2004-07-25 22:03:45 +01:00
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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" />
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<title>1623:204 -- The Underworld</title>
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<table id="cavepage">
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<tr><th id="kat_no">204</th><th id="name">Steinbrückenhöhle</th><th id="status">4/S x</th></tr>
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</table>
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2005-05-19 20:56:38 +01:00
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<h1>The Underworld and Subsoil</h1>
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2004-07-25 22:03:45 +01:00
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<div>
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2004-09-20 22:14:09 +01:00
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<b><!--<a href="#survey">-->Survey<!--</a>--></b> --
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2004-07-25 22:03:45 +01:00
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<b><a href="204.html">204 index</a></b></div>
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<hr />
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2004-09-06 22:17:37 +01:00
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<p>The Underworld is an area of horizontal development at 1580m, around 160m
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deeper than the majority of the horizontal development in
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2005-05-19 20:56:38 +01:00
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Steinbrückenhöhle. Access is from <a
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href="swings.html#gaffered">Gaffered</a>, although a connection from <a
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2005-05-19 20:56:38 +01:00
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href="swings.html#merrygoround">Merry-Go-Round</a> is also suspected to exist.
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Below this is a larger and still deeper level, Subsoil, at around 1520m.</p>
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<h2>Underworld</h2>
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2004-07-25 22:03:45 +01:00
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2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
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<p><a href="l/underworld.html"><img class="onright" src="t/underworld.jpg"
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alt="Dave at foot of Cerberus pitch" /></a>The Underworld starts from the foot
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of Cerberus pitch. <i>A hole down on the left, [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-04"
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id="qC2003-204-04">C2003-204-04 B</a>] leads to the head of a rift; this is
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likely to link to the rift [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-02"
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id="qC2003-204-02">C2003-204-02 B</a>] leading from the base of Trihang. Ahead
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is a blind pit around 4m deep.</i> An obvious path on the right in the mud
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floor leads along horizontal walking passage past conservation-taped
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stalactites <i>and two tubes leading up to the right. The first of these is [<a
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href="qm.html#C2003-204-06" id="qC2003-204-06">C2003-204-6 C</a>]; the second
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closes down after a few body lengths.</i> The passage continues to a junction.
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Up and to the left a passage goes of to <a href="#sirens">Sirens</a>; ahead and
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slightly to the right the passage goes to <a href="#poohstyx">PoohStyx</a>;
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sharp right ends in a mud choke.</p>
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2004-09-06 22:17:37 +01:00
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2005-05-26 20:55:04 +01:00
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<h3><a id="poohstyx">Poohstyx</a></h3>
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<p>Continuing straight ahead at the first main Underworld junction, the passage
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soon drops down to a ledge overlooking Pooh Styx pitch. <i>The pitch descends
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for 25m, picking up spray towards the bottom, to a flat floor with two too
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tight rifts leading off. There is also a possible continuation through a window
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a couple of metres above the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-09"
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id="qC2003-204-09">C2003-204-09 B</a>].</i></p>
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2004-11-18 02:47:18 +00:00
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<p>Traversing beyond the pitch leads on left to a chamber, with a large rock in
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2005-05-19 20:56:38 +01:00
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the middle. To the left out of this chamber is a passage [<a
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href="qm.html#C2003-204-10" id="qC2003-204-10">C2003-204-10 C</a>], straight on
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above a climb passages slope upwards out of the chamber [<a
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href="qm.html#C2003-204-11" id="qC2003-204-11">C2003-204-11 C</a>], and to the
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right a tight rift leads off. This rift leads past some places with sand full
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of bat bones. Half way along another tight passage leads of to the right [<a
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href="qm.html#C2003-204-12" id="qC2003-204-12">C2003-204-12 C</a>]; continuing
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along the rift leads to the small Beyond-Poohstyx pool, which is
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overlooked by the ledge in <a href="#sirens">Sirens</a> beyond Bracket Fungus
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passage. Extending high above the sirens ledge, an aven goes up for a good 20
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metres [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-13" id="qC2003-204-13">C2003-204-13
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X</a>].</p>
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2004-09-20 22:14:09 +01:00
