2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN">
|
2004-05-05 19:39:28 +01:00
|
|
|
<html>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<head>
|
2022-06-22 22:59:33 +01:00
|
|
|
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf8" />
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<title>
|
|
|
|
|
1988: BCRA Caves & Caving report
|
|
|
|
|
</title>
|
2024-12-16 22:10:32 +00:00
|
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/main2.css" />
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
</head>
|
|
|
|
|
<body>
|
|
|
|
|
<center><font size=-1>CTS 89.1793: BCRA Caves & Caving 45 (Autumn 1989) pp 8-11 [ISSN 0142-1832]</font></center>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h1>CUCC EXPEDITION 1988</h1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Mark Dougherty</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>This year's expedition to the old faithful Austria turned out to be the
|
|
|
|
|
largest on record. At the final count, 24 members took part, staying between
|
|
|
|
|
two and three weeks. About half of these were new to the delights and horrors
|
|
|
|
|
of Austria, having been swayed by stories of topless bathers, delicious
|
|
|
|
|
ice-creams and glorious sunshine while in an alcoholic haze at the annual
|
|
|
|
|
club dinner.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>At this point we feel that we should apologise for the lack of reports
|
|
|
|
|
over the last few years and hope that this will bring you up to date with our
|
|
|
|
|
activities in the area. 1987 proved a very poor year as far as new caves are
|
|
|
|
|
concerned, with 158, Donner und Blitzen Höhle being the only significant
|
|
|
|
|
find. This was explored to a depth of -130m where a tight rift stopped
|
|
|
|
|
progress, the passage could be seen to continue and widen beyond this
|
|
|
|
|
constriction. This was reinvestigated at the start of this year's expedition,
|
|
|
|
|
with hopes of passing the constriction, but resisted our hammering, a shame
|
|
|
|
|
as this had the potential for a higher entrance to the Stellerweg system,
|
|
|
|
|
therefore reclaiming the system from the Germans. Apart from much
|
|
|
|
|
prospecting, and pushing some odd leads in 113, a large amount of time was
|
|
|
|
|
spent surface surveying in collaboration with the Austrians to locate known
|
|
|
|
|
caves to fixed points set by the Austrians using Laser Range Finders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>This year's Expedition started off with the usual race across Austria by
|
|
|
|
|
various forms of transport, ranging from the Land Rover, 'Rover', the work
|
|
|
|
|
horse of the party, carrying all the tackle plus 4 drivers which were
|
|
|
|
|
squeezed into the remaining holes, with the more affluent members travelling
|
|
|
|
|
by car, inter-rail or jet, resulting in everyone arriving at Hilde's at
|
|
|
|
|
various unearthly hours, but being unable to beat last year's record of 12
|
|
|
|
|
hours from Austria to Calais.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The first day saw everyone soaking up the sun and swimming in the nearby
|
|
|
|
|
lake whilst consuming vast amounts of beer. Once everyone had recovered from
|
|
|
|
|
the travelling and the effects of alcohol, a posse was mounted, with
|
|
|
|
|
instructions to search for virgin holes in the inhospitable wastes of the
|
|
|
|
|
Totes Gebirge (that's after the new recruits had been shown what to look
|
|
|
|
|
for). This resulted in two promising leads, both emitting a strong draught. A
|
|
|
|
|
site was also proposed for a camp, being relatively sheltered from the wind
|
|
|
|
|
and having running water, a rare commodity on the plateau. This later formed
|
|
|
|
|
camp 1.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>A new day dawned with everyone keen to descend their new finds, even
|
|
|
|
|
though the weather had turned for the worst. So vazst amounts of food,
|
|
|
|
|
camping gear, tackle and rope were carried up onto the plateau, resulting in
|
|
|
|
|
the setting up of camp 1. At the end of the day both caves were still going
|
|
|
|
|
strong, both with undescended pitches.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The following day saw the discovery of 161, later to be named
|
|
|
|
|
Kaninchenhöhle (after the snow rabbit's skeleton found along Adrian's
|
|
|
|
|
route). This proved to be the cave we had all been hoping for, with a 37m
|
|
|
|
|
entrance pitch situated on a prominent ridge between the Hinter and Vord.
