Shangri-la Cave on the Millpond

[Nondem]

I did a couple of dives in Shangrila on Merrits Millpond last weekend breaking in my new Nomad EXP.

I've been in there a few times before in backmount just doing gear checks and enjoying the cavern...I noticed a couple of new things this time:
1) There is new line in the cavern and cave...new as in bright white and going well beyond the backmount/cavern zone.
2) Even just sticking my head down into the crack while still in the cavern zone - I could see a lot more cave in sidemount than I ever saw in backmount.

Whats the story here?
I used to work with Tara Tanaka who buddied with Sheck Exley back in the day(check the back of his book)...of course this was when I was just starting cave training so she could have been trying to keep me from killing myself - but she told me herself that Sheck had pushed that cave as far as he could using no-mount and it just didn't go.

Someone got any more dirt?
PM me if you want me to keep my mouth shut...I'm good at that.

[Sludge]

I used to work with Tara Tanaka ...

Ha, ha, I haven't seen "Tiger" in about ten years!

[FW]

... but she told me herself that Sheck had pushed that cave as far as he could using no-mount and it just didn't go.

Someone got any more dirt?...

There isn't a lot more cave than can be done in backmount. It is all very tight after it goes sidemount. I assume the new line was put in, because of all the recent surge in sidemount diving.

[Kelly Jessop]

PM sent

[Kelly Jessop]

There isn't a lot more cave than can be done in backmount. It is all very tight after it goes sidemount. I assume the new line was put in, because of all the recent surge in sidemount diving.

I would put this cave in the category of sidemounting versus sidemount configuration. Big surge in buying sidemount equipment and using the configuration,but some may lack the skills of handling sidemount situations which doesn't come in a Nomad package. Would recommend learning the rudiments of sidemounting before cutting your teeth on this one-FWIW.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Sidemount for about a 20' and then you hit a bottle off restriction, there's a few more after that...

[Nondem]

Thanks to all for the info...I think I gave the wrong impression with my post.

I have no intention of going passed the cavern zone in Shagrila, problably ever. I was just curious...
While I do expect to benefit from the smaller profile sidemounting provides, it's only one of several reasons why I'm going that route. I don't plan on ever going places where "A-Framing" and "no rigid backplates" would apply