Cave Diving Above Ground, Thanks to Peacock Springs
Stop 2/3: Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park
North Central Florida Springs Day
FL State Parks Quest: 7/174
22 July 2017
Introduction:
After our Garden of Eden hike last weekend, we needed a new adventure. The plan was to hit up Troy Springs State Park and Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park. En route, we passed the turn to Lafayette Blue Springs State Park and tacked it onto the end of our itinerary.
Springs are defined as any natural situation where water flows from an aquifer to the Earth's surface. The springs we visited today were either on or nearby the middle stretch of the Suwannee River, also referred to as "spring country". This is the stretch from Suwannee River State Park to Branford, which is home to Troy Springs State Park (Stop 1).
Florida State Parks has created the Suwannee River Wilderness State Trail, which is a partnership of camps, hubs, and parks along the river for trail users. The link provides resources to maps, boat ramp locations, float plans, a paddling guide, and outfitters. While Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is not actually part of the Suwannee River springs, it's close by and a very popular attraction for divers. It's being included in this 3-part series because it's right smack in between Troy and Lafayette Blue. I'll save my passport stamp for the Suwannee River Wilderness State Trail from when I complete the trail in full in one go. Who's with me? [Yes I used the same Summary for all 3 of the day's posts.]
Springs are defined as any natural situation where water flows from an aquifer to the Earth's surface. The springs we visited today were either on or nearby the middle stretch of the Suwannee River, also referred to as "spring country". This is the stretch from Suwannee River State Park to Branford, which is home to Troy Springs State Park (Stop 1).
Florida State Parks has created the Suwannee River Wilderness State Trail, which is a partnership of camps, hubs, and parks along the river for trail users. The link provides resources to maps, boat ramp locations, float plans, a paddling guide, and outfitters. While Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is not actually part of the Suwannee River springs, it's close by and a very popular attraction for divers. It's being included in this 3-part series because it's right smack in between Troy and Lafayette Blue. I'll save my passport stamp for the Suwannee River Wilderness State Trail from when I complete the trail in full in one go. Who's with me? [Yes I used the same Summary for all 3 of the day's posts.]
North Central Florida Springs Day Posts
Park Profile - Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park
- Region: North Central
- Year Established: 1993
- Location
- Physical Address: 18532 180th St Live Oak FL, 32060
- GPS: 30.128950, -83.131857
- Google Maps
- Distance from Tallahassee [32301]: 84 Miles, 1.5 Hours
- Phone: 386.776.2194
- Fees:
- $4/Vehicle
- $2/Pedestrians, Bicyclists
- FREE with an Annual Pass (additional car passengers $2)
- Hours: 08:00 - Sundown, 365 Days/Year
- FL State Parks Website
- FL State Parks: No Brochure
- FT Ranger on Duty: No
- Passport Stamp Location: Lafayette Blue State Park
The Gear:
- Snorkel, mask, fins
- TeVa Terra Fi Lite Sandals
- Florida State Parks Passport
- GoPro Hero 3
- NRS wetsuit
The Story:
Peacock Spring 1
There were divers at Peacock I. They were mostly all submerged, but we did talk to one guy. I used the wetsuit this time around and attempted snorkeling. The water was not very clear, however I did see some fish. As soon as I saw some sort of snake or eel or something, it was my cue to absolutely nope out of there.
The Hike
Get excited for the coolest interpretive trail I've ever seen. This park seems to attract primarily scuba divers, but for those of us unqualified to swim through caves, we have another option. The trail takes us around cave system and has signs periodically informing you about exactly what you are standing above. It more or less goes directly above the exact path that the divers are exploring through as we walk.
The geologic landscape of this park is known as "karst". This part of the Suwannee River Valley has had limestone on/near the surface which has gradually eroded or dissolved over time. The topographical features include dry sinkholes, offset sinkholes, karst windows, caves, siphons, and springs - several of which will be discussed further along. Let's go "cave diving!"
