| CUCC 96-WK01 | -<name> | -1/S - |
|---|
Altitude: c m
-
-Location: GPS fix GK 5410141 5283007
-
-
Bearings:
-
-In fact, this number existed meaningfully only for an hour or so until Wookey
-spotted that the cave was, in fact, 1623/90.
-
-
- -
| -K9 | -1623:136d and 136c (was CUCC -96-WK9) | 1/S - |
|---|
Altitude: 1792 m
-
-Location: E 36388, N (52)82252
-On same shelf as Steinschlagschacht
-(136), and turns out to be another entrance to it.
-
-
Bearings:
VSK: 233°, Hollweiser: 145° (from a point between
-the WK7-WK10 entrances)
-
-
Marking: Tag "CUCC 97-08" between 136d and 209 (Schistock-Absturzschacht)
-Spit at 136c.
-
-
136d is 15x10m funnel-shaped shaft over a 1m ridge from 209 - Schistock-Absturzschacht, so not quite as obvious. -136c is slot next to Schistock-Absturzschacht, and clearly connects to 136d. - -
Exploration: Discovered CUCC 1996 (Wookey)
-Explored and surveyed 1999 (Andy Atkinson, Simon Flower)
-
| 1623:136b (was:CUCC 96-WK10) | -<name> | -1/S - |
|---|
Altitude: 1789m
-
-Location: E 36378, N (52)82237
.
-On same shelf as Steinschlagschacht
-(136), and turns out to be another entrance to it.
-
-
Bearings:
VSK: 233°, Hollweiser: 145° (from a point between
-the WK7-WK10 entrances)
-
-
Marking:Spit. - -
Slot entrance, leads 10m down spacious boulder slope to p5. -Warm draught. - -
Exploration: Discovered CUCC 1996 (Wookey)
-Explored and surveyed 1999 (Andy Atkinson, Simon Flower)
-
+CTS 78.2027: Descent 38 (March/April 1978) p 34
-This article first appeared in Descent(38) for Mar/Apr 1978, -p34 and is reproduced here with the -permission of the author and Wild Places Publishing. - -
Mike Perryman, CUCC - -
FOR THE SECOND YEAR running, Cambridge Cavers, somewhat disillusioned -after several summers prospecting in the Pyrenees, made a visit to the karst -regions of western Austria in 1977. The 1976 expedition (full details in the -current Cambridge Underground) did -important foundation work in the area, and even though little of note was -found, sufficient knowledge was gained to make our prospecting last summer -easier and more rewarding. It also found the Dachstein/Totesgebirge area -excellent for tourist trips into the huge phreatic systems that abound, but -attention was focussed on the extensive lapiaz plateau above Altaussee, -where the caves have turned out to be of a very different nature. - -
Until recently access to it had been difficult and the area consequently -remained unexplored, but a toll road now serves this limestone mass nearly -3300ft above the nearest valley floor. Although prospecting now involves a -mere one and a half hours walk, one arrives much poorer! - -
The depth potential of this region is of the order of 3300ft, but serious -dye-testing has yet to be carried out. Rumours this summer of a 2300ft+ pot -discovered further east on the Tauplitz plateau by a French team lifted -morale even further. If confirmed this find would displace -Gruberhornhöhle as the deepest in Austria. Then bear in mind that -serious prospecting in the mountains has only just begun! - -
Our finds have been more modest - amongst numerous small pots they include -those now catalogued as holes 82, 97 and 106. The first of these would not be -out of place in Yorkshire, with a stream cascading in at -130ft. After an -awkward 65ft crawl, a series of wet pitches in progressively larger rifts -reaches a sump at -754ft. +
This article first appeared in Descent(38) for Mar/Apr +1978, p34 and is reproduced here with the permission of the author +and Wild Places Publishing.
+Mike Perryman, CUCC
+FOR THE SECOND YEAR running, Cambridge Cavers, somewhat +disillusioned after several summers prospecting in the Pyrenees, +made a visit to the karst regions of western Austria in 1977. The +1976 expedition (full details in the current Cambridge Underground) +did important foundation work in the area, and even though little +of note was found, sufficient knowledge was gained to make our +prospecting last summer easier and more rewarding. It also found +the Dachstein/Totesgebirge area excellent for tourist trips into +the huge phreatic systems that abound, but attention was focussed +on the extensive lapiaz plateau above Altaussee, where the caves +have turned out to be of a very different nature.
+Until recently access to it had been difficult and the area +consequently remained unexplored, but a toll road now serves this +limestone mass nearly 3300ft above the nearest valley floor. +Although prospecting now involves a mere one and a half hours walk, +one arrives much poorer!
+The depth potential of this region is of the order of 3300ft, +but serious dye-testing has yet to be carried out. Rumours this +summer of a 2300ft+ pot discovered further east on the Tauplitz +plateau by a French team lifted morale even further. If confirmed +this find would displace Gruberhornhöhle as the deepest in Austria. +Then bear in mind that serious prospecting in the mountains has +only just begun!
