2020-02-07 23:52:14 +00:00
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2022-06-22 22:59:33 +01:00
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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf8" />
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2020-02-07 23:52:14 +00:00
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" />
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<title>1623/204 -- Millennium Dome / MFC area</title> </head>
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<body>
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<table id="cavepage">
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<tr><th id="kat_no">204</th><th id="name">Steinbrückenhöhle</th><th
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id="status">5/S x</th></tr> </table>
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<h1>Pussy Prance area</h1>
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<div>
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<b><a href="#survey">Survey</a></b> --
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<b><a href="204.html">204 index</a></b></div>
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<hr />
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<p><b>Summary</b>: The Pussy Prance area is a network of substantial phreatic
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passages at the southern end of Steinbrückenhöhle. At the time of its
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discovery it extended significantly further south than all other development in
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the cave with the exception of the deepest parts. It was originally explored
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from a passage heading south from <a href="midlevel.html#veined">You're so
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Veined</a>. In 2012 this area was accessed from <a href="nopain.html#phat">
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Brian's Phat Shaft</a>, a pitch in <a href="nopain.html#pleasuredome">
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Pleasuredome</a> that can be accessed from a number of alternative routes. The
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connection to Kaninchenhöhle was found from the Pussy Prance area.</p>
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<h3><a id="merryxmas">Merry Fucking Christmas</a></h3>
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<p>Merry Fucking Christmas is accessed from a hole in the floor at the end of a
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draughting phreatic passage that heads south from <a href="midlevel.html#veined">
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You're so Veined</a>. Climbing down through the hole for 4 metres lands at the
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entrance to a low crawl, <b>Merry Fucking Christmas</b>. While not actually
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tight, the crawl continues awkwardly for 20m to a small chamber with QM [<a
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href="qm.html#C2001-204-71" id="qC2001-204-71">C2001-204-71 C</a>]. The crawl
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continues slightly larger for another 25m, past a hole in
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the floor which is blind.</p>
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<p>The crawl opens out in the wall of <b><a id="seven11">7-11 Chamber</a></b>.
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This is part of a large shaft, with high aven (>40m?)
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[<a href="qm.html#C2001-204-72" id="qC2001-204-72">C2001-204-72 X</a>] and deep
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main pitch (35m). The chamber floor is reached by a y-hang followed by a single
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bolt rebelay and rope protector. Traversing across the blocks on the floor leads
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to a short climb up (rope advised) over a ridge into a parallel shaft (7m deep).
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The base of this is choked with boulders; an uninviting wriggle between these
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leads back towards the main pitch.</p>
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<p>Back at the entrance to 7-11 Chamber, an exposed traverse around the
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north-western corner of the shaft leads to a small muddy window. This is a
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small chamber with small muddy passage sloping downwards. Following this for a
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short distance arrives at a loose funnel; rocks thrown into this rumble down
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into the main pitch.</p>
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<p><a href="l/pussyprance_slot.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/pussyprance_slot.jpg"
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alt="The Slot" /></a>The main pitch, <b>No bits</b>, is descended by continuing on
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the rope to a Y-hang using two bolts under the large boulder above the pitch. This
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gives a free hang to the floor (see: rigging diagram). At the bottom of the pitch,
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a rift leads off. There is a side passage to the right which becomes too tight after
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about 10m. The way on is down the rift, which can be descended using a thread and a
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single bolt to form a Y hang (the beginning of <b>Hammer and thong</b>). At the
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bottom of this initial narrow descent, the rift can be followed at various levels,
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but all ways become too tight. Down, <b>Hammer and thong</b> continues with a Y hang
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at a ledge and a deviation from the left wall (see rigging diagram).</p>
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<p>At the bottom of <b>Hammer and thong</b>, the comfortably-sized rift,
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<b>Pussyprance</b> continues steeply down (rope required - see rigging diagram) to
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<b>Catflap</b> pitch. To the right at the top of the pitch is a window into a large
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phreatic passage (~5m wide). To the right, this passage continues for about 25m to a
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large window, which connects to <a href="#catwalk">Catwalk</a> . To the left, the
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phreatic passage passes a passage in the left hand wall, which could be descended
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downwards [<a href="qm.html#C2008-204-06" id="qC2008-204-06">C2008-204-06 B</a>] or
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climbed upwards [<a href="qm.html#C2008-204-05" id="qC2008-204-05">C2008-204-07 B</a>].
