Map of Mine LaMont in Mo.

[nryan171]

Has anyone ever seen a map of Mine LaMont in Mo.? Does any one have any info on Mine LaMont? Any thing info would be fantastic.

[skip]

Do you mean mine La Motte Offsets? I have heard of a stick map and recently was contacted by a diver interested in surveying the system. Don't know what's become of either, but try a search for missouri caves or cave diving on this forum. Also try the midwest dive forum:

www.midwestdive.com

They have a cave subforum with the missouri cave divers' posts.

-skip

[crawford]

Has anyone ever seen a map of Mine LaMont in Mo.? Does any one have any info on Mine LaMont? Any thing info would be fantastic.

I've got a copy (one of many copies out there) of the only map I think exists, which is a stick map mostly of the front of the mine. My instructor and his buddy did the survey and to my knowledge have done the most extensive explorations of the mine. This buddy of my instructor I speak of has been on the forum lately, so maybe he'll pitch in. They have done scooter dives wayyyy back with I think as many 6 stages until they got breathers.

The main thing I'll say up front is, there are lots of lines, lots of T's, it is cold (about 48 deg F but I'll check my computer), there are places where the vis can be very limited at times (after rain, etc.) and often you can't see the ceilings, walls, etc. I wouldn't go in there until you're squared away (not assuming you aren't, just for the general public). If you lose the line, you might have an interesting time doing a lost line drill.

That being said, it's a rocking dive and looking to get back soon.

[crawford]

The official website is theoffsets.com and there is a mention on the IANTD website. Look for an article entitled "Technical Diving in Missouri". You can also google "Mine LaMotte" or "The Offsets" and find some additional info.

Did I mention this place is cold?

[skip]

lost line drill would be very interesting. what say we try that next time crawford? like maybe in the large room with all those "T's?"

what is it anyway when it's five lines coming together? like a traffic round-a-bout? must be a name for it, or maybe it's time to make one up!

And what does it mean when three of the five arrows point the way "out?"

dang, make sure you bring your own unique arrows, or a bunch of cookies!

but the tracks, picks, cables, and all the minors gear, not to mention the totally rectangular tunnels and cubed rooms with multi-level entrances/exits, is all just beyond "cave" diving. It's a human made maze of rat tunnels and choice points.

-skip

[nryan171]

lost line drill would be very interesting. what say we try that next time crawford? like maybe in the large room with all those "T's?

what is it anyway when it's five lines coming together?

So you are saying there is no gold line? I had heard it was a good dive with reasonable depths and several cool things to see. I did hear it was cold but that is why I wear a CF200. Basicaly you are saying I better take more that just two jump wreels.

[crawford]

lost line drill would be very interesting. what say we try that next time crawford? like maybe in the large room with all those "T's?

what is it anyway when it's five lines coming together?

So you are saying there is no gold line? I had heard it was a good dive with reasonable depths and several cool things to see. I did hear it was cold but that is why I wear a CF200. Basicaly you are saying I better take more that just two jump wreels.

Leave the jump reels and take a bag of clothespins instead

There is no gold line, just white line. The T's have sometimes three or four (or more?) directions so as skip is saying, not really a T, but an asterik. *

I talked to Steve Keene and Sue Sharples a good bit about it, they say once you dive it a few times, you basically know where you are, and know where the lines go, and if it caves in on your line at one place, no problem, go out of the mine on another line. This doesn't happen, but sho nuff could. That's why the lines aren't such a big deal for people used to the mine.

Skip and I religously put cookies at each intersection, verified each one on exit with one another, very religous cave diving. I would recommend this. Steve and Sue have a gazillion cave dives and lots of dives in this mine, so they can relax a bit. I like controlled paranoria (thanks Sheck) for me and my experience/skill level. By relax I mean not adding markers where there are arrows, etc. Not violating cave diving protocol.

I think what confused skip and I, or was surprising rather, was that soon after entering the mine, we came to an intersection that had double arrows pointing to the right. Later found out this is bat cave entrance and the OW section is closer in that direction.

Lord, just talking about it I'm ready to go back. It's like a wreck dive shoved into a cave. Very very cool.

[steve2281]

I have been working on a rough line map for a couple of years. I began with a map of one section that was produced by another cave diver and added to that map. One of the divers already mentioned in this thread helped me with info on the furthermost areas. OP, PM sent.

[crawford]

I have been working on a rough line map for a couple of years. I began with a map of one section that was produced by another cave diver and added to that map. One of the divers already mentioned in this thread helped me with info on the furthermost areas. OP, PM sent.

The map I have is the one steve2281 gave me. I believe it's the only one available.