2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
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<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
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<html lang="en">
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<head>
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<title>1623/40 - CUCC finds</title>
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</head>
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<body>
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<center><table BORDER=0 WIDTH="100%" >
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<tr>
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<th align=left><font size=+2>40 a - s</font></th>
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<th align=CENTER><font size=+2 lang="de-at">Schwarzmooskogel Eishöhle</font></th>
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<th align=right><font size=+2>3/S/T/E x</font></th>
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</tr>
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</table></center>
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<p>Altitudes: (from old kataster)<menu>
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<table>
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<tr><td><b>40a</b></td><td lang="de">Oberer Eingang</td><td>1690m</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40b</b></td><td lang="de">Schneeschacht</td><td>1683m</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40c</b></td><td lang="de-at">Reichenvaterschacht</td><td>1635m</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40d</b></td><td lang="de-at">Unterer Eingang (Eismadonna-Thalhammerhöhle)</td><td>1645m</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40e</b></td><td lang="de-at">Brennerbeselschluf</td><td>1643m</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40f</b></td><td lang="de-at">Königsschacht</td><td>1689m</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40g</b></td><td lang="de-at">Einstieg zur Hans Pfandl-Halle (close to Lerchenschacht)</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40h</b></td><td lang="de-at">Eistunnel (Elefant)</td><td>1635m</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40s</b></td><td lang="de-at">Grüner Eingang</td><td>1652m</td></tr>
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</table>
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<p><b>Other SMKHS entrances:</b></p>
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<table>
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<tr><td><b>40i</b></td><td lang="de-at">Lärchenschacht</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40j</b></td><td lang="de-at">Stellerweghöhle</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40k</b></td><td lang="de-at">Stellerweghöhle</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40l</b></td><td lang="de-at">Stellerweghöhle (?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40m</b></td><td lang="de-at">Schnellzughöhle</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40n</b></td><td lang="de-at">Schwa-Schacht 142</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40o</b></td><td lang="de-at">Schwaben-Schachthöhle-Eingang a</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40p</b></td><td lang="de-at">Schwaben-Schachthöhle-Eingang b</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40q</b></td><td lang="de-at">Schwaben-Schachthöhle-Eingang c</td></tr>
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<tr><td><b>40r</b></td><td lang="de-at">Schwaben-Schachthöhle-Eingang d</td></tr>
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</table>
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</menu>
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<p>Laser rangefinding puts an entrance (which we believe is 40a - the
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highest) at E 36458.2 N (52)81700.4 H 1689.5
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<p><b>Location:</b> SSE of <span lang="de-at">Vd. Schwarzmooskogel</span> and
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ENE of a large basin in the hillside which often contains a lot of snow.
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Roughly a 450m NNE of
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<a href="../../smkridge/113.htm"><span lang="de">Sonnenstrahlhöhle.</span></a>
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<p><b>Approach:</b> From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201 to the
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left turn to the plateau at <span lang="de-at">Egglgrube</span> (where the
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cows often are; the second signpost you encounter along the route to Top
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Camp). This is about 15-20 minutes' walk from the Bergrestaurant.
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<p>Instead of taking the path to Top Camp, continue along the 201. Pass the
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junction path left to <span lang="de-at">Kratzer</span> and continue until a
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spit with a red circle around it is seen in the middle of the path. After
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about 10 metres a faint red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the
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path, marking Kat. 28 (we think). This is about 10 minutes from the
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<span lang="de-at">Egglgrube</span> turn-off. (If you reach a drop into the
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valley, initially steep and then easing off, then you have gone too far). At
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the Omega, there is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch
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path.</p>
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<p>Follow this past a wire traverse and into a gully with a tree which has
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been struck by lightning on the right. (The path up the limestone to the left
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here leads to
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<a href="../78.htm"><span lang="de">Schwabenschacht)</span>.</a> After
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about 10 minutes' walk from the Omega you reach a small cliff with two red
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arrows pointing in opposite directions on it. (<b>note</b>: not a
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double-headed arrow, which you encounter on the route to
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<span lang="de">Schwabenschacht).</span> Do not continue straight on but
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climb up to the left, slightly doubling back on yourself.</p>
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<p>After about fifteen minutes from the pair of arrows the path reaches a
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traverse (already rigged with an orange rope in 2000) over a deep hole; about
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five minutes after this you reach Bunter's Bulge
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2002-08-07 14:23:19 +01:00
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(<span lang="de">Weiße Warze;</span> the Nipple) on your right. Pass
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2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
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this in the grassy gully and head round to the right after about fifty
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metres. Here new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a
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<b lang="de">(Oberer Eingang)</b>, a very large entrance with a plaque
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proclaiming <span lang="de-at">'Schwarzmooskogel Eishöhle'</span> and a
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green Nature Reserve sign bolted to the wall. This is about twenty minutes'
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walk from Bunter's Bulge. 40a is believed to be the Germans' (Munich) bivvy
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site. Note that in the dark the route between 40a and Bunter's Bulge can be
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difficult to follow.</p>
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<p>To reach the main row of entrances (40s, 40h and 40e), continue past 40a
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up through some <span lang="de">bunde</span> and follow the path (heading in
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2000 for a snow plug). Before the drop to the snow plug the path bears right
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slightly to a step over a small gully with a large hole on the right
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(believed to be 40b). Continue at about the same level until a short traverse
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round a bunde-covered outcrop of limestone with a fairly large entrance on
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the left is reached (choked in 2000). From here descend about ten metres and
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continue on a shelf at the same level to a 5m climb down karren. Continue at
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the same level to the left to reach a snow plug. The
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<b lang="de">Nichts50</b> entrance (not yet connected to
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<span lang="de">Eishöhle)</span> can be seen as an arch ahead with a
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rubble slope leading down inside and a terrace for a bivvy site (believed to
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have been used by the French). 40h is about ten metres further along,
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draughts strongly (very cold!) and has a large snow slope leading down.
