Two other bearings are given, one to ""Kleine Wehr Kogel"" 354°, but, in fact, to ""Kleine Wild Kogel"". The other is 295° to a small peak left of the Schönberg which I can't identify from the map. ",,"On large white patch of limestone on NW flank of Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel (visible from Top Camp), quite near the far side of the bare area and just above a larch tree leaning SE.","On cairned path from Top Camp to Steinbruckenhöhle (204). 60m W of 195. Area map NotKH book p 115.",,"
","Tag","Tag ""CUCC 1623/194"" (1999). Cairn and numbered in red (1996) on NE face of a large boulder bridging the rift (visible in context photo).","Surveyed", 195,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/195/195.html",,,"Schwa Schacht 195","Driver Diver",,"2d","
","A very large surface rift (almost a canyon), with a pitch at the west end. This has a 5-6 second booming clattering drop, and had a very poor quality spit at the top. It was not descended in 1995. This may be the cave referred to in the description of 165, located by CUCC in 1989, but already having a bolt, and not descended by CUCC but with ""a drop in excess of 35m"". 2000 descent reached floor at 37m down, with the only way on a small hole that turned out to be too tight.","50m rope?",,,"Kate 95.07.26 S94p43-4; 21st July entry in 2000 logbook","In dataset","
Elevation never drawn up; see notes in 2000#04","caves/195/195.svx",,,,,,,"p195",,,"Nils",,"gps00.195",,,,"Bräuning Zinken 225° ""Kleine Wild Kogel"" 354°",,"On large white patch of limestone on NW flank of Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel (visible from Top Camp), quite near the top of the bare area (higher up than 1623/194).","On cairned path from Top Camp to Steinbruckenhöhle (204). 195 is 60m E of 194 and 50m WSW of 196, and 90m NNW of 165. Area map NotKH book p115.",,"
","Tag","Cairn, Red paint '195' (1995). Tag ""CUCC 1623/195"" (1999).","Surveyed", 196,"1/T +",,,,"smkridge/196.htm",,,"Schwa Höhle 196",,,"2d","
","By a large (10m wide) snow choked doline, are two horizontal entrances going WSW. The right one is uphill over boulders and ends very quickly. The left one (196) is downhill and carries a draught. The triangular cross-section (widest at the bottom) passage goes for 10m to a junction with a blind uphill branch to the right, whilst straight ahead is too tight.","None",,,"Kate 95.07.26 S94p44","In dataset","
","caves/196/196.svx",,,,,,,"p196",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"Bräuning Zinken 240°""Kleine Wild Kogel"" 356°",,"On large white patch of limestone on NW flank of Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel (visible from Top Camp), quite near the top of the bare area, higher up than 1623/195. ","Path from Top Camp to Steinbruckenhöhle (204) goes past this cave. Close to 194, 195, 165.",,,"Tag","Red paint '196' (1995). Tag ""CUCC 1623/196"" (1999).","Surveyed", -197,"1/S +",,"CUCC 1976/B8",,"plateau/197.htm",,,"Bemoost Tropfen Höhle","Mossy Dribble Cave",,"1a","CUCC 1976","A large open hole with snow in the bottom. In wet weather, the old number is even harder to spot, but the hole is very noisy with sinking water. 20m of ladder were fed down between snow and rock before snow plug totally blocked the way on. However, this was in 1976, a year with quite a large amount of snow.",,,,,,,,," 25m",,,,"t197",,,,"Surface survey","gps98.b8","gps00.b8",,,,"(1976) Bräuning Nase 208°, Schönberg 350°, Spot point 1828, 240°
In fact it is impossible to see any landmarks from the actual entrance.",,,"This is situated on the plateau just on a major fault where one climbs down over bare rock for 4m. From Top Camp, head somewhat east of north onto a large area of bare karren containing B11 (1623/198). Continue parallel with the line of a small scarp running north, and pass 1623/164 on the left. Scrambling past a wide snow choked shaft (1623/189) on the right, descend and turn right, along the line of a north-facing scarp containing B9 (1623/190), heading roughly east, and clamber down a few small scars to the large open doline.",,"
Photomontage showing location of B8 below scar. Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel and Schwarzmoossattel behind (Warning - full size image is 1000 pixels wide)
","Tag","Number ""B8"" of 1976 vintage painted in dull green on the wall facing south, opposite the fault scarp, which is very hard to spot, although not fading appreciably year to year. There is an easier-to-find number painted higher up on an east-facing rock, initially in orange, but "refreshed" in red in 1995 as the orange paint was crap. Below this number is the drilled spit with tag ""CUCC 1976 B8"" which is also the point surveyed to. This will, in due course, be replaced by a new tag with the Austrian kataster number, on the same bolt.
Retagged 1997.","Surveyed", -198,"2/S +",,"B11",,"plateau/198/198.html",,,"Fuchshöhle",,,"1a","CUCC 1976, reexamined 1994, surface survey 1996","A fine pitch of 55m is broken by a ledge halfway down. The shaft narrows towards the bottom, and from the foot of the ladder, boulders lead to a choke a few metres further down.",,,,,,,,,"55m",,,,"t198",,,,,"gps98.b11_1998","gps00.b11",,,,,,"On plateau between B8 and the col, very difficult to spot from more than 5m away, but very noisy in wet weather.",,,"
| 1976 - ladder descent | 1994 - Julian Haines making an SRT descent | Andy Waddington placing tag, 1996 |
Photos © Victoria Brown 1978, Andy Atkinson 1994, Olly Be tts 1996","Tag","Number ""B11"" was repainted in 1988 (in red) and this is quite visible on flat rock to the SE of the shaft. Just next to it is the spit for the tag ""CUCC 1976 B11"" which is the point surveyed to. This tag was replaced 1999 with a new tag bearing the official Austrian number.
