'Durch das 7,5m breite und 1,2m hohe, flachbogenförmige Portal gelangt man zunächst in eine kuppelförmige Vorhalle, dann in einen durch Korrosionskolke ausgeformten Canyon. Höhlenkarren, Bergmilchbildungen, eine Sickerwasserquelle und Höhlenfauna fallen besonders auf.'",, 4,"1/T(W) +",,,,"noinfo/augstb/4.htm",,"Ritscherbachhöhle",,,11,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1937",,,,,,,"Plan at 1:100 by Alfred Auer, 1968 ",,"12.3m","1.07m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1015m",,,"Near Gellerofen (Kat. 3), at the SW foot of the Loserstockes.",,"A 2.2m wide and 1.3m high entrance leads horizontally to ""Bruchschutt und Sickerwassergerinne"". ",, 5,"1/S(W) +",,,,"noinfo/gschwand/5.htm",,"Holzknechtbrünndlloch",,,9,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1938",,,,,,,"Plan at 1:100 by Alfred Auer, 1968 ",,"12m","8m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1230m",,,"SW foot Loserstockes","reached by path west from Loser Hütte, past Augst A.H.","Eine 1,5m grosse Schachtöffnung fü in einen stiefelförmigen Schacht, in dem ein Sickerwassergerinne früher von Holzknechten als Trinkwasserquelle genutzt wurde.'",, -6,"0/W +",,,,"noinfo/gschwand/6.htm",,"Quelle","Wasserloch",,9,"No Info","Unexplored – Noted for Kataster: Sektion Ausseerland, 1968 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1425m",,,"150m west of Augst A.H. ",,"a small unenterable resurgence ",, +6,"0/W +",,,,"noinfo/gschwand/6.htm",,"Quelle","Wasserloch",,9,"No Info","Unexplored - Noted for Kataster: Sektion Ausseerland, 1968 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1425m",,,"150m west of Augst A.H. ",,"a small unenterable resurgence ",, 7,"1/(W) +",,,,"noinfo/loser/7.htm",,"Bachschläg",,,"8a","No Info",,,,,,,,,,"3m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1550m",,"Location plan by Alfred Auer at 1:200, 1968 ","West of the Loser Hütte below the south face of Loser.","Reached from the path up Loser by diagonalling down to the head of the gully from the path as it starts to climb again at about 1600m. ","A 1.8m wide by 1.2m high rock shelter, and an occasionally active rising. There is a noticeable gully below this, presumably carrying water in wet weather.
""Bei Hochwasser entströmt ihm ein mächtiger Bach und stürzt als Wasserfall über zwei Geländstufen und durch einen Graben 200m zur Loserstraße herab, wo das Wasser nach einem Durchlaß im verkarsteten Gestein versickert."" ",,
8,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/8.htm",,"Großes Loserloch",,,"8a","No Info","First recorded in 1774
Explored since 1931
J Völlenkle of L.V.H.Linz, 1:250, 1972","The round 8m wide by 10m high entrance leads into an upper level, the Hauptgang, leading north then northeast to Regenhalle, a sizeable chamber apparently formed on a significant SW-NE joint. Immediately right at the start of the chamber, a boulder slope leads up into Teilungshalle, from where a wider slope drops left back into Regenhalle about halfway along. At the highest point of Teilungshalle, a SE-going passage quickly chokes with boulders, but appears to be heading directly for the end of Kleines Loserloch, perhaps 10m away.
Keeping to the right (SW) wall entering Teilungshalle, a rift leads SW. A passage left after 5m quickly ends too tight. A traverse to the left hand side bypasses a 5m shaft in the floor. 15m beyond, another lead on the left leads up into a small chamber, Kapelle. The continuing rift, Südwest-Kluft, gets narrower for c 25m until deemed impassable.
Back in Regenhalle, a narrow section along the joint between the two ways to Teilungshalle, gives access to a lower series via a sharp turn to the right, due south. This wide passage, Südwest-gang, passes under Teilungshalle, and turns SW directly under Südwest-Kluft. A narrow rift on the left parallels the main passage for some way. The main way develops into Gr. Dom, 12m wide, with a boulder slope up until the passage chokes comprehensively on a broad front, almost exactly below the cliff outside.
At the far (NE) end of Regenhalle, stright on enters a draughting boulder choke, but two ways up to the right lead into Stufengang, with a complex of little rifts and an extension NE to a low choked area. ",,,,,,"A4 survey in Mitt. der Sektion Ausseerland 18(4), Oct. 1980, facing p 87: a plan by J Völlenkle of L.V.H.Linz, 1:250, 1972. As printed, this looks like about a 4th generation photocopy. Also includes Kat. 9",,"390m","+20m -11m","140m SW-NE",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1615m",,"21.8 cm E, 17.75 cm N, OAV sheet 15/1 ","At the south foot of Loser (visible from Altaussee).","Reached by traversing west from the Loser path as it draws level with the cliffs. ","Round 8m wide by 10m high entrance",, 9,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/9.htm",,"Kleines Loserloch",,,"8a","No Info","since 1932 ","The cave is essentially a single passage for c 60m going NE to a narrowing. To the left at this point is a small extension, with a blind pit to the SW, and a draughting boulder choke to the NE. This is c 10m from a corresponding choke in Teilugshalle of Großes Loserloch.",,,,,,"A4 survey in Mitt. der Sektion Ausseerland 18(4), Oct. 1980, facing p 87: a plan by J Völlenkle of L.V.H.Linz, 1:250, 1972. As printed, this looks like about a 4th generation photocopy. Also includes Kat. 8",,"72m","+12.5 -7.5m","50m SW-NE",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1622m",,,"Just right (25m East) of, and above, Großes Loserloch. ",,"In a narrow rift in the cliff, there are two small entrances, the lower one is the normal way in, and an upper entrance to its left leads to passage which joins the normal way within 5m",, @@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ 38,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/plateau/38.htm",,"Algenhöhle",,,"1d","No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1938","Behind the entrance there is a single passage at right angles to it, with boulders (Blockwerk). ",,,,,,"Sketch by J. Gaisberger snr., 1938 ",,"33m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1700m",,,"West of Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel (exact location unknown) Possibly near Kat.37 (q.v.)",,,, 39,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/39.htm",,"SCHWA höhle 39",,,"2b or 4 location unclear","No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1938",,,,,,,,,"18m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1740m",,,"West side of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel according to text. Map shows it on S side, not far from the summit area. Later reference says it is above and south of Kat.36, however the kataster description of the location of 36 is also wrong... ",,"2.2m wide by 1.2m high entrance leads in a gentle slope to where it becomes too tight. ",, 40,"7//S/T/E x","a b c d e f g h s",,"yes","smkridge/40.htm",,"Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle","Schwarzmooskogelhöhlensystem",,"2a",,"The main passages as far as Elephantengang were explored by 1938. Since then a variety of groups have worked here finding numerous extensions, of which Schneevulkanhalle is the most significant.
Until recently, it has been difficult to come close to a comprehensive survey or even a good estimate of the length of the system because of a lack of contact and some misunderstanding between the groups involved. However, in 1997 a chance encounter (at the International Congress) by Wookey with Denis Motte, of the G.S.Clerval, led to renewed contacts with one group who explored this area, and Thilo Müller of ARGE has contacted the leaders of other groups and obtained all the rest of the 1980s information that survives. This is being merged into a coherent set of information which will guide necessary resurvey work to complete the picture.
Stellerweghöhle in turn is connected to Schwabenschacht which was over 7km at the time and exploration continues. This must make the combined system at least 19 km long. We have seen figures quoted as high as 25km, but this may involve some double-counting, given the uncertainties involved. Arge's estimate (entirely from extant survey data) was 22.7 km after summer 1999.","
Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle is an extensive cave over 1600m long before 1983, extended to 2500m by a German group by 1985. The system is mainly horizontal, though tackle is needed to explore it fully, and crampons are necessary in parts, because of the substantial quantities of ice in the cave. Was extended by the Germans who worked in the area in the early eighties, who suggested then that there was potential for extension vertically. Subsequently linked via a 30m pitch to Lärchenschacht (1623/88) which in turn was connected to the Stellerweghöhlensystem, giving no increase in depth if the laser-rangefound altitude is correct rather than the old kataster one, which seems likely.