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2005-05-26 20:55:04 +01:00
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<h3><a id="sirens">Sirens</a></h3>
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2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
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<p><a href="l/sirens.html"><img class="onright" src="t/sirens.jpg" alt="Photo
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of Sirens stals" /></a>Left at the main junction in the Underworld is the start
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of Sirens. From this point into Sirens and Subsoil the cave consists mainly of
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phreatic tunnels partially filled with mud or gravel banks, with a strong draft
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coming out of the cave. From the junction into Sirens the narrow but always
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walking passage climbs steeply up a mud-floored passage to a ledge with
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conservation-taped formations that overlooks <b><a id="blackmaria">Black
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Maria</a></b> chamber (p.30). Just before the ledge, two holes in the floor on
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the right drop steeply down, with rocks bouncing a long way [<a
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href="qm.html#C2003-204-14" id="qC2003-204-14">C2003-204-14 C</a>] and [<a
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href="qm.html#C2003-204-15" id="qC2003-204-15">C2003-204-15 C</a>]. Below and
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to the left of where Sirens enters Black Maria chamber, a passage appears to
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lead off [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-16" id="qC2003-204-16">C2003-204-16
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C</a>]. Black Maria chamber is rigged from a ledge that traverses around the
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right of the chamber. Rigged from two bolted Y-hangs, this pitch lands in a
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moderate-sized chamber with just one small passage leading off [<a
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href="qm.html#C2004-204-70" id="qC2004-204-70">C2004-204-70 C</a>]. At the
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level of the pitch head for Black Maria and further around the chamber, a
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moderate-size, horizontal mud-floored passage leads off [<a
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href="qm.html#C2003-204-18" id="qC2003-204-18">C2003-204-18 B</a>], but this
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was declared to be "nontrivial" to reach. From the ledge where Sirens enters
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Black Maria chamber, the main way on is over a traverse on the right using
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naturals (15m rope; 2 slings) to gain a large passage sloping up. Straight
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ahead is a thin rift: Bracket Fungus passage, the way on is up the steep mud
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slope to the left, <a href="#oxtail">Oxtail Oxbow</a>.</p>
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<h3><a href="l/bracketfungus1.html"><img class="onleft"
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src="t/bracketfungus1.jpg" alt="bracket fungus formations" /></a> <a
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id="bracketfungus">Bracket Fungus Passage</a></h3>
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2005-05-19 20:56:38 +01:00
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<p>[DO NOT ENTER; CONSERVATION-TAPED OFF; USE OXTAIL OXBOW BYPASS ON THE LEFT
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INSTEAD.] This is a narrow but very well-decorated rift, with
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bracket-fungus-like formations on both walls and stalactites above; it is
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almost impossible to pass through without demolishing some of the fungus. The
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passage emerges at a ledge above the Beyond-Poohstyx pool. To the right are two
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sloping mud chutes [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-23"
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id="qC2003-204-23">C2003-204-23 C</a>] that appear to drop into the chamber
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above the Beyond-Poohstyx pool.</p>
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2004-09-20 22:14:09 +01:00
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2005-05-26 20:55:04 +01:00
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<h3 style="clear: both"><a id="oxtail">Oxtail Oxbow</a></h3>
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2005-05-19 20:56:38 +01:00
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<p>The route now used, bypassing Bracket Fungus Passage, is up a steep mud
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slope, <i>passing a phreatic tube which enters high on the left [<a
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href="qm.html#C2003-204-19" id="qC2003-204-19">C2003-204-19 C</a>]</i>, which
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soon reaches a steep mud slope back down (bolt and sling for hand line on right
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wall). At the bottom of the mud slope, a thin rift leads off straight ahead [<a
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href="qm.html#C2004-204-15" id="qC2004-204-15">C2004-204-15 B</a>] and there is
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a hole in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-71"
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id="qC2004-204-71">C2004-204-71 C</a>] that may link to this rift. The main
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route around Oxtail Oxbow continues as a scramble up a steep mud passage on the
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right. This passage then leads steeply down a mud slope, <i>past a tight rift
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in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-67" id="qC2004-204-67">C2004-204-67
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C</a>] and a passage to the right going to Beyond-Poohstyx,</i> to join a
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larger passage. <i> At this junction, the passage to the right leads to the
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ledge above Beyond-Poohstyx pool which traverses along the right wall into
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Bracket Fungus passage. Just before this ledge, a passage up to the left goes