Retagged 1999","Surveyed", +197,"1/S +",,"CUCC 1976/B8",,"plateau/197.htm",,,"Bemoost Tropfen Höhle","Mossy Dribble Cave",,"1a","CUCC 1976","A large open hole with snow in the bottom. In wet weather, the old number is even harder to spot, but the hole is very noisy with sinking water. 20m of ladder were fed down between snow and rock before snow plug totally blocked the way on. However, this was in 1976, a year with quite a large amount of snow.",,,,,,,,," 25m",,,,"t197",,,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.b8",,,,"(1976) Bräuning Nase 208°, Schönberg 350°, Spot point 1828, 240°
In fact it is impossible to see any landmarks from the actual entrance.",,,"This is situated on the plateau just on a major fault where one climbs down over bare rock for 4m. From Top Camp, head somewhat east of north onto a large area of bare karren containing B11 (1623/198). Continue parallel with the line of a small scarp running north, and pass 1623/164 on the left. Scrambling past a wide snow choked shaft (1623/189) on the right, descend and turn right, along the line of a north-facing scarp containing B9 (1623/190), heading roughly east, and clamber down a few small scars to the large open doline.",,"
Photomontage showing location of B8 below scar. Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel and Schwarzmoossattel behind (Warning - full size image is 1000 pixels wide)
","Tag","Number ""B8"" of 1976 vintage painted in dull green on the wall facing south, opposite the fault scarp, which is very hard to spot, although not fading appreciably year to year. There is an easier-to-find number painted higher up on an east-facing rock, initially in orange, but "refreshed" in red in 1995 as the orange paint was crap. Below this number is the drilled spit with tag ""CUCC 1976 B8"" which is also the point surveyed to. This will, in due course, be replaced by a new tag with the Austrian kataster number, on the same bolt.
Retagged 1997.","Surveyed", +198,"2/S +",,"B11",,"plateau/198/198.html",,,"Fuchshöhle",,,"1a","CUCC 1976, reexamined 1994, surface survey 1996","A fine pitch of 55m is broken by a ledge halfway down. The shaft narrows towards the bottom, and from the foot of the ladder, boulders lead to a choke a few metres further down.",,,,,,,,,"55m",,,,"t198",,,,,,"gps00.b11",,,,,,"On plateau between B8 and the col, very difficult to spot from more than 5m away, but very noisy in wet weather.",,,"
| 1976 - ladder descent | 1994 - Julian Haines making an SRT descent | Andy Waddington placing tag, 1996 |
Photos © Victoria Brown 1978, Andy Atkinson 1994, Olly Be tts 1996","Tag","Number ""B11"" was repainted in 1988 (in red) and this is quite visible on flat rock to the SE of the shaft. Just next to it is the spit for the tag ""CUCC 1976 B11"" which is the point surveyed to. This tag was replaced 1999 with a new tag bearing the official Austrian number.
Retagged 1999","Surveyed", 199,"1/T +",,,,"smkridge/199.htm",,,"Stürzender Felsbrocken Höhle","Tumbling Boulder Hole",,"2c","
","A steeply descending tube over scree (sometimes snow), initially 3m in diameter, leads down to a choke. To the right in a cross-rift 24m long (beware of loose rock here) is an audible connection to the surface (199c). The final section of the main tube has roof pendants, and ends with a rising sand floor over which the crawl becomes too tight. The second entrance (199b) is just up and to the left of the main one.","None absolutely required, but 15m handline helpful for entrance, especially if snowy.",,,,"In dataset","
","caves/199/199.svx",,,,,,,"p199",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.199",,,,,,"NW flank of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. About 30m SSW of 156.","Follow the cairned path which ascends the Vorder Schwarzmooskogel from the NW. Shortly after passing the open rift entrance of 1623/156 (50m south of Laser Point 0/1), scramble up to the right (south). One large and two small open cave entrances.",,,"Tag","metal tag stamped ""CUCC 199"" fixed by M6 stud epoxied into vertical wall left of main entrance (stud placed 1998, kataster number tag replaced provisional one in 1999).","Surveyed", -200,"1/S +",,"93/01",,"plateau/200.htm",,,"Verlorener Rucksack Schacht","Lost Rucksack Cave",,"1d","Discovery and initial descent CUCC 1993 (Adam Cooper), bottomed in three trips in 1998 (Wookey, Andy Waddington).","Found in 1993, it was intended to mark the cave but not descend. However Adam Cooper's rucksack (containing the rope), placed unwisely near the edge, made the first descent. Adam followed on a ladder to retrieve it, then placed a bolt for a further descent on rope. The shaft continued beside a snow plug, but was deemed unsuitable for further exploration in shorts. The find was not relocated in 1993, so exploration stopped. Found again in 1995 whilst marking other known entrances, and probably seen again in 1996.
After a first descent placing a bolt again showed it unsuitable for exploration in shorts, a determined effort by Wookey in 1998 pushed the second pitch, between hanging death ice and snow to a definite choke. However, partway down this pitch was a window with a draught, leading to a third pitch (one bolt at takeoff, another just below). This was nn metres to a final choke.
