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< title > 1623:204 -- Rhino Rift area< / title >
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< tr > < th id = "kat_no" > 204< / th > < th id = "name" > Steinbrü ckenhö hle< / th > < th id = "status" > 4/S x< / th > < / tr >
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< h1 > Rhino Rift area< / h1 >
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<!-- Most of this extrapolated by DL from survey and logbook description -->
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< div >
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< b > < a href = "rhinorift.jpg" > Survey< / a > < / b > --
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< b > < a href = "204.html" > 204 index< / a > < / b > < / div >
< hr / >
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< p > Rhino Rift is an area of mainly rift passages to the west of < a
href="swings.html">Swings and Roundabouts< / a > . The main access is from Taking
the Piss, the pitch at the end of < a href = "swings.html#dutchbeauty" > Dutch
Beauty< / a > . Other connections back to the rest of the cave are via a very loose
connection to < a href = "nopain.html#insignificantchamber" > Insignificant
Chamber< / a > or the < a href = "swings.html#the21bolttrav" > 21 Bolt Traverse< / a > .< / p >
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< h3 > < a id = "takingthepiss" > Taking the Piss< / a > < / h3 >
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< p > Descending this 8m pitch is the most direct, although not the original, route
into the series; it lands in a short narrow passage which is followed by a climb
down out of a window in the wall of the passage to the north of Meeting
House.< / p >
< h3 > < a id = "rhinorift" > Rhino Rift 1< / a > < / h3 >
< p > At the top of Taking the Piss, continuing to the left rather than descending
leads to a narrow horizontal rift, the original Rhino Rift. After around
5m this emerges in a wider passage floored with blocks. A passage on
the left leads to a 6m climb down into < a href = "#meetinghouse" > Meeting
House< / a > chamber; alternatively, continuing straight on downslope leads into < a
href="#boltbypass">21 Bolt Bypass< / a > and to an alternative 3m climb down into
Meeting House.< / p >
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< h3 > < a id = "meetinghouse" > Meeting House< / a > < / h3 >
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< p > Meeting House chamber is around 8m long and floored with boulders. At the
north-eastern end a narrow passage leads off on the right [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-49" id="qC2003-204-49">C2003-204-49 C< / a > ]; continuing
north from here past a too-tight passage on the left reaches a pitch, < b > < a
id="wotnobolts">Wot No Bolts?< / a > < / b > , leading into < a href = "#onamission" > On A
Mission< / a > . To the right of the pitch-head are a multiplicity of openings which
connect and lead into < a href = "#rhinorift2" > Rhino Rift II< / a > .< / p > <!-- There are
two pitches, Deviated and Wot No Bolts. Which is which? It's a bit confusing.
-->
< h3 > < a id = "rhinorift2" > Rhino Rift (II)< / a > < / h3 >
< p > Rhino Rift 2 continues eastwards for 20m to a right-hand bend with water
dripping. Continuing along the passage southwards leads to a fork. Sharp left
a small passage branches off [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-45"
id="qC2003-204-45">C2003-204-45 C< / a > ]. < i > Ahead and to the left is down a ramp to
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a pitch [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-44" id = "qC2003-204-44" > C2003-204-44 A< / a > ].
(This has been descended leading to a crawl and "an uniteresting-looking pitch",
but this was not surveyed.)< / i > The right fork continues past a bend to the
left, another corner with oxbows on each side, and a pit in the floor on the
left [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-43" id = "qC2003-204-43" > C2003-204-43 ?< / a > ].
Finally the passage emerges at a circular chamber. On the left is a slot in the
floor [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-42" id = "qC2003-204-42" > C2003-204-42 B< / a > ],
while at the far end climbing back up leads to the base of a climb into < a
href="nopain.html#insignificantchamber">Insignificant Chamber< / a > .< / p >
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< h3 > < a id = "boltbypass" > 21 Bolt Bypass< / a > < / h3 >
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< p > Continuing southwards from Rhino Rift 1 this passage heads southwards,
passing a side passage choked with stalactites and a pit [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-50" id="qC2003-204-50">C2003-204-50 ?< / a > ] on the left,
to reach an upwards ramp emerging at the top of the boulder choke reached by the
notorious < a href = "swings.html#the21bolttrav" > 21 Bolt Traverse< / a > around
Gaffered to the Walls main pitch. At the far side of this is a continuing
passage [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-51" id = "qC2003-204-51" > C2003-204-51 B< / a > ].
