2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
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1982: Logbook
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2004-04-21 10:35:34 +01:00
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2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
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Arrive Saturday (24th July 1982) evening to glorious sunshine. Sunday dull,
examine lake from pedalo. Large canvas erection appears, much to horror of
everyone else on campsite. Uncouth rabble now appears and makes much noise
until uncivil hour in morning. Visit toll road.
< p > Monday visit toll road, visit plateau in misty wet conditions: no view; no
hot sun !
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-1" > Tuesday Wave 1< / a >
< p > Tuesday David & Ian Brindle rig first section of ramps. 4 new bolts
placed. One on short pitch near entrance made redundant as no likes
prusikking up this delightful short pitch. Ramp declared open and much
improved. Fall off ramp whilst trying to place bolt, give up ! Second wave
arrives and takes over rigging ramp.
< p align = right > 9 hrs or so< br > Tuesday was wet again!
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-2" > 27th Tuesday< / a > 115 wave
2 Mike + Phil
< p > A good trip for dropping tackle, though all recovered this year unlike
last year's ammo can. The entrance series to 115 hasn't changed much, grotty
as ever. We reached the head of the ramp and voices, the Bouncing Brindles
were buggering about with bolts. After some discussion we took over and Mike
bolted a rather greasy traverse and a greasier abb down to the foot of the
Ramp - but out of the big hole which caused so much complaint last year. The
seemingly endless piece of Marlow took us half way down the Rift pitches to a
rather frighteningly perched half ton boulder. We slung a rope on the next
pitch and exitted. A good 8 hr breaking in trip and having dropped a tackle
bag, hammer, driver, gloves numerous times and sealing ring we should both
have exhausted our golden boot potential.
< p align = right > 8 hrs
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-3" > Next trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-1" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > 27th Tuesday 113 Andy W + Pete
< p > Having calculated all the tackle to the nearest inch, the rigging in was
bound to be superbly efficient and smooth - WRONG ! The entrance pitch was
easy, then Andy tried to pioneer a new route to Fox's Glacier. Once a safe
route was relocated, life got complicated since Point Five Gully was
completely iced over - exit one 50+m rope meant for lower down. More big ice
formations in Barnsley Methodist Chapel then cock-up no. 2, a 15m rope for a
14m pitch with a 10m belay. A 22m rope didn't quite reach, much to Andy's
annoyance, so exit another 50+m rope meant for lower down. The next rope was
perfect though, and the smooth efficiency started to appear. Rigged right on
down the Opera House and Purple Pit to -210m and dumped remaining tackle
(just one short rope) before muesli crawl. Then up and out to a rainy, dark,
grotty evening. 7 hrs.
< br > Desperate walk back in wet black gravity. Missed pub but beer in car.
< p align = right > ~ 7 hrs.
< hr > 27th Tuesday < a name = "1982-115-S" > Surface survey< / a >
from 113 to 115
< p align = right > Andy D, Chas.
< p > Having been shown where 113 lurks, we surveyed down the gully & along
the path to 115. We used two staffs, compass, clino & tape.
< p > We left permanent survey stations outside 113, halfway down the 113 gully,
at 87, at 88 and outside 115. 113 is 164m or something above 115. Caused much
amusement to local tourists. < ---- < i > This ain't caving< / i > < font
size=-1>but it is relevant< / font >
< p > Survey at back of book
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-3" > 28th Wednesday< / a > July
< p > Wave 1 115 Rigging rift Ian B &
Chas
< p > Another half past six start so we were down in good time. The less said
about this trip the better. I couldn't find last year's route in the rift so
nearly gave myself a hernia placing a free-hanging bolt of which more anon.
Then under the boulders at the top of the inlet pitch which was a fairly
trepidating experience. Mucked about with a couple of ladders at the
entrance, met wave 2, and then we'd made a pig's ear of it & went out.
< p align = right > 8 hrs
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-4" > Next trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-2" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > < u > < a name = "1982-115-4" > Wave 2< / a > 115< / u > Rigging
to Big Chamber Andy D, Dave B
< p > Well the sun was shining so wave 2 only reached the cave at half three.
God I hate this strenuous boring entrance series. Down the Ramp, mucho
improved. Incidentally, we passed wave 1 at the Bell Pitch - we we late or
were they early ? Chas had rigged a fine free hanging bolt but it was removed
and the old route taken down to the inlet. After much indecision whether to
go over or under the boulders we bolted out under, and on each successive wet
pitch we traversed out as far as we could, using the rope from the pitch
above as aid, to bolt. This made the changeovers strenuous but the pitches
are dry. At last we dropped down the fine pitch into the Chamber, still as
big as ever, the stream seemed quite high. Andy didn't say much (his first
trip) but I coukd see he was enjoying it really. We dumped rope, food, hexy
burners, sardines etc. and had some tomato & beef soup (yeurgh). Hastened
slowly out. Emerged at about two in the morning. Andy got really pissed off
as his Petzl Stinky needed twice as much carbide as mine despite having a 14
litre jet anstatt the usual 21. 11 hrs.
< br > The furry suit is starting to niff a bit after only two trips.
< p align = right > Dave
< p align = right > 11 hrs
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-5" > Next trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-3" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-5" > 29th Thursday< / a > 115 Pete +
Phil
< p > The first big trip - jeez were we knackered ! Full of beans, literally,
Pete made a jet assisted walk in. Surprisingly efficient trip in with tackle
bags. The Ramp is different but no easier. Some entertaining rigging on the
Inlet Pitches. And then Purgatory, what can one say, it goes on and on and
on. We rigged the Pre-sump Pitch, then the Post-sump Bypass Pitch. On into
the stream, considering the quantity of rain there was pleasingly low water.
