<explorers>The main passages as far as Elephantengang were explored by 1938. Since then a variety of groups have worked here finding numerous extensions, of which Schneevulkanhalle is the most significant.</p><p>Until recently, it has been difficult to come close to a comprehensive survey or even a good estimate of the length of the system because of a lack of contact and some misunderstanding between the groups involved. However, in 1997 a chance encounter (at the International Congress) by Wookey with Denis Motte, of the <ahref="../../others/gscb/index.htm">G.S.Clerval,</a> led to renewed contacts with one group who explored this area, and Thilo Müller of ARGE has contacted the leaders of other groups and obtained all the rest of the 1980s information that survives. This is being merged into a coherent set of information which will guide necessary resurvey work to complete the picture.</p><ul><li>Discovered and main passages explored in 1929 by Ausseer cavers, and surveyed in 1938 by O Schauberger and U Czornig.</li><li>Further exploration 1953, Sektion Ausseerland.</li><li>Wilfried Lorenz, Franz Lindenmayr with Nuremburg and Munich cavers discover the Schneevulkanhalle at the beginning of July 1978 (not yet connected to Eishöhle).</li><li>In Autumn 1983, Eishöhle was "1600m long with four entrances".</li><li>After several trips by the Germans in September to November 1983, the system was 2500m long with five entrances [<ahref="../../others/muenchen/de/841642.htm"lang="de">Der Schlaz, 42</a>, also on site in <ahref="../../others/muenchen/en/841642.htm">English translation</a>].</li><li>More recently, Reinhard Kieselbach's (München/Nurnberg - VfHM) group have linked it to <ahref="88.htm">Lärchenschacht</a> (88) (itself 1885m long in April 1995, and apparently giving a combined length of 6km) which they also connected to <ahref="../../1623/41.htm">Stellerweghöhle</a> (5.75 km).</li><li>Our Current estimate of the cave length is 1,863km, from a total surveyed length of 2,463m (600m of the 974m long Schneevulkanhalle survey is not deemed to be part of the cave length).<br/>The length comes from:<br/>VfHM 1980s survey - 693m: Original part of cave plus extensions<br/> VfHO 1991 survey - 374m: Schneevulkanhalle from 40e entrance<br/>CUCC 1998-9 surveys - 751m: Heaven and Hell and persitence of vision SVH extensions<br/>Arge 1999 surveys - 130m: Königsschacht and Grüner Eingang</li></ul><p>Stellerweghöhle in turn is connected to <ahref="78.htm">Schwabenschacht</a> which was over 7km at the time and exploration continues. This must make the combined system at least 19 km long. We have seen figures quoted as high as 25km, but this may involve some double-counting, given the uncertainties involved. Arge's estimate (entirely from extant survey data) was 22.7 km after summer 1999.</explorers>
<underground_description>Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle is an extensive cave over 1600m long before 1983, extended to 2500m by a German group by 1985. The system is mainly horizontal, though tackle is needed to explore it fully, and crampons are necessary in parts, because of the substantial quantities of ice in the cave. Was extended by the Germans who worked in the area in the early eighties, who suggested then that there was potential for extension vertically. Subsequently linked via a 30m pitch to <ahref="88.htm">Lärchenschacht</a> (1623/88) which in turn was connected to the <ahref="../../1623/41.htm">Stellerweghöhlensystem</a>, giving no increase in depth if the laser-rangefound altitude is correct rather than the old kataster one, which seems likely.</p><h4>Translated brief guide</h4><p>From 'Längsten und Tiefsten Hohlen in Österreich', translated by Wookey and Thilo:</p><p>The cave is on the southeastern slopes of the Vorderen Schwarzmooskogel (1843) developed in Dachsteinkalk. From seven partly shaft-like entrance points, a huge, flat-floored level with impressive ice formations can be approached. The <b>Schneevulkanhalle</b> at the northern end is the biggest ice-bearing chamber in middle Europe.</p><p>Four entrances lead into the central area. A 40m shaft from the Top Entrance '<b>Oberen Eingang</b>' breaks into the ice-decorated '<b>Altausseer Halle</b>'. To the west from here via a 25m ramp accessing '<b>Schneehalle</b>' leads both to entrance 2 and the connecting gallery from the ice-bearing '<b>Thalhammerhalle</b>', that can be entered from entrances 3 and 4 too. South of the Schnee and Altausseer Halles, the '<b>Teufelberger Halle</b>' connects, the bottom of which contains an ice lake. A wide passage with side shafts goes southsouthwest to '<b>Hans-Pfandl-Halle</b>'. The east connected room, also reached by a 23m high chimney (entrance 7), is divided into two by a high block barrier. The '<b>Flusstunnel</b>' south from here ends blocked.</p><p>From the Altausseer Halle, a lofty passage with ice figures heads off NNE. The continuation is the '<b>Halle des Schiefen Turms</b>', where the '<b>Wahnsinnschächte</b>' branches off on the west. It was thought that this was blocked by ice. However, over a wall of ice one reaches the 130 by 75 by 50 m Schneevulkanhalle, on the eastern wall of which rises a steep snowslope flowing from the '<b>Königsschachts</b>' (entrance 6). The chamber with its very impressive ice formations can also be reached via the '<b>Brennerbeselschluf</b>' (entrance 5). At its northern end a climb reveals the easterly-running '<b>Kalten Gang</b>' and the parallel '<b>Spinnenfriedhof</b>'.</p><h4><aname="svh">Schneevulkanhalle</a> trip:</h4><p>The principal objective of both pushing and tourist trips is the huge ice chamber of Schneevulkanhalle, which requires some serious ice work to reach from the older entrances in the middle of the system. Instead, follow the description to the "new" entrance (Brennerbeselschluf, 40e), with a somewhat limited area to get changed, perched between the icy blast from the cave and whatever the Austrian weather is offering.</p><p>The entrance is not walk-in, and low crawling in the face of the icy draught starts at once. A small descending tube (somewhat muddy - irritating in crampons!) leads in about 20m to a short climb down into larger (walking/stooping) passage 'Geröllgang. This goes downhill to a scramble up. This was totally ice-covered in 1997 and 1998, but not 1999 or 2000 and has a <ahref="../../fixaid.htm#icy">fixed rope</a> (VfHO-installed), which may be buried in ice at somewhat critical points - a certain amount of care is needed if chipping it out with an ice-axe and gloves really are needed!</p><p>Partway up this slope is a space on the left [<ahref="../../1623/40/qm.htm#C000040-05"name="qC000040-05">C0000-40-05</a> A], including a pitch in the floor. At the far end of this space, a short crawl and a grovel down through boulders where a stream comes in from above both choke. The pitch is a c3, p20, p30