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Following the path leads past a small choked entrance (vocal connection to
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40e discovered in 2000) to a point where the path ends abruptly and
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unambiguously. This is the site of the 40e entrance
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<b lang="de-at">Brennerbeserlschluf),</b> also strongly draughting. This is
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about ten minutes' walk from 40a.</p>
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<h4>Overview:</h4>
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<p><span lang="de-at">Schwarzmooskogel Eishöhle</span> is an extensive
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cave over 1600m long before 1983, extended to 2500m by a German group by
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1985. The system is mainly horizontal, though tackle is needed to explore it
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fully, and crampons are necessary in parts, because of the substantial
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quantities of ice in the cave. Was extended by the Germans who work in the
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area in the early eighties, who suggested then that there was potential for
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extension vertically. Subsequently linked via a 30m pitch to
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<a href="88.htm"><span lang="de">Lärchenschacht</span></a> (1623/88)
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which in turn was connected to the
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<a href="../../smkridge/41.htm"><span lang="de-at">Stellerweghöhlensystem,</span></a>
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giving no increase in depth if the laser-rangefound altitude is correct
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rather than the old kataster one, which seems likely.
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<h4>Translated brief guide:</h4>
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<p>From <span lang="de-at">'Längsten und Tiefsten Höhlen in
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Österreich',</span> translated by Wookey and
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<span lang="de">Thilo.</span> Entrances have been labelled with the modern
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convention and parts in [square brackets] have been added for clarity.
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<p>The cave is on the south-eastern slopes of the
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<span lang="de-at">Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel</span> (1843) developed in
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<span lang="de-at">Dachsteinkalk.</span> From seven partly shaft-like
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entrance points, a huge, flat-floored level with impressive ice formations
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can be approached. The <b lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</b> at the northern end
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is the biggest ice-bearing chamber in middle Europe.
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<p>Four entrances lead into the central area. A 40m shaft from the Top
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Entrance <b lang="de">Oberen Eingang</b> (40a) breaks into the ice-decorated
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<b lang="de-at">Altausseer Halle.</b> To the west from here via a 25m ramp
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accessing <b lang="de">Schneehalle</b> leads both to entrance 40b and the
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connecting gallery from the ice-bearing <b lang="de">Thalhammerhalle,</b>
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that can be entered from entrances 40c and 40d too. South of the Schnee and
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Altausseer Halles, the <b lang="de">Teufelberger Halle</b> connects, the
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bottom of which contains an ice lake. A wide passage with side shafts goes
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southsouthwest to <b lang="de">Hans-Pfandl-Halle.</b> The east connected
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room, also reached by a 23m high chimney (entrance 40g), is divided into two
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by a high block barrier. The <b lang="de">Flußtunnel</b> south from
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here ends blocked.
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<p>From the <span lang="de-at">Altausseer Halle,</span> a lofty passage with
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ice figures heads off NNE. The continuation is the <b lang="de">Halle des
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Schiefen Turms</b>, where the <b lang="de">Wahnsinnschächte</b>
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branches off on the west. It was thought that this was blocked by ice.
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However, over a wall of ice one reaches the 130 by 75 by 50 m
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<b lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle,</b> on the eastern wall of which rises a
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steep snowslope flowing from the <b lang="de">Königsschachts</b>
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(entrance 40f). The chamber with its very impressive ice formations can also
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be reached via the <b lang="de">Brennerbeselschluf</b> (entrance 40e)
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[and by <b lang="de">Eistunnel</b> (entrance 40h)]. At its northern end a
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climb reveals the easterly-running <b lang="de">Kalten Gang</b> and the
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parallel <b lang="de">Spinnenfriedhof.</b>
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<h4><a name="svh" lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</a> trip</h4>
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<p>The principal objective of both pushing and tourist trips is the huge ice
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chamber of <span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle,</span> which requires some
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serious ice work to reach from the older entrances (40a - d and 40g) in the
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middle of the system.
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<p>If entrance 40h is open this provides the easiest way to reach
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<span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle.</span> In the left-hand wall, just
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before the start of the tube at the bottom of the daylight snow slope, are
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two Spits from which to rig a 35m rope. If the entrance is open you can
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abseil straight down the ice slope and stroll out into
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<span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle,</span> entering just behind the 'elephant'
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formation seen in the top right of the picture below. Crampons are necessary
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from the surface onwards.
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<p><a href="l/svh.htm"><img src="svh.jpg" align=left height=338 width=500></a>
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If 40h is blocked by snow or ice, follow the description to the 'new'
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entrance <span lang="de-at">(Brennerbeselschluf,</span> 40e), with a somewhat
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limited area to get changed, perched between the icy blast from the cave and
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whatever the Austrian weather is offering.
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<p>The entrance is not walk-in, and low crawling in the face of the icy
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draught starts at once. A small descending tube (somewhat muddy - irritating
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in crampons!) leads in about 20m to a short climb down into larger
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(walking/stooping) passage <span lang="de">Geröllgang.</span> This goes
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downhill to a scramble up. This was totally ice-covered in 1997 and 1998, but
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not 1999 or 2000 and has a <a href="../../fixaid.htm#icy">fixed rope</a>
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(VfHO-installed), which may be buried in ice at somewhat critical points - a
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certain amount of care is needed if chipping it out with an ice-axe and
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gloves really are needed !
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<p>Partway up this slope is a space on the left
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[<a href="../../smkridge/40/qm.htm#C000040-05" name="qC000040-05">C0000-40-05</a> A], including a pitch in the floor. At the far end of this space, a
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short crawl and a grovel down through boulders where a stream comes in from
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above both choke. The pitch is a c3, p20, p30 - the last part being very wet
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in early summer. Leading to
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<A HREF="#schotterland"><span lang="de">Schotterland</span></A>.
