In a slightly worrying contravention of usual practice, more trips are -writtenup in the logbook than were in the callout book; this is an index to -everything mentioned in either, minus callouts for walking downhill and other -such non-caving things.
+written up in the logbook than were in the callout book; I sincerely hope this +is because pages of callout sheets went missing rather than because people went +caving without callouts! This is an index to every trip mentioned in either, +minus callouts for walking downhill and other such non-caving things. -| Date | -People | -Cave | -Area | -Notes | -
| 14/07/04 | -Dave OllyM Stuart Dour | -204 | -Ariston -rigging | -- |
| 14/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -76a ent rigging | -- |
| 15/07/04 | -Dave MarkD Nial | -204 | -Kiwi Suit rigging | -- |
| 15/07/04 | -Dave MarkD Nial | -204 | -204E rigging | -- |
| 16/07/04 | -Jenny OllyB | -76 | -Bolting Draught Bitter | -- |
| 17/07/04 | -Jenny OllyB | -76 | -More rigging and bolting | -- |
| 18/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Surveying Draught Bitter | -- |
| 18/07/04 | -Dave Becka Nial | -204 | -Gaffered rigging and tourist | -- |
| 18/07/04 | -MarkD Dour | -204 | -Rigging Razordance | -- |
| 19/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Brave New World | -- |
| 19/07/04 | -Nial Martin | -204 | -Rhino Rift | -Found Uncrimped, Grater | -
| 19/07/04 | -Earl Becka | -204 | -Gaffered rigging | -- |
| 19/07/04 | -Brian | -2003-02 | -Rigging down pitch | -- |
| 19/07/04 | -OllyM Dave | -204 | -Razordance rigging | -- |
| 20/07/04 | -Nial Becka Earl | -204 | -Underworld pushing | -- |
| 21/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -99 | -Attempt at connection | -- |
| 21/07/04 | -Dour MarkD | -204 | -Razordance pushing | -- |
| 21/07/04 | -Earl Stuart | -204 | -Gaffered (Kanga) | -- |
| 21/07/04 | -Nial Becka | -Surface | -Prospecting walk towards Griess Kogel | -Found 2004-10 and 2004-11 | -
| 21/07/04 | -Tony Brian | -2003-02 | -Survey and push lead at bottom | -- |
| 22/07/04 | -Becka Earl Dave | -204 | -Gaffered (Survey Kanga, rig Gardener's World) | -- |
| 22/07/04 | -OllyM Pete | -234 | -Initial exploration of new series | -The first big breakthrough | -
| 22/07/04 | -Nial Martin Stuart | -2004-11 | -Push newly-discovered cave | -- |
| 22/07/04 | -Jenny OllyB | -76 | -Test Tubes | -- |
| 22/07/04 | -Brian Tony | -Surface | -Looking for entrances near 161G | -- |
| 23/07/04 | -OllyM Pete Dave | -234 | -Surveying yesterday's finds | -- |
| 23/07/04 | -Martin Stuart | -2004-11 and 204 | -Rig up pitch and stuff in Swings | -- |
| 24/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Keg Series | -- |
| 24/07/04 | -OllyM Pete Dave Becka Earl | -234 | -More surveying | -- |
| 25/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Brave New World | -- |
| 25/07/04 | -Earl Becka | -204 | -Gardener's World + Subsoil | -2004's biggest find in 204: Subsoil horizontal level | -
| 26/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Horizontal stuff in BNW | -- |
| 26/07/04 | -Earl Becka | -204 | -Again attempt to finish Gardener's World | -- |
| 27/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Brave New World | -- |
| 27/07/04 | -Dave Dour Martin | -204 | -Razordance | -Final push, survey, and partial derig | -
| 27/07/04 | -Earl Becka | -204 | -Surveying Subsoil | -- |
| 29/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Brave New World | -- |
| 30/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Keg Series | -- |
| 30/07/04 | -Becka Nial Julian Earl | -204 | -Subsoil | -- |
| 30/07/04 | -Dave Stuart | -234 | -Pie Series | -- |
| 30/07/04 | -Tony Brian | -2003-02 | -- | - |
| 31/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Taproom | -- |
| 31/07/04 | -Julian Becka Nial Frank Earl | -204 | -Subsoil | -- |
| 31/07/04 | -Tony Stuart Brian | -2003-10 | -- | - |
| 31/07/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -Surface | -Surface work | -- |
| 01/08/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Taproom | -- |
| 01/08/04 | -Martin Julian Becka | -204 | -Subsoil | -- |
| 01/08/04 | -Brian Tony | -??? | -- | - |
| 01/08/04 | -Mark Olly Stuart | -Surface | -Stuff near 2002-03 | -- |
| 02/08/04 | -Earl Martin Becka Stuart Nial | -204 | -Lots of stuff incl. insig2rhino | -- |
| 02/08/04 | -OllyM Frank | -234 | -Derigging | -- |
| 02/08/04 | -MarkS | -Surface | -Walk down | -- |
| 03/08/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Brave New World | -- |
| 03/08/04 | -OllyM Stuart | -204 | -Derig Razordance | -- |
| 03/08/04 | -Martin Frank | -204 | -Derig Kiwi + Ariston | -- |
| 03/08/04 | -Becka Earl Nial | -204 | -Derig Gaffered | -- |
| 04/08/04 | -OllyB Jenny | -76 | -Brave New World | -- |
| 04/08/04 | -Nial Becka Earl | -204 | -Finish Gaffered derig | -- |
| 04/08/04 | -Dave Martin Frank | -204 | -Ariston derig | -- |
| 04/08/04 | -Brian Tony | -2004-12 + 2004-13 | -Survey + push | -2004-13 = 161H | -
| 05/08/04 | -Tony Brian | -2004-19 | -- | - |
| 06/08/04 | -Dave Nial | -204 | -Boulder choke prodding in Near End and Cresta Run | -Also surveyed Pile Driver | -
| 07/08/04 | -Dave Nial | -234 | -Surveying Pie Series | -- |
| 08/08/04 | -Martin Brian | -204 | -Obese (over Phat Shaft) + 11 Second Rattle | -- |
| 08/08/04 | -Nial Stuart | -204 | -Derig Cresta + look at Colonnade | -- |
| 08/08/04 | -Dave OllyM | -Surface | -Prospecting near 2000-08 | -- |
| 09/08/04 | -Martin Stuart Brian | -2003-10 | -Survey + derig | -- |
One non-caving writeup that is still speleologically interesting was a canyoning trip to Grabenbach.
