2012-09-16 20:10:54 +01:00
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<title>1623/161 Kaninchenhöhle - Mordor and passages beyond</title>
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<p><center><a href="top.htm"><img alt="Overview "
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<a href="../../../index.htm"><img alt=" CUCC"
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<h2>161 Kaninchenhöhle: Mordor and passages beyond</h2></center>
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<h3>Overview</h3>
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<p>The large trunk passages described on this page were originally
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accessed by descending Mordor pitch from the <a href="oldmen.htm">
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Country for Old Men</a> level in 2011. In 2012, this area was accessed
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and explored from Steinbrückenhöhle via the Far from Support
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2012-09-19 21:22:13 +01:00
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traverses from the bottom of Fat Cat. The southern extremity
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(<a href="#runnel">Runnel Stone</a> area) is very close to
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<a href="sibria.htm#cfn">Chicken Flied Nice</a>, so in the future it
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2012-09-16 20:10:54 +01:00
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may prove easier to access these passages via an as yet undiscovered
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connection in this area, thereby bypassing the Tyrolean traverse at
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<a href="farnth.htm#viasa">Strange Acrossfall</a>.</p>
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<hr />
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<h3><a name="mordor">Mordor</a> (2011)</h3>
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<p>Mordor is a small, very windy (blowing up) pitch at the northern
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end of <a href="oldmen.htm#sudetenland">Sudetenland</a> (accessed from
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<a href="oldmen.htm#country">Country for Old Men</a>) that is rigged
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from the roof. After the initial 10m drop, it
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2012-09-09 20:08:06 +01:00
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is possible to climb a further 10m down to a second hang from a
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thread then a roof bolt where pitch opens out. A deviation ~7m down
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on a spike avoids a rub at a rebelay (huge thread) to drop nicely to
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near floor. A 60m rope is recommended (this pitch was left rigged in
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2011). At the bottom is a chamber is about 15m high. To the west is a
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north-south trending rift leading to large pitch at S end. [FIXME:
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2012-09-19 21:22:13 +01:00
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(Wookey/Cat/Adam) where is this pitch on the survey? Presumably the
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pitch is a QM - what grade? There are two candidates. Also 3 C-grade
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QMs marked on survey]. East leads to <a href="#entmarch">March of the Ents</a>.</p>
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<h3><a name="entmarch">March of the Ents</a> (2011)</h3>
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<p>The large passage of March of the Ents heads eastwards from the
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chamber at the base of <a href="#mordor">Mordor</a> pitch 4m
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higher up, reached via an easy traverse. There is a strong
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draught from east to west (into the chamber). After 18m, a t-junction
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is reached with a much less windy passage to the right (south),
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<a href="#rivendell">Rivendell</a>, that is the main route to the
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south. Straight ahead (east) the main passage continues uphill then
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turns northeast. 30m beyond the Rivendell junction, climbing up to
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the left in a complex area reaches the head of <a href="#sauron">No
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Sign of Sauron</a> pitch. Most of the draught appears to coming from
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the area around this pitch. Immediately beyond is a passage on the
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left (bearing on 252°) [C2011-161-XX B] [FIXME: (Wookey/Cat/Adam)
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is this the C lead on the survey? Bearing doesn't fit- 352 better].
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The phreatic passage zig-zags for another 30m. At the corner is a high (12m)
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solution area in the roof [C2011-161-XX C] [FIXME: (Wookey/Cat/Adam)
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where is this on the survey?]. Ahead the passage becomes a very high
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hading rift with a short drop. Traversing across the rift leads to
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<a href="#bored">Bored of the Rings</a>.</p>
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<h3><a name="bored">Bored of the Rings</a> (2011)</h3>
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<p>Bored of the Rings can be accessed either by descending a short
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pitch and climbing up the far side, or (preferred) by traversing along
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the right-hand wall of the hading rift (bolts placed for a traverse line).