From 'Längsten und Tiefsten Hohlen in Österreich', translated by Wookey and Thilo:
The cave is on the southeastern slopes of the Vorderen Schwarzmooskogel (1843) developed in Dachsteinkalk. From seven partly shaft-like entrance points, a huge, flat-floored level with impressive ice formations can be approached. The Schneevulkanhalle at the northern end is the biggest ice-bearing chamber in middle Europe.
Four entrances lead into the central area. A 40m shaft from the Top Entrance 'Oberen Eingang' breaks into the ice-decorated 'Altausseer Halle'. To the west from here via a 25m ramp accessing 'Schneehalle' leads both to entrance 2 and the connecting gallery from the ice-bearing 'Thalhammerhalle', that can be entered from entrances 3 and 4 too. South of the Schnee and Altausseer Halles, the 'Teufelberger Halle' connects, the bottom of which contains an ice lake. A wide passage with side shafts goes southsouthwest to 'Hans-Pfandl-Halle'. The east connected room, also reached by a 23m high chimney (entrance 7), is divided into two by a high block barrier. The 'Flusstunnel' south from here ends blocked.
From the Altausseer Halle, a lofty passage with ice figures heads off NNE. The continuation is the 'Halle des Schiefen Turms', where the 'Wahnsinnschächte' branches off on the west. It was thought that this was blocked by ice. However, over a wall of ice one reaches the 130 by 75 by 50 m Schneevulkanhalle, on the eastern wall of which rises a steep snowslope flowing from the 'Königsschachts' (entrance 6). The chamber with its very impressive ice formations can also be reached via the 'Brennerbeselschluf' (entrance 5). At its northern end a climb reveals the easterly-running 'Kalten Gang' and the parallel 'Spinnenfriedhof'.
The principal objective of both pushing and tourist trips is the huge ice chamber of Schneevulkanhalle, which requires some serious ice work to reach from the older entrances in the middle of the system. Instead, follow the description to the ""new"" entrance (Brennerbeselschluf, 40e), with a somewhat limited area to get changed, perched between the icy blast from the cave and whatever the Austrian weather is offering.
The entrance is not walk-in, and low crawling in the face of the icy draught starts at once. A small descending tube (somewhat muddy - irritating in crampons!) leads in about 20m to a short climb down into larger (walking/stooping) passage 'Geröllgang. This goes downhill to a scramble up. This was totally ice-covered in 1997 and 1998, but not 1999 or 2000 and has a fixed rope (VfHO-installed), which may be buried in ice at somewhat critical points - a certain amount of care is needed if chipping it out with an ice-axe and gloves really are needed !
Partway up this slope is a space on the left [C0000-40-05 A], including a pitch in the floor. At the far end of this space, a short crawl and a grovel down through boulders where a stream comes in from above both choke. The pitch is a c3, p20, p30 - the last part being very wet in early summer. Leading to Schotterland.
Survey data also suggests a passage off to the right of the iceslope for 20m or so.
Above the scramble up is a short traverse, also rather interesting when covered in hard ice (and also protected by a fixed rope which had to be dug out in 1998). A steeply ascending passage to the L holds a quantity of particularly scrofulous rope (presumably a previous fixed rope). This can be climbed ~10m until it gets too vertical. It draughts. Beyond the ice is a steep snow/ice slope down into the huge Schneevulkanhalle. It is strongly recommended to equip this with a properly rigged SRT rope rather than anything less - the cave has seen a number of accidents, some fatal. Although the slope looks like soft snow, it is a layer of coarsely crystalline hard névé over solid ice. In parts it is almost impossible to kick steps into, whilst in others it offers only minimal purchase for crampon points. Conditions no doubt vary with the season as well as with position on the slope and the year. Tackle required: 50m rope, crampons. There is one bolt at the top, for a traverse line to two bolts off to the R in the roof where the snow-slope proper starts. Sometimes the traverse area is full of snow and an ice-screw or ice-axe rebelay/deviation (club first ? in 1989) may be needed. A deviation (from rock) at the head of the steep section was found adequate in 1998.
The 50m Königschacht (40f) entrance is the source of the snow slope and comes in here. It is often full of snow but was open in 1999 and so was surveyed (by ARGE).
At the bottom is the main chamber from which the pitch does indeed look like a snow-covered volcanic cone. Most of the floor area is ice-covered and only a slight slope is necessary to make crampons vital here. Most of the chamber is filled with ice formations up to 15m high (end of season). Those with two ice-tools can climb almost anything in the chamber, though the formations are no doubt rather more spectacular and fragile in spring or early summer. Formation-ice can also shatter very easily as melting occurs between component crystals later in the season, so it is probably safer for climbers to stick to hard névé. Ways on are mostly reached by steeper slopes that definitely require ice-gear and can be quite unnerving approached from above. Note that the slopes are usually hard ice, ice-axe-braking after a slip is not an option - lifeline or don't fall !
Starting from the pitch (facing outwards from the slope), heading round the chamber to the left leads over a large flat area of ice to where a gap between ice and rock [C0000-40-01 A] drops 10m (2 bolts, one added 1999) into large passage elephantengang.
Right next to it is an icefall coming in from above [C0000-40-02 C] (Apparently explored by GSCB in early 80s for ~40m). 40m round the wall of the chamber is a rubble run-in, iced on the top half. This was climbed by Haines (1998) and Atkinson (1999), as well as the GSCB. At the top is a wet boulder choke that definately doesn't go, but the GSCB plan shows a narrow rift on the right marked 'tight'.
Halfway up this slope on the left is the narrow entrance to Persistence of Vision.
20m further round another couple of icefalls come in. Both are about 8-10m and vertical [C0000-40-03 A]. GSCB plan shows they have climbed up here to find a 20m pitch beyond into narrow rift. Their survey doesn't make it clear how it ends. CUCC bolted up the left side of the left icefall in 2000 to find an ice water duck leading to a pitch series (Mission Impossible). The duck was dry in 2001, but back again in 2002.
50m further round (downslope) the ice drops away steeply under the wall. A line is advisable for the descent. 20m down, the ice slope peters out giving way to sand and rocks. At the end here is a very strongly draughting hole [C0000-40-04 B]. This appears too tight, but survey data shows this is where Kalten Gang and Spinnefriedhof are (VfHM, 1984). To the right at the foot of the slope closes down with rocks and ice - it would probably connect with Plastic Hell. A few metres up from the bottom of the slope on the left hand (N) wall is a gap between the ice and rock leading into a large chamber [A1998-40-05 B] (reported by Robert Winkler).
Back in Schneevulkanhalle, another 10m clockwise round the chamber is another, steeper iceslope. A rope is definitely needed for this. This is the way to Plastic Hell.
Beyond and above are more thin icefalls coming from high in the ceiling - trying to climb these would be bonkers - the debris from the collapse of some of them is all around.
The foot of the piss-wet pitch opens out into very large triangular passage. You can go NE about 35m until it chokes (a good draught comes out of one hoplessly choked corner) or SW 20 to a T-junction. Right (W) is Kleiner keller. Left, ducking under the low wall, is Schotterland.
Kleiner keller is about 50m on huge passage to where the end is choked with glacial fill and a waterspout comes in the from the roof 3m up. A sling ladder makes it possible to ascend the waterspout - you can even doing it without getting very wet, as the spout is unusually well-concentrated, and thus avoidable. This comes into an E-W rift, with the water coming from the E end. It can be ascended in both directions at various traverse levels for about 30m, but the top appears choked at all points. The top is probably very close to the floor of Elephantengang.
The old Munich cavers' data suggests that there is a passage off kleiner keller that we missed - which seems hard to believe, but maybe it is worth another visit?
Schotterland is more enormous passage (10m wide) going SSE, presumably schotterland, due to the flooring of small rocks. A ramp goes up steeply on the L after 30m. It closes down after 40m. Ahead the passage slowly narrows until it chokes at the end - probably very close to the surface.
",,,,,"In dataset",,"smk-system.svx","54000m","1032m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"SSE of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel and ENE of a large basin in the hillside which often contains a lot of snow. Roughly a 450m NNE of Sonnenstrahlhöhle - CUCC's furthest east permanent survey station.","From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201, ignoring the left turn to the plateau at Egglgrube. Pass the junction path left to Kratzer and continue until a red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the path, marking Kat. 28 (we think).There is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch path here. Follow this for about half an hour to the back of the limestone knoll known as ""The Nipple"" (and Weisse Warz and bunter's bulge). Things to note: first there is a wire traverse then you pass the lightninged tree in a sizeable valley. (Opposite this tree is the point you would turn left for Schwabenscacht). Shortly after that a pair of red arrows point in opposite directions. Go steeply uphill here doubling back slightly, rather than the more obvious straight on. Turn right about 40m beyond the nipple and head across the limestone for a narrow gully. After a hundred metres or so new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a.
