Dave Brindle tops out in cloud
This is the fine peak with glacier visible from the -toll road on a clear day. Although the postcards +toll road on a clear day. Although the postcards would have you believe it is a 3k peak, this is really only 2994m, not that this detracts from a fine day out. One look at the "via ferrata" up the south-facing cliff is enough to convince everyone of the wisdom of investing @@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ remains. Still it got us a go in the Feuerwehr's big red rescue boat :-)
Not for the complete beginner is the mind-bending takeoff from a ramp at the
-top of the Toll-road. On early expos, everyone
+top of the Toll-road. On early expos, everyone
thought that this was only for loonies, but now a small contingent of
C.U.Hang-gliding Club have shown that it is even possible to land in a tree
and survive.The caves in Austria are as different from Yorkshire and Mendip as those two areas are from each other. There are few sporting streamways and few formations. The caves are colder (often not much above freezing, and sometimes below). They are often much deeper than Yorkshire trips, though the entrances we are currently using mean that even the remotest places are not at vast +we are currently using mean that even the remotest places are not at vast depths. However, pitches may be big, and close together in deep shafts of up to a couple of hundred metres. Though often dry in good weather, run-off is rapid and a damp pitch can rapidly become a serious proposition with near-freezing @@ -96,21 +99,29 @@ many leads still to push not needing a lot of vertical work at all.
In Austria, expo is effectively split into "Base Camp" and various "plateau camps". Base camp is in -the valley, near the pub, shops, lake and other "R&R" facilities. It is -here that we have the bulk of the documentation, computers, lamp charging, log -book and survey book. The plateau camps are right outside the cave entrances, and +the valley, near the gasthof, shops, river, lake and other facilities. It is +here that we have the bulk of the documentation, computers, log +book and survey book. The plateau bivvy camp is a short walk from the cave entrances, and are reached by a toll road (on which we have a deal which avoids paying each -time) which ascends 900m to a tourist car park from where it is around a 40 -minute walk (on good paths) to the edge of the plateau. From here it is a -one-and-a-half-hour slog across rough limestone pavements to the main a 40 +minute walk (on good paths) to the edge of the plateau. From here it is a +one-and-a-half-hour slog across rough limestone pavements to the main Steinbrückenhöhle bivvy site. -We also have other shorter-lived high camps such as Organhöhle (from 2017).
+The main bivvy has solar charging for lights and electric drills. -The plateau camps and and Base camp are linked by mobile phone, which are much -better for coordinating and reporting activities than the radios we used -previously. The result of this is that trips are -mostly organised by the people in top camp, and it is usual to spend periods of +
We also have other shorter-lived high camps such as Organhöhle (in 2017) and are planning (2020) +a new site at Garlic Cave much further to the north west.
+ +The plateau camps and and Base camp are linked by rugged mobile phones +using a specific Austrian carrier to get adequate reception. Your own phone will +probably not work so well and will not be reliable over much of the plateau. + +Trips are mostly organised by the people in top camp (we even have a whiteboard), + and it is usual to spend periods of three or four days or so at top camp, alternating with festering at base.
On the other hand, the plateau a nature reserve where camping is diff --git a/piclinks/tpcamp.htm b/piclinks/tpcamp.htm index 7745dcb7d..76f901585 100644 --- a/piclinks/tpcamp.htm +++ b/piclinks/tpcamp.htm @@ -9,11 +9,13 @@ Top Camp 1993
This is the upper of two alternating sites of CUCC's Top Camp for the last -several years. An area of fairly flat grass next to a supply of flowing water +
This is the upper of two alternating sites of CUCC's Top Camp for +several years in the late 80s. An area of fairly flat grass next to a supply of flowing water is unusual on the plateau, and this has proved to be an exceptionally useful base, despite being exposed to the frequent poor weather. The view is in the direction of the approach to Kaninchenhöhle.
+Since 2000 we have used the bivvy at Steinbrückenhöhle and collected rainwater +(which is plentiful) for our water supply.
Photo © Dan Mace, 1991
Tony Rooke typing up survey data into a PC in the old Potato Hut at -Base Camp. This is a vital part of the +Base Camp in 1991. This is a vital part of the expedition, as it enables exploration to be based on a realistic idea of where various passages are relative to each other. If not done whilst on the -expedition, it can take months to track people down to get surveys drawn up.
+expedition, it can take months to track people down to get surveys drawn up. +[This is still true 30 years later.]Photo © Daniel Mace, 1991