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<p>Survey data also suggests a passage off to the right of the iceslope
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for 20m or so.
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<p>Above the scramble up is a short traverse, also rather interesting when
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covered in hard ice (and also protected by a fixed rope which had to be dug
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out in 1998). A steeply ascending passage to the L holds a quantity of
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particularly scrofulous rope (presumably a previous fixed rope). This can be
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climbed ~10m until it gets too vertical. It draughts. Beyond the ice is a
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steep snow/ice slope down into the huge
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<span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle.</span> It is <b>strongly</b> recommended
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to equip this with a properly rigged SRT rope rather than anything less - the
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cave has seen a number of accidents, some <b>fatal</b>. Although the slope
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looks like soft snow, it is a layer of coarsely crystalline hard
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<span lang="fr">névé</span> over solid ice. In parts it is
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almost impossible to kick steps into, whilst in others it offers only minimal
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purchase for crampon points. Conditions no doubt vary with the season as well
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as with position on the slope and the year. Tackle required: 50m rope,
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crampons.
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<p>There is one bolt at the top, for a traverse line to two bolts off to the
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right in the roof where the snow-slope proper starts. Sometimes the traverse
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area is full of snow and an ice-screw or ice-axe rebelay/deviation (club
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first ? in 1989) may be needed. A deviation (from rock) at the head of the
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steep section was found adequate in 1998.
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2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
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<p><center><img alt="plan - 12k.png" width=600 height=540
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src="i/40svh.png"></center>
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2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
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<p>The 50m <span lang="de">Königschacht</span> (40f) entrance is the
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source of the snow slope and comes in here. It is often full of snow but was
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open in 1999 and so was surveyed (by ARGE).
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<p>At the bottom is the main chamber from which the pitch does indeed look
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like a snow-covered volcanic cone. Most of the floor area is ice-covered and
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only a slight slope is necessary to make crampons vital here. Most of the
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chamber is filled with ice formations up to 15m high (end of season). Those
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with two ice-tools can climb almost anything in the chamber, though the
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formations are no doubt rather more spectacular and fragile in spring or
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early summer. Formation-ice can also shatter very easily as melting occurs
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between component crystals later in the season, so it is probably safer for
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climbers to stick to hard <span lang="fr">névé.</span> Ways on
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are mostly reached by steeper slopes that definitely require ice-gear and can
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be quite unnerving approached from above. Note that the slopes are usually
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<b>hard</b> ice, ice-axe-braking after a slip is not an option - lifeline or
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don't fall !
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<p><center><a href="l/istal.htm"><img alt="Photo of ice formations, 41k jpeg"
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width=150 height=200 src="t/istal.jpg"></a></center>
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<h4><a name="schotterland"><span lang="de">Schotterland</span></a>
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(Munich cavers 198? and ARGE 2000)</h4>
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<p>The foot of the piss-wet pitch opens out into very large triangular
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passage. You can go NE about 35m until it chokes (a good draught comes
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out of one hoplessly choked corner) or SW 20m to a T-junction. Right (W)
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is <span lang="de">Kleiner Keller.</span> Left, ducking under the low
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wall, is <span lang="de">Schotterland.</span>
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<p><span lang="de">Kleiner keller</span> is about 50m in huge passage to
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where the end is choked with glacial fill and a waterspout comes in the from
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the roof 3m up. A sling ladder makes it possible to ascend the waterspout -
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you can even do it without getting very wet, as the spout is unusually
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well-concentrated, and thus avoidable. This comes into an E-W rift, with the
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water coming from the east end. It can be ascended in both directions at
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various traverse levels for about 30m, but the top appears choked at all
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points. The top is probably very close to the floor of
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<span lang="de">Elefantengang.</span></p>
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<p>The old Munich cavers' data suggests that there is a passage off
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<span lang="de">Kleiner Keller</span> that we missed - which seems hard to
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believe, but maybe it is worth another visit?</p>
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<p><span lang="de">Schotterland</span> is more enormous passage (10m wide)
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going SSE, presumably <span lang="de">Schotterland,</span> due to the
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flooring of small rocks. A ramp goes up steeply on the left after 30m. It
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closes down after 40m. Ahead the passage slowly narrows until it chokes at
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the end - probably very close to the surface.</p>
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<hr>
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<h4><a name="svhdesc"><span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</span></a>
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description</h4>
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<p>Starting from the base of the pitch from the 40e and 40f entrances (facing
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outwards from the slope), heading round the chamber to the left leads over a
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large flat area of ice to where a gap between ice and rock
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[<a name="qC000040-01" href="qm.htm#C000040-01">C0000-40-01</a> A] drops 10m
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(2 bolts, one added 1999) into large passage:
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<b lang="de"><a href="#elefant">Elefantengang</a></b>.
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<p>Right next to it is an icefall coming in from above
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[<a href="qm.htm#C000040-02" name="qC000040-02">C0000-40-02</a> C].
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Just to the right of this is a very low gap
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[<a href="qm.htm#C000040-06" name="qC000040-06">C0000-40-06</a> B]
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made rather unpleasant by the pool of icy water that can't be avoided.
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This was apparently explored by GSCB in early 80s for approximately 40m,
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but was revisited in 2000 by Shinwell and Horsley. This led to the discovery
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of further passages, the <b><a href="#nightm">Night Manipulations
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Series.</a></b></p>
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<p>40m round the wall of the chamber is a rubble run-in, iced on the top
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half. This was climbed by Haines (1998) and Atkinson (1999), as well as
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the GSCB. At the top is a wet boulder choke that definitely doesn't go,
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but the GSCB plan shows a narrow rift on the right marked 'tight'. Halfway up
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this slope on the left is the narrow entrance to <a href="#pov">Persistence
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of Vision.</a></p>
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<p><a href="l/c04003.htm"><img src="c04003.jpg" alt="Photo - 107k" hspace=10 vspace=10 height=300 width=200 align=right></a><br>
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20m further round another couple of icefalls come in. Both are about 8-10m
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and vertical
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[<a href="qm.htm#C000040-03" name="qC000040-03">C0000-40-03</a> A].