The whole cave is formed on a fault which forms a SE-facing scarp on the surface. A short distance NE of the entrance, the fault line cuts a lower-lying area. The draught, which was mostly outward through the head of the third pitch during the final exploratory trip, periodically reverses for 10-15 seconds. It would appear to be powered by surface breezes via various other small windows to the surface, most probably including ones lower down in the depression to the NE.",,,,,,"
",,,,,,,"t200",,,,"Surface survey","gps98.1993_01 gps98.1993_01a","gps00.93_01a gps00.93_01b",,,,,,"700m north of Schwarzmoossattel.","From 164, avoid 189 (easiest 15m to its right over a small ridge, but OK immediately on its right edge), then go roughly NNW (a few cairns - 1996 vintage orange paint has completely faded). This leads up onto the right edge of a ridge (the main part of which is deep Lärchen), passing right of the OAV ski marker pole. This is an easy walk above a short (climbable) cliff looking down onto 210. When this easy walk is interrupted by a step down, head leftish over a series of limestone steps to reach a descent into a large broken area (near 173). Climb steeply left up boulders to a large cairn, then along a sloping limestone shelf. Shortly ahead is an abrupt headwall, below which is the shaft of Lost Rucksack Cave (given temporary number CUCC 1993 01). The area could also be reached (with more difficulty) from the ""central"" plateau area towards 76, and also via the ""Geologists' walk"" which passes much further left via 171 and 172. ",,"
Adam Cooper descending to place a bolt below the lip in 1993
","Tag","M6 stud with alloy tag giving kataster number on flat rock NE of shaft.","Surveyed", +200,"1/S +",,"93/01",,"plateau/200.htm",,,"Verlorener Rucksack Schacht","Lost Rucksack Cave",,"1d","Discovery and initial descent CUCC 1993 (Adam Cooper), bottomed in three trips in 1998 (Wookey, Andy Waddington).","Found in 1993, it was intended to mark the cave but not descend. However Adam Cooper's rucksack (containing the rope), placed unwisely near the edge, made the first descent. Adam followed on a ladder to retrieve it, then placed a bolt for a further descent on rope. The shaft continued beside a snow plug, but was deemed unsuitable for further exploration in shorts. The find was not relocated in 1993, so exploration stopped. Found again in 1995 whilst marking other known entrances, and probably seen again in 1996.
After a first descent placing a bolt again showed it unsuitable for exploration in shorts, a determined effort by Wookey in 1998 pushed the second pitch, between hanging death ice and snow to a definite choke. However, partway down this pitch was a window with a draught, leading to a third pitch (one bolt at takeoff, another just below). This was nn metres to a final choke.
The whole cave is formed on a fault which forms a SE-facing scarp on the surface. A short distance NE of the entrance, the fault line cuts a lower-lying area. The draught, which was mostly outward through the head of the third pitch during the final exploratory trip, periodically reverses for 10-15 seconds. It would appear to be powered by surface breezes via various other small windows to the surface, most probably including ones lower down in the depression to the NE.",,,,,,"
",,,,,,,"t200",,,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.93_01a gps00.93_01b",,,,,,"700m north of Schwarzmoossattel.","From 164, avoid 189 (easiest 15m to its right over a small ridge, but OK immediately on its right edge), then go roughly NNW (a few cairns - 1996 vintage orange paint has completely faded). This leads up onto the right edge of a ridge (the main part of which is deep Lärchen), passing right of the OAV ski marker pole. This is an easy walk above a short (climbable) cliff looking down onto 210. When this easy walk is interrupted by a step down, head leftish over a series of limestone steps to reach a descent into a large broken area (near 173). Climb steeply left up boulders to a large cairn, then along a sloping limestone shelf. Shortly ahead is an abrupt headwall, below which is the shaft of Lost Rucksack Cave (given temporary number CUCC 1993 01). The area could also be reached (with more difficulty) from the ""central"" plateau area towards 76, and also via the ""Geologists' walk"" which passes much further left via 171 and 172. ",,"
Adam Cooper descending to place a bolt below the lip in 1993
","Tag","M6 stud with alloy tag giving kataster number on flat rock NE of shaft.","Surveyed", 201,"1/S +",,"1998/01",,"smkridge/201.htm",,,"Haftefelle Schacht","Ski-skin shaft",,"2c","CUCC 1998 - a single descent.","2m diameter shaft drops 25m to a boulder floor - a short second pitch follows immediately leading to a too-tight rift. A 40m rope is sufficient.",,,,,"In dataset","? pic","caves/201/201.svx",,,,,,,"p201",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.201",,,,,,"NW flank of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. 20m N of Laser 0/1","Follow the cairned path which ascends the Vorder Schwarzmooskogel from the NW. Shortly before the obvious open rift entrance of 1623/156 (which is 50m south of Laser Point 0/1) is a small (2m diameter) open shaft.",,,"Tag","metal tag stamped ""CUCC 201"" fixed by M6 stud epoxied into horizontal surface on NW side of main entrance (stud placed 1998, proper kataster number tag replaced provisional one in 1999).","Surveyed", 202,,,,,"noinfo/smkridge/202.html",,,"Dominoschacht",,,"2a",,,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/202/202.svx",,,,,,,"p202",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Surveyed", 203,,,,,"noinfo/smkridge/203.html",,,"Sonnenscheinschacht",,,"2a",,,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/203/203.svx",,,,,,,"p203",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Surveyed", @@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ 207,"1/T +",,"96-WK2",,"plateau/207/207.html",,,"Plumpsklohöhle","Crapper Höhle",,"1a","
","Small (1.1 x 0.9 m) horizontal cave about 7m long in cliff edge, very small skylight lets light in at end.","None",,"Form sent 2000.05, number allocated. ",,"In dataset","
Survey drawn up in loose leaves in front of 1996-9 NotKH book","caves/207/207.svx","7m","1m",,,,,"p207",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.wk2",,,,"VSK (obvious point = Nipple ?) 103°, HSK (leftmost top) 052°, Schönberg 346° ",,"100m W of the waterhole at (upper) top camp. In small cliff one step up from top camp level. Entrance faces N. 16m S of 1623/208.","From Top Camp (upper site) walk along ""crapper"" shelf, following path. After 80m where path goes down to next shelf, climb 3m step ahead. 207 is to the left (and 208 to the right).
