Until recently, it has been difficult to come close to a comprehensive survey or even a good estimate of the length of the system because of a lack of contact and some misunderstanding between the groups involved. However, in 1997 a chance encounter (at the International Congress) by Wookey with Denis Motte, of the G.S.Clerval, led to renewed contacts with one group who explored this area, and Thilo Müller of ARGE has contacted the leaders of other groups and obtained all the rest of the 1980s information that survives. This is being merged into a coherent set of information which will guide necessary resurvey work to complete the picture.
Stellerweghöhle in turn is connected to Schwabenschacht which was over 7km at the time and exploration continues. This must make the combined system at least 19 km long. We have seen figures quoted as high as 25km, but this may involve some double-counting, given the uncertainties involved. Arge's estimate (entirely from extant survey data) was 22.7 km after summer 1999.","Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle is an extensive cave over 1600m long before 1983, extended to 2500m by a German group by 1985. The system is mainly horizontal, though tackle is needed to explore it fully, and crampons are necessary in parts, because of the substantial quantities of ice in the cave. Was extended by the Germans who worked in the area in the early eighties, who suggested then that there was potential for extension vertically. Subsequently linked via a 30m pitch to Lärchenschacht (1623/88) which in turn was connected to the Stellerweghöhlensystem, giving no increase in depth if the laser-rangefound altitude is correct rather than the old kataster one, which seems likely.
From 'Längsten und Tiefsten Hohlen in Österreich', translated by Wookey and Thilo:
The cave is on the southeastern slopes of the Vorderen Schwarzmooskogel (1843) developed in Dachsteinkalk. From seven partly shaft-like entrance points, a huge, flat-floored level with impressive ice formations can be approached. The Schneevulkanhalle at the northern end is the biggest ice-bearing chamber in middle Europe.
Four entrances lead into the central area. A 40m shaft from the Top Entrance 'Oberen Eingang' breaks into the ice-decorated 'Altausseer Halle'. To the west from here via a 25m ramp accessing 'Schneehalle' leads both to entrance 2 and the connecting gallery from the ice-bearing 'Thalhammerhalle', that can be entered from entrances 3 and 4 too. South of the Schnee and Altausseer Halles, the 'Teufelberger Halle' connects, the bottom of which contains an ice lake. A wide passage with side shafts goes southsouthwest to 'Hans-Pfandl-Halle'. The east connected room, also reached by a 23m high chimney (entrance 7), is divided into two by a high block barrier. The 'Flusstunnel' south from here ends blocked.
From the Altausseer Halle, a lofty passage with ice figures heads off NNE. The continuation is the 'Halle des Schiefen Turms', where the 'Wahnsinnschächte' branches off on the west. It was thought that this was blocked by ice. However, over a wall of ice one reaches the 130 by 75 by 50 m Schneevulkanhalle, on the eastern wall of which rises a steep snowslope flowing from the 'Königsschachts' (entrance 6). The chamber with its very impressive ice formations can also be reached via the 'Brennerbeselschluf' (entrance 5). At its northern end a climb reveals the easterly-running 'Kalten Gang' and the parallel 'Spinnenfriedhof'.
The principal objective of both pushing and tourist trips is the huge ice chamber of Schneevulkanhalle, which requires some serious ice work to reach from the older entrances in the middle of the system. Instead, follow the description to the ""new"" entrance (Brennerbeselschluf, 40e), with a somewhat limited area to get changed, perched between the icy blast from the cave and whatever the Austrian weather is offering.
The entrance is not walk-in, and low crawling in the face of the icy draught starts at once. A small descending tube (somewhat muddy - irritating in crampons!) leads in about 20m to a short climb down into larger (walking/stooping) passage 'Geröllgang. This goes downhill to a scramble up. This was totally ice-covered in 1997 and 1998, but not 1999 or 2000 and has a fixed rope (VfHO-installed), which may be buried in ice at somewhat critical points - a certain amount of care is needed if chipping it out with an ice-axe and gloves really are needed!
Partway up this slope is a space on the left [C0000-40-05 A], including a pitch in the floor. At the far end of this space, a short crawl and a grovel down through boulders where a stream comes in from above both choke. The pitch is a c3, p20, p30 - the last part being very wet in early summer. Leading to Schotterland.
Survey data also suggests a passage off to the right of the iceslope for 20m or so.
Above the scramble up is a short traverse, also rather interesting when covered in hard ice (and also protected by a fixed rope which had to be dug out in 1998). A steeply ascending passage to the L holds a quantity of particularly scrofulous rope (presumably a previous fixed rope). This can be climbed ~10m until it gets too vertical. It draughts. Beyond the ice is a steep snow/ice slope down into the huge Schneevulkanhalle. It is strongly recommended to equip this with a properly rigged SRT rope rather than anything less - the cave has seen a number of accidents, some fatal. Although the slope looks like soft snow, it is a layer of coarsely crystalline hard névé over solid ice. In parts it is almost impossible to kick steps into, whilst in others it offers only minimal purchase for crampon points. Conditions no doubt vary with the season as well as with position on the slope and the year. Tackle required: 50m rope, crampons. There is one bolt at the top, for a traverse line to two bolts off to the R in the roof where the snow-slope proper starts. Sometimes the traverse area is full of snow and an ice-screw or ice-axe rebelay/deviation (club first ? in 1989) may be needed. A deviation (from rock) at the head of the steep section was found adequate in 1998.
The 50m Königschacht (40f) entrance is the source of the snow slope and comes in here. It is often full of snow but was open in 1999 and so was surveyed (by ARGE).
At the bottom is the main chamber from which the pitch does indeed look like a snow-covered volcanic cone. Most of the floor area is ice-covered and only a slight slope is necessary to make crampons vital here. Most of the chamber is filled with ice formations up to 15m high (end of season). Those with two ice-tools can climb almost anything in the chamber, though the formations are no doubt rather more spectacular and fragile in spring or early summer. Formation-ice can also shatter very easily as melting occurs between component crystals later in the season, so it is probably safer for climbers to stick to hard névé. Ways on are mostly reached by steeper slopes that definitely require ice-gear and can be quite unnerving approached from above. Note that the slopes are usually hard ice, ice-axe-braking after a slip is not an option - lifeline or don't fall !
Starting from the pitch (facing outwards from the slope), heading round the chamber to the left leads over a large flat area of ice to where a gap between ice and rock [C0000-40-01 A] drops 10m (2 bolts, one added 1999) into large passage elephantengang.
Right next to it is an icefall coming in from above [C0000-40-02 C] (Apparently explored by GSCB in early 80s for ~40m). 40m round the wall of the chamber is a rubble run-in, iced on the top half. This was climbed by Haines (1998) and Atkinson (1999), as well as the GSCB. At the top is a wet boulder choke that definately doesn't go, but the GSCB plan shows a narrow rift on the right marked 'tight'.
Halfway up this slope on the left is the narrow entrance to Persistence of Vision.
20m further round another couple of icefalls come in. Both are about 8-10m and vertical [C0000-40-03 A]. GSCB plan shows they have climbed up here to find a 20m pitch beyond into narrow rift. Their survey doesn't make it clear how it ends. CUCC bolted up the left side of the left icefall in 2000 to find an ice water duck leading to a pitch series (Mission Impossible). The duck was dry in 2001, but back again in 2002.
50m further round (downslope) the ice drops away steeply under the wall. A line is advisable for the descent. 20m down, the ice slope peters out giving way to sand and rocks. At the end here is a very strongly draughting hole [C0000-40-04 B]. This appears too tight, but survey data shows this is where Kalten Gang and Spinnefriedhof are (VfHM, 1984). To the right at the foot of the slope closes down with rocks and ice - it would probably connect with Plastic Hell. A few metres up from the bottom of the slope on the left hand (N) wall is a gap between the ice and rock leading into a large chamber [A1998-40-05 B] (reported by Robert Winkler).
Back in Schneevulkanhalle, another 10m clockwise round the chamber is another, steeper iceslope. A rope is definitely needed for this. This is the way to Plastic Hell.
Beyond and above are more thin icefalls coming from high in the ceiling - trying to climb these would be bonkers - the debris from the collapse of some of them is all around.
The foot of the piss-wet pitch opens out into very large triangular passage. You can go NE about 35m until it chokes (a good draught comes out of one hoplessly choked corner) or SW 20 to a T-junction. Right (W) is Kleiner keller. Left, ducking under the low wall, is Schotterland.
Kleiner keller is about 50m on huge passage to where the end is choked with glacial fill and a waterspout comes in the from the roof 3m up. A sling ladder makes it possible to ascend the waterspout - you can even doing it without getting very wet, as the spout is unusually well-concentrated, and thus avoidable. This comes into an E-W rift, with the water coming from the E end. It can be ascended in both directions at various traverse levels for about 30m, but the top appears choked at all points. The top is probably very close to the floor of Elephantengang.
The old Munich cavers' data suggests that there is a passage off kleiner keller that we missed - which seems hard to believe, but maybe it is worth another visit?
Schotterland is more enormous passage (10m wide) going SSE, presumably schotterland, due to the flooring of small rocks. A ramp goes up steeply on the L after 30m. It closes down after 40m. Ahead the passage slowly narrows until it chokes at the end - probably very close to the surface.",,,,,"In dataset",,"smk-system.svx","54000m","1032m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"SSE of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel and ENE of a large basin in the hillside which often contains a lot of snow. Roughly a 450m NNE of Sonnenstrahlhöhle - CUCC's furthest east permanent survey station.","From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201, ignoring the left turn to the plateau at Egglgrube. Pass the junction path left to Kratzer and continue until a red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the path, marking Kat. 28 (we think).
There is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch path here. Follow this for about half an hour to the back of the limestone knoll known as ""The Nipple"" (and Weisse Warz and bunter's bulge). Things to note: first there is a wire traverse then you pass the lightninged tree in a sizeable valley. (Opposite this tree is the point you would turn left for Schwabenscacht). Shortly after that a pair of red arrows point in opposite directions. Go steeply uphill here doubling back slightly, rather than the more obvious straight on. Turn right about 40m beyond the nipple and head across the limestone for a narrow gully. After a hundred metres or so new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a.
A very large cave entrance, 20 minutes further on, was the German's (Munich) bivouac, and a few minutes later, a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter is the main entrance (""Hauptportal"" - 40a). This was also the site of an old French bivouac, but must have been very cold. Continue along past some big holes and slightly downhill (one 5m step down). After about 180m(?) you reach the area of numerous entrances in a row There is the small Grüner Eingang (40s), 2 larger entrances ('Eistunnel' and 'Nichts50'), a small blocked entrance, and finally, where the path ends abruptly and unambiguously the ""new"" entrance (40e, Brennerbeserlschluf), also strongly draughting. This is between one and a half and two hours from the car park.",,, +40,"7/S/T/E x","a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s",,"yes","noinfo/smkridge/40.htm",,"Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle","Schwarzmooskogelhöhlensystem",,"2a","The main passages as far as Elephantengang were explored by 1938. Since then a variety of groups have worked here finding numerous extensions, of which Schneevulkanhalle is the most significant.
Until recently, it has been difficult to come close to a comprehensive survey or even a good estimate of the length of the system because of a lack of contact and some misunderstanding between the groups involved. However, in 1997 a chance encounter (at the International Congress) by Wookey with Denis Motte, of the G.S.Clerval, led to renewed contacts with one group who explored this area, and Thilo Müller of ARGE has contacted the leaders of other groups and obtained all the rest of the 1980s information that survives. This is being merged into a coherent set of information which will guide necessary resurvey work to complete the picture.
Stellerweghöhle in turn is connected to Schwabenschacht which was over 7km at the time and exploration continues. This must make the combined system at least 19 km long. We have seen figures quoted as high as 25km, but this may involve some double-counting, given the uncertainties involved. Arge's estimate (entirely from extant survey data) was 22.7 km after summer 1999.","Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle is an extensive cave over 1600m long before 1983, extended to 2500m by a German group by 1985. The system is mainly horizontal, though tackle is needed to explore it fully, and crampons are necessary in parts, because of the substantial quantities of ice in the cave. Was extended by the Germans who worked in the area in the early eighties, who suggested then that there was potential for extension vertically. Subsequently linked via a 30m pitch to Lärchenschacht (1623/88) which in turn was connected to the Stellerweghöhlensystem, giving no increase in depth if the laser-rangefound altitude is correct rather than the old kataster one, which seems likely.