A very large cave entrance, 20 minutes further on, was the German's (Munich) bivouac, and a few minutes later, a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter is the main entrance (""Hauptportal"" - 40a). This was also the site of an old French bivouac, but must have been very cold. Continue along past some big holes and slightly downhill (one 5m step down). After about 180m(?) you reach the area of numerous entrances in a row There is the small Grüner Eingang (40s), 2 larger entrances ('Eistunnel' and 'Nichts50'), a small blocked entrance, and finally, where the path ends abruptly and unambiguously the ""new"" entrance (40e, Brennerbeserlschluf), also strongly draughting. This is between one and a half and two hours from the car park.",,, -40,,"a",,"entrance","smkridge/40a.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Oberer Eingang",,"p40a","it is laser point 14",,"laser point",,"gps00.40lasr",81700.9294,36459.4949,"1689.6784m",,,,"From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201, ignoring the left turn to the plateau at Egglgrube. Pass the junction path left to Kratzer and continue until a red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the path, marking Kat. 28 (we think). There is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch path here. Follow this for about half an hour to the back of the limestone knoll known as ""The Nipple"" (and Weisse Warz and bunter's bulge). Things to note: first there is a wire traverse then you pass the lightninged tree in a sizeable valley. (Opposite this tree is the point you would turn left for Schwabenscacht). Shortly after that a pair of red arrows point in opposite directions. Go steeply uphill here doubling back slightly, rather than the more obvious straight on. Turn right about 40m beyond the nipple and head across the limestone for a narrow gully. After a hundred metres or so new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a. A very large cave entrance, 20 minutes further on, was the German's (Munich) bivouac, and a few minutes later, a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter is the main entrance (""Hauptportal"" – 40a).","a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter",, +40,,"a",,"entrance","smkridge/40a.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Oberer Eingang",,"p40a","it is laser point 14",,"laser point",,"gps00.40lasr",81700.9294,36459.4949,"1689.6784m",,,,"From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201, ignoring the left turn to the plateau at Egglgrube. Pass the junction path left to Kratzer and continue until a red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the path, marking Kat. 28 (we think). There is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch path here. Follow this for about half an hour to the back of the limestone knoll known as ""The Nipple"" (and Weisse Warz and bunter's bulge). Things to note: first there is a wire traverse then you pass the lightninged tree in a sizeable valley. (Opposite this tree is the point you would turn left for Schwabenscacht). Shortly after that a pair of red arrows point in opposite directions. Go steeply uphill here doubling back slightly, rather than the more obvious straight on. Turn right about 40m beyond the nipple and head across the limestone for a narrow gully. After a hundred metres or so new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a. A very large cave entrance, 20 minutes further on, was the German's (Munich) bivouac, and a few minutes later, a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter is the main entrance (""Hauptportal"" - 40a).","a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter",, 40,,"b",,"entrance","smkridge/40b.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Schneeschacht ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"c",,"entrance","smkridge/40c.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Reichenvaterschacht ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"d",,"entrance","smkridge/40d.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Unterer Eingang",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, @@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ "87B",0,,,,"smkridge/87B.htm",,"Schacht 87B bei Stögerweg",,,"2a",,"CUCC 1980, 1987",,,,,,,,"caves\088\088.svx",,"minimal",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"circa 1505m",,,"In Stogerweg - you literally step over it while walking along the path.
Numbered '88' in a fit of optimism while the explorer was getting changed to investigate this impressively draughting hole, it proved in fact to be only 1.2 metres deep and too tight. It appears to be above the inlet below pitch 1 in cave 87, and has been renumbered 87b, since the Austrians have allocated number 88 to Lärchenhöhle.
Note: the 1987 logbook suggests we changed this to 87a and 87 to 87b, so we had better look into this. ",,,, 88,"3/S/T x",,"40i",,"noinfo/smkridge/88.htm",,"Lärchenschacht",,,"2a","No Info","
Open shaft descends 5m to first rigging bolt, then short pitch to snow plug. The way out is to the NE, where the survey shows a couple of (inaccessible ?) question marks and a traverse over a pit. Narrow rift continues past another unexplored small passage to the right, and in 20m opens out into a sizeable chamber. The boulder floor drops away to the north (left) and ahead. Up right is a bouldery antechamber with the base of a ramp up SE. A short passage here chokes.
20m across the boulder slope, it is possible to descend the slope left into the main part of Oberpfälzer Halle, 15m wide and 30m long, now heading west, still descending over boulders. To the right is a 15m rift passage with an inlet. Ahead, the chamber narrows, but large bouldery passage continues with two or three big boulders (over 5m). To SW is a junction marking the start of Jsartal. Up a steep ramp to the right (NW) is unexplored, whilst left, south, goes directly below the entrance in a passage with a slot in the floor. After 25m is a widening and junction. Right curves round to end below an aven. Left goes quickly to another junction. Right soon chokes in boulders, whilst left ends quickly in an undescended rift pitch.
Back at the junction at the start of Jsartal, the main way SW soon traverses a large hole in the floor, then continues as a small canyon until 50m from the start is a junction in small passage. Right pops out immediately into the side of a ramp rising right (north) to a choke. Down ends in a pitch, which is best reached by the small passage left at the junction. This quickly doglegs and comes out over the pitch on the opposite side from the ramp. The pitch (undescended) is seen to be a widening in a deep floor canyon, which continues as Jsartal develops into an 8m wide rocky chamber through which the floor trench meanders.
After a short way, the trench abruptly ends, and a ramp up above it leads to a junction. Left continues up ramp, but not very far. Right traverses the ramp (another down-section soon ends), then heads west past another blind passage on the right, to break out into a larger passage ahead. Left (south) is the way to Geburtstagsgang, whilst right (north) eventually leads to the SchwarzmooskogelEishöhle connection.
Ascending a low ramp leads past various short side-extensions to Schafott - apparently a breakthrough point in 1986 ? Beyond this, small passage continues SW, with a mudbank on the left, for almost 50m until it widens out and descends a steep slope towards a floor trench. Left here a further ramp ascends east to a choke. The floor trench continues W, then NW, but would seem to be too narrow. Staying on the north side of the trench and heading NW (right from the point of entry) leads through mud and/or shingle deposits in a small zig-zag passage which meets first a small canyon which doesn't go, and then a T-junction over another canyon.
Right ends after ten metres or so, whilst left (west) meets another junction where a further trench comes in from the left (south). This also appears to be too small to follow, but would seem likely to connect with one or both of the trenches seen earlier. Ahead reaches a chamber, with a steep slope down left to yet another trench, but staying high gains the continuation of Geburtstagsgang continuing small with a narrow floor canyon. This now goes NW for 50m, to a T-junction. Right ends almost immediately, whilst left shortly pops out in bigger passage on a ledge overlooking a small stream.
Right in the canyon, 12m away, is bigger passage (Großer Cañon), and the original way to Stellerweghöhle, whilst ahead/left goes west, quickly picking up an inlet from the left and dropping 30m in Ungarn Cañon, a narrow way for 50m, to where exploration ceased. It is not clear, but this may well be a pitch, quite possibly into part of the Stellerweg system.
By going right at the start of Ungarn Cañon, large, bouldery passage is soon met at a T-junction. To the right is an alternative route from the entrance via Frankenschnellweg and Großer Cañon. This route was found first, but the survey numbering suggests it was surveyed later and I might deduce that this is not the normal way.
Left in the bigger passage is over boulders, passing a short passage on the left. A hole in the floor of this appears to connect to Ungarn Cañon. Ahead, a slit in the floor is traversed (on the right ?) to reach a pair of large boulders. Up right here ends quickly in an unclimbable sediment wall. Continuing west, the trench reappears (now traversed on left) and soon expands to be a large hole in the floor. It is unclear from the survey how this is crossed, but on the far side, it would appear that a pitch of c 35m is descended, over jammed blocks. Rising steeply to the right (north) from (the foot ?) here is an unascended ramp, which seems likely to connect to unsurveyed passages below Roddick's Dive in 1623/144.
A continuation WNW from this point would appear to be part of the streamway below the Big Pitch in Stellerweghöhle. This in turn suggests that the 35m or so descent must be in the lower part of this shaft, and the ramp seen to the right starts some way above the foot of the pitch.
