expoweb/smkridge/204/ariston.shtml

<HTML lang=en><HEAD><TITLE>1623:204 -- Deep routes</TITLE>
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    <TH align=left width="30%"><FONT size=+2>204</font><br><font size=+1>(CUCC 1999/03)</FONT></TH>
    <TH lang=de><h1>Steinbr<62>ckenh<6E>hle</h1></TH>
    <TH align=right width="30%"><FONT size=+2>4/S x</FONT></TH></TR>
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<h2>Deep routes via the Ariston Series</h2>

<H3><A name=ariston>Ariston Series</A></H3>
<P>The Ariston Series is the route to the current deepest point in the cave. The 
pitch series begins with a short pitch of 5m rigged from a large thread in the 
roof a few metres back, with a single spit for the vertical part, which is 
almost a scramble. This lands on a large ledge formed of boulders wedged across 
a narrow point; there are two choices of descent here, one to the north, 
<B>You're So Veined</B> (15m), which was used in 1999, and an as yet undescended 
pitch to the south, which will land further down the Ariston Series, which 
should probably be used in 2000. One rebelay provides a good hang against the 
wall of You're So Veined to reach the foot of the pitch, which is in a spacious 
shaft, with an impressive aven above.

<p>From here, there are two ways on.  <i>To the 
left, facing away from the pitch just descended, is a gully, which in 1999 
contained a thick layer of ice. Carefully traversing this rather slippery 
section leads to the head of a small pitch of 6m, which was rigged with a 
Y-hang. From here a walking size phreatic passage leads off, carrying a 
substantial breeze. The passage initially descends, but then develops a narrow 
floor trench; as the trench deepens, the phreatic part of the passage rises, and 
then ends abruptly where the floor trench turns right and leads off as a 
too-tight rift while ahead the phreas pinches out.</i>
To the right leads into 
a small, very crumbly chamber, from which a short section of awkward rift leads 
to a fine crow's nest in the wall of a large rift. A very short pitch (5m) lands 
on a large ledge, from which a roped traverse along the left-hand wall gains the 
head of the next pitch of 12m, which avoids a large ledge which would have been 
in the way but for the traverse. This pitch currently requires a rope protector 
just below the Y-hang at the top. The landing is on another large ledge, where a 
pool can be used to refill water containers. It is thought that the alternative 
pitch to You're so Veined will land here, if rigged. 
<P>The next pitch of 14m consists of a backup bolt followed by a Y-hang, which 
utilises one very cratered spit, which can only be used with a bollard type 
hanger. This pitch requires a deviation from the opposite wall or a rebelay to 
be installed as there is currently a rub point just below the Y-hang. The ledge 
that this pitch lands on consists of boulders wedged across the shaft, although 
it seems sound. A backup bolt protects the approach to the Y-hang at the head of 
the next pitch (35m). Unfortunately, it seems to be impossible to get a clean 
hang from here, and a rub-point 3m down will require the installation of a 
rebelay or deviation in future. Immediately after this point, the walls of the 
shaft bell out, and the rope hangs in stimulating isolation. About 5m from the 
floor a ledge is passed, which could be gained by a swing across, where there 
may possibly be a passage leading off [<A 
href="qm.shtml#C1999-204-20" 
name=qC1999-204-20>C1999-204-20 B</A>]. 
<P>At the foot of the pitch, the way on is a very chossy, sloping descent which 
will require either re-rigging or bypassing (which may be possible by a climb up 
and over) in future. This leads to a further short pitch (10m), which lands in 
an aven chamber of ample proportions. <i>From here drops an 8m pitch,
landing on a rubble floor. The only way on is a tight rift
[<a href="qm.shtml#C2000-204-60" name="qC2000-204-60">C2000-204-60 C</a>],
which was penetrated for only a short distance.
More progress might be possible by someone small and imaginative. Not surveyed in 2000.</i>
From the aven chamber, a crawl leads off, followed by a descending rubble slope. The rubble slope curves 
round to the right, passing a tight rift on the left [<A 
href="qm.shtml#C1999-204-22" 
name=qC1999-204-22>C1999-204-22 C</A>], to reach the bottom of a short climb up 
of 3m on the right, which is followed by a scramble down on the other side. <i>From 
here, straight ahead is a climb up into the foot of an aven, half-right is a 
short ascending passage leading to a chamber where a traverse around the right
hand wall leads to a slope down to <b><a href="#fled">Fledermausschacht</a></b>.</i>
Full right is a stooping/crawling 
height phreatic passage with a mud floor. This passes on the right the other end 
of the crawl which led off from the foot of the previous pitch. 
<P>Some 50m of alternate crawling and stooping, including a single point where 
the roof dips and the crawl is flat-out, leads to a small chamber. Here there 
are two holes in the floor. One leads to
<a href="#kiwisuit"><b>Kiwi Suit</b></a>; the other drop is much shorter, and is 
split into two sections by ledges on each wall part way down. The first section 
of 8m reaches these small ledges, where a stream enters from the foot of a very 
large aven. The next section of 11m is wet, and lands on a small ledge 
overlooking a massive shaft. Stones thrown out from here fall for 3s. This is 
believed to be the same pitch as the first pitch of <b>Kiwi Suit</b>.