+ +| Date | +People | +Cave | +Area | +Notes | +
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/07/04 | +Dave OllyM Stuart Dour | +204 | +Ariston +rigging | ++ |
| 14/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +76a ent rigging | ++ |
| 15/07/04 | +Dave MarkD Nial | +204 | +Kiwi Suit rigging | ++ |
| 15/07/04 | +Dave MarkD Nial | +204 | +204E rigging | ++ |
| 16/07/04 | +Jenny OllyB | +76 | +Bolting Draught Bitter | ++ |
| 17/07/04 | +Jenny OllyB | +76 | +More rigging and bolting | ++ |
| 18/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Surveying Draught Bitter | ++ |
| 18/07/04 | +Dave Becka Nial | +204 | +Gaffered rigging and tourist | ++ |
| 18/07/04 | +MarkD Dour | +204 | +Rigging Razordance | ++ |
| 19/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Brave New World | ++ |
| 19/07/04 | +Nial Martin | +204 | +Rhino Rift | +Found Uncrimped, Grater | +
| 19/07/04 | +Earl Becka | +204 | +Gaffered rigging | ++ |
| 19/07/04 | +Brian | +2003-02 | +Rigging down pitch | ++ |
| 19/07/04 | +OllyM Dave | +204 | +Razordance rigging | ++ |
| 20/07/04 | +Nial Becka Earl | +204 | +Underworld pushing | ++ |
| 21/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +99 | +Attempt at connection | ++ |
| 21/07/04 | +Dour MarkD | +204 | +Razordance pushing | ++ |
| 21/07/04 | +Earl Stuart | +204 | +Gaffered (Kanga) | ++ |
| 21/07/04 | +Nial Becka | +Surface | +Prospecting walk towards Griess Kogel | +Found 2004-10 and 2004-11 | +
| 21/07/04 | +Tony Brian | +2003-02 | +Survey and push lead at bottom | ++ |
| 22/07/04 | +Becka Earl Dave | +204 | +Gaffered (Survey Kanga, rig Gardener's World) | ++ |
| 22/07/04 | +OllyM Pete | +234 | +Initial exploration of new series | +The first big breakthrough | +
| 22/07/04 | +Nial Martin Stuart | +2004-11 | +Push newly-discovered cave | ++ |
| 22/07/04 | +Jenny OllyB | +76 | +Test Tubes | ++ |
| 22/07/04 | +Brian Tony | +Surface | +Looking for entrances near 161G | ++ |
| 23/07/04 | +OllyM Pete Dave | +234 | +Surveying yesterday's finds | ++ |
| 23/07/04 | +Martin Stuart | +2004-11 and 204 | +Rig up pitch and stuff in Swings | ++ |
| 24/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Keg Series | ++ |
| 24/07/04 | +OllyM Pete Dave Becka Earl | +234 | +More surveying | ++ |
| 25/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Brave New World | ++ |
| 25/07/04 | +Earl Becka | +204 | +Gardener's World + Subsoil | +2004's biggest find in 204: Subsoil horizontal level | +
| 26/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Horizontal stuff in BNW | ++ |
| 26/07/04 | +Earl Becka | +204 | +Again attempt to finish Gardener's World | ++ |
| 27/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Brave New World | ++ |
| 27/07/04 | +Dave Dour Martin | +204 | +Razordance | +Final push, survey, and partial derig | +
| 27/07/04 | +Earl Becka | +204 | +Surveying Subsoil | ++ |
| 29/07/04 | +Jenny | +76 | +Brave New World gear retrieval | ++ |
| 29/07/04 | +Olly | +76 | +Unspecified surface stuff | ++ |
| 30/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Keg Series | ++ |
| 30/07/04 | +Becka Nial Julian Earl | +204 | +Subsoil - Fat Worm Blows a Sparky | ++ |
| 30/07/04 | +Dave Stuart | +234 | +Pie Series | ++ |
| 30/07/04 | +Tony Brian | +2003-02 | +Bolting over pitchhead | ++ |
| 31/07/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +Surface | +Prospecting | ++ |
| 31/07/04 | +Julian Becka Nial Frank Earl | +204 | +Subsoil | ++ |
| 31/07/04 | +Tony Stuart Brian | +2003-10 | +Bolting up | ++ |
| 01/08/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Taproom | ++ |
| 01/08/04 | +Martin Julian Becka | +204 | +Subsoil | ++ |
| 01/08/04 | +Brian Tony | +2003-10 | +Hammering open pitch | ++ |
| 01/08/04 | +Mark Olly Stuart | +Surface | +Stuff near 2002-03 | ++ |
| 02/08/04 | +Earl Martin Becka Stuart Nial | +204 | +Loop closures + Cresta Run | ++ |
| 02/08/04 | +OllyM Frank | +234 | +Derigging | +Not written up in logbook | +
| 03/08/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Brave New World | ++ |
| 03/08/04 | +OllyM Stuart | +204 | +Derig Razordance | ++ |
| 03/08/04 | +Martin Frank | +204 | +Derig Kiwi + Ariston | +Not written up in logbook | +
| 03/08/04 | +Becka Earl Nial | +204 | +Derig Gaffered | ++ |
| 04/08/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +76 | +Brave New World | ++ |
| 04/08/04 | +Nial Becka Earl | +204 | +Finish Gaffered derig | ++ |
| 04/08/04 | +Dave Martin Frank | +204 | +Ariston derig | ++ |
| 04/08/04 | +Brian Tony | +2004-12 | +Survey + push | +2004-12 = 161H | +
| 04/08/04 | +Stuart OllyM | +Surface | +Stuff near 2002-03 II | ++ |
| 05/08/04 | +Tony Brian | +2004-19 | +2004-19 push | ++ |
| 05/08/04 | +OllyB Jenny | +Surface | +108 and 2004-02 | ++ |
| 06/08/04 | +Dave Nial | +204 | +Boulder choke prodding and Pile Driver | ++ |
| 07/08/04 | +Dave Nial | +234 | +Surveying Pie Series | ++ |
| 08/08/04 | +Martin Brian | +204 | +Obese (over Phat Shaft) + 11 Second Rattle | +Not in logbook | +
| 08/08/04 | +Nial Stuart | +204 | +Derig Cresta + look at Colonnade | +Not in logbook | +
| 08/08/04 | +Dave OllyM | +Surface | +Prospecting near 2000-08 | ++ |
| 09/08/04 | +Martin Stuart Brian | +2003-10 | +Survey + derig | +Not in logbook | +
It was a combination of the appaling handling and the measly < 1cm of suspension clearance at the rubber stop which persuaded us to -have the van weighed. It was cearly far more overweight than in previous years – so much so that it was more than 200kg over the +
It was a combination of the appalling handling and the measly < 1cm of suspension clearance at the rubber stop which persuaded us to +have the van weighed. It was clearly far more overweight than in previous years – so much so that it was more than 200kg over the total maximum load on the tyres!