From the junction at the west of Jsartal, large passage heads north for a short way to a T-junction. Right encounters two floor trenches, the right hand of which soon widens to a 3m deep blind pit. Across this is 25m of rising passage to a choke. Left soon swings round and heads north again, passong another short, blind ascending way on the left. A short section of floor trench is traversed and a short way beyond is Brotzeitplatz, where a large cross-rift goes a short distance left and right.
Ahead is Frankenschnellweg, a rifty passage with rounded roof, heading north with an initial floor trench. Thirty metres or so from Brotzeitplatz another cross-rift is met, this time at an angle. This is the start of a slightly mazey area. To the right is narrow for 30m to the edge of a wide shaft, Regenschacht, 4m deep. By traversing right on the near edge, a small passage is gained which circles all the way round to the far side, then ends in a small aven.
Ahead in Frankenschnellweg, another cross-rift is encountered less than 20m ahead. Right turns sharply back and connects to the Regenschacht passage about halfway along. Left is too narrow to follow, but lines up with another section of rift in the mazey area. Continuing north in Frankenschnellweg, the boulder floor changes and a steep slope down leads to the lip of a canyon at Puits du Sable. Directly opposite is a short blind ramp up. Right is the way to Grand Galerie, described below, whilst left is the start of Großer Cañon.
This is the deep rift reached at the end of Frankenschnellweg, but it is not clear that this is the best way to get to it. Back at the start of the mazey area, the way left (SW) is boulder-floored rift which continues for twenty metres or so until a junction. Ahead chokes, but two ways right soon unite. The left way looks harder - a traverse over a trench, whilst the right way is boulder floored. Beyond the reunion is narrower, with a slot in the floor, and zig-zagging roughly NW, though clearly interrupted by a number of SW-NE joints. One of these can be followed for ten or fifteen metres, where it becomes too narrow, but lined up with a cross-rift in Frankenschnellweg.
After this joint, the next junction is effectively an oxbow on the left, where a bat was found during exploration. Ahead soon reaches the top of the Großer Cañon, some 40m downstream from the point reached in Frankenschnellweg. A descent to the bottom at this point is a 30m pitch. Directly across from the point of entry is a ramp up, with various sediment banks, leading to Sophienhalle. To the right goes back towards the Puits du Sable and Grand Galerie - see below.
To the left, Großer Cañon heads SW in a classic meander, or traversing rift. Give or take a couple of zags, this is straight for almost 100m, at which point it is interrupted by a bouldery chamber of about 10m diameter. Beyond, Großer Cañon continues S then SW again, getting wider. Boulders hide the trench, and the passage curves west. To the left is the way in via Geburtstagsgang and on to Ungarn Cañon. Ahead is the main way into Stellerweg, described above. It is not clear whether the stream below Großer Cañon goes on this way, or joins Ungarn Cañon.
Upstream in Großer Cañon, most easily reached by the Puits du Sable, ascending passage heads east, and soon develops into a very wide passage with a deep canyon floor. It looks as if this passage is done at the level of the bottom of the canyon, which leads up, passing an inlet on the right, to a large pool at the foot of Puits Madonna. This is ascended to reach a similar level to the point of entry above Puits du Sable. The continuation enlarges into Grande Galerie, soon attaining impressive dimensions of 15m wide by 20m high. Question marks mark apparently inaccessible passages, two on the right and one on the left.
Beyond a couple of impressive boulders, a climb up leads to a smaller continuation. To the right is a hole in the floor with passage beyond, but left is a ramp up which soon rejoins the passage beyond the hole. The way gets bigger again, in passage first explored from Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle, until after 50m, it ends at the foot of a thirty metre pitch from the other cave.
On the NW side of Großer Cañon, directly opposite the entry via the mazey area, or 40m downstream from the entry via Puits du Sable, is a ramp up NNW. Right and left are walls of sediment, but the main way suddenly turns right, though still ascending steeply. The ramp eases and becomes more bouldery, now heading NE, suddenly to end at a widening above a deep undescended pit. A climb up on the right of this reaches the top of the far wall, in a large N-S collapse chamber, Sophienhalle. This shows clear bedding in the walls, and appears to have formed by spalling. Over the boulder floor, another steep wall precedes a ramp down to a choke. Dotted lines suggest a northward continuation, though whether this is above or below the ramp is unclear.",,,,"Information from Groupe Spéléologique de Clerval - Baume les Dames",,,,,"215m to connection below Stellerweg big pitch. ",,,,,,,"p088",,"p088x","Nils",,,81391,36311,"1647m",,,,,,,
89,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/89.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 89",,,"1d",,"CUCC 1979 ","A 25m shaft into a narrow rift of zero lateral extension. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"c 1630m ",,,"Plateau",,,,
-90,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/90.htm",,"Bräu Schacht 90",,,"1a",,"CUCC 1977 - Team Enthusiast.","Rift entrance in scrub leads to a loose, choked rift, 20m deep. 1996 sketch survey says 12.5m deep, 3m long (N-S) and 1.4m wide. West wall of shaft is 1.5m higher than east, and bolt plus red-painted number are at SE corner.",,,,,,"? CUCC 1996 – Wookey.",,,"20m",,,,,,"p90",,,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.90",82353,35373,"1681m","Bräuning Wall pt. 1828: 247°
Bräuning Nase: 153°
Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel (nipple): 097°
Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel: 050°
Schönberg: 346°
",,"Plateau - below Bräuning Scharte - the large and dramatic breach in the Bräuning Wall.","Not located in search, 1989. Found 1996 and surveyed to. From Top Camp follow Bräuning path on slope, about 80m along (from point above waterhole) to where it meets edge of large patch of dwarf pine (c 100m diameter) on a raised limestone shelf. There is another patch of pines on slope to left for c 30m. Entrance is close to corner of big patch, 21m from path. Follow joint through gap in pines about 5m past where limestone step meets path. This is the same joint as CUCC 1996 WK 02, CUCC 1996 WK 03 and 1623/159
Surface survey location sketch in not KH 1996 p 3",,"?","red painted number ""90"" (1977), 1998 tag ""1623 90 CUCC 1977"""
+90,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/90.htm",,"Bräu Schacht 90",,,"1a",,"CUCC 1977 - Team Enthusiast.","Rift entrance in scrub leads to a loose, choked rift, 20m deep. 1996 sketch survey says 12.5m deep, 3m long (N-S) and 1.4m wide. West wall of shaft is 1.5m higher than east, and bolt plus red-painted number are at SE corner.",,,,,,"? CUCC 1996 - Wookey.",,,"20m",,,,,,"p90",,,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.90",82353,35373,"1681m","Bräuning Wall pt. 1828: 247°
Bräuning Nase: 153°
Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel (nipple): 097°
Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel: 050°
Schönberg: 346°
",,"Plateau - below Bräuning Scharte - the large and dramatic breach in the Bräuning Wall.","Not located in search, 1989. Found 1996 and surveyed to. From Top Camp follow Bräuning path on slope, about 80m along (from point above waterhole) to where it meets edge of large patch of dwarf pine (c 100m diameter) on a raised limestone shelf. There is another patch of pines on slope to left for c 30m. Entrance is close to corner of big patch, 21m from path. Follow joint through gap in pines about 5m past where limestone step meets path. This is the same joint as CUCC 1996 WK 02, CUCC 1996 WK 03 and 1623/159
Surface survey location sketch in not KH 1996 p 3",,"?","red painted number ""90"" (1977), 1998 tag ""1623 90 CUCC 1977"""
91,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/91.htm",,"Bräu Schacht 91",,,"1a",,"CUCC 1977 - Team Enthusiast.","A snow-fed rift in open karren on a fault/joint aligned on 67°. Choked at -20m (or plumb of -14m in 1996 to tiny snow plug).",,,,,,,,,"20m",,,,,,"p91",,,,,,"gps00.91",82472,35271,"1652m","Schönberg 347°, HSK 054°, VSK (nipple) 108°, Bräuning Nase 150°, Bräuning Wall pt. 1828 210°, Bräuning Wall pt. 1835 224°
GPS: UTM 33T 0410171 5280908; UTM 33T 0410155 5280976; UTM 33T 0410177 5280894
",,"Plateau - below Bräuning Scharte.","From Schwarzmoossattel, follow cairned path below the Bräuning Wall, past Top Camp (1988 on). Where this path meets the scree/snow slope from the wall, it turns right, out onto the plateau (this is the main path to Gschwandt-Alm, in frequent use).