Surface survey location sketch in not KH 1996 p 3, area map: NotKH book pp68-69",,"
Photo © Dave Loeffler 2005","Tag","Paint ""+"" and tag.","Surveyed", 208,"1/S +",,"96-WK3",,"plateau/208/208.html",,,"Quallenhöhle","Jellyfish Cave",,"1a","
","Two entrances, one 5m lower than the other. Lower section is expanded joint at foot of step, 6m deep. free-climable to gain a choked floor. A small continuation leads to small space in rifty corner where rocks have not filled. Upper entrance is 2-3m diameter shaft 5m deep, also free-climable.","None, 8m handline would be useful.",,"Form sent 2000.05, number allocated. ",,"In dataset","
Grade 2 (at a guess), drawn up in loose leaves in front of 1996-9 NotKH book","caves/208/208.svx",,"13m from top entrance",,"The name is essentially spurious, but makes a change from bears, wolves and rabbits ;-).",,,"p208",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.wk3",,,,"B.Nase 161°, VSK (obvious point = Nipple ?) 104°, HSK (leftmost top) 054°, Schönberg 346°, Wildkogel (L&R ends of obvious summit ridge) 007-011°",,"100m W of the waterhole at (upper) top camp. 65m N of 90. 16m N of 207.","From Top Camp (upper site) walk along ""crapper"" shelf, following path. After 80m where path goes down to next shelf, climb 3m step ahead. 208 is to the right (and 207 to the left). The lower entrance is accessible from below the step.
Surface survey location sketch in not KH 1996 p 3, area map: NotKH book pp68-69",,"
| Upper (A) entrance | Lower (B) entrance |
Photos © Dave Loeffler 2005","Tag","""+"" (on cliff between entrances). Tag spit by upper entrance.","Surveyed", 209,"1/S +",,"1996WK8 (maybe also CUCC 1996-08)",,"smkridge/209/209.html",,,"Schistock-Absturzschacht","Dropped skipole hole",,"2c","
","3m x 0.8m shaft, 16m deep. Freeclimb descent is possible but difficult. Belay (and light!) needed. No draught. Bottom choked by rubble.","20m rope. ",,"Form sent 2000.05, number 209 allocated. ",,"In dataset","? grade 5","caves/209/209.svx",,,,,,,"p209",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"VSK: 233°, Hollweiser: 145° (from a point between the WK7-WK10 entrances)",,"Along shelf from 136. 35mN of 136a, 10m NW of 136d.","The normal route to 136 (from SMK col/Vd1), passes over/past this cave. It is one of the group of holes shafts and rifts on the same shelf as 136a,b,c,d. From large cubic boulder at 136a, follow shelf N past 136b, and 136c. This cave is the last of these 3 holes. The entrance is joint-developed 3 x 0.8m shaft. Area map NotKH book p 88-89.",,"
Photos © David Loeffler 2005 and Paul Hammond 1999.","Tag",,"Surveyed", -210,"1/T +",,"1998-03",,"plateau/210.htm",,,"Fettsack und Faulpelz höhle","Lardy Festerers' Cave",,"1a","
","In a small doline, a low horizontal entrance next to a snow plug leads to a boulder slope. A draughting squeeze leads to muddy passage + a small chamber with boulder floor, a choked depression to the left + a choked uphill slope stright on. There is a rifty hole in the floor just before the large boulder in the middle of the chamber, partly covered with boulders. The bottom can be seen 2m below. No way on, not clear where draught goes.","None",,"Form sent 2000.05, number 210 allocated. ",,,"
",,"~30m",,,,,"t210","lardysurf.0","Entrance",,"Surface survey",,"gps00.210",,,,,,"On plateau NNE of Lower Top Camp, on route to 101 area. This cave is about 120m north of B8, ~150m NNE from the large doline of 189.","Follow route (towards 101/102/200 area if that helps) from Lower Top Camp past 164 and 189 (large holes, passed 15m to right), then go roughly NNW (a few cairns). This leads up onto the right edge of a ridge (the main part of which is deep Lärchen), passing right of the OAV ski marker pole. This is an easy walk above a short (climbable) cliff looking down onto the small doline containing this cave.",,,"Retag","Tag on doline wall opposite cave, but still says ""1998-03"".","Surveyed", +210,"1/T +",,"1998-03",,"plateau/210.htm",,,"Fettsack und Faulpelz höhle","Lardy Festerers' Cave",,"1a","
","In a small doline, a low horizontal entrance next to a snow plug leads to a boulder slope. A draughting squeeze leads to muddy passage + a small chamber with boulder floor, a choked depression to the left + a choked uphill slope stright on. There is a rifty hole in the floor just before the large boulder in the middle of the chamber, partly covered with boulders. The bottom can be seen 2m below. No way on, not clear where draught goes.","None",,"Form sent 2000.05, number 210 allocated. ",,,"
",,"~30m",,,,,"t210","lardysurf.0","Entrance",,"Surface survey",,"gps00.210",,,,,,"On plateau NNE of Lower Top Camp, on route to 101 area. This cave is about 120m north of B8, ~150m NNE from the large doline of 189.","Follow route (towards 101/102/200 area if that helps) from Lower Top Camp past 164 and 189 (large holes, passed 15m to right), then go roughly NNW (a few cairns). This leads up onto the right edge of a ridge (the main part of which is deep Lärchen), passing right of the OAV ski marker pole. This is an easy walk above a short (climbable) cliff looking down onto the small doline containing this cave.",,,"Tag","Tag on doline wall opposite cave on epoxyed M6 stud. Changed from ""1998-03"" to ""1623/210"" on 2007-07-26 by Olly and Jenny.","Surveyed", "211-213",,,,,,,,,,"We don't know if these numbers were ever used","nonexistent",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 214,"1/T +",,"2000-03",,"smkridge/214/214.html",,,"Segment cave",,,"2d","Discovered by CUCC 2000 (not clear who). Relocated, photoed and tagged by Dave Loeffler + Sandeep Mavadia in 2006.","Crawling entrance enlarges to stooping-size horizontal rift. After around 20m this ends in a constriction, with daylight visible through a narrow skylight above. ",,,,,,,,"~20m",,,,,,"p214",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"225m SSE of Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel summit.",,"Round aperture in small cliff.","