+Our finds have been more modest - amongst numerous small pots +they include those now catalogued as holes 82, 97 and 106. The +first of these would not be out of place in Yorkshire, with a +stream cascading in at -130ft. After an awkward 65ft crawl, a +series of wet pitches in progressively larger rifts reaches a sump +at -754ft.
97 is equally sporting with a tight entrance series leading to a -succession of smallish pitches again in large rift passage. At 886ft it -suddenly closes down and becomes too constricted. - -
106 was not pushed to definite conclusion due to lack of time, but a team -reached 460ft in a series of enormous shafts. - -
Exploration of these and other smaller shafts went rather slowly - partly -because of their location in relation to our camp, and partly due to their -nature. We were rather surprised to find the systems wet and responding -rapidly to rain, and cold even by English standards. And almost without -exception the pitches had to be bolted due to the scarcity of good natural -belays. - -
But we have returned with valuable knowledge of the region, and more than -enough enthusiasm to organise another visit. - +succession of smallish pitches again in large rift passage. At +886ft it suddenly closes down and becomes too constricted.
+106 was not pushed to definite conclusion due to lack of time, +but a team reached 460ft in a series of enormous shafts.
+Exploration of these and other smaller shafts went rather slowly +- partly because of their location in relation to our camp, and +partly due to their nature. We were rather surprised to find the +systems wet and responding rapidly to rain, and cold even by +English standards. And almost without exception the pitches had to +be bolted due to the scarcity of good natural belays.
+But we have returned with valuable knowledge of the region, and +more than enough enthusiasm to organise another visit.
-1977 Expedition info:
-Logbook (currently missing)
-Andy Waddington's Logbook
-Expo report, Cambridge Underground 1978
-Nick Thorne's write-up in Belfry Bulletin 354
-Index to all publications
-Back to Expeditions intro page
-CUCC Home Page
+
+CTS 79.2025: Descent 40 (Jan/Feb 1979) pp +10-11
+This article first appeared in Descent(40) for Jan/Feb +1979, pp10-11 and is reproduced in the password protected part of +the website with the permission of the author and Wild Places +Publishing.
-This article first appeared in Descent(40) for Jan/Feb 1979, -pp10-11 and is reproduced in the password protected part of the website with the -permission of the author and Wild Places Publishing. - -
By Nick Thorne - -
After last year's quietly successful Cambridge UCC expedition (see -Descent 38), enthusiasm to return to -the karst regions of Western Austria soared. The main incentive was to carry -on prospecting on the almost virgin lapiaz of the plateau above -Altaussee, and to continue pushing our unfinished find -of last year, 106 - Eislufthöhle (good name, -eh?). - -
By way of introduction, Altaussee is a small -village about 50 miles east of Salzburg, and it was -there that we set up our camp. The Loser Plateau where we carried out most of -our work is then reached by a steep (in more ways than one) toll road, -follwed by an hour's brisk walk from the top. Furtunately for us, one of the -few local cavers, Karl Gaisberger, who seems to be -able to arrange anything, managed to secure free passes for us on the toll -road. Cheers Karl; how about a sedan chair for the walk at the top next year -? - -
So in July and August of this year, we were back on the Loser with a -fairly hefty team. Expedition members divided logically into three groups: -Team Eislufthöhle: Andy Waddington, Simon Farrow, -Nick Thorne, Doug Florence and Julian Griffiths - the crack ropes team, ready -for anything. Team Ladders: John Bowers, Ben van Millingen, Mike Shearme and -Nicola Davies - all spending their first year in Austria. Team Geriatric: Rod -and Jont Leach, Vic Brown, Dave Fox, plus "hangers on". These acted as the -emergency reserve powerhouse, to be called into service should things get out -of hand for the rest of us. (Something like Aladdin's lamp I suppose, but -this lot looked more like a clapped out carbide). - -
And so to caving. Team Ladders didn't take long to find a promising, -draughting entrance. All well and good so far, but the entrance initially was -only big enough for a midget and it was only after a couple of days of -boulder hauling that they got underground. The cave, 107, they called -Gemsehöhle. Since I didn't get a trip down it, -and know Berger all about it, I won't go into too much detail. - -
Apparently they descended a series of pitches in a large rift, down to -about 560ft, when the tackle started to run out, with the cave continuing. -They chose to get out of this dilemma by rubbing the magic carbide lamp. -Wham! Team Geriatric hauled their weary bodies out of their canoes (canoes?) -and went down Gemsehöhle with a brand new reel of -Marlow. Once underground, the Geriatrics were immediately transformed into an -efficient well-oiled machine. Within a couple of trips, -Gemsehöhle had been pushed to a choke at minus -918ft. - -
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, what of Team -Eislufthöhle ? Mixed fortunes really. A slow rig -in down to last year's terminus (ie. the Tap Room - see survey) was due to -greater amounts of snow and ice than last year. ("Are you sure this is the -right cave?") At one point a huge ice boulder was suspended at a pitch -take-off, and it refused to give way to a well-directed wellie. Farrow and -Florence then carted a great crowbar into the cave to shift the thing, only -to find that the boulder had fallen down in the meantime. Ah, well ! - -