From 'Längsten und Tiefsten Hohlen in Österreich', translated by Wookey and Thilo:
The cave is on the southeastern slopes of the Vorderen Schwarzmooskogel (1843) developed in Dachsteinkalk. From seven partly shaft-like entrance points, a huge, flat-floored level with impressive ice formations can be approached. The Schneevulkanhalle at the northern end is the biggest ice-bearing chamber in middle Europe.
Four entrances lead into the central area. A 40m shaft from the Top Entrance 'Oberen Eingang' breaks into the ice-decorated 'Altausseer Halle'. To the west from here via a 25m ramp accessing 'Schneehalle' leads both to entrance 2 and the connecting gallery from the ice-bearing 'Thalhammerhalle', that can be entered from entrances 3 and 4 too. South of the Schnee and Altausseer Halles, the 'Teufelberger Halle' connects, the bottom of which contains an ice lake. A wide passage with side shafts goes southsouthwest to 'Hans-Pfandl-Halle'. The east connected room, also reached by a 23m high chimney (entrance 7), is divided into two by a high block barrier. The 'Flusstunnel' south from here ends blocked.
From the Altausseer Halle, a lofty passage with ice figures heads off NNE. The continuation is the 'Halle des Schiefen Turms', where the 'Wahnsinnschächte' branches off on the west. It was thought that this was blocked by ice. However, over a wall of ice one reaches the 130 by 75 by 50 m Schneevulkanhalle, on the eastern wall of which rises a steep snowslope flowing from the 'Königsschachts' (entrance 6). The chamber with its very impressive ice formations can also be reached via the 'Brennerbeselschluf' (entrance 5). At its northern end a climb reveals the easterly-running 'Kalten Gang' and the parallel 'Spinnenfriedhof'.
The principal objective of both pushing and tourist trips is the huge ice chamber of Schneevulkanhalle, which requires some serious ice work to reach from the older entrances in the middle of the system. Instead, follow the description to the ""new"" entrance (Brennerbeselschluf, 40e), with a somewhat limited area to get changed, perched between the icy blast from the cave and whatever the Austrian weather is offering.
The entrance is not walk-in, and low crawling in the face of the icy draught starts at once. A small descending tube (somewhat muddy - irritating in crampons!) leads in about 20m to a short climb down into larger (walking/stooping) passage 'Geröllgang. This goes downhill to a scramble up. This was totally ice-covered in 1997 and 1998, but not 1999 or 2000 and has a fixed rope (VfHO-installed), which may be buried in ice at somewhat critical points - a certain amount of care is needed if chipping it out with an ice-axe and gloves really are needed!
Partway up this slope is a space on the left [C0000-40-05 A], including a pitch in the floor. At the far end of this space, a short crawl and a grovel down through boulders where a stream comes in from above both choke. The pitch is a c3, p20, p30 - the last part being very wet in early summer. Leading to Schotterland.
Survey data also suggests a passage off to the right of the iceslope for 20m or so.
Above the scramble up is a short traverse, also rather interesting when covered in hard ice (and also protected by a fixed rope which had to be dug out in 1998). A steeply ascending passage to the L holds a quantity of particularly scrofulous rope (presumably a previous fixed rope). This can be climbed ~10m until it gets too vertical. It draughts. Beyond the ice is a steep snow/ice slope down into the huge Schneevulkanhalle. It is strongly recommended to equip this with a properly rigged SRT rope rather than anything less - the cave has seen a number of accidents, some fatal. Although the slope looks like soft snow, it is a layer of coarsely crystalline hard névé over solid ice. In parts it is almost impossible to kick steps into, whilst in others it offers only minimal purchase for crampon points. Conditions no doubt vary with the season as well as with position on the slope and the year. Tackle required: 50m rope, crampons. There is one bolt at the top, for a traverse line to two bolts off to the R in the roof where the snow-slope proper starts. Sometimes the traverse area is full of snow and an ice-screw or ice-axe rebelay/deviation (club first ? in 1989) may be needed. A deviation (from rock) at the head of the steep section was found adequate in 1998.
The 50m Königschacht (40f) entrance is the source of the snow slope and comes in here. It is often full of snow but was open in 1999 and so was surveyed (by ARGE).
At the bottom is the main chamber from which the pitch does indeed look like a snow-covered volcanic cone. Most of the floor area is ice-covered and only a slight slope is necessary to make crampons vital here. Most of the chamber is filled with ice formations up to 15m high (end of season). Those with two ice-tools can climb almost anything in the chamber, though the formations are no doubt rather more spectacular and fragile in spring or early summer. Formation-ice can also shatter very easily as melting occurs between component crystals later in the season, so it is probably safer for climbers to stick to hard névé. Ways on are mostly reached by steeper slopes that definitely require ice-gear and can be quite unnerving approached from above. Note that the slopes are usually hard ice, ice-axe-braking after a slip is not an option - lifeline or don't fall !
Starting from the pitch (facing outwards from the slope), heading round the chamber to the left leads over a large flat area of ice to where a gap between ice and rock [C0000-40-01 A] drops 10m (2 bolts, one added 1999) into large passage elephantengang.
Right next to it is an icefall coming in from above [C0000-40-02 C] (Apparently explored by GSCB in early 80s for ~40m). 40m round the wall of the chamber is a rubble run-in, iced on the top half. This was climbed by Haines (1998) and Atkinson (1999), as well as the GSCB. At the top is a wet boulder choke that definately doesn't go, but the GSCB plan shows a narrow rift on the right marked 'tight'.
Halfway up this slope on the left is the narrow entrance to Persistence of Vision.
20m further round another couple of icefalls come in. Both are about 8-10m and vertical [C0000-40-03 A]. GSCB plan shows they have climbed up here to find a 20m pitch beyond into narrow rift. Their survey doesn't make it clear how it ends. CUCC bolted up the left side of the left icefall in 2000 to find an ice water duck leading to a pitch series (Mission Impossible). The duck was dry in 2001, but back again in 2002.
50m further round (downslope) the ice drops away steeply under the wall. A line is advisable for the descent. 20m down, the ice slope peters out giving way to sand and rocks. At the end here is a very strongly draughting hole [C0000-40-04 B]. This appears too tight, but survey data shows this is where Kalten Gang and Spinnefriedhof are (VfHM, 1984). To the right at the foot of the slope closes down with rocks and ice - it would probably connect with Plastic Hell. A few metres up from the bottom of the slope on the left hand (N) wall is a gap between the ice and rock leading into a large chamber [A1998-40-05 B] (reported by Robert Winkler).
Back in Schneevulkanhalle, another 10m clockwise round the chamber is another, steeper iceslope. A rope is definitely needed for this. This is the way to Plastic Hell.
Beyond and above are more thin icefalls coming from high in the ceiling - trying to climb these would be bonkers - the debris from the collapse of some of them is all around.
The foot of the piss-wet pitch opens out into very large triangular passage. You can go NE about 35m until it chokes (a good draught comes out of one hoplessly choked corner) or SW 20 to a T-junction. Right (W) is Kleiner keller. Left, ducking under the low wall, is Schotterland.
Kleiner keller is about 50m on huge passage to where the end is choked with glacial fill and a waterspout comes in the from the roof 3m up. A sling ladder makes it possible to ascend the waterspout - you can even doing it without getting very wet, as the spout is unusually well-concentrated, and thus avoidable. This comes into an E-W rift, with the water coming from the E end. It can be ascended in both directions at various traverse levels for about 30m, but the top appears choked at all points. The top is probably very close to the floor of Elephantengang.
The old Munich cavers' data suggests that there is a passage off kleiner keller that we missed - which seems hard to believe, but maybe it is worth another visit?
Schotterland is more enormous passage (10m wide) going SSE, presumably schotterland, due to the flooring of small rocks. A ramp goes up steeply on the L after 30m. It closes down after 40m. Ahead the passage slowly narrows until it chokes at the end - probably very close to the surface.",,,,,"In dataset",,"smk-system.svx","54000m","1032m","2941m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"SSE of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel and ENE of a large basin in the hillside which often contains a lot of snow. Roughly a 450m NNE of Sonnenstrahlhöhle - CUCC's furthest east permanent survey station.","From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201, ignoring the left turn to the plateau at Egglgrube. Pass the junction path left to Kratzer and continue until a red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the path, marking Kat. 28 (we think).
There is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch path here. Follow this for about half an hour to the back of the limestone knoll known as ""The Nipple"" (and Weisse Warz and bunter's bulge). Things to note: first there is a wire traverse then you pass the lightninged tree in a sizeable valley. (Opposite this tree is the point you would turn left for Schwabenscacht). Shortly after that a pair of red arrows point in opposite directions. Go steeply uphill here doubling back slightly, rather than the more obvious straight on. Turn right about 40m beyond the nipple and head across the limestone for a narrow gully. After a hundred metres or so new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a.
A very large cave entrance, 20 minutes further on, was the German's (Munich) bivouac, and a few minutes later, a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter is the main entrance (""Hauptportal"" - 40a). This was also the site of an old French bivouac, but must have been very cold. Continue along past some big holes and slightly downhill (one 5m step down). After about 180m(?) you reach the area of numerous entrances in a row There is the small Grüner Eingang (40s), 2 larger entrances ('Eistunnel' and 'Nichts50'), a small blocked entrance, and finally, where the path ends abruptly and unambiguously the ""new"" entrance (40e, Brennerbeserlschluf), also strongly draughting. This is between one and a half and two hours from the car park.",,, 40,,"a",,"entrance","noinfo/smkridge/40a.htm",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Oberer Eingang",,"p40a","it is laser point 14",,"laser point",,"gps00.40lasr",81700.9294,36459.4949,"1689.6784m",,,,"From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201, ignoring the left turn to the plateau at Egglgrube. Pass the junction path left to Kratzer and continue until a red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the path, marking Kat. 28 (we think). There is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch path here. Follow this for about half an hour to the back of the limestone knoll known as ""The Nipple"" (and Weisse Warz and bunter's bulge). Things to note: first there is a wire traverse then you pass the lightninged tree in a sizeable valley. (Opposite this tree is the point you would turn left for Schwabenscacht). Shortly after that a pair of red arrows point in opposite directions. Go steeply uphill here doubling back slightly, rather than the more obvious straight on. Turn right about 40m beyond the nipple and head across the limestone for a narrow gully. After a hundred metres or so new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a. A very large cave entrance, 20 minutes further on, was the German's (Munich) bivouac, and a few minutes later, a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter is the main entrance (""Hauptportal"" - 40a).","a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter",, 40,,"b",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Schneeschacht ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"c",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Reichenvaterschacht ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, @@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ 73,"2/S =",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/73.htm",,"Suppentellerschacht",,,4,"
","The first step is sprayed by meltwater, and the second step leads to -30m. A short rope leads to the next step. A rift follows an acute angle under the entrance way, some metres back. This section is very narrow, and over the narrow section pours a showerbath. Now a second squeeze leads to a fine pitch which bends back under the previous section. Then it gets complicated (the language, not the cave). It sounds like a series of either roomy or narrow wet pitches. Exploration appears to cease at -60m because of water down the neck and in the suit. It isn't clear if the cave actually stops at this point.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1580m",,,"In Kratzer valley, some way up valley from Fledermaushöhle (Kat.71).",,,, 74,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/74.htm",,"Schneckenhaushöhle",,,4,"Edith Bednarik, 1977","Sounds like a free-climb to a snow choke (very much like B5, which must be in virtually the same place ?)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1600m",,,"In Kratzer valley, down valley from Fledermaushöhle (Kat. 71), on true right some way above bottom of valley. In the same entrance doline as Dr.Kerschner Höhle (Kat.35).",,,, 75,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/75.htm",,"Wisenthöhle",,,4,"Edith Bednarik, 1977","This entrance connects with a second shaft just down valley. The Austrian article describing the cave says it is about 60m long, but this did not appear to be the case in 1990, since it seems to choke very quickly - perhaps digging would now be required to get in.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1680m",,,"Just south of Schwarzmoossattel, in the far upper reaches of Kratzertal. There is an obvious freeclimbable shaft/cave just down valley from the equally obvious shakehole/shaft labelled B4.",,,,"It is numbered twice, once very faded and once very badly run (last seen 1996): both numbers are needed to deduce (with difficulty) that this is indeed ""75""." -76,"5/S/E +","a b c",,"yes","plateau/76.htm",,"Eislufthöhle",,,"1d","CUCC 1977-79","Two snow plugged dolines (76 b & c) and a narrow shaft (76a) unite in a narrow rift leading to a windy lifelining position, Draught Bitter, at the head of a 72m shaft plugged with snow. Rigging Plugged Shaft between snow and rock, pitches in 1977 were 18m to a snow platform, 12m to a ledge, then 29m to a substantial ledge, Yesterday's Terminus. In 1979, with changed snow topography, and rigging for SRT, the drops were 11, 7, 17 and 19m to Yesterday's Terminus where a traverse out reaches a bolt for the final 13m drop onto a snow pile in a large aven chamber. A further 13m pitch, Saved Shaft, into a smaller aven chamber, Boulder Chamber, leads to an apparent end, but thrutch through boulders into top of rift/canyon. Hole in floor is 32m pitch into Keg Series (no draught) with further unexplored pitch below. Continuing traverse leads to climbs down then split pitch of 19m and 14m, Follow-through Shaft, dropping into side of abandoned canyon. Upstream to the left ends immediately while down canyon leads to head of a chamber, The Taproom, with a 5m climb down a big boulder under heavy drip/spray (handline useful). Also from the head of the chamber, passage leads back to a large unexplored hole in floor with lots of water entering from a high aven. 1977 terminus at -150m.
