Ginnie Question

[MedCop]

I read in a thread some time back that it took several years to find the keyhole restriction.

Is there someplace I can read a history of the exploration of Ginnie? I have read the standard "cave diving" books and have not found a detailed history that I can recall.

I guess I am taking for granted at the ease of going throught the keyhole now at what appears to be a wide open "restriction" that took several years to find?

Can someone fill me in on the early exploration, mapping of Ginnie or point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance!

[Kelly Jessop]

I read in a thread some time back that it took several years to find the keyhole restriction.

Is there someplace I can read a history of the exploration of Ginnie? I have read the standard "cave diving" books and have not found a detailed history that I can recall.

I guess I am taking for granted at the ease of going throught the keyhole now at what appears to be a wide open "restriction" that took several years to find?

Can someone fill me in on the early exploration, mapping of Ginnie or point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance!

That is correct,everybody thought that the cave ended in the lips area. Factors that promoted the inability to find going cave was the walls were black (versus now),and the lights had low output. Somebody who has a wealth of information on Devils exploration is Jim Fishback. Interesting that the line a number of years back didn't start but at the keyhole.

[FW]

I read in a thread some time back that it took several years to find the keyhole restriction.

It took several years to find the Lips. It only took several months after that to find the Keyhole. The cave was "walled out" in several places over the years. It was Gene Melton that found the Keyhole. Another old timer is John Harper, but he is pretty shy.

There are several references to Devil's Eye exploration on the UWS early issues CD, available on www.nsscds.org. Just click on Shop Online.

[tomhauburn]

Its amazing how history tends to repeat itself. Wasn't that long ago that it was walled out, then more passage was discovered. Makes you wonder how many other places are like that.
Tom

[saturation]

And now we have Devils Cave Part III, and that's the new area past Henkle to which mapping has yet begun.

[cavebob]

And now we have Devils Cave Part III, and that's the new area past Henkle to which mapping has yet begun.

I hope it doesn't get mapped. I was just back in there the other day and it is much worse that just a few months ago. With all the recent "activity" going on back there it seems to have become a tourist attraction and shows it. I am afraid a map would only make that worse.

[MedCop]

Is July Spring or Lightning Spring an exit / entry point? I ask as it appears on the map that July Spring actually looks like a point of exit / entry.

My time in Ginnie has been limited to the Expressway Circuit. I have alot more of the cave to see, but I am very interested in the early exploration / history of the cave (and the others in the area.)

[FW]

Is July Spring or Lightning Spring an exit / entry point? I ask as it appears on the map that July Spring actually looks like a point of exit / entry.

My time in Ginnie has been limited to the Expressway Circuit. I have alot more of the cave to see, but I am very interested in the early exploration / history of the cave (and the others in the area.)

July is an exit for eels, but not many humans. It is way too small.

[Jay]

Yeah it was pretty interesting reading the timeline in the new book. A lot of other caves were being pushed pretty far before they got to the keyhole.

Forrest, was access to Ginnie harder then? (road wise) Were they concentrating on Ginnie itself, more so then Devil?