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The main passage slopes down to a large chamber, <b> Puss in Bolts </b> (20m across).
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The chamber can be descended to the right via a 20m pitch (<b>Painted lady</b>) to
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<a href="#pbolts">Puss in Bolts</a>. Just before the chamber, there is a pitch on
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the left, which leads to <a href="#catawal">Catawal</a>. </p>
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<h3><a id="catwalk">Catwalk</a></h3>
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<p>Descending Catflap, a window back under the pitch head can be reached at about 5m
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above the floor of the shaft. This can be swung into, with the rope deviated off
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threads in the mud floor, to reach a short section of phreatic passage ending in a 9m
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climb which can be protected with a rope belayed off a large thread. At the foot of
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this climb there is a junction - to the left is a spacious pitch and aven
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[<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-02" id="qC2009-204-02">C2009-204-02 A</a>] - the aven has
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been connected to one of the large chambers at the bottom of pussy prance. To the
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right is a small walking passage ending in a window into a blind pitch with a possible
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mud-filled continuation opposite [<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-04" id="qC2009-204-04">
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C2009-204-04 C</a>]. There are two junctions on the right from Catwalk - these join
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after a few meters, and the passage continues past a small waterfall on the left and
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junction to the right (which loops back into the same passage) to a window at the top
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of another pitch - Snow Leopard. This swings into the bottom 15m of
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<a href="nopain.html#phat">Brian's Phat Shaft</a>, with a continuation of the passage
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in the wall of the pitch opposite - [<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-10" id="qC2009-204-10">
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C2009-204-10 B</a>]. Catflap was left rigged in 2009 to allow access to this area
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from Brian's Phat Shaft - this route was exploited in 2012.</p>
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<h3><a id="catawaul">Catawaul</a></h3>
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<p>Catawaul starts with a 20m nicely-shaped pitch. Right at the bottom of the pitch
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leads to a small chamber with no ways on. The way on is a tight slot in the floor
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leading to a small, but less tight rift which ends with a short drop (rope needed),
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which is followed by another pitch (< 10m). Another short pitch follows this, which
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is undescended [<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-01"
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id="qC2009-204-01">C2009-204-01 B</a>].</p>
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<h3><a id="pbolts">Puss in Bolts</a></h3>
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<p>At the bottom of <b>Painted lady</b>, is a window to the left to a large pitch
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[<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-11" id="qC2009-204-11">C2009-204-11 A</a>]. To the left
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of this pitch is a shallower pit, which may be choked
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[<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-12" id="qC2009-204-12">C2009-204-12 B</a>]. Around the
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right-hand wall of the large pitch is an 8-bolt traverse (left rigged in 2012), which
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starts with an up climb (also permanently rigged; 30m rope needed in addition, see
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rigging diagram). At the end of the traverse is a mud bridge, which leads across to
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<a href="#prowl">On the Prowl</a>.</p>
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<h3><a id="prowl">On the Prowl</a></h3>
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<p>On the prowl starts with a traverse along the left hand wall above a blind trench
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in the floor. The traverse ends with a pitch down (30m rope required for traverse
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and pitch). A deviation is required after 8m to swing off the pitch into the main
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chamber; the pitch appears to continue downwards
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[<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-19" id="qC2009-204-19">C2009-204-19 B</a>]. To the right
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in the chamber are a number of pitches
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[<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-22" id="qC2009-204-22">C2009-204-22 A</a>]
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[<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-23" id="qC2009-204-23">C2009-204-23 A</a>]
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[<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-24" id="qC2009-204-24">C2009-204-24 B</a>].