|
|
|
|
|
Schwarzmoos Kgl, giving a depth potential of over 1km before hitting the
|
|
|
|
|
known water table. This entrance pitch landed in a boulder chamber with two
|
|
|
|
|
ways on. The most obvious being a clean washed shaft, whihc was subsequently
|
|
|
|
|
descended but unfortunately narrowed to a too tight stream canyon. A way off
|
|
|
|
|
is known just before the canyon, which would involve crawling under a very
|
|
|
|
|
large boulder supported on loose rubble. At the time no one seemed prepared
|
|
|
|
|
to risk this, but it is thought to continue. After this disappointing start,
|
|
|
|
|
attention was diverted to the other known way on 'Adrian's route' (after the
|
|
|
|
|
rope). This entered a small phreatic tube, which opened out into a small
|
|
|
|
|
chamber. This is where the rabbit skeletons were found showing how close we
|
|
|
|
|
were to the surface even after descending the 40m entrance pitch. The most
|
|
|
|
|
obvious route leads to a short pitch with a drip (very rare in this cave)
|
|
|
|
|
followed by a 45m free hanging pitch in a large rift.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>This news was brought to us by the day's pushing party whilst exchanging
|
|
|
|
|
details with the German/French group also working in this area. Last year
|
|
|
|
|
this group broke into the Stellerweg system originally explored by CUCC to a
|
|
|
|
|
depth of -971m. This has since been linked to the Eishöhle. The extent
|
|
|
|
|
of the full system is as yet not known to us as the Germans [actually
|
|
|
|
|
French, Webeditor] are very secretive about their finds. They were shouting
|
|
|
|
|
out 'copyright', 'copyright' as Mike produced a piece of tracing paper and
|
|
|
|
|
proceded to trace their survey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The 40m pitch landed on a very loose boulder ramp leading to yet another
|
|
|
|
|
47.5m pitch in an inclined rift. This proved most difficult to rig as the
|
|
|
|
|
rock was very shattered and there were few good naturals. This was eventually
|
|
|
|
|
rigged, landing in a passage covered with large boulders. This continued
|
|
|
|
|
until it petered out into a sand filled crawl with no way on, giving another
|
|
|
|
|
disappointing end.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>This left one other possible route, an eyehole spotted whilst descedning
|
|
|
|
|
the second pitch (on the original route). This proved to be the key to a very
|
|
|
|
|
complicated system, found after a week of continuous exploration. The eyehole
|
|
|
|
|
formed a traverse along a ledge on an inclined rift (undescended) leading to
|
|
|
|
|
an ascending boulder slope in a large chamber. At the top of the slope, a
|
|
|
|
|
pitch on the right hand side ('Skull Pitch' due to its shape), so far
|
|
|
|
|
undescended but thought to join up with the main route further down. The
|
|
|
|
|
boulder slope ends in a 20m pitch landing on a very loose boulder slope
|
|
|
|
|
'Hanging Death' leading to a further pitch which spirals round and lands in a
|
|
|
|
|
small chamber with a canyon type passage leading off. This continues to a
|
|
|
|
|
hole in the floor which had to be hammered out to gain access (still
|
|
|
|
|
inaccessible to the larger members of the club). It is hoped to bypass this
|
|
|
|
|
squeeze and the hanging death pitch by finding an alternative route via the
|
|
|
|
|
skull pitch or by traversing over the hanging death pitch. The squeeze occurs
|
|
|
|
|
at the top of an 8.5m pitch dropping into a large phreatic passage with many
|
|
|
|
|
possible ways on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>A decision was made to explore the two main routes on simultaneously (Left
|
|
|
|
|
Hand Route, Right Hand Route) so optimising time and manpower.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>Right Hand Route</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>This formed a descending phreatic tube about 5m in height, with a clean
|
|
|
|
|
floor. This continues along with small drops, requiring ladders or hand lines
|
|
|
|
|
to aid progress. This eventually leads to a chamber with holes in the floor
|
|
|
|
|
(as yet unexplored) with the phreatic tube continuing over them. This leads
|
|
|
|
|
to another chamber with a very bold step over a hole in the floor (Over the
|
|
|
|
|
Rainbow). The area is characterised by huge rock pinnacles and rock sheets
|
|
|
|
|
due to extremem weathering, and having a thin coating of moon milk. The
|
|
|
|
|
passage continues with the roof gaining height all along as you descend down
|
|
|
|
|
huge boulder ramps, with avens and routes leading off all along. This ends at
|
|
|
|
|
a 32m pitch into a vast open space, forming the main chamber. TO give some
|
|
|
|
|
idea of size, during the exploration of this chamber, the party got lost and
|
|
|
|
|
it took ages for them to refind their rope, also resulting in the discovery
|
|
|
|
|
of yet anohter chamber via a huge boulder choke known as 'Star Wars'
|
|
|
|
|
containing huge blocks of rock ('Tower Blocks'). This is as far as the resent
