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<p>The first part of the log is traditionally taken up by the journey
out.<br>If this is of no interest, here is a link <a href="#id1997-161-1">to
the caving</a>!

<h1>IN REQUIEM</h1>
  It was pissing down all over Europe...
  
<h2>MEANWHILE, BACK AT CAMBRIDGE:-</h2>

TEAM MOMENTUM II...       <u>MikeTA</u> , Sam , DaveH       18/19 july 1997

<p>Started from York with Tina'n'Mike and quite a lot of not-very well packed
gear, and drove to pick up Dave, thence to Sam's with even more even more
crapply packed gear. Sam was out but a quick look through his bedroom window
showed a huge pile of even more gear. General opinion was that it wouldn't
all fit but Tina started from the position that it would so it did

<p>[pic of estate car with stuff on roof with 15 degree elevation to
road]

<p>with Tina and Sam on &frac12; back seat.

<p>Uneventful journey to chunnel except for fuzz in car who were heard to say
'bloody hell'.

<p>Unloaded Tina and quite a lot on Clive who was going to France to go gorge
bashing.

<p>On the shuttle Mike'n'Dave went to see Tony'n'Becka who were there as
well; on the way back met Sam who asked if Mike had the keys 'cos he'd locked
the Astra. Say no more so Dave kicked a rear quarter light in. Sam is now
candidate for expo fuckwit of the year. Apart from that and the fact that it
pissed down almost continuously ( and we saw two standard &amp; one very
mangled crash) the journey was pretty eneventful. T/T 14&frac12; hours

<hr />

<p>Team Raspberry Ripple - TonyR + <u>Becka</u> 18/19 July 97

<p>All v. civilised, even tho' I had shitloads of gear there was only the two
of us, so it all fitted. Saw Clive et al at Dover, &amp; Mike et al (who
ignored us) &amp; apparently Jeremy was hanging around in the melee, but we
didn't see him. Did the chunnel, &amp; Mike + Dave came along to say hi + I
splashed raspberry juice all over Tony's car. Oh, and we'd all brought a
litre of single malt so we were OK. We drove &amp; swapped &amp; drove +
swapped + drove... It was horrible &amp; v._v_ wet. At about 4am it got
light, but it was still wet. We did the scenic tour north of Salzburg -
Tharau, Mondsee,??, Mendre &amp; finally [scribble] Wolfgangzee. That took an
hour in the rain. So are we going to be 1st, 2nd or 3rd (asked Tony?) 2nd if
we're lucky, MikeTA will have floored it + Adam's probably beat us too. We
were first. Said hi to Karin, shopped in Bad Aussee &amp; MikeTA arrived.
Beers in Hildes. I crashed, but the single malt was cracked open.

<p>two trips from all five of us to 19/9 Top Camp with our caving gear +
Shit. Even managed to be dry on the 2nd.

<p>PM - Germans dropped by for a couple of hours &amp; a couple of beers.
They've re-surveyed our original Stellerweg stuff. Gave them a whisky taster
sesh then they went + we finished the 2nd crate of beer, dried our boots +
sang (no ghetto blaster).

<hr />

<p>DRIVE-IN  Jon Barker, Adam Cooper + Gear in a dodgy van.

<p>Hull- Rotterdam crossing -&gt; pleasant drive 'cos you can get some real
sleep. Relatively uneventful drive taking ~15hrs, except 1) the Dutch are
crap at signing anywhere outside Holland which makes getting into Germany
tricky. 2) Coffee beans work at keeping a driver lively.

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-1">Wheelchair</a> Access 21/7/97
<br>Team 1: <u>Sam</u>, Dave, Mike TA
<br>Team 2: Becka, Tony, Mike TA (again)
<br>T/U 5 hours

<p>With a hoard of going leads there was lots for all to do (all five of
us). After a certain amount of whinging about the scrofulous route in we
were at the pushing ...{Dave gave me a beer at this point} ... front.
Through a squeeze to the left there was a pitch with a traverse over the
top (apparently pushed by CJD last year), I traversed over the pitch, up
a climb, over another pitch and errr... ummm... it all got a bit
difficult, but carried on.

<p>[ sketch plan showing location of survey point marked with "M" ]

<p>Having given up the traverse I then proceeded to hammer a spit in, 1/3
of the way in - ping, the rock fell to pieces. The second hole worked
and I derigged the traverse and rigged the pitch (1st one), This dropped
7m and ended in a blind, choked rift.

<p>Meanwhile the other team (team 2) were rigging down the right-hand pitch
series, a steeply descending ramp, This was rigged to an awkward squeeze
constriction ~20m whereupon they ran out of rope, Mike, having carefully
forgotten his harness earlier on in the trip, then proceeded to leave
his jammers at the top of the ramp series (chalk one up for the Fuckwit
Tally).

<p>Soon it was deemed to be 'Time to Go' and we exited the cave. Most
people walked back to top camp - however, Dave and I decided to go 'off
piste' and had an entertaining time on the Ht. Schwartzmoos Kgl. (see
separate write-up when I get round to it).

<p><a href="../1996/log.htm#id1996-161-63">Previous trip (1996)</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-3">Next trip</a>

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-2">Where the Wind Blows</a> 23/07/97
<br>Tony, Sam, <u>Becka</u>
<br>T/U 5 hours

<p>Pootled along to Where the Wind Blows, <u>swearing</u> loudly at last
years deriggers, who had removed all the sodding handlines (but hadn't
detackled things like the big wet loose pitch down Alternative
Universe). We skipped one handline, cut our rope for the next two, then
spent <u>ages</u> faffing at the little up-climb before No Utility Belt
Required, 'cos the bastards had taken the rope off that <u>too</u>, for
no good reason, and our rope wasn't long enough. We had now used all our
rope, and I'd misheard how many bits we'd have to bring and we hadn't
expected <u>all</u> the handlines to be derigged. To the question marks
at the end of Where the Wind Blows, I wriggled down the slot on the
left, 5m before the choked end.

<p>[ sketch plan with much annotation ]

<p>I went left, up a vertical squeeze to a small chamber then up another
vertical squeeze (Sam first) and a step up and Sam went up a 4m climb to
look into a <u>big</u> echoey vertical aven. He couldn't see anything
obvious off it.

<p>Tony + Sam rigged the little pitch down the rift on the R after
going through the slot on the L (by dint of sending Sam <u>back</u>
to derig the bloody up-climb to fetch the rope), Pitch to small chamber,
~3m down, then in one corner a tight rift going off (needs
<u>hammering</u>) widens out below to ?20m pitch. A <u>small</u>
question mark!

<p>Meanwhile I started digging the final boulder choke. Thought the weak
draft got a <u>bit</u> stronger. Slow going - a medium sized QM?.

<p><center>BKA</center>

<p><a href="../1996/log.htm#id1996-161-47">Previous trip (1996)</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-14a">Next trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-3">Wheelchair Access trip</a> (same day)

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-5">24/7/97</a> Dave H, Jon Barber, <u>Becka</u><br>
<center>Alternative Universe</center> 
<p align=right>T/U 5&frac12; hours

<p>Mike gave us the briefing as he'd been the only one down last year.
Gave Jon a brief lesson in surveying. Found a random carbide mark half-
way down the boulder slope ~100m before Bulemic Pit. At the bottom of
the boulder slope, you drop down a hole in the boulders (q. loose) and
follow a tightish rift steeply down for ~5m to a Y-hand (2 bolts) which
Mike had put in. Took out the rope which had been put in last year and
rigged out <u>nice</u> skinny 9mm. Q. drippy down the pitch. 28m down to
a big ledge. Found Mike's single dodgy bolt on the balcony to the bridge
+ Jon put in a second bolt for a <u>nearly</u> rub-free Y-hang. At the
ledge, I dropped the 5m pitch off 2 naturals - 2 well preserved
<u>bat skeletons</u>

<p>[ sketch showing locations of bat skeletons ]

<p>(as plan) and an eye-hole through to the main pitch
Jon was bolting. No other way on.

<p>Jon + I down the next pitch, Y-hang <u>just about</u> OK with a rope
protector and tacklesack on each arm of the Y-hang, but bad rubbing on
the lower part of the pitch. Estimate 30-40m. Mike hadn't bottomed this
last year [Oh yes I had - Mike TA] - not enough rope. Even drippier at
the bottom of this pitch. Person-width rift led off. We thrutched

<p>[ sketch plan of chamber ]

<p>down as far as a short drop (15ft or less) where the rift opened up and
continued around the corner - couldn't see how it ended,

<p>Requires surveying from bolt at the head of 2nd pitch and probably a
rebelay and deviation (at least!) on the 2nd pitch, plus a bolt for the
short climb down the rift.

<p><center>BKA</center>

<p><a href="../1996/log.htm#id1996-161-65">Previous trip (1996)</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-14">Next trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-4">Wheelchair Access trip</a> (same day)

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-3">Wheelchair Access</a> 23/07/97 T/U 5 hours
<br><u>Jon</u>, Adam, Mike

<p>This was my first down Kaninchenh&ouml;hle. I was hot and tired by the
time we had walked there in the midday sun. The cave was very cold in
contrast.