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The first of these was bolted up by Betts in 2000 and is now permanently
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rigged. This is the way to <b>Mission Impossible</b> which comes very close
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to <span lang="de">Kaninchenhöhle.</span></p>
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<p>50m further round (downslope) the ice drops away steeply under the wall.
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A line is advisable for the descent. 20m down, the ice slope peters out
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giving way to sand and rocks. At the end here is a very strongly draughting
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hole [<a href="qm.htm#C000040-04" name="qC000040-04">C0000-40-04</a> B].
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This was excavated by Shinwell and Merson in 2000 to get through to
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<b lang="de">Kalten Gang</b> and
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<span lang="de">Spinnenfriedhof</span> (surveyed by VfHM, 1984). To the right
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at the foot of the slope closes down with rocks and ice - it would probably
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connect with Plastic Hell. A few metres up from the bottom of the slope on
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the left hand (N) wall is a gap between the ice and rock
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[<a href="qm.htm#A199840-06" name="qA199840-06">A1998-40-06</a> A] leading to
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<a href="#express">Express Finish.</a>
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<p>Back in <b lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</b>, another 10m clockwise round
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the chamber is another, steeper iceslope. A rope is definitely needed for
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this. This is the way to <b><a href="#phell">Plastic Hell.</a></b>
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<p>Beyond and above are more thin icefalls coming from high in the ceiling
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- trying to climb these would be bonkers - the debris from the collapse
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of some of them is all around.
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<h2><a name="elefant" lang="de"></a>Elefantengang</h2>
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<p>This passage leads to the 'old cave' via some difficult sections of
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steep ice.
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<p>The pitch drops down into large passage blocked by the ice wall behind.
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There is a crawl on the right that doesn't go. The main passage leads 80m
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SW to a wider area with several ways off. On the left 40m along here a
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narrow rift can be entered. It can be climbed both up and down but both
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directions are blocked. About 20m beyond this on the right, a narrow passage
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[<a href="qm.htm#C199940-14" name="qC199940-14">C1999-40-14</a> A] is the
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start of <span lang="de">Wahnsinnsschächte,</span> a pitch series
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ending at the 50m <span lang="de">Stern der Nacht,</span> finishing at
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about -200m. This is inferred from incomplete survey data from
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<span lang="de">Lindenmayr/Lorenz.</span>
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<p>At the wider section the obvious route crosses ice (more nasty blue
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polyprop rope). In this area is evidence that the ice levels were much
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higher in 1938 as the initials 'CZ' are drawn on the wall about 2.5m above
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the ice. There are two small crawls on the left - which may be 'C' QMs;
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and one passage high up in the left wall which connects back to
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<span lang="de">Elefantengang</span> after about 8m.
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<p>The main way on is a (6m) climb up steep ice to the left. At the top is
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a steep ramp up to the right
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[<a href="qm.htm#A199940-11" name="qA199940-11">A1999-40-11</a> C].
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Easy passage leads 40m to a 4-way junction, where there is an inscription
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left by the 1938 cavers, little realising they were about 8m from the
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surface! Left is the new (1999) <span lang="de">Grüner</span>
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entrance, dug out by ARGE when they smelled the stars. Ahead right chokes
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quickly, although there is a small connection to the main way on. Right is
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the way on to the 'old cave'. First you cross a small crushed-ice pool, which
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is very weird. A small hole links through to the previous bit of passage and
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there is a narrow slow in the ice which sounds at least 15m deep. This bit of
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cave is incredibly cold and windy. A small chimney on the left is too tight.
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After 50m a 4m drop into large passage is reached. It is not free-climbable.
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A Spit was placed here in 2000 for the descent.
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<p>Below the ice climb out of <span lang="de">Elefantengang</span> the
|
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passage continues (with smaller dimensions) past a hole in the floor to the
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right [<a href="qm.htm#C199940-12" name="qC199940-12">C1999-40-12</a> C]
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to where a strong draught blows up but the way is blocked by ice too
|
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poor to climb
|
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[<a href="qm.htm#C199940-13" name="qC199940-13">C1999-40-13</a> C].
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It seems likely that the slot connects to the main route above but
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the connection may be too tight.
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<h2><a name="express"></a>Express Finish (2000)</h2>
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<p>The route follows the wall round in a narrow gap between wall and ice,
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then through a few boulders into a large space at least 20m high, Express
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Finish. It is the bottom of a deep canyon, partly infilled by rocks and
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ice from the south. The upper wall is steep ice, presumably from
|
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<span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</span>
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above, but perhaps there is passage up there? The ice is about 60-70 degrees
|
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and thus could be climbed, but it's a long way off the floor! The floor
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consists of boulders and descends steeply to the towards the large (in
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May) waterfall at the end. A 3m climb at the bottom reaches the foot of
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the waterfall. Progress can be made beyond the canyon at various levels.
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All of this seems to be scrotting about in the gaps between the ice and
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boulders against the solid northern wall. No ways on were found in a thorough
|
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search. What follows is detail of what was found.
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<p>At the top, next to the ice you can climb up and round for about
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15m until the ice closes down against the wall.