< h3 > < a id = "onamission" > On A Mission< / a > < / h3 >
< p > Wot No Bolts pitch is 9m deep and lands in a chamber (which doesn't seem to
have its own name). < i > South from the foot of the pitch leads to a small passage
at the southern end [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-46"
id="qC2003-204-46">C2003-204-46 C< / a > ], and also a pit in the floor [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-47" id="qC2003-204-47">C2003-204-47 ?< / a > ].< / i >
Northwards leads to a crossroads. < i > To the right is too tight. Straight ahead
leads over boulders to a small hole in the floor [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-53"
id="qC2003-204-53">C2003-204-53 C< / a > ] and beyond this a larger pitch [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-54" id="qC2003-204-54">C2003-204-54 B< / a > ], both
undescended.< / i > On the left is a substantial passage, < b > On A Mission< / b > , with
a T-shaped cross-section. This continues essentially straight westwards for
100m, but there are a number of important side branches where it intersects
cross-rifts.< / p >
< ul >
< li > The first side passage is a 3m pitch down to the right, leading into < a
href="#swallowhard">Swallow Hard< / a > . Shortly beyond this is a crossroads; the
right branch provides an easier route into Swallow Hard, while the left is too
tight.< / li >
< li > The second main crossroads leads to < a href = "#belief" > Belief< / a > on the
left, while to the right leads to two small unexplored passages [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-59" id="qC2003-204-59">C2003-204-59 C< / a > ] [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-60" id="qC2003-204-60">C2003-204-60 ?< / a > ].< / li >
< li > Beyond this is < b > < a id = "picadilly" > Picadilly Circus< / a > < / b > junction, where
there are several loops of interconnecting passage. At various points in here
are a pit in the floor [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-66"
id="qC2003-204-66">C2003-204-66 B< / a > ], an unexplored passage northwards [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-71" id="qC2003-204-71">C2003-204-71 B< / a > ], and the
entrances to < a href = "#ratbiscuit" > Rat Biscuit< / a > heading north and < a
href="#crimper">Crimper< / a > heading south.< / li >
< li > Next there is a right-hand bend, with a hole in the floor to the left [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-72" id="qC2003-204-72">C2003-204-72 C< / a > ].< / li >
< li > Another 15m further on is a lead on the right at the next bend [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-73" id="qC2003-204-73">C2003-204-73 C< / a > ].< / li >
< / ul >
< p > Finally the passage reaches a chamber with a loose boulderous hole in the
floor [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-74" id = "qC2003-204-74" > C2003-204-74 C< / a > ] and
side passages to the right and left. < i > Right leads to a sizeable pitch [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-75" id="qC2003-204-75">C2003-204-75 A< / a > ] with a
possible continuation of the passage beyond the pitch-head [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-76" id="qC2003-204-76">C2003-204-76 B< / a > ].< / i > Straight
on leads to a few metres of passage and a 4m pitch into < a
href="#anonymous">Anonymous Chamber< / a > . < i > Left is a narrower passage which
drops down a 3m pitch into the southern end of the same chamber.< / i > < / p >
< h3 > < a id = "anonymous" > Anonymous Chamber< / a > < / h3 >
< p > < i > [This doesn't appear to have a name, but needs one -- DL]< / i > This is a
large breakdown chamber floored with boulders. Straight across from the landing
is a passage high on the opposite wall; this can be reached by climbing up a
convenient chimney somewhat further to the right, then traversing along a ledge
to the passage (a handline is useful, and there are numerous naturals). This
passage is < a href = "#nobutcombe" > Wot No Butcombe< / a > . Back in the chamber, there
is a loose pitch at the northern end [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-77"
id="qC2003-204-77">C2003-204-77 C< / a > ] and two small passages lead back under
the east wall [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-78" id = "qC2003-204-78" > C2003-204-78
C< / a > ] [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-79" id = "qC2003-204-79" > C2003-204-79 C< / a > ].
