<p>2002 sees the twenty sixth 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.</p>
<hr/>
<h3>Recent History</h3>
<p>In the last 3 years C.U.C.C., and its post-graduate sister club ex-Cambridge Speleologists have concentrated <ahref="../../smkridge/204/204.html"><spanlang="de">Steinbrückenhöhle,</span></a> was found beyond the known extent of <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> to the north. This shows many similarities to the caves further south, and reached a depth of 226m at the head of a big black pitch. In 2000 this went to a narrow stream outlet at -368m. Other parts of the cave yielded a couple of shaft systems both ending after 100m or so, and some unexpected horizontal development which in 2001 was explored to extend the cave by 2.5km to 5km. There is still great hope that this cave will drop into the same major horizontal development seen in <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle,</span> and eventually produce an easier route into the remotest parts of the cave.</p>
<p>From 1988 to 2000 we explored the <ahref="../../smkridge/161/top.htm"><spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span></a> cave system in the <spanlang="de-at">Totes Gebirge</span> of Austria (about 80 km east of <spanlang="de-at">Salzburg)</span>, but work here is currently in abeyance as Steinbrückenhöhle, Steinschlagschacht and Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle absorb all our manpower. There are still 250 leads waiting for us to get back to.</p>
<p>To the south of <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> lies another major cave, the southern <spanlang="de-at">Schwarzmooskogel</span> system including the stunningly beautiful ice-cave <ahref="../../noinfo/smkridge/40.htm"><spanlang="de-at">Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle.</span></a> Parts of this were explored as long ago as 1938, but the major central part of the cave, <ahref="../../smkridge/41/41.htm"><spanlang="de">Stellerweghöhle,</span></a> was explored by 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 22km in 1999.1997.</p>
<p>In 1997 <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> was linked with a deep shaft system, <ahref="../../smkridge/161/136.htm"><spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht</span></a>, first explored by the club in 1983, giving an increased depth of 507m for the combined system. 1998's small expedition concentrated on a reconnaissance of the nearest points of <spanlang="de">Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle</span> to the passages in <spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht,</span> revealing a few leads, but no connection. Meanwhile <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> itself went to a new deep point at -534m.1997.</p>
<p>After 1997, the gap between <spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht</span> and the <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span> was about 130m, in passages at much the same level. The 1999 trip returned to <spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht,</span> finding a major way on with surprising ease via a lead overlooked when derigging the <ahref="../../smkridge/161/136.htm#footlight">Footlights Traverse</a> in 1997.1997.</p>
<p>This area of the cave, <ahref="../../smkridge/161/chile.htm">Chile,</a> totalled 2½ kilometres with a deep point 440m below <spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht,</span> but, amazingly, ran parallel to the known trend of the southern <spanlang="de">Schwarzmooskogel</span> system, and only narrowed the gap to some 75m, with no immediately obvious likely connection point.</p>
<p>The 2000 expedition concentrated on the <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span> side, narrowing the gap to approximately zero horizontally, in passage now 20m below <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle,</span> and with avens above, though no obvious leads remained in KH itself above this area. In 2001 avens were pushed to get above the KH passage hoping to drop in from above, and more accurate GPS information on entrance locations and some corrections to the data adjusted the relative positions of the two caves. At the end of 2001 the drafting, but tight end of Eishöhle was some 40m above Elin Algor in Kaninchenhöhle.</p>
<p>Work towards linking the two systems has already generated a great deal of tie-up surveying to establish definitive figures for the length and depth of the combined system. Current survey information, both our own and that of our colleagues from <spanlang="de">Stuttgart</span> working in the <spanlang="de">Stellerweg</span> part of the cave, suggests that the linked cave would be well over 47 km long and 1056m deep, making it the third or fourth longest cave in Austria. This would also put it among both the fifty or so deepest caves in the world <strong>and</strong> the fifty or so longest. Few caves make it so far up both the long <spanstyle="text-decoration: underline;">and</span> deep lists - truly a cave of world significance.</p>
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<h3>2002 CUCC Expedition Goals</h3>
<ul>
<li>Continue exploration of <spanlang="de">Steinbrückenhöhle</span> from -368m and push horizontal development in the upper part of the system. This is CUCC's highest significant entrance, and a connection with <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> would add 28m to the latter's depth.</li>
<li>In 2002 we will initially work on the remaining leads in <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span>:concentrate on the <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> side, accessed via Steinschlagschacht or 161d.<br/><imgsrc="../../icons/lists/1.png"alt="--->"/>Ol's leads<br/><imgsrc="../../icons/lists/1.png"alt="--->"/>Upper leads in POV<br/><imgsrc="../../icons/lists/1.png"alt="--->"/>Good leads in Plastic Hell</li>
<li>Further pushing of numerous leads in <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle</span> via <spanlang="de">Steinschlagschacht</span>, and 161d. This will follow the easiest line and see where we pop out rather than trying to head through solid rock or miserable tight bits to forge a connection. Caves are where you find them!
