lang="de">Steinbrückenhöhle,</span></a> was found beyond the known
extent of <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> to the north. This shows
many similarities to the caves further south, and reached a depth of 226m at
the head of a big black pitch. In 2000 this went to a narrow stream outlet at
-368m. Other parts of the cave yielded a couple of shaft systems both ending
after 100m or so, and some unexpected horizontal development which in 2001
was explored to extend the cave by 2.5km to 5km. There is still great hope
that this cave will drop into the same major horizontal development seen in
<spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle,</span> and eventually produce an easier
route into the remotest parts of the cave.</p>
<p>From 1988 to 2000 we explored the <a
href="../../smkridge/161/top.htm"><span
lang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span></a> cave system in the <span
lang="de-at">Totes Gebirge</span> of Austria (about 80 km east of <span
lang="de-at">Salzburg)</span>, but work here is currently in abeyance as Steinbrückenhöhle, Steinschlagschacht and Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle absorb all our manpower. There are still 250 leads waiting for us to get back to.</p>
<p>To the south of <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> lies another
major cave, the southern <spanlang="de-at">Schwarzmooskogel</span> system
<p>After 1997, the gap between <spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht</span>
and the <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span> was about 130m, in passages
at much the same level. The 1999 trip returned to
<spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht,</span> finding a major way on with
surprising ease via a lead overlooked when derigging the
<ahref="../../smkridge/161/136.htm#footlight">Footlights Traverse</a> in
1997.1997.</p>
<p>This area of the cave, <ahref="../../smkridge/161/chile.htm">Chile,</a>
totalled 2½ kilometres with a deep point 440m below
<spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht,</span> but, amazingly, ran parallel
to the known trend of the southern <spanlang="de">Schwarzmooskogel</span>
system, and only narrowed the gap to some 75m, with no immediately obvious
likely connection point.</p>
<p>The 2000 expedition concentrated on the <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span> side,
narrowing the gap to approximately zero horizontally, in passage now 20m
below <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle,</span> and with avens above, though no obvious leads
remained in KH itself above this area. In 2001 avens were pushed to get above the KH passage hoping to drop in from above, and more accurate GPS information on entrance locations and some corrections to the data adjusted the relative positions of the two caves. At the end of 2001 the drafting, but tight end of Eishöhle was some 40m above Elin Algor in Kaninchenhöhle.</p>
<p>Work towards linking the two systems has already generated a great deal of
tie-up surveying to establish definitive figures for the length and depth of
the combined system. Current survey information, both our own and that of our
colleagues from <spanlang="de">Stuttgart</span> working in the <spanlang="de">Stellerweg</span> part of the cave,
suggests that the linked cave would be well over 47 km long and 1056m deep,
making it the third or fourth longest cave in Austria. This would also put it
among both the fifty or so deepest caves in the world <b>and</b> the fifty or
so longest. Few caves make it so far up both the long <u>and</u> deep lists -
<spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> would add 28m to the latter's depth.</li>
<li>In 2002 we will initially work on the remaining leads in <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span>:concentrate on the <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> side, accessed via Steinschlagschacht or 161d.<br>
<imgalt="--->"src="../../../icons/lists/1.png">Good leads in Plastic Hell</li>
<li>Further pushing of numerous leads in <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> via <spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht</span>, and 161d. This will follow the easiest line and see where we pop out rather than trying to head through solid rock or miserable tight bits to forge a connection. Caves are where you find them!
<ul>
<li>Trace draught in <spanlang="de">Elin Algor</span> (this must lead to the surface at the
same sort of level as the <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span> entrances)</li>
<li>Other good leads at N end of Elin Algor.</li>
<li>Push pitches and drafting bedding in Hall of the Mounting Choss</li>
<li>Leads in Chile</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Push a number of other areas of <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle:</span>
<ul>
<li>over 250 documented ways on</li>
<li>revisit Far North, now that it is less remote</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Photography and other documentation work. Many caves need a rudimentary
<li>Liaison with other groups working in the area now and in the past
<ul>
<li>Cooperation with Arge - a number of key points on the surface were fixed by
accurate GPS in 2000 and surveys linked up. Liaison to continue</li>
</ul></li>
<li>High quality publication via the World Wide Web, CD-ROM and on paper, which has got a bit behind due to moving to a new server. Ensure everything is upto date at least as far as end Expo 2001 by end expo 2002.<br>