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[FIXME: (Andrew/Julian) the survey shows two C leads at the bottom of the
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rift, and a B lead at the top, also a p5 - is this a QM?] At the far end
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of the traverse is a junction. Ahead leads after 10m to a pitch
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[C2011-161-XX B]. A passage to the right here connects heads back to
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overlook the hading rift.</p>
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<p>The main way on at the junction is to the left (north). The passage
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continues for 55m, past a pool (traversed on the left) to a rift in the
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floor (undescended [C2011-161-XX B]). Left here leads to
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[FIXME: (Emma/Olly) 2 QMs on survey, B and a C - descriptions? Also, c2
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to the east of the passage - is there a QM there?]. Stepping over the rift
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(traverse line advisable) leads to a breakdown chamber with lots of holes
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in the floor. [FIXME: (Emma/Olly) extension to west near survey station
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'a' leads to 2 B grade QMs - description?] Keeping right passes a small
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passage on the right [C2011-161-XX C]. Clambering among the boulders leads to
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a short climb down near the right-hand wall (handline useful) to
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reach a drippy pitch (undescended). [C2011-161-XX B]. The Far From
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Support traverses head off along the right-hand wall of this pitch
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(left rigged in 2012) and is the connection route to
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Steinbrückenhöhle, emerging in Cirque du Soleil. A tube
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heading up on the right immediately before the start of the traverse
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links back to overlook the pitch and also a possible continuation
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east [C2011-161-XX C].</p>
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<h3><a name="sauron">No Sign of Sauron</a> (2012)</h3>
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<p>No Sign of Sauron pitch is accessed by heading north and uphill from
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<a href="#entmarch">March of the Ents</a> into the wind to a
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2012-09-09 20:08:06 +01:00
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rock pillar at the pitch head. The pitch is rigged by traversing
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along the left hand wall to a rock bridge overlooking a second,
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connected hole that is the descent route. An aven above the pitch on
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the left at this point appears to be main source of the draught
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[C2012-161-XX X]. It would be relatively easy to continue the
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traverse to an apparent passage on the far side of the pitch
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[C2012-161-XX B] - it is unclear whether or not this passage
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continues.</p>
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<p>The pitch is a fine circular shaft, 5m round and 32m deep, and is
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descended via a deviation 4m down and a y-hang rebelay approximately
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halfway down. At the base of the pitch, a rift passage heads south,
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accessed by climbing down through boulders. The passage was followed
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for 15m, via a 2m down climb, and continues to the south, tight but
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passable [C2012-161-XX B]. There is little discernible draught.</p>
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<h3><a name="rivendell">Rivendell</a> and The Stables (2011)</h3>
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<p>Rivendell is a large phreatic passage heading south from
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<a href="#entmarch">March of the Ents</a> for 25m to a chamber.
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A hole in the floor is approximately 10m deep with a pool at the
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bottom [C2011-161-XX A]. There is possible passage uphill to
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the northeast [C2011-161-XX B]. The way on is downhill to the
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southwest, quickly arriving at a large T-junction with a horizontal
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passage. This is very windy again (blowing from southeast to northwest).
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Left is the large passage of <a href="#shires">The Shires</a>. Right
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is the main way on - <a name="stables">The Stables</a></p>
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<p>After 17m, the passage opens out at a small streamway with a junction.
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The two passages soon reunite at a further junction. Left continues
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downhill for 17m to where the stream sinks in a too tight rift with an
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aven on the right [C2011-161-XX-X]. The main way on is ahead (west).</p>
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<p>The passage continues past a stagnant pool and quickly reaches
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a 3m drop at a junction. Right connects to the north-south trending
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rift accessed from the base of <a href="#mordor">Mordor</a> pitch.
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To the left, a traverse round the 3m drop (left rigged) is the main
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way on. Large passage continues, under a rock bridge and up a 2m climb,
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reaching a junction 35m from the traverse. The main way on is to the
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left into <a href="#gallop">Southern Gallop</a>. <i>Right
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leads to [FIXME (Julian/Andrew): about 50m of passage culminating
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in a p6 with two B leads - better description?].</i></p>
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<h3><a name="shires">The Shires</a> (2011)</h3>
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<p>Turning left (southeast) at the large T-junction in
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<a href="#rivendell">Rivendell</a> enters a huge phreatic passage
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5m across trending gently downhill, <b>The Shires</b>. This reaches a
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pitch edge after 50m looking out into large chamber/area
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[C2011-161-XX A]. The drop is about 10m, then another 10m in further
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hole. A small passage continues ahead for ~7m to look out over another
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drop, probably the same space [C2011-161-XX B]. Halfway along the Shires
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a small rift passage goes off [C2011-161-XX C]
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[FIXME: (Wookey/Cat/Adam) not explicitly labelled on survey].</p>
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<h3><a name="gallop">Southern Gallop</a> (2011)</h3>
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<p>A short climb up gains access to a large passage heading southeast.
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After 10m a hole is reached that can be traversed to the right (rope
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useful) to gain access to the continuing passage. [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew)
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have I correctly identified this obstacle? Is the hole a QM].</p>
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<p>After a further 10m, a 4m climb down into a rift is reached (becoming
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progressively more awkward on the return as ever more mud becomes smeared
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on the footholds). The rift passage heads south for 20m to a junction
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where the left hand branch quickly closes down [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) does
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it close down? survey is unclear] and the main way on is to the right.</p>
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<p>The passage continues in fine style for 100m to a breakdown chamber.
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[FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) Are there really no QMs on this entire stretch?].