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to a small chamber with a very steep climb up from it [<a
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href="qm.html#C2003-204-24" id="qC2003-204-24">C2003-204-24 C</a>]</i>. At the
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junction with the main passage, the main route is to the left, up a steep mud
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slope to a further junction. At this junction, straight ahead leads to Terra
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Firma, and to the right leads to Quiz Rift.</p>
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2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
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<h3><a href="l/crystalpool.html"><img class="onright" src="t/crystalpool.jpg"
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alt="crystal pool photo" /></a><a id="terrafirma">Terra Firma</a> </h3>
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2005-05-19 20:56:38 +01:00
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<p>Straight ahead is a narrow passage which opens onto a small chamber, Terra
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Firma, with mud banks and a blind pit in the floor. Above the pit, a passage
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appears to lead off [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-18"
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id="qC2004-204-18">C2004-204-18 B</a>] and on top of the mud bank above the
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entry-point into chamber another, larger passage appears to lead off [<a
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href="qm.html#C2004-204-17" id="qC2004-204-17">C2004-204-17 B</a>]. Two small
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passages on the left just before Terra Firma is reached lead down to a
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conservation-taped crystal pool, which can also be reached from above from Terra
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Firma itself. Across the pool is [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-16"
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id="qC2004-204-16">C2004-204-16 C</a>].</p>
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<h3><a id="quiz">Quiz Rift</a></h3>
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<p>At the junction before Terra Firma, turn right and clamber over large wedged
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boulders <i>(CARE - deep, undescended rift below
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[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-25" id="qC2003-204-25">C2003-204-25 C</a>])</i>, to a
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2004-11-18 02:47:18 +00:00
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small mud chamber. Duck under the low arch, avoiding contacting the
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conservation-taped stalactites, to a further small mud chamber. Crawl down
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again under a second low arch, up a mud slope on the right and turn left into
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Quiz Rift. <i>To the right a narrow rift goes up to a ledge which is the start of
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2005-05-26 20:55:04 +01:00
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the <b><a id="generation">Generation Game</a></b> bolted traverse. This leads over
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the top of Quiz Rift to the passage the far side; this appears to have no way
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on. On the other side of this ledge are a series of phreatic roof tubes and
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passage, <b><a id="uppertube">Upper Tube</a></b>, which overlook the mud slopes
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and chambers just described, in which there are a couple of QM's: a roof tube
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[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-19" id="qC2004-204-19">C2004-204-19 C</a>] and a
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muddy chute [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-21" id="qC2004-204-21">C2004-204-21
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C</a>].</i> Quiz Rift soon turns right down a mud slope (traverse line on
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naturals and one bolt) to the <b><a id="gardenersworld">Gardener's
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World</a></b> pitch (p25). This descends via awkward rigging (not perfected in
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2004) to a ledge in a moderately large chamber. From this ledge <b><a
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id="univchallenge">University Challenge</a></b> pitch (p15) descends to land
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partway down the large, confusing Subsoil Chamber.</p>
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2004-09-20 22:14:09 +01:00
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2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
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<h2><a id="subsoil">Subsoil level</a></h2>
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2004-09-20 22:14:09 +01:00
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2005-06-07 21:47:18 +01:00
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<h3>Subsoil Chamber area</h3>
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2004-09-20 22:14:09 +01:00
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2005-06-07 21:47:18 +01:00
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<img src="subsoil_centre.png" />
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2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
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2005-06-07 21:47:18 +01:00
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<h4><a id="subsoilchamber">Subsoil Chamber</a></h4>
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2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
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2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
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<p> <a href="l/crystals.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/crystals.jpg"
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alt="crystal-encrusted rock" /></a> <a href="l/mudpillars.html"><img
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class="onright" src="t/mudpillars.jpg" alt="mud pillars" /></a> Subsoil Chamber
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is large with a boulder floor, sloping down to the south. <i>Heading north up
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the slope leads to <a href="#heavilysoiled">Heavily Soiled</a> (q.v.).</i>.