Photos © Dave Loeffler 2006-07-25. Model: Sandeep Mavadia.","Tag","Retagged with kataster number by Dave + Sandeep, 2006-07-25.","Surveyed", 215,,"a b","2000-05","yes","smkridge/215/215.html",,,"Rufverbindungshöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2000 Wookey, Mike Allen","? Wookey",,,,"2000 log book (2000/08/03 + 2000/08/06)","In dataset","
Notes in 2000#23","caves/215/215.svx",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Eishöhle portal row, between 40e and 40h","? wookey","Low and wide","? wookey",,,"Surveyed", @@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ 247,"1/S/T +",,"2003-03",,"smkridge/247/247.html",,,"Kartoffelbreihöhle","Mashed Potato Cave",,"2d","CUCC 2003 Julian T, Dave L","A climb down/squeeze through boulders (awkward on the way out for fat bastards like me - Dave) leads to a small chamber ~4m across, with a loose hole in the floor at the far end. This was descended for perhaps 15 or 20m to a hopelessly choked floor of small pebbles. A window around a third of the way down the pitch leads to a parallel shaft, also choked at the bottom (from which there is another window back into the main shaft).","26m rope + some (4 or 5) hangers sufficient",,"Form prepared 06/03/2005, sent May 2005, number issued August.",,,"
(drawn up partly from sketch in 2003 logbook and partly from memory)",,,"~20m",,,,"p247",,,,"GPS post SA",,,,,,,,"On south flank of Nieder Augst-Eck just north of stone bridge. Directly to the east of 2003-04.",,,"
","Retag","Tag placed 2003 with provisional number","Surveyed", 248,"3/S/T +",,"2003-02",,"smkridge/248/248.html",,,"Blaudrachenschacht",,,"2d","CUCC 2003 Tony R, Brian O","Awkward climb down leads to a sloping chamber with small climbs. At the end of this chamber a tight awkward rift overlooks a short pitch giving access to a small chamber with a window 4 metres up on the right wall. A rift in the floor leads to a 90m pitch. Rebelays in the far wall eventually reach a fine shaft which can be descended to a floor with no way on. A short 3m climb reveals a climbable rift past awkward boulders to a small elongate chamber with no way on. Bolting up to the window at the top of the pitch led to another small chamber, also with no way on.",,,,,"In dataset","
(Image assembled from two separate drawn up surveys in wallets 2003#10 and 2004#08.)","caves/2003-02/2003-02.svx",,,,,,"p248",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Walk over the back of the ridge from 204",,,"Retag","Tag placed 2003 with provisional number","Surveyed", 249,"2/T +",,"2002-01",,"smkridge/249/249.html",,,"Artischockehöhle",,,"2d","CUCC 2002 Dunks, Mark S","A contortion through boulders leads to a large horizontal passage, which gradually ascends until eventually lowering to a short flat-out crawl over choss. This leads to a chamber, from where it is possible to slither to the left through a gap between choss and the ceiling. Here there are two ways on. To the right ends quickly; a dig under the wall ended in a further choke. To the left leads to a tight crawl through dangerous boulders which would need digging to make further progress.
A noticable draught outwards is present throughout the cave.",,,,,,"
",,,,,,,"t249",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"The entrance is situated in a large choss bowl adjacent to the route used in 2000 onwards from Top Camp to Steinbrückenhöhle, where the path turns left just beyond Hauchhöhle.",,"
(The tag is on the wall behind my head)
","Retag","Tag on rock wall on LH side facing entrance, with provisional number.","Surveyed", -250,"1/T +",,"2000-AA-01",,"plateau/250/250.html",,,"Schönschrifthöhle","Calligraphy Cave, a.k.a. Dämmerunghöhle or Twilight Cave",,"1a","Has a ""+"" mark of unknown provenance. Rediscovered and surveyed by CUCC (Andy A and Wookey) 2000","Surface pit 6m deep, choked at bottom.","Maybe some rope, I don't know.",,,"See 2000 logbook entry (August 9th).","In dataset","
Notes in 2000#34","caves/2000-aa-01/2000-aa-01.svx",,,,,,"p250",,,,,,,,,,,,"On path between 171 and 172.","From old Top Camp",,"A photo is alleged to have been taken in 2000 but has apparently been lost.","Retag","Tagged ""2000-aa-01"" in 2000","Surveyed", +250,"1/T +",,"2000-AA-01",,"plateau/250/250.html",,,"Schönschrifthöhle","Calligraphy Cave, a.k.a. Dämmerunghöhle or Twilight Cave",,"1a","Has a ""+"" mark of unknown provenance. Rediscovered and surveyed by CUCC (Andy A and Wookey) 2000","Surface pit 6m deep, choked at bottom.","Maybe some rope, I don't know.",,,"See 2000 logbook entry (August 9th).","In dataset","
Notes in 2000#34","caves/2000-aa-01/2000-aa-01.svx",,,,,,"p250",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"On path between 171 and 172.","From old Top Camp",,"A photo is alleged to have been taken in 2000 but has apparently been lost. Olly took photos 2007-07-26.","Tag","Tagged ""2000-aa-01"" in 2000. Tag changed to ""1623/250"" 2007-07-26 by Olly and Jenny.","Surveyed", 251,"2/S/T +",,"2004-11",,"smkridge/251/251.html",,,"In Ihrer Gesichtshöhle ","In Your Face cave",,"2d","CUCC 2004 Becka + Nial+Martin+Stuart","A small, drafting entrance in the bottom of a deep gully leads into low phreatic passage. After a short crawl over small angular rocks, a series of small (1 meter) drops enlarge the passage to allow standing room. The passage continues a short distance to a chamber with a scree floor.