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<p>There are two holes at the foot of the north wall of the canyon,
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the upper one pleasant, the smaller rather scrotty. These lead to two large
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levelish spaces, connected by a 2m icy climb (down only!). You can climb
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up from the top level to the left, and down from the bottom to the left
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(all choked). At the left end of the lower level is a far too tight blowing
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hole and a marginally desperate tight canyon, just too small even for Wook
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(due to a corner - you can physically get in the first metre or so). This
|
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has a draught - it's smallness is frustrating! To the right of this a climb
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down leads to a small (0.8m) icy canyon. After two 2m downclimbs in succession
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it closes down. At the right hand end of this level you can climb up back
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to the huge canyon via the scrotty hole, or down into more interstices.
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The water from the waterfall can be heard through the wall here. There
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seems to be a draught but after climbing down about 10m through the choke
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against the wall it is lost.
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<h2><a name="phell"></a>Plastic Hell and Cardboard Heaven (CUCC, 1998)</h2>
|
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<p>Descending the roped ice slope leads to a small chamber and a high rift
|
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|
|
leads off. A 5m mixed ice/rock pitch (10m rope) descends to a narrow slot.
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Leave your crampons here. Sliding through the slot you reach a wider bit,
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which is a respite before Plastic Hell. This is a tight 3m rift section,
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|
|
very difficult to negotiate for tall people in plastic boots (hence the
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|
name). A very strong draught blows through this whole section. 5m beyond
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|
|
this a 9m pitch. The bottom is a dead-end rift. You need to swing over
|
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|
|
a rock bridge half-way down to reach the way on.
|
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<p>This is a comfortable passage going off left and right. To the right
|
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chokes in sand after 15m. There is a visible connection to the bottom of
|
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the dead-end rift low on the right. To the left the passage ascends gently
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for 20m to come out in large trunk passage, extending ahead (east) and
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to the left (north). This is Cardboard Heaven.
|
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<p>Ahead in Cardboard Heaven leads up over and around huge boulders past a 3m
|
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aven hidden in an undercut to the left. The passage at ground level gets much
|
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smaller (2m high instead of 8m) and then chokes at a conglomerate run-in. A
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continuation of the main passage can be seen 5m up the end wall where it
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changes size
|
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|
[<a href="qm.htm#C199840-01" name="qC199840-01">C1998-40-01</a> A].
|
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|
|
There is also an eyehole about 3m up the wall on the right
|
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|
|
[<a href="qm.htm#C199840-02" name="qC199840-02">C1998-40-02</a> B].
|
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|
|
A narrow rift in the floor on the right hand side chokes.
|
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|
<p>Going left in Cardboard Heaven leads after 10m to the start of a
|
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|
|
dodgy traverse in 'keyhole' passage on a very large scale. Bolts are rigged
|
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|
|
to make it safe. Going down here is
|
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|
|
[<a href="qm.htm#C199840-03" name="qC199840-03">C1998-40-03</a> A].
|
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|
|
Rounding the corner reaches another large hole, which is passed by
|
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|
|
a protected traverse on slabs to the right
|
|
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|
|
[<a href="qm.htm#C199840-04" name="qC199840-04">C1998-40-04</a> A].
|
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|
|
These two QMs may well connect below. A ledge along the right hand
|
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|
|
wall reaches solid ground. It's not clear if the passage is choked here
|
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|
|
or just kinks and has a lot of sand on the floor. Ducking under the left
|
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|
|
hand wall reaches the top of a pitch. A continuation
|
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|
|
[<a href="qm.htm#C199840-05" name="qC199840-05">C1998-40-05</a> B]
|
|
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|
|
can be seen 8m across the other side, but the traverse looks difficult.
|
|
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|
<p>Descending here is a 30m split pitch of 15m and 15m. The rift at
|
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|
|
the bottom is too tight, and the draught seems to have gone.
|
|
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|
|
<h2><a name="pov"></a>Persistence of Vision (CUCC, 1999)</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p><img src="povice.jpg" ALT="Entrance rift photo - 52k" hspace=10 vspace=10 height=306 width=200 align=left>
|
|
|
|
|
An interesting series off <span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle,</span> with some
|
|
|
|
|
tortuous small passage of a highly 'Mendip' nature, including tight bends,
|
|
|
|
|
squeezes, ridiculous climbs, insane bolt traverses, and bizarre hading
|
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|
|
rift. This connects a selection of rifts and pitches which are largely
|
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|
|
blocked at the bottom. The passages trend steeply up between the pitches.
|
|
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|
|
There is an awful lot of 'varied caving' in the 400m of passage found so
|
|
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|
|
far. The end (bottom of Eiscream) is the point closest to
|
|
|
|
|
<span lang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span>
|
|
|
|
|
(<a href="../161/chile.htm#breezeb">Breeze block</a> area of Chile) which
|
|
|
|
|
makes it a very interesting spot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
|
|
|
<p><a href="fullsize/povelv.png"><img src="povelv.png" ALT="Persistence of
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
Vision extendedelevation - 18k" height=520 width=555></a>
|
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="l/devalt.htm"><img src="devalt.jpg" ALT="Photo - 60k" hspace=10
|
|
|
|
|
vspace=10 height=200 width=133 align=right></a>
|
|
|
|
|
About 10m up the left edge of the funnel-shaped rubble/ice slope at the
|
|
|
|
|
western edge of SVH is a narrow rift. (You can leave your crampons at the
|
|
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foot of the rubble slope). A stiff breeze emerges from this passage, Deviant
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Alternative (Named as we found it avoiding the ice-climb QMs a few metres
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further round the wall in SVH). It goes downhill for a few metres before
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reaching a very narrow and rather awkward 180 degree bend, leading to another
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7m of unhelpfully small wiggly passage. At least the wind stops you
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overheating :-).
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<p><a href="l/pov1.htm"><img src="pov1.jpg" ALT="Photo - 53k" hspace=10
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vspace=10 height=193 width=130 align=left></a>
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At the end there is a hole in the floor, which is made awkward by the
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chockstone in the middle of it. The way on to <a href="#upup">Up, up and
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away</a> is the narrow, steeply ascending passage on the right.