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Traversing over one of these pitches in the far southwest corner of the chamber
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leads to <a href="bigboulders.html#dogdays">Dog Days</a> which is the
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route to the <a href="bigboulders.html">Big Boulders</a> area.
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<i>Descending
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the latter hole leads to connections with <a href="#fatcat">Fat Cat</a> at the level
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of the boulders some 5m down to the north. To the south, a rift pitch continues with
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further visual connections to the head of the pitch.</i> To the left, the chamber
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narrows to a wide passage, at the end of which is a large pitch:
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<a href="#fatcat">Fat Cat</a>.</p>
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<h3><a id="fatcat">Fat Cat</a></h3>
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<p>Fat cat is rigged initally from a large spike in <a href="#prowl">On the Prowl</a>.
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After a 3m climb down to a ledge, there is a y-hang. It is initally narrow, but bells
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out below a rebelay, about 10m down. After a further 7m of descent, two phreatic
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pockets are reached to the northwest. <i>The upper pocket can be reached via a natural
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anchor and a rebelay bolt in the ceiling. This pocket goes in for 8m, at the end of
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which two solution pockets are observed in the ceiling which ascend for 10m. The lower
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phreatic pocket is unexplored [C2012-204-XX ?].</i></p>
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<p>After a further 7m, it is possible to swing off to the southwest
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[<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-27" id="qC2009-204-27">C2009-204-27 A</a>]. <i>A 4m climb
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up loose boulders leads to the base of twin avens with visual connections to the level
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of the head of Fat Cat. [FIXME: (Olly) which holes are these?]</i></p>
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<p>Decending the main pitch a further 7m leads to a ledge from where there are two
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ways to descend. The main route down descends a further 10m to a ledge. At the
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opposite side of the shaft at this level, a passage leads off into
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<a href="#cirque">Cirque du Soleil</a>. It is possible to descend a further 10m into
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a large chamber, at the bottom of which is a slot
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[<a href="qm.html#C2009-204-30" id="qC2009-204-30">C2009-204-30 B</a>]. 80m of rope
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is required to reach the lowest "floor". From the ledge 20m above the
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floor, an alternative descent of 10m down a smaller shaft is the route to
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<a href="#catgut">Catgut</a>.</p>
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<h3><a id="catgut">Catgut and Pussy Riot</a></h3>
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<p>From the bottom of the alternative shaft from <a href="#fatcat">Fat Cat</a>, a 2m
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climb to the southwest over Boris the Boulder leads into a small phreatic passage,
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Catgut. This closes down after 4m, but the second of two holes down and to the right
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is passable. Awkward progress is made downhill through small, popcorn encrusted
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passage passing a passage on the right that doubles back under the passage just
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traversed that is blocked by rocks [C2012-204-01 D]. Further on, a junction is
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quickly reached by survey station 7. To the right leads to Cat Flea.</p>
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<p><i><a name="catflea">Cat Flea</a> is delightful... [FIXME: (Olaf) description
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needed]</i></p>
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<p>At survey station 7, a popcorn encrusted squeeze down to the left leads over a
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pitch of at least 10m [C2012-204-02 A] to a larger phreatic passage. <i>A window on
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the right leads to a 5m down climb to a small stream that sinks into a mud choke
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[C2012-204-03 D].</i> Continuing east along the phreatic passage a small stream
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enters immediately from the right from a passage at ceiling level that can be
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accessed via a 3m climb [C2012-04-04 B]. Continuing a further 10m a small chamber
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is reached via a 2m down climb. The exit is via a 3m climb to a larger boulder
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filled chamber with many holes in the floor, which marks the start of
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<a id="pussyriot">Pussy Riot</a>.</p>
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<p>The initial chamber in Pussy Riot contains a number of leads. Immediately to the
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left (east) on entry is a hole down between boulders and wall that appears to be
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2-3m deep [C2012-204-05 B]. Immediately to the right (west) is a larger undescended
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pitch estimated at 15m [C2012-204-06 A], above which is a window that leads back into
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<a href="#catgut">Catgut</a>. On the southwest wall of the chamber are two holes
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through the boulders, [C2012-204-07 B] and [C2012-204-08 B], that may be linked.