100m from the right turn is a snow field on the right, with the sound of falling water at its lower edge. This is the entrance to 91. The bolt is at the NE end of the rift. ",,"
100m from the right turn is a snow field on the right, with the sound of falling water at its lower edge. This is the entrance to 91 and from here, 93 is 20m further away from the Bräuning Wall.",,"
The way on is up a climb of 3m to a horizontal passage. There is an area of hading rifts, not fully explored. The first hole descends a ramp over treacherous ice and rubble for 30m to the head of a pitch, Ibbeth Perilous Pot. A second parallel ramp connects to the same point. Both these ramps suffer from loose rock and are best tackled with a handline. The main pitch drops for 20m in a series of steps, best rigged. A final 13m drop then lands on a rock/ice blockage Marathon Ledge, which at one time contained the original explorer's helmet and lights, dropped from the head of the pitch. A hammered route past the blockage leads to two short drops, then a 6m pitch into the Opera House (see below).
A descent of the second major hole from the entrance is the normal route and leads to a ramp down, traverse across and the head of Point Five Gully. The gully is decorated with ice formations early in the season, as are all the useful hand- and footholds on the following ramp, so a rope is recommended to descend Fox's Glacier. At the foot, about 60m below the entrance chamber, is a low bouldery chamber, and a low arch leads to a larger chamber, Barnsley Methodist Chapel, which is 20m high and 30m long.
The Chapel is floored with large boulders at one end, but an obvious low sandy passage to the left leads to the head of a 14m dry rift pitch with a bouldery takeoff. The pitch is free-hanging after the first two metres, to a gravel-floored chamber opening off the rift. Water entering high on the right takes a floor trench 10m deep which may be traversed above to gain the Balcony of the Opera House, an impressive 20m diameter, roughly circular chamber. A 12.5m pitch (awkward takeoff as rigged in 1980) gains the bouldery, sloping floor. A scramble down boulders and a further 7m pitch over a very large boulder leads into a rift, where an awkward 10m pitch with natural belays and joke bolts leads to a flat mud floor at a larger section at the head of a pitch. At this point the draught changes direction, the cave becomes clean, and a stream is met falling from an inaccessible (and out of sight) passage, apparently at the same level as the pitch head.
Down the pitch, a rebelay (which is a very long stretch to rig unless you're very tall) avoids the worst of the water on Purple Pit. Quite possibly this could be rigged as a deviation (we didn't do these in 1980). There is a long section to a large ledge, from where the pitch leaves the fault it has been following and heads down a series of short steps with rebelays a few metres apart. At the bottom of this section, 60m below the start, a further fault is met at right angles, with twin holes in the floor. The first one is wet and nasty, while the second is tolerable. Both unite and go off to the left in a diminutive streamway. To the right above the holes is the entry point from Bananehöhle(152), explored in 1985.
The diminutive streamway ends shortly in a tight sump, but before this, a climb up leads unobviously to a traverse and then a crawl trending back over the entry point, Müsli Crawl. A number of acute bends are disorientating, then a short drop leads to a final rift and a pitch head. This is a thrutch to start, then drops 10m to where the water reenters. A series of drops, Sprucy Wind, follows, and some of the bolts (1980 vintage, greased in 1982) are easily missed, which makes the pitches wetter. There is a branch shaft at one point which is unexplored, but appears to reunite somewhat lower down. The pitches of 8, 26, 12, 10, 10, 20, 5 and 9m drop to a final rift chamber where an inlet from up on the left doubles the size of the stream on a rocky floor. This inlet responds to floods about an hour faster than the main water. The combined waters fall down a 6m drop and sink in a gravel-choked pool.
Climbing up opposite the inlet, a dry rift is a little tight but pops out into a series of dry passages, apparently quite unrelated to the rift pitches. This area, The Crematorium, is a good place to wait when the pitches flood. There is a large horizontal passage ending in a chamber with various bedding crawl extensions. Avens in the roof are hard to reach (one bolt used for aid) and don't seem to go anywhere. A narrow rift in the floor contains the stream, and a climb down can be made at one point where it is just wide enough. Thrutching forward in a traverse cum crawl a short way above the water, a couple more diminutive drops reach a place where to continue would be just plain stupid, since it is small and wet. The cave was rigged in 1982 just to go and push the end. It didn't go.
There is potential for further extension by traversing over down-ramps in the entrance area, and by gaining access to the source of the water (and route of the draught) at the top of Purple Pit. Apparently the Point Five Gully and Fox's Glacier Ramp was traversed over in 1987, and another ramp descended, but this seems to have rejoined the main route somewhere near Barnsley Methodist Chapel. This route was not surveyed.",,,,,,"? grade 3",113,,"330m approx.",,,,,,,"p113","pitch head bolt on wall above yawning chasm near ""113"" paint mark. NB this cannot be reached without SRTing off the bunde and is very exposed (start of underground survey)",,"Surface survey",,,81333,36253,"1640m",,,,"Follow Stögerweg (path 201) well past turn off for Stellerweghöhle. This involves a steep descent, then a long horizontal stretch, crossing the dry valley containing Kat. 87a. After quite a way, there is an orange paint flash on the left, more easily seen when coming the other way. This is just a few metres before you turn left and start hacking up the hillside. Further orange paint marks the route, which goes up a dry valley and over the entrance 109. Eventually, a scrub-free area is reached, go right and then scramble up rock towards a tree. Don´t rush beyond the tree or you'll fall a long way.",,"
This does not appear to be in the Austrians' Kataster ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"This cave has not been documented, but is probably somewhere near 115 or 41. ",,,, 115,"6/t/S/W x",,"40m",,"smkridge/115.htm",,"Schnellzughöhle",,,"2a",,"CUCC 1980-1985","This is the main entrance through which the majority of the Stellerweghöhle system was explored. See the separate full guidebook description for details, just an overview is given here.
The entrance leads to a non-obvious way on to the head of the short Bell Pitch, from where very awkward going leads out to a bigger passage to reach The Ramp a series of off-vertical pitches. The damper but technically easier Inlet Pitches drop to a Big Chamber, from where Pete's Purgatory starts, and leads in 800m of tortuous going to The Confluence and the larger streamway leading to the deepest point.
Better is the Purgatory Bypass which starts as dry fossil tubes, with a choice of routes to reach Junction Chamber where the Big Rift of Stellerweghöhle enters. Opposite, the huge fossil tube of Dartford Tunnel makes for easy progress to the Confluence, about halfway down the system. The continuing main streamway is interrupted by a bypassable sump and numerous pitches before a low airspace duck at the end of an unpromising canal leads to the spectacular Orgasm Chasm. Careful rigging avoids the water in this 140m shaft, ending in muddy passage and another short drop to a deep and terminal sump. ",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 5",115,,"-740m, +231m",,,,"The Austrian Kataster has adopted a very perverse way of numbering things. Their numbers are as follows :
This involves at least one freeclimb which is awkward with lots of kit. Make lots of noise if you are first, especially on the first trip, since snakes seem to like it here. Eventually a large horizontal railway-tunnel-like entrance appears. If you fall off a cliff, you've gone a little too far downhill.",,,"number painted on right (east-facing) wall of entrance"
@@ -196,12 +196,12 @@
159,"2/S +",,,,"plateau/159.htm",,"Winded Hole",,,"1a",,"CUCC 1988 (1st pitch Chris & Becka, bottomed by Chris).","Two bolts in entrance for Y-hang to give c40m vertical to a boulder floor, then a further 20m in a big boulder chamber. A ""nice skeleton"" and an old colander (!) were found on the terminal choke in 1988.",,,,,,,,,"c50m",,,,,,"p159tag",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,," 1996: HSK 059°, VSK nipple 111°, Bräuning Nase 152°, Kleine Wild Kogel 009°(left) and 010°(right), Bräuning Wall pt. 1828 209°, Bräuning Wall pt. 1835 221°, Bräuning Zinken 232° ",,"Near 'crapping region' of Top Camp (1990). Cave is on the same fault/joint as 1623/90, CUCC1996WK2 and CUCC1996WK3, but further out from the Bräuning Wall, c 100m on 067°.