<p>We set off into Wheelchair Access. It was odd route with small bits and
lots of climbs. The ways were very sharp and I do not see my over suit
lasting very long.

<p>We then started on the shit ramp. Adam sat and put a spit in part way
down while Mike continued down and bolted lower down. I just sat down
and went to sleep while they worked.

<p>The pitch was descended and another climb was found into a big passage.
This could not be entered as there were no more ropes. See later to find
out how much more there is ....

<p><a href="#id1997-161-1">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-4">Next trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-2">Where the Wind Blows trip</a> (same day)

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-4">24/July</a>
<u>Wheelchair Access &amp; Kein Zimmer Rift</u>
<table border><tr><td>Tony, <u>Mike</u></td>
<td>pushing</td><td>Time U/G</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sam, <u>Adam</u></td><td>surveying</td><td>6 hours</td></tr></table>

<p>(1) <u>Surveying Trip</u>

<p>Proceeded to passage referred to in the last write-up. The dirty ramp in
Wheelchair Access has been renamed Kein Zimmer Rift on account of the
lack of space. Surveyed from the 'M' carbide mark at -225m below 161a.
Survey station 20 is the bottom of a plumb from the obvious nose
containing a spit for the pitch into the big stuff. Tony whinged like a
tosser spitting this. Spent ~&frac14;hour running upstream in enormnous
passage, before leaving.

<p>See survey book for Sam's sketch of (mainly) the upstream passage - Tony
and Mike had investigated down stream ... (next page)

<p>(2) <u>Pushing Trip</u>

<p>Trundled quickly down to the bottom of Kein Zimmer, pausing only
occasionally to kick shit out of a tackle bag to get it down the rift. A
few minutes knitting saw the drop into the passage rigged, and we
dropped into a huge (well, very large) passage. Hmmm :- upstream or
downstream? We agreed on downstream - followed passage for 250m with a
few climbs through boulders but always large passage (phreatic tube at
the pitch but becoming more canyon-like later). Eventually reached big
ledge at side of a massive rift chamber. Tony bolted and descended to a
ledge below which the pitch continued, but from there we climbed into
the chamber. This is a huge (yes, <u>huge</u>) rift chamber with a
steeply sloping floor, maybe 40m end-to-end. The bottom end narrows to a
wall of mud. Unfortunately we couldn't find any way out.

<p>Returned back up and met Sam &amp; Adam who had just reached the kitted
pitch. Tony bolted properly, then we ran upstream for a bit; this leads
over a choss bank to another large chamber with a soil bank; up this and
left leads back to the main passage, right goes to a climb down into a
chamber, with a crawling tube back to the aforementioned chamber.

<p>Now that's what makes expo caving worthwhile. Went out and got back to
the L&ouml;serhutte before it started raining.

<p><a href="#id1997-161-3">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-6">Next trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-5">Alternative Universe trip</a> (same day)

<hr />

23/07/97 <u>Dave H</u>

<p>Whilst the rest were caving I walked from Top Camp to the cave re-cairning
the route so I won't get lost again. I also explored three possible digs in
the valley/gulley we walk down. Starting from the bottom, on the left as you
walk down, just before you get to the bunde highway, you step over it on the
walk to the cave. A tight rift with a good cold draft. May go, but needed
more in the way of protective clothing than shorts and T-shirt.

<p>In the right hand wall of the valley:

<p>(1) Sam's dig:
<br>Flat out crawl on pebbles with more run in from the
right. Way on is a tight rift in the floor at the end. I removed some
rocks but rift looks too tight at 5-6 inches wide. But does emit a
strong cold draft.

<p>(2) Further up on the right as you walk down the valley/gulley. A
circular entrance with mud floor, leads to a 3m deep pot which is blind.
The way on over the top of the pot soon chokes - no draft.

<p><u>Dave</u>

<hr />

SAM &amp; DAVE GO WALKABOUT
<br>DAVE, <u>SAM</u>

<p>Having had a successful first trip in the cave (well, noone died anyway)
we exited into blinding sun, er, clag, mist and light rain. We all left
together, Dave and I bringing up the rear and all was well trolling up
the gulley back to top camp. Twilight had set in so now we had clag,
mist, heavier rain and failing visibility - what could possibly go wrong
- well....

<center><h3>WE GOT LOST</h3></center>

<p>At one point we traversed round a bit both of us recognised as being an
alternative route instead of going up a climb on the 'Authorised' route.
Sorry this pen's a bit crap - switching to a new one .... This one's
better ... Rather than do the sensible intelligent thing and turn back
we persevered on our present course assuming we'd meet the path again. I
mistakenly headed rightish (North as it turned out) up a different gully
and then carefully kept a vague dark blob of a hill to our left. The
vague dark blob of a hill was in fact the Hinter Schwartzmoos Kogel.
More dark and more rain. We were now thoroughly lost. Dave had a compass
and I had a vague notion of which way we should go - East and maybe a bit
North and downhill 'cos we were definitely too high. Ten minutes later
it was completely dark and tipping down (still misty and claggy) and it
was decided that more walking in which ever direction would get us more
lost so we found a rock shelter (dripping, misty, claggy and a pleasant
breeze blowing through). We donned every bit of available gear including
rucksacks - every bit of available gear was wet of course, and layed in
a slight depression in the rocks. It was now 9:15pm, Dave fettled his
carbide up and we huddled round it breathing warm carbide soot, and very
warming it was too. The rest of the night was sleepless, very cold,
always quarter to something and raining, dark, misty, claggy and windy.
We waited for a reasonable amount of light and I decided if we headed
South and East depending on terrain we would arrive back somewhere
useful no matter where we were. 5:30am we set off (in the mist and clag
but no rain hooray!!) - the walking around warmed us up and as we got
lower the clag cleared marginally. A cliff face covered in Bunda ...
mmmmm ... we found what looked a bit like a path and followed it - a bit
of dithering around in the Bunda and we found a gulley - no way out at
the bottom. <b>BUT</b> a little way up we found a definite path - sawn
off branches and all and .... oh, we were at the Bunda traverse leading
to 161d. Turn around and 15 minutes later we were back where we had gone
wrong 10 hours earlier, still alive mostly thanks to having a carbide
and a compass. 10 minutes further on we found Becka bellowing sweetly
through the mist - rescued at last. After a brew and a bowl of Tom Yan
Noodle soup we all went back down to base camp and what turned out to be a
nice sunny day.

<p>Many thanks to the people who had to get out of their just warm pits,
put on their boots (after they'd tipped the water out) to come and look
for us (twice) - next time it's your turn to hide.

<p>Sam (only seven lives left now).

<hr />

<u>William</u> and Julian 27/07/97

<p>William and Julian walked over in direction of C136, left gear for
tomorrow's trip at highest point of Kaninchenh&ouml;hle path above col, and
carried on round and slightly up. Noticed small hole under boulders and
went down with a head-torch. Goes down for c. 20m to a tightish looking
way on (worth trying in proper gear). At this point I could see daylight
and crawled up a slope and out.

<p>[drawing of entrance locations]

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-9">28th July '97</a>
<br><u>Dave H</u> and Mike - Photographing Lost World
<br>Sam and William - Surveying Lost World

<p>We went to Lost World, Sam carried my camera gear down Kein Zimmer rift.
I took lots of photos in upstream Lost World which I hope come out.
Tried photographing one of the many bat skeletons in the large chamber
upstream Lost World, which almost certainly won't come out. I'm not sure
I had enough light to do the large chamber justice - may be worth going
back with some bulbs instead. Took more photos on the way out, including
of Kein Zimmer rift, up which Mike carried my ammo can.

<p>Because I kept taking more photos on the way out we didn't get out 'till
close to our call-out time of 8pm.

<p>T/U 7 &frac34; hours

<p><center>Dave</center>

<p><a href="#id1997-161-8">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-10">The surveying trip</a>
<a href="#id1997-161-12">Next trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-1">136 trip</a> &amp;
<a href="#id1997-161-11">Siberia trip</a> (same day)

<hr />

<u><a id="id1997-161-10">28 July '98</a> &lt;- ?
Surveying Lost World Upstream</u>

<p><center>Sam (notes) and <u>William</u> (instruments)</center>

<p>My reintroduction to KH after 1990 expo - don't like climb to new
entrance. Arrived just in time to hear a winging sound and see Becka
disappearing underground. Passed grottyishly rigged surprise of Wheelchair
Access - could do with extra bolt to remove need for rope protector. Down to
Lost World via Kein Zimmer (Kein Raum/Platz?) rift which proved much easier
than we'd been told. Sam and I started surveying while Dave and Mike took
piccies. Got up to survey st'n 4 where Sam suggested we go up a side rift
towards sound of running water. This we did and found huge area with small
stream running down wall, disappearing under boulder blocking exit and
simultaneously holding back a large pile of mud and gravel. Might just get
down but probably not worth trying unless you fancy getting buried alive.
Decided to survey it and ripped my suit. Continued surveying to station 10 in
the chamber full of dead bats (Ptearamack Suit Chamber?) - well 2 or 3
anyway. Continued through the crawl to the black floored passage (Bournville
Lakes) and connected up a few more legs here and there. By this time I was
freezing so we started out. Mike and Dave went on up the rift while I put a
bolt in the bottom pitch to improve the take off and still caught them up
before the top of the rift pitch. Out ca 7.30pm, back to camp where we waited
for Julian and Anthony to come out of 136 before going down to base camp in
the dark.