We returned to the Tackle Store having summoned Martin and Dave, and soon began the tedious task of emptying about 300kg of shit out of @@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ Solutions ...another car ... too crap .. another trailer ... too long ... DSL .. Newton Hall to Munich. This required me to find cardboard boxes, twenty minutes after the bloke came to collect them.
The next day Fast Freight hauliers gave a better quote. If I measured the height, width and girth of the pallet. So on Tuesday, I -stacked a fine tower of boxes in the tacklestore. I got a quote, and on Wednesday I stacked a slightly dodgy pile of boxes. The van turned -up to collect it, wiht his hydraulic tail gate and his pump hand truck. The pump truck did not fit under the pallet, leaving the truck +stacked a fine tower of boxes in the tackle store. I got a quote, and on Wednesday I stacked a slightly dodgy pile of boxes. The van turned +up to collect it, with his hydraulic tail gate and his pump hand truck. The pump truck did not fit under the pallet, leaving the truck driver and I to lift the 390kg pallet on to another pallet. After much grunting and straining we lifted the boxes on to a "decent" pallet. On Friday I received a message saying the cheque I sent on Thursday had not arrived. So I ignored it, and it all turned up in Bad Aussee on Monday.
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ the enormous space left for it on the page.]Rigged down to bottom of A ent pitch. Owing to lack of rope we didn't get any further than that + ran out of excuses for walking +
Rigged down to bottom of A entrance pitch. Owing to lack of rope we didn't get any further than that + ran out of excuses for walking downhill in the rain.
To the arse-end of Austria we carted our load
-Knowing free schapps awaited at the end of the road +Knowing free schnapps awaited at the end of the road
INSPIRATION NEEDED HERE
@@ -216,13 +216,13 @@ while Olly, Stuart and I wandered down Ariston. Ran out of rope at Steel ToecapWoke up to find just how un-waterproof the tent was – lots of leaks through the ceiling and 3 puddles a couple of inches deep, wet sleeping bags and other wet stuff which wasn't nice at all. Eventually got going after a short delay to dry out the lighter before we -could make breakfast. We walked back to 76 carrying lots of gear to relook at the bivvy with a view to actually using it – and it -looked a whole better [sic] than the tent. We carreid another load from TC adding more cairns as we went.
+could make breakfast. We walked back to 76 carrying lots of gear to re-look at the bivvy with a view to actually using it – and it +looked a whole better [sic] than the tent. We carried another load from TC adding more cairns as we went.Olly taught me how to bolt by demonstrating to drill a tag spit for 97, then I put ones in for tags for 76 and 76b (76a was already tagged). Then I went underground in the 76a entrance, it goes approximately horizontally for about 15m over a step on the way, there was quite a lot of soft snow on the floor but no ice visible till near the pitch, where there was a small ice-shell. The pitch continues down -below where the 76 ent shaft comes in (but this looked too loose to be worth using). I placed my first two underground bolts, then looked +below where the 76 entrance shaft comes in (but this looked too loose to be worth using). I placed my first two underground bolts, then looked round the corner and saw an old spit which suggested that in the 70s the snow level was higher. I carried on down the sloping gully with snow on the floor, the gully flattened out to a ledge with loose rocks. Just round the corner was a nice looking 10-20m pitch which looked to land on a big snow ledge. Time was running out so I came back up and added a bolt to the top to make the rope hang in a nicer place. @@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ cold + knackered + wanted to go downhill.
[Mark D's handwriting] Scientific note: air temp measured at Pot-U-Like 2°C.
-Wandered down Gaffered, while Nial + Becka touristed up Swings and aparently pushed a QM somewhere. (Becka: where was it?) ([Becka's +
Wandered down Gaffered, while Nial + Becka touristed up Swings and apparently pushed a QM somewhere. (Becka: where was it?) ([Becka's handwriting] By station 12 on RH wall, wasn't down as QM. Didn't go. Surveyed 2/8/04. Also looked at QMs on Colonnades, nothing easy.)
