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>CUCC 1998 Expedition Goals</title>
|
2004-04-21 10:35:34 +01:00
|
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" />
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
</head>
|
|
|
|
|
<body>
|
|
|
|
|
<h2><center>CUCC Austria 1998 - Mission statement</center></h2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>1998 will see the twenty second annual summer expedition to Austria
|
|
|
|
|
by the Cambridge University Caving Club. A number of major goals are
|
|
|
|
|
set out for this year's expedition, along with a great deal of other
|
|
|
|
|
work both on new projects and continuing documentation of previous
|
|
|
|
|
exploration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<hr width=50%>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>For ten successive summer expeditions, C.U.C.C., and its post-graduate
|
|
|
|
|
sister club ex-Cambridge Speleologists, have been exploring the
|
2015-04-08 03:13:14 +01:00
|
|
|
<a href="../../1623/161/top.htm">Kaninchenhöhle</a> cave system in
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
the Totes Gebirge of Austria (about 80 km east of Salzburg). A major goal of
|
|
|
|
|
the 1997 trip was to link the cave with a deep shaft system,
|
2015-04-08 03:13:14 +01:00
|
|
|
<a href="../../1623/161/136.htm">Steinschlagschacht</a>, first explored
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
by the club in 1983. Following the successful achievement of this link by
|
|
|
|
|
means of some rather spectacular traversing of a ledge system 40m above the
|
|
|
|
|
floor of a large chamber, the combined cave system is 507m deep and almost
|
|
|
|
|
22 km long, ranking as one of the major caves of Europe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>To the south of Kaninchenhöhle lies another major cave,
|
|
|
|
|
the southern Schwarzmooskogel system. Parts of this were explored as
|
|
|
|
|
long ago as 1938, but the major central part of the cave,
|
2015-04-08 03:13:14 +01:00
|
|
|
<a href="../../1623/41/41.htm">Stellerweghöhle</a>, was explored by
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
CUCC in 1980-85, to a depth of 973m and a length of some 7km. Other parts of
|
|
|
|
|
the cave have been explored by both French and German groups, and the total
|
|
|
|
|
length of this cave was over 20km before some new exploration in 1998 by
|
|
|
|
|
ArGe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>After 1997, the gap between these two systems is about 130m, in passages
|
|
|
|
|
at much the same level. A major goal of the 1998 expedition will be to search
|
|
|
|
|
for new passages in the area of this gap, via the Steinschlagschacht
|
|
|
|
|
entrance. Linking the two systems would involve us not only in exciting new
|
|
|
|
|
exploration, but also in a great deal of tie-up surveying to establish
|
|
|
|
|
definitive figures for the length and depth of the combined system. Current
|
|
|
|
|
survey information suggests that the linked cave would be well over 42 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 - truly a cave of world significance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Our German friends from Stuttgart, <b lang=de>Arbeitsgemeinschaft
|
|
|
|
|
Höhle und Karst Grabenstetten e.V.</b> (ArGe) have explored 7km (up
|
|
|
|
|
to the end of 1997 - more this year, too) in one of the linked caves in the
|
|
|
|
|
southern system and are still working in cooperation with us in the area. We
|
|
|
|
|
are also in contact with the French <b lang=fr>Groupe Spéléo de
|
|
|
|
|
Clerval - Baume les Dames</b> (GSCB) who explored part of this system in the
|
|
|
|
|
1980's. Liaison with these groups, as well as with the local Austrian cavers
|
|
|
|
|
<b lang=de-at>Vereines für Höhlenkunde in OberSteier</b> (VfHO) is
|
|
|
|
|
an important part of the work both on the expedition and during the
|
|
|
|
|
year-round documentation effort that goes on at home in the UK.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Other areas of Kaninchenhöhle also merit attention, with over 230
|
2015-04-08 03:13:14 +01:00
|
|
|
unfinished ways on <a href="../../1623/161/qmtodo.htm">documented</a>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
in the cave. Some of these were quite remote when first found,
|
|
|
|
|
but have been made much more accessible since the discovery
|
2015-04-08 03:13:14 +01:00
|
|
|
of the lower-level <a href="../../1623/161/sftotp.htm#id161d">Scarface</a>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
entrance in 1995. One such area, known as
|
2015-04-08 03:13:14 +01:00
|
|
|
<a href="../../1623/161/sibria.htm#siberia">Siberia</a>, was revisited
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
last year for the first time since 1994, and is proving to be a major way on,
|
|
|
|
|
at a depth of 434m from the highest entrance. Pushing this area is a major
|
|
|
|
|
goal of the 1998 expedition, since the open passage at the limit of
|
|
|
|
|
exploration is blowing a strong draught, suggestive of many kilometres of
|
|
|
|
|
cave waiting to be found.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015-04-08 03:13:14 +01:00
|
|
|
<p>The <a href="../../1623/161/farnth.htm">Far North</a> of the cave has
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
also not been revisited for some time, but is now rendered rather easier of
|
|
|
|
|
access. If enough people attend the expedition, this area is also one of
|
|
|
|
|
potential interest, as are any of a number of other areas. Any of the 230-odd
|
|
|
|
|
going leads could gain access to significant new extensions.