Once we had rigged down to The Tap Room, but before pushing far into new -ground, we had an interesting policy change - to overnight trips. The lapiaz -in which the cave entrance is sited is impossible to negotiate in darkness, -and therefore trips during the daytime are limited to a maximum of eight -hours underground. Longer trips could be attained by going underground in the -late afternoon, spending a minimum time underground of about ten hours, and -then emerging into the morning light. - -
Good idea, we thought, and indeed the first of these trips did add 394ft -to the depth of Eislufthöhle, including the -magnificent 197ft abseil into The Hall of the Greene King. Subsequent -overnight trips pushed on down some more pitches, and a very muddy 'Fiesta -Run' to give a total depth of 1,148ft, the cave still continuing. This bottom -part of the cave is a very tall vadose stream canyon. The passage is very -tight at stream level and traversing was necessary. - -
It was whilst driving back from the last of these overnight trips, at -about 7 o'clock in the morning, when we had a slight mishap. The driver of -the car carrying three of Team Eislufthöhle back -down the toll road, fell asleep at the wheel. With that Great Karst Area in -the Sky Looming ever nearer, the car missed a telegraph pole and a tree by -inches, went through a fence cum crash barrier, and gracefully launched -itself over the void. - -
Well, it could have been a drop of a couple of hundred feet had it -happened further up the road, but as it was, any spectators stupid enough to -be awake at that ungodly hour would have seen a fine piece of 'S' registered, -British engineering fall, roll, and tumble down a near vertical 30ft bank, to -land wheels down in the river at the bottom. (all film rights reserved.) - -
The driver had a broken sternum, cuts to face and hands, and concussion. -The front seat passenger had a bad gash in the head, and was suspected of -having a lightly fractured neck, and as the passenger in the back (I'm almost -ashamed to say it!) I escaped uninjured. The car was a write-off. Both -injured parties are now out of hospital, and well on the way to recovery. -(Rats, I wanted his watch!) - -
One consequence of the crash was to leave Team -Eislufthöhle a little short of manpower. Efforts -were shifted from surveying and photographing to derigging. As the expedition -neared its close, we even started fondling insurance policies as we -contemplated having to abandon some tackle down the cave. With most of the -cave still to derig, things looked bleak. Then we remembered the magic -carbide lamp . . . Wham! In came Team Geriatric, fresh from -Gemsehöhle, and in one magnificent combined -effort, we cleared the cave with one day to spare. - -
On the return journey we were waved through Belgian customs by the -cleaning lady, and just reached an English telly five minutes before Sid's -Pippikin film started. - -
In conclusion then, the expedition was a great success, even if the -exploration of Eislufthöhle was halted a little -early. As for Eislufthöhle itself, it is now one -of Austria's most significant caves. From our end point this year, we could -lob stones down a considerable distance below, with the stream canyon -continuing. No sump appears imminent as there is no fresh mud on the walls. -(The mud of the Fiesta Run is probably associated with a shaft overhead, and -is quite old stuff.) - -
To get 1300ft out of the place should be a mere formality, and after that, -there's still 1640ft of depth potential left. Now we must try and muster a -really crack team for next year. And crack team it must be, as -Eislufthöhle is no longer the easy series of -shafts it was, but a long and serious undertaking. - -
References: Cambridge Underground -1977, 1978 -and 1979 [to be published] containing surveys of all -underground discoveries made by CUCC inrecent years, plus surface survey -giving accurate entrance locations and altitudes. [This is -a slight exagerration, WebEd.] +
By Nick Thorne
+After last year's quietly successful Cambridge UCC expedition +(see Descent 38), +enthusiasm to return to the karst regions of Western Austria +soared. The main incentive was to carry on prospecting on the +almost virgin lapiaz of the plateau above Altaussee, and to continue pushing our unfinished find +of last year, 106 - Eislufthöhle (good name, eh?).
+By way of introduction, Altaussee is a small village about 50 miles east of +Salzburg, and it was there +that we set up our camp. The Loser Plateau where we carried out +most of our work is then reached by a steep (in more ways than one) +toll road, follwed by an hour's brisk walk from the top. +Furtunately for us, one of the few local cavers, Karl Gaisberger, who seems to be able to +arrange anything, managed to secure free passes for us on the toll +road. Cheers Karl; how about a sedan chair for the walk at the top +next year?
+So in July and August of this year, we were back on the Loser +with a fairly hefty team. Expedition members divided logically into +three groups: Team Eislufthöhle: Andy Waddington, Simon Farrow, Nick +Thorne, Doug Florence and Julian Griffiths - the crack ropes team, +ready for anything. Team Ladders: John Bowers, Ben van Millingen, +Mike Shearme and Nicola Davies - all spending their first year in +Austria. Team Geriatric: Rod and Jont Leach, Vic Brown, Dave Fox, +plus "hangers on". These acted as the emergency reserve powerhouse, +to be called into service should things get out of hand for the +rest of us. (Something like Aladdin's lamp I suppose, but this lot +looked more like a clapped out carbide).
+And so to caving. Team Ladders didn't take long to find a +promising, draughting entrance. All well and good so far, but the +entrance initially was only big enough for a midget and it was only +after a couple of days of boulder hauling that they got +underground. The cave, 107, they called Gemsehöhle. Since I didn't get a trip down it, and know +Berger all about it, I won't go into too much detail.
