Grand Traverse-Peacock Springs

[SDT]

Well, I finally broke down and did the "Grand Traverse" at Peacock Springs.  It ended up being about a 4800 ft swim.  My dive buddy, Konstantine (a Russian guy from Utah) and I went from Orange Grove to Challenge sink to Olson sink, down pothole tunnel and ended up at Peacock I.  It was mainline the entire way.

We validated Peacock I to Olson and Orange grove to Challenge, but hadn't validated Challenge to Olson.  So, we both carried aluminum 80 stage bottles and breathed those down from Orange to Challenge.  How much gas we had at Challenge determined if we would keep going or call the dive and go back.  We had enough gas, so we calculated thirds and went on to Olson Sink and then onto Peacock I.  With our stops at the sinks, the entire dive took close to 3 hours.

We had PLENTY of gas to complete the dive.  I had 600psi left in my 80 at Challenge (started w/ 3,000), and I started w/ 3,000psi in my backgas (twin 108's) at Challenge and ended the dive with about 2,000psi.  So, next time I probably won't carry a stage. 

It was a nice dive to do once, but don't feel like I'd do it again anytime soon---too much swimming!!!

-Stacy Dreher