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Heading south from the base of the University Challenge pitch, <i>after 10m on
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the right is the entry to the canyon leading to <a
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href="#earthenware">Earthenware</a></i>, while <i>on the left a passage leads
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up steeply past conservation-taped fine, white crystals to a small, wet aven
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with two QM C's[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-56" id="qC2004-204-56">C2004-204-56
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C</a>]</i> as the chamber drops down steeply with a boulder-strewn floor to a
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small, wet aven with fine, large banks of conservation-taped mud and mud pillar
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formations topped by pebbles. At the base of the chamber, to the right is a
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2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
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large phreatic passage three-quarters filled with mud; this connects back to <a
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href="#earthenware">Earthenware</a>, while to the left is <a
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href="#hippohollows">Hippo Hollows</a> passage.</p>
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2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
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<p>These two trunk passages, Hippo Hollows to the south and Earthenware Passage
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to the north, together with the short linking passage in between appear to
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originally have been a single, large phreatic passage running north/south which
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has subsequently been cut into three sections by two canyons running parallel
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in Subsoil Chamber.</p>
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2005-06-07 21:47:18 +01:00
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<h4><a id="heavilysoiled">Heavily Soiled</a></h4>
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2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
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<p>Clambering up from the base of University Challenge pitch to the top of
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Subsoil Chamber, a sandy passage leads off up steeply. <i>A sandy tube which
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soon branches off to the right rapidly closes down.</i> The restricted main
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passage ahead swings left then heads down and provides a good pitch bypass
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connection into Heavily Soiled passage. <i>Heavily Soiled was originally
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accessed via a 5m pitch rigged off naturals just up from the base of
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University Challenge pitch. Here, at the north end of Subsoil Chamber, the
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passage initially ascends steeply with a rift in the mud-covered floor. It
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continues upward, passing a passage leading off to the right [<a
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href="qm.html#C2004-204-50" id="qC2004-204-50">C2004-204-50 A</a>] and quickly
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reaches a large boulder in the passage where the sandy pitch bypass described
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above joins from the right. Turning left instead of right at the base of the 5m
|
|
|
|
|
pitch emerges at the canyon leading to <a
|
|
|
|
|
href="#earthenware">Earthenware</a>.</i> Back in Heavily Soiled, just beyond
|
|
|
|
|
the junction of the two routes is a tube on the right, which has not been
|
|
|
|
|
explored in 2004, [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-51"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-51">C2004-204-51 B</a>], nor has another slightly further on [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-53" id="qC2004-204-53">C2004-204-53 B</a>]. The main
|
|
|
|
|
passage then levels off and there is a 1.8m climb down a mud bank. At the
|
|
|
|
|
bottom a passage leads off to the left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-52"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-52">C2004-204-52 C</a>], after which the passage continues up
|
|
|
|
|
through large boulders and breakdown. A restricted crawl on the left through
|
|
|
|
|
boulders is followed by either an easy squeeze on the left [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-54" id="qC2004-204-54">C2004-204-54 C</a>] or a climb
|
|
|
|
|
ahead that opens out onto a large muddy ledge above a mud-floored chamber where
|
|
|
|
|
the 2004 survey ends. A 2m climb from the ledge to the floor of the chamber on
|
|
|
|
|
the left needs protecting, while ahead from the ledge is an aven and pitch with
|
|
|
|
|
the sound of water [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-55"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-55">C2004-204-55 ?</a>].</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
|
2005-06-07 21:47:18 +01:00
|
|
|
<h3>Southern area: Hippo Hollows / Fat Worm</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<img src="subsoil_south.png" />
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4><a href="l/hippohollows.html"><img class="onright" src="t/hippohollows.jpg"
|
|
|
|
|
alt="Hippo Hollows mud pots" /></a><a id="hippohollows">Hippo Hollows</a></h4>
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>On the left, from the southern base of Subsoil Chamber, a 1.8m climb up a mud
|
|
|
|
|
bank leads to a mud-floored passage that enters Hippo Hollows. This section of
|
|
|
|
|
passage has a series of small, attractive pots floored with cracked mud (CARE -
|
|
|
|
|
traverse above the pots). Straight on after the pots, the passage ends in a
|
|
|
|
|
rift and <b><a id="chalkcheese">Chalk and Cheese</a></b> pitch. <i>Before this
|
|
|
|
|
point, but after the pots, a ramp up on the left leads to a pitch (p.8). At the
|
|
|
|
|
base of this pitch a squeeze appears to open out onto a further pitch [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-X72" id="qC2004-204-X72">C2004-204-X72 ?</a>].