+Apparently they descended a series of pitches in a large rift, +down to about 560ft, when the tackle started to run out, with the +cave continuing. They chose to get out of this dilemma by rubbing +the magic carbide lamp. Wham! Team Geriatric hauled their weary +bodies out of their canoes (canoes?) and went down Gemsehöhle with a brand new reel of Marlow. +Once underground, the Geriatrics were immediately transformed into +an efficient well-oiled machine. Within a couple of trips, +Gemsehöhle had been pushed to +a choke at minus 918ft.
+Meanwhile, back at the ranch, what of Team Eislufthöhle? Mixed fortunes really. A slow +rig in down to last year's terminus (ie. the Tap Room - see survey) +was due to greater amounts of snow and ice than last year. ("Are +you sure this is the right cave?") At one point a huge ice boulder +was suspended at a pitch take-off, and it refused to give way to a +well-directed wellie. Farrow and Florence then carted a great +crowbar into the cave to shift the thing, only to find that the +boulder had fallen down in the meantime. Ah, well !
+Once we had rigged down to The Tap Room, but before pushing far +into new ground, we had an interesting policy change - to overnight +trips. The lapiaz in which the cave entrance is sited is impossible +to negotiate in darkness, and therefore trips during the daytime +are limited to a maximum of eight hours underground. Longer trips +could be attained by going underground in the late afternoon, +spending a minimum time underground of about ten hours, and then +emerging into the morning light.
+Good idea, we thought, and indeed the first of these trips did +add 394ft to the depth of Eislufthöhle, including the magnificent 197ft abseil +into The Hall of the Greene King. Subsequent overnight trips pushed +on down some more pitches, and a very muddy 'Fiesta Run' to give a +total depth of 1,148ft, the cave still continuing. This bottom part +of the cave is a very tall vadose stream canyon. The passage is +very tight at stream level and traversing was necessary.
+It was whilst driving back from the last of these overnight +trips, at about 7 o'clock in the morning, when we had a slight +mishap. The driver of the car carrying three of Team Eislufthöhle back down the toll road, +fell asleep at the wheel. With that Great Karst Area in the Sky +Looming ever nearer, the car missed a telegraph pole and a tree by +inches, went through a fence cum crash barrier, and gracefully +launched itself over the void.
+Well, it could have been a drop of a couple of hundred feet had +it happened further up the road, but as it was, any spectators +stupid enough to be awake at that ungodly hour would have seen a +fine piece of 'S' registered, British engineering fall, roll, and +tumble down a near vertical 30ft bank, to land wheels down in the +river at the bottom. (all film rights reserved.)
+The driver had a broken sternum, cuts to face and hands, and +concussion. The front seat passenger had a bad gash in the head, +and was suspected of having a lightly fractured neck, and as the +passenger in the back (I'm almost ashamed to say it!) I escaped +uninjured. The car was a write-off. Both injured parties are now +out of hospital, and well on the way to recovery. (Rats, I wanted +his watch!)
+One consequence of the crash was to leave Team Eislufthöhle a little short of manpower. +Efforts were shifted from surveying and photographing to derigging. +As the expedition neared its close, we even started fondling +insurance policies as we contemplated having to abandon some tackle +down the cave. With most of the cave still to derig, things looked +bleak. Then we remembered the magic carbide lamp . . . Wham! In +came Team Geriatric, fresh from Gemsehöhle, and in one magnificent combined effort, we +cleared the cave with one day to spare.
+On the return journey we were waved through Belgian customs by +the cleaning lady, and just reached an English telly five minutes +before Sid's Pippikin film started.
+In conclusion then, the expedition was a great success, even if +the exploration of Eislufthöhle was halted a little early. As for +Eislufthöhle itself, it is now +one of Austria's most significant caves. From our end point this +year, we could lob stones down a considerable distance below, with +the stream canyon continuing. No sump appears imminent as there is +no fresh mud on the walls. (The mud of the Fiesta Run is probably +associated with a shaft overhead, and is quite old stuff.)
+To get 1300ft out of the place should be a mere formality, and +after that, there's still 1640ft of depth potential left. Now we +must try and muster a really crack team for next year. And crack +team it must be, as Eislufthöhle is no longer the easy series of shafts it +was, but a long and serious undertaking.
+References: Cambridge Underground 1977, 1978 and 1979 [to be published] +containing surveys of all underground discoveries made by CUCC +in recent years, plus surface survey giving accurate entrance +locations and altitudes. [This is a slight +exagerration, WebEd.]
-1978 Expedition info:
-Logbook
-Expo report, Cambridge Underground 1979
-BCRA Caves & Caving Report
-Nick Thorne's write-up in Belfry Bulletin 366
-1977/78 report from NPC Journal
-Sponsors
-Index to all publications
-Back to Expeditions intro page
-CUCC Home Page
+
+This article first appeared in
CTS 80.1739: Descent 44 (January/February +1980) pp 36-38
-This article first appeared in Descent(44) for Jan/Feb +1980, pp36-38 and is reproduced here with the permission of the +author and Wild Places Publishing.