We rigged the first three streamway pitches, 7m slopping + damp, 5m, new bolt
to make the next 40m pitch drier. Carried on down a rather wet climb with
grotty memories of last year, we decided it needed a rope and that we'd turn
around before we got cold. Going back Purgatory was longer and destroyed a
tackle bag and a boiler suit. Soup in the main chamber provided just enough
body heat to combat the chill acquired waiting to brew it ! From then a
sleepy exit was made, both of us nodding off at strategic points on the
entrance pitches, and on the Stogerweg on the way back.
< p align = right > Time 14 hrs.
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-6" > Next trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-4" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > 29th Thursday. Sonnenstrahlhö hle
1623/113 Andy & Mike
< p > The usual early start got us underground by ~1pm with only mild wittering
on the entrance rebelay. Things went rather more smoothly than on Tuesday,
rerigging Point Five Gully with a 36m rope, thus freeing the 53m rope for
Sprucy Wind. Further success on the 14m pitch led us on to the Opera House
where Mike found a missing bolt. Purple Pit was as magnificent as ever (Mike
didn't appreciate the Bowers rebelay). Muesli Crawl was located and Sprucy
Wind rigged... The squeeze at the pitch head gave Andy some trouble but the
main trouble was the Union of Bullshitting Spastic Speleologists rope
protector of which more later... Pitches rigged with minimal slack (one with
tension between the bolts, much to Mike's chagrin - but the rope only just
reached the next rebelay anyway). At least one bolt on the next section
wasn't located, leaving a ~35m section with a couple of rubs :- must fix this
next time. Needless to say - the rope was too short on the wet part and Andy
had a brief spell of pitch rigging by braille and ended with a knot to pass
at the final ledge. Then.... the bottom.
< p > The chamber at the pitch bottom quickly became littered with bolts,
hangers and solid rubber trussing gear as yopur intrepid speleos prepared to
face ... THE SQUEEZE. Urgh ! Gnnuk ! Pop ! Into the Crematorium and the near
silence of a dry chamber. Tripping over drystone walls as they went, the
heroes, now over a thousand feet below the black hell of Schwarzmooskogel in
the remote Austrian Alps .. What ? Oh, sorry - facts only. We looked briefly
at some climbs and then shinned down into the narrow rift found by Tony's
carbide lamp in 1980. More thrutching noises, grunts, groans and sundry
curses accompanied desperate slow, woofta-ripping progress along a crawling
rift over a four inch stream slot among muddy, sharp crumbly rock. This led
for ages down tiny hading climbs to a micro-stream. More awkward climbs with
lobbing lumps of rock dropped to Andy's limit of 1980 - the promising ongoing
passage was huge ! after removing stones it was almost 4" (10cm) wide with a
half-body-sized cavity beyond. We extended it about 2ft (60cm) horizontally
and even less depth. SO much for top entrances to Stellerweg ! Turning round
and getting out took less than an hour or so, only slightly shredded. I don't
think Mike really appreciated being taken down here at all.
< p > So ... OUT ! Re-assuringly steady progress up the pitches interrupted only
by the crappy UBSS protector falling down the rope and landing on Andy. Don't
they have croc clips in Bristol ? Sardines at Muesli Crawl galvanised the
team to upward progress at almost exactly the same speed as before, slowing
as the boulders became oppressive at the Opera House. Not far to go now chaps
! Just the thrutchy boulder and the loose scree and the glassy ice slope and
the endless upward slogging entrance pitch and the bolt and the blasted
bouncy bunde blocking bludering blacked-out bleary-eyed (insert a plural word
meaning cavers but beginning with 'B'), from their rightful place on the
outside skin of the sphere we laughingly call the earth, or something. End
Delirium.
< p > We walked back in the dark and missed the pub.
< p align = right > 8½ hours
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-6" > 30th Friday< / a >
Schnellzughö hle 115
< p align = right > Andy D + Chas
< p > A leisurely start saw us underground by 3 O'Clock. The memory has faded by now but we rigged the last three year's pitches. The next is a pleasant 10m pitch and shortly afterwards a slightly bigger pitch we didn't go down. At the time we thought it might be a climb but it definitely isn't.
< p > We took some food and a stove down to the sump bypass and had a brew of disgusting soup in the Big Chamber on the way out.
< p > Oh and we put backup bolts on some of the other streamway pitches. Out at 5.20 in the dawn light. Andy kept falling asleep on the walk back.
< p align = right > 14 hrs
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-7" > Next trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-5" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > < i > There is a very large blank space in the logbook suggesting an omitted
write-up that no-one ever got round to.< / i >
< hr > Saturday 31st July
< p > Well, Dave and Ian were going to explore the phreatic maze at the bottom
of 41 .... but we'd been outdrinking the local cavers in Bad Mitterndorf last
night and the first expedition Huey & Ralph by Dave meant that he jacked
at the carpark.
< hr > Sunday 1st August
< p > < a name = "1982-115-7" > 41 Phreatic< / a > Ian & Dave
< p > Alpine style starts at 0600 hours just don't work for C.U.C.C. so a
leisurely start meant we felt vaguely human as we descended the usual boring
entrance. Excitement at the wet pitches with a roar of water (it had been
raining). We descended hurtling down through the spray footing it from wall
to wall to avoid the worst. Vague doubts about the return are dispelled as we
soar down into the Big Chamber. Food was dumped (fromk the tacklebag) and we
scrambled into the connection. Damn we're lost. Back and forth, eventually we
are on a ledge in 41 but 10m above the floor ! Shit ! BAck again and at last
we've done it. On into the Dartford Tunnel - this is huge but better things
are to come. Turning left to last year's terminus. Excitelment increases - we
are in virgin passage - no, still old footprints in the sand ahead. Suddenly
an inscription "cucc/UBSS 81" in the mud and ahead a sloping traverse. This
was quickly overcome and ahead a stomping passage leads to - what ? A small
climb is overcome and we cross a deep rift with a roar of water but ahead the
phreatic tube continues. We're almost running now, pinting out features, not
listening, the tension is incredible, a feeling of "how long will it last?"