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8m up on the southeast wall of the chamber, a phreatic passage appears to enter which
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might be accessible via a diagonal climb up the wall (protection required)
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[C2012-204-09 B].</p>
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<p>The way on is reached by following the left-hand wall of the chamber to an exit
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passage in the eastern corner that carries a considerable draught. A 3m drop (rope
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required) leads into a crawling size continuation to the east (the western
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continuation of the lower level passage appears to choke immediately). Continuing
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past two connected tubes on the right heading steeply uphill [C2012-204-10 C], a
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local widening is reached with a crawl exiting to the right (south) [C2012-204-11 B]
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and the main route heads left (north) via two passages that reunite at a junction
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after 5m. To the left (west) at the junction leads to the bottom of
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<a href="#fatcat">Fat Cat</a>. Right leads to <a href="#cirquedusoleil">
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Cirque du Soleil</a>.</p>
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<h3><a id="cirquedusoleil">Cirque du Soleil</a></h3>
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<p>Swinging off 10m from the bottom of <a href="#fatcat">Fat Cat</a>, a passage to
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the southeast leads off. A crawl through large boulders with a possible crawling
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passage to the left [C2012-204-12 C] leads to a junction. Twin passages to the right
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(south) mark the start of <a href="#pussyriot">Pussy Riot</a>. Ahead (east) is
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Cirque du Soleil. The passage opens out into a large, boulder filled chamber some 15m
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in diameter. At the enlargement there is a narrow rift to the north that will require
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rope for descent [C2012-204-13 B]. Immediately beyond this, a passage to the left
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ultimately links back to Cirque du Soleil.</p>
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<p>To the south are two phreatic windows at the top of a mud slope [C2012-204-14 A]
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with a possible visual connection to Pussy Riot. Immediately beyond these is a window
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onto a drippy pitch with a considerable draught [C2012-204-XX B]. A traverse round
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the right hand wall of this pitch (permanently rigged) is the start of the
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<a href="#support">Far from Support</a> traverses that lead to Kaninchenhöhle.</p>
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<p>Continuing round the same wall, a descending mud bank is reached in the southeast
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corner that will require a rope for descent [C2012-204-15 B]. 10m away to north is a
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small hole through boulders [C2012-204-16 B]. From this point, a clamber down a
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boulder pile leads to a northward trending passage some 5m wide and 10m high that
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carries a considerable draught from the north. At the bottom of the slope, a passage
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doubling back on the left connects back to the route into Cirque du Soleil, and a
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small hole through the boulders has not been descended [C2012-204-17 B]. The passage
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continues for a further 20m to a window onto a large, drippy pitch that is at least
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20m across at the largest extent. This is almost certainly the final pitch of the
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<a href="ariston.html#kiwisuit">Kiwi Suit</a> series.</p>
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<h3><a name="support">Far from Support</a></h3>
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<p>At the southern end of <a href="#cirquedusoleil">Cirque du Soleil</a> a
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permanently rigged bolt traverse heads off round the right-hand side of a drippy
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pitch. The route descends, via a rebelay, to a ledge 5m down, then up into a
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rift on the opposite side of the pitch. Continuing round the corner to the
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right leads to a pitch in the rift of unknown depth on the right [C2012-204-XX B]
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and a much larger, drippy pitch on the left. The rope goes up a climb to a second
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bolt traverse round the left-hand wall of this pitch. This leads after 15m to
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the northern end of <a href="../161/mordor.htm#bored">Bored of the Rings</a>
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in Kaninchenhöhle.</p>
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<hr />
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<div class="centre">
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<h3><a id="survey">Survey</a></h3>
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<img src="smallsurveys/millennium.png" alt="Survey" />
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</div>
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<hr />
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</body>
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</html>
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