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ MSD.Walked back up to the bivvy, and sat around for a while feeling too hot. Eventually got underground with a plan of finishing surveying what we have found. We started at Draught Bitter, and surveyed downwards. I realised how crap surveying pitches was, especially really draughty pitches that twist around lots meaning you can't easily do plumbs. Only once did we both need to be hanging from the same rope -for a little while. Got down to the higher rock bridge (the one with the rebelay) before we got cold and unenthused. Olly went out whilst +for a little while. Got down to the higher rock bridge (the one with the rebelay) before we got cold and un-enthused. Olly went out whilst I swung around looking at possible leads and so I could draw things better. The big snow plug appears to be partly resting on another rock bridge, with an alternative smaller route down behind it. There were also two smallish (~1 or 2m in diameter) aven tube type things going @@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ Takes ~2hrs from bottom.
Went in 2003-02 with Earl's drill and rigged to the bottom of the pitch. Abbed off pitchhead bolt put in 2003 down 6m to rebelay then 2 +
Went in 2003-02 with Earl's drill and rigged to the bottom of the pitch. Abbed off pitch-head bolt put in 2003 down 6m to rebelay then 2 rebelays on far wall to main drop. Dropped a few stones to find best hang through a narrow rift 13m below; didn't quite judge it right so put in another bolt as a deviation when I got down to the rift.
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ things, one high on the left and one on the right, then a narrow (~50cm) crack o snow slope. (Looking at the locations, we suspect this might be part of 99.) Continuing along the passage + past another low bit I suddenly emerged in the top of a big vadose passage, several metres high and going in both directions! -Upstream led to a choke, so we sureveyed out from here, passing another couple of passages on the way. We had a quick look downstream, +
Upstream led to a choke, so we surveyed out from here, passing another couple of passages on the way. We had a quick look downstream, but didn't survey. Soon an aven joined and the passage increased in size and became looser. In front a pitch dropped down and the passage seemed to continue above. To the left another couple of passages left! Amazed and and pleased at our finds we continued to survey out, getting very annoyed with the crappy compass. After 35 legs we eventually tied the survey in with the previous one, and could leave the @@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ dive out of it which could have been very nasty. Fortunately I succeeded in land
Ticked off + surveyed 03-28B, 03-27B and 03-26B. I think 03-25B can be downgraded to a "C" QM. Then up to crystal pool. Surveyed chamber at 03-31B. Nial climbed up to the mud filled pocket on the left of the chamber – apparently choked -with mud. The small pit in the floor of the chamber is blind except for a miserable boulder-filled hole whcih you can get to the other +with mud. The small pit in the floor of the chamber is blind except for a miserable boulder-filled hole which you can get to the other side of from a small passage on the opposite side of the passage as 03-25B. There is a hole over your head in the chamber but Nial said the banks of mud would make it very hard to get into, plus a miserable little hole on the opposite wall. Then surveyed from 03-21B to 03-22C to complete a small loop. 03-20B doesn't exist, just mud-filled, though there is a miserable thin rift in the floor of the @@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ into). Re-checked 03-23C – not at all promising, and 03-24C
That seemed to tick off all the horizontal leads in Sirens (boo-hiss) so we went back to Eeyore and Earl started to bolt 03-3B. Whilst he started, I checked 03-5B – it's a blind pit, only 4m down. I also went down to 03-4B – it's a smallish pitch/rift -whcih looks like it would connect to 03-2B + big, chossy boulders at the top. Once again not at all enticing. Neither 03-7C +which looks like it would connect to 03-2B + big, chossy boulders at the top. Once again not at all enticing. Neither 03-7C or 03-6C look to be much.
Descended to Eeyore to continue rigging Kanga pitch. Bolts had been placed on the previous trip, so adding a deviation enabled us to descend. Tony and Brian had won the only available instrument set, so we escaped without surveying. Explored around the bottom; only way -on leads to a smally chamber with pitch (not promising) which may connect to a pitch in the main Kanga area.
+on leads to a small chamber with pitch (not promising) which may connect to a pitch in the main Kanga area.After that we moved round to the Sirens traverse to look at rigging around the big pitch Black Maria (03-17B). First part of traverse was easy (big ledge, 2 naturals and a bolt) but then ledge ran out. Next bolt shattered the rock on setting, but there is scope @@ -518,9 +518,9 @@ pointy lights in finding such delights.
Walked back up to our bivvy in the sun; when we got there, Olly wasn't feeling too well, so we decided that I'd explore 99 whilst Olly sat on the surface and patched his oversuit. I went down rigged off the v.dubious tag bolt and a spike. It went down an inclined rift with snow on the floor for a bit less than 10m then wiggled round right and then left to be below itself again. Here there were 2 old spits, -teh first of which I rebelayed too. After this a draft was coing through a small ice-covered rift heading roughly towards the appropriate +the first of which I rebelayed too. After this a draft was coming through a small ice-covered rift heading roughly towards the appropriate part of Brave New World. I kicked lots of snow out of the way and attempted to fit through the pitch head; I got roughly half way before -feeling it was a bit too tight and committing, and dediced to come out, which was easier said than done.
+feeling it was a bit too tight and committing, and decided to come out, which was easier said than done.After a while of fruitless wiggling I got a bit scared and asked Olly to put his caving gear on to come + help. As soon as Olly left I found a foothold and freed myself sufficiently to escape, but at least Olly had practice at getting into caving gear quickly! I came out, @@ -638,12 +638,12 @@ Peter on his 35mm film...
We went down 76 to push the pitch lead near the start of the "Test Tubes". It was unclear if the pitchhead was perched rocks or solid, +
We went down 76 to push the pitch lead near the start of the "Test Tubes". It was unclear if the pitch-head was perched rocks or solid, so I used a mostly convincing thread as a backup, and put in a traverse spit, then a Y hang out in the rift. The rift was a good 1.5m wide, and tall so things looked promising. I descended and traversed upstream, but just round the corner was a pitch up. Downstream dropped away and got narrower. Two rebelays later we were in the top of the rift, with a barely feasible squeeze into a lower level. The bottom appeared to drop into blackness through a small hole – small stones dropped for a second or two if they got through the hole. The -position is such that this is very likely to be dropping into the original 70s pitch series, so there wasn't much motiviation for +position is such that this is very likely to be dropping into the original 70s pitch series, so there wasn't much motivation for desperate squeezes. Jenny tried to get through at a lower level, but that didn't work. So we surveyed out to connect to the previous Brave New World survey and went home. Jenny put in a better placed spit for the ledge end of the pendule on the way out.