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Clambering up and under the biggest boulder leads to a continuation in a
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tall rift. The passage continues for a further 50m to a local widening
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with an undescended pitch to the west [C2011-161-XX A]. Ahead the rift
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closes down, but a 5m climb up (rope left rigged) leads to
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2012-09-19 21:22:13 +01:00
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<a href="#maddogs">Mad Dogs</a>.</p>
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2012-09-19 21:22:13 +01:00
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<h3><a name="maddogs">Mad Dogs</a> and Holey Cow (2011)</h3>
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<p>From the top of the 5m climb from <a href="#gallop">Southern Gallop</a>,
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Mad Dogs continues south, with a draught heading from north to south,
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for 30m before turning west. After a further 80m, a 3m pitch down is
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reached. An immediate 4m climb up from the base of the pitch arrives at
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<a name="holeycow">Holey Cow</a>, an area with many holes to avoid
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falling down (bolts placed for a traverse line). A pitch estimated at
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20m deep at the top of the climb is undescended [C2011-161-XX A], as is
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an estimated 5m pitch in a side passage a little further on
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[C2011-161-XX B]. Traversing round the right hand (western) wall
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gains a mud floored passage heading south, with an unexplored passage
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heading east immediately after the holes [C2011-161-XX B]. 10m south
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from here a side passage to the west has been explored for 15m
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[FIXME: (Julian/Andrew/Cat) to a pitch??] with a draught heading to
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the west [C2011-161-XX B]. The main route continues for 15m to a junction
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opposite an undescended 8m pitch on the left [C2011-161-XX B]. Right
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at the junction leads to <a href="#blownaway">Blown Away</a>. Straight ahead
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is the continuation towards the <a href="#runnel">Runnel Stone</a>.
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At this point the draught changes direction, with the combined airflow
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from the point of entry and continuation heading down
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<a href="#blownaway">Blown Away</a>.</p>
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<p>The continuing passage turns northeast and heads uphill past a side
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passage on the right after 15m [C2011-161-XX B]. The passage develops a floor
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trench and turns each. The next four passages on the right all connect to
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<a href="#laerchen">Lärchenrepublik</a>, with the main route to
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this area being the easternmost and largest of these. Immediately
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beyond this junction, a passage to the right rejoins the main passage some
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15m further on. The main route continues southeast, past the junction with
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<a href="#polkadot">Polka Dot Passage</a> on the left after 20m. 15m further
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on the passage briefly divides in two before turning east. 15m beyond
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this corner, a low sandy passage to the right opens out at the head of
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a soil chute down to the head of a pitch near the Runnel Stone. Ahead is the
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main route, which opens out at the top of the <a href="#runnel">Runnel
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Stone</a> chamber 10m further on.</p>
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<h3><a name="runnel">The Runnel Stone</a> (2011)</h3>
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<p>The access route from <a href="#holeycow">Holey Cow</a> emerges at the top
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of a large chamber sloping down to the right. A passage heading uphill and
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to the north opposite the point of entry leads to <a href="#runnelnorth">
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Runnel North</a>. Descending into the chamber, another passage on the left
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also leads to Runnel North. Immediately beyond is a massive boulder (the
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Runnel Stone). An undescended pitch on the right (west) here can also
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be accessed from the soil chute [C2012-161-XX A]. Continuing beyond
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the Runnel Stone, the chamber narrows to become rift passage, at which
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point a passage on the right (south) is <a href="#welly">Welly Popper</a>.
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The rift passage continues east for 35m, past undescended pitches of
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20m [C2011-161-XX B] and 5m [C2011-161-XX B] to a further pitch
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[C2011-161-XX B]. This point is very close to
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<a href="sibria.htm#cfn">Chicken Flied Nice</a>, and it is thought likely
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that this passage may be accessible by rigging a non-trivial bolt
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traverse over this pitch. Right immediately beyond the pitch head also
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leads to <a href="#welly">Welly Popper</a>.</p>
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<h3><a name="welly">Welly Popper</a> (2012)</h3>
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<p>[FIXME: (Holly/Noel) description needed]</p>
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<h3><a name="runnelnorth">Runnel North</a> (2012)</h3>
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<p>[FIXME: (Becka/Julian) description needed]</p>
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<h3><a name="polkadot">Polka Dot Passage</a> (2012)</h3>
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<h3><a name="blownaway">Blown Away</a> (2011/2012)</h3>
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<p>[FIXME: (Becka/Julian/Andrew) description needed]</p>
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<h3><a name="laerchen">Lärchenrepublik</a> and Bundestrasse (2012)</h3>
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2012-09-16 20:10:54 +01:00
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<hr />
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<!-- LINKS -->
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<ul id="links">
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<li><a href="names.htm">Glossary of passage names</a></li>
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<li><a href="top.htm">Kaninchenhöhle</a> Cave Description - Overview</li>
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<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expedition Intro page</a></li>
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<li><a href="../../infodx.htm">Index to info/topic pages</a></li>
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<li><a href="../../areas.htm">Area/subarea descriptions</a></li>
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<li><a href="../../indxal.htm">Full Index to 1623 caves</a></li>
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<li><a href="../../../index.htm">Back to CUCC Home page</a></li>
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