Suddenly a junction with a dry Purgatory in the floor and a dead bat. Hardly
pausing we push up Rampant Passage, slower now, panting with exertion and
excitement, this tube rises a hundred feet in two hundred feet of length. At
the top we suddenly emerge into Cologne Cathedral, a silent but huge chamber.
A dangerous climb leads to 30m Echo Aven. We return and push down the rift.
Ahead the roar of water and suddenly we're hanging out over over an enormous
streamway, water cascades down out of sight. We can't go on so we survey
grade 2 out in what we've found. A magnificent trip and the sunset on the
Trisselwand as we emerged was quite superb. This was continental caving as
I'd really imagined it.
< p align = right > 10 hrs
< p align = right > Dave
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-8" > Tourist trip same day< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-9" > Surveying trip next day< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-10" > Next pushing trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-6" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-142-1" > Saturday 31st
July< / a > - Prospecting south of 41 on east side of
Schwarzmooskogel.
< p > Pete, Mike, Phil.
< p > With three of us strung across the 'bunde' we covered quite a lot of
ground, and yet this amounted to probably only 10% of the area we crossed.
And caves do appear in the middle of nowhere. The major joint trends are easy
to follow but largely unproductive being full of small non-draughting shafts.
Valleys are much more promising and consequently full of bunde. Two decent
prospects were found.
< dl >
< dt > 131< dd > A large classical cave entrance strewn with boulders in a
prominent valley. Back bearings to Trisselberg 170° , Bergrestaurant
240° . Probably about 1720m. Best reached from the cairned path along the
ridge top, which leaves Stogerweg at cave 28.
< dt > 132< dd > Small hole immediately below an ice + stone plugged shaft. Very
good draught out. About 250m south of 41 at approx same height. No bearings.
Best reached from the Stogerweg 200m before 32, climb beneath a small cliff,
then up diagonally through bunde to large grassy + rocky slope. Climb to top
right of this slope to find the ice plugged shaft.
< / dl >
< p > < a href = "#1982-142-2" > Next trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-142-2" > Sunday 1st August< / a > Prospecting -
131, 132
< p > Phil + Mike
< p > We had intended to go down the streamway in 115, but all the rain the day
before and the swollen becks on the surface at the Bergrestaurant caused us
to make a nearly sensible decision. Unfortunately the restaurant was closed
and we didn't have the face to go straight back so we tramped to 115, thought
some more, and decided to go back to yesterday's finds. The bunde was piss
wet, so were we, maybe slightly in the head too.
< p > First to 132, clad in T-shirts + Wetsuit top + jeans, Phil dropped in,
squirmy entrance, dug through some stones into a low phreatic tunnel, no
draught. Mike tracked the draught, dug out some boulders and revealed masses
of phreatic passage, hading ramps and possible big pitches. This is almost
certainly another entrance into the top of Stellerweg hohle. There are also a
number of ramps upwards, two of which were traced to earthworm size wet holes
alluringly near to the surface. There must be potential for a higher entrance
to the system. Worth going back to but we're keeping the location secret
until 115 is surveyed. The exploration was halted by a shortage of light and
sore knees.
< p > 131. Just a quick look, another steep ramp, but no horizontal development
in the top 30m. Holes in the ramp of tight vadose stream character, with a
drop estimated at 80m.
< p align = right > Time ~3 hrs
< p > < a href = "#1982-142-3" > Next 142 trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-142-1" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-8" > Sunday 1st August< / a > Gear + Limb
testing trip down 115
< p > Tim and Philip S
< p > Phil's first trip down any continental cave - and on his 28th (< --
< font size = -2 > I don't believe it!< / font > ) birthday too. Originally we were
only going down to test out Tim's SRT gear, wetsuit, enduro suit etc. that
had been sitting in 4 City Rd for months. When we were down it seemed a shame
not to go on so we continued down to the top of the wettish pitches before
the big chamber.
< p > Fine training trip, 5 hours
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-7" > Pushing trip same day< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-9" > Surveying trip next day< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-10" > Next pushing trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-9" > Monday 2nd August< / a > 115
surveying Phil S & Chas
< br > Surveying round the Big Chamber & placed a fixed station. V. slow 7
hrs saw a pine marten on the way back not in the cave, fool. ~ 7 hrs
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-10" > Monday 2nd August< / a > 115 Pushing
< p > Mike + Phil
< p > Got down to Main Chamber in 1½ hrs for Dig Bicks, then to sump in
1½ hrs, then added a short rope to the stream "Yet another pitch"
before continuing. Rebelayed the Letch Pitch to make it slightly less damp
though with a bit more enterprise and penduling through the waterfall a
comfortable rebelay may have been managed farther round to the right; but it
was too cold for acrobatics. Below 'the Slit', Andy + CHas' last pitch, the
stream meandered on to a fairly grotty looking pitch 'Coming Soon' which we
rigged and then jacked through coldness and the ever pesent paranoia that the
damned stream is out to get us. Met Tim + Pete at foot of Letch pitch and
left them with the glory hunt and tales of gathering clouds on the surface.
Not too hard on exit, it just takes so long, and Mike had a lot of trouble
with his genitalia; endeavouring to return them to a state of prepubescence
by the application of a non too comfortable prussik truss.
< p > As last year the trips are getting heroically long to place a couple of
bolts, and hydrophobia is rife. We definitely need some sustained fair
weather, or else we'll all be reduced to surveying trips.
< p align = right > Time 15 hrs
< p >
< a href = "#1982-115-11" > Next pushing trip< / a > (following on same day) /
< a href = "#1982-115-7" > Previous pushing trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-11" > Monday 2nd August< / a > 115 Pushing
< p > Tim + Pete
< p > Team gastronomique went down with the express intention of blitzing the
food dumps; if the cave went a little bit further than last time then it was
purely by accident.