<h3><a name="kiwisuit">Kiwi Suit</a></h3>
<p>The first pitch begins with a funnel-shaped opening. The initial approach is rigged
from a large pillar at the edge of the funnel (the approach to this could be further
protected by a traverse line tied round an even larger pillar a couple of metres back).
Suddenly, at the base of the funnel, there is an impressive black space. In 2000 the
descent was rigged New-Zealand style, entirely from naturals, which seemed sound, but
worrisome for us bolt-junkies, especially given the record of 'Bomb-Proof' naturals in
KH visiting the bottoms of pitches. Two deviations keep the descent clear of walls and
the small trickle of water which falls down the shaft (probably becomes a much bigger
trickle after rain). The floor is reached after 54 metres of descent. The way on is a
short traverse, an 8 metre pitch, another short traverse, and then a 20 metre pitch to a
ledge. The final pitch from this ledge is an impressive rift of 47 metres depth, rigged
in 2000 from a natural, one bolt, and the rope from the pitch above.</p>

<p>At the bottom, a
merry little stream is reached (similar volume of water to the Top Camp waterhole in
spate). Upstream was not pushed, but reportedly leads quickly to the foot of a
waterfall
[<a href="qm.shtml#C2000-204-63" name="qC2000-204-63">C2000-204-63 B</a>].
Downstream quickly narrows to about 50cm wide, and
progress is made by constantly changing level to stay where the passage is wide enough.
After about 40m a small cascade of about 4m is reached, which could probably be
free-climbed, but a handline here helps avoid getting soaked. The passage is
considerably wider for a few metres below the cascade, but soon resumes in its previous
manner. Suddenly, the head of a pitch
[<a href="qm.shtml#C2000-204-64" name="qC2000-204-64">C2000-204-64 A</a>],
estimated at about 10 metres,
is reached. This was the limit of exploration in 2000. The streamway can be seen to
continue below the pitch, and perhaps becomes a bit wider.</p>

<h3><a name="fled">Fledermausschacht</a></h3>

<p>The traverse round to the pitch head
is protected by a thread belay at the start of the traverse. A substantial thread
(requiring 2 slings due to its girth) at the pitch head enables the first, sloping
section of the pitch to be descended. Soon the pitch becomes vertical, and a
rebelay on the far wall (at -5m) allows the next few metres to be descended.
Unfortunately the shaft still hades slightly, and a further two rebelays (at -15m
and -28m) are required before the magnitude of this 112m shaft starts to become
apparent. A 40m freehanging section leads to a sloping ledge, where the shaft
doglegs again and a scrappy descent down a gulley, and a further two rebelays (at
-68m and -80m), reaches a sloping ledge overlooking the final section of the
pitch. A chossy traverse across the left hand wall appears to head into a parallel
shaft [<a href="qm.shtml#C2000-204-61" name="qC2000-204-61">C2000-204-61 C</a>].
A bolt round the corner to the right allows a descent of
the final 22m to the floor to be made, where a boulder choke is met, with no way
on. The whole pitch, particularly the far wall, is rather loose and due care must
be taken. A large chockstone near the second rebelay could not be shifted, but
should be treated with suspicion.</p>

<p>Nature Note: A bat was observed flitting around
in here on two occasions.</p>

<p>At the start of the traverse to the head of Fledermausschacht is a small crawl
leading off to the right. This is initially flat-out over crumbly mud, but enlarges
after a short distance to enter a series of small mud-filled chambers. There is no
obvious way on, other than to start excavations in the mud banks
[<a href="qm.shtml#C2000-204-62" name="qC2000-204-62">C2000-204-62 Dig</a>].
Not surveyed in 2000.</p>

<H3><A name=survey>Survey</A></H3>
<center><img src="ariston.png" alt="Survey"></center>

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