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<h3><a name="delayt"></a>Delaying tactics (CUCC, 1999)</h3>
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<p>Climbing 3m down the hole reaches a pair of windows into a large, wide
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rift and the sound of water. Most of the draught comes from here. A 15m
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pitch (dubious thread by chockstone above and bolt right hand wall), lands
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on large boulders in the bottom of the rift. From the top of the pitch
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a passage can be seen on the far side of the rift - it would be very hard
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to get to
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[<a href="qm.htm#C199940-01" name="qC199940-01">C1999-40-01</a> C].
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From the foot of the pitch you can climb up or down the rift. Up is
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a c4 round a protruding boulder to the foot of a small waterfall and pool
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which soaks away into the rubble floor. Down is a c6 to the top of another
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15m pitch (Bolt high on left hand wall, knotted sling deviation from right
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hand wall at -1m). This is classic descending stream rift.
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<p>There is a traverse level halfway down the pitch, and it is possible,
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with much scrabbling, to climb round a corner into a narrow section (on
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rope) where more dodgy traversing (sling belay here) and a climb up then
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down gets to a 'chamber' where you can stand and tie off the rope. This
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seems to be where the draught goes. Several small passages go off here.
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In the SW corner a steeply ascending tube goes about 8m (over an awkward
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rock) to look back out into the rift opposite the pitch head. Another even
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smaller passage (take off SRT gear) ascends the bedding 3m to a point where
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the draught comes in from a desperately tight steep slot on the left and
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it gets too tight above. I'm not even going to give it a QM, although it
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may be humanly possible!
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<p>In the other end of the chamber (NE) there are two possible climbs
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into roof tubes. The furthest one ascends about 5m to a 'space' but is
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blocked by large rocks. A second (even more obscure, and harder to climb
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into) tube ascends nearby to reach the same space. Both tubes have a strong
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draught going in. Beyond is another rift, more or less parallel to Delaying
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Tactics, and climbing up in it reaches a point where you can look down
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10m to the pitch head bolt. The wind here suggests more passage, but we've
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tried ridiculously hard to find it...it may just lead to interstices in
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the floor of SVH (it must be quite close).
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<p>At the bottom of the 15m pitch is flat rocky floor for 10m widening
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out to 3m wide (still draughting strongly). Then a c4 down and rocky slope
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leads into the end chamber (6 x 3 x 7m high). There is no draught here
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and no ways on.
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<h3><a name="upup"></a>Up, up ... (CUCC, 1999)</h3>
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<p><a href="l/upup1.htm"><img src="upup1.jpg" ALT="Photo - 63k" hspace=10
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vspace=10 height=200 width=307 align=left></a>
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Ascending the steep, rifty passage for 4m leads to a squeeze over a boulder
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into a spacious chamber. At the left hand edge is access back into the top of
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the Delaying Tactics rift. Ahead an exposed 5m climb gets back into narrow
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rift. The way on is a very exposed 5m climb straight up, although you can
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also traverse forward to the end of the rift, just above the farthest point
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that can be reached from below. These two climbs are now bypassed by an 11m
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pitch (<a href="../../fixaid.htm#upup">left rigged,</a> in 1999) up the
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sloping right hand wall of the chamber to a window.
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<h3>... and away</h3>
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<p><a href="l/upup2.htm"><img src="upup2.jpg" ALT="Photo - 109k" hspace=10
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vspace=10 height=245 width=160 align=right></a>
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At the top a lined 2m climb leads to a passage, And away. The main Delaying
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Tactics rift also continues ahead for about 12m (including a bad step)
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to a wet vertical choke where the water seen below comes in. 'And away'
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is a narrow ascending walking passage with a very strong outward draught.
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It emerges after about 40m on a rock bridge between two sizeable pitches.
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<h3><a name="radio3"></a>Radio 3 (CUCC, 1999)</h3>
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<p>Both pitches from the bridge reach the same place. Only the right hand one
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has been descended (backup bolt at start of Hooked on Classics traverse;
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pitch head left hand wall; crap deviation -6m). A couple of metres below the
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deviation a rift enters which leads to the foot of the pitch above which
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Hooked on Classics traverses. At the foot of the 24m pitch is a wide (4m)
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rift. 11m along is a hole in the floor, which can be descended by a difficult
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4m climb, or traversed round on the right to continuing rift. Climbing up to
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the left is where the pitch the other side of the bridge above comes in. At
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the bottom of the hole, going back SW is a tiny draughting hole
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[<a href="qm.htm#C199940-02" name="qC199940-02">C1999-40-02</a> C].
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Correctly thrown rocks rattle a long way down behind it. Fifteen minutes
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of hammering didn't make it big enough - Hilti caps are needed. On the
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other side of the hole the continuing rift can be entered at two different
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levels.
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<p>At all three levels the rift continues about 10m before becoming
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about 8cm wide. A strong draught goes into this crack! This section is
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called Radio 3 because it was crap.
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<h3><a name="angled"></a>Angle of Dangle (CUCC, 1999)</h3>
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<p><a href="l/hooked.htm"><img src="hooked.jpg" ALT="Photo - 58k" hspace=10
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vspace=10 height=306 width=200 align=left></a>
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Most of the draught at the rock bridge comes from a window across the Radio
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3 pitch. This is reached by a 5-bolt tension traverse. (Originally done
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by climbing up the far wall from 5m down the pitch). The window immediately
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looks out over another pitch, which connects back into Radio 3 10m below.
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This is passed by an ascending 5-bolt tension traverse along the left hand
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wall, which reaches a steeply ascending phreatic passage, Angle of Dangle.
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The traverse finishes at a large thread.