< p > Got quickly to main chamber + made do with a couple of Mars Bars. Blatted
on down Purgatory + met Phil + Mike at Letch pitch on their way out. Brief
pause to unload unruly bowels. Continued to Slit pitch where some rather
desperate rope damage was skilfully concealed with a rope protector. Next
pitch was Phil + Mike's undescended 8m pitch which landed in a pleasant,
gently sloping canal. Sauntered on down, passage looking more + more
sump-like every step. Rounded corner to see sump. Sighs of relief could be
heard all the way back to the main entrance. Unfortunately.... youthful
over-enthusiasm on the part of Plank caused him to plunge into a rather deep
dank pool + find a duck with a few inches of air space out under one wall.
Trying not to think of upstream bowel movements + ignoring little brown
submarines in the pool, our intrepid team swam through more cnal (the final
sump can't be far now can it ?) leading to yet another pitch - Orgasm Chasm.
Rigged ~ 40 ft to a ledge then 40ft to another ledge. Still couldn't see the
bottom. Pretty spray-lashed chamber - very impressive. Came out. Stopped for
a brew at sump bypass food dump. Stopped for another at main chamber. Came
out pretty slowly. May have had less to do with fatigue than with the weight
of Dig Biccies being carried in tummies.
< p align = right > time 16 hrs.
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-13" > Next pushing trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-12" > Next trip< / a > (surveying)/
< a href = "#1982-115-10" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > Tuesday 3rd August No trips, at least not speleological (!)
< p align = right > . . . . . way out man . . . . .
< hr > Wednesday 4 August
< p > Phil S & Janet abortive trip to begin survey of the Purgatory.
Sensible decision taken at 115 entrance in face of nausea (& headache).
Retrat.
< hr > < a name = "1982-142-3" > Weds 4th Aug< / a >
< p > Doug, Mike
< p > Exploration of 132. Found a big chamber and a big pitch. Thrutched around
various crawls and lost each other. Sat around waiting for each other for 2
hrs and then went to call out rescue for each other. Fortunately met near
entrance. Almost a nasty fiasco.
< p align = right > Doug. ~ 4 hrs
< p > < a href = "#1982-142-4" > Next trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-142-2" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-12" > THURSDAY 5 AUGUST< / a >
< p > Phil S. & Janet
< p > Second attempt to survey Purgatory. Dave & Chas followed us down -
about 1 hr 20 mins to Main Chamber. An hour later we were still there trying
to get the clino to be visible - all fogged up. Janet put it in a pocket
whilst we chatted to Phil & Pete - then took itn out to discover it was
perfectly clear. Surveyed 9 stations down Purgatory when it fogged up again.
Philip tried everything - breathing on it, sucking it, licking it - sticking
it in armpits etc. whilst Janet painted a mark. Got it visible again and
surveyed - with several clino problem breaks - until station 24 when it
became completely unmanageable. Painted mark & came out - sane but cold.
A quick dash around phreatic passage to Pebble Beach Chamber and the drafty
hole to warm up + back to main chamber for sardines (later regretted). Out in
3 hrs 10 minutes - forgetting the notebook in the Main Chamber. The Purgatory
has ways of preserving its secrets...
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-13" > Next pushing trip< / a > (same day)/
< a href = "#1982-115-16" > Next surveying trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-11" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-13" > Thursday 5th August< / a > 115
Pushing
< p > Chas & Dave
< p align = right > My old man said "Follow the van..." geddit ? Gertcha !
< p > Well . . . . what can I say ? Preparing for a long trip, Dave put on long
johns, wetsuit, furry suit, pullover, cagoule and overalls. Unfortunately he
could barely move and had to take off a layer or two at the Ramp. Down the
Purgatory was as nasty as ever. Then, past the Confluence and "Yeeeeeeeah !"
I've never been as near having an orgasm underground as when I saw the smoked
"CUCC 82" in the roof. Suitably encouraged by the easy way out, we pressed
on. A pleasant series of pitches lead to the Duck. Yeurgh !! Chas did well to
survive in just a furry suit. Then - Orgasm Chasm. Jeez what a shaft ! We put
in two bolts and a large freehang 150+ dropped to (no not a floor) a ledge.
Another bolt but rope too short. Still no floor. Back (bounce) up (bounce)
the Interalp (bounce) which stopped bouncing when it caught and I was
prussiking up an iron bar ! Shit. We've now been under 9 hours so exit. Large
gonk at sump bypass. At confluence we gratefully climbed up into the phreas.
The way to 115 is about half a mile of walking and traversing. Towards the
end we were stopping every 50m for a rest. In the Big Chamber, we had a
really bad gonk for 25 minutes or so - I began to wonder if we'd make it.
Once the prussiking had started it wasn't so bad but it was slow hard
progress all the way. The Bell Pitch alone took 15 minutes. Then the crawl
out to a painful dawn. In silence we changed and walked back to the
Loserhü tte. The sight of Mike asleep in his car was very welcome indeed.
At long last we could relax, after sixteen and a half hours unbroken struggle
with this fierce cave.
< p align = right > 16½ hours
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-15" > Next streamway pushing trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-14" > Bypass pushing trip< / a > (same day)/
< a href = "#1982-115-7" > Trip which left the "CUCC 82"< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-11" > Previous streamway pushing trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-142-4" > Thursday 5th August< / a > Exploring
132
< p align = right > Tim, Andy D & Mike
< p > Went to Big Chamber to descend pitch with 66m rope, water for Andy's stink
found next to rescue Mars Bar. Descended big pitch via ledge 4m down, after
much wittering ~35m pitch into huge chamber filled with v. loose boulders,
ways on opposite pitch via loose squeeze, not pushed. Ways down under loose
boulders in floor probably choked.
