie after diving the different passages. If things change a pencil eraser will remove the lines I have drawn.

[curtschu]

I think that what narcosis is saying is, they don't mark which one is the GOLD one.

The 2 maps I have. one of Peacock showing P1, P2, and Orange (just labeled "Peacock Springs Cave system"). The other of Ginnie (labeled "Devil's Eye Cave system, Map #1") doesn't show any lines at all. The Devils eye map has symbols for jumps, but thats it.

Obviously the line has to start somewhere near the entrance, but once you get away from the entrance on the map there isn't much to help you figure out where you'll be heading while your following the gold line. On the Ginnie map you can sort of figure it out to some degree by figuring that the line has to go through the lips, then near "cornflakes it probably goes through the southern most of the three passages because the other 2 ways are marked as restrictions. After that point I'd be guessing using that map.

I'm not trying to make a big deal out of this, Just wondering why they don't show the line is all. As a newbie i'm sure there is a perfectly logical reason for this, I'm just not aware of it yet. If I had to guess, I'd guess it had something to do with discouraging OW divers (who can easily purchase these maps) from finding and following the line. In other words, a safety thing?

The short answer is because cartography is a thankless, tedious, Task that requires hundreds of dives. It sound like you have the First Half of the Berman map. It is a good map to hang on the wall but the Hancock map is better for what you are wanting. Sorry to say, Pony up the dollars and you will get what you want. Otherwise do what the rest of us do. Look at the big map in the Deli and try to build a mental picture.