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ New World survey and went home. Jenny put in a better placed spit for the ledge (Becka) said.Having been versed in how to drive a survey notebook by Martin, we set off into the strongly draughting entrance tube, which was -extremely goo dat removing any heat one's body could produce. After much laborious surveying around the small chamber at the end of the +extremely good at removing any heat one's body could produce. After much laborious surveying around the small chamber at the end of the entrance tube, Martin returned from the front, where he was supposed to be bolting a pitch, announcing himself to be a fuckwit, and then scampered off to get the forgotten drill bit.
@@ -711,11 +711,11 @@ Swings, where Martin bolted a hang into Earl's supposed connection to Helter Ske There is a small tight tube back to Swings at the base (SRT kit removal required) and it looks like there may also be an aven leading up elsewhere. No survey made. -We proceeded to Inisgnificant Chamber, where Stuart went down a hole, believed to be the connection to Rhino Rift, wherein he found +
We proceeded to Insignificant Chamber, where Stuart went down a hole, believed to be the connection to Rhino Rift, wherein he found survey station "T2", an old sling and greased maillon, and a difficult climb down. This satisfied Martin, and the only other noteworthy event was the Bastard Tackle Sack from Hell. This thing is inherently evil. Its malevolence knows no bounds. Small children hide under the bed from it. It eats small puppies. Several chapters of the Bible know it by -the name Satan. It feeds off the terror, pain and anguish it creates. As an instrument of torture it is unparalleled. Within the Universe +the name Satan. It feeds off the terror, pain and anguish it creates. As an instrument of torture it is unparallelled. Within the Universe there is no darker force. To the unknowing observer it is a regular tackle bag, from which the shoulder straps have snapped at one end, and subsequently they have been tied to form a second donkey's dick. These two properties combine to form a dread object which is a blight to all caver-kind, getting stuck on EVERY SINGLE FUCKING THING, and thus causing its cursed bearer to fall flat on its nose every three @@ -731,7 +731,7 @@ cave and tackle bag, and trying to turn round in the passage at the same time, i
A complex plan emerged over breakfast. Team keen (Dave + Becka) would go in and do some more surveying; team fester (Olly + Earl) would -bolt the pitch; and team artistic (Pete) would take some photos. At 11.30 team science (Dour) would shout dow surface hole 2002-02 so we +bolt the pitch; and team artistic (Pete) would take some photos. At 11.30 team science (Dour) would shout down surface hole 2002-02 so we could check if it connected to the daylight aven in the main Hauchhöhle trunk. At 5pm the underground teams would meet up; Olly, Pete and I would bugger off down the hill and Earl + Becka would keep on caving.
@@ -741,8 +741,8 @@ detour to collect the rope, and using a sling larks-footed around my belt as an passage! (Sweet Sight passage.) Stomp stomp stomp for 150m or so. Walked down the hill with 28 legs more survey in my pocket, in addition to the previous day. -[Continuation in Becka's handwriting] Earl kept rigging the pitch but the drill battery ran out after the pitchhead + deviation -bolts (part way through a Y-hang ~20m down from the pitchhead – probably another 15m drop beyond here). We then went back to Sweet Sight +
[Continuation in Becka's handwriting] Earl kept rigging the pitch but the drill battery ran out after the pitch-head + deviation +bolts (part way through a Y-hang ~20m down from the pitch-head – probably another 15m drop beyond here). We then went back to Sweet Sight passage + went up the left-hand roof tube QM just after the drippy aven with the bat skeleton. We surveyed 8 legs up there, past a tight thrutch into an aven with water coming in and a too tight rift off. Out + home.
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ rock with his foot which fell 12m to me below. As I was looking up at the tape i nose / bottom of my forehead. It hurt lots and I screamed lots thinking I was properly broken. After a bit I realised Olly was asking in quite a concerned way if I was OK, so I thought for a bit if I was, my nose hurt lots, but there was only a very small bit of blood, and once I opened my eyes I realised that I could see alright, so I shouted back that I was OK, and cried some more until the pain died away a -bit. We did a bit of surveyeing. Then decided to give up until we had done more gardening and rigging, and went back to teh base of Saved +bit. We did a bit of surveying. Then decided to give up until we had done more gardening and rigging, and went back to the base of Saved Shaft. We surveyed back till it connected at The Ledge and went home.Down Gaffered Series aargh, this rope is way too fast, welly-brake-tastic... To Gardeners' World + I went over my "Generation Game" traverse to check that it really did go nowhere (sigh) then derigged it (not too exciting bar one -overly-dynmaic swing into space). Earl then did some re-rigging of Gardeners' World + rigged the pitch below to Subsoil chamber. I +overly-dynamic swing into space). Earl then did some re-rigging of Gardeners' World + rigged the pitch below to Subsoil chamber. I was cold so scampered around for 5 minutes whilst Earl packed his drill up + I realised that we had some considerable new cave here – so into survey mode. From chamber surveyed around chamber + then up Hippo Hollows (lovely mud pots) to a thin rift with a large wet pitch around the corner then back to Subsoil + surveyed a loop then time to go home. Good stuff!
Oh yes, I forgot the crap bit, coming up the Gaffered pitch series the mud on the rope meant that not one but both my jammers -were slipping, despite me having switched to a brand new chest jammer that day. At one poitn I got really unhappy and gave a mewling sound +were slipping, despite me having switched to a brand new chest jammer that day. At one point I got really unhappy and gave a mewling sound then thought of a solution: my spare hand jammer on a long cowstail went above my other hand jammer. A bit slower but surely not all three can slip? Finally got to the 70m Gaffered pitch which was lovely + clean rope (relatively) + I was going to survive. Earl Teflon-Jammers Merson was, of course, fine + blamed it all on my poor technique.