<p>Time Underground 7&frac12; hrs, William

<p>P.S. Pause for a rant. When joining ropes at a rebelay, join the rope
<u>loops</u> not just the maillon. That way you won't die if the maillon
unscrews.

<p>[drawing of correct method with large tick]<br>
[drawing of wrong method with large cross]

<p>PPS I like the rigging generally really!

<p>[Insert: page torn from magazine - advertisement "Now there's a new way to
avoid the wet patch.", captioned "Open, for a new exciting product - useful
for Sump clearance, wild nights out and rising damp."]

<p><a href="#id1997-161-8">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-9">The photography trip</a>
<a href="#id1997-161-12">Next trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-1">136 trip</a> &amp;
<a href="#id1997-161-11">Siberia trip</a> (same day)

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-11">28th July 1997</a> Rigging towards Siberia T/U 7 hrs

<p><u>Phil U</u>, Dunk, Becka
<p align=right>{xxxx} = corrections from Becka

<p>Dunk had an Idea: "Let's push that lead in Siberia!"
<br>Phil: "Sounds like fun. Where's Siberia?"
<br>Becka: "Can I come too?"

<p>So we arrived at 161d, and worked out what we had forgotten.
Unfortunately, I managed to fettle up a replacement for my lamp belt, so I
had to go caving. We arrived at the guillotine to find several 9-10m lengths
of rope, and three ropes >=56m. Mutter. General rope cutting and fettling,
(the 60-odd m rope), and then we were off. Rigged into Knossus via an airy
rebelay {Found tacklesack which had been left from last year}. General
wandering around trying to find YAPATE inlet. Found it. Stomp. Replaced the
traverse line {No, we didn't, we replaced the maillon on the pitch head and
left all the rope (circa 1990 or so)} below staircase 36, and prussiked up.
Becka replaced a dodgy looking <strike>hanger</strike> {maillon}, and we
trundled up Chicken Flied Nice, with a short diversion to look at Hyper Gamma
Spaces.

<p>Next:
lugging the tackle-bastards up Burble crawl. Not as nasty as it could have
been, but still pretty miserable. Popped out at the head of Vom pitch, which
Becka rigged half-way <strike>before running out of things to</strike>, and
then couldn't find the right way down. Dunks then had a go with equal lack of
success. {Later we found out it had been rigged off a deviation which had
later fallen off as someone prussiked up it.} Phil didn't try. We came out,
happy that we didn't have to lug all the tackle back through Burble, and
exited to warm sunshine at 7.00pm.

<p><a href="../1994/log.htm#id1994-161-11">Previous trip (1994)</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-13">Next trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-1">136 trip</a> &amp;
<a href="#id1997-161-9">Wheelchair Access trips</a> (same day)

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-6">26/7/97</a> <u>Becka</u>, Jon
TU 6 hrs <u>Wheelchair Access</u>

<p>Raining so noone else wanted to go caving. I dragged Jon down Wheelchair
Access. Jon did some re-rigging on Kein Zimmer and I ran downsteam to the
pitch. Jon came along and we ran upstream for a look around and then started
surveying downstream for some time. Then we came out.

<p><a href="#id1997-161-4">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-7">Next trip</a>

<hr />

<center><a id="id1997-161-7">27/07/97</a> <u>Becka</u>, Robert and Robert
T/U 7 hrs<br>
German cavers from Stuttgart club<br>
Tourist + Wheelchair Access</center>	

<p>Germans walked all the way over to Scarface with their gear from the car
park (with some subtle grumbles over the climbs!) and I took them on a
tourist to the end of Triassic Park and showed them the Fear-On Traverse and
the start of Interview Blues. Back to go down Wheelchair Access. More mild
grumbles over oversuit-shredding Kein Zimmer. Robert and Robert surveyed
downstream from where Jon and I had left off yesterday to the bottom of the
pitch downstream. I furtled around in the chamber below the pitch but
couldn't find a way on - unless there is a way the other side of the pool
where the pitch comes in.....but that is over welly height. I went back to
fetch a rope and rigged a pitch (?5m) off 2 naturals and kicked the accrued
stones down for a bit. Lobbed down and Robert (the elder) followed. 

<p>[detailed sketch of cave]

<p>To small chamber with skinny rift upstream + rift (fine to go down)
downstream. Down ~10m to small chamber, then along ~another 10m to top of
small pitch in rift - I think this is quite likely to join up to the pool at
the bottom of the downstream pitch into the big rift chamber, but should be
checked. Robert could see light from young Robert when he was in the 2nd rift
after the chamber + young Robert was in the main passage above the pitch.
[arrow pointing to a section at the bottom of the next page]
Showed the Germans Salt Lake City at the end of the trip and then they walked
all the way back to the car park with their gear!

<p><a href="#id1997-161-6">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-8">Next trip</a>

<hr />

<center><a id="id1997-136-2"><u>Steinschlagschacht - 136</u></a><br>
29/7/97 <u>Becka</u>, Julian H, Anthony	T/U 6&frac12; hrs</center>

<p>Faff, faff. Then Becka realised she had forgotten her oversuit at 161 so
had to go back down the bloody hill to get it (see Fuckwit count). Finally
got underground about 2pm. Anthony and Julian started the survey (Anthony had
done the surface survey to 136 earlier). After the first pitch, I took over
the surveying with Anthony and Julian went down to continue the rigging. We
did lots of dodgy plumbs and ambled on down nice airy rigging with hardly any
choss at all (<u>what were</u> they griping about?) Surveyed down to where A
&amp; J had got yesterday, then Julian had rigged a traverse line over a
wettish rift into an eyehole. We reckoned the original CUCC route had gone
straight down the wet route. We did another 54m rope worth down the eye-hole
route, over a sloping hole and down 2 or 3 ledges until Julian got bored of
rigging and our survey had caught up with him (189m depth surveyed, with 40m
plan extent, fun, fun, fun!) Then we turned round and prussiked back out
again to a fantastic sunset.

<p><a href="#id1997-136-1">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-3">Next trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-12">161 trip</a> (same day)

<hr />

<center><a id="id1997-136-1">Steinschlagschacht</a> - 136<br>	
28/7/97 <u>Julian H</u>, Anthony T/U 7&frac12; hrs</center>

<p>Walked to 136 the hard way, up, down, up, down over choss etc. Walked back
to get my gear. Sat around a bit fettling things, untangling 200m of rope and
remembering how to put on SRT kit. Eventually got underground about 2
o'clock. Completely rerigged the first pitch to avoid as much of the loose
rubble as possible - now a 45&deg; bolt traverse to the head of the pitch.
Pitch head has moved from the original '83 position - now out of the line of
fire from the boulder slope. Fine pitch (c.35m) with mostly free hang (and a
lot of bounce) - one deviation.

<p>Continued on from foot of 1st pitch into large chamber sloping downhill
from entry point. There appeared to be 2 or 3 ways on from here but only one
spit in evidence from the original '83 exploration. We rigged down the most
promising hole (not where the original spit was) on the opposite side of the
chamber about half way down the slope. After about 15m descent found spits
from '83 exploration and followed these for around 100m descent. Eventually
arrived at a ledge next to a waterfall with the water disappearing down a
rift in the floor. This route looks a bit damp and unpleasant.

<p><u>Note:</u> The pitch head at the 2nd pitch is both loose and awkward.
Typically people kick rocks from this which fall around 70/80m down the pitch
to the obvious ledge. It's advisable not to call "pitch free" until OFF the
2nd pitch and for the following people to wait under this obvious ledge.

<p><a href="../1984/log.htm#id1984-136-5">Previous trip</a> (1984) /
<a href="#id1997-136-2">Next trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-11">Siberia trip</a> &amp;
<a href="#id1997-161-9">Wheelchair Access trips</a> (same day)

<hr />

<center><a id="id1997-161-15">31/7/97</a> KH&ouml;hle -
Puerile Humour

<p><u>Dave H</u>, Andrew, Mike TU 5&frac12; hrs</center>

<p>Photographic trip up Puerile Humour. Went in with Sam and Adam to show us
the way. Took a couple of photos of Slidy Caver on the way in while waiting
for Andrew to change. I started photographing at Penguin Falls, and took one
and a bit films in Puerile. Took no piccies in Triassic cos I was told there
already are plenty. Finished off with some pictures in Critters' End,
Perseverance and Slidy Caver again. Got out with weather still OK, but heavy
cloud building. Back to camp OK, but it started thundering, lightening and
pissing down on the way down.