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<p>This traverse is called Hooked on Classic, due to the extensive
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use of a skyhook, which made it possible. It was
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<a href="../../fixaid.htm#hooked">left rigged</a> with a static rope in 1999.
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<p>Despite ascending at more than 40 degrees, the passage beyond can
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be ascended with no gear. The passage is strongly joint-controlled, and
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hades at 35-40 degrees throughout. There is a general shortage of proper
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'floor' anywhere. The climb up the initial section is about 18m in total.
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After about 11m there is a hole in the floor where the canyon separates
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|
from the phreatic section. This has not been descended
|
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[<a href="qm.htm#C199940-03" name="qC199940-03">C1999-40-03</a> B].
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The climb is a bit harder after this (handline recomended), until the
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angle eases for a few metres. This section feels like a tilted bedding.
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The way on is to go low on the left though a narrow bit (a window higher
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on the left is a harder option). Ahead the passage quickly becomes entirely
|
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vertical and has not been climbed
|
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|
[<a href="qm.htm#C199940-04" name="qC199940-04">C1999-40-04</a> C].
|
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After the narrowing, the passage returns to steeply ascending and hading
|
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rift which gets increasingly awkward. First a 2m climb, then several points
|
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where you can go over or under rock bridges. Progress is generally easiest
|
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at the bottom, in the muddy bit. At the end of the rift a strenuous 3m
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climb reaches a new traverse level where you go back over the route (East),
|
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to a bit of floor. A hole ahead is a tight pitch back down into the rift
|
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below. A 4m climb here reaches more rift going back West. There is a strong
|
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draught all along this section.
|
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<p>Finally, another 8m of steep progress reaches a point where the rift
|
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|
continues
|
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|
|
[<a href="qm.htm#C199940-05" name="qC199940-05">C1999-40-05</a> B]
|
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|
and a passage, North Utsira, goes off from the left. It has real floor!
|
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and an extremely strong draught.
|
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<p>Immediately at the start of the passage a few rocks cover a deep
|
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hole, which doesn't appear to be the rift below
|
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|
[<a href="qm.htm#C199940-06" name="qC199940-06">C1999-40-06</a> B].
|
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|
After 11m a T-junction is reached. To the right is yet more ascending
|
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|
|
rift, and two thirds of the draught comes from here. A couple of checks
|
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|
|
of this direction have not revealed any person-sized ways on - the draught
|
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|
|
seems to come out of the roof somewhere
|
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|
|
[<a href="qm.htm#C199940-07" name="qC199940-07">C1999-40-07</a> C].
|
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|
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|
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|
<p>To the left the rift becomes small phreatic passage, which wiggles
|
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|
|
for 12m to another T-junction. Left is a smaller draughtless passage that
|
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|
goes a rather tedious 25m to a mud choke. Right has the draught and is
|
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|
stooping passage for ~25m to a very wet window to a pitch on the left.
|
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A 7m traverse line here (bolt right hand wall, long (2 slings) thread on
|
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|
|
far side) passes the window, where the passage degenerates to a crawl for
|
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|
|
a couple of metres before opening out to the pitch again, but with dry
|
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|
|
access this time, 7m beyond the first window.
|
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|
<h3><a name="eiscream"></a>Eiscream (CUCC, 1999)</h3>
|
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|
<p>From the window the first pitch of Eiscream (thread back round corner;
|
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|
|
roof bolt) descends past a steep slope on the right. A hole (probably another
|
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|
|
pitch) can be seen across the other side of the slope
|
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|
|
[<a name="qC199940-08" href="qm.htm#C199940-08">>C1999-40-08</a> B].
|
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|
It is also probably possible to ascend the slope to the right
|
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|
|
[<a name="qC199940-09" href="qm.htm#C199940-09">C1999-40-09</a> C].
|
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|
10m down, a ledge between two further drops can be gained. The way
|
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on carries on down to the right. Descending to the left requires an extra
|
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|
|
deviation. It is a very wet 20m pitch where the water (a sizeable stream)
|
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|
|
disappears down the usual small slot. It may be possible to descend but
|
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|
it was too wet to see properly!
|
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|
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|
<p>Descending another 4m from the ledge over a boulder reaches the start
|
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|
|
of a long stream rift pitch series. Bolt left hand wall and spike deviation
|
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|
|
at -3m give a 13m pitch. A thread on the right hand side through a window,
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|
|
followed by an epic spike deviation on the left at -5m and another at -13m
|
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|
|
pass a large block to reach the floor again. Traversing out a little to
|
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the widest point gives a 9m hang and a couple more 2m descents/climbs (2
|
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|
|
bolts, left and right). At this point the traverse ledges lead all the
|
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|
|
way out to the roof. The slot is very narrow all the way along but you
|
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|
|
can get to the pitch head by an awkward move down into the slot then along
|
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|
|
a metre or so (such fun!). The pitch series can be seen to continue at
|
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|
|
least another 15m below
|
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|
|
[<a name="qC199940-10" href="qm.htm#C199940-10">C1999-40-10</a> A].