< p align = right > 5 hrs
< p > < a href = "#1982-142-5" > Next trip< / a > (derigging)/
< a href = "#1982-142-3" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-14" > Thursday 5th August< / a >
< br > 115 Dry Bits
< br > Phil, Pete.
< p align = right > 11 hrs
< p > Aim: to push the streamway found by Ian + Dave
beyond the railway tunnel in Stellerweg.
< p > Met Janet + Phil in Big Chamber, then through the connection; route
finding being moderately easy - following footprints. Heard Janet + Phil
surveying in Purgatory when we were at connection cairn. In Junction Chamber
we shot up the big passage and missed the turning left to the railway tunnel.
We eventually got to the point where traversing became nasty + realized our
mistake; but it should be possible to go much further up here. Down the
railway tunnel with various climbs up & down and a jump across the top of
the stream canyon; we reached a corner where the traverse ran out; so
freeclimbed down ~5m to the stream below, we were amazed to find arrows
pointing upwards, smoked onto the wall and then a pitch, nicely rigged: we
were in the 115 streamway, we trogged down to the sump just to make sure. We
had dropped down at the Confluence. We went back up the "Stellerweg Inlet",
which starts off larger than Purgatory, but soon breaks down into inlets; we
freeclimbed ~7m pitch, but eventually gave up when it was getting tight.
There didn't seem any easy way of getting up into the dry stuff, so we went
back to the Confluence and climbed up there. Rigged a traverse with a rope
(before this we managed to avoid the jump across the stream by following a
parallel ramp on the left). We had a prod around in many of the passages, but
they all seem to close down as inlets; so there doesn't seem much prospect
for any great extension. Coming back found a phreatic tube/crawl which
bypassed the cairn + a small passage with some < u > straws< / u > ! Dropped back
into the Purgatory to avoid the traverse near 115.
< p > Fine walk back - views of the Dachstein by moonlight ! Pete.
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-13" > Streamway pushing trip< / a > which left the arrows (same day)/
< a href = "#1982-115-12" > Surveying trip< / a > (same day)/
< a href = "#1982-115-15" > Next pushing trip< / a > (camp)/
< a href = "#1982-115-11" > Previous Bypass pushing trip< / a >
< hr > Thursday 5th August SONNENSTRAHLHÖ HLE survey +
frontier push.
< p > The trip that took four days to start ! Doug & Andy had even got
changed outside the entrance for one attempt before jacking. Finally
underground at 12.30 on Thursday ... now read on ...
< p > Zapped down to Opera House then started survey from station 1980/S27 at
the thread. Keine promble down Purple Pit confirming previous "survey" to
1980/SA0 at the last bolt. Zoomed through muesli crawl to Sprucy Wind where
Andy relieved the tension in the rebelay (not without hassle). Then zipped
down the rope to the bottom. Thrutched into the Crematorium where Andy
started and Doug finished a bolt to protect a daring climb onto the loose
muddy sloping ledge. Doug did the daring deed of deadly dangerous desperate
daring (Bzzzzz! "repetition"). Onto the ledge and along past a thread
(runner) and onto the base of the ramp. Needless to say, but I'll say it
anyway, this didn't go. Doug reached the base of an unscalable 15m aven and
the hoped for streamway bypass was unfound. Retreat, unable to evade the
concept which strikes dread into every caver's heart. . .
< p > DERIGGING (Aaagh ! No ! Faint ! Throw up !)
< p > Derigged the whole of Sprucy Wind and the last bit of Purple Pit. Exitted
(very slowly with more cursing / unit depth than previously seen this year)
with 150m rope + hangers & Co. & Co. Out @ midnight to v. nice moon.
< p > 11½ hours (gasp!). A.
< hr > < u > Friday 6th August< / u > < u > Dachstein walking trip< / u >
< p > Doug, Andy W, Andy D, Chas
< p > Quite a drive to Ramsau am Dachstein, aided by a [?] of beer and snacks.
Once there we looked at the walk up, looked at the Seilbahn tariff, looked at
the walk again and decided that 150 S would be well spent on a return ticket.
The ride is very steep and goes up 1000m in a single span. The path looks
appalling from the Seilbahn - very exposed & scree-covered. Besides it's
better to save your energy for when you get to the top.
< p > Most of the glacier is flat, mushy snow without crevasses. We took a walk
up the Hoher Gjaidstein 2,7 hundred and something. Fine view of the
Trisselwand and of Hoher Dachstein from the top. It looks quite easy to get
up Hoher Dachstein so this must be done next time.
< p > Doug and Andy W went to play on the bergschrund & Andy D and Chas
found a snowslope to learn braking and glissading on. Standing glissade is
really fun. We rushed back, missed a bahn by one minute and had to wait for
the last one down - by this time the weather had really come down and the
lightning was flashing. We met a real alpinist and his son, draped round with
sitharnesses, chest harnesses, pegs, nuts, etriers, crampons, enormous coils
of rope, u.s.w., u.s.w. A very good day out.
< p align = right > Chas.
< p > P.S. the altitude (or something) made us fart like drains. We think
methane comes out of solution at low pressures.
< hr > Friday 6th August
< p > No caving was done. Went to the fireworks at Hallstatt and spent the day
searching Bad Aussee for gas.
< br > < font size = -1 > < i > Why walk further than Waddington's tent ?< / i > < / font >
< hr > Saturday 7th August
< p > Tim and Phil nearly went underground, but fitness doubts in training and
intense precipitation caused a sensible decision to be made. Instead, tackle
for a camp was assembled and carried up to 115.
< p > Did anyone cave ? No. I think not. The three day cycle strikes with a
vengeance: it certainly can't be the sunshine that keeps us above ground.