From chamber, scramble down in rift (rope useful owing to greasy rock and 120 metre drop) to reach head of large rift pitch below jammed boulder. Pitch drops in two sections of 10m and 35m, with stream out of reach in canyon, to ledge where stream bed is crossed (traverse line). Further pitch of 10m leads to straddle climb up to rocking boulder, then traverse forward to good belays for 48m pitch. This lands on The Balcony where water runs away from obvious way on into a tight immature drain.
Ben with the Greene King pennant on the Balcony
From the Balcony a 7m pitch drops into the Hall of the Greene King, a huge soaring aven chamber. The way on over a boulder floor leads under suspended boulders, one of immense size, to a 5m pitch down off the edge of a boulder. In the floor is a sharp canyon that loops round to a junction. Left leads to Gents' Pitch route, while right leads to a dry passage. After a few metres in the dry passage, there is a rift in the floor to the left, which is a muddy, broken pitch with sections of 3m, 12m and 18m into the main canyon (1978 route). Another few metres ahead, a bold step across the canyon leads to further passage which eventually degenerates and rejoins the main canyon upstream (right) of the bold step.
Julian Griffiths abseiling the 16.5m and Gents' pitches on the bottoming trip in 1979
The 1979 route from the junction leads to a pitch of 16.5m, free hanging just clear of the wall, with an excellent takeoff. However the rope gets muddy from mud on clothing in a couple of trips, so care is required. Next drop is the Gents' pitch of 9.5m, which leads to a short streamway rejoining the main canyon from the 1978 route. The bottom of this pitch is a good place for cavers to perform ablutions with the mud on their ascenders, hence the name (all the explorers were male). The main passage now leads on with stream in floor and muddy ledges above until the Fiesta Run is reached. This awkward slanting rift pitch of 28m is so muddy that ladders are de rigeur. The name derives from the car crash which terminated exploration at this point in 1978.
A traverse forward on muddy ledges leads out over a huge shaft with the ominous sound of a waterfall below. Traversing further eventually leads to a further pitch of 5m to a col. Down another 10m on the side away from the main shaft lands on a solid floor in an abandoned rift. Forward leads through narrow passage with sharp rock to a point where thrutchy traversing is necessary to make further progress. A 23m broken pitch in sharp rock, with very bad rub points leads only to a tight crawl. This was pushed by Julian Griffiths to emerge at a drop with a large aven above, which remains unexplored at about -395m depth.
The main way on, however, is to drop back into canyon towards the ominous hiss of water in a very wide pitch where the stream seems to have hit a fault at right angles to the arriving passage direction. The middle section of this 28m pitch is huge, before narrowing to a ledge parallel to the new fault, and 'downstream' from the original direction of stream flow. From the ledge, a smaller shaft of 33m drops down the new fault rift to a boulder floor where the water sinks. The fault rift, Madlmeier Schacht, now drops in sections of 24 and 19m to the end of the rope in 1979. Here an exposed freeclimb of 5m with icy water flowing over the handholds is not really recommended - take a longer rope. Next pitch of 24m picks up the main water again 10m down, and final pitch of 17m from ledge drops to floor of rift chamber, but mud on floor precedes final muddy 10m pitch down a boulder wall to a deep and terminal rift sump at -506m.
Simon Farrow on the last 17m pitch of Madlmeier Schacht
Julian Griffiths at the final sump - 1979
There are a number of going leads in this cave and you're welcome to them.",,,,"The exploration is written up in many places:
This last item, the only complete write up of 1977-79, appeared in Polish translation, and is published in the English original for the first time here.",,"? grade 1",,,"approx 506m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Out on the plateau near some very large erratic boulders. Laser rangefound point 0/6 is between the three entrances",,,"
Simon Farrow at the entrance of 76 during the initial exploration in 1977
","The entrance is prominently numbered 106 which is the number we had allocated to it, but a description of the cave was published in the Belfry Bulletin, which is seen by Alfred Auer, who allocated his own number to it in advance of our report." +76,"5/S/E +","a b c",,"yes","plateau/76.htm",,"Eislufthöhle",,,"1d","CUCC 1977-79","Two snow plugged dolines (76 b & c) and a narrow shaft (76a) unite in a narrow rift leading to a windy lifelining position, Draught Bitter, at the head of a 72m shaft plugged with snow. Rigging Plugged Shaft between snow and rock, pitches in 1977 were 18m to a snow platform, 12m to a ledge, then 29m to a substantial ledge, Yesterday's Terminus. In 1979, with changed snow topography, and rigging for SRT, the drops were 11, 7, 17 and 19m to Yesterday's Terminus where a traverse out reaches a bolt for the final 13m drop onto a snow pile in a large aven chamber. A further 13m pitch, Saved Shaft, into a smaller aven chamber, Boulder Chamber, leads to an apparent end, but thrutch through boulders into top of rift/canyon. Hole in floor is 32m pitch into Keg Series (no draught) with further unexplored pitch below. Continuing traverse leads to climbs down then split pitch of 19m and 14m, Follow-through Shaft, dropping into side of abandoned canyon. Upstream to the left ends immediately while down canyon leads to head of a chamber, The Taproom, with a 5m climb down a big boulder under heavy drip/spray (handline useful). Also from the head of the chamber, passage leads back to a large unexplored hole in floor with lots of water entering from a high aven. 1977 terminus at -150m.
From chamber, scramble down in rift (rope useful owing to greasy rock and 120 metre drop) to reach head of large rift pitch below jammed boulder. Pitch drops in two sections of 10m and 35m, with stream out of reach in canyon, to ledge where stream bed is crossed (traverse line). Further pitch of 10m leads to straddle climb up to rocking boulder, then traverse forward to good belays for 48m pitch. This lands on The Balcony where water runs away from obvious way on into a tight immature drain.
Ben with the Greene King pennant on the Balcony
From the Balcony a 7m pitch drops into the Hall of the Greene King, a huge soaring aven chamber. The way on over a boulder floor leads under suspended boulders, one of immense size, to a 5m pitch down off the edge of a boulder. In the floor is a sharp canyon that loops round to a junction. Left leads to Gents' Pitch route, while right leads to a dry passage. After a few metres in the dry passage, there is a rift in the floor to the left, which is a muddy, broken pitch with sections of 3m, 12m and 18m into the main canyon (1978 route). Another few metres ahead, a bold step across the canyon leads to further passage which eventually degenerates and rejoins the main canyon upstream (right) of the bold step.
Julian Griffiths abseiling the 16.5m and Gents' pitches on the bottoming trip in 1979
The 1979 route from the junction leads to a pitch of 16.5m, free hanging just clear of the wall, with an excellent takeoff. However the rope gets muddy from mud on clothing in a couple of trips, so care is required. Next drop is the Gents' pitch of 9.5m, which leads to a short streamway rejoining the main canyon from the 1978 route. The bottom of this pitch is a good place for cavers to perform ablutions with the mud on their ascenders, hence the name (all the explorers were male). The main passage now leads on with stream in floor and muddy ledges above until the Fiesta Run is reached. This awkward slanting rift pitch of 28m is so muddy that ladders are de rigeur. The name derives from the car crash which terminated exploration at this point in 1978.
A traverse forward on muddy ledges leads out over a huge shaft with the ominous sound of a waterfall below. Traversing further eventually leads to a further pitch of 5m to a col. Down another 10m on the side away from the main shaft lands on a solid floor in an abandoned rift. Forward leads through narrow passage with sharp rock to a point where thrutchy traversing is necessary to make further progress. A 23m broken pitch in sharp rock, with very bad rub points leads only to a tight crawl. This was pushed by Julian Griffiths to emerge at a drop with a large aven above, which remains unexplored at about -395m depth.
The main way on, however, is to drop back into canyon towards the ominous hiss of water in a very wide pitch where the stream seems to have hit a fault at right angles to the arriving passage direction. The middle section of this 28m pitch is huge, before narrowing to a ledge parallel to the new fault, and 'downstream' from the original direction of stream flow. From the ledge, a smaller shaft of 33m drops down the new fault rift to a boulder floor where the water sinks. The fault rift, Madlmeier Schacht, now drops in sections of 24 and 19m to the end of the rope in 1979. Here an exposed freeclimb of 5m with icy water flowing over the handholds is not really recommended - take a longer rope. Next pitch of 24m picks up the main water again 10m down, and final pitch of 17m from ledge drops to floor of rift chamber, but mud on floor precedes final muddy 10m pitch down a boulder wall to a deep and terminal rift sump at -506m.
Simon Farrow on the last 17m pitch of Madlmeier Schacht
Julian Griffiths at the final sump - 1979
There are a number of going leads in this cave and you're welcome to them.",,,,"The exploration is written up in many places:
This last item, the only complete write up of 1977-79, appeared in Polish translation, and is published in the English original for the first time here.",,"? grade 1",,"1181m resurveyed so far","approx 506m; resurveyed to 190m","172m surveyed",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Out on the plateau near some very large erratic boulders. Laser rangefound point 0/6 is between the three entrances",,,"
Simon Farrow at the entrance of 76 during the initial exploration in 1977
","The entrance is prominently numbered 106 which is the number we had allocated to it, but a description of the cave was published in the Belfry Bulletin, which is seen by Alfred Auer, who allocated his own number to it in advance of our report." 76,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p76a","p76","entrance dotted triangle on 76",,"Surface survey",,,82939,35874,"1645m ",,,,,,, 76,,"b",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 76,,"c",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, @@ -130,10 +130,10 @@ 99,"1/S x",,,,"plateau/99.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 99",,,"1d","
","Entrance gully of 5m leads to 20m pitch at 70° over snow, heading roughly back towards Eislufthöhle. At the base is a 'snow-duck' under a rock wall beyond which a small rift-like chamber descends about 3m. Straight ahead at the same level, the rift quickly becomes an impenetrable slot through which can be seen a 2m wide passage with an ice floor running down from right to left at 5-10°. This is the source of the strong draught. Below the slot is another low hole, this leaks a vague draught and leads to a small boulder-strewn ledge with a definite blackness continuing to the left behind more boulders. Energetic but nervous removal of these gave obvious signs of a continuation, but other commitments and rain prevented a return. Note therefore it has been Left Going.",,,,"Logbook accounts",,,,,,,,,,,"p99",,,,"Surface survey",,,82904,35871,"1642m",,,"A short way South East of Eislufthöhle Kat.76
E 35876.6 N (52)82903.5 H 1638.9",,"Draughting entrance near Eislufthöhle(1623/76), ignored at first, since it was assumed it would join 76.",,"tag 1999" 100,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/100.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 100",,,"1a","CUCC 1977, Team Youth, and again in 1990 by AERW ","An east-west rift with two obvious points of descent. The more easterly is about 6m deep and can be seen to end in a chamber. The more westerly is a 15m pitch, with a window communicating with the east hole. At base are boulders and a climb down. A crawl leads to an inlet where water appears and sinks into an impenetrable slot with very sharp rock. ",,,,,,,,,"18m",,,,,,"p100",,,,"Surface survey",,,82401,35521,"1657m",,,"Just beyond the col, on the left. It is, in fact, extremely near Top Camp, virtually on one of the routes to the Schwarzmooskogel areas. ",0,,,"red painted number, with 1998 tag ""1623 100 CUCC 1977"" in centre (M6 stud).