< h3 > < a id = "nobutcombe" > Wot no Butcombe< / a > < / h3 >
< p > The passage slopes upwards gradually at first, passing a passage on the right
[< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-81" id = "qC2003-204-81" > C2003-204-81 A< / a > ] and a
hole in the floor [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-82"
id="qC2003-204-82">C2003-204-82 B< / a > ], until it reaches a steep
clamber up choss to a junction. Up the slope straight ahead is blind. < i > On the
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left, < b > < a id = "roundtrip" > Round Trip< / a > < / b > passage leads back directly above
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Wot No Butcombe to emerge in the ceiling of Anonoymous Chamber. A hole in the
floor communicates with Wot No Butcombe, and there is a crawl to the left [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-80" id="qC2003-204-80">C2003-204-80 ?< / a > ].< / i > To the
right is a too-tight slot in the floor and another fork; left here leads to a
mud-floored chamber, whereas right leads to < a href = "#noconnection" > Wot No
Connection< / a > .< / p >
< h3 > < a id = "noconnection" > Wot no connection< / a > < / h3 >
< p > Crawling over the large fallen block down to the right leads to a cross rift
chamber; the north wall and roof are composed of fault breccia. The draught
disappears at this point into the roof and walls. The rift continues right and
up through shattered boulders into a number of small chambers with no solid
walls; one of these connects back into the first fault chamber. Climbing 5m up
to the right leads back to the top of What No Butcombe chamber; stepping over
this chamber continues into main passage in area at high level 5-8m up.< / p >
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< h3 > < a id = "swallowhard" > Swallow Hard< / a > < / h3 >
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< p > Swallow Hard slopes down away from On A Mission, passing the entrance to
< a href = "#unconformity" > Unconformity< / a > on the left. Beyond this it begins to
slope back upwards increasingly steeply. At a T-junction, the left-hand branch
leads to a climb up to a passage [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-55"
id="qC2003-204-55">C2003-204-55 B< / a > ], while the right-hand branch, < b > < a
id="limescale">Limescale Cistern< / a > < / b > , slopes up even more steeply to end 6m
beneath the floor of Swings Passage.< / p >
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< h3 > < a id = "unconformity" > Unconformity< / a > < / h3 >
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< p > This series is developed in a thrust fault leading downwards at around
60° below the horizontal. The logbook description is rather confusing and it
is not clear which parts are climbs and which are pitches, since the original
surveyors did not draw up an elevation.< / p >
< p > Shortly after the Unconformity passage branches off Swallow Hard, there is a
climb (pitch?) down into a chamber with a single large boulder on the floor. On
the left is a small passage [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-57"
id="qC2003-204-57">C2003-204-57 C< / a > ] and there is an aven above [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-56" id="qC2003-204-56">C2003-204-56 X< / a > ]. The passage
continues to a fork. < i > The left branch soon splits again, both branches
becoming too tight.< / i > The right branch proceeds beyond a patch of mud on the
floor to a junction with a passage leading off to the left. < i > Straight on is
< b > < a id = "crunch" > Crunch + Wet< / a > < / b > , which continues horizontally to a narrow
pitch-head [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-58" id = "qC2003-204-58" > C2003-204-58
C< / a > ].< / i > The passage on the left is < b > < a id = "catsclaw" > Cat's Claw< / a > < / b > ,
which continues downhill, passing a blind oxbow in the left-hand wall. The
description of the ensuing part is rather confusing. Apparently this leads to a
junction, with a pitch down to the left and tubes on the right. < i > The tube on the
left leads into a chamber, < b > < a id = "calcitedbat" > Calcited Bat Chamber< / a > < / b > .
The continuation of the passage is up a 3m climb to a phreatic tube which is
soon choked with mud, but another exit from the chamber is a clamber up of 2.5m
to a bridge overlooking an extremely deep pitch [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-X90" id="qC2003-204-X90">C2003-204-X90 A< / a > ]. The
chamber has a vocal connection to a point above in Crunch + Wet.< / i > The pitch
down to the left leads to a short horizontal passage to a hole in the floor.