< p > Somebody write in this space. So as I can have a clean page for the next
write up.
< p > [ someone has obligingly written "Balls" diagonally in large letters to
fill the space, Ed. ]
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-15" > Sunday/Monday< / a > 8/9th
August 115
< p > Tim + Phil
< p > We went in with Paddy and Dave as Sherpas to ferry four tackle bags and a
50m rope to the phreas above the Stellerweg - Purgatory confluence. A camp
was established on a moderately flat sandy patch in a side passage with very
little draught. Shitting facilities, upwind, in an abandoned vadose groove.
Water at the Confluence, a ten minute round trip.
< p > After Rams Bras + Dig Bix we went on a pushing trip. Rerigged ORgasm
Chasm, same bolts so enterprisingly installed by Chas + Dave, different rope.
Both had lots of fun shuffling ropes and knots and rebelays suspended 200' up
the gaping hole. The big pitch ~150', is really great to descend but a nerve
wracking slog up, listening for twangs and rubs. Orgasm Chasm finally rigged
with a 3m descending traverse line, two ~12m pitches, a 7m, 45mm, round a
col, 15m. At the floor of the Chasm, the water runs down a rift in one
corner, followed round to a black slit hole. On the opposite side of the
Chasm to the final rope, an archway leads into a semi-abandoned passage, with
a 6m pitch and then the same black slit as above. Put a bolt on this but
didn't descend, sounds about 100' deep - could this be the end ? Don't miss
next week's exiting episode. The return trip was dogged by light problems.
Four boxes of wet matches, two dud cigarette lighters, a self destructing
leaky ammo can led to several anxious moments. Good advert for Timex watches,
still running after a 60' drop and two hours immersed in water - not so Casio
watches.
< p > Back to camp at 2am, dry clothes, warm pits, soup, spag bol, egg noodles,
dig bix, cigarettes and a comfortable kip till midday. Nice not to be woken
by the sun, or to know that it had pissed with rain all night. Just as above
ground the worst part of camping is getting out of a warm pit into the cold
air and then into cold damp caving gear. A grade IV Yorkshire change.
< p > On our way back to the surface we were rather pissed off not to meet the
next wave of campers, bar amp followers. A little trickle of rain had
frightened them away, they sat in BAr fischer and auctioned off our cassette
tapes, hash, etc. Good to have friends. Exit from camp only took 3½
hours, including further extensive stops to get carbides going, Phil having
prussiked up his own prussik sling in the dark ! Emerged to daylight, Mike
and Andy to meet us, veg curry, beer and the munchies.
< p > CUCC first underground camp.
< br > Deepest CUCC trip ? But how deep.
< br > Time underground 31 hrs.
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-17" > Next (abortive) pushing trip< / a > (camp) /
< a href = "#1982-115-16" > Surveying trip< / a > (same day)/
< a href = "#1982-115-19" > Next useful pushing trip< / a > (camp) /
< a href = "#1982-115-13" > Previous pushing trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-16" > Schnellzughö hle< / a > : The Survey
?! Pete and Andy
< p > A 'gentle' introduction to the system for Andy - whose light was in his
car (oops). Down on Chas's light (Thanks Chas) but with no water - at first.
Pete and Andy soon had hands cold enough to grab water and make ice cubes,
but we refrained and carried on surveying and surveying and surveying and
surveying and surveying and
s u r v e y i n g
a n d
s u r v e y a w n. Met Paddy
and Dave coming the other way in their sherpa trip, so added them to the
survey party leaving Andy to sketch only. This didn't help as his light ran
out of water. Anyway, we stopped at the top of the Ramp. Relief for Andy also
meant light for Andy, but a nasty burnt urea smell for all concerned.
Thrashed out - 6 hrs ? What is this ? A short trip ?!! Unheard of !.
< p align = right > A.
< p > P.S. The survey, while short, may be the best bit !
< p > [Webeditor: the results of this particular survey trip may be seen on the
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
site in < a href = "../../smkridge/41/115p.png" > plan (33k gif, 800x1080)< / a > or < a href = "../../smkridge/41/115x.png" > extended section (23k gif, 1090x700)< / a > ]
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-18" > Next surveying trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-15" > Pushing trip< / a > (same day - camp) /
< a href = "#1982-115-12" > Previous surveying trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-17" > Tuesday / Wednesday 10/11
August< / a > 115 Pushing ? + Camping
< p > Mike and Andy
< p > It rained all night on Monday night but we still went down even though it
looked a bit wet. Got u/g at ~12 to be greeted almost immediately by the
sound of rushing water in places which are normally dry. Took a long time to
get to big chamber owing to failure of Mikes big stinky. Found way through
Purgatory Bypass surprisingly easily only went wrong way twice. The water at
the Confluence looked rather high but we decided to push on down. Got as far
as the 2nd pitch in Orgasm Chasm which we found < u > FULL< / u > of water. Andy
tested it with his foot and retreated. We reluctantly jacked and had an
uneventful trip out apart from meeting Pete + Andy W in streamway (and being
later woken up by them) Our only achievement on this trip was removing some
rubbish from the camp.
< p align = right > ~ 28 hours
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-19" > Next streamway pushing trip< / a > (the bottom) /
< a href = "#1982-115-18" > Surveying trip< / a > (same day) /
< a href = "#1982-115-15" > Previous streamway pushing trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-18" > Tuesday / Wednesday 10/11
August< / a > 115
< p > Pete + Andy W
< p > Went down the streamway thought it rather wet but pressed on and surveyed
from the 12 foot climb downstream. Met Andy + Mike who'd jacked because of
water. Got to the head of the Marlow climb where we decided to turn back
because of extreme cold, worries about the water, single bolt rigging, etc.
So we surveyed the dry bit from Confluence almost to the Big Chamber,
stopping at the camp for a meal. Out not too rapidly.