This cave was originally only numbered in carbide, so was unmarked for years. It was relocated in 1989, but was not numbered until 1993 since AERW didn't think to carry paint while trying to find old holes. The orange number was fading and chipped in 1995, so was refreshed in red. The surface survey was to the centre of the middle digit of the number." 101,"1/S +","main a",,"yes","plateau/101.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 101",,,"1b","
","Entrance is in a rift orientated 40°-220° and hading about 20°. A 5m climb down leads to a horizontal passage going both ways, north leading out into the face of the scarp (101A). South (down dip) leads to a 4m pitch followed by a small crawl in a scree-floored phreatic tube, leading down dip, at about 30°. This drops via a short climb into a meandering phreatic tube with a tiny stream slot fed by an aven on the left. Progress is by crawling in the roof tube, which goes for about 40m until a window in the right wall leads to the base of an aven. The continuing crawl is too small, while a climb down below the aven (undescended) appears to choke.",,,,,,"? grade 1",,,"~12m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Bräuning Scharte 218°, Grieskogel 012.5°, Bräuning Nase 194.5°, Lost Rucksack cairn 319° (compass #439258: NPC2)",,"Out on the plateau, near a large north-facing fault scarp on 125-305°. Perhaps best located when looking for Wolfhöhle (which is nowhere nearby) in the mist (see 1984 logbook). There was an OAV ski-tourers' marker pole due north of the col, from which the entrance is about 50m away on 35°. Unfortunately, the pole was pretty much invisible from the approach route in 1977, and is now rotting on the ground, only visible from a metre away at best. However, the cave was relocated in 1998. It turns out to be very close to the faintly-marked path which leads past Lost Rucksack Cave towards CUCC 1996-05, and is a short way south of 1623/173.
(GPS: (cliff directly above 101A) GK 5410503 5283483 (FOM 9.2m))",,,,"extremely faded numbers ""101"" and ""101A"" in red on upper and lower entrances. 1998 tag ""1623 101 CUCC 1977"" on upper entrance, southeast-facing (M6 stud)." -,,"main",,"entrance","plateau/101main.htm",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p101tag",,,,"Surface survey",,,82908,35601,"1633m","Bräuning Scharte 218°, Grieskogel 012.5°, Bräuning Nase 194.5°, Lost Rucksack cairn 319° (compass #439258: NPC2)",,,,"Entrance is in a rift orientated 40°-220° and hading about 20°",,"extremely faded numbers ""101"" in red. 1998 tag ""1623 101 CUCC 1977"" southeast-facing (M6 stud)." +,,"main",,"entrance","plateau/101main.htm",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"t101",,,,"Surface survey",,,82908,35601,"1633m","Bräuning Scharte 218°, Grieskogel 012.5°, Bräuning Nase 194.5°, Lost Rucksack cairn 319° (compass #439258: NPC2)",,,,"Entrance is in a rift orientated 40°-220° and hading about 20°",,"extremely faded numbers ""101"" in red. 1998 tag ""1623 101 CUCC 1977"" southeast-facing (M6 stud)." ,,"a",,"last entrance","plateau/101a.htm",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps98.101a",,,,,,,"(GPS: (cliff directly above 101A) GK 5410503 5283483 (FOM 9.2m))",,,,"extremely faded numbers ""101A"" in red" -102,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/102.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 102",,,"1b","CUCC 1977 - Team Youth (A.Waddington) ","A near-straight shaft of 20m ends on a snow plug.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps98.102","gps00.102 gps00.102a",,,"c 1630m",,,"GPS GK 5410464 5283496 (FOM 11.5m) About 50m west of Kat.101, c 15m south of Kat. 103, on a parallel joint.",,,,"painted number is extremely faded, and appears only as a slight lightening in the lichen when wet. Part drilled hole for tag. Tagged 1998" -103,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/103.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 103",,,"1b","
","A semi-horizontal rift going south, slopes down at 45° to head of a very broken shaft aligned on a joint perpendicular to the scarp (joint is on 055-235°). Drops 30m past much wedged, frost-shattered rock to a choke at -30m.",,,,,,,,,"30m",,,,,,"p103tag",,,,"Surface survey","gps98.103",,82932,35577,"1632m","HSK 075°, VSK Nipple 153°, Lost Rucksack Cairn 325°",,"GPS GK 5410472 5283506 (FOM 8.7m) About 15m north of Kat.102, in the face of the same 125-305° fault scarp as 101´s northward crawl, which is about 35m away to the SE. ",,,," alloy tag ""1623 103 CUCC 1977"" on M6 stud below the faded remains of a painted number on the NW-facing wall of a prominent joint making a break in the scarp fade in which the entrance lies. " +102,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/102.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 102",,,"1b","CUCC 1977 - Team Youth (A.Waddington) ","A near-straight shaft of 20m ends on a snow plug.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps98.102","gps00.102",,,"c 1630m",,,"GPS GK 5410464 5283496 (FOM 11.5m) About 50m west of Kat.101, c 15m south of Kat. 103, on a parallel joint.",,,,"painted number is extremely faded, and appears only as a slight lightening in the lichen when wet. Part drilled hole for tag. Tagged 1998" +103,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/103.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 103",,,"1b","
","A semi-horizontal rift going south, slopes down at 45° to head of a very broken shaft aligned on a joint perpendicular to the scarp (joint is on 055-235°). Drops 30m past much wedged, frost-shattered rock to a choke at -30m.",,,,,,,,,"30m",,,,,,"t103",,,,"Surface survey","gps98.103",,82932,35577,"1632m","HSK 075°, VSK Nipple 153°, Lost Rucksack Cairn 325°",,"GPS GK 5410472 5283506 (FOM 8.7m) About 15m north of Kat.102, in the face of the same 125-305° fault scarp as 101´s northward crawl, which is about 35m away to the SE. ",,,," alloy tag ""1623 103 CUCC 1977"" on M6 stud below the faded remains of a painted number on the NW-facing wall of a prominent joint making a break in the scarp fade in which the entrance lies. " 104,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/104.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 104",,,"1d","CUCC 1977 - Team Youth (S.Farrow)","Belay to a bolt in the boulder (on top, 1977 vintage), and as much dwarf pine as you can string together. A somewhat broken but roomy shaft of 29m with ledges at -10 and -24m, to a choke.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"c 1650m ",,,"In deep scrub adjacent to a very large erratic boulder, in the same area as Eislufthöhle (Kat. 76). The boulder has an incipient split, and is visible from the col.",,,,"paint" 105,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/105.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 105",,,"1d","CUCC 1977 - Team Youth (N.Thorne, A.Waddington)","Handline descent for 9m leads to a ledge from where a fine 31m pitch drops 14m to a large ledge, then continues in a parallel shaft below an aven, with further ledges at -17, -21m. The shaft is in clean bluish-white limestone and lands on a dampish flat gravel floor.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p105",,,"Surface survey",,,82967,35883,"1649m ",,,"30m north of Eislufthöhle on the plateau.",,,,"paint; tag 1999" 106,,,,,,,,,"Number not allocated (see Eislufthöhle 1623/76)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, @@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ 110,"1/S/T +",,,,"remote/110.htm",,"Kein Hubschrauber Höhle",,,6,"CUCC 1978 - Team Supersmooth/Supercool ","Insignificant low entrance with icy draught is marked with number in red paint. Through boulders leads to an 8m drop and walking passage ending in a collapse chamber with draught emerging from the choke. Needed digging to get in.",,,,,,"
",,,,,,,"Name comes from logbook comment ""helicopter failed to turn up"".",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"On the plateau, about 2km (sic) beyond Eislufthöhle towards Schönberg. Actually, I am convinced that 2 km is a gross exaggeration, and half a mile would be more likely, otherwise it would be in a huge area of dwarf pine.",,,,"paint"
111,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/111.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 111",,,"1d","CUCC 1978 - Supersmooth/Supercool","Shaft 20m to ledge, then 10m to choke/too narrow.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Out on plateau, quite near 98. ",,,,
112,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/112.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 112",,,"1d","CUCC 1978 - Supersmooth/Supercool","Next to open shaft half full of snow. Shaft drops 50m past two ledges to choke.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,," Out on plateau, 50m from 111. ",,,,
-113,"4/S/T +",,,,"smkridge/113.htm",,"Sonnenstrahlhöhle",,,"2b","
","Entrance is huge. A sizeable dry valley develops into a canyon which is full of snow. The canyon ends downstream in a solid wall, where the rigging point for the entrance pitch starts by the aforementioned tree. A short drop leads to a ledge where a stretch to the left (facing the rock) reaches a rebelay in a fine position on the impending wall. From here, drop 21m onto a large snow slope, then 10m further to the flat snow floor of a large chamber lit from above by the shaft.
The way on is up a climb of 3m to a horizontal passage. There is an area of hading rifts, not fully explored. The first hole descends a ramp over treacherous ice and rubble for 30m to the head of a pitch, Ibbeth Perilous Pot. A second parallel ramp connects to the same point. Both these ramps suffer from loose rock and are best tackled with a handline. The main pitch drops for 20m in a series of steps, best rigged. A final 13m drop then lands on a rock/ice blockage Marathon Ledge, which at one time contained the original explorer's helmet and lights, dropped from the head of the pitch. A hammered route past the blockage leads to two short drops, then a 6m pitch into the Opera House (see below).
A descent of the second major hole from the entrance is the normal route and leads to a ramp down, traverse across and the head of Point Five Gully. The gully is decorated with ice formations early in the season, as are all the useful hand- and footholds on the following ramp, so a rope is recommended to descend Fox's Glacier. At the foot, about 60m below the entrance chamber, is a low bouldery chamber, and a low arch leads to a larger chamber, Barnsley Methodist Chapel, which is 20m high and 30m long.
The Chapel is floored with large boulders at one end, but an obvious low sandy passage to the left leads to the head of a 14m dry rift pitch with a bouldery takeoff. The pitch is free-hanging after the first two metres, to a gravel-floored chamber opening off the rift. Water entering high on the right takes a floor trench 10m deep which may be traversed above to gain the Balcony of the Opera House, an impressive 20m diameter, roughly circular chamber. A 12.5m pitch (awkward takeoff as rigged in 1980) gains the bouldery, sloping floor. A scramble down boulders and a further 7m pitch over a very large boulder leads into a rift, where an awkward 10m pitch with natural belays and joke bolts leads to a flat mud floor at a larger section at the head of a pitch. At this point the draught changes direction, the cave becomes clean, and a stream is met falling from an inaccessible (and out of sight) passage, apparently at the same level as the pitch head.
Down the pitch, a rebelay (which is a very long stretch to rig unless you're very tall) avoids the worst of the water on Purple Pit. Quite possibly this could be rigged as a deviation (we didn't do these in 1980). There is a long section to a large ledge, from where the pitch leaves the fault it has been following and heads down a series of short steps with rebelays a few metres apart. At the bottom of this section, 60m below the start, a further fault is met at right angles, with twin holes in the floor. The first one is wet and nasty, while the second is tolerable. Both unite and go off to the left in a diminutive streamway. To the right above the holes is the entry point from Bananehöhle(152), explored in 1985.
Simon Kellet at the top of the short dry pitch below Purple Pit
The diminutive streamway ends shortly in a tight sump, but before this, a climb up leads unobviously to a traverse and then a crawl trending back over the entry point, Müsli Crawl. A number of acute bends are disorientating, then a short drop leads to a final rift and a pitch head. This is a thrutch to start, then drops 10m to where the water reenters. A series of drops, Sprucy Wind, follows, and some of the bolts (1980 vintage, greased in 1982) are easily missed, which makes the pitches wetter. There is a branch shaft at one point which is unexplored, but appears to reunite somewhat lower down. The pitches of 8, 26, 12, 10, 10, 20, 5 and 9m drop to a final rift chamber where an inlet from up on the left doubles the size of the stream on a rocky floor. This inlet responds to floods about an hour faster than the main water. The combined waters fall down a 6m drop and sink in a gravel-choked pool.
Climbing up opposite the inlet, a dry rift is a little tight but pops out into a series of dry passages, apparently quite unrelated to the rift pitches. This area, The Crematorium, is a good place to wait when the pitches flood. There is a large horizontal passage ending in a chamber with various bedding crawl extensions. Avens in the roof are hard to reach (one bolt used for aid) and don't seem to go anywhere. A narrow rift in the floor contains the stream, and a climb down can be made at one point where it is just wide enough. Thrutching forward in a traverse cum crawl a short way above the water, a couple more diminutive drops reach a place where to continue would be just plain stupid, since it is small and wet. The cave was rigged in 1982 just to go and push the end. It didn't go.