-By Nick Thorne
By Nick Thorne
-IN LATE July and August, Cambridge University Caving Club again went to -the Loser Plateau in the Totes Gebirge of Austria. The plateau, situated -above the quiet village of Altaussee in Steiermark, had been the scene of our -previous three summer expeditions. +
IN LATE July and August, Cambridge University Caving Club again +went to the Loser Plateau in the Totes Gebirge of Austria. The +plateau, situated above the quiet village of Altaussee in +Steiermark, had been the scene of our previous three summer +expeditions.
-The prospecting done to date on the vast virgin lapiaz of the plateau had -given us no fewer than three pots in the 650-1000ft (200-300m) bracket, and -one, Eislufthöhle, 1150ft (350m) deep, and as yet unfinished. +
The prospecting done to date on the vast virgin lapiaz of the +plateau had given us no fewer than three pots in the 650-1000ft +(200-300m) bracket, and one, Eislufthöhle, 1150ft (350m) deep, and +as yet unfinished.
-As one of our rank concludes, finding deep pots on the Loser Plateau is a -real cinch; pushing them, however, is just a little more difficult. -Consequently, this year's expedition concentrated not on more prospecting -(for fear of finding yet another deep pot), but instead on the exciting task -of bottoming Eislufthöhle. +
As one of our rank concludes, finding deep pots on the Loser +Plateau is a real cinch; pushing them, however, is just a little +more difficult. Consequently, this year's expedition concentrated +not on more prospecting (for fear of finding yet another deep pot), +but instead on the exciting task of bottoming Eislufthöhle.
The cave, designated 106 in the official Austrian catalogue, was -discovered in 1977 and pushed down to 500ft (150m) depth before time forced a -derig. Last year we added another 650ft (200m) depth before a car accident -wiped out (temporarily) half of the pushing team. (See -Descent 40 for the action replay). +discovered in 1977 and pushed down to 500ft (150m) depth before +time forced a derig. Last year we added another 650ft (200m) depth +before a car accident wiped out (temporarily) half of the pushing +team. (See Descent 40 for +the action replay).
-The cave to this depth includes (see survey), Plugged Sahft, 250ft (75m) -of horrific snow plugs; The Keg Series, a red herring route that diverted our -attention until we noticed that - wait for it - it had no draught; and the -Tap Room, a fair sized chamber with a stream inlet in the roof. +
The cave to this depth includes (see survey), Plugged Sahft, +250ft (75m) of horrific snow plugs; The Keg Series, a red herring +route that diverted our attention until we noticed that - wait for +it - it had no draught; and the Tap Room, a fair sized chamber with +a stream inlet in the roof.
-Next occurred a superb section of verticality including the drop into The -Hall of the Greene King, a real belter of a pitch, 180ft (55m) free to the -floor, huge and black. This was followed by an uncharacteristically -horizontal section, mainly traversing in a tall stream canyon, punctuated by -short muddy pitches. The traverse below the Fiesta Run was the limit of -previous exploration before this summer. +
Next occurred a superb section of verticality including the drop +into The Hall of the Greene King, a real belter of a pitch, 180ft +(55m) free to the floor, huge and black. This was followed by an +uncharacteristically horizontal section, mainly traversing in a +tall stream canyon, punctuated by short muddy pitches. The traverse +below the Fiesta Run was the limit of previous exploration before +this summer.
-This year's expedition started slowly. A lot of surface preparation was -needed first, and things were not speeded up by a car breakdown in Germany! -We supplemented our luxurious base camp in Altaussee with an advanced camp up -in the mountains on the edge of the karren field, about 20 minutes walk from -the cave. This walk across the difficult lapiaz from cave to camp, we marked -in style with a continuous piece of white polypropylene string. This enabled -us to negotiate the walk over the clints at any time of the day or night, -come rain or shine. And so to the underground. +
This year's expedition started slowly. A lot of surface +preparation was needed first, and things were not speeded up by a +car breakdown in Germany! We supplemented our luxurious base camp +in Altaussee with an advanced camp up in the mountains on the edge +of the karren field, about 20 minutes walk from the cave. This walk +across the difficult lapiaz from cave to camp, we marked in style +with a continuous piece of white polypropylene string. This enabled +us to negotiate the walk over the clints at any time of the day or +night, come rain or shine. And so to the underground.
-The customary ice boulders of Plugged Shaft were merely replaced this year -by overhanging snow cornices, huge icicles of critical plummet potential, and -the like. These necessitated a rebolting of the shaft, an unpleasant job -undertaken by those pulling the short straw. Once below Plugged, the other -pitches were rigged without too much hassle, to bring us to the Fiesta Run -and new ground. +
The customary ice boulders of Plugged Shaft were merely replaced +this year by overhanging snow cornices, huge icicles of critical +plummet potential, and the like. These necessitated a rebolting of +the shaft, an unpleasant job undertaken by those pulling the short +straw. Once below Plugged, the other pitches were rigged without +too much hassle, to bring us to the Fiesta Run and new ground.