< p align = right > Pete
< p align = right > 21 hours
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-20" > Next surveying trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-17" > Pushing trip< / a > (same day - camp, abortive) /
< a href = "#1982-115-16" > Previous surveying trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-19" > Wednesday / Thursday 11/12
August< / a > 115
< p > Chas and Dave
< p align = right > The Sump<!-- replace this with a scanned graphic ? -->
< br > < font size = -1 > Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit !< / font >
< p > As we entered, sun was beating down & promised to hold. This was the
last pushing trip cos time was out - derigging would have to start tomorrow.
We met Mike & Dobbers at inlet pitches and learnt to our dismay that they
had been foiled by water in Orgasm Chasm. This meant that photo gear had to
be abandoned at the camp for an all out push. As we entered the streamway the
water seemed higher than usual. We pushed quickly on - I was thinking of the
wet pitch found by Tim & Phil but knew we'd go on until bolts or rope ran
out regardless of time. Duck was not too bad and onto Orgasm Chasm. On the
big drop were two ropes - Chas went down the one with no knot on the end but
spotted it in time (phew). The pitches became wetter and then the 100'. I
vegetated while Chas placed one wet freehanging bolt then down into a cold
spray lashed chamber. We rushed into a corner to fettle. Poking among
enormous boulders we dropped into the stream again, through a canal and to a
20' pitch. No, it was a free climb and suddenly a sump. Just a rift with a
very deep scummy pool. No great thrill, no cheers or handshakes, we traversed
over to check for a bypass, but I think we knew this was it and we were
getting cold so a slow return to camp was made. A good meal and a King Edward
Cigar to celebrate, and a good nights sleep meant a speedy exit the next day.
It's very hard to get out of bed when it's dark even at 1pm. We hitched back
to camp and revealed all - I think they were all very pleased though cavers
aren't prone to outbursts of emotion.
< p align = right > 29½ hours
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-20" > Next trip to bottom< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-17" > Previous (abortive) pushing trip< / a >
< a href = "#1982-115-15" > Previous pushing trip< / a >
< hr > Friday 13th August 113
< p > Tim + Phil
< p > Just for a change of cave we derigged 113 from Purple Pit to the entrance.
Apart from one trip down Lost Johns and a couple down 132, 115 is the only
cave both of us had been in in the last twelve months. Sonnenstrahlhohle is a
fine pot, great shame its not the entrance to 115. Positively speleoorgasmic
entrance. Some pretty hair raising bolts though, even if they are well
positioned. In and out in 3½ hours. Then we had to walk back avec
beaucoup de tackle; there are far more pleasurable ways of putting your back
out than carrying 120m of rope and a rucksack full of caving gear; but such
means are not so readily available. Malesh !
< hr > Friday 13th August Dachstein walking trip
< p align = right > Andy W, Dave, Mike, Chas
< p > We went up Hoher Dachstein. Across the glacier - saw one uncovered
crevasse - up a snowslope & then via an incredible number of fixed
enormous pegs to the top. Having carried beer up for summit celebrations Chas
reached the top, dumped the sack and broke a bottle, flooding several
people's gear. Weather got worse & we came down. V. fine walk.
< p > Chas.
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-20" > Friday / Saturday 13/14
August< / a > 115 Derigging & Surveying
< p > Pete and Andy D
< p > Got down to the bottom in about 5 hours, where we ritually peed in the
sump and photographed it. Its rather similar to the one in Penyghent, in a
rift, and looking as if it goes deep. There is a small passage going up above
the sump, but it is full of boulders and we didn't think it was the time to
start digging. We surveyed and derigged the two big pitches in 5 hours and
managed to take the tackle thru the duck before it all got too much and we
left it at the head of the last streamway pitch. 4½ hours, 60 stations
and 5 bars of chocolate later we decided we were bored with surveying and
jacked in at the head of last year's undescended pitch. We arrived back at
camp after 16½ hrs caving and ate a vast amount before we went to bed.
We met Chas & Dave at the camp, then Andy + Mike who relieved us of
tackle bags at the bottom of the rift pitches. The entry was rather slow due
to severe abrasion problems in very sensitive areas. Just managed to see the
fireworks as we came out.
< p align = right > Pete
< p align = right > 32 hours
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-22" > Next derigging trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-19" > Previous bottoming trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-21" > Next (survey/sherpa) trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-18" > Previous surveying trip< / a > /
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-21" > Saturday 14th August< / a > 115 Surveying
< p > Mike & Andy W
< p > Good late start, but not too inefficient down to Ramp. Survey went rather
slowly. Like everywhere else in the cave, its a bastard to sketch the ramp.
You can tell how slow progress was when two of us had time for 4 (four)
pisses and one shit at just one rebelay. Surveying hurriedly (but not too
quickly) out of the serious odour zone, we heard Pete & Andy coming up
from below. Not wishing to collide part way down a rope, we waited and then
carried gear for the deriggers to the entrance. Out in time for an aerial
view of the fireworks. Rotten traffic jams in Altaussee.
< p align = right > 6 hrs
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-22" > Next surveying trip< / a > (same day and overnight) /
< a href = "#1982-115-20" > Previous surveying trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-22" > Saturday / Sunday 13/14th< / a > [actually 14/15th,
Ed.] 115 Surveying, Derigging, photoing, bat rescue, etc.
< p > Chas + Dave. < font size = -2 > Gortcha !< / font >
< p > After wogging all the beans and tuna, leaving only sardines for the other
intrepid speleos, we went quickly down to the camp & met Pete & Andy
there. Dismayed to find quite a bit of surveying still to be done, from the
free climb above the Pool Pitch down to last year's undescended pitch. This
took us over 100 legs of fast surveying to grade 3. We had Dave's Photo gear
& photoed the Pool Pitch on the way. Went on down to the duck where Chas
bravely volunterred to venture into the icy water, the cold clutching at his
vitals, while Dave stood in up to his waist & took several stunning
action photos. Then we derigged out as far as the head of the Pool Pitch and
left all the tackle there. This involved some tremendous activity with a
pulley and jammer courtesy of Brindle haulage Ltd. - Chas's footloops were
nearly sawn in half. Back to camp for an ausblaten meal.