< i > This been descended 10m to a ledge but has not been surveyed, and continues
beyond this [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-X91" id = "qC2003-204-X91" > C2003-204-X91
?< / a > ].< / i > Traversing over the hole leads to 20-30m of passage, also
unsurveyed, with some holes in the floor [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-X92"
id="qC2003-204-X92">C2003-204-X92 ?< / a > ] and possible QMs up [< a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-X93" id="qC2003-204-X93">C2003-204-X93 ?< / a > ].< / p >
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< h3 > < a id = "belief" > Belief< / a > < / h3 >
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From < a href = "#onamission" > On a Mission< / a > , a walking sized passage slopes downwards to a large chamber. The most noteworthy feature of this chamber is the enormous bolder that splits the chamber into two stories, after which the chamber is named. Above the entrance heading back towards On a mission an inaccessible roof tube can be seen.
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[< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-61" id = "qC2003-204-61" > C2003-204-61 X< / a > ]
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Just to the right after entering the chamber a pitch [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-70" id = "qC2003-204-70" > C2003-204-70 A< / a > ] estimated to be 6m deep descends, probably into < a href = "#crimper" > Crimper< / a > . Continuing around the right of the chamber, it is possible to climb down to the lower level of the chamber, under the large bolder. From here a small passage pops out on the left, which leads back to crimped. Straight on leads immediately to the < a href = "#faith" > Faith traverse and pitch< / a > .
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< h3 > < a id = "faith" > Faith< / a > < / h3 >
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The faith traverse starts at the bottom of belief chamber. Original exploration was done all on naturals, as there are a number of threads, and the slope to the wall allows it to fairly easily to be climbed across. However the pitch below [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-62" id = "qC2003-204-62" > C2003-204-62 A< / a > ], looks rather large and stones rattle for 7 seconds, so security of a traverse is required.< / p >
< p > On the other side of the pitch, the passage starts to go slightly upwards, initially passing under a couple of roof tubes, [< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-63" id = "qC2003-204-63" > C2003-204-63 C< / a > ] and
[< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-64" id = "qC2003-204-64" > C2003-204-64 C< / a > ]. The passage gets steeper, climbing up over small boulders, until the passage ends in a choke, just before this however a small passage heads of. This goes up briefly before turning to the right, then right again to go downwards, to a 30cm deep pool, with a passage going of the other side
[< a href = "qm.html#C2003-204-65" id = "qC2003-204-65" > C2003-204-65 A< / a > ], which is drafting, (from memory this drafted in to the known cave).< / p >
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< h3 > < a id = "crimper" > Crimper< / a > < / h3 >
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< p > After a short piece of horizontal passage, Crimper drops down a bit of a slope, half way down grater, < i > a short rifty passage that quickly becomes too tight< / i > , splits of the left, and to the right crimper continues down. At the bottom, a rift continues for a short while but becomes to tight, before this on the right a jagged nasty squeeze, after which grater gets its name can be passed through, to a hading rift. There is a higher and lower route to this rift, which join up in a number of places. Continuing along the higher level, past some awkward climbs, the passage heads up a number of climbs before popping out at the bottom of < a href = "#belief" > belief chamber< / a > just before the < a href = "#faith" > faith traverse< / a > . There are points where you can not see that there is defiantly a ceiling to the rift.< / p >
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< h3 > < a id = "ratbiscuit" > Rat Biscuit< / a > < / h3 >
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< p > Rat Biscuit is an upwards-sloping horizontal passage with a strong draught,
which continues for 120m without any side branches or junctions to a
"frustrating" end in draughting boulders. (This point is a mere 5m from a small
draughting boulderous hole in < a href = "swings.html#crestarun" > Cresta Run< / a > ,
and might be a good candidate for a dig to connect the two, since both Nial and
Dave narrowly avoided getting entombed attacking this from the Cresta end in
2004.)< / p >
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< hr style = "clear: both" / >
< ul id = "links" >
< li > < a href = "204.html" > Back to 204 index page< / a > < / li >
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< li > < a href = "../../smkridge/index.html#id204" > Schwarzmooskogel ridge area index and description< / a > < / li >
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< li > < a href = "../../indxal.htm#id204" > Full Index< / a > < / li >
< li > < a href = "../../areas.htm" > Other Areas< / a > < / li >
< li > < a href = "../../index.htm" > Back to Expedition Intro page< / a > < / li >
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