-We rigged Madlmaier Shaft, named after our beer vending campsite owner, -and descended only ten feet before a decision was required. Continuing on -downwards seemed to be fairly restricted and more obvious was a traverse -outwards. We opted for the latter believing it would lead to a more sociable -pitch down to the same place. So much for theory. Before long we found -ourselves in a totally different passage, with the sound of the stream fading -into the background. This route was followed down two broken 50ft (15m) -pitches to a fairly small passage. The loon out in front at the time squirmed -along 100ft (30m) of tight grovel until he popped out into the side of a -roomy aven. He reckoned it was about 50ft (15m) down to a -streamway - end of trip. +
We rigged Madlmaier Shaft, named after our beer vending campsite +owner, and descended only ten feet before a decision was required. +Continuing on downwards seemed to be fairly restricted and more +obvious was a traverse outwards. We opted for the latter believing +it would lead to a more sociable pitch down to the same place. So +much for theory. Before long we found ourselves in a totally +different passage, with the sound of the stream fading into the +background. This route was followed down two broken 50ft (15m) +pitches to a fairly small passage. The loon out in front at the +time squirmed along 100ft (30m) of tight grovel until he popped out +into the side of a roomy aven. He reckoned it was about 50ft (15m) +down to a streamway - end of trip.
-Enthusiasm for passage at depth like this was low, and the next party -consequently took a closer look at the way on down Madlmaier Shaft. To -everyone's surprise and delight, the place soon opened out into a comfortable -sized rift. On this particular trip a ledge 90ft (28m) down was reached, the -pitch continuing down a second, large rift, at right angles to the first. +
Enthusiasm for passage at depth like this was low, and the next +party consequently took a closer look at the way on down Madlmaier +Shaft. To everyone's surprise and delight, the place soon opened +out into a comfortable sized rift. On this particular trip a ledge +90ft (28m) down was reached, the pitch continuing down a second, +large rift, at right angles to the first.
-The next trip capitalised on the new found verticality that the pot was -displaying. Madlmaier Shaft was bottomed after a damp 110ft (33m) section -below the ledge. As the stream sank into the floor a dry, broken 160ft (50m) -pitch was descended down a vast gulley. The next section was very -atmospheric. (I mean wet). The stream reissued from a hole high up in the -wall and cascaded down on the free climb and 14th pitch that followed almost -immediately. This was unfortunate, as the pitch was 70ft (20m) deep! Spitting -over their shoulders, the two cavers, now firmly believing Loser to be -hollow, left the cave for a celebration in the local bar. +
The next trip capitalised on the new found verticality that the +pot was displaying. Madlmaier Shaft was bottomed after a damp 110ft +(33m) section below the ledge. As the stream sank into the floor a +dry, broken 160ft (50m) pitch was descended down a vast gulley. The +next section was very atmospheric. (I mean wet). The stream +reissued from a hole high up in the wall and cascaded down on the +free climb and 14th pitch that followed almost immediately. This +was unfortunate, as the pitch was 70ft (20m) deep! Spitting over +their shoulders, the two cavers, now firmly believing Loser to be +hollow, left the cave for a celebration in the local bar.
-Then unfortunately it rained... and rained... for days. And it only -stopped raining when it was time for a thunderstorm. As the weather continued -to look pretty Schwarz over Wilhelm's Mutter's, we spent several sleepless -nights up at the advanced camp, speculating on run-off times for the water, -and the possibility of getting flight clearance for our tents. +
Then unfortunately it rained... and rained... for days. And it +only stopped raining when it was time for a thunderstorm. As the +weather continued to look pretty Schwarz over Wilhelm's Mutter's, +we spent several sleepless nights up at the advanced camp, +speculating on run-off times for the water, and the possibility of +getting flight clearance for our tents.
When the sun finally condescended to shine, a five-man mega -pushing/surveying/photgraphing team stormed underground. The 15th pitch was -soon rigged sensibly and descended to a large walking passage, with the -stream flowing just under the boulder floor. The passage sloped steeply -down/over/under/around boulders of all shapes sizes and stabilities, and -then, just when least expected, absolutely unmistakeable, thick, black mud -covered the rock - the cave would shortly sump. Another short pitch and we -were there. The sump pool was a fittingly large lake, and signified the -culmination of three years' interesting work in the pot. +pushing/surveying/photgraphing team stormed underground. The 15th +pitch was soon rigged sensibly and descended to a large walking +passage, with the stream flowing just under the boulder floor. The +passage sloped steeply down/over/under/around boulders of all +shapes sizes and stabilities, and then, just when least expected, +absolutely unmistakeable, thick, black mud covered the rock - the +cave would shortly sump. Another short pitch and we were there. The +sump pool was a fittingly large lake, and signified the culmination +of three years' interesting work in the pot.
-Whatever feelings we had at the time, either surprise, relief, pleasure, -disappointment, etc. were soon completely wiped out by the sheer effort we -put in as we cleared the cave of tackle below The Hall of the Greene King. -The bottoming party surfaced to a starlit sky, after a trip of 15 hours. +
Whatever feelings we had at the time, either surprise, relief, +pleasure, disappointment, etc. were soon completely wiped out by +the sheer effort we put in as we cleared the cave of tackle below +The Hall of the Greene King. The bottoming party surfaced to a +starlit sky, after a trip of 15 hours.