<p><center>Dave</center>

<p><a href="#id1997-161-14a">Previous trip</a> (Where The Wind Blows) /
Next trip - 1999 ?

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-16">31/7/97</a> <u>Dunk</u>, William, Phil U
<u>Siberia TU 11 hrs</u>

<p>Finally got to the pushing front in Siberia. Someone Else's Problem is
fucking big. Whacked in some bolts and threw William down on a bit of rope.
No sign of the bottom - estimate about 50m. Came back out to darkness and
pissing rain. Siberia is in fact dead nice. A bit blowy, but dead nice - lots
of sculpted flakes of rock, and quite a lot of ?s all over the place.

<p><a href="#id1997-161-13">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-17">Next trip</a>

<hr />

<center><a id="id1997-136-3">31/7/97</a> Tony, <u>Becka</u> TU Tony 7 hrs
Becka 8 hrs<br> Steinschlagschact (136)</center>

<p>We went down ~same time as Julian + Anthony, we'd split a 200m rope
between us to rig each of our 2 routes. J &amp; A bombed off with the drill
through the Eyehole route whilst Tony put another bolt on the opposite wall
to the end of the traverse. We went down the damper route, though the Y-hang
was well away from the water. Down to ledge in the rift, walked along it
~10m, found an 83/84 bolt. Tony down that, put a rebelay bolt over the lip,
moaned quite a bit about dead legs and down another short pitch. Along a
ledge R ~10m again, still stringing along our 100m rope and .....
der-der-der-duurh, we think we found the "Phreatic Phantasy" level. A few
widgy 1 metre (max) diameter tubes going off at quite steep (?60&deg; or so)
angles which intersected with the main shaft. I furtled around for quite a
time rigged off various so-so naturals, to see if anything promising went
off. Nothing really seemed to be drafting they were quite mud-filled. I
rigged the next little pitch off 3 naturals and swung around and around some
more to various odd holes. Snapped off a v. fine white stal. squeezing into
an unpromising rifty-hole, sadly.

<p>[detailed sketch of cave entitled: Fantasy Frigging Freatic Level]

<p>Oh dear. Out to the traverse line, met the other 2 who'd bombed down and
bombed out, surveying. Tony went out. Julian, Anthony and I went back down
our route to survey it as far as a knobble (CM) above and on the wall by the
2nd natural (see plan over). Oh, except Anthony ballsed up and didn't get a
compass for that leg. Everyone turned their noses up at my phreatics then we
prussiked out with loads of drill gear which was bloody heavy. I ended up
with 2 tacklesacks on the entrance pitch with the usual CUCC 2m donkey dicks
on which meant they swung nicely into all the ungardened choss on the
traverse line at the top. Crash, rumble, crash. "You still there Anthony?"
Dour grumbles from the farthest corner of the cave. Out to thunder,
lightning and downpour. Walked down in caving gear. Yum,yum.

<p><a href="#id1997-136-2">Previous trip</a> -
<a href="#id1997-136-4">Dry route trip</a> (same day) -
<a href="#id1997-136-5">Next (connection) trip</a>

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-8">27/07/97</a> <u>Sam, Adam</u><br>
Surveying upstream in Lost World

<p>Discovered a section of <u>large</u> passage containing many mud
formations and showing evidence of backing up. Very sump-like. Much of
passage (named Bournville Lakes?) was ~5m wide, highly linear and v. tall,
hading slightly. Dived off down, even more sump-like, entering a tube before
leading ultimately to a small mud-choked bit. The water had cut deep trenches
in mud banks but seemed to seep into choss in the floor. Surveyed this lot so
didn't have time to complete the whole upstream survey.

<p>(Survey continued William &amp; Sam)
<img alt=" " src="../../../icons/lists/tab64.png"> Adam<br>
(28/7 - <a href="#id1997-161-10">written up earlier</a>)
<img alt=" " src="../../../icons/lists/tab96.png"> T/U 7 hrs

<p><a href="#id1997-161-7">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-9">Next trips</a>

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-12">29/7/97</a> Sam's rift at top of K(l?)ein Zimmer<br>
<center>Tony, Jon, <u>Adam</u></center>

<p>Went with drill to push over the 1st pit (Sam did before, blind pit).
Bolted down 2nd pit, clearing choss on the way. Approx 20m deep before
choked. Adam bolted up to the last bolt before suggesting Jon continued. He
did - it went about 10 feet! Went out - Tony frozen. Needs further push for
3rd pit!

<p>T/UG 5 hrs Adam

<p><a href="#id1997-161-10">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-2">136 trip</a>  (same day) /
<a href="#id1997-161-19">Next trip</a>

<hr />

30/07/97 Surface ramblings Tony, <u>Adam</u>

<p>Went round the Augstwies side for a look around, starting at 201 level.
Lots of bunde bashing and following Bambi tracks up ridiculous slopes.
Located (1) a tube<br>
(2) a cave CUCC 1997 # 1 ... (see KH survey book, sorry)

<p>Both are in the cliff which 161d sits in. The tube was too high - need to ab in. The cave is 30m long and may draught slightly. Worth a dig as it is
~30m lower &amp; 20m S of 161d. It is phreatic.

<p>Sketched some surface features to the limit of my ability. See non-KH
survey book.

<p align=right>Adam<br>
T/U 30 mins

<p>

<hr />

<a id="id1997-136-4">31/7/97</a> Steinschlagschacht (136)<br>
Julian H + Anthony.<br>
TU 8 hours

<p>Bombed down the "Eyehole Route" as far as the limit of the trip on 29/7/97
to find Julian putting in more bolts at the head of the next pitch Some time
and 3 bolts later, a distant "pitch free" was heard &amp; I followed. Pitch
is approx. 60m with deviation &amp; 2 rebelays. The last 45m is down the wall
of a jolly large chamber. (roof not visible from top rebelay (at least 65m
high) chamber appears to be part of an enormous rift, ~10m wide and 20m long,
choked at either end. At the southern end, a hole is visible ~10m off the
ground, possibly accessible by a chossy climb which neither of us fancied our
chances of getting back down again without a rope. A hole under the far wall
of the chamber from where the rope lands leads to the foot of a drippy aven
with no other visible leads. Survey data puts this lot at -257m from 136
entrance and ~30m below the level of Forbidden Land. No obvious draught,
though the big pitch is quite breezy. Undid the last 2 rebelays on the way
out with a view to hauling the rope out from the top later. 

<p><a href="#id1997-136-2">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-3">Wet route trip</a> (same day) /
<a href="#id1997-136-5">Next (connection) trip</a>

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-13">30/7/97</a> Siberia<br>
<u>JON</u>, DUNCAN TU 7&frac12; hrs

<p>I was talked into going to Siberia with Duncan. There were plenty of
comments like "Its not that cold", "Burble Crawl is not too bad" and the
like.  It was in fact one of my best trips and I was warm. This was the first
time I did not need a hat and gloves.  We went in through Triassic Park and
into Knossos. All nice and big. Then Burble Crawl. Not too small but .. its
uphill for 100m. Vom Pitch followed. We were glad to get out of this place at
the bottom, lots of bits fell off including what we rigged off. Duncan found
the way on and off we went. (There is also a hole at the bottom of the pitch.
Possible lead!) Found a windy passage. I got cold while Duncan rigged then we
went out to meet our call out.

<p><a href="#id1997-161-11">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-16">Next trip</a>

<hr />

Dunk, Anthony<br>
26/7/97      Team Lardis    Time Travel to Expo

<p>Smaller than it looks on the inside. Travels along right angles in space
time. Got to Dover so fast we reckoned we'd catch the earlier ferry.
Unfortunately the last 2 miles to the docks took 1&frac12; hours therefore
caught &frac14; to 3 ferry.

<p>Once in France Anthrax, Megadeth and Halloween kept us awake for a while.
<p>Incidental note!<br>
Fuel consumption against speed for Lada Riva 1.3 !

<p>[funny graph follows]

<p>Some fat Kraut tried to shove us off the Autobahn, but we arrived OK.

<hr />

<a id="id1997-161-14">Last and final bit of Magic Jumars</a> 30/7/96

<p>Sam Lieberman and Mike Richardson

<p>First trip down Magic Jumars (in fact first trip down Alternative
Universe) before we'd even got to the pitch series we spotted a V. V. good
lead requiring a bolt traverse (Anthony, Dave shits muesli, there was an
awful lot of Dave knowledgeable bullshit going on not to mention a "pendule")
spot the pissed ramblings in log book). Meanwhile back in the cave....

<p>[map drawn here]

<p>Having descended the pitches Sam took off his SRT gear and squeezed
through the rift at the end.  There was a gorgeous echo (worthy of a Welsh
choir) but the rift got too tight errrrrrr................ well a team of
dehydrated midgets might get through - derigged in the well dripping pitches.