","Cave relocated 1990, 1996 and surveyed to in 1998
Entrance reached in two minutes from upper top camp by heading west and dropping down one terrace.",,"","orange number ""159"" facing north. 1998 tag ""1623 159 CUCC 1988"" attached to more northerly of two Y-hang bolts, just below surface. This is the anchor visible in the photograph (with an orange circle painted round it), taken before the tag was attached."
160,"2/S/ +",,,,"plateau/160.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 160",,,"1a",,"CUCC 1988 ","1988 logbook implies that this is "Jared's Hole". Was provisionally numbered "181" but apparently never marked. Bottoming trip used a 70m rope to reach a choke (with a draught). A small side rift at the bottom choked after 3m.
The cave could probably do with another descent to record some details of the interior or even a survey !",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p160",,,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.160",,,,,,"On plateau, near B10 (according to B10 info). Map in 1988 logbook shows 160 as out on the plateau from Bräuning Scharte in an area of terracing, and WSW of B10. Hole tagged in 1998 is just east of 91, and can also be reached by following the terrace west from the 159 entrance. ",,,,"the hole believed to be 160 was unmarked until tagged in 1998 ""1623 160 CUCC 1988"" on flat limestone 1m east of entrance. This had been relocated in 1996 and was then thought to be 159, but latter was found marked in 1998." 161,"5/S/E x","a b c d e f",,"yes","smkridge/161/top.htm",,"Kaninchenhöhle",,,"2a",,"CUCC 1988-98","Rather than adopting the usual approach of describing every side passage in the main description, which makes the 'normal' descent route hard to follow, this description describes each main route down the cave first, mentioning side passages only where necessary to make the correct main route clear. Various side passages and connecting routes are described subsequently, area by area. The directions left and right are always relative to travel in the direction of the description, compass directions are given where there is any ambiguity. Most passages are described going 'into the cave', on the assumption that this is how they will be first met. Some passages are described in both directions, either because it is difficult to follow them without getting into side leads, or because they form important links between different parts of the system, and may be traversed either way on various round trips.
The clickable index has developed into a glossary, which it is hoped will make it easier to find bits of the cave by name - be warned, this became so big that it was decided to split it up and it is now a framed page.
There are also virtual tours, containing thumbnails of all the pictures of the caves. Although these pages are kept small, all the photos mean that they can require a lot of memory to load. The original comprehensive tour has been split into two, for the Right Hand Route, and for passages most conveniently reached from the Scarface entrance. Two new tours have been created for the Lost World and Wheelchair Access, and for the new way into the Forbidden Land via Steinschlagschacht.Each thumbnail on these tours links to a full-size version of the picture, and each full-size picture has links into the appropriate bit of the description.
Throughout the guide, the date of exploration is noted for each area. There is a history page which can be used as a clickable index into the logbook write ups of all the 161 trips, so it should be easy to follow the exploration of any part of the cave. Warning, this was also getting too big and is now framed.
The upper part of the system can be best thought of as a number of separate areas, each with its own vertical development. The more recently found extensive horizontal development, being easier to traverse, is generally better connected. Although there are various links between the vertical routes, a given destination will tend to have one 'obvious' approach. These areas are France, the Left Hand Routes, the Right Hand Routes, the southernmost part of the system reached via Steinschlagschacht, routes from Scarface entrance. So rapidly has exploration proceeded from Triassic Park that now more than half the total length is most conveniently reached via 161d.
The key to all the deepest and most remote parts of the system is the huge collapse chamber of Knossos. This was reached from the 161a entrance via the Right Hand Route, and now via the 161d ""Scarface"" entrance through Triassic Park. This provides a much easier route in, making trips to the further reaches less strenuous. From Knossos, horizontal trunk passage leads north, giving access first to a series of deep vertical systems, and further on to complex areas of rifts and old passages. A significant horizontal route leading northwest, Siberia, has only been pushed as a result of the new entrance, but has yielded a new deep point to the cave. There appear to be deep vertical leads in the far north, too, though they have mostly been avoided by a series of ""mental"" tyroleans and bolt traverses.
It is still probably some way off the time when one might choose a tourist trip on the basis of its ""classic"" quality. Mostly, choices available depend on what is rigged this year for exploratory purposes. This will usually only include one main route into an area, so trips like a Left Hand Route / Garden Party or Drunk & Stupid exchange will not be easy. Similarly, the original classic Right Hand Route / Dreamtime exchange was only really possible during the exploration of the latter, before the Squeeze was bypassed and this modified RHR became the trade route.
However, now that Knossos is accessible from the Scarface entrance, this has opened up the possibilities for a whole raft of pull-through trips with a minimum of pre-rigging. The one fly in the ointment is the relative difficulty of surface travel between the 161d and upper entrances. The route used in 1996 seems to be good enough to have become a trade route, and after one benightment through loss of the route in 1997, it has been very well marked with cairns.
Already possible is the 161c to 161d through trip via France. In the future, pull-throughs of LHR, Garden Party or Drunk and Stupid should all be possible via Ambidextrous. Right Hand Route or Dreamtime give access to Knossos. Care must be taken, however, not to try rapelling down any of the plethora of routes which don't connect into the Knossos area.
As in the more famous Dent du Crolles system, route-finding errors on bridge-burning trips could entail a long wait for someone to figure out where you went !
Line plots of the cave give some idea of it's shape, extent and structure.
The main entrance at 1787m drops to a major sub-horizontal level at 1720-1750m, containing the large passages of Big Sainsbury's and its continuation into the upper part of Dreamtime, and the smaller passages of the Rabbit Warren and the French entrances 161b and 161c. From this level a number of vertical routes drop to another significant sub-horizontal level dipping from around 1700m in the SW of the system (upper part of France) to around 1600m where this level is lost in the roof of Knossos. [This is probably debatable, as Boulder Alley from Poxy Pitch downwards is probably in a fault rift].
Multiple, predominantly vertical, routes drop to the cave's most important sub-horizontal passages around 1540m in the area below the entrance dipping to c1510m in Tower Blocks and the start of YAPATE. This is a major fossil passage rising up the dip to the NNE, and continuing as Chicken Flied Nice to c1540m where complexity increases. The major horizontal development in France is entered at c1550m, with the lowest passages down to 1480m. The major trunk route through Triassic Park is between 1560 and 1620m, and this level is also lost in what is presumed to be the roof of Knossos.
Whilst none of the routes below the entrance area get below about 1480m, there are a series of interconnecting shafts dropping below YAPATE and Chicken Flied Nice ending at or just above 1290m in sumps or tightness. The original deepest point, at the bottom of Flapjack, is at 1289m, 498m below the main entrance. Passages to the northwest led through a bitterly cold, draughty passage known as Siberia, which was left well alone until access via 161d made it easier. It was pushed in 1997 and 1998 down two very large pitches to a new deep point 534m below the 136 entrance at 1258m altitude.
There is just one section of horizontal level at c1400m, which is not very extensive to date, and similarly a tantalising glimpse of what appears to have been very large trunk passage below 1300m in Siberia, but this is comprehensively choked in both directions.
This overview is currently mostly updated to reflect exploration to 1995, though the line plots are up to 1996. ",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 5",161,"24485m after 1999 expedition","534m",,"
The entire floor of this cave consists of small rocks and boulders. There is no solid rock anywhere horizontal, except halfway down the pitch.
After climbing out of the hole there is another 5m deep choked hole beyond. Traverses round to both the left and right are possible, although a little care is required due to the low roof and loose floor.
To the right, rubble coming out of the bottom of a choked shaft almost blocks the passage but a crawl through to the left remains, with a strong wind blasting through the confined space. Beyond this constriction the draught is lost. The roof remains low on the other side, although it is possible to stand up off to the left where there is a 4m climb up to what looks like a way on but is actually blind. Moving around the boulder pile to the right leads to a big passage. There are a few large boulders 10m to the right with a 4m climb down between them leading to a tight choked rift. This was also dug into from the top passage by the extremely zealous original explorers! There is an alcove in front and a rubble slope up to the right. Round the corner to the right is another shaft-bottom rubble pile and a hole disappearing into the roof. At the top of the slope to the left is a 4m climb up through and around big wedged boulders to reach an impressive chamber 7m × 9m and 12m high. There is a possible climb up into an aven in the corner which probably doesn't go and has a couple of moves at the top which need protecting.
Back at the fork near the entrance, turning left and thrutching over a couple of rocks (another windy spot) leads to the head of a 17m pitch broken by a ledge 8m down. There is a bolt for a ladder hang on this ledge. Going off to the left allows a safe traverse past the pitch continuation to the bottom of a 6m high rift with some ice in it, slowly narrowing as it goes up.
