<non_public>False</non_public><!-- 'False' or 'True'. True if the cave should only be visible to logged-in users. Caves are normally public, so enter 'False' unless you know otherwise. -->
<official_name>Heimkehrhöhle</official_name><!-- Name of the cave (normally in German) Use ü for u+Umlaut and ö for o+umlaut eg Höhle for Hohle and Glück for Gluck-->
code used in the Austrian kataster e.g '1/S +' - https://expo/.survex.com/katast.htm
T Trockenhöhlen (Dry caves)
W Wasserhöhlen (Caves with water)
(W) Zeitweilig aktiv Wasserhöhlen (Caves with seasonal water)
E Eishohlen (Caves with ice formations)
S Schachthöhlen (Caves with pitches)
H Halbhöhlen (Rock shelters ?)
- unerforscht (unexplored)
= befahren (visited)
× teilweise vermessen (partly surveyed)
+ erforscht (exploration considered complete)
-->
<kataster_number>359</kataster_number><!-- (Either this or unofficial_number is required). Official number in Austrian kataster if one has been allocated -->
<unofficial_number>2018-dm-07</unofficial_number><!-- (This is any name. Either this or kataster_number is required). Initial temporary cave ID used until kataster number is allocated e.g. '2012-DD-01'-->
<entranceslug>1626-359</entranceslug><!-- Internal ID to refer to each entrance instance in the entrance files (typically the same as that filename (e.g. 1623-161c). Matches the 'slug' field in the entrance file -->
<letter></letter><!--Leave blank for single-entrance cave. If there is more than one entrance then the letter needs to be given. Must match the entranceslug ID. -->
<explorers></explorers><!-- 'CUCC Expo' and year(s) of exploration. To distinguish from caves explored by foreign groups. Individual names can be given too if it was a small cave. -->
<survex_file>caves-1626/359/359.svx</survex_file><!-- Name of top-level survey file for this cave. Relative to the 'loser' survex repository. So for most caves that's "caves-162x/cavenum/cavnum.svx". (e.g. caves-1623/204/204.svx -->
vadose shafts trending SW at point PT01 and leading past PT02. This leads to a pitch series, <b>Welsh Engineering</b>, which, in 2024, was eventually connected to <b>Hobnob Hallway</b> via the <b>Eye of Sauron</b>. This therefore provides an alternate entrance series. However, in 2024 it was flood prone and the rigging caused problems and would need considerable effort to make safe so it may not be revisited despite the survey not being connected in or completed..</i></p>
down and one short pitch up in 2019; extensively rerigged in 2023; problems with this new rig and loose boulders in 2024) to the top of <b>Wallace</b> (p30). This
<p>Continuing past this junction the passage becomes maze-like and needs fully surveying, this is <b>Swiss Cheese</b>. It eventually ends at a deep drafty rift.
Crossing the meander at the far end of Swiss Cheese, a deep draughty rift is reached and can be traversed at roof level for about 40m. This terminates in a y-hang leading to another roof-level traverse. Following this for 13m leads to another Y-hang which is best rigged as a 3-bolt hang. This drops into <b>Salamander Queen II</b> (originally scooped by Hayden and named <b>Lizard King</b>). The rigging here is a little confusing but will eventually pass between 2 and 3 re-belays before reaching the floor of <b>Salamander Queen II</b>. This is a large canyon with a sump and two or more waterfalls at the southern side which can be easily freeclimbed (the second of which may require a rope to descend). This is expected to lead towards <b>Swiss Cheese</b>, <b>Heifer</b>, and <b>Watershed</b>.
<p>Heading north leads to <b>German Engineering</b> and can be followed in a high-level traverse for 20m to the pitch-head of <b>War of Attrition</b>. Descending this leads to a 1-bolt wonder (in very good rock) and then to a Y-hang which is descended to yet another traverse. <b><i>The deviation MUST be used to prevent catastrophic rope rub.</i></b> At the end of the traverse line a brief section of walking passage is reached before reaching a further traverse which terminates at the pitch-head of <b>Salamander Queen</b>. <i>Care must be taken when rigging this to avoid rope rub.</i><b>Salamander Queen</b> can be descended to a y-hang which <b><i>MUST have a rope-protector placed</i></b> to prevent concerning rope rub. Bottoming this chamber leads to a small calcified aven and small stream at the south side and a large, clean washed, aven at the north. The northern aven can be descended into via a 1-bolt wonder (about 7m) and leads to a high-level, clean-washed rift traverse which quickly opens over a very large chamber (maybe 20m wide, very long and something like 40m+ deep. It is expected that this is part of the same rift system seen at the end of <b>Brief Respite</b> and connects back towards <b>Watershed</b> as a hydrological connection at minimum). Continuing in the traverse leads to a phreatic tube on the left, <b>Brief Respite</b>. This is easy stomping passage with a few small waterfalls. After about 80m the passage constricts and leads to an airy traverse over a huge chamber where a waterfall can be heard in the distance. A y-hang is in place to drop the chamber. The chamber is expected to be around 50m+ deep. HERE BE THE PUSHING FRONT.