-The rest of the derigging and the clearing of the advanced camp proceeded -with relatively little fuss, but a lot of effort, over the remaining few days -of the expedition. We then returned to England, mission accomplished. +
The rest of the derigging and the clearing of the advanced camp +proceeded with relatively little fuss, but a lot of effort, over +the remaining few days of the expedition. We then returned to +England, mission accomplished.
-The survey: A grade 5 survey of the pot stopped at the Tap Room with a -duff clino. For the rest of the pot we measured pitch lengths and feel that -1650ft (506m) is a fair minimum depth estimate. A higher grade survey and a -surface survey of the Loser's cave entrances will be published in -Cambridge Underground 1980. +
The survey: A grade 5 survey of the pot stopped at the Tap Room +with a duff clino. For the rest of the pot we measured pitch +lengths and feel that 1650ft (506m) is a fair minimum depth +estimate. A higher grade survey and a surface survey of the Loser's +cave entrances will be published in Cambridge Underground +1980.
-In conclusion then, apart from a few odd leads that we didn't bother to -follow, Eislufthöhle is finished. And sporting though it was, I can't -see anyone returning to the place for a long time to come. And why should -they? There's the rest of the plateau to look at, and deeper pots to be found -by anyone caring to have an expedition there. Thanks due to Karl Gaisberger, -our local contact, and Rocksport for the donation of some rope. +
In conclusion then, apart from a few odd leads that we didn't +bother to follow, Eislufthöhle is finished. And sporting though it +was, I can't see anyone returning to the place for a long time to +come. And why should they? There's the rest of the plateau to look +at, and deeper pots to be found by anyone caring to have an +expedition there. Thanks due to Karl Gaisberger, our local contact, +and Rocksport for the donation of some rope.
-1979 Expedition info:
-Logbook
-Expo report, Cambridge Underground 1980
-BCRA Caves & Caving Report
-Nick Thorne's write-up in Belfry Bulletin 378
-Odkrycie i eksploracja Eislufthöhle - original
-english article (published in Polish in 1980)
-Index to all publications
-Back to Expeditions intro page
-CUCC Home Page
+This article first appeared in Descent (49) for Jul/Aug 1981,
-p46 and is reproduced here with the
-permission of the author and Wild Places Publishing.
-
CTS 81.1410: Descent 49 (Jul/Aug 1981) p 46
+This article first appeared in Descent (49) for Jul/Aug +1981, p46 and is reproduced here with the permission of the author +and Wild Places Publishing.
+By Nick Thorne
-By Nick Thorne +
FOR THE FIFTH year in succession, Cambridge University Caving +Club again visited the Loser Plateau of Austria for their annual +expedition in 1980. This expedition's personnel was supplemented +by a University of Bristol contingent to give a relatively hefty +thirteen man team. In all we spent three weeks in the fray, the +fray being a combination of deep potholes, long walks, +prospecting trips, eating schnitzels and drinking beer.
-FOR THE FIFTH year in succession, Cambridge University Caving Club again -visited the Loser Plateau of Austria for their annual expedition in 1980. -This expedition's personnel was supplemented by a University of Bristol -contingent to give a relatively hefty thirteen man team. In all we spent -three weeks in the fray, the fray being a combination of deep potholes, long -walks, prospecting trips, eating schnitzels and drinking beer. +
The expedition started with a brief inspection of the +limestone of the Tennengebirge above Golling and Abtenau. This +area has a depth potential of around 4000ft/1200m and is under +heavy scrutiny from many foreign caving clubs. Consequently we +soon returned to our 'home patch', the Loser Plateau, above Alt +Aussee in the Totes Gebirge. Although it has a smaller depth +potential, this area is almost virgin, is much more accessible +and isn't yet crowded out with hopeful speleos.
-The expedition started with a brief inspection of the limestone of the -Tennengebirge above Golling and Abtenau. This area has a depth potential of -around 4000ft/1200m and is under heavy scrutiny from many foreign caving -clubs. Consequently we soon returned to our 'home patch', the Loser Plateau, -above Alt Aussee in the Totes Gebirge. Although it has a smaller depth -potential, this area is almost virgin, is much more accessible and isn't yet -crowded out with hopeful speleos. +
This time we concentrated our explorations not on the plateau +itself, but on the nearby Stoger Weg area. This was prompted by +the presence there of a cave called Stellerweghöhle +(designated 1623/41 in the Austrian catalogue). Stellerweg was +pushed several years ago by a German team, supposedly all in one +shaft, to a depth of 905ft/276m and left unfinished due to lack +of tackle.
-This time we concentrated our explorations not on the plateau itself, but -on the nearby Stoger Weg area. This was prompted by the presence there of a -cave called Stellerweghöhle (designated 1623/41 in the Austrian -catalogue). Stellerweg was pushed several years ago by a German team, -supposedly all in one shaft, to a depth of 905ft/276m and left unfinished due -to lack of tackle. +
On descending Stellerweg, the cave we found was nothing like +what we expected. Initially, the German route was missed and a +promising alternative follwed across several traverses, down a +couple of pitches, and one huge, broken 330ft/100m shaft, until +things became more cramped and sporting. Courageously, we +abandoned this route and made more determined efforts to find the +original German's route.