At the foot of the pitch is what looks like an ancient phreatic remnant. It is about 40m long and 6m wide, and mostly full of rocks. To the left it is blocked at the end by the rubble coming out of the bottom of a big shaft. It is possible to work round the foot of this for about 3m to the left and 10m to the right.
Going the other way down the passage reveals a large snow column by the left hand wall. It is possible to climb up between the column and its containing shaft, presumably all the way to the surface, but no-one has managed it yet. Beyond this column the roof gets lower, apart from a couple of solutional avens and eventually a small shaft-bottom rock pile and a couple of small inlet tubes mark the end of the cave.",,,,,"In dataset","1990 plan Cambridge Underground 1991
",162,"156-159m","22 m (survey) or 33 m (text)",,,,"The 1988 log book refers to this cave as ""Adam's Hole (2)"".",,,"p162",,,"Surface survey","gps96.162 gps96bestfit.162","gps00.162",,,,,,"Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel, about halfway between 161 and Eishöhle. Following the French traverse route along the shelf marked with orange paint from 161c will take you to just below 162 and 163.
","About 250m from survey point vd1. From vd1, head directly down the gully (bearing about 100°, for about 130m, then turn right, angle right and traverse below the bunde field on the right along the most obvious shelf (you should find the french path here) for another 130m or so. The cave entrance is a 1.5m × 2m hole in the wall to the right of the traverse shelf with a very cold draught coming out of it. It is one shelf above the French path and if you are at the wrong level you will miss it.",,,
163,"2/S +",,,,"smkridge/163.htm",,"Schwa Höhle 163",,,"2b",,"CUCC 1988 ","This is a fairly small cave remnant, but it does have a draught at the end suggesting more passage beyond.
The entrance is low and wide (3.5m) and descends down a rocky slope for 20m to some impressive ice stals. There is a small tube in the roof on the right through which daylight can be seen. The cave extends another 10m past the ice stals in fossil passage until it chokes. A 3m climb up on the left allows access to a tiny rift which can be climbed down for a few uninspiring metres.
5m back from the ice stals, towards the entrance, there is a stoop under a massive boulder forming the left wall. Here is a 3m climb down into the second part of the cave. Downslope from here is a chamber with a small frozen stream running through it and a choked alcove containing another ice stal beyond the stream. The chamber through which the stream 'flows' appears to have been formed by the entire roof falling about 1.5m in one piece and it is possible to climb beneath this huge rock near the way in. Over on the right is a climb through an eyehole to a 3m climb down into a stream rift. This has a howling draught coming out of it but it is too small to get down - although the heavy application of a hammer might do the trick.",,,,,"In dataset","1990 plan, Cambridge Underground 1991
",163,"58m","17m",,,,"The 1988 log book refers to this cave as ""Adam's Hole (1)"".",,"p163tag","p163",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.163",,,,,,"In the right hand side of a 15m diameter couloir near 162.",,,,"Tag."
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@
228,,,,,,,"?",,,,,,,,,,,"In dataset",,228,,,,,,,,,"p228",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,
229,,,,,,,"?",,,,,,,,,,,"In dataset",,229,,,,,,,,,"p229",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,
230,"+(?)",,"1999-04",,,,"Vergeßlichheithöhle",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"tag 99-04"
-231,"2/E +","a b c d e f g h i","2000-01","yes","smkridge/231/231.shtml",,"Traungoldhöhle",,,"2b",,"CUCC 2000","Entrance A leads to daylight chamber, down an awkward climb, whilst entrance B is a snow and boulder slope to the same chamber. To the right leads to another chamber, which ent H drops into, and a slope up to the left about 2m up the wall leads to entrance D. Continuing on stooping passage leads to a climb which emerges under a stone bridge whcih contains entrances E, F and G. A crawl at ground level between A & B leads to some loose slopes and entrance I. From the day light chamber the passage to the left leads quickly to a 3m climb down into the largest chamber of the cave. From here around to the left leads to entrance shaft C, and a passage leads off the other side of the shaft that is walking height leading to climbs up over boulders with a loose ceiling above. This leads to a T junction, which ends in boulders to the right and a short climb to a dead end to the left. To the right in the largest chamber, a wide low short passage leads to an ice-floored chamber. Crawling passage then leads to the deepest chmber, which has an ice flow into and down the chamber. At the opposite end of the chamber a 3m climb is reached, which was climbed and quickly closed down. ",,,,,"In dataset","
Survey of 231 ",231,"229m","27m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated 30m NE of 204b.",,,"
Photo of 231A","Spit holes prepared, Tags made saying “1623/231” and may be placed for all entrances."
+231,"2/E +","a b c d e f g h i","2000-01","yes","smkridge/231/231.shtml",,"Traungoldhöhle",,,"2b",,"CUCC 2000","Entrance A leads to daylight chamber, down an awkward climb, whilst entrance B is a snow and boulder slope to the same chamber. To the right leads to another chamber, which ent H drops into, and a slope up to the left about 2m up the wall leads to entrance D. Continuing on stooping passage leads to a climb which emerges under a stone bridge whcih contains entrances E, F and G. A crawl at ground level between A & B leads to some loose slopes and entrance I. From the day light chamber the passage to the left leads quickly to a 3m climb down into the largest chamber of the cave. From here around to the left leads to entrance shaft C, and a passage leads off the other side of the shaft that is walking height leading to climbs up over boulders with a loose ceiling above. This leads to a T junction, which ends in boulders to the right and a short climb to a dead end to the left. To the right in the largest chamber, a wide low short passage leads to an ice-floored chamber. Crawling passage then leads to the deepest chmber, which has an ice flow into and down the chamber. At the opposite end of the chamber a 3m climb is reached, which was climbed and quickly closed down. ",,,,,"In dataset","
Survey of 231 ",231,"229m","27m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated 30m NE of 204b.",,,"
Photo of 231A","Spit holes prepared, Tags made saying ""1623/231"" and may be placed for all entrances."
,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231a",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,"
Photo of 231A",
,,"b",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231b",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,
,,"c",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231c",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@
,,"h",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231h",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,
,,"i",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231i",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,
232,"1/T +",,,,"smkridge/232/232.shtml",,"Moostunnelhöhle",,,"2b",,"CUCC 2001","A short initially mossy cave that slopes downhill to a corner, where the cave becomes to tight.",,,,,,"",,"5m","2m",,,,,,,"gps01.p232",,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on a flatish area of limestone uphill from the row of Eishöhle entrances that lead to Schneevulcanhalle. ",,,"
Photo of 232 entrance
Close up photo of 232 entrance","Alloy tag ""1623/232"" placed 2002-08-09."
-233,"1/T +","a b c",,"yes","smkridge/233/233.shtml",,"Dreieingangabdrosselnhöhle",,,"2b",,"CUCC 2001","A moderate sized chamber with large blocks on the floor, one entrance is low and wide, one is small up a 3m climb and one is a walk in entrnace",,,,,,"",,"10m","5m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on a flatish area of limestone uphill from the row of Eishöhle entrances that lead to Schneevulcanhalle. ",,,,"Main entrance tagged ""1623/233A"" in 2002. Spits placed for 233B and 233C and tags left by spit holes 2002-08-09 (failed to take enough bolts – d'oh)."
+233,"1/T +","a b c",,"yes","smkridge/233/233.shtml",,"Dreieingangabdrosselnhöhle",,,"2b",,"CUCC 2001","A moderate sized chamber with large blocks on the floor, one entrance is low and wide, one is small up a 3m climb and one is a walk in entrnace",,,,,,"
",,"10m","5m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on a flatish area of limestone uphill from the row of Eishöhle entrances that lead to Schneevulcanhalle. ",,,,"Main entrance tagged ""1623/233A"" in 2002. Spits placed for 233B and 233C and tags left by spit holes 2002-08-09 (failed to take enough bolts - d'oh)."