|
|
|
|
|
Traversing over the 8m pitch and up a steep muddy bank leads shortly to the
|
|
|
|
|
head of a further pitch which has not yet been descended [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-58" id="qC2004-204-58">C2004-204-58 B</a>]. Shortly
|
|
|
|
|
after this first left ramp, a second ramp to the left leads to a position
|
|
|
|
|
overlooking the same rift that can be more easily accessed by continuing
|
|
|
|
|
straight along the main Hippo Hollows passage.</i> On the right of the main
|
|
|
|
|
passage opposite the second ramp there is an aven on the right with sounds of
|
|
|
|
|
running water in wet conditions [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-59"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-59">C2004-204-59 B</a>]. The climb up to the aven would require
|
|
|
|
|
bolting. Chalk and Cheese pitch is rigged from bolts in the roof to a
|
|
|
|
|
self-lined climb down a narrow rift to enter the Fat Worm Blows A Sparky
|
|
|
|
|
area.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005-06-07 21:47:18 +01:00
|
|
|
<h4><a id="fatworm">Fat Worm Blows a Sparky</a></h4>
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
<p><a href="l/whiteclouds.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/whiteclouds.jpg"
|
|
|
|
|
alt="Little White Clouds ceiling formations" /></a> Chalk and Cheese pitch
|
|
|
|
|
enters a moderate-sized chamber. To the right JULIAN [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-60" id="qC2004-204-60">C2004-204-60 A</a>]. A large
|
|
|
|
|
walking passage leads off to the left. From this walking passage, a ramp soon
|
|
|
|
|
leads down to the right. This shortly comes to a junction. Down and straight
|
|
|
|
|
ahead JULIAN [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-61" id="qC2004-204-61">C2004-204-61
|
|
|
|
|
A</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-62" id="qC2004-204-62">C2004-204-62 B</a>].
|
|
|
|
|
To the right the passage squeezes past unusual white plastic-like formations
|
|
|
|
|
(<b><a id="littlewhiteclouds">Little White Clouds</a></b>) to a small chamber.