There is potential for further extension by traversing over down-ramps in the entrance area, and by gaining access to the source of the water (and route of the draught) at the top of Purple Pit. Apparently the Point Five Gully and Fox's Glacier Ramp was traversed over in 1987, and another ramp descended, but this seems to have rejoined the main route somewhere near Barnsley Methodist Chapel. This route was not surveyed.",,,,,,"? grade 3","caves/113/113.svx",,"330m approx.",,,,,,,"p113","pitch head bolt on wall above yawning chasm near ""113"" paint mark. NB this cannot be reached without SRTing off the bunde and is very exposed (start of underground survey)",,"Surface survey",,,81333,36253,"1640m",,,,"Follow Stögerweg (path 201) well past turn off for Stellerweghöhle. This involves a steep descent, then a long horizontal stretch, crossing the dry valley containing Kat. 87a. After quite a way, there is an orange paint flash on the left, more easily seen when coming the other way. This is just a few metres before you turn left and start hacking up the hillside. Further orange paint marks the route, which goes up a dry valley and over the entrance 109. Eventually, a scrub-free area is reached, go right and then scramble up rock towards a tree. Don´t rush beyond the tree or you'll fall a long way.",,"
","Orange painted number on north-facing wall above shaft" +113,"4/S/T +",,,,"smkridge/113.htm",,"Sonnenstrahlhöhle",,,"2b","
","Entrance is huge. A sizeable dry valley develops into a canyon which is full of snow. The canyon ends downstream in a solid wall, where the rigging point for the entrance pitch starts by the aforementioned tree. A short drop leads to a ledge where a stretch to the left (facing the rock) reaches a rebelay in a fine position on the impending wall. From here, drop 21m onto a large snow slope, then 10m further to the flat snow floor of a large chamber lit from above by the shaft.
The way on is up a climb of 3m to a horizontal passage. There is an area of hading rifts, not fully explored. The first hole descends a ramp over treacherous ice and rubble for 30m to the head of a pitch, Ibbeth Perilous Pot. A second parallel ramp connects to the same point. Both these ramps suffer from loose rock and are best tackled with a handline. The main pitch drops for 20m in a series of steps, best rigged. A final 13m drop then lands on a rock/ice blockage Marathon Ledge, which at one time contained the original explorer's helmet and lights, dropped from the head of the pitch. A hammered route past the blockage leads to two short drops, then a 6m pitch into the Opera House (see below).
A descent of the second major hole from the entrance is the normal route and leads to a ramp down, traverse across and the head of Point Five Gully. The gully is decorated with ice formations early in the season, as are all the useful hand- and footholds on the following ramp, so a rope is recommended to descend Fox's Glacier. At the foot, about 60m below the entrance chamber, is a low bouldery chamber, and a low arch leads to a larger chamber, Barnsley Methodist Chapel, which is 20m high and 30m long.
The Chapel is floored with large boulders at one end, but an obvious low sandy passage to the left leads to the head of a 14m dry rift pitch with a bouldery takeoff. The pitch is free-hanging after the first two metres, to a gravel-floored chamber opening off the rift. Water entering high on the right takes a floor trench 10m deep which may be traversed above to gain the Balcony of the Opera House, an impressive 20m diameter, roughly circular chamber. A 12.5m pitch (awkward takeoff as rigged in 1980) gains the bouldery, sloping floor. A scramble down boulders and a further 7m pitch over a very large boulder leads into a rift, where an awkward 10m pitch with natural belays and joke bolts leads to a flat mud floor at a larger section at the head of a pitch. At this point the draught changes direction, the cave becomes clean, and a stream is met falling from an inaccessible (and out of sight) passage, apparently at the same level as the pitch head.
Down the pitch, a rebelay (which is a very long stretch to rig unless you're very tall) avoids the worst of the water on Purple Pit. Quite possibly this could be rigged as a deviation (we didn't do these in 1980). There is a long section to a large ledge, from where the pitch leaves the fault it has been following and heads down a series of short steps with rebelays a few metres apart. At the bottom of this section, 60m below the start, a further fault is met at right angles, with twin holes in the floor. The first one is wet and nasty, while the second is tolerable. Both unite and go off to the left in a diminutive streamway. To the right above the holes is the entry point from Bananehöhle(152), explored in 1985.
Simon Kellet at the top of the short dry pitch below Purple Pit
The diminutive streamway ends shortly in a tight sump, but before this, a climb up leads unobviously to a traverse and then a crawl trending back over the entry point, Müsli Crawl. A number of acute bends are disorientating, then a short drop leads to a final rift and a pitch head. This is a thrutch to start, then drops 10m to where the water reenters. A series of drops, Sprucy Wind, follows, and some of the bolts (1980 vintage, greased in 1982) are easily missed, which makes the pitches wetter. There is a branch shaft at one point which is unexplored, but appears to reunite somewhat lower down. The pitches of 8, 26, 12, 10, 10, 20, 5 and 9m drop to a final rift chamber where an inlet from up on the left doubles the size of the stream on a rocky floor. This inlet responds to floods about an hour faster than the main water. The combined waters fall down a 6m drop and sink in a gravel-choked pool.
Climbing up opposite the inlet, a dry rift is a little tight but pops out into a series of dry passages, apparently quite unrelated to the rift pitches. This area, The Crematorium, is a good place to wait when the pitches flood. There is a large horizontal passage ending in a chamber with various bedding crawl extensions. Avens in the roof are hard to reach (one bolt used for aid) and don't seem to go anywhere. A narrow rift in the floor contains the stream, and a climb down can be made at one point where it is just wide enough. Thrutching forward in a traverse cum crawl a short way above the water, a couple more diminutive drops reach a place where to continue would be just plain stupid, since it is small and wet. The cave was rigged in 1982 just to go and push the end. It didn't go.
There is potential for further extension by traversing over down-ramps in the entrance area, and by gaining access to the source of the water (and route of the draught) at the top of Purple Pit. Apparently the Point Five Gully and Fox's Glacier Ramp was traversed over in 1987, and another ramp descended, but this seems to have rejoined the main route somewhere near Barnsley Methodist Chapel. This route was not surveyed.",,,,,,"? grade 3","caves/113/113.svx","521m","330m approx (apparently, but surveyed only to 206m)","91m",,,,,,"p113","pitch head bolt on wall above yawning chasm near ""113"" paint mark. NB this cannot be reached without SRTing off the bunde and is very exposed (start of underground survey)",,"Surface survey",,,81333,36253,"1640m",,,,"Follow Stögerweg (path 201) well past turn off for Stellerweghöhle. This involves a steep descent, then a long horizontal stretch, crossing the dry valley containing Kat. 87a. After quite a way, there is an orange paint flash on the left, more easily seen when coming the other way. This is just a few metres before you turn left and start hacking up the hillside. Further orange paint marks the route, which goes up a dry valley and over the entrance 109. Eventually, a scrub-free area is reached, go right and then scramble up rock towards a tree. Don´t rush beyond the tree or you'll fall a long way.",,"
","Orange painted number on north-facing wall above shaft" 114,"0 + ?",,,,"wilden/114.htm",,"Verlorenschacht 114",,,5,"CUCC 1980",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"I have just (May 1990) found an old note book which says this was explored by John, Tony and Andy C, but gives no detail on where or what. There is a strong suspicion that the cave was one of the ""promising leads"" found on their trip to Wildenseealm. However, the only published account refers the reader to the 1980 log book. This latter is, unfortunately, missing.
This does not appear to be in the Austrians' Kataster ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"This cave has not been documented, but is probably somewhere near 115 or 41. ",,,, 115,"6/t/S/W x",,"40m",,"smkridge/115.htm",,"Schnellzughöhle",,,"2a","CUCC 1980-1985","This is the main entrance through which the majority of the Stellerweghöhle system was explored. See the separate full guidebook description for details, just an overview is given here.
The entrance leads to a non-obvious way on to the head of the short Bell Pitch, from where very awkward going leads out to a bigger passage to reach The Ramp a series of off-vertical pitches. The damper but technically easier Inlet Pitches drop to a Big Chamber, from where Pete's Purgatory starts, and leads in 800m of tortuous going to The Confluence and the larger streamway leading to the deepest point.
Better is the Purgatory Bypass which starts as dry fossil tubes, with a choice of routes to reach Junction Chamber where the Big Rift of Stellerweghöhle enters. Opposite, the huge fossil tube of Dartford Tunnel makes for easy progress to the Confluence, about halfway down the system. The continuing main streamway is interrupted by a bypassable sump and numerous pitches before a low airspace duck at the end of an unpromising canal leads to the spectacular Orgasm Chasm. Careful rigging avoids the water in this 140m shaft, ending in muddy passage and another short drop to a deep and terminal sump. ",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 5","smk-system.svx",,"-740m, +231m",,,,"The Austrian Kataster has adopted a very perverse way of numbering things. Their numbers are as follows:
",,,"p115","P115 on left in Schnellzug entrance.","p115x","Nils",,"gps00.115",81041,35841,"1488m",,,,"Follow Stögerweg beyond Windloch to a steep descent. Just below this, by a large tree on the right of the path (permanent survey station P3), descend steeply to the right on a barely discernible trod.
This involves at least one freeclimb which is awkward with lots of kit. Make lots of noise if you are first, especially on the first trip, since snakes seem to like it here. Eventually a large horizontal railway-tunnel-like entrance appears. If you fall off a cliff, you've gone a little too far downhill.",,,"number painted on right (east-facing) wall of entrance" 116,"2/t/S/E +",,,,"noinfo/smkridge/116.htm",,"Kleine Eishöhle",,,"2b","Germans",,,,,,"In dataset","M Schweicer & F Vischer, July 1982, PLAN (20k) and ELEVATION (12k)","caves/116/116.svx","286m","38m",,,,"This cave was previously marked as having an altitude of 1820m",,,"p116",,,"Nils",,,81449,35689,"1662m",,,"Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. ",,,, @@ -156,44 +156,44 @@ 128,"1/S =",,,,"noinfo/smkridge/128.htm",,"Enttauschungsschacht",,,"2b","Germans",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. ",,,, 129,"2/T =",,,,"noinfo/smkridge/129.htm",,"Große Firnhöhle",,,"2b","Germans",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. ",,,, 130,"2/S +",,,,"noinfo/smkridge/130.htm",,"Cäcilien-Schacht",,,"2b","Germans","Halfway down, a hading rift is intersected, which can be followed a short way SW, climbing up slightly. This appears to be dipping steeply SE, but becomes too narrow. ",,,,,,"K Gebhard, F Vischer, 1982 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1660m",,,"Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel.",," A fairly straight shaft of c 80m on a joint aligned on 230°.",, -131,"2/E/S x",,,,"noinfo/remote/131.htm",,"Thomas-Eishöhle",,,6,,,,,,,,,"caves/131/131.svx",,,,,,,,,,,,"Laut Information Robert Seebacher, E-Mail 11/00 an Thilo",,,83700,37700,"1721m",,,"SE face of Kleines Augsteck. ",,,, +131,"2/E/S x",,,,"noinfo/remote/131.htm",,"Thomas-Eishöhle",,,6,,,,,,,,,"caves/131/131.svx","1017m","193m","234m",,,,,,,,,"Laut Information Robert Seebacher, E-Mail 11/00 an Thilo",,,83700,37700,"1721m",,,"SE face of Kleines Augsteck. ",,,, 132,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/remote/132.htm",,"Tropfsteinhöhle am Augsteck",,,6,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1600m",,,"SE face of Kleines Augsteck.. ",,,, 133,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/remote/133.htm",,"Unterstandhöhle",,,6,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1604m",,,"SE face of Kleines Augsteck. ",,,, 134,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/wilden/134.htm",,"Höhlenruine bei der Wasserstelle",,,5,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,," 1531m ",,,"West of Wildenseealm. The name would suggest that it is next to the water tank which supplies drinking water to the various buildings of Wildenseealm, and which is shown on the map, at about the right altitude.",,,, -135,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/135.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 135",,,"2b","
","Shaft choked at -20m ",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/135/135.svx",,,,,,,,"p135",,,,"Surface survey",,,82219,36399,"1783m",,," East of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. ","Approach as for 136, then a further 60m approx ENE down the slope. ",,,"Spit awaiting tag (1999). Red Paint ""CUCC 135"" (1983). " +135,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/135.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 135",,,"2b","
","Shaft choked at -20m ",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/135/135.svx","21m","20m","1m",,,,,"p135",,,,"Surface survey",,,82219,36399,"1783m",,," East of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. ","Approach as for 136, then a further 60m approx ENE down the slope. ",,,"Spit awaiting tag (1999). Red Paint ""CUCC 135"" (1983). " 136,"2/S +","a b c d",,"yes","smkridge/161/136.htm",,"Steinschlagschacht",,,"2a","CUCC 1983, 1984, 1997, 1999","1983 description is : shaft -194m. The bottom was reached in 1984, at depths variously estimated -240m, -260m and -285m, when the rift became too narrow. 1983 survey (which was never drawn up) only goes to -194m.