,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps01.p233",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"CUCC 2001 ",
,,"b",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"
",
,,"c",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@
,,,"VSS188F",,,,,,"GSCB",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"?",,,,,,,,,,"tag VSS188F 2002"
,,,"1987/02",,,,,,"? GSCB exploration",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"100m up from 157 and 0/5",,,,
,,,"1989/01",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Probably the same as 195. (documented under 165)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"North of 165",,,,
-,,,"1990-15",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"“185”"
+,,,"1990-15",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"""185"""
,,,"1996-01",,,,"Ski-pole höhle",,,,,"CUCC 1996-07-15 Nick, Brian, Tina","Climb down shakehole to open shaft with jammed boulder at the top. Shaft developed on joint is 1.4m across and drops straight down 10m. Rift at bottom is 2m high. 1.5m drop then gently ascending rift gets too tight. ",,,,,,,,,"11.1m",,,,,,,,,,,"gps96.96_1",,,,,,,," Situated at top end of rift/gorge next to path to 161d. Walking to 161d: go into the very narrow gorge, then up the RH wall about 1/3 the way along. This gets you into the next gorge , trending on bearing 031 (looking towards 161d end of path). Turn R up the rift here are many holes along the rift - all choked or too tight. 96/01 is at the top end. ",,,"with a bolt"
,,,"1996-05",,,,,,,,,"CUCC 1996 Andy Waddington and Fran","Cave is a N-S rift in a joint hading very steeply - say 85 degrees dip to west. Tag placed on rock on east side near centre. Stones rattle down shaft for some way.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps98.1996_05",,,,," Schönberg 342.5, Zinken 204.5, HSK 101 (Very rounded summit so exact point not obvious), Loser Cross 213.5, using AndyW compass NPC#2 (Suunto #439258) ",,,"follow new-looking (in 1996, gone in 1997) flourescent paint dots north across plateau (from Top Camp area) for a long way. Route ends with recently cut bunde and shaft entrance. No evidence of previous descent. ",,,"Tag placed on rock on east side near centre."
,0,,"1996WK4",,,,,,,,,,"Big enough to count as a cave.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps96.wk4 gps96bestfit.wk4","gps00.wk4",,,,,,,"This is a GPSed hole found by wookey on a thrashed route from 161d down to the stogerweg over the saddle there. Approximately on top of bulge sticking out into valley.","It's a squareish hole in a little gulley with Bunde to either side.",,
@@ -362,5 +362,6 @@
,"2/T x",,"2002-01",,"smkridge/2002-01/2002-01.htm",,"Artischockehöhle",,,"2b",,"CUCC 2002.","A contortion through boulders leads to a large horizontal passage, which gradually ascends until eventually lowering to a short flat-out crawl over choss. This leads to a chamber, from where it is possible to slither to the left through a gap between choss and the ceiling. Here there are two ways on. To the right ends quickly; a dig under the wall ended in a further choke. To the left leads to a tight crawl through dangerous boulders which would need digging to make further progress.
A noticable draught outwards is present throughout the cave.",,,,,,,,"70m approx.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The entrance is situated in a large choss bowl adjacent to the route used in 2000 onwards from Top Camp to Steinbrückenhöhle. ",,,"Tag." ,"1/S/W +",,"2002-04",,"smkridge/2002-04/2002-04.html",,"Tropfelnhöhle","Dripping Cave",,"2b",,"Tagged CUCC 2002 (culprit not known). Explored + surveyed CUCC 2003, Anthony + Julia.","Square hole at the end of short gully looks out onto a drop of 3m (spit placed for ladder) to a false floor with a further similar-sized drop by a large boulder (continue the same ladder). Landing in a rift, east quickly becomes too tight, while west leads to a 3m free-climbable drop which is choked at the bottom.",,,"Form will be prepared when Dour draws up the survey",,"In dataset","
Plan:
Notes in 2003#22
","2002-04","17m","11m",,,,,,,"p2002_04","pitch head bolt",,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"Go to 204C and stand facing the stone bridge. The entrance can be seen ~60m away {might be wise to check surface survey if bothered} at the end of a short gully.",,,"Tag ""CUCC 2002/04"" on LH wall of gully approaching entrance." ,"1/S/T =",,"2003-03",,"smkridge/2003-03.html",,"Kartoffelbreihöhle","Mashed Potato Cave",,"2b",,"CUCC 2003Julian T, Dave L","A climb down/squeeze through boulders (awkward on the way out for fat bastards like me - Dave) leads to a small chamber ~4m across, with a loose hole in the floor at the far end. This was descended for perhaps 15 or 20m to a hopelessly choked floor of small pebbles. A window around a third of the way down the pitch leads to a parallel shaft, also choked at the bottom (from which there is another window back into the main shaft).","26m rope + some (4 or 5) hangers sufficient",,,,,,,,"? (~15m)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"On south flank of Nieder Augst-Eck just north of stone bridge. Directly to the east of 2003-04.",,,,"Tag." -,"1/T +",,"2003-04",,"smkridge/2003-04.html",,"Dreieckhöhle","Triangle Cave",,"2b",,"CUCC 2003 Julian T, Dave L, Frank T","A short sloping crawl leads to a stooping passage which opens out into a large horizontal phreatic passage heading northeast, floored with large blocks. This proceeds for around 25m to the northeast before terminating in an unstable boulder pile. Some small tubes branch off but are too small to access. In summer 2003 there was a strong inwards draught, which lost itself in the terminal boulder chokes.","None required","None (one arguable dig, not worth the bother)","Form prepared but not yet sent",,"In dataset","Notes in 2003#23","2003-04","53m","13m",,,,,,"p2003_04",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"In small elliptical depression around 100m N of stone bridge",,,"Tagged 2003" +,"1/T +",,"2003-04",,"smkridge/2003-04/2003-04.html",,"Dreieckhöhle","Triangle Cave",,"2b",,"CUCC 2003 Julian T, Dave L, Frank T","A short sloping crawl leads to a stooping passage which opens out into a large horizontal phreatic passage heading northeast, floored with large blocks. This proceeds for around 25m to the northeast before terminating in an unstable boulder pile. Some small tubes branch off but are too small to access. In summer 2003 there was a strong inwards draught, which lost itself in the terminal boulder chokes.","None required","None (one arguable dig, not worth the bother)","Form prepared but not yet sent",,"In dataset","Plan:
(Notes in 2003#23)
","2003-04","53m","13m",,,,,,"p2003_04",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"In small elliptical depression around 100m N of stone bridge",,,"Tagged 2003" +,"2/S/T +",,"2003-08",,"smkridge/2003-08/2003-08.html",,"Gewölbeschacht","Arch Shaft",,"2b",,"CUCC 2003 Earl M, Brian O","Entrance is a wide, open rift aligned roughly north-south, spanned by a rock bridge at the southern end. The cave proper starts with a boulder slope at the north-east corner of the rift, which briefly closes down before opening out into a high, narrow slot. Beyond thisis a pitch, the foot of which is blocked by snow.","Approx 75m rope; see elevation survey.","There is a possible lead in an alcove on the far wall of the final pitch, but this was not thought promising, and was left univestigated.","Form prepared 14/4/04 but not yet sent",,"In dataset","Extended elevation:
Plan:
(Notes in 2003#29)
","2003-08","51m","44m","11m E-W",,,,,"p2003_08",,,,,,,,,,,,"???",,,,"Tagged 2003" ,"2/E x",,"2003-09",,"smkridge/2003-09.html",,"Weizeneishöhle",,,"2b",,"CUCC 2003: Originally located by Olly M; entrance dug out by Olly + Earl; exploration and underground survey Olly M + Mark S.","Entrance is large alcove / chamber in NW side of choss bowl. Very strong outwards draught emerges from small gap under right-hand wall, which leads to a crawl. This opens up to a walking passage with scatterings of ice and snow. A passage goes up to the left as the main way on turns a corner. It enters a large (> 10m diameter) chamber with an ice floor, and an ice stal on the floor. There is some passage with dodgy boulders to the right, but the draught comes from a very dodgy boulder slope on the left (reached by climbing round the edge of the ice). Might be worth poking, but it's quite unstable. We looked up the passage on the left but it doesn't seem to go anywhere.",,"Tightish meander in the floor of left-hand passage might go (blows outwards a bit), but awkward to enter. QM C. Also dodgy boulder slope, which is in the right direction for terminal chokes of On a Mission in 204 and might repay some prodding with a crowbar.","Form will be prepared when Mark draws up the survey",,"In dataset","Notes in 2003#31","2003-09","134m","18m",,,,,,"p2003_09",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"In large choss bowl southwest of 204d entrance",,"Obvious arched entrance",,"Tag." diff --git a/noinfo/CAVETAB2.sxc b/noinfo/CAVETAB2.sxc index a31816e39..806059458 100644 Binary files a/noinfo/CAVETAB2.sxc and b/noinfo/CAVETAB2.sxc differ