|
|
|
|
|
The left of this chamber opens out over a pitch [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-63"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-63">C2004-204-63 A</a>]. Straight ahead from the chamber the
|
|
|
|
|
passage continues. JULIAN. <!-- XXX I suspect this bit might be wrong. --></p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="l/deadbat.html"><img class="onright" src="t/deadbat.jpg" alt="Dead
|
|
|
|
|
bat" /></a> The main walking passage soon reaches <b><a id="batchamber">Dead
|
|
|
|
|
Good Bat Chamber</a></b> with a freshly deceased bat marked by conservation
|
|
|
|
|
tape by the prominent central boulder. <i>Low on the left of this chamber, Thin
|
|
|
|
|
Rift passage goes down steeply in tight rift. A handline was needed to continue
|
|
|
|
|
down at the limit of surveying in 2004 [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-X73"
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-X73">C2004-204-X73 A</a>].</i> Several passages lead down on the
|
|
|
|
|
right from Good Dead Bat Chamber: all interconnect in a maze of small walking
|
|
|
|
|
and crawling tubes. An alcove in one tube is conservation-taped off to protect
|
|
|
|
|
the hundreds of bat bones; many other bat bones are found at lower
|
|
|
|
|
concentrations throughout Subsoil, possibly washed out of the mud deposits. In
|
|
|
|
|
another tube is an unexplored passage [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-64"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-64">C2004-204-64 C</a>]. Continuing ahead beyond Good Dead Bat
|
|
|
|
|
Chamber, a free-climb steeply up on the left leads to a point around 4m below a
|
|
|
|
|
large tube which would require bolting to access [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-65" id="qC2004-204-65">C2004-204-65 B</a>]. Straight
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
ahead leads steeply down large boulders to a small chamber and a wet aven [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-66" id="qC2004-204-66">C2004-204-66 C</a>].</p>
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
2005-06-07 21:47:18 +01:00
|
|
|
<h3>Northern area (The Wares)</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<img src="subsoil_north.png" />
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4><a id="earthenware">Earthenware</a></h4>
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>From the foot of <a href="#univchallenge">University Challenge</a> pitch,
|
|
|
|
|
descending around 10m south down the chamber, there is a very large boulder on
|
|
|
|
|
the right with two spits in the roof to rig a 3m pitch (free-climbable with
|
|
|
|
|
care) to a steeply descending canyon. Following down the canyon, shortly an
|
|
|
|
|
opening on the right links to the start of <a href="#heavilysoiled">Heavily
|
|
|
|
|
Soiled</a> passage. <i>At the base of the canyon the passage continues as fairly
|
|
|
|
|
tight rift guarded by poised rocks [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-22"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-22">C2004-204-22 A</a>].</i> Between these points, <i>a high mud
|
|
|
|
|
bank on the left opens into the short section of phreatic passage which
|
|
|
|
|
continues further south as Hippo Hollows, passing a high tube in the right-hand
|
|
|
|
|
wall [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-20" id="qC2004-204-20">C2004-204-20 X</a>].
|
|
|
|
|
</i> The main way on is opposite this high mud bank. Here, on the right near
|
|
|
|
|
the bottom of the canyon, a short traverse (two spits and a natural EARL? <!--
|
|
|
|
|
Artificial Earls just don't cut it --> and a 12m rope) over a large, loose mud
|
|
|
|
|
bank gains access up to a large walking passage, Earthenware. This drafts out
|
|
|
|
|
strongly and continues north, horizontally, for 100m. Earthenware initially
|
|
|
|
|
passes some stalactites, opposite which there is a passage on the left [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-23" id="qC2004-204-23">C2004-204-23 C</a>]; then the
|
|
|
|
|
phreatic development extends to slope up on the right side. A wet pitch in a
|
|
|
|
|
trench can be stepped over [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-26"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-26">C2004-204-26 B</a>] and a hole on the left of the passage
|
|
|
|
|
may join to this pitch [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-24"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-24">C2004-204-24 A</a>]. There is a further possible pitch on
|
|
|
|
|
the left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-25" id="qC2004-204-25">C2004-204-25
|
|
|
|
|
B</a>].</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>A little beyond this is a junction, <i>where a passage leads off to the left
|
|
|
|
|
[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-27" id="qC2004-204-27">C2004-204-27 A</a>], while a
|
|
|
|
|
muddy slope on the right leads to a muddy tube that goes steeply up to a
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
boulder choke. A second, less obvious tube leads up on the right just before
|
|
|
|
|
this first tube. This second tube climbs up very steeply and continues beyond
|
|
|
|
|
the end of the 2004 survey though some aid may be needed to complete the climb
|
|
|
|
|
up [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-28" id="qC2004-204-28">C2004-204-28 A</a>].