To the left, are what appear to be blocked entrance shafts with flows of debris that spill into the chamber. Right leads to a spacious passage that rapidly becomes a flat out crawl over loose rocks, and chokes soon after. Higher up on the right, and looking back in the direction of the entrance, is a small phreatic tube that slopes upward. This can be followed around two right-angled turns before it chokes.
The way on from the chamber is straight on. Ducking under a low protrusion from the ceiling leads into another, slightly larger, chamber.
A passage leads off to the left from the far side of the chamber. This can be followed for a short distance before it reaches a blank wall with a small amount of water emerging from a hole near the top. A climb through a window in the right of the chamber leads to the bottom of an aven.
On the right hand wall of the chamber, to the left of the window, a short free climb provides the main way on. Below the climb an awkward crawling passage slopes downwards and emerges part way down the pitch. From the top of the climb, a high passage slopes steeply downwards for about five meters to emerge at the top of the ten meter pitch.
The pitch descends at a less than vertical angle to an icy boulder choke at the bottom with no way on. Above the pitch and to the left, a walking sized phreatic tube can be reached by way of a bolted climb. This leads to a muddy boulder choke.","30m rope + 10 hangers, should get you to all of the cave.",,"Form prepared 06/03/2005, waiting to be sent.",,"In dataset","
Notes in 2004#13; Tunnelized version of plan here.","caves/2004-11/2004-11.svx",,,,,,"t251",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"From 204A go to 204D, then carry on a bit further.","Low (crawling) drafting phreatic hole in shallow valley heading down towards bowl of plateau.","
","Retag","Tag 21/7/2004 with provisional number","Surveyed", 5,"2/W +",,,,"noinfo/1626/5.htm",,,"Nagelsteghöhle",,,1626,"LVHK Oberösterreich, 1972","A short climb (protection advisable; two hangers in situ; rope of unknown vintage present in 2002) leads to a tube. This descends at 45° to a short walk round a pool to a short greasy climb. One soon emerges in the huge main passage, floored at the lower end by vast amounts of very unpleasant mud. The sump is reached by a right turn over some fine stratified sand, but CUCC's interest lay in some holes in the roof at the top end, with the hope of a high-level continuation.
The mud eventually runs out to be replaced by more and more inclined slabs, which were very easy on the way up. The gradient steadily increases until the floor merges into the end wall, and the trickle of water enters from high up. At this point, a couple of holes in the roof have already been passed, but investigation revealed these to be beyond reasonable reach without some fairly serious bolting.",,,,,"Resurveyed by Olly Betts and Martin Sluka in 2002 but we don't have an entrance fix so the data isn't currently in the dataset.",,,"278m",,,"A resurgence cave of major importance, visited by CUCC in 1976 and 2002. Krenmayr gives it 278m long, seasonally active, very roomy water cave. The associated perennial resurgence is Naglbrünndl, putting out 50-100 l/s.",,,,,,,,,,,"865m",,,"Above Rettenbachtal (north side); about 20-25 minutes on foot from Blaa-Alm.","Continue past the Blaa-Alm hostelry on the track to a crossroads of paths. Take the path to the right and then bear downhill and to the left at a fork by a small wooden hut. Follow the track until you end up walking parallel to the river; keep a lookout on the right for a small bridge across the river. Cross the bridge and take a small path to the left, which arrives at a further (smaller!) bridge over a stream. Just before the bridge, ascend up the hillside to the right through the undergrowth, keeping the large rocky gully to your right and the stream to your left. After a few minutes you will arrive at the resurgence (under tree-roots) to the left. At this point, cross into the gully on the right and climb up to the very top to reach the cave.","Entrance is at the head of a large, steeply-inclined stream bed (carries major flow in flood), and is reminiscent of Sleets Gill.","
Photos © Olly Betts 2002",,,, 50,"3/S/T",,,,"noinfo/1626/50.htm",,,"Ahnenschacht",,,1626,"Meanwhile, on the other side of the range, Upper Austrian cavers have undertaken some homework that others left behind a quarter of a century ago. Ahnenschacht (Ancestors' Shaft) was discovered in the 1950s and pushed to -395m. In the 1970s, Belgian cavers found vast horizontal passages amounting to about 5km in total – and a continuation to -602m. Their pushes came to an abrupt halt, however, when in 1975 a caver fractured his pelvis and had to be transported out of the cave. It was Austria's biggest cave rescue operation in the 20th century.
Since documentation of the Belgian finds was fragmentary and of very poor quality, some members of the Verein für Höhlenkunde in Oberösterreich decided to fill in the gaps in the maps and resume surveying activities. So far, 1.7km have been accurately surveyed.
Correspondent: Theo Pfarr
(I fear attempting to reconcile the chronology of the above snippet with theinformation above is a hopeless task.)
","
The entrance is in a small shakehole situated on the ridge separating Feuertal and Hintergras. The cave starts with four pitches (p14, p11, p5 and p11) which drop onto a slope formed of big boulders (rope desirable). After this, another series of small pitches (p9, p7, p6, p4, p10, p18, p11) from which is reached the Sinterterrasse at -141m.
From this point, one has left the zone of small pitches and started a series of pitches which in reality are part of a single shaft down to -400m.
Indeed, if you had an unfortunate accident on the Sinterterrasse, you would fall all the way to -400m. These pitches are usually wet, especially after rain... Here is the list of pitches: p25, Schuppenstufe 30, p10, Sicherungsstufe 32, Schachtgabel 48, a 10m ramp, Josef Schacht 100m. On the Josef Schacht, a pendulum 6m from the top enables one to reach the entry to the Horizontal network. Descending the Josef Schacht a little further, after a 6.5m and a 10m pitch, access can be gained to a wide canyon, active in the bottom, and which ends in a fissure. This canyon is fossil in the upper level and certainly presents possibilities for continuation.