<p>TU for Mike 6 hours

<p><a href="#id1997-161-5">Previous Alternative Universe trip</a>

<hr width=40%>

<p><a id="id1997-161-14a"><u>Sam</u></a> Re-rigging Where the Wind Blows
30/7/97

<p>After de-rigging Alternative Universe, Mike headed out from the
Guillotine, with some time in hand I decided to go and recover my tape slings
and re-rig the traverses and hand-lines in Puerile Humour - boring stuff
really. Ran down Triassic/Puerile Humour did the re-rigging/collected the
spare ropes and ran back down Triassic.

<p>TU including Alt.Uni trip 7 &frac12; hours.

<p><a href="#id1997-161-2">Previous WTWB trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-15">Next trip</a>

<hr />

3/8/97 Swiss Alpinists arrive...<br>
Chris Densham, Mary Lane (Fran's sister), Mike Baslington (Juliette Kelly's
4C's buddy)

<p>Just left the Swiss Alps after 2 weeks very pleasant climbing. Just
trogging up the hill to see about doing some caving. Chris

<hr />

2/8/97  some rambling/digging/surface rigging
<br><u>Adam</u>

<p>Claggy weather so went to<br>

(1) rig/insert spits for an ab off from Scar Face to below the cliff for<br>
 a) surveying down lower<br>
 b) rescue evacuation to a helicopter landing<br>
(2) dig the back of 1997/01

<p>Results<br>
(1) rescue rig not completed. Ran out of rope and cones (dropped one :-( ).
So far one spit + 4m and 3m north of 161d for traverse round + 2 spits ~ 15m
N &amp; below at top of grassy swathe. 40m rope from these takes you through
relatively choss free and bunder free region ending on a steep cliff face
where 2 more spits are needed for a ~ 30m? drop down to walking terrain.

<p>(2) Dig 4m gained but needs more effort to continue to shift sandy floor
&amp; more cobbles back in passage. No draft perceived.

<p><u>A walking route to the bottom of the Scarface cliff.</u>

<p>Climb approx 15ft above the entrance to 161d, on the path, contour left
(southish), aiming at a grassy band below a cliff. Drop diagonally down this
grassy band, until an incised gully* (quite narrow) is reached which affords
a scramble downwards to a more level patch of broken ground. Contour round
&amp; up slightly to the bottom of the cliff.

<p>*Just after entering the gully, a cave entrance behind and to your right
(facing down) is seen (entered  - no way on ~ 12m of passage &amp; fractured
rock floor. Not tagged.) Lower down on the R, right in the gully is another
(undescended) cave.

<p><u>Another small cave at the cliff base</u>

<p>Another cave of water worn origin was investigated, (very) approx 150m S
of 161d at the base of the cliff. It is dead straight on a bearing ~ 290&deg;
and dips at -30&deg; from the entrance. Dimensions approx 0m5 wide, varying
in height from ~1m50 to 0m5. Cobble floored. Length approx 16m. Ends in
rubble at floor level &amp; 2 impassable slots above. Seems to draft
slightly. Marked "+" and '97/2" in carbide, <u>not tagged</u>.

<p>Time U/G ~ 1hr

<hr />

<a id="id1997-136-5">2/8/97</a>	Julian H / Becka T/U 7 hours<br>
<center>136 - Steinschlagschacht<br>CONNECTION Trip!</center>

<p>Everyone was nursing non-existent post-dinner hangovers in the rain, but
Julian + I + Adam, being mugs, headed up the hill. Clag + drizzle. Oh well,
we'll walk to top camp, brew up, and psyche ourselves up. I climb into my
soaking Alpinex, after my last 136 trip, I was trying to dry it, ended up
just making myself miserable, but a good dose of Tom Yam noodles soon sorted
us out. Tootled up to 136, bombed on down - gone 2pm! round the Eyehole route
to the top of the pitch series into the big chamber. Julian gets the drill
out + sweats + strains over a nightmare traverse over a great slab of chossy
80( rock, 50m above the deck. I get cold. Occasionally I make helpful
comments like "Do you really need another bolt? Can't you just swing over
from there?" and rack my brain for conciliatory phrases after the traverse
goes nowhere, "Well at least we know how many bolts the drill does now," "It
was a fine view anyway", "Good practice for the real thing" etc. etc.

<p>Eventually Julian disappears over the edge, swings over to another rock
bridge, and I can footle over. I'm frozen + Julian is shagged so I get to do
a loose 6m hang off a dodgy natural down to a chossy mud slope. Julian is
enthusiastic about a vague shadow on the far wall. I try not to get too
pessimistic. I get down, the 'way on' looks like a loosely bouldered alcove.
I start screeching, at Julian, "Look, look!" "What?" "Look!" I've spotted a
<u>huge</u> CM13, we've made the 161 connection to the Forbidden land, yelp.
I go hollering off down the next chamber whilst Julian whacked in a couple
more bolts for the final pitch, then we both went off for a tourist.
We headed towards Elin Algor, but it got v. loose boulder choke. Then we
played around down Tirolia Werke as far as the pitch + poked around some
QMs. Then we surveyed from the QM13 to Anthony's last point, as we were
good bods! Then we went home, prussik, prussik, prussik. Thought there
wouldn't be anyone at Top Camp to brag to, but no, every tent was stuffed to
the gills so we kept up all the Off-To-The-Far-End-At-6.30AM-Tomorrow-Morning
Team up as we pigged out on tortellini again. A fine trip on a dreary day -
KH over 500m + a new entrance!!!

<p><a href="#id1997-136-4">Previous trip</a> /
Next trips (into 161): <a href="#id1997-136-6">Forbidden Land</a> &amp;
<a href="#id1997-136-7">Gravel Pit</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-8">Next 136 push</a>

<hr />

<center><a id="id1997-136-6">3/8/97 Julian, Anthony, <u>Becka</u> T/U 8
hrs</a><br> 136 Steinschlagschacht</center>

<p>Team keen up at 6.30 which meant all of Top Camp was up &amp; around
by 7.30 &amp; I was the last to leave Top Camp at 9.30 or so.

<p>What is CUCC coming to ? We three beat William + Andrew down 136 + headed
off down the wet (Original) Route [ to be called Wet Dreams, and passing
through Fhantasy Phreatics level ?] to continue the survey down. I rigged
until I'd finished the 100m rope (which had started at the Y-hang of the
traverse, where the Eyehole Route splits off). This is 2 pitches off bolts,
one off naturals &amp; then 3 more rebelays off increasingly dodgy bolts.
No shortage of 83/84 bolts - often two within a metre of each other, but
some impressively lousy placements, bolts sticking out miles, wet hangs,
etc. etc. Still, it must have been miserable rigging it in the first
place. The Wet Route is smaller than the shaft series above the traverse,
&amp; apart from the piddly phreatics, it is down, down, with spray + a
series of ledges ~10m apart. Finished the survey (a resurvey from the Y-hang
would be worth it, if the wet route ever goes anywhere!) &amp; then we
derigged the 100m (which was the point of all the above) &amp; went down the
Eye-Hole route &amp; rigged the 100m into the Big Chamber. I did the traverse
&amp; had a look at the drop.

<p>[ sketch showing location of a QM near connection point ]

<p>QM SHOULD BE DONE, GOOD POTENTIAL + drop of ?20m into rifty passage from
the bridge before the final ~6m pitch to the Forbidden World connection.

<p>However, I didn't have a bolting kit + the rock was really chossy so I
went back. People in the chamber look <u>really</u> tiny from 45m up on the
traverse. Down to the Big Chamber to meet the others, a jolly free hang.
Julian had drilled his way up the mud/rock to get to a hole at the south
end of the chamber, but it went nowhere. He left the rope on it.

<p>[sketch plan ]

<p>I looked around the chamber q. carefully. The only lead I could find
was through (down) the boulder climb (q. stable, big rocks) q. a long way
(10-20m) to a q. strongly drafting rift/pitch which would need a bit of
hammering to go (or maybe you could get into it from another spot through
the boulders). Back out, de-rigged the 100m (again!) + left it on the top
of the traverse (well, it might be useful there!) + the drill (see previous
excuse) &amp; ambled on out. My last trip! Anthony's knee now thoroughly
knackered.

<p><a href="#id1997-136-5">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-7">Gravel Pit trip (same day)</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-8">Next 136 push</a>

<hr />

<a id="id1997-136-7">3 Aug 97</a>  Push/Survey Wookey's 1996 lead in
Forbidden Land "The Gravel Pit"<br><u>William Stead</u>, Andrew Atkinson.