R leads to a splashy aven and the head of an immature canyon, QM_not_worth_the_misery, this could lead to the QMC in <b>Simple Pleasures</b>). </i>To the L at the PT12 junction is a
<p><b> Simple Pleasures </b> drops into a small chamber, which leads quickly into a larger chamber, Cupids Cavern, which has a streamway rift in the floor entering from the right <i> (QMC, possibly coming from QM_not_worth_the_misery)</i>. Straight across the chamber another short section of rift leads into a small aven chamber with water entering on the left. A short traverse to the right leads to a phreatic keyhole passage, with the easiest going at roof level in the phreatic section. Seems to continue in a ESE direction (QMA). Very promising front. </p>
point progress is made by climbing up and traversing at roof level in a phreatic tube. The initial climb up is at a 90 degree right hand bend, followed immediately by another climb up at the 90 degree left hand bend. This passage continues to be finely decorated. This carries on until it
<p><b>Peculiar Pot</b> down the pitch leads to camp. A flattened bit of ground sleeps 3 comfortably and 4 at a squeeze. Continuing down another small pitch leads to a narrow rift that continues past a few short pitches to rejoin the main route in <b>Sound of Water</b> The route down Flowstone Canyon and Sound of Water is the preferred route as less rope is required.</p>
from a small handline. <i> A climb up leads to <b> Portcullis Passage </b> a loose sandy passage which follows the top of the canyon before dropping back into it. </i> At the end of the passage a chamber is reached with
<p><b>Sound of Water</b>. Down the 20m pitch from <b>Flowstone canyon</b> The way on is right up the slope to another pitch p27. <b>Peculiar Pot</b> enters from a rift a few metres down this pitch. From the bottom, upstream leads to a waterfall (bolt climbing required) whilst downstream follows a narrow rift to <b> Alpine Showers </b>: two small pitches beside waterfalls leading to a traverse and another pitch. The streamway is rejoined but soon drops away again and the roof of the rift lowers to a traverse and 20m pitch.</p>
At the bottom of the pitch is a perpandicular rift, the way on is down a 4m pitch then right along a traverse. Continue following several small pitches and climbs eventually leading to a ~10m long drafting duck. Pursuing this lead would require neoprene and enthusiasm for cold misery. </p>
<p>From PT11 a traverse line of 12m will take you over "death sump" a static sump that you do not want to fall in. This then carries on for about 15m in a phreatic tube before popping you out at the basin of <b>Heifer</b> and the alternative bolt climb route <b>The Great Heifer</b></p>
<p>The <b>Heifer</b> starts as a p5 climb up followed by a further p7 which takes you into a rift. <i>beneath you is the magical <b>Great Heifer</b> Which marvels the engineering prowess of “German Engineering” This route no longer needs to be rigged and is “Interesting” to bolt climb</i> This is a very awkward traverse to climb into. This traverse then continues for 20m before you reach a p15 with a deviation that takes you into <b>Cow Trough</b></p>
<p><b>Cow Trough</b> Is a large "static sump" which has clear connections to the surface based on the debris that litters the flooralongside alsosuspected of connecting to "Death Sump"thatof which you traversed over. <b>THIS AREA ALSO FLOODS</b> After carefully traverseing across these “Static sumps” you are greeted by a small rift that continues for about 20 meters. <i>To the right can be seen a potential C lead that is another bolt climb into an unknown rift</i> this rift eventually rejoins the floor to what has been dubbed <b>Udder</b>. </p>
The passage continues as a low difficult traverse over a pool of water. The pool can be drained slightly by digging. The passage opens up on the other side to a tall rift which contiues to cowlick aven. This is a large aven with some pheatic leads going onwards and a large aven in the roof. This discharges bunde. A large passage goes upwards to the right requiring a bolt climb. </p></underground_description><!-- Underground description. (description of approach and entrance goes in entrance file). For a small cave this will be the entire description. For larger caves it will be the front page of the description, or a short intro, containing links to other pages with the cave description in, or even nothing but a link. -->
<equipment></equipment><!-- For a small cave, summary of gear needed to descend. For longer caves it could be blank, a table, or just refer to the description/topos. Leave blank if this info is in the description. -->
<ahref="/expofiles/surveys/1626-359/359+area-A0-10Nov23-400dpi.png"><h3>Click here to download the detailed plan survey of Heimkehrhöhle (1626/359) from after the 2023 expeditiono</h3></a>
</ul></survey><!-- Drawn-up surveys. Scans of paper surveys or images/PDFs of electronic surveys. Should include HTML to display current plan and elevation, with links to larger versions (See section on URLs and files). Could list links to multiple years of survey, or even a separate survey page if it's complicated enough. -->
<notes></notes><!-- Normally empty, but place for anything else that should be noted, such as info on cave maybe being a duplicate, or lost, and whether a kataster form has been sent to Austria for this cave -->