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ Earl Teflon-Jammers Merson was, of course, fine + blamed it all on my poor technOlly fettled the rigging in the entrance to add a tight guide line above the rock bridge, and we went into the Test Tube, and onto -Brave New World, this time turning right to the pitch, traversing round it (which I found scary as it was loose) and itno the oxbow on the +Brave New World, this time turning right to the pitch, traversing round it (which I found scary as it was loose) and into the oxbow on the left, from here we followed walking passage past some calcite and gypsum pretties until we hit a T-junction with an even bigger passage. We followed this right and came to another junction, in from of us was a pitch down, with a passage appearing to continue over it, and passage heading off left, as we had no tackle we followed this to a junction / chamber. Here a very small passage went left, a pitch went @@ -823,17 +823,17 @@ very fast.
Earl was all for going straight back down to push Subsoil but I'd promised myself not to go down there again until there was fresh rope -on it so we carried in a 100m and a 65m and rerigged from Tape Worm all the way down (I replaced the top 91m – again – whilst +on it so we carried in a 100m and a 65m and re-rigged from Tape Worm all the way down (I replaced the top 91m – again – whilst Earl Mud-Doesn't-Stick-To-Me Merson zoomed down on the slimy rope + replaced the bottom one). Then Earl went off to have a third attempt at re-rigging Gardeners' World whilst I draped conservation tape around Sirens, Bracket Fungus, the Crystal Pool + Quiz Rift. I then got cold + grouchy waiting whilst Earl put in deviation after deviation on Gardeners' World plus fresh pitch-head bolts + then had two attempts at putting in a deviation bolt on the lower pitch (University Challenge).
Finally down to Subsoil with no time left to do any sensible pushing so Earl put in two final bolts for the 4m pitch over a boulder for -the pasasge that leads to Earthenware whilst I checked that the Heavily Soiled passage went. A necessary but cold trip. On the way out we +the passage that leads to Earthenware whilst I checked that the Heavily Soiled passage went. A necessary but cold trip. On the way out we started a system to keep the clean rope clean:
The Razordance team was all off for a long trip so we decided to join them since it's the dinner tomorrow. Bloody cold at camp + +
The Razor Dance team was all off for a long trip so we decided to join them since it's the dinner tomorrow. Bloody cold at camp + not feeling enthused with a damp furry but a lovely controlled descent on the clean rope cheered me up. Before that, on the first main hang bolt on Gaffered, I found the rope really tight. Having a handy Earl, I manfully sent him down to sort it. There was a yelp as he did a mini-plunge + then he said that seemed to have sorted it.
@@ -881,13 +881,13 @@ a mini-plunge + then he said that seemed to have sorted it. passage (very muddy – again) (need a 15m rope rigged off obvious natural to get down to it) with a good draft. Initially large, steepish passage ending in a broken down area then popped out on edge of a large chamber. We were on a bank of mud only ~2m above the chamber floor but we had no gear. The mud was crumbly and Earl was very cold so we stopped there. Also a drippy aven ahead there, again -trickly to get there despite being very close given the dubious tensile strength of banks of undercut mud. Stopped the survey + stomped +tricky to get there despite being very close given the dubious tensile strength of banks of undercut mud. Stopped the survey + stomped back to Subsoil. Earl then took the drill to put in too spits (last, highest one possibly dodgy as the rock cracked as he set it: "I think this is the best Hilti I've ... oh dear") Meanwhile I conservation tabled some crystals + the mud floor at the start of Hippo Hollows + the mud banks + spires at the bottom of the Subsoil chamber. Then we went up Earl's new 17m traverse into Earthenware passage, + we surveyed as we went in, past various mud pretties + pools, stepping over a large + wet rift pitch + lots of QMs until Earthenware passage reduced in size (but sill drafting? hard to tell – draft is very strong into your face at the start of Earthenware). At this point -we decided tos urvey down the large passage off left that led steeply down + twisting (Stoneware, as we finally lost the mud), + +we decided to survey down the large passage off left that led steeply down + twisting (Stoneware, as we finally lost the mud), + ended in a muddy aven + then a drippy wet aven at a convenient 6.55pm, time to go home. Took the drill battery out. For two people it takes ~ 1 1/2 hours to get to the bottom of Subsoil and ~ 2 1/2 hours to get out again, if carrying no real load. @@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ gear. Olly M kindly came along for the walk and to help me carry. (Perhaps also plateau forever more.)The walk proceeded quickly and with minimum moaning on my part (due mostly to my empty rucksack). Olly and I deviated from the path to -invesitage a few cave entrances – turning out to be in the 80s. We were rejoined by Julian and Becka shortly afterwards, near the +investigate a few cave entrances – turning out to be in the 80s. We were rejoined by Julian and Becka shortly afterwards, near the beginning of the slabs.
Towards the end of the slabs, I did the often done thing of slipping with one of my walking poles. I then managed to kick said pole, @@ -958,29 +958,29 @@ undersuit proved futile (not helped by rushing up the hill in the dark and rain callout time for the Eisluft team). So at 8am I pulled on soaking wet undersuit prior to a 10am trip start. Twenty hours later I took it off again, and for most of the intervening time I was too cold.
-Uneventful trip as far as the start of Razor Dance, wehere the water level was higher than I've ever seen – probably double the usual +
Uneventful trip as far as the start of Razor Dance, where the water level was higher than I've ever seen – probably double the usual levels. The wet climb was unpleasant but passable so we elected to carry on. Most of the pitches were fine: an extra waterfall had appeared at Mash Tun, but it was OK. The bottom of Copper was very wet – borderline dangerous. The rebelay on Yeast is in a star place for avoiding the water (shame about the pitch head bolts, which need a tector). In conclusion, Razor Dance will be OK in the wet with an extra couple of bolts: one on the first wet climb, and another for a water avoidance deviation on Copper.