<ul>
<li>Trace draught in <spanlang="de">Elin Algor</span> (this must lead to the surface at the same sort of level as the <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span> entrances)</li>
<li>Other good leads at N end of Elin Algor.</li>
<li>Push pitches and drafting bedding in Hall of the Mounting Choss</li>
<li>Leads in Chile</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Push a number of other areas of <spanlang="de">Kaninchenhöhle:</span>
<ul>
<li>over 250 documented ways on</li>
<li>revisit Far North, now that it is less remote</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Photography and other documentation work. Many caves need a rudimentary survey or sketch, and description and a photo.<br/><imgsrc="../../icons/lists/1.png"alt="--->"/>Find and identify non-CUCC 1980s caves <spanlang="de">(Eishöhle</span> area) from survey data: <spanlang="de">Grunstein Eishöhle, Schwarzblatthöle, Kuppelhöhle, Lamperlhöhle</span><br/><imgsrc="../../icons/lists/1.png"alt="--->"/>Connect up East and West surface surveys near 163<br/><imgsrc="../../icons/lists/1.png"alt="--->"/>Try to work out where <spanlang="de">Seniorenschacht</span> and <spanlang="de">Braunsteinhöle</span> are (near one of the <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span> entrances)<br/><imgsrc="../../icons/lists/1.png"alt="--->"/>Draw pictures for the 147 survey!<br/><imgsrc="../../icons/lists/1.png"alt="--->"/>A few caves are still missing and need searching out....177, 178, 181, 187, 192, 193<br/><imgsrc="../../icons/lists/1.png"alt="--->"/></li>
<li>There are loose ends in some older CUCC discoveries which may be useful to pursue to tie surveys in:
<ul>
<li>New work in 1623/144 (this may be taken over by Arge ?)</li>
<li>Cave <ahref="../../smkridge/140.htm">140</a> was noted on a surface walk in 1998, and the description is suggestive that ends were inconclusive. The finding of Chile places this in an even more key position between the two major systems, and a reexploration (and a good survey) is in order.</li>
<li>In the same area, but lower down, <ahref="../../smkridge/158.htm">158</a> (also seen during surface work recently) is also intriguing and inconclusive. </li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Liaison with other groups working in the area now and in the past
<ul>
<li>Cooperation with Arge - a number of key points on the surface were fixed by accurate GPS in 2000 and surveys linked up. Liaison to continue</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>High quality publication via the World Wide Web, CD-ROM and on paper, which has got a bit behind due to moving to a new server. Ensure everything is upto date at least as far as end Expo 2001 by end expo 2002.<br/>
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<h3>Dates:</h3>
<p>Expo 2002 runs from 27th July until 31st August.</p>
<p>For the main expo, it would be useful to have people who are interested in <spanlang="de">Eishöhle</span> pick dates which overlap with Arge's main summer trip. However, as always, 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>
<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. As a guide - over the last 3 years it average out at £200 + £40/week.<br/> 1 week = £240<br/> 2 weeks = £280<br/> 3 weeks = £320<br/> 4 weeks = £360<br/> 5 weeks = £400</p>
<p>The £200 gets you there and back and use of the gear, the £40/week covers food, camping, insurance and typical bier consumption...</p>
