{"id":42,"date":"2022-08-09T17:22:37","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T17:22:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodenoughsprings.org\/gsep-wp\/?page_id=42"},"modified":"2023-08-31T10:48:46","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T15:48:46","slug":"pre-gsep-exploration","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/goodenoughsprings.org\/gsep-wp\/exploration\/pre-gsep-exploration\/","title":{"rendered":"Pre-GSEP Exploration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
Note:<\/b> \u00a0If you are aware of any diving that was done at Goodenough Springs prior to 1995, or in parallel to diving as described below, please contact<\/span> us<\/span><\/a> so that we can better describe the history of the exploration of Goodenough Springs.<\/span> \u00a0gsep@goodenoughsprings.org<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In 1995, R.D. Milhollin was attempting to penetrate the cave with Dr. Ise Kalsi, but when she bowed out, he asked for assistance from Robert Laird. During their early exploration, Millhollin and Laird encountered extremely strong outflow and smooth walls, so even getting to the main room took enormous effort. \u00a0After a couple of visits, they managed to get a few feet into the aptly named Fire Hydrant Tunnel (FHT) but the force of the water was so great, it would rip the mask off if you turned the wrong way. \u00a0With the strong flow, smooth walls, and loose gravel on the floor of the tunnel, they were unsure how to continue the exploration.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1996, Milhollin\u00a0and Laird made several trips to Goodenough. <\/span>\u00a0While sitting in a Del Rio welding shop, waiting for a helium fill, Laird spied a discarded iron pipe, about 8 inches in diameter and 12 inches long, which was affectionately named the “pig.” \u00a0It was very thick, very heavy, and Laird got the idea of “planting it” into the gravel at the bottom of the FHT. \u00a0Without a lift bag, it was a chore getting the pig down to the cave, but they managed. \u00a0A very thick rope was tied to the pig, and it was then hauled to the entrance of the tunnel. \u00a0Laird, having removed his fins and deflated his wings completely, wedged himself as best he could, then heaved the pig forward 6-8 inches and then forced it into the gravel. \u00a0Once secure, he hauled himself up that 6-8 inches, lodged himself again, and repeated the action. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He inched down the tunnel until about halfway to the restriction. \u00a0Exhausted and unable to lodge himself any longer, he looked around and spied a crack along the right-side wall, running toward the restriction. \u00a0He launched himself to the crack and forced his hand into the crack, wedging it there. \u00a0He then proceeded to pull himself along the crack toward the restriction. \u00a0Laird managed to get to the restriction but found there wasn’t any projection to tie the rope to, so he hung there, flapping in the strong flow like a flag in the wind, then with his last erg of energy, peeked around the restriction, then let go. \u00a0In seconds, he floated down the 72-foot tunnel, and out into the main room. But the effort was a success, for having the pig and rope in place allowed future divers a way to gain access into the tunnel fairly easily.<\/span><\/p>\n

Historical note: \u00a0the pig and original rope remained in the Fire Hydrant Tunnel for at least 10 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Later in 1996 and 1997, Laird and Kurt Olsen also explored the main room, the room and spaces in the back of the main room and encountered the mud and clay in the back which made a detailed exploration of that area very difficult; even with the best technique, a silt-out was assured. \u00a0Also, further attempts were made at penetrating the restriction at the end of the FHT, but the high flow and lack of access due to the gravel dam made it impossible. \u00a0There were even a few dives involving digging and moving the gravel, but it was too big a task at such a depth. \u00a0Attempts were made to measure the flow of the water using ping-pong balls, place pitons in cracks, and secure the lines in the cave. \u00a0At every turn, the cave seemed to just “chew them up and spit them out” [Laird] The amount of mixed gases consumed and effort required made even the simplest tasks monumental.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following summary was written by Robert Laird in 1996:<\/span><\/p>\n

Goodenough is either a ” fault cave” or a ” joint-plane cave” having a significant vertical profile, with smooth walls of hard chert, large (marble- to lemon-size) gravel throughout, but primarily concentrated at the end of the Fire Hydrant tunnel (152ffw), with <\/i><\/span>extremely strong<\/span><\/u><\/i> outflow. This is a deep and very dangerous dive and should be attempted only by experienced cave divers with trimix certification. Viz in the lake is near zero, deco needs to be done in lake water (cold in winter, 55-65F). The water temperature inside the cave is about 85\u00b0F year-round (one of the most surprising features of Goodenough). More often than not, water clarity inside the cave is poor, < 25 feet, but it has been known to be crystal. The end of the Fire Hydrant tunnel represents an extreme restriction, possibly passable by only side-mount or no-mount, but may present digging opportunities.\u00a0\u00a0Some divers have seen this restriction more open at times. Tunnels towards the rear of the main room in the cave may be passable by side-mount or no-mount.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Laird’s rough sketch of the cave, done in 1996, is shown below. \u00a0Later, when a formal survey was created, the sketch was found to be remarkably accurate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: \u00a0 all depths noted in the drawings and description above were based on observed data from a dive computer, valid at the current lake level at the time of the dive (approx 1070 ft MSL).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Original sketch made by Robert Laird in 1996<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This gives you a rough idea of where the cave is located (circled red dot near the left side of the map above).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Table graph of lake levels developed after the 2008 maximum penetration dive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n


\nAnnotated dive profiles from Laird’s Aqualand watch, 3 dives over 2 days
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