From the pushing front the stream continues in a tedious winding fashion. Martin headed onward with the drill (having earlier put in a -rebelay bolt on Pepper Pot) while Dave + Dour surveyed. Dave couldn't read the instruments so I was forced to peer through the murk. SOme +rebelay bolt on Pepper Pot) while Dave + Dour surveyed. Dave couldn't read the instruments so I was forced to peer through the murk. Some creativity was required to fabricate some data. Much tedious dicking about in the rift to find the right level and a 6m pitch later we reached the deep point (204 now 544m deep) where the water goes down a tiny slot. Round the corner an ascending traverse goes to a much wider bit (~4m wide) – looks like a weak bed has been exploited to make the widening – the bed is visible cutting across the passage. A line is needed where the traverse gets muddy and slippy – lots of brown mud with a black crust with dessication cracks -(at least there was before I stomped/bumslid across it). The drill battery had done its usual trick of going from 4 bars to none in no +(at least there was before I stomped/bum-slid across it). The drill battery had done its usual trick of going from 4 bars to none in no time at all, so a Martin special pushing rig was put in place. Cartoon laws of rigging apply: the naturals are sound so long as you don't look at them too closely. More bolts needed next time. At the end is a pitch that we couldn't get close enough to see down – estimate 20m on the basis of throwing one rock down it (i.e. it could be any length at all). [Incidentally, this point is around 10m above the level at which the stream was last seen.—DL]
-Thereafter we (read Dave) derigged out as far as God Loves a Drunk, where soup was consumed. The drill and a bag of rope wlaked out of +
Thereafter we (read Dave) derigged out as far as God Loves a Drunk, where soup was consumed. The drill and a bag of rope walked out of the cave all on their own, whilst another bag of rope got tired at the bottom of Kiwi Suit. Team foot jammer levitated out whilst expending no effort at all, whilst this dinosaur frogged out at his usual funereal pace.
-Pushing Razordance is becoming quite serious in terms of the amount of effort and gear required. It is only worth pushing next year if +
Pushing Razor Dance is becoming quite serious in terms of the amount of effort and gear required. It is only worth pushing next year if there are enough (i.e. more than 4) moderately hard (but not necessarily bionic) people interested in pushing it.
At the bottom of the pitch is a small (~5m x ~8m) kidney-shaped area of floor. At one end is a rift pitch-head blocked by a large boulder. I spent a while loosening it, but although it settled slightly it wouldn't shift.
-Drill battery unfortunately ran out halfway through the Y-hang. Stuart freeclimbed down it (lunatic) and couldn't get back out again. I +
Drill battery unfortunately ran out halfway through the Y-hang. Stuart free-climbed down it (lunatic) and couldn't get back out again. I put in a very dodgy deviation + he prusiked out on the previous pitch rope. Apparently it is a ~4m climb initially and beyond this is a stream rift.
@@ -1063,7 +1063,7 @@ since. Buggeration.Further still back, we came across a large chamber with collapsed roof and two entrances. We forgot to survey it at all put it was -photoed by Olly and GPSed. [Another arrow into the blank space.]
+photoed by Olly and GPSsed. [Another arrow into the blank space.]We then walked back to where Tantalus Schacht should be and didn't find it, but did allocate 2004-09, which is a shaft with "a -good drop and rattle" – sorry no photos or survey, but it was GPSed.
+good drop and rattle" – sorry no photos or survey, but it was GPSsed. -P.S. Olly's GPS seems to have lost these coords, so we'll have to refind them next year.
+P.S. Olly's GPS seems to have lost these coords, so we'll have to re-find them next year.
Mark arrives at the stone brige previous night, claiming thousands of new really good caves near Hauchhöhle, maybe doing +
Mark arrives at the stone bridge previous night, claiming thousands of new really good caves near Hauchhöhle, maybe doing important link of 204->161/elsewhere. Much amazement ensues.
1st Aug sees motley crüe going to look @ said holes, who then find most of them go ~3m.
@@ -1242,7 +1242,7 @@ and crawl gets too tight).Becka + Nial in early to take some BDH + Peli case sponsorship photos, and to derig the pitches into Rhino Rift and take the rope to the end of Swings + Roundabouts. Martin (with Earl as a backup rigger) then went up the rope which Martin had put in the bolts for earlier -this Expo (and that Earl had climbed putting in handbolts in ?2001 / ?2000) and rigged down the far side and – bingo – found a survey +this Expo (and that Earl had climbed putting in hand-bolts in ?2001 / ?2000) and rigged down the far side and – bingo – found a survey station from Helter Skelter. Meanwhile team survey (Becka, Nial + Stuart) surveyed Trapeze, a climb to a gallery above the main Swings passage and a small chamber below which can be reached by a squeeze at the bottom of the main passage – Nial and I had looked at this on 18th July and Stuart and Earl had independently looked at it on a later trip. [21/7/04 I think.—DL]
@@ -1279,7 +1279,7 @@ trip!Meanwhile Nial + I went to Earthenware and went up a QM A on the right (before Stoneware) that ended in a boulder choke. Off the side of this was a thin and very steeply rising rift which we surveyed partway up. I continued up it, climbing to only around 2m below where it -looked like a horizontal phreatic tube was coming in, but it would be worth protenction for the last bit of this climb up before checking +looked like a horizontal phreatic tube was coming in, but it would be worth protection for the last bit of this climb up before checking it out. (QM B – drafting.) Then down + along Earthenware to a tube off to the left which drafted strongly. This was initially small but popped out to a complicated area with a QM A straight ahead. We turned right + briefly popped out into big passage. This was horizontal then sloped up steeply becoming a boulder chute and closing down, and finished at a pitch head with a drop of at least 2 @@ -1299,15 +1299,15 @@ seconds and maybe a way up above the pitch (but this would need protection to lo