|
|
|
|
|
For example, a rather unpromising lead in a 1996 find gave access to the
|
2015-04-08 03:13:14 +01:00
|
|
|
<a href="../../1623/161/offtri.htm#lworld">Lost World</a> in 1997. This
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
was a rather unexpected, but very impressive series of horizontal passages
|
|
|
|
|
developed at a level lower than any of the other major horizontal development
|
|
|
|
|
in the system.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>The production of an accurate survey of all the cave newly explored
|
|
|
|
|
by each expedition has been a goal we have increasingly met in recent years.
|
|
|
|
|
This has been aided on the surface by computer technology, of course, but
|
|
|
|
|
in the cave, still requires the investment of considerable effort and
|
|
|
|
|
manpower.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Away from Kaninchenhöhle itself, CUCC have explored several
|
|
|
|
|
dozen other caves during the two decades we have been visiting the area.
|
|
|
|
|
A number of high-quality survey points established by laser-rangefinder
|
|
|
|
|
and theodolite are now available, and these combined with GPS units, are
|
|
|
|
|
enabling us to relocate many of these and provide a much higher standard of
|
|
|
|
|
documentation than was regarded as acceptable in the earlier years of
|
|
|
|
|
our exploration. Although something of a "background" task, this work is
|
|
|
|
|
important, and will undoubtedly lead to the discovery of more new caves
|
|
|
|
|
as the surface is covered more systematically than previously.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>As always, publication of a report, with photographs, maps and surveys, is
|
|
|
|
|
an essential part of the expedition's activities. In recent years, the aim
|
|
|
|
|
has been to provide a printed report in the autumn following the expedition,
|
|
|
|
|
for circulation to our sponsors and others. The main publication is a full
|
|
|
|
|
report in the CUCC journal "Cambridge Underground", whilst briefer
|
|
|
|
|
resumé articles appear in the British Cave Research Association
|
|
|
|
|
Bulletin "Caves and Caving" and in the popular magazine "Descent". Surveys
|
|
|
|
|
and photographs of new finds are presented in a lecture at the annual BCRA
|
|
|
|
|
conference, despite this being within only three or four weeks of the
|
|
|
|
|
expedition's return each year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>However, the main avenue of publication for the great mass of detail
|
|
|
|
|
which each expedition generates is now via our club website. This contains
|
|
|
|
|
annually revised descriptions of all the explored cave, as well as a wealth
|
|
|
|
|
of archive material which we could not contemplate publishing on paper.
|
|
|
|
|
As well as our own material, there are links and summaries of the work of
|
|
|
|
|
others in the area. Links are also provided to other caving clubs' sites
|
|
|
|
|
(many CUCC cavers go on to join regionally-based clubs when they graduate,
|
|
|
|
|
whilst still continuing to cave on the expedition) and of course to the
|
|
|
|
|
websites of our sponsors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
<hr />
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4 align=center>1998 CUCC Expedition Goals</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
<p><ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Push exploration from -434m in the Siberia area of Kaninchenhöhle</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Search the Steinschlagschacht and Forbidden Land areas of the cave for
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
ways on south towards the nearby southern Schwarzmooskogel system, with a
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
potential length/depth in excess of 42km/1056m.