1997 rigging
The rope (60m used in 1997, though this is not generous) for the first pitch is belayed to the 3m boulder. A short drop from the surface (c.3m) leads to the top of a steeply inclined boulder slope which is also very loose. The head of the main entrance pitch hang used to be immediately at the foot of this slope, however it has now been rigged from the right hand wall, out of the immediate line-of-fire from the boulder slope. A traverse line of around 10m at 30° is rigged on the right hand wall to reach the pitch head. The main hang is around 35m almost free-hanging, but for a minor deviation about 8m below the pitch head.
From the foot of the entrance pitch, a fairly narrow slot with a short climb down (c 1m) connects to a large boulder-strewn chamber. This chamber is entered from the top left corner (standing looking down the slope) and the main way on is around 10m down the slope, under a very large boulder towards the right hand wall. At the foot of the chamber are two large holes of around 5m depth, one in each corner. One of these holes has a spit above it, suggesting it was descended in 1983/4, however no descent was made of either hole in 1997. It is speculated that these may connect to the second pitch at a lower point than that used as the pitch head in 1997.
Second Pitch
Returning to the main route down, the head of the second pitch is a belay point on the right hand wall of the chamber immediately above a very large perched boulder at ""floor"" level. A 130m rope was initially used here, though some spare was later cut off. Beware of apparently sound footholds here as they have a habit of falling off down the next 70m or so of the pitch series! A rebelay is required just below the take-off point on the boulder to avoid rubbing the edge of the block on the way up. This rebelay is particularly awkward on the way up since the rope tends to pull into the crack between wall and boulder. The shaft continues down more or less vertically for a further 3 rebelays (50m) until the first substantial ledge is reached. (A deviation is required below the 3rd rebelay from the pitch head to avoid an otherwise serious rub just below the rebelay bolt).
From this ledge, a further pitch descends, rigged from two bolts on the left hand wall with an immediate deviation off the right hand wall. Traversing ahead over the pitch, it appears that there is a parallel shaft visible through an eyehole in the left hand wall. It is believed that this is the shaft described as being accessed by a ""desperate step across"" which was descended in 1984 and found to reconnect to the wet route lower down.
Descending from the ledge, a further substantial ledge is reached after c8m. On the way up it is advisable to cower under the overhanging wall of this ledge to avoid exposing yourself to rocks dislodged by people on the pitch above - the pitch head is especially loose.
From the ledge an awkward take-off to an almost immediate rebelay leads to a connection with a wet shaft - the main source of water below this point. The hang is fortunately almost dry, aided by a very wide rebelay about 12m below the ledge. A further 15m hang reaches another large ledge where water continues through a large slot in the floor at the foot of the pitch. It is at this point that the two routes diverge into Wet Dreams (the way explored in 1983/4) and the Eyehole Route.
The Eyehole Route is to-date the main route in 136, leading eventually to the 1997 connection with the Forbidden Land in 161, and the 2½km Chile series, found in 1999.
The eyehole is reached by means of a traverse over the slot in the floor (through which the water disappears) and is the obvious large hole on the right. A short horizontal rift, with a steeply-inclined hole in the floor, connects to the head of the fourth pitch series. This pitch series is about 30m of dry shaft, broken by three ledges and landing on a much larger ledge with a couple of large boulders jammed in the exit rift. A 54m rope was sufficient in 1997. From the foot of the fourth pitch, the head of the fifth is only a few metres away over the jammed boulders.
The head of the fifth pitch does an extremely good job of hiding the enormous cavern into which it breaks some 10m below. Do not be mistaken into believing that the floor, as it appears, is only 5m below your feet, nor that your light will be even remotely adequate for ensuring maximum exposure on the multiple hanging rebelays below. The pitch starts with a large Y-hang across the rift at the pitch head.
An airy traverse around the corner to the left (rigged rope) leads eventually to the Footlights Traverse. (The eyehole immediately opposite the pitch head connects with the climb around to the left).
Below the Y-hang is a large, mud-covered outcrop of rock, over which you must traverse before proceeding further to a very wide deviation, hated by those with short legs, just below the muddy ""floor"". A further 5m descent leads to a smallish ledge with another rock outcrop to cross to a hanging rebelay on the left-hand wall. This point is around 60m above the floor of the chamber and is where the Gods' Traverse begins. A 35m rope was sufficient to reach this point in 1997.
Continuing straight down from the rebelay, first a parallel shaft is reached and the wall of the chamber becomes convex, requiring another hanging rebelay 21m below the last. A further 24m hang drops to a boulder floor at the top of a huge chamber - The Theatre. The landing point for the main route into the Theatre is at the top of the steeply inclined floor.
Standing at this point, looking down the slope of the floor, an opening at the bottom of the chamber of the left-hand wall leads to the Orchestral Pit. From the foot of the chamber up a short (c 8m) climb over mud and boulders and then up another (c 8m) climb on steep rock, leads to a small opening. (The rope has been left permanently rigged on this climb). On the right hand wall at the foot of the chamber is a boulder choke through which it is possible to climb down around 10m. No recommendable leads were found here. Immediately behind the landing point and around 30m higher up the wall is the connection to the Forbidden Land (161) which must be reached via the God's Traverse.
Proceeding up the 16m climb from the floor of the Theatre, a narrow opening leads to a precarious climb down the other side (c.5m) over the top of a large wedged boulder in a rift chamber, Exit Stage Left. There is an aven in the roof of this chamber, which can be descended as a pitch (the 30m continuation of Plughole Pitch) from the end of the Footlights Traverse. A second aven is reached by a short (c 3m) climb up opposite the entry climb. A small window (too small for human access) in the left hand wall of the chamber connects to the undescended pitch accessible from the rock bridge 18m down Plughole pitch, 26m above. Rocks can also be thrown in through a small gap in the boulder floor. This pitch continues below this level.
In the Orchestral Pit, a number of wet shafts connect from the ceiling in addition to a number of dry avens. The dry avens nearest to the Forbidden Land have been connected to an eyehole on the God's Traverse around 15m above the connection to Elin Algor. The floor of the Orchestral Pit has a number of pools and also a considerable amount of brown powdery mud, similar to that found in the horizontal areas of Kaninchenhöhle such as Mississippi Mud Pie, Triassic Park etc. , of which the majority of 136 is devoid. No leads were found in the Orchestral Pit.
The earlier (and lower) of two impressive traverse routes off the fifth pitch, The Gods' Traverse heads NE towards Kaninchenhöhle, to which it eventually connects.
From the hanging rebelay 10m below the head of the 5th pitch (on Eyehole Route), a short (4m) descent with a swing leads to a small muddy sloping ledge, with precipitous drop. A bolt in the middle of the traverse ""protects"" a caver who teeters around the ledge and up a short (c.2m) climb over a corner bulge onto the main face of the traverse. This roughly horizontal section is about 12m in length across a slab of limestone inclined at 70 - 80 °. Should your lighting equipment allow, you will be able to admire the enormous vertical rock-face which forms the opposite wall of the Theatre and the precipitous drop to the floor 40+ metres below. Hand holds (barring the rope) are non-existent on the second half of the traverse and most foot ledges were of the disposable type (single use only), now long gone. At the far end of the traverse a hanging rebelay just over the edge of the wall leads, with a wide swing, to a large eyehole on the opposite wall. A short (15m) pitch against the wall on the outside of the hole leads to a large muddy sloping ledge at the back of which is a hole into narrow traversy passage. This is the final impressive overlook reached in Elin Algor from the Forbidden Land in Kaninchenhöhle in 1996. The whole of the pitch - traverse - pitch to this point was left rigged.
Back through the eyehole, a couple of pitches lead eventually to the Orchestral Pit.
The later traverse route off the fifth pitch (starting at the pitch head, some 10m higher than the Gods'). This heads generally SW, and is in two sections, split by a 16m pitch. The lower section is strictly the Footlights traverse, but the name has been applied to the whole route, causing some confusion.
A short, unobvious (roped) traverse, Service Duct, starts from the left hand side of the Y hang at the head of the fifth pitch. It goes left round the corner into a window, then climbs up 3m above a deep hole to a lip into a chamber with a large hole in the steeply sloping floor that drops down near the start of Traverse of the Gods. Traversing to the right of this chamber, past an eyehole with a view back to the Y hang, a pitch (Ventilation Shaft p.16, 1 bolt rebelay, -5m) descends to the Box, a platform with a fine view to the left across the Theatre to the Gods' Traverse. Looking out and to the right from the Box is the start of Footlights Traverse.
This airy, diagonal, section around and down the south-western corner of the Theatre, 30m off the floor was left rigged after the 1997 expedition, but in 1999 was deemed easy enough to rig afresh on each expedition, so the rope was taken off. Two bolt rebelays reach a Y hang, and descending from this a window can be reached by an entertaining pendulum to reach a rift in the wall. This window enters a choss-filled passage whose boulder floor is apparently suspended above a void (traverse line recommended). An old phreatic level was hypothesised to exist at a similar height to the connection with Elin Algor, and this seems to correspond roughly to that level, although at this point the morphology is a tall rift, passable at various levels, with many windows, climbs and pitches, difficult to explore exhaustively.
The passage leads, after a 3m climb up and a 2m climb down, to a narrow slot opening out into the spacious Plughole pitch below, which drops 18m to a rock bridge.
At the rock bridge the single shaft splits into three. An inlet enters from an aven and goes down an undescended clean-washed shaft [99-xx A]. This descends about 8m to a ledge where a slot drops at least 30m, past the choked floor at the bottom of the Footlights pitch (determined by rocks thrown in from two points below). This apparently does not connect (at least directly) with the Orchestral Pit - rocks were not audible from there. The second of the shafts is more like a 3m blind pit, of little interest.
The third, and biggest, of the dry shafts is a further drop of 30 m (bolt, tape deviation at -10m) and lands on the floor of Exit Stage Left (originally reached by the 16m climb up from the Theatre).
Across the rock bridge, over a few boulders and through a smallish slot, is a short 5m pitch. This is the way on to Chile, 1999's major find.
Wet Dreams is the original route, explored first in 1983/4, but named in 1997 in memory of the anticipated connection with 161 by this route. In fact no such connection has yet been found, but the shaft series has not yet been bottomed and so it's still a possibility.
Continuing from the foot of the third pitch and crossing the traverse to the point where the Eyehole Route diverges, a dry hang is possible to the bottom of the rift down which the water disappears. At the foot of this 15m pitch is a narrow rift, leading quickly to a further 12m pitch followed by another narrow rift to another pitch.
Around the head of this pitch, Phreatic Fantasy - so called because of the anticipated large sloping ramps expected from a previous cave description - are a number of small, clean and fairly uninteresting roof tubes, probably phreatic in origin. The shaft at this point becomes roughly vertical and descends in a number of sections a further surveyed 35m, becoming increasingly wet towards the bottom. From the surveyed limit a further pitch of around 30m (estimated) can be seen descending immediately below.
1983 rigging
The split between Eyehole and Wet Dreams is about three quarters of the way down what the 1983 description had as a broken shaft of c 100m. This was in sections of 14m vertical, 24m sloping, 13m vertical to a ledge. Here a desperate step across (worse on exit) attained a parallel shaft which apparently connected back lower down. The main way dropped 9m sloping, 29m vertical, to a 9m slope and a final 3m vertical to what is assumed to have been the Phreatic Fantasy level - though the pitch lengths (mainly deduced from survey data) don't correspond well with the 1997 experience and this may be below the next pitch. 1983 figures put the next pitch as 17m sloping, then 15m vertical to a bolt at -194m, which may be a similar point to that reached on this route in 1997, or not quite as deep.