|
|
|
|
|
survey goes due to lack of time, but the way on is still wide open with
|
|
|
|
|
another large phreatic level leading off, plus many other leads.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>Left Hand Route</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The Left Hand Route starts off as an inclined rift, but soon opens out
|
|
|
|
|
into a stooping sized passage with holes in the floor. This continues to a
|
|
|
|
|
large chamber (Arrow Chamber) with two possible pitches to descend. It is
|
|
|
|
|
thought that these two shafts are linked and so the one giving the cleanest
|
|
|
|
|
hang and having the least loose boulders was descended. Our thoughts were
|
|
|
|
|
verified as we landed on a boulder pile and climbed through an eye hole to
|
|
|
|
|
the sight of a huge shaft (first seen in Arrow CHamber) that we had entered
|
|
|
|
|
three quarters of the way down. This series of shafts continue down via a
|
|
|
|
|
broken shaft to the top of a huge clean pitch formed by a phreatic uplift,
|
|
|
|
|
now known as the 'Niflheim' (a realm of darkness and mist where hell lies
|
|
|
|
|
within). This got its name due to its univiting nature and a vibrating boom
|
|
|
|
|
as a huge boulder was dropped. This shaft has so far only been descended via
|
|
|
|
|
a superb free hanging pitch to a rock bridge (Bird's Eye) with a 4 second
|
|
|
|
|
drop still to be descended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Apart from all the caving and walking, numerous tourist trips were taken
|
|
|
|
|
to Hallstatt, and to the summer Bobsleigh run, giving a welcome break. Vast
|
|
|
|
|
amounts of beer (totalling 0.5 metric ton) were consumed, as well as many
|
|
|
|
|
kilos of muesli. The obligatory arguments between the vegetarians and
|
|
|
|
|
carnivores continued again this year, as well as many hours spent drinking
|
|
|
|
|
and reminiscing in the potato hut kindly lent to us by Hilde.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>Next Year</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The incentive to return to Austria in 1989 is great, with the four second
|
|
|
|
|
drop on the Left Hand Route, the large phreatic passage on the Right Hand
|
|
|
|
|
Route. As well as these leads it is hoped to find an alternate route to that
|
|
|
|
|
of the Death's Door pitch and the squeeze. Possible routes are that of the
|
|
|
|
|
Skull pitch, bottom of the second pitch under large boulder, or by traversing
|
|
|
|
|
over the pitch before Death's Door.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>There are no known caves nearby and so the chance of a major new system
|
|
|
|
|
like Stellerweg is great, and who knows, a possible link, and a depth well
|
|
|
|
|
over 1km. It is interesting to note that the phreatic levels in 161 and the
|
|
|
|
|
other known systems in the area all occur at approximately the same level.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>As well as the continued exploration of this system it is also hoped to
|
|
|
|
|
further explore 164 found in the first week, but exploration was hindered by
|
|
|
|
|
the high rainfall experienced this year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>We wish to thank the Sports Council for their most generous grant, and
|
|
|
|
|
also to Hilde the landlady for putting up with us for the three weeks. But
|
|
|
|
|
most of all to the Austrian caving group for their hospitality, which we hope
|
|
|
|
|
to repay by arranging an exchange visit during 1989.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
<hr />
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
<!-- LINKS -->
|
2011-06-01 09:55:49 +01:00
|
|
|
<ul id="links">
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
<li>1988 Expedition info:
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="index.htm">Index</a> (more detail than in this list)</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="log.htm">Logbook</a></li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Cambridge Underground Expo Report:
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="report.htm">Austria 1988</a> expedition report</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="cavegd.htm">161 Description</a> to date (ie. 1988)</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="164.htm">1623/164</a> exploration</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="rover.htm">A Rover's return</a></li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul></li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="to1989.htm">And so to 1989</a> work for 1989 expo to date</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul></li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="../../pubs.htm#pubs1988">Index</a> to all publications</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expeditions intro page</a></li>
|
2004-04-30 22:56:57 +01:00
|
|
|
<li><a href="../../../index.htm">CUCC Home Page</a></li>
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
</ul>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
|
|
|
</html>
|