After one has crossed the ""doorway"" and a short squeeze, one enters the network proper. At this point is a passage covered in rather special formations. The first junction gives access to a network ... [unfortunately there are lines missing in my photocopy of Spéalp 1]
This fossil system, which has not been fully travelled through, contains numerous possibilities. It is reached by three principal access routes: the pitch already mentioned; a descending fissure a little before the Belgica; and a sloping passage with formations in the Mammoth pitch chamber. The system is composed of a big chamber with numerous passages and junctions; it is very poorly known and no doubt houses many surprises. Continuing along the passage, one passes a step of 4m to find a junction, to the left at which lies the bivouac.
Directly after the bivouac, there is a 10m pitch, and at the bottom, a new junction: downhill the Belgica passage, of fairly small dimensions, which leads, after traversing past three holes, to a descent of an 8m and a 17m pitch and to the squeezes passed by our French colleagues.
Uphill, discovered by D.Motte and PIE, in the course of the expedition in 1974, is the Galerie de Francs Comtois. This is a large ascending fossil passage interspersed with traverses, dips and pitches. It reascends to -90m. At -150m, a 20m pitch reaches the Résomega.
A little before the 20m pitch, a short descending canyon passage avoids the 20m pitch and the series of squeezes following it. The Résomega is an alternately ascending and descending passage, very chaotic, interspersed with several junctions and pitches which leads to the Balcon du Visionnaire, offering several possibilities. A 60m pitch gives onto another 60m pitch which is undescended. There is another big pitch in excess of 100m and an unfinished ascending passage. A little before, a 10m pitch allows one to reach a passage interspersed with 3 junctions and 7 exits ! This shows the level of complexity which we ran into.
It was also at the Balcon du Visionnaire that an accident occurred in 1975, which terminated exploration in that year.
Back in the Horizontal network, and after passing a little bouldery climb an inlet is encountered, named The Bath. The passage continues a little longer, to end in a pitch. [ exploration incomplete ]
The following junction has been named Mammoth Junction because the passage to the right leads onto the pitch of the same name. It is necessary to exercise great care and attention not to slip hereabouts, because a fall would drop you into same.
The Mammoth Pitch, Para-pitch and probably the Negus pitch, form part of the same system (see survey) which is composed of a 146m pitch, a 10m pitch and a narrow canyon interspersed with several cascades leading finally to a 35m pitch giving onto the sump at -612m. The Para-pitch, p106, is followed by pitches of 5, 10 and 50m and drops via the latter into the Mammoth Canyon.
The Negus pitch, which is undescended, should also drop into the same canyon. Several other small pitches and active streamways should also rejoin this system.
The depth of 612m should be treated cautiously because the method of survey used (based on the height of a man) is fairly imprecise. The bottom could be anywhere between -580m and -630m. The shortage of time prevented us from redoing our survey. [The depth quoted in Atlas des Grandes Gouffres is -607m, which is shown as the bottom of this system. However, a Belgian survey shows the Yodl system (which is supposed to end at -607m) to be somewhere else entirely, so it is rather unclear which survey is wrong.]
Turning left, the Zipfer passage is followed for 150m before reaching an important junction: to the left Chimneys passage, to the right Draughting passage.
This is very large with a constant slope, interrupted in the middle by a squeeze and a couple of drops. The Schnaps pitch (40m with an unexplored, narrow canyon) is avoided by traversing to reach a 25m pitch in which you must pendulum 5m from the bottom in order to reach a chamber in which is met a small stream. Climbing up a little opposite, a short upper passage rejoins the stream by a 20m pitch. In the chamber, the descent of a 10m pitch allows the stream to be followed to a squeeze beyond which one can hear the grumble of a large river ? A place to go back to.
This is fossil, and tight in places, and allows exploration of a very complex network which intersects itself in various places and which could hold very great surprises, since its exploration has only been sketchily outlined. The exit from this passage is in an area of boulders where two possibilities exist:
To the left: a tight passage has been forced on a slope to Kitschacht (Tackle Bag Shaft) a magnificent 50m drop, very wide and completely free hanging. At its base, several possibilities. A tight active canyon which can be bypassed by a fossil passage, broken by an earthy drop of 3m to a huge 15m pitch leading to a sump at -360m.
A drop of a few metres gives access to a huge fossil passage (10 × 5m). The floor of this is cut by a deep canyon which has not been explored. After a hundred metres or so the passage ends at a vast wet pitch. Climbing over a big boulder on the right gives access to another pitch upwards.
Just after the base of Kitschacht, a passage of 80m makes a connection with the system of the Décollement pitch at the bottom of the 40m shaft. A canyon leaving the junction passage can be followed for more than 300m, and exits, in several places, into the side of the big fossil passage, just before the pitch upwards.
To the right: The Décollement pitch, with, at its base, a sloping chamber full of boulders. To the left a very deep ascending canyon is unexplored. In the bottom is the Méandre Emeri, so called because the formations are orientated in the direction of progress and of the draught. This rejoins a wide pitch with an inlet. After this 15m pitch is a short canyon and a damp 40m pitch. At the bottom, a huge descending passage suddenly turns almost vertical. This is the Toboggan, needing 20m of rope (a very spectacular passage). At this level one again cuts a new streamway. The passage continues, then contracts, and chokes at -385m.
After the Bivouac: a 10m pitch, then turn left into a small passage, ignore three pitches to the side, then descend pitches of 8 and 13m to arrive at some easy squeezes on the left. After this, a climb of 5m and a 42m pitch. Stops in a sand blockage at -410m.
Over the 13m pitch a small passage goes to several climbs in a fossil series. There is a 25m pitch and two 10m pitches ending in several very tight chimneys.