1984 series
A further drop is 5m to ""a very bad bolt"" and either 15m total, or a further 15m from the bolt, to a spray lashed ledge with only one small alcove in which to cower and brew up. A rift in the floor leads 6m to a rebelay and a final 20-25m pitch into a chamber with two ways off. One was very tight to an aven and small drop which stones indicate ends blind in mud floor after c10m. The main way was a squeeze past a very large boulder, down a 10m pitch to a stream which flows into the classic too-narrow draughting rift. Logbook describes this as -260m, which fits with the non-existence of a 30m ""virtual"" pitch which is believed to be the result of an ambiguity elsewhere in the 1984 log book.",,,,,"In dataset","
","smk-system.svx",,"(to deepest point in 161) 534m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"135m on bearing of 66° from Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel summit or 123m East and 55m north of the summit. 136b is 22m N of 136a, 136c is 28m N of 136a, 136d is 35m NNE of 136a. All entrances on same shelf. 136b & are holes in shelf, 136d is large (15x10m) funnel-shaped hole just over 1m ridge (so not obvious from normal route).","Relocated in 1996. From main summit, drop down east to a bare limestone shelf. Follow this ~NE for some way (c 200m) until a way down east again reaches a small group of holes/shafts/rifts (CUCC 1997-07, 209, 136c, 136b). Cross this area south, initially keeping close below a small cliff to your right. After passing 136b, 136a is a little off to the left (east) of the cliff at the south end of the karren shelf. (See area map in NotKH survey book p88-89). The entrance is in a depression and is marked by, and under, a large (3m cubicish) boulder with a faint (in 1996) '136' painted on the S side, and a Tag.
From Top Camp, proceed via the 161 approach up to the point (immediately past 1623/147) where a short climb down through the bunde drops onto a large, wide, grassy area perhaps 200m before reaching Vd1 and 30m higher. Cross the grassy patch, contouring around the hill and then take the 3rd steep grassy bank up to the right, through some bunde (this is not the most obvious slope). Climb up to the limestone shelf above and then continue contouring around the hill at roughly the same level for a further 300m to the entrance.",,"
", ,,"a",,"entrance","smkridge/161/136a.htm",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p136",,,,"Nils","gps96bestfit.136","gps00.136 gps00.136_2",82220,36364,"1796m","135m on bearing of 66° from Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel summit or 123m East and 55m north of the summit.",,,,,, ,,"b","CUCC96-WK10","entrance","smkridge/161/136b.htm",,,,,,"
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p136b","spit",,"Surface survey",,,82237,36367,"1789m","VSK: 233°, Hollweiser: 145° (from a point between the WK7-WK10 entrances)",,"136b is 22m N of 136a",,"Slot entrance, leads 10m down spacious boulder slope to p5. Warm draught.",,"Spit" ,,"c","CUCC96-WK9","entrance","smkridge/161/136c.htm",,,,,,"
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p136c","spit",,"Surface survey",,,82252,36371,"1790m","VSK: 233°, Hollweiser: 145° (from a point between the WK7-WK10 entrances)",,"136c is 28m N of 136a",,"136c is slot next to Schistock-Absturzschacht, and clearly connects to 136d.",,"Spit" ,,"d","CUCC96-WK9","last entrance","smkridge/161/136d.htm",,,,,,"
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p136d",,,,"Surface survey",,,82252,36376,"1792m","VSK: 233°, Hollweiser: 145° (from a point between the WK7-WK10 entrances)",,"136d is 35m NNE of 136a.",,"136d is 15x10m funnel-shaped shaft over a 1m ridge from 209 - Schistock-Absturzschacht, so not quite as obvious.",,"Tag ""CUCC 97-08"" between 136d and 209 (Schistock-Absturzschacht)" 137,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/137.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 137",,,"2b","CUCC 1983","Shaft",,,,,,,,,"47m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"c 1790m",,,"East of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel",,,, -138,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/138.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 138",,,"2b","
","Rapidly turns vertical and when explored, choked with snow at -40m.",,,,,"In dataset","Sketch in not-KH survey book 1996, page 14. Area map NoKH book p88.","caves/138/138.svx",,,,,,,,"p138",,,,"Surface survey",,,82206,36323,"1795m",,,"East flank of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. One shelf up from 136. 50m WSW of 136a.","Follow route to 136. From large cubic boulder at 136a entrance climb 4m step to west. Go 25m SW along 'gully' between bunde, then turn R into gap. Large, T-shaped entrance now visible in cliff 15m ahead.",,,"Number in red on the right wall of the vertical of the ""T"" saying ""138 CUCC 1983"". Spit with metal tag ""CUCC 138"" placed 1997. " -139,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/139.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 139",,,"2b","
","Shaft. Two pitches to -30m, then too narrow.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/139/139.svx",,,,,,,,"p139",,,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.139",82312,362328,"1827m","HSK 022°, Gries Kgl. 356°, Hollweiser 147°",,"Vord SMK, just below (~70m on bearing 070°) secondary Northern summit. 90m NW of 136d, approx 200m N of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel summit.
GPS fix GK 5411207 to 5282893, Alt. 1877 ± 91m","From VSMK summit: go down 50m on E side to a large shelf, walk along ~NE 200m to where shelf peters out. Up slope on left is 139.
From VD1 to 136 route: As you come over crest out of grassy gully there is a choss bowl/snow ahead (you cross this to get to the 136 shelf. Instead turn right uphill, up small steps on open limestone. 139 is a large square cleft in a limestone scarp after about 60m.",,,"Tag ""CUCC 139"" (1997). Red Paint ""139 CUCC 1983"" (1983)." +138,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/138.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 138",,,"2b","
","Rapidly turns vertical and when explored, choked with snow at -40m.",,,,,"In dataset","Sketch in not-KH survey book 1996, page 14. Area map NoKH book p88.","caves/138/138.svx","46m","42m","6m",,,,,"p138",,,,"Surface survey",,,82206,36323,"1795m",,,"East flank of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. One shelf up from 136. 50m WSW of 136a.","Follow route to 136. From large cubic boulder at 136a entrance climb 4m step to west. Go 25m SW along 'gully' between bunde, then turn R into gap. Large, T-shaped entrance now visible in cliff 15m ahead.",,,"Number in red on the right wall of the vertical of the ""T"" saying ""138 CUCC 1983"". Spit with metal tag ""CUCC 138"" placed 1997. " +139,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/139.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 139",,,"2b","
","Shaft. Two pitches to -30m, then too narrow.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/139/139.svx","21m","20m","0.6m",,,,,"p139",,,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.139",82312,362328,"1827m","HSK 022°, Gries Kgl. 356°, Hollweiser 147°",,"Vord SMK, just below (~70m on bearing 070°) secondary Northern summit. 90m NW of 136d, approx 200m N of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel summit.
GPS fix GK 5411207 to 5282893, Alt. 1877 ± 91m","From VSMK summit: go down 50m on E side to a large shelf, walk along ~NE 200m to where shelf peters out. Up slope on left is 139.
From VD1 to 136 route: As you come over crest out of grassy gully there is a choss bowl/snow ahead (you cross this to get to the 136 shelf. Instead turn right uphill, up small steps on open limestone. 139 is a large square cleft in a limestone scarp after about 60m.",,,"Tag ""CUCC 139"" (1997). Red Paint ""139 CUCC 1983"" (1983)." 140,"2/S +",,,,"smkridge/140.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 140",,,"2b","CUCC 1983","Shaft entrance is 9m by 6m, with first pitch 15m to boulders. A 6m pitch is immediately followed by a 10m drop to a sloping boulder floor. From the end of this, a 5.5m drop reaches a longer boulder slope, which leads into a canyon at 90°. Down this is a longer pitch split into 10 and 10.5m sections by a small ledge, landing on a very large boulder. Over the boulder are two ways on.
Through a squeeze is a shaft 10m deep to floor with continuing hole and a further shaft to one side, neither of which were descended, despite a draught coming out through the squeeze.
The way followed is a 5m pitch from the big boulder, to a boulder false floor. At the end of this, the roof rises into a high aven and an 11m pitch drops to a flat boulder floor next to another huge block. A hole down gives a 7m drop next to stacked rocks and a way on across boulders leads to a final 8m pitch.
Forward over boulders passes under another high aven from which water falls. A short climb down leads to where this water disappears into a scrofulous slot, at a depth of 95m.
The cave is in a key position, almost directly above the Breeze Block area of Chile, in Kaninchenhöhle. However, these passages lie between 250 and 300m below the 140 entrance, so this is probably not a potential easy way in.",,,,,,"? grade 3. In 1983 logbook",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps98.140","gps00.140",,,"1796m",,,"South of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel - 126m on 194° from summit.
47° 40' 41"" N 13° 48' 58"" E","From Top Camp, climb the ""high"" route towards 161. Just past the highest point, join a traverse round the Schwarzmooskogel heading south and eventually more west. If you pick the right level, this passes the large open shaft of 140. Alternatively, the cave may be approached from the summit (point 1843) though various cliffs make this approach difficult.",,, 141,"1/S =",,,,"smkridge/141.htm",,"Schwa Höhle 141",,,"2b","CUCC 1982, 1983",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p141",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"On the hillside above Windloch (Kat.32).",,"A large non-draughting entrance, not pushed, appears to contain an 80m pitch in a narrow rift. Described in a later journal as -30m.",,"painted number ""131"" in red" 142,"6/T/S x",,"40n",,"smkridge/142.htm",,"Schwa Höhle 142",,,"2a","
","Yet another entrance to Stellerweghöhle, with two points of connection, and also the first point of connection with Schwabenschacht, a similar cave explored by Arbeitsgemeinschaft Höhle und Karst Grabenstetten e.V.. 142 contains a very large chamber, imaginatively named The Big Chamber reached by a 34m pitch from a point adjacent to the connection. A full description of 142 (but not 78) is one of the components of the Stellerweghöhle guidebook, just an overview is given here.
Note: With apparent perversity, the Austrians have numbered this as 115e in their Kataster. This is likely to give rise to immense confusion in the long term as more caves are connected, and numbers on entrances cannot readily be altered (owing to the obscurity of their location and inaccessibility from within the system).
After an initial small tube, the cave opens into passages very similar to those in Schwabenschacht and the upper levels of Stellerweghöhle. Descent of some of the steep ramps to the right of the main way on may provide further connections into the main cave (and one may have already done so). However, staying high leads through tubes to an inobvious junction. Left is the connection to 78, whilst right leads immediately to the head of a pitch into the Big Chamber - a popular name in the system. A route from this chamber leads to the foot of an 18m pitch in the entrance series of Stellerweghöhle, and a more obscure route through boulders from the head of the Big Chamber pitch leads to the same place.",,,,,"In dataset","CUCC plan from surveys 1982-1985, here in several sections:
","smk-system.svx",,,,,,"this entrance to the main system really should have a name.",,,"p142",,,"Nils",,,81218.2,35770.4,"1615.1m",,,,"Hack up the hillside behind Windloch (Kat.32).",,,"The entrance was prominently numbered '132' in red but this was finally changed in 1996 after the connection to Schwabenschacht (1623-78)" -143,"3/S +",,,,"smkridge/143.htm",,"Weiße Warze Schacht I",,,"2a","CUCC 1983, 1984 ","The first pitch starts after a short climb down boulders. From here light may be seen entering from another entrance 143b. The pitch of 20m lands on a small ledge and a short freeclimb leads to a traverse over wedged blocks. The next pitch of 10m is rigged over the edge of the last of these and brings one to a balcony at the start of a 23m shaft. Another clean, almost circular shaft (19m) follows, to a climb of 6m down wedged boulders. The passage now narrows to a small vadose canyon with a stream in it, but soon turns vertical at an 8m pitch, followed quickly by one of 18m. At the foot of this final shaft, the stream flows down a rift, approximately 10m deep, but too narrow to follow. Much hammering here achieved little progress, but could be heard clearly in passages leading from above the Big Pitch in Stellerweghöhle.",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 5","caves/143/143.svx",,"124m",,,,"The above name is provisional, since its not really my prerogative to name it, but it should have a name really.",,,"p143",,"p143x","Nils",,,,,,,,"The Nipple, (aka ""Weiße Warze"")",,"The square shaped entrance lies just below (22m vertically at 34m on 158°) the nipple at the end of the ridge running SSW from Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel.",, +143,"3/S +",,,,"smkridge/143.htm",,"Weiße Warze Schacht I",,,"2a","CUCC 1983, 1984 ","The first pitch starts after a short climb down boulders. From here light may be seen entering from another entrance 143b. The pitch of 20m lands on a small ledge and a short freeclimb leads to a traverse over wedged blocks. The next pitch of 10m is rigged over the edge of the last of these and brings one to a balcony at the start of a 23m shaft. Another clean, almost circular shaft (19m) follows, to a climb of 6m down wedged boulders. The passage now narrows to a small vadose canyon with a stream in it, but soon turns vertical at an 8m pitch, followed quickly by one of 18m. At the foot of this final shaft, the stream flows down a rift, approximately 10m deep, but too narrow to follow. Much hammering here achieved little progress, but could be heard clearly in passages leading from above the Big Pitch in Stellerweghöhle.",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 5","caves/143/143.svx","182m","124m","36m",,,"The above name is provisional, since its not really my prerogative to name it, but it should have a name really.",,,"p143",,"p143x","Nils",,,,,,,,"The Nipple, (aka ""Weiße Warze"")",,"The square shaped entrance lies just below (22m vertically at 34m on 158°) the nipple at the end of the ridge running SSW from Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel.",, 144,"6/S/T x",,,,"smkridge/144.htm",,"Tony's Second Höhle",,,"2a","CUCC 1983, 1985 ","This is the highest entrance to Stellerweghöhle found by CUCC, and a full description is included in the Stellerweghöhle guidebook description, just an overview is given here.