|
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|
|
<h3><a name="nightm"></a>Night Manipulations Series (CUCC, 2000)</h3>
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|
<p>It is believed that the first 40m of this series was explored by GSCB in
|
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|
|
the early 80s.</p>
|
|
|
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|
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|
<p>Standing facing the icefall just to the right of the pitch down from
|
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|
|
<span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</span>
|
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|
|
to <span lang="de">Elefantengang,</span> moving around the wall to the
|
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|
|
right (past a drop off the edge of the ice) reaches a gap under the wall. A
|
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low wet crawl in icy water, <b>Soggy Bottom</b>, gains a small ice-floored
|
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|
|
chamber. A rift leads off and up to the right; crampons can be left here. The
|
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|
|
rift leads to another chamber with a multitude of exits.</p>
|
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|
<p>Straight ahead is a plane sloping up at about 45 degrees. This appears
|
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|
|
too tight at the top but it is possible, about a third of the way up, to
|
|
|
|
|
thrutch across to the left (looking up-slope) to reach another similarly
|
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|
|
sloping plane. This leads to a small chamber .....</p>
|
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|
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|
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|
|
<p>To the right in the chamber is a climb over rocks to a slightly higher
|
|
|
|
|
level. A steeply-sloping plane goes off to the left..... whilst to the right
|
|
|
|
|
is a short crawl to a small window into SVH. A sandy-floored crawl/stoop
|
|
|
|
|
straight ahead leads to a drop onto an ice floor. Here there is a large
|
|
|
|
|
window looking out into SVH from the top of the icefall between the entrance
|
|
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|
|
to the Series and the slope leading to Up, Up and Away.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
<p>Crossing the ice with care gains a rift heading upwards to a small
|
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|
|
chamber. To the right a crawl leads to another window further around SVH.
|
|
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|
|
Up and to the left a passage degenerates into an earthen-floored crawl which
|
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|
|
decreases in size until opening up into a rift chamber. A canyon leads from
|
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|
|
here and stops abruptly where it intersects a large shaft......</p>
|
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|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Rigging Guide</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Entrance passage ice slope: 40m (permanent line)
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Snow Volcano: 50m rope, 1 bolt, a couple of ice-screws, or even better
|
|
|
|
|
a deadman. (horrid polyprop garden rope coiled up in situ!)
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Ice pitch down to Plastic Hell: 15m rope, 2 ice-screws.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Next pitch: 10m rope, 2 bolts.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Pitch beyond Plastic Hell: 12m rope, 1 bolt, 1 tape off dubious flake
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Cardboard Heaven Traverse: 50m rope, 5 bolts, 3 slings.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>'Gap' pitch out of SVH [0000-01 A]. 15m rope
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Ice slope out of SVH to dig [0000-04 B]. 20m rope, 2 ice screws.
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p><b>Exploration:</b>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The main passages as far as <span lang="de">Elefantengang</span> were
|
|
|
|
|
explored by 1938. Since then a variety of groups have worked here finding
|
|
|
|
|
numerous extensions, of which <span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</span> is
|
|
|
|
|
the most significant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Until recently, it has been difficult to come close to a
|
|
|
|
|
comprehensive survey or even a good estimate of the length of the system
|
|
|
|
|
because of a lack of contact and some misunderstanding between the groups
|
|
|
|
|
involved. However, in 1997 a chance encounter (at the International
|
|
|
|
|
Congress) by Wookey with <span lang="fr">Denis Motte,</span> of the
|
|
|
|
|
<a href="../../others/gscb/index.htm"><span lang="fr">G.S.Clerval,</span></a>
|
|
|
|
|
led to renewed contacts with one group who explored this area, and
|
|
|
|
|
<span lang="de">Thilo Müller</span> of ARGE has contacted the leaders of
|
|
|
|
|
other groups and obtained all the rest of the 1980s information that
|
|
|
|
|
survives. This is being merged into a coherent set of information which will
|
|
|
|
|
guide necessary resurvey work to complete the picture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p><span lang="de-at">Stellerweghöhle</span> in turn is connected to
|
|
|
|
|
<a href="../../smkridge/78.htm"><span lang="de">Schwabenschacht</a> which
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was over 7km at the time and exploration continues. This must make the
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combined system at least 19 km long. We have seen figures quoted as high as
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25km, but this may involve some double-counting, given the uncertainties
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involved. Arge's estimate (entirely from extant survey data) was 22.7 km
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after summer 1999.
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<ul>
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<li>Discovered and main passages explored in 1929 by
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<span lang="de-at">Ausseer</span> cavers, and surveyed in 1938 by
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<span lang="de-at">O Schauberger</span> and
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<span lang="de-at">U Czornig.</span>
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<li>Further exploration 1953, <span lang="de-at">Sektion Ausseerland.</span>
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<li><span lang="de">Wilfried Lorenz, Franz Lindenmayr</span> with
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Nuremburg and Munich cavers discover the
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<span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</span> at the beginning of July 1978
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(not yet connected to <span lang="de">Eishöhle).</span>
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<li>In Autumn 1983, <span lang="de">Eishöhle</span> was
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"1600m long with four entrances".
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<li>After several trips by the Germans in
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September to November 1983, the system was 2500m long with five entrances
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[<a href="../../others/muenchen/de/841642.htm" lang="de">Der Schlaz, 42</a>,
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also on site in
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<a href="../../others/muenchen/en/841642.htm">English translation</a>].
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<li>More recently, <span lang="de">Reinhard Kieselbach's
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(München/Nurnberg - VfHM)</span> group have linked it to
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<a href="../88.htm"><span lang="de">Lärchenschacht</span></a> (88)
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(itself 1885m long in April 1995, and apparently giving a combined length
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of 6km) which they also connected to
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<a href="../../smkridge/41.htm"><span lang="de-at">Stellerweghöhle</a>
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(5.75 km).
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<li>Our current estimate of the cave length is 1,863km, from a total
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surveyed length of 2,463m (600m of the 974m long
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<span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</span> survey is not
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deemed to be part of the cave length).<br>
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The length comes from:<br>
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VfHM 1980s survey - 693m: Original part of cave plus extensions<br>
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VfHO 1991 survey - 374m: <span lang="de">Schneevulkanhalle</span> from
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40e entrance<br>
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CUCC 1998-9 surveys - 751m: Heaven and Hell and Persistence of Vision SVH
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extensions<br>
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Arge 1999 surveys - 130m: <span lang="de">Königsschat</span> and
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<span lang="de">Grüner Eingang</span>
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</ul>
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<hr>
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2001-08-16 13:43:09 +01:00
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2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
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area</a> index and description</b>
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in 1623</b>
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