Distance Tunnel at Orange Grove

[Puttzer]

Been thinking about visiting this tunnel (for the first time) but I have no information about it.

Can anyone tell me about it before I go back mount in a tunnel that may be side mount, with heavy silt and collapsing mud walls?

[FW]

Been thinking about visiting this tunnel (for the first time) but I have no information about it.

Can anyone tell me about it before I go back mount in a tunnel that may be side mount, with heavy silt and collapsing mud walls?

It is easily backmountable, at least as far as I have gone, several hunderd feet once you make the jump.

[Gary]

It has been a while but the passage is backmountable for a long way. Probably ~p2000'+ before a significant restriction and continues for a long while further. Generally good viz. At least 2 spots that have 2 choices to progress and at least one is backmountable.

There are some side passages that are generally tighter and shorter then the main passage.

There is (was?) an old sand/gravel slide location to swim past not too far along after entering the distance tunnel passage but I don't think it was any danger. I seem to remember a hole in the ceiling somewhere (maybe near the old slide location?) that could dribble dirt/silt down in reaction to bubbles flowing up. Maybe there is potential for another slide in the future.

I remember enjoying that passage on every visit.

Have fun!

[deanme]

I have dove from Orange Grove to Challenge sink 3 times in back mount. There are spots that are low and can be silted, but with careful buoyancy, you can easily make the swim with no silting problems in back mount.

Bit confused about the silting up in Olson yesterday at peacock (Sunday June 15). My buddy and I dove Peanut tunnel to Peanut restriction with excellent viz and no silt at all. Enough divers have now been through Peanut tunnel to get the silt out that accumulated from the flood. Viz was wonderful. The dive from Peanut tunnel to Peanut restriction was also wonderful, with wonderful viz and no silting. Then from Peanut restriction to Olsen sink was again, wonderful with no silt and excellent viz. My buddy and I silted up a bit at Peanut restriction, but that was about it. Not much silt.

Then we got into Olsen tunnel after Olsen sink and wamo; major silting. The tunnel is big enough for a school bus, but the silting was pretty consistant from Olsen sink to the entrance. In spots, the viz was about 15 feet. Don't know what happened.

[marinediver]

I have dove from Orange Grove to Challenge sink 3 times in back mount. There are spots that are low and can be silted, but with careful buoyancy, you can easily make the swim with no silting problems in back mount.

Bit confused about the silting up in Olson yesterday at peacock (Sunday June 15). My buddy and I dove Peanut tunnel to Peanut restriction with excellent viz and no silt at all. Enough divers have now been through Peanut tunnel to get the silt out that accumulated from the flood. Viz was wonderful. The dive from Peanut tunnel to Peanut restriction was also wonderful, with wonderful viz and no silting. Then from Peanut restriction to Olsen sink was again, wonderful with no silt and excellent viz. My buddy and I silted up a bit at Peanut restriction, but that was about it. Not much silt.

Then we got into Olsen tunnel after Olsen sink and wamo; major silting. The tunnel is big enough for a school bus, but the silting was pretty consistant from Olsen sink to the entrance. In spots, the viz was about 15 feet. Don't know what happened.

And what does this have to do with the Distance tunnel?

[jeandiver]

I was in the distance tunnel a couple of weeks ago. Some grotties on the line but other than that , it was fine. Two of us in backmount and the leader in sidemount. In Backmount we always turn it WELL BEFORE the passage pinches down.

Er , remember ALL of that water came into P1 from the flood. Looks like most of it headed up the Pothole line etc. It's going to take a while for the Olsen-P1 side to er , recover

But there are MORE expert opinions out there than mine , so I will defer to them.

(Olsen to P1 isn't as clear as the Peanut side , but I thought "IMHO" that it wasn't too bad. However , see the disclamer above ... )

Da Beano

P.S. I think Peacock is very nice after all that water running thru it. But then , I just love that cave anyway so ...
Again , see the above disclaimer.

[Sludge]

And what does this have to do with the Distance tunnel?

It's all in the same system.

[Moonfuzzy]

There is a lot that is back mountable in there, and a few sections where you need to take your time to get through clean. There are a few T's and a few more jumps.

Checked my log - there is a hole above the slide that dribbles a little stuff out. (I'd avoid purging your regulator up the hole, you may not want to be there when the crap falls out.)

I have one note that says "on return the line going under and T'ing off pendulum rock (rejoins in 100' circuited into crack 2 lines down main way) right up silt hill soft walls and dirt"
I don't remember the soft walls now, but you were asking so I thought you'd like to know to keep an eye out for it.

[tflaris]

Dove in on Saturday 6/21/08. Easy to BM conditions clear. I know there is a restriction. I believe a sand mound but do not know location. Mike M. at Dive Outpost proboably would.

[metaldector]

With CurtSch and found some gunk hanging on the lines but water generally clear. Easy to silt up if not careful. We did it in BM without any problems, but didn't get back to where it pinches off. Silt stays suspended for sometime.