Wednesday, March 2, 2022

The Grand Traverse - Diving Peacock to Orange Grove via the Peanut line

Having several dives into Peacock under our belts over the past 7 years, Neil and I decided that we were ready to stake out the Grand Traverse. Everyone talks about this 4671' (1.4km) route from Orange Grove Sink to Peacock I. Neil and I decided we would place a cookie starting out from Orange Grove. It is noted that the flow goes downstream from Orange Grove to Peacock so figuring this would give us a good push into the cave and see where we end up. Not stopping at Challenge to have a look, we went up and over noticing no disconnect in the line. We started with 3200 PSI back gas and thirds put our cookie approx.300 feet into Peacock from the Challenge sink. 

The next dive day, we started our dive from Peacock I using the Peanut line. We brought along two Al 80s. With our breathing rate at approx 100ft depth, One Al 80 would give us approx 1500', So we can individually be at least 1500' away from air at any time, and together about 3000'. The average depth in Peacock is also only about 60 feet which is about half the depth and should mean we'd only breathe out an Al 80 in 2000', which gives us an extra margin of safety. We started our journey to find the cookie we placed the other day downstream of Challenge coming from OG. Having dove the Crossover circuit we were well aware of emergency exit points Olsen and Pothole. Our dive brought us up to the Peanut Restriction and approx. 25 feet after the restriction we note a ("tee"). Actually looking more like a "Y", we decided to follow the line that has the exit arrows pointing forward. This would be the line to the right. We did not note any arrows on the left line. Following right we note the arrows counting down as wee get closer to an exit we think is going to be Challenge. When we encounter this rock debris wall going out into a sink we did not pass our cookie. We feel that this can not be Challenge that it must be Olsen and we follow our trail back. At this time we have not hit our thirds and are go to make a casual fun swim out.

The next dive will help answer that. 







A couple days later we are back to Peacock to complete the Traverse. We started our dive from Peacock I using the Peanut line. Again we brought 2 AL 80's for extra margin of safety. This time, just after the Peanut restriction, we went left at the Tee. As expected, line arrows started showing that the closest exit was behind us approx 600 feet. Knowing that Challenge is approx 900 feet ahead of us and we are still within thirds, we continue. Soon the arrows split showing that an exit is forward approx 400 feet. This must be Challenge. We continue forward looking for our cookie placed the other day. At the 300 foot mark we find the cookie! 






With anxiety a little less, we continue to Challenge and take a little break to look out into the woods. In an emergency I suppose one could scramble out of this hole but it wouldn't be easy. After a couple minutes, back on the trail headed now to Orange Grove. All or nothing. No springs for the next approx 1773 feet.

Point APoint BDistanceType
Peacock IPothole458'One Way
PotholeOlsen1,006'One Way
OlsenChallenge1,434'One Way
ChallengeOrange Grove1,773'One Way
Peacock IBreakdown Room539'One Way
Peacock IPeacock I2,637'Circuit (via Crossover)
Peacock IChallenge2,650'One Way (via Peanut)
Orange GrovePeacock I4,423'Grand Tour (via Peanut)
Orange GrovePeacock I4,671'Grand Tour (via Olsen)




The Grand Traverse - Diving Peacock to Orange Grove via the Peanut line

Having several dives into Peacock under our belts over the past 7 years, Neil and I decided that we were ready to stake out the Grand Traver...