|
|
|
|
|
These two tubes are the <b><a id="chimney">Chimney</a></b>.</i> The main
|
|
|
|
|
passage of Earthenware continues up a slope over mud floor formations and
|
|
|
|
|
boulders to an obvious junction. The draft comes from the continuation of
|
|
|
|
|
Earthenware straight ahead. <i>The larger passage on the left is <b><a
|
|
|
|
|
id="stoneware">Stoneware</a></b>. Stoneware leads steeply down and narrows from
|
|
|
|
|
large walking passage to twisting vadose passage with a clean-washed rock floor
|
|
|
|
|
with loose, sharp rocks balanced on it. This continues for around 50m to a
|
|
|
|
|
chamber. Here there is a drop through loose mud [XXX unnumbered QM B] and a
|
|
|
|
|
roof tube [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-29" id="qC2004-204-29">C2004-204-29
|
|
|
|
|
X</a>]. Continuing on, past another roof tube [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-30"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-30">C2004-204-30 X</a>], the passage terminates at a drippy aven
|
|
|
|
|
[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-32" id="qC2004-204-32">C2004-204-32 X</a>].</i>
|
|
|
|
|
<i>[Editor's note: I'm rather puzzled by this as the QM grades assigned on the
|
|
|
|
|
survey don't match the description. Somewhere along here there is another one
|
|
|
|
|
[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-31" id="qC2004-204-31">C2004-204-31
|
|
|
|
|
C</a>].]</i></p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Earthenware continues smaller and soon reaches a further
|
|
|
|
|
junction. <i>To the right leads up to <a href="#underware">Underware</a>, and
|
|
|
|
|
the left leads to <a href="#hardware">Hardware</a>.</i> Straight ahead
|
|
|
|
|
continues past a passage on the left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-41"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-41">C2004-204-41 ?</a>] to arrive shortly at a further junction.
|
|
|
|
|
Here a second right also links to Underware but this route is
|
|
|
|
|
conservation-taped to prevent access to avoid damage to the fine calcite on the
|
|
|
|
|
walls; while to the left is unexplored [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-42"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-42">C2004-204-42 ?</a>]. JULIAN, I can't remember what happened
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
here at this junction - more QM's ahead at least I think?</p>
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<!-- XXX Hardware needs to be checked against original survey notes when these
|
|
|
|
|
have been scanned ! -->
|
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="hardware">Hardware</a></b> is initially small but strongly
|
|
|
|
|
drafting and twists along and soon reaches a junction. Ahead on the left down a
|
|
|
|
|
ramp has not been surveyed in 2004 [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-33"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-33">C2004-204-33 A</a>]. Just beyond this ramp, a muddy passage
|
|
|
|
|
leads up on the right [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-34"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-34">C2004-204-34 A</a>]. Continuing straight ahead, the main
|
|
|
|
|
passage soon opens up into very large phreatic passage with large boulders on the floor. Soon there are openings on both
|
|
|
|
|
left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-35" id="qC2004-204-35">C2004-204-35 A</a>] and
|
|
|
|
|
right [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-36" id="qC2004-204-36">C2004-204-36 A</a>],
|
|
|
|
|
and further along is another crossroads (left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-37"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-37">C2004-204-37 A</a>], right [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-38"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-38">C2004-204-38 B</a>]). This large passage soon closes down
|
|
|
|
|
again and slopes steeply up in a large boulder pile. The 2004 survey ended at
|
|
|
|
|
the top of the boulder slope. A deep pitch descends on the left [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-39" id="qC2004-204-39">C2004-204-39 B</a>] and there is
|
|
|
|
|
a possible continuation up on the right of the slope through boulders [<a
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-40" id="qC2004-204-40">C2004-204-40 B</a>].</p>
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
2005-06-07 21:47:18 +01:00
|
|
|
<h4><a id="underware">Underware</a></h4>
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The two passages up on the right of Earthenware both enter a very large,
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
horizontal phreatic passage, Underware. This continues both left (north) and
|
|
|
|
|
right (south).</p>
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>From the entry points from Earthenware, Underware continues to the left for
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
around 50m north, to end in a huge boulder choke and roof collapse. <i>A small
|
|
|
|
|
drafting passage off to the right at the start of this collapse zone is the
|
|
|
|
|
start of <a href="#tableware">Tableware</a>.</i> There is alleged to be at
|
|
|
|
|
least one passage leading off from the left of Underware by the collapse zone
|
|
|
|
|
[XXX unnumbered QMs if they exist].</p>
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Underware continues right as large passage to the south, passing a small
|
|
|
|
|
passage to the left[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-47"
|
|
|
|
|
id="qC2004-204-47">C2004-204-47 C</a>], before closing down in a boulder slope.