<p>The original plan had been for Mike (Animal) to go with Andrew via
Stairway to Hell, special permission having been sought from Tina.
However, new way through from 136 means lots of prussiking, so I was
drafted in instead. Went via Kaninchenh&ouml;hle to pick up SRT kit to
find team Keen <u>still</u> not fully underground &amp; returned to 136
entrance to find Julian &amp; Anthony taking the piss over a half-changed
Becka (or vice-versa). Followed Julian, Anthony &amp; Becka underground
ca 11.30 am &amp; did <u>lots</u> of abseiling down to the bolt traverse
followed by a lot more abseiling &amp; a 100% wacky, way-out traverse
miles up in the ceiling to reach ... The Forbidden Land. Headed <u>South</u>
towards Wookey's lead via a 5m pitch Andy had forgotten about. At this
point my penknife came in handy to cut the rope we'd brought. Continued
down Wookey's lead to find ourselves in a medium size chamber where the
floor + walls comprised entirely gravel or choss (The Gravel Pit).
Looked down a pit in the floor where the take off was also 100% choss,
no chance of rigging it + too steep to climb. So we went round to the left
between <u>more</u> gravel banks to find a pitch with a stream coming in.
Andy used the bolt kit I'd picked up from KH entrance to rig it + kicked
loads of choss down. At the base of the pitch is a small chamber + a
climb down with the water. Passage continues in walking vadose trench to
where the water disappears under the stones. Passage continues to an aven
+ a small chamber with lots of mud + a choked mud sump. Pity. Surveyed out,
with me on instruments until my glasses misted up, so swapped. Surveyed
back to original lower bolt. <u>NB</u> took a look at an alternative way
to the choss hole in the floor where there is a solid boulder in the
roof to rig off. This seems to go somewhere else + should be pushed (A).
Out at sundown via <u>lots</u> of prussiking + getting v.hot.

<p><center>T.U. 9 hrs</center>

<p><a href="#id1997-136-5">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-6">Forbidden Land trip (same day)</a>
<a href="#id1997-136-8">Next 136 push</a>

<hr />

<center><a id="id1997-161-17">3-8-97</a> Duncan, Jon, Andrew K, Phil U.  TU
14<br> Someone Else's Problem</center>

<p>Picked up 75m of 9 mil at the Guillotine. Then went to retrieve Andrew
from the far end of Salt Lake, while Jon + Phil set off to survey to SEP.

<p>Faff, Faff, Faff. Eventually the survey to the pitchhead was complete
and descents had begun. Wibble, Wibble went the cavers. Twang, Twang, went
the 9 mil. F***ING BIG SHAFT. Only rubs a little bit half way up. (Fettled
with a loopless rebelay off of a spike on the way out.) The rope was just
reachable after unloading it.

<p>LEADS: (1) Down short climb, traverse across head of another climb into
a draughting crawl.<br>
(2) Down same climb, climb down again, then down 5m pitch. Undescended ~15m
pitch with wind farting up it.

<p><a href="#id1997-161-16">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-22">Next SEP trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-20">Next Siberia trip</a> (Fuzzy Logic)

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-161-18">3.8.97</a> Dave H &amp; Mike R TU 5&frac12; hrs

<p>Aim:- to bolt up at Moomintroll

<p>No problems getting to Moomintroll but the traverse around the right
hand side of Zebedee is a bit hairy in that it is horribly loose and all
the holds come off in your hand. The climb up is pretty impressive, a
good big black space waiting to be explored, but it is not clear whether
it just goes up and up.

<p>At any rate we looked at the climb, reckoned that with a bit of bottle
and a climbing rope it would be no problem to get up it, but as we had
neither we had to start bolting. Put the first bolt in, about 5 ft up.
Unfortunately, at this point I dropped the driver down a small crack.
Should be able to get it back with a coat hanger.

<p>At this point we decided that it would be much easier with a drill and
that it might be a good idea to jack. I made sure the jack was certain by
hitting the entry to Hymen Crawl with the hammer &amp; snapping the head
off.

<p>As we had only been down the cave 2&frac12; hrs we needed something else
to do. So on the way back we climbed up to the left just after the two holes
in the floor near the start of Wheelchair Access. There looks to be a roof
tube going off at this point but we failed to climb into it. Mike had a look
at some other small tubes going off and found some surface debris &amp; bits
of skeleton, but it closed down after about 6 ft.

<p>We still had more time to kill so looked down the two holes that you
traverse across just before you reach Moth Chamber and the short climb up
in Triassic. The two holes connect, lead to a 1.5m climb down to the
head of a pitch. Unfortunately, this just drops into Wheelchair Access,
and needs surveying.

<p><center>Dave</center>

<p><a href="#id1997-161-25">Next Moomintroll trip</a> /
Other trips (same day): <a href="#id1997-136-6">136 Forbidden Land</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-7">136 Gravel Pit</a> / <a href="#id1997-161-17">Siberia</a>

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-161-19">4/8/97</a> <u>Dave H</u>, Mike B, Chris D, Mary,
Juliette

<p>Wheelchair Access -&gt; Lost World to survey the downstream end

<p><u>TU</u> Dave H, Mike &amp; Juliette 9 hrs<br>
<u>TU</u> Chris D, Mary 7 hrs

<p>Rather a slow trip, didn't get underground until 1 pm. Even then
everything went really slowly, taking almost an hour to get from the
entrance to the start of Wheelchair Access. The new route into Wheelchair
Access needs surveying, but me and Mike, who'd got bored and gone on
ahead didn't have the gear.

<p>We headed on down to Lost World as a group of five, once we got to
the big stuff, as it seemed to be taking ages for everyone to get down
the last 5m pitch I took Mike for a quick tour of the upstream stuff.
On returning, the others had disappeared downstream so we buggered off
after them, to catch up in he boulder choke.

<p>At this point Mary and Chris decided to go out as it was getting late
&amp; Mary thought she would be slow. This left me , Mike and Juliet to do
the survey, and me t have my third ever go at doing book.

<p>We pushed through the boulders, down a climb and eventually found the
pitch into the chamber. Got off the pitch part way as soon as we could step
into the big chamber, but the pitch continues below. Found the Germans' G
find survey mark and survey left as you look into the chamber. This ends at
an aven, with water coming in. I then surveyed back underneath what I'd just
done, but at stream level ending up roughly back close to the pitch. From
here two possible ways go off. To the left a long straight rift taking the
small stream. The boulder floor drops and the stream disappears under the
right hand wall and the passage is not enterable. The rift continues, but you
are now ascending boulders, and soon the roof is seen which descends to meet
the floor.

<p>To the right a short piece of rift with water entering down one wall, soon
ends in a deep pool (marked a survey station with a cross on the wall at this
point - no. 16 on the left hand wall as you face the pool).

<p>Mike waded across the pool, shallowest along the left wall to find an
inlet stream. Looking at our survey and Becka's description of her trip with
the Germans, I think this inlet is the continuation of the pitch into the
chamber - but this needs checking.

<p>There are no other obvious leads except this inlet in the chamber.

<p>As it was now getting rather late we couldn't:

<p>(1) Do some tie up legs I wanted to do

<p>(2) check the continuation of the pitch into the chamber.

<p>(3) Derig.

<p>So we headed out. As we'd bombed down through the boulders really quickly
we'd not taken much notice of the way out. At one point, there is an
unobvious climb up t the right - which is the way out - however it is much
more obvious to climb up through the large spaces in the boulders to the left
- this ended in a large rift pitch, which, looking at our survey, may or may
not connect back into the left hand rift continuation of the large chamber.

<p>We soon found the real way out and 'cos I'm getting lots of hassle about
writing too much I'll just say it took ages to get out.

<p>Things to note when derigging:<br>
There is tackle up a climb on the left, as you go downstream near a rock
bridge marked with a tackle bag. This may be interesting as it seems to
be heading away from the large chamber.<br>
It also needs surveying.

<p><a href="#id1997-161-12">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-23">Next (derigging) trip</a>

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-161-20">5/8/97</a> Surveying Siberia Left hand branch<br>
Phil U, Phil B, Brian, <u>Andrew K</u><br>
TU 11&frac12;

<p>Fairly swift journey in. Tried to fix previous Siberia survey up to
genuine survey station, but couldn't find CM labelled 'end', so settled
for CM <u>not</u> labelled 'not this ...' (point 2 of last Siberia
survey a few years back).

<p>Set off up LH route - lots of mazy phreatic passage connecting at
insane angles with a loop or two. Now X-ened 'Fuzzy Logic'.

<p>Rough description: LH branch off Not This Junction turn sharp left.
Passage follows rift for a few metres before turning left again. Rift
continues straight ahead, but looks too narrow to push. Small opening
on right before left hand turn quickly chokes with mud. Left hand turn
leads into Y-junction with swirlpool at intersection. Left leads to
steep phreatic tube; this connects back into right hand turn. Right turn
leads to connection with left hand turn, then into complicated rift
junction. Rift pitches up to left and down to left probably connect up;
this is a going lead. Right hand small hole leads into left hand rift and
small passages connecting back up the passage, but it is v. tight.

<p>Not having a rope to hand, we went back to poke around in some
Siberia leads, brief sketch of crossroads on the way to SEP follows:

<p>[ sketch of Greengables ]

<p>RH passage leads into small chamber with easily climbable (at least
for a while) rift off to left and small passage to right.

<p>Middle passage leads into rift junction. High LH passage connects back
into route to SEP, straight on in a loop also connecting back to SEP route.
Right leads into oval shaped rift with ~6m aven at far end. Small passages
off to left of SEP route connect up in easy crawl in muddy phreatic
passage which does not appear to close down - 'Burble II - the Mud strikes
back'.