From the entrance, after 70m down Josef schacht, climb down 7m over a large block and descend about 12m in the bottom of a meander. Progress is then in the meander, with a short climb in a fault on the left and a 120m pitch, in sections of 22m and 100m. Beyond is a tight canyon with a 20m pitch to a sump at -607m (the last part of the 100m pitch is wet).
Atlas des Grands Gouffres du Monde 1979 says that the original -395m route goes on to c-470m (unsurveyed) and there are also routes ending at -385m and -386m.",,,,"
The description was translated from the references by Andy Waddington and Jill Gates.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1890m, Frigoschacht 1875m (enters at -130m at Sinterterrasse)",,,"NW of Wehrkogel on the Schönberg. Marked and named on OAV map sheet 15/1.",,,,,,, @@ -496,8 +496,8 @@ ,"1/S +",,"2006-09",,"smkridge/2006-09/2006-09.html",,,"Random Schacht",,,"2d","CUCC 2006 (Phil + Chantalle)",,,,,,,"Notes in 2006#27. Drawn up straight onto master survey by DL, to be copied.","caves/2006-09/2006-09.svx",,,,,,"p2006-09",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"Close to 2006-04 (Tunnockschacht), around 50m to the south-east.",,,"
| | |
| Entrance and tag | Closeup of entrance |
Photos © Chantalle Mouwer 2006-08-06","Tag","Tag ""2006-09"" placed by original explorers","Surveyed", ,"1/S/T =",,"2006-70",,"plateau/2006-70/2006-70.html",,,"Cairn Cave",,,"1c","CUCC 2006 (Jenny + Olly)","Crawling/stooping horizontal entrance that draughts out. After ~10m there is a restricted pitch head that appears to open out onto a ~5m pitch. Currently undescended, but appears to land on a snowy/rocky slope.",,,,"2006 logbook","In dataset",,"caves/2006-70/2006-70.svx",,,,,,"p2006-70",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"Not far from 148, right next to a cairn on the 2006 variant of the path from the col to 76",,,"
Photo © Olly Betts 2006","Spit",,"Surveyed", ,"1/S =",,"2006-71",,"plateau/2006-71/2006-71.html",,,,,,"1d","CUCC 2006 (Olly)","Shaft can be descended off tag bolt. Originally thought to be the elusive 177, but doesn't match description. Draughts outwards. Quite tight, but continues (continuation not pushed in 2006). ",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2006-71/2006-71.svx",,,,,,"p2006-71",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"Roughly North of 76 and East of 2004-08",,,"
Photo © Olly Betts 2006","Tag","Tag placed 2006","Surveyed", -,"1/T +",,"2006-72",,"kratzer/2006-72/2006-72.html",,,,"Mystery '+' cave",,4,"Unknown, and CUCC 2006, 2007 (Jenny)","Stooping-size horizontal entrace, draughts outwards a bit. Apparently continues some distance, but has a ""+"" mark of unknown provenance suggesting it doesn't go too far.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2006-72/2006-72.svx",,,,,,"p2006-72",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"Close to 186 - branch off the path up to 186 shortly before 186 itself, and head straight up hill up a steep grassy slope. The entrance is in the base of the cliff. ",,,"
| Jenny at the entrance | Entrance passage | Paint mark |
| View from Schwarzmoossattel path | Approach route | View from entrance towards Bräuning Wall |
Photos © Olly Betts 2006","Very faded red paint ""+"". Tag ""2006-72"" left at entrance on ledge with M8 bolt, but no spit placed yet!","Not tagged in 2006 or 2007 as no drill battery left!","Surveyed", +,"1/T +",,"2006-72",,"kratzer/2006-72/2006-72.html",,,,"Mystery '+' cave",,4,"Unknown, and CUCC 2006, 2007 (Jenny)","Stooping-size horizontal entrace, draughts outwards a bit. Apparently continues some distance, but has a ""+"" mark of unknown provenance suggesting it doesn't go too far.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2006-72/2006-72.svx",,,,,,"p2006-72",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"Close to 186 - branch off the path up to 186 shortly before 186 itself, and head straight up hill up a steep grassy slope. The entrance is in the base of the cliff. ",,,"
| Jenny at the entrance | Entrance passage | Paint mark |
| View from Schwarzmoossattel path | Approach route | View from entrance towards Bräuning Wall |
Photos © Olly Betts 2006","Paint","Very faded red paint ""+"". Tag ""2006-72"" left at entrance on ledge with M8 bolt, but no spit placed yet as no drill battery left on visits in 2006 or 2007!","Surveyed", ,,,"2006-73",,"plateau/2006-73.html",,,"Ice Curtain Cave",,,"1d","CUCC 2006 (Jenny + Olly)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p2006-73",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,"Spit","Spit placed in high point between entrances 2006; tag ""2006-73"" placed 2007-07-23.",, ,,,"2007-70",,"plateau/2007-70.html",,,"Spit Pot",,,"1d","CUCC 2007 (Jenny + Olly)",,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2007-70/2007-70.svx",,,,,,"p2007-70",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,"Spit",,"Surveyed", ,,,"2007-71",,"plateau/2007-71.html",,,,,,"1d","CUCC 2007 (Jenny + Olly)",,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2007-71/2007-71.svx",,,,,,"p2007-71",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,"Spit",,"Surveyed", -,,,"2007-72",,"plateau/2007-72.html",,,"Batter Pot",,,"1d","CUCC 2006, 2007 (Jenny + Olly)",,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2007-72/2007-72.svx",,,,,,"p2007-72",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,"White hammered cross",,"Surveyed", +,,,"2007-72",,"plateau/2007-72.html",,,"Batter Pot",,,"1d","CUCC 2006, 2007 (Jenny + Olly)",,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2007-72/2007-72.svx",,,,,,"p2007-72",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,,"White hammered cross","Surveyed",