Peacock I
The hike from the trailhead at Peacock 1 is almost literally walking on the roof of a water-filled cave passage about 20ft below my feet.
Breakdown Room
- Named due it massive rocks that fell from the ceiling which created a breakdown pile on the floor
- Fun Fact! Speleogenesis is the process of cave formation! It all starts with rainwater. It passes through soil where it becomes a tiny bit acidic. From there it breaks down limestone! [This is a trend in like half of my posts] When the rock dissolves over thousands of years, tiny fissures and tubular passages are created. This can result in caves/caverns. Caverns are simply a system of caves.
The Cave Environment
The Peanut Restriction
A sinkhole! Sinkholes range in size and depth - from a few square feet and shallow to 100 feet down, or even hundreds of acres. Many sinkholes are water-filled and connect directly to the aquifers, but this one is dry. Peanut Restriction is the name of the section of the cave underneath this active sinkhole. This sinkhole could remain stable for years, but it could gradually collapse over time depending on the limestone.
Crypt
Caves best support the weight of all the rock above it when filled with groundwater. Once that groundwater drops, the cave's ceilings have a better likelihood of collapsing. The collapse that occurred here at Crypt blocked the cave tunnel entirely and left some crevices that led to Crawdad Sinkhole. This room was discovered by Sheck Exley in 1975, speculated that the room was 400 feet long and more than 100 feet wide before the collapse.. The name is due to the remains of a large turtle found in the room.
Olsen Sink
A karst window are sinkhole filled with water. They are portals to the Florida aquifer providing access to the tunnels and caves under our feet. They are vulnerable to harmful pollutants and contaminants that can easily access through the window. If a diver is passing through Olsen Sink, you would be able to see their lights through the window.
Nicholson Tunnel
Henry Nicholson
--An original member of the National Speleological Society (NSS) Cave Diving Section
--Founder of the International Underwater Cave Rescue and Recovery (IUCRR) organization
Beneath Your Feet! Nicholson Tunnel is a secondary passage off of the larger main passageways that have been created over thousands of years of water barreling through the cave. Side tunnels such as this one, transport less water with a rower rate of flow resulting in heavy silt buildup along the walls and floors.
Safe and Cave Conservation
--Cave diving is dangerous! There is no light and no easy access to the surface.
--Specialized swimming technique involves going through the middle of the water column with fin tips up and behind your body in order to minimize silt and to protect the formations.
--Equipment includes powerful lights and multiple air sources.
--Permanent gold braid - constant reference point with line arrows that point to the closest, direct exit to the furface
--Most FL caves have STOP signs to prevent untrained and not properly equipped divers from entering
Pothole
Pothole, a beautiful and creative name. I'll keep it in mind for my next foster kitten. [Just kitten!]
The divers who discovered 'Pothole' in 1967 were surprised when they saw a blue glow of daylight from a tiny crack in the ceiling just 450 feet from where the entered at Peacock I. They surfaced at this newfound entrance and ushered in the concept of Peacock Springs cave "system" now having two separate entrances.
The divers who discovered 'Pothole' in 1967 were surprised when they saw a blue glow of daylight from a tiny crack in the ceiling just 450 feet from where the entered at Peacock I. They surfaced at this newfound entrance and ushered in the concept of Peacock Springs cave "system" now having two separate entrances.
Along the Way
A few pictures while traveling through the passages of the caves..
 |
| Cabbage Palmetto |
Orange Grove Spring
Despite the rain, we visited Orange Grove Spring along our drive to get to the park exit. There was a small parking area that led to a staircase that led to a spring covered in green, sort of like that layer the forms on top of queso when it's been sitting out for a few minutes.
stuck the go pro in.. plenty of fish...and plenty of rain drops
Roar for More!
Hurdles
Phone died, no decent camera, blindly aiming with the GoPro!
No comments:
Post a Comment