<p>At this point it was 1800, so we chugged on out in order to get back
at a sensible time.

<p><a href="#id1997-161-17">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-22">Next SEP trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-24">1997 derig trip</a> /
<a href="../1998/log.htm#id1998-161-10">Next pushing trip in Fuzzy Logic</a>
(1998)

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-136-8">1 3 6</a> &nbsp; 5th Aug '97<br>
<u>Steinschlagschacht<br>
Chris D</u>, Andy A

<p>First trip in this hole for me - far less chossy than feared, due to
latest bolting techniques no doubt. Down to pit at connection between 136 +
KH - bolted down 'Distraction' - swing across to a window, down to drippy
drafty chamber - with footprints. We'd reached the Orchestra Pit. Surveyed
&amp; derigged (50m vert.) then went off to the Gravel Pit. Bizzare place,
walls of eroded stuck together gravel. Dried up stream sported a STONKING
DRAFT - all it needs is a crowbar to open it up a bit. This must be done
soon&nbsp;! Alas we had no crowbar. So we put in our penultimate bolt in the
only solid wall in the area &amp; dropped down to a squitty streamway. "Have
a look at it if you want, I'm too fat" said AA. So I grovelled in until
enthusiasm waned after 30 mins or so. Then AA continued the flat out crawl in
water until that choked too. A Grand Canyon it was not. Saved the seventh
&amp; final bolt to take out the rub to the core I'd noticed on the 2nd
pitch. Good trip, shame nothing went.

<p><a href="#id1997-136-7">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-9">Next trip</a>

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-161-21">161d</a> Chris &amp; <u>Mary</u> 6th August 1997

<p>Went to Staudnwirt Palace, climbed up miserable climb, bits of it fell
off at embarassing moments, de-rigged two ropes and retrieved Julian's gear
for price of two beers.

<p align=right>TU 4 hrs

<hr />

<p align=right><a id="id1997-136-10">7th August '97</a>
<p>Steinschlagschacht Julian, <u>Chris</u>

<p>Tripped our way down to the 'Y' hang above 'Traverse of the Gods'. Set
about bolting over the top - straight over ? No - left horrible climb up
carrying drill, tacklesack etc., over the top to a high level chamber over
the pitch. Through a window, down pitch to 'The Box' - superb view across to
'Traverse of the Gods', and tried to bolt the 'Footlights' traverse across
the 'Theatre'. Got half way across - an imposing situation that ended in
overhanging choss. Oh dear. Need some magical method of getting across the
choss to the mythical window that heads south to Stellerweg.

<p align=right>TU 8 hrs

<p><a href="#id1997-136-9">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-11">Next trip</a>

<hr />

<p><u>7th Aug 97</u><br>
<center><u>Dave H</u>, Anthony, Andy A, Juliet</center>

<p>walking around the area of 136, putting tags on stuff [Tagged 136, 138,
139, 97-07 (formerly WK7), 97-08 (formerly WK8,9,10)], taking photos of
entrances and finding new cave. Near 163, which has some nice ice
formations, we found a couple of interesting things. A going hole
numbered<br>
<center>1623/<br>
H88</center><br>
which we think is one found by the French or more likely the Germans.
As we came traversing back we found<br>
1623/<br>
88 F -<br>
This looks very promising, it looked undescended, is a hole in the cliff
face immediately turning into a rift pitch. Its only about 50m higher
than 161d entrance in height terms, but located above the forbidden
land.

<p>H88 was explored by AndyA, who eventually got bored with crawling.
It is further south than the current southern extremity of 136 and is
~50m above level of Forbidden Land - should at least be surveyed to.  AJD.

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-161-23">8th August 97</a><br>
Derig of Wheelchair Access<br>
<u>Dave H</u>, Brian, Mike B, TU 6 hrs

<p>Initial aims were to go down, look for leads and survey some
bits + pieces. But we also had to be out quite early so we could
have a meal at Hilde's. Unfortunately, on the way in, I thought
to check the traverse and pitches off under the wall to the left
to see if any gear had been left. Yes, the traverse was still
rigged, so Mike went across to derig &amp; found that the pitch at
the end was rigged via two rebelays and was at least 20-30m deep.
When we got this rope out, found we had an extra 83m rope to get
out. Headed on down to the Lost World &amp; headed downstream.
Checked out the 'big rift' that we had seen last trip down, to
the right just after the climb down. All this was was a climb up
in boulders and then looking back down on the main passage from a
great height.

<p>Onward to the final chamber to check out a couple more leads.

<p>(1) Continuation of the pitch - lands at the deep pool (which
was fairly empty) just beyond survey station 16.

<p>(2) Mike climbed the inlet and I could hear him from the top of
the pitch. I made a visual connection from where the water sinks at
the passage just back from the top of the pitch with this inlet, via
a rather large wide pitch, narrow at the top and covered in chocked
boulders - one of which I was standing on.

<p>Did a couple of grade 2 drawings - couldn't survey as we'd left the
tape behind.

<p>This left Becka's climb up to the left (as you go downstream) by
the rock bridge. This looks quite good. 2m climb up to a 15m pitch
down with two ways on, again I took some grade 2 drawings.

<p>Detackled this and started on out. Detackling was OK, even of
Kein Zimmer Rift. We each prussiked up it with a tackle bag, Mike
filling his with the rope from the pitch as we went - no problems.

<p>Left gear at the guillotine, continued out with a tackle bag
each, which we left at Mothshag.

<p><a href="#id1997-161-19">Previous trip</a>

<hr />

<p><u><a id="id1997-136-9">6/8/97</a> Julian H</u>, Andy A, Mike B.  T/U 8
hrs<br>136 - Steinschlagchact

<p>Went down with the intention of taking a few photos and then
pushing some leads in Forbidden. My first (+ last?) underground
photo trip with mostly overground photo gear. Took pictures of
people on most of the pitches, traverse of the gods and eyehole
traverse. Had an attempt at taking picture of chamber at the end
of Elin Algor, but this proved tedious trying to use "B" setting
on camera. I doubt I'll bother with that again !

<p>Once in the Forbidden land, we systematically reviewed all
known leads and possibly found one or two others. Went down
Tirolia Werke first. Andy climbed up the roof tubes on the right
hand side (walking W) and found most either closed down or turned
into avens. About &frac12; along Tirolia Werke on RH side, small
climb up (c.3) leads to large(ish) chamber at foot of aven. Grade
C tight, wet lead in here. Looked at Gravel Pit. Big draft but not
very inspiring. Opposite(ish) Gravel Pit is a big fallen boulder
with a pitch behind. It's possible to climb around the boulder to
pitchhead, probably about 10m hang, possibly a way on at the bottom.

<p>Next we went back up Tirolia Werke, into Elin Algor and up to the
large chamber near the Pump House turn. Look/threw rocks down all
the holes. Big Holes in the chamber sound dead and look very likely
to be choked - probably not good leads. Went down choss back and
around the RH wall to small adjoining chamber. Climbed up another
choss bank towards Chris D's lead - <u>BIG</u> pitch with good boom at the
bottom. V. good lead but for the small scrotty connecting tube.

<p>Exitted chamber, climbed up into Pump House and thence to Hall
of the Mounting Choss. Pump House passage has same feel about it as
Mississipi/Mississipi Mud Pie - the other side of Stairway to Hell.
HoTMC is huge and loose as the name suggests. Pitches in the top
left corner (looking from the bottom of the slope) look quite good
leads - may eventually go to Regurgitation ?

<p>Exitted, stopping en route only to dismiss a couple of scrotty
leads off the side of Elin Algor.

<p><a href="#id1997-136-8">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-10">Next trip</a>

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-161-22">6/8/97</a> - Pushing below SEP <font size=+1>TU 17
hr</font><br><u>Dunk</u>, William, Jon

<p>Pushed below <u>S.E.P.</u><br>
Whacked in loads of <u>Bolts</u><br>
Abbed down some <u>Pitches</u><br>
Found a short <u>phreatic passage</u> "Auspuff"<br>
with <u>undescended climb</u>at the end<br>
BLOWS LIKE A BASTARD !

<p><a href="#id1997-161-17">Previous SEP trip</a> /
Previous day's <a href="#id1997-161-20">Siberia trip (Fuzzy Logic)</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-24">Next trip (derig)</a>

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-161-24">8/7/97</a> - Derigging SEP

<p><u>Dunk</u>, William --&gt; TU 11 hour<br>
Jon, Phil U --&gt; TU 6&frac12; hour

<p>Derigged.

<p>Previous trips: <a href="#id1997-161-20">Fuzzy Logic</a> /
<a href="#id1997-161-22">SEP</a> /
<a href="../1998/log.htm#id1998-161-5">Next Siberia trip</a> (rig-in 1998)

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-136-11">10/8/97 136</a> - Footlights Traverse Chris &amp;
<u>Anthony</u>
<p align=right>TU ~9 hrs

<p>Finally got underground after a week nursing an injured knee
(more through boredom than any improvement to the injury).
Attempted to replace my main beam bulb with the Julian Haines
lighthouse bulb and in doing so snapped the connector to the
main beam - mutter. So rather than take an FX5 down just for
the pilot, I caved with my zoom and its dodgy connector as
back up for my Austrian sand grade carbide - not an auspicious
start.

