Exploring Virgin Cave in Ricks Springs Utah

[IowaCaveDiver]

is this cave scooter friendly?

[CCR Josh]

is this cave scooter friendly?

It would require a pretty skilled scooter handler to maneuver through this cave, but it might be possible. Not really needed at this point though, being as we are only back around 2500 ft or so. And I would definitely NOT want to haul a scooter through the dry sections.....

[CCR Josh]

where did you have a link for video? I couldn't find it.

All the video is on Wendell's website:

http://www.wendellnope.com/video-wayne-vs-ricks.wmv

http://www.wendellnope.com/drycave20081004.wmv

http://www.wendellnope.com/ricksspring20080802large.wmv

http://www.wendellnope.com/ricksspring20080726.wmv

[Randy Thornton]

Yesterday Wendell Nope, Thomas Lamb & I were up diving Ricks Spring. Our objectives were to get some good HD video from the entrance to the first dry space, then get pictures and video of the fossils, the Moon Pool and the passages for as far as the video card would last. After that, explore that back sections that Matt and Josh have recently discovered.
As with most trips this one was not without its challenges, first Tom’s computer died, fortunately we had a back up, then I dropped one of Wendell’s tanks and broke a regulator, <ouch>, luckily we had a backup for that too, more than once we’ve been to the cave only to have to turn around and drive home because of gear issues. We’ve learned to bring backups of about everything. When we finally got in the water I went into the cave first and set the primary reel, then Tom passed the stage bottles through the restriction to me and then Wendell passed the camera through and I videoed both Wendell and Tom coming into the cave. We each clipped on a stage bottle and Wendell took the camera and started taking video from the entrance to the first dry space.
While we were in the Slippery Slide Tunnel, a long narrow tunnel, I had to stretch to fix something on Wendell, I can’t remember just what the problem was, but as I did I had to really extend my neck and in the process the bottom of my neck seal released and allowed a flood of 42oF water to run down my neck and chest. I’d like to think my neck seal is too loose because my diet and exercise program is working but I really think it is because the seal has stretched. A couple more times during the dive I felt it leak again, just not as bad as the first time.
We had hoped to get video and pictures of the fossils, passageway and the Moon Pool, however the video card filled just as we entered the dry space. At least now we have HD video up to that point. Wendell is editing it now and as soon as it’s ready I’m sure it will be on his website and we can post a link to it.
We took our tanks off and took a short rest then hiked around the dry section for a few minutes. After catching our breath and warming up a bit we went back and started hauling the tanks up Wayne’s Waterfall and through the first dry section. We had made it up with 5 out of the 6 tanks and while working on the last one Tom tore a hole in his drysuit. At that point we called the dive, it was a bummer to do work that hard getting the tanks up the waterfall and not get to dive the back section. The other and more pressing challenge was that we still had to exit through 1300 ft of 42oF water with a hole in Tom’s drysuit, needless to say Tom & I were both very wet and very cold when we finally made it out.

Richard

Great report Richard! I look forward to seeing the video. Sounds like the Ricks gremlins have been busy once again!

Regards,
Randy

[wendellnope]

The Ricks Spring cave system is not scooter-conducive, according to official DPV standards. Too much cave damage (and scooter damage) could/would occur. Perhaps a Wayne Kinard or comparably-skilled person could do it but it is comparable to scootering in the Sweet Surprise Tunnel in the Devils Spring system.

[jackass]

Guys, when will you stop diving ricks for the season? When will you start up again?

[Randy Thornton]

An HD video will be great beta! Thank you!

Nice write up Richard...

You can pretty much dive Ricks year round with the exception of late spring to early summer when the flow is at its peak. When at its peak, you can't even gain access through the entrance. Additionally, the viz gets a little difficult mid winter when there is no flow. Right now, the viz is well over 100 feet or more.

Regards,
Randy

[Cold Water Richard]

As Randy has mentioned there are times when it is not possible to dive the cave, most years we physically can't get in from mid April until about the first of August. Two years ago we made it in as early as the 7th of July, but even then the flow was high enough to make the dive more work than fun. Usually from about the first of August until early to mid December the flow has eased enough to make the diving really enjoyable, enough to clear any silt dislodged by the bubbles but not so much to make it a lot of work to get in. Usually by mid December the flow has stopped and the water level at the spring head has dropped about 6 ft. Without flow any silt hangs around quite a while and with the water level dropping the entrance and exit becomes more difficult. The spring head is surrounded by loose rock and climbing down that causes a lot of rocks to fall and plug the entrance. The other thing the drop in water level prevents access to the back half of the cave, unless you don't mind crawling through limestone tunnels with dive gear. There is a lot of passage that is out of water but too small to stand in. So From mid December to about the first of March it's a little hard to get excited about diving this cave. Starting about the first of March the flow returns and there is a 6 week window when the cave is diveable again. All that is dependent on the water year we're having, on really good years they tell me the spring flows year round and on really dry years I hear the level will drop to the point that the entrance is dry, <12 ft>. That's probably more info than you wanted, but the bottom line is that right now is the ideal time to dive the cave.

[IowaCaveDiver]

what does your typical depth profile look like?

[CCR Josh]

what does your typical depth profile look like?

The typical up and down that comes with cave diving, but our max depth is about 75 fsw. And then, obviously, each dry section is at 0 fsw. So we work our way down to about 70-75 feet, then come back to the surface (the air pockets before the first dry section), go back down to about 30 fsw (Jim Wyatt's Elbow) and come back up to the first dry section (Wayne's Waterfall) then after the Moon Pool it drops fairly quickly back down to about 75 fsw and then we make our way slowly up The Crack to the 2nd dry section (Vestal Falls, and The Elysium).