Derigged the traverse + the 4m pitch into Earthenware and Nial [went] off to find Earl whilst I derigged Gardeners World. Earl had put in a bolt and a sling to let you get into / out of Oxtail Oxbow easily (we have taped off Bracket Fungus Passage to stop people using it, -so everyone should be going via Oxtail Oxbow). Earl had put the spits in for Black Maria but didin't have enough rope so we gave him some +so everyone should be going via Oxtail Oxbow). Earl had put the spits in for Black Maria but didn't have enough rope so we gave him some + he put in a knot pass + descended. Apparently the shaft (large at the head of Sirens) narrows down so there is only a relatively small -chamber at the bottom with only a QM C leading off downslope from the bottom. Nial + I were very releived to find the tape was +chamber at the bottom with only a QM C leading off downslope from the bottom. Nial + I were very relieved to find the tape was just long enough to survey to the bottom of the pitch without us having to descend it. Earl derigged and I derigged the traverse then we collected all our rubbish together at the base of the Gaffered pitches. Nial and I each got a a very stuffed tacklesack while Earl -got his drill and associated rubbish. I volunteered to start derigging the 65m so went up last. I'd foolishly forgotten the travense up to +got his drill and associated rubbish. I volunteered to start derigging the 65m so went up last. I'd foolishly forgotten the traverse up to Eeyore – how? I had a brief + foolhardy attempt to derig it with my 1.5 tacklesacks. Wrong. I then moved the bags to the end of the traverse and had another go. Still impossible – nothing to stand on. Whinged up at Earl and was tempted to abandon it but I finally -stuck a sling around a knobble at the top, derigged the top bolt on the traverse then freeclimbed down the other side of the rift to the +stuck a sling around a knobble at the top, derigged the top bolt on the traverse then free-climbed down the other side of the rift to the traverse (which was how Earl and I had rigged it this year). After that derigged the 65m fine + headed up slowly with both jammers slipping badly again on the rope due to mud – despite our best efforts at cleaning wellies and jammers. Waited whilst Earl put in one good and two failed spits at the top of Gaffered to improve the traverse at the head and out, at last, tired.
@@ -1315,7 +1315,7 @@ and two failed spits at the top of Gaffered to improve the traverse at the headFrom here we managed to paella to the bottom of Jim'll Fix It, then to the bottom of the ent pitch, then out to the surface.
+From here we managed to paella to the bottom of Jim'll Fix It, then to the bottom of the entrance pitch, then out to the surface.
Went back to the pitch carrying on below Forward to the Past. Olly rigged down to the rock bridge down to to a ledge where a passage doubled back and dropped a small pitch which was choked at the bottom. The main pitch continued down the same fault plane (N.B. Fault has -~1m offsett and dips slightly to the E; strike ~ 230°). This pitch led to another short one before things got smaller, we got cold and +~1m offset and dips slightly to the E; strike ~ 230°). This pitch led to another short one before things got smaller, we got cold and time was running out. We started surveying out from here leaving a pitch with a couple of seconds' drop (though the rock bounced once). Derigged back up to BNW whilst surveying and then traversed over the pitch to see if the main BNW passage continued; it did, initially quite big and rift-like with a trench in the floor (Olly named this the Boiling Tube). After a bit a passage left on the left @@ -1402,7 +1402,7 @@ then went back to retrieve the bag.
Photographed and tagged 2004-15.
Followed draft into the cave, and investigated all obvious + easy leads. Draft was emerging from tight tube at floor level. This was squeezed to a small chamber. Still drafting. Rocks were removed and the way was squeezed to a second small chamber. Still drafting. Brian -removed rocks outwards then Julian kicked rocks in to pass another squeeze ino a roomier boulder slope. Downslope emerged into +removed rocks outwards then Julian kicked rocks in to pass another squeeze into a roomier boulder slope. Downslope emerged into walking/stooping sized passage which was quickly by recognised by Julian as Iceland of KH. Found a red paint survey spot from 2003 G entrance resurvey and surveyed out from this. Exited cave and walked back to 204 via cliff. En route back Tony found a horizontal entrance that he investigated: horizontal phreas to T-junction, upslope to choked chamber entrance, downslope to more horizontal phreas bypassing pitch in floor. Tony exited. We went home. Cave tagged 2004-19.
What an ace place. Really good. And that's only the walk-in. Probably required less rope than we took. Lots of silly jumping into deep pools, and sliding down dodgy waterfalls on one's arse. (But only if you are called Stuart or Martin. Mark was sensible and used ropes. How boring.) Personal highlight of slipping whilst jumping 5-6m from a ledge into a pool, and executing a perfect sideways belly flop (if such -a thing is possible) [depends presumably on the location of one's belly—DL]
+a thing is possible).Woke up to the realisztion that as nobody had appeared from base camp with a drill battery, and the club drill was not inspiring in -its rotational speed, we had nothing better to do than rerig Hauchhöhle, catch up on the survey backlog and derig the thing +
Woke up to the realisation that as nobody had appeared from base camp with a drill battery, and the club drill was not inspiring in +its rotational speed, we had nothing better to do than re-rig Hauchhöhle, catch up on the survey backlog and derig the thing again.
This we accordingly did. The vertical squeeze past the boulder at the bottom of Pie Series is now Who Ate All The Pies. The side -passage (Crust) off Kidney Pitch doesn't go; it narrows to a very tedious crawl over powdery mud, growing tigherter so gradually +passage (Crust) off Kidney Pitch doesn't go; it narrows to a very tedious crawl over powdery mud, growing tighter so gradually that one might almost fail to notice quite how squalid the whole thing is.
Surveyed Pete's stuff off the left-hand side at the bottom of the ent pitch (Underhand Passage, as it is underneath the @@ -1510,7 +1510,7 @@ diminutive streamway, probably passable, but equally probably very nasty! Didn't beginning of Underhand – explored but not surveyed by Pete].