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Finish the descent of Wet Dreams route in Steinschlagschacht to see if
|
|
|
|
|
this leads to a way past the apparently terminal dry route</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul></li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Push a number of other areas of Kaninchenhöhle:
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>over 230 documented ways on</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>revisit Far North, now that it is less remote</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul></li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Surface surveys and GPS fixes for many older discoveries</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>There are loose ends in some older CUCC discoveries which may be useful
|
|
|
|
|
to pursue to tie surveys in:
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Descent of major ramps below Roddick's Dive in 144 seems likely to
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
connect to a similar upward ramp in Larchenschacht in the chamber before
|
|
|
|
|
it connects to Stellerweg. A survey loop down here, into known points
|
|
|
|
|
in Larchenschacht and back out via the original 144-Stellerweg connection
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
would do a great deal to help tie things in.</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Once below the Big Pitch in Stellerweg, it would be really worthwhile
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
to survey down the Big Rift, which was never done. This would give us a
|
|
|
|
|
reliable depth for the cave which didn't depend on surface surveys.<br>
|
|
|
|
|
[we learn that ArGe have been down here in 1998, and surveyed from the
|
|
|
|
|
Big Pitch to the start of the Big Rift - as yet CUCC has not seen the
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
raw data from this resurvey]</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul></li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Photography and other documentation work</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Liaison with other groups working in the area now and in the past</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>High quality publication via the World Wide Web and on paper<br>
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
<hr />
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Dates:</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Expo '98 will be five weeks July 5th - August 8th, although as usual dates
|
|
|
|
|
are flexible according to when people want to go/leave. Typically there are
|
|
|
|
|
people arriving/leaving on every weekend so it is entirely possible to go for
|
|
|
|
|
as long or as little time as you like.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Transport is pooled to minimise cost, but overall costs are variable and
|
|
|
|
|
difficult to be precise about since it depends on factors such as how long
|
|
|
|
|
you go for and how much beer you drink.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Expo Committee:</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Expo 1998 is currently at the "organised" stage, serious planning being
|
|
|
|
|
all but finished, and most dates and transport arranged. This year's
|
|
|
|
|
volunteer for Expedition Leader (well done!) is Tim Vasby-Burnie (mail
|
|
|
|
|
<trv21> on site hermes.cam.ac.uk). As he has not been to Austria
|
|
|
|
|
before, he will appreciate your support, as will the Expo Treasurer, Earl
|
|
|
|
|
Merson (mail <96em> on site eng.cam.ac.uk), who would obviously prefer
|
|
|
|
|
that your support was of the financial variety. If you're expedition deposit
|
|
|
|
|
is not yet in his bank account, the ranting could be merciless.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Likely people of vast previous experience to contact in Cambridge are
|
|
|
|
|
Julian Haines (mail <JHaines> on site scigen.co.uk, recent expo leader,
|
|
|
|
|
and keen to let someone else have a turn), Sam Lieberman (mail <sam> on
|
|
|
|
|
site avroind.com) and Tony Rooke. The information in this website is
|
|
|
|
|
maintained by Andy Waddington (mail <austria> on site
|
|
|
|
|
pennine.demon.co.uk) and Wookey (mail <wookey> on site aleph1.co.uk),
|
|
|
|
|
where any questions or suggestions will be welcomed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Both Siberia and the southern Schwarzmooskogel system link are ambitious
|
|
|
|
|
projects, so there will be plenty of scope for hard caving and new
|
|
|
|
|
exploration. But those 230-plus other leads include easy ones near entrances,
|
|
|
|
|
and much of the other work will not need mega-hard caving talent, so there
|
|
|
|
|
should be plenty of enjoyable caving and walking for everyone, regardless of
|
|
|
|
|
fitness or experience. Expo takes a while to get moving, but by now you
|
|
|
|
|
really should have made the commitment to one of the above people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
|
|
|
<hr />
|
2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
|
|
|
</html>
|