< p > Leisurely start on Sunday. We piccied the Dartford Tunnel at length - at
least Dave piccied it while unwilling photographer's assistant scurried round
in the dark letting off flashguns. We found several bats in the phreas &
brought out three, carefully packed in a tin, having photographed one in situ
first. This brings the known total of bats to about 5 and makes me wonder
whether the phreas does connect to the surface somewhere down the hill.
< p > Photographed the Rift pitches & Bell pitch on the way out & exited
to a colossal thunderstorm. The walk back was the most desperate part of the
trip & we were grateful to Mike for being in the carpark.
< p > 33 hrs Chas < --- the longest ever
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-23" > Next surveying trip< / a > /
< a href = "#1982-115-24" > Next derigging trip< / a >
< a href = "#1982-115-21" > survey/Sherpa trip< / a > (earlier same day)
< a href = "#1982-115-20" > Previous derig/camping trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-24" > Monday / Tuesday< / a >
< p align = center > 115 Derigging
< p > Mike, Pete
< p > Spent many hours hauling 4 amazingly heavy tackle bags up from top of Lake
Pitch to camp, then carried 2 on to Stellerweg chamber where we rigged a rope
down the climb. So to bed, only to be woken by Andy & Andy at ~3 in the
morning. Next day we derigged to camp, had a bonfire with the rubbish &
carried all the gear back to Big Chamber. The inlet pitches were extremely
wet indeed. So we left the tackle bags we were carrying at the top of chamber
pitch + got ourselves out. But to redeem the situation we brought one of the
heavy tackle bags Andy + Andy had left at the last rift pitch.
< p align = right > 31½ hours
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-25" > Final derigging trip< / a >
< a href = "#1982-115-23" > survey/Sherpa trip< / a > (same overnight)
< a href = "#1982-115-22" > Previous derig/camping trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-23" > Monday/Tuesday< / a >
< p align = center > 15th/16th [actually 16/17th]
< p > Andy W, Andy D
< p > Completed surveying of 115 by surveying from bottom of ramp to part way
down the connection. Went on to camp sketching as we went. Had a quick meal
at camp and started carrying the streamway tackle out. Found them too heavy
and left them at various stages on our journey. Came out at 1.30 pm.
< p align = right > ~ 18½ hours
< p > < a href = "#1982-115-25" > Final derigging trip< / a >
< a href = "#1982-115-23" > Derigging trip< / a > (same overnight)
< a href = "#1982-115-22" > Previous surveying trip< / a >
< hr > < a name = "1982-115-25" > Wednesday / Thursday 17th/18th [actually 18/19th]< / a > < u > < b > 115
Final Derig< / b > < / u >
< p > Dave, Andy D, Paddy, Chas
< p > The lowest gear was in the Big Chamber and we derigged from there with no
major hitches. Thanks to everyone who carried the gear back from the
entrance.
< p > P.S. Chas was walled in with tackle bags at the entrance crawl. The
bastards !
< p align = center > 10 hrs
< p >
< a href = "#1982-115-24" > Previous derig/camping trip< / a > /
This was the last CUCC 115 trip to date
< hr > < a name = "1982-142-5" > < u > Thursday 18th [actually 19th]< / u > < / a > 132
Derigging
< p > Mike, Pete
< p > We derigged 132 in 1½ hrs, then surface surveyed from the lower to
the upper entrance of 41; and took lots + lots of bearings on the
Trisselwand.
< p align = right > 1½ hours.
< p > < a href = "../1983/log.htm#1983-142-1" > Next trip< / a > (1983)/
< a href = "#1982-142-3" > Previous trip< / a >
< hr >
<!-- LINKS -->
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< img alt = ">" src = "../../../icons/lists/0.png" >
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1982 Expedition info:< br >
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< img alt = "--->" src = "../../../icons/lists/1.png" >
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Main Expo report, Cambridge Underground 1983:< br >
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< img alt = "------>" src = "../../../icons/lists/2.png" >
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< a href = "report.htm" > CUCC in Austria< / a > - Phil Townsend< br >
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
< img alt = "------>" src = "../../../icons/lists/2.png" >
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
< a href = "41gd.htm" > Stellerweg Guidebook Description< / a > by Pete Lancaster< br >
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
< img alt = "------>" src = "../../../icons/lists/2.png" >
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
< a href = "41svy.htm" > Stellerweg Survey< / a > article by Andy Waddington< br >
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
< img alt = "------>" src = "../../../icons/lists/2.png" >
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
< a href = "41camp.htm" > The Underground Camp< / a > by Chas Butcher< br >
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
< img alt = "------>" src = "../../../icons/lists/2.png" >
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
< a href = "newbit.htm" > New Discoveries< / a > 1982 by Mike Thomas< br >
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
< img alt = "------>" src = "../../../icons/lists/2.png" >
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
< a href = "bats.htm" > The Bats of 115< / a > by Dave Brindle< br >
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
< img alt = "--->" src = "../../../icons/lists/1.png" >
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
< a href = "bcracc.htm" > BCRA Caves & Caving Report< / a > < br >
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
< img alt = ">" src = "../../../icons/lists/0.png" >
2004-04-22 10:44:44 +01:00
< a href = "../../pubs.htm#pubs1982" > Index< / a > to all publications< br >
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
< img alt = ">" src = "../../../icons/lists/0.png" >
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
< a href = "../../index.htm" > Back to Expeditions intro page< / a > < br >
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
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