-On descending Stellerweg, the cave we found was nothing like what we -expected. Initially, the German route was missed and a promising alternative -follwed across several traverses, down a couple of pitches, and one huge, -broken 330ft/100m shaft, until things became more cramped and sporting. -Courageously, we abandoned this route and made more determined efforts to -find the original German's route. +
Once located, this proved to be fairly disillusioning too, and +we pushed it down a series of stepped pitches, past what we +reckoned was the German's limit of exploration, until this route +also became fairly squalid - and we were still only about +650ft/200m deep. Leaving this way unfinished we returned to our +route.
-Once located, this proved to be fairly disillusioning too, and we pushed -it down a series of stepped pitches, past what we reckoned was the German's -limit of exploration, until this route also became fairly squalid - and we -were still only about 650ft/200m deep. Leaving this way unfinished we -returned to our route. +
As the expedition unfurled, our route was explored down more +amiable cave with many pitches to a depth of about 1200ft/370m, +the cave continuing. The whole of Stellerweghöhle is very +interesting and sporting, resembling, in parts, a huge version of +Mendip's Eastwater, with many passages developed along inclined +bedding planes. The place ramifies considerably, draughts +encouragingly, and is more laterally extensive than anything else +we'd previously come across in Austria. It will undoubtedly +become one of the most important caves of the area, and as it +stands now, will repay any work, albeit quite hard, undertaken in +it.
-As the expedition unfurled, our route was explored down more amiable cave -with many pitches to a depth of about 1200ft/370m, the cave continuing. The -whole of Stellerweghöhle is very interesting and sporting, resembling, -in parts, a huge version of Mendip's Eastwater, with many passages developed -along inclined bedding planes. The place ramifies considerably, draughts -encouragingly, and is more laterally extensive than anything else we'd -previously come across in Austria. It will undoubtedly become one of the most -important caves of the area, and as it stands now, will repay any work, -albeit quite hard, undertaken in it. - -
In addition to the exploration of Stellerweg, the expedition also -prospected the immediate vicinity, and discovered a considerable number of -interesting sites. Some of these finds draughted phenomenally, occasionally -the wind being strong enough to be audible and to move small stones. The -caves found here were, not surprisingly, developed along similar lines to -Stellerweg, and many leads were left unpushed. +
In addition to the exploration of Stellerweg, the expedition +also prospected the immediate vicinity, and discovered a +considerable number of interesting sites. Some of these finds +draughted phenomenally, occasionally the wind being strong enough +to be audible and to move small stones. The caves found here +were, not surprisingly, developed along similar lines to +Stellerweg, and many leads were left unpushed.
Our most significant find after Stellerweg was one we called -Sonnenstrahlhöhle (1623/113). An airy 100ft/30m entrance pitch led down -several steep ramps, more pitches and easy going to reach a restriction at -minus 1120ft/340m. During its exploration one trip proved to be fairly -exciting. Whilst a party was below a damp series of pitches near the bottom -of the cave, the cloudburst of the year started. The water runs off this -limestone like greased W.S., and the party were soon overtaken by something -akin to a tidal wave. Fortunately, they had dry sanctuary in a passage just -above the final pitch, and there they sat out the flood until the water -abated and a relief party got down to them. +Sonnenstrahlhöhle (1623/113). An airy 100ft/30m entrance +pitch led down several steep ramps, more pitches and easy going +to reach a restriction at minus 1120ft/340m. During its +exploration one trip proved to be fairly exciting. Whilst a party +was below a damp series of pitches near the bottom of the cave, +the cloudburst of the year started. The water runs off this +limestone like greased W.S., and the party were soon overtaken by +something akin to a tidal wave. Fortunately, they had dry +sanctuary in a passage just above the final pitch, and there they +sat out the flood until the water abated and a relief party got +down to them.
-Further details of our discoveries in this area will be issued in future -CUCC and UBSS publications. Stellerweghöhle and environs offers exciting -rewards for hard work. The possibility exists of inter-connecting many of the -caves here, thus producing a system both long and deep. We'll be back. - -
Many thanks to locals, Fritz Madlmaier, Karl Gaisverger, and Gunter Graf. +
Further details of our discoveries in this area will be issued +in future CUCC and UBSS publications. Stellerweghöhle and +environs offers exciting rewards for hard work. The possibility +exists of inter-connecting many of the caves here, thus producing +a system both long and deep. We'll be back.
+Many thanks to locals, Fritz Madlmaier, Karl Gaisverger, and +Gunter Graf.
-1980 Expedition info:
-Logbook
-Expo report, Cambridge Underground 1981
-Austria 1980 - from NPC Newsletter
-Another Kick in the Balls (expedition song)
-Index to all publications
-Back to Expeditions intro page
-CUCC Home Page
+The Potato Hut seen from the outside. +
The Potato Hut seen from the outside.
-Photo © Mark Shinwell, 2000
-