|
|
|
|
|
Just before it closes down a large passage leads off up to the left. This
|
|
|
|
|
climbs up steeply past a huge boulder mid-passage then narrows as it reaches a
|
|
|
|
|
small mud chamber. Under a boulder on the left of this chamber the passage
|
2005-05-27 14:45:04 +01:00
|
|
|
turns right, becoming too tight after 4m, and at the far end of the chamber a
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
passage goes off which becomes too tight after 6m. The main way on is a
|
|
|
|
|
drafting thin rift on the left that soon opens out into the bottom of a large
|
|
|
|
|
sloping passage. This mud-floored ramp climbs up very steeply and in 2004 the
|
|
|
|
|
survey ended at the point at which protection was needed to continue the ascent
|
|
|
|
|
[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-49" id="qC2004-204-49">C2004-204-49 A</a>]. A
|
|
|
|
|
second passage leads off on the right where the thin rift enters this steep
|
|
|
|
|
ramp. This second passage again climbs up steeply and appeared to reach an
|
|
|
|
|
aven, with possible passages leading off around 4m up [<a
|
2005-05-26 17:48:27 +01:00
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-48" id="qC2004-204-48">C2004-204-48 X</a>].</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005-06-07 21:47:18 +01:00
|
|
|
<h4><a id="tableware">Tableware</a></h4>
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The passage heads steeply upwards, and it splits into many small
|
|
|
|
|
tubes which all meet up with each other and meet a horizontal piece of phreatic
|
|
|
|
|
tube. <i>To the right passes a hole going down to the right [<a
|
|
|
|
|
href="qm.html#C2004-204-43" id="qC2004-204-43">C2004-204-43 C</a>], where
|
|
|
|
|
stones will rattle for quite a while, probably due to a sloping pitch rather
|
|
|
|
|
than any great depth, while continuing past the hole leads up slope to come
|
2005-05-27 14:45:04 +01:00
|
|
|
into a larger passage, which is more easily accessed by following the main
|
2005-05-27 14:43:51 +01:00
|
|
|
route.</i> To the left a little more scrambling up leads into a passage that
|
|
|
|
|
goes off to the left and right, and is high enough to stand up in.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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<p><i>To the right opens up some more and leads to a pitch [<a
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href="qm.html#C2004-204-44" id="qC2004-204-44">C2004-204-44 B</a>], and an aven
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[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-45" id="qC2004-204-45">C2004-204-45 X</a>]; a small
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hole on the right before the pitch is where the previously described passage
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enters.</i> To the left, the passage continues to a small sloping chamber, at
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the bottom of which a crawl goes off but chokes, while at the top of the
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chamber a couple of short passages also quickly choke. From the higher
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entrance to the chamber there is a rift in the ceiling, which continues on the
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opposite side of the chamber; [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-46"
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id="qC2004-204-46">C2004-204-46 C</a>] this would require a climb of a couple
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of metres to access.</p>
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2004-07-25 22:03:45 +01:00
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<hr style="clear: both" />
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<ul id="links">
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<li><a href="204.html">Back to 204 index page</a></li>
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2005-06-12 12:31:07 +01:00
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<li><a href="../index.html#id204">Schwarzmooskogel ridge area index and description</a></li>
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2004-07-25 22:03:45 +01:00
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<li><a href="../../indxal.htm#id204">Full Index</a></li>
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<li><a href="../../areas.htm">Other Areas</a></li>
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<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expedition Intro page</a></li>
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</ul>
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</body>
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</html>
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