<p>Bumbled down to the theatre box and Chris continued on the
Footlights Traverse complete with homemade grappling hook - a
crowbar lashed to a 1&frac12;m yellow pole. Unfortunately, since
being taken underground, the string by which the crowbar was
attached had got wet, stretched and was thus no use. So the
yellow pole was abandoned, and I watched as Chris teetered across
a chossy and airy traverse, banged in a couple of bolts and found
... no cave whatever. So Chris continued down the wall and found
an eyehole into a chossy little passage, banged another bolt into
its camembert-like walls, and I followed him, only shitting myself
once on the traverse. The passage leads to a loose, uninspiring
looking pitch head, which opens out into a decent shaft with aven
above, which lands on a rock bridge (ie. a jammed boulder) with more
pitch beyond. This whole area is gloop coated and falling apart -
very KH like - and there is a significant draught coming <u>up</u>
the continuing pitch. This is quite a good lead, but we had run out
of rope.

<p>Rather than survey out, I pootled out at this point whilst Chris
drilled some more bolts to improve the rig. Not surveying was probably
a good thing since it took an astonishingly long time to get out, not
helped by an ailing leg and too much beer at basecamp the week before.
Also, the big loose flake at the top of the big pitch is no longer a
problem as Phil kicked most of it off. The remnants of it came whistling
past my ear as I hung on the rebelay below the ledge we wait on before
ascending the big pitch, causing me to gibber quite a lot, especially
as I could smell freshly fractured rock on the ledge. Phil also
neglected to call pitch free, so I spent quite a while at the bottom
before making a cautious ascent (the rope looks OK). I then gardened
the rest of the rubbish at the pitchhead in the general direction of
Brian's head to ensure no repeat performance.

<p><a href="#id1997-136-10">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-12">Next trip</a>

<hr />

<p><u>Haines Miracle Carbide Cure</u>

<p>As the glorious expo leader departed, he bequeathed me a few
of his precious items, namely 3 lumps of large carbide (all the
expo stuff from the Austrians is tiny bitty stuff). This was
gratefully (and gullibly) received, and used on the above 136 trip.

<p>And so it was, Footlights Traverse now being bolted, Anthony
headed out with the spare carbide &amp; I started out lugging
the drill + battery. That's strange, I thought, my light's going
a bit dim. Fettle. The bitty stuff all gone, but Haines lump was
sat there just as it went in. Magic - everlasting carbide !
Complete with calcite veins ... hmmm, chortle, most amusing.
Dark thoughts cast in the Haines direction on the dim prusik out.

<p align=right>C D

<hr />

<p align=right><a id="id1997-136-12">TU 9 hrs</a>
<p>10/8/97 136 To Tirolia via Elin Algor. Brian &amp; Phil B

<p>Trogged off down the pitches &amp; across the traverse to the
slot and waited for Phil. We both walked along Elin Algor (lead
off to right up climbable rift with stream descending &amp;
little mud volcanoes - did not push as did not fancy climb due
to state of my shoulder). Came back to climb up through boulders
just after 1st main chamber past junction in Tirolia and
investigated climb up into roof on left with pitch: whacked
in bolt &amp; sling around natural &amp; lo &amp; behold
I ended back in main passage - got pissed off &amp; went out.

<p><a href="#id1997-136-11">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-13">Next trip</a>

<hr />

<p>12/8/97 <u>Anthony</u> - Pissing about on the surface

<p>Plan was to put tags on the unmarked 161e and 161f entrances,
except I left the tags at top camp. Bunged in a spit at 161f
anyway and tried to do likewise at 161e except a large chunk of
wall fell off when I tried to set it. Got bored and went to
retrieve gear from 161d. Whilst failing to find 161f I came
across lots of holes - this is prime prospecting territory for
anyone wanting to find a more northerly entrance to 161 with
an even more atrocious approach.

<hr />

<p>13/8/97 Phil U &amp; <u>Anthony</u> Pissing about on the surface again.

<p>Planned to surface survey 191-&gt;161c, and look for the elusive
192, which is allegedly marked and in the same area. Took a while to
find 191 and in the process we found 180, which I thought was miles
away. Didn't have a tag for 180, but put in a spit for one and surface
surveyed from there to 191 and back to 161c. Failed to find 192. Took
photos of 180 and 191, the latter now sports a CUCC tag. Retrieved
gear from 161d and derigged climbs on surface route and trundled back
to topcamp for a brew, then on to 186 ("Rosenkavalierh&ouml;hle").
This is the hole erroneously numbered 185 on the side of the Vord
which Olly &amp; I refound in 1994 and which William had confirmed
as being 186 earlier this expo. The paint has all but disappeared,
but we banged in a CUCC tag and surveyed back to top camp - another
gets ticked. No photo because I'd run out of film.

<p>Incidentally - The marking at 161c entrance is<br>
<center><table border=0><tr><td>VSS 2</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td><u>88AF</u></td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>1623/<u>161c</u></td><td>&lt; added later by CUCC</td></tr></table>
</center>

<p>This is similar to the markings on caves H88 and 88F found on
7/8/97 making me suggest that latter caves are also French.

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-136-14">14/8/97</a> Phil U &amp; <u>Anthony</u> Derig 136
<br>TU 5 hrs (AD) 2&frac12; hrs (PU)

<p>Team hero having done the hard bit the day before, team
knackered knees went down and derigged from the traverse to
the eyehole. All the spits are greased, though I couldn't get
the syringe to fill so used my finger. All spits above eyehole
traverse have a matchstick in too. Circlips are shit gear - at
least half the bolts fell out when I unscrewed, but I think I've
rescued most of them.

<p><a href="#id1997-136-13">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="../1999/log.htm#id1999-136-1">Next trip - 1999</a>

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-136-13">12/8/97</a> 136 Footlights cont. <u>Chris</u>,
Brian, John

<p>Brian &amp; I trolled around Forbidden Land derigging various
bits &amp; pieces to generate enough rope to drop the pitch at
the end of Footlights. Having decided this would become a through
route, I tarted up the traverse on the way over to make it more
comfortable, ie.

<p>[rigging sketch]

<p>rather than the precarious rebelays that were used to rig it.
John &amp; I surveyed in, Brian arrived with rope &amp; went off
down the first pitch. 30m later he touched the floor: "It's big".
Oh good. "There's a rope here". Oh bother. Been Hainesed again -
his climb up from the Orchestra Pit finished here. Brian &amp; I
checked out the rift chamber pretty carefully - the draft appears
to drop in somewhere at the southern end, then heads up the pitch
we'd dropped. One drippy chamber could be seen through a tiny
window - almost certainly the same as the Orchestra Pit. Otherwise
- the entire S end chokes.

<p>At least it gave us a chance to start the derigging early. Out at
4 am, back to camp just before dawn, in time for some carries down the
hill.

<p align=right>TU Brian, Chris 13<br>John 11

<p><a href="#id1997-136-12">Previous trip</a> /
<a href="#id1997-136-14">Next trip (final derig)</a>

<hr />

<p><a id="id1997-161-25">11/8/97 KH Moomintroll</a> <u>Jon</u>, Phil

<p>We went down to have a look at the climb up beyond
Moomintroll. Having taken a drill battery with us we
then found that the drill did not work. There were no
bolting kits either so we went to look anyway.

<p>We traversed around the terrifying pit (8 ft deep)
and found the climb. Looked at it for a bit and then
I climbed up it. There were only a few loose hand
holds. I rigged a rope for Phil and up he came.

<p>As expected, there was a large aven. However, there
was no obvious way on. We sat down for a bit while we
decided what to do next. At this point, some water was
heard dripping. I went to investigate a tiny tube
where the noise was coming from. After removing a few
rocks the floor dropped away to reveal a 30 ft drop
into a large space. With a little enlargement someone
will be able to fit through and see where the draft is
coming from.

<p align=right>TU 3 hours

<p><a href="#id1997-161-18">Last Moomintroll trip</a> /
<a href="../1998/log.htm#id1998-161-2">Next Moomintroll trip (1998)</a>

<p><hr />
<!-- LINKS -->
<ul>
<li>1997 Expedition info:
<ul>
<li><a href="index.htm">Index</a> (more detail than in this list)</li>
<li>Expedition <a href="sprep.htm">Sponsors' Report</a> 1997</li>
<li>Pre-expo <a href="goals.htm">mission statement</a></li>
<li>Index to <a href="161.htm">Kaninchenh&ouml;hle trips</a> in the log</li>
<li><a href="../../pubs.htm#pubs1997">Published accounts</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="../../pubs.htm">Index</a> to all publications</li>
<li><a href="../../sponsr.htm">Current year's</a> sponsors</li>
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