A predominantly vertical entrance series leads to a level of extensive fossil phreatic development, not fully explored. The main passage, The Yellow Brick Road, leads to the lip of a 25m pitch into a large muddy chamber. From the bottom, a steeply dipping tube is followed down until a canyon is reached from a boulder chamber. Most ways close down quickly from here.
Across the pitch from Yellow Brick Road is a large continuing passage, gained by an obscure and somewhat exposed route in boulders. It soon leads to a bolted climb, but a ramp down below drops to another large passage. Right here, the draught is followed through winding passage until it emerges 20m up in a chamber. Backtracking leads to a squeeze and muddy crawls to the bottom, from where a canyon develops, finally dropping into Stellerweghöhle below the Big Pitch via a 10m chimney.
There are a significant number of unpushed leads in the cave, but all are expected to connect back to already known passage. One may provide a connection to the northernmost reaches of Schwabenschacht (1623/78).",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 5","smk-system.svx",,,,,,"This name is the 1983 provisional name, which was intended to be scrapped. Weiße Warze Höhle II might be better, but this cave really should have a proper name - after all, it was 284m deep before the connection to the main system! It appears in Austrian lists just as Schwarzmooskogelschacht. ARGE call it ""Tony's Second Höhle"" , so we're probably stuck with the name now.",,,"p144",,"p144x","Nils",,,,,,,,"The Nipple, (aka ""Weiße Warze"")",,,, -145,"4/t/S +","a b c",,"yes","plateau/145.htm",,"Wolfhöhle",,,"1c","CUCC 1983-4. There is now a history file indexing into the log book write-ups.","Entrance is 2m high and 1m wide and walking passage leads for 120m of level going to first pitch, with a few side passages (one to higher entrance). Pitch is 19m into Wolf Chamber where the skeleton proved not to be of a wolf but of a Brown Bear, Ursus arctos. A pit in the floor, the Bear Pit is blind, and the continuation of the entrance pitch emits no draught and is believed to choke, but was never seriously investigated. A loose 3m climb at the far end of the chamber leads up into a draughting tube. This leads to an awkward 15m slimy tube descent, Bog Seat Climb, best laddered. A short grovel enlarges to a sandy stooping passage which pops out over the edge of a large black hole. Off to the left at this point a crawl intersects a larger passage leading to another set of smaller shafts only partially descended. It is also possible to reach the opposite side of the big pitch by this route.
The 83m Big Leap is rigged in three sections of 22, 25 and 36m via two freehanging rebelays and a deviation near the bottom, in a large rift with black peaty mud on the walls in the upper section. The rift narrows and bottoms out in a small streamway blocked here and there by jammed boulders which no longer (since 1984) constitute a squeeze. Short traverses and pitches of 15m and 6m are straightforward until a second large shaft is reached. The water cannot be avoided on the 59m Tiddley Pom pitch, which can become a serious proposition in wet weather. The first section is 11m, to the level where a heavy drip (rapidly becoming a torrent in thunderstorms) enters. The rebelay bolt is tucked away to the left, a long reach round the corner. Further sections of 17 and 24m in a circular shaft of about 6m diameter reach a big wet ledge. The final section of 7m reaches a big dry stance on jammed boulders, Cold Toes Ledge. This is far enough out of the water to be an acceptable place to sit and wait for 16 hours, or to brew soup.
The stream continues to drop in a rift, with pitches of 13 and 14m from jammed boulders. The water then sinks into a slit, Nobody Knows, which was descended for 15m before becoming too tight. To continue, traverse over this hole and continue a short way to a large black chasm, the 112m Fear and Loathing Pitch, involving some airy traversing near the top. Sections of 10, 29 and 16m reach Acrobat Flake, where careful rigging is required to avoid a particularly gymnastic changeover for the next section of 16m. The rift (never wider than 3-4m) continues with drops of 18 and 23m to land on an unpleasant bit of damp floor: Las Vegas.
A particularly unpleasant mud-walled rift, Beezley Street, ("where the rats have rickets") continues as a traverse if you can stay up, or a nasty thrutch otherwise. This ends abruptly where an aven brings clean washed limestone for the next 14m pitch. A clean, but sharp traverse continues to corkscrewing 18 and 5m pitches into The Drainage Ditch, a wading depth section of passage occasionally blocked by boulders, which hold back the static pools. Short pitches of 8, 9 and 7m twist down to another section of drainage ditch which continues for a few more metres to a static sump 399m below the main entrance.
A hole above the sump leads to a small, muddy, grovelly continuation to some small avens and a further sump, before closing down.
Geology : Tubes near the entrance are formed along the prominent NE-SW joint direction in the area, which so dominates the nearby Bräuninghöhle, and the cave trends generally SW as it drops. However, all the major vertical development is in deep shafts on joints at right-angles to this major trend, on a strike of about 120-300°. Fear and Loathing pitch in particular is in a strikingly narrow rift over 110m deep, suggesting an almost vertical joint. Below this shaft there is very little significant jointing, and the cave meanders considerably before the dismal end another 140m SW.",,,,,"In dataset","There is a particularly inadequate elevation only in Cambridge Underground 1985. There is an area plan, drawn at 1:2000, showing 145, 82 and 148 on Gauß and Krüger coordinates, which has never been published.
There is enough survey bumph to draw a respectable plan.
","caves/145/145.svx",,"-399m, +10m = 409m ",,,,,,,,,,"laser point",,,,,,,,"On the plateau, 18m above Bräuninghöhle (Kat. 82)
Permanent survey station 0/4 at entrance a.","There are two routes to this entrance, one directly from the Schwarzmoossattel, which is marked by the remains of a line of blue bailer twine, and one from the plateau camp.
For the latter, follow route described under Kat. 80 and 82, but rather than heading for the obvious entrance of 82, follow the cairns uphill towards the col between the Schwarzmooskogels. Shortly on the right is a horizontal draughting entrance 0.9m high and 1.1m wide with no number - this is presumed to be 145b (it has been checked as going into 145). 20-30m further up the hill, drop into a doline with a horizontal entrance leading off. This is 145a.",,"
","paint" +145,"4/t/S +","a b c",,"yes","plateau/145.htm",,"Wolfhöhle",,,"1c","CUCC 1983-4. There is now a history file indexing into the log book write-ups.","Entrance is 2m high and 1m wide and walking passage leads for 120m of level going to first pitch, with a few side passages (one to higher entrance). Pitch is 19m into Wolf Chamber where the skeleton proved not to be of a wolf but of a Brown Bear, Ursus arctos. A pit in the floor, the Bear Pit is blind, and the continuation of the entrance pitch emits no draught and is believed to choke, but was never seriously investigated. A loose 3m climb at the far end of the chamber leads up into a draughting tube. This leads to an awkward 15m slimy tube descent, Bog Seat Climb, best laddered. A short grovel enlarges to a sandy stooping passage which pops out over the edge of a large black hole. Off to the left at this point a crawl intersects a larger passage leading to another set of smaller shafts only partially descended. It is also possible to reach the opposite side of the big pitch by this route.
The 83m Big Leap is rigged in three sections of 22, 25 and 36m via two freehanging rebelays and a deviation near the bottom, in a large rift with black peaty mud on the walls in the upper section. The rift narrows and bottoms out in a small streamway blocked here and there by jammed boulders which no longer (since 1984) constitute a squeeze. Short traverses and pitches of 15m and 6m are straightforward until a second large shaft is reached. The water cannot be avoided on the 59m Tiddley Pom pitch, which can become a serious proposition in wet weather. The first section is 11m, to the level where a heavy drip (rapidly becoming a torrent in thunderstorms) enters. The rebelay bolt is tucked away to the left, a long reach round the corner. Further sections of 17 and 24m in a circular shaft of about 6m diameter reach a big wet ledge. The final section of 7m reaches a big dry stance on jammed boulders, Cold Toes Ledge. This is far enough out of the water to be an acceptable place to sit and wait for 16 hours, or to brew soup.
The stream continues to drop in a rift, with pitches of 13 and 14m from jammed boulders. The water then sinks into a slit, Nobody Knows, which was descended for 15m before becoming too tight. To continue, traverse over this hole and continue a short way to a large black chasm, the 112m Fear and Loathing Pitch, involving some airy traversing near the top. Sections of 10, 29 and 16m reach Acrobat Flake, where careful rigging is required to avoid a particularly gymnastic changeover for the next section of 16m. The rift (never wider than 3-4m) continues with drops of 18 and 23m to land on an unpleasant bit of damp floor: Las Vegas.
A particularly unpleasant mud-walled rift, Beezley Street, ("where the rats have rickets") continues as a traverse if you can stay up, or a nasty thrutch otherwise. This ends abruptly where an aven brings clean washed limestone for the next 14m pitch. A clean, but sharp traverse continues to corkscrewing 18 and 5m pitches into The Drainage Ditch, a wading depth section of passage occasionally blocked by boulders, which hold back the static pools. Short pitches of 8, 9 and 7m twist down to another section of drainage ditch which continues for a few more metres to a static sump 399m below the main entrance.
A hole above the sump leads to a small, muddy, grovelly continuation to some small avens and a further sump, before closing down.
Geology : Tubes near the entrance are formed along the prominent NE-SW joint direction in the area, which so dominates the nearby Bräuninghöhle, and the cave trends generally SW as it drops. However, all the major vertical development is in deep shafts on joints at right-angles to this major trend, on a strike of about 120-300°. Fear and Loathing pitch in particular is in a strikingly narrow rift over 110m deep, suggesting an almost vertical joint. Below this shaft there is very little significant jointing, and the cave meanders considerably before the dismal end another 140m SW.",,,,,"In dataset","There is a particularly inadequate elevation only in Cambridge Underground 1985. There is an area plan, drawn at 1:2000, showing 145, 82 and 148 on Gauß and Krüger coordinates, which has never been published.
There is enough survey bumph to draw a respectable plan.
","caves/145/145.svx","1108m","402m","354m",,,,,,,,,"laser point",,,,,,,,"On the plateau, 18m above Bräuninghöhle (Kat. 82)
Permanent survey station 0/4 at entrance a.","There are two routes to this entrance, one directly from the Schwarzmoossattel, which is marked by the remains of a line of blue bailer twine, and one from the plateau camp.
For the latter, follow route described under Kat. 80 and 82, but rather than heading for the obvious entrance of 82, follow the cairns uphill towards the col between the Schwarzmooskogels. Shortly on the right is a horizontal draughting entrance 0.9m high and 1.1m wide with no number - this is presumed to be 145b (it has been checked as going into 145). 20-30m further up the hill, drop into a doline with a horizontal entrance leading off. This is 145a.",,"
","paint" ,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p145","May be Laser point 0/4, but it is dubious",,,,"gps00.145",,,,,,,,,, ,,"b",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p145b",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"c",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p145c",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, 146,"1/S -",,,,"smkridge/146.htm",,"Tobogganschacht",,,"2b",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Interestingly, the Austrians have this as 1/T +, at 1700m, NE of Schwarzmoossattel, and think it was explored by CUCC in 1984 to a depth of -40m.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Unexplored entrance (may be the one Tony called Tobogganschacht)",, -147,"2/T +",,,,"smkridge/147.htm",,"Schwa Höhle 147",,,"2b","CUCC 1988 ","Horizontal walking entrance leads south to a descending passage and junction. Down to right is a shorter but smaller route to the lower cave, while ahead leads past a small choked passage on the right to the head of a pitch. Across the pitch a smaller passage continues to a blind pitch where a draught enters from the floor, and an even smaller continuing passage which ends too small, also draughting.
Down the main pitch, in a rift, is 10m to a boulder pile in a chamber where the shorter route reenters, and a passage continues back north towards the entrance. South is a rift ending too tight. The main way soon leads to a pitch of 10m with a large ledge halfway. A short passage intersects a cross-rift before becoming too small (with a draught), but down the rift drops c15m to a choke at about -45m.",,,,,"In dataset","Elevation and plan, 1988, unpublished? Claims to be grade 5b, but comment in 1988 logbook suggests that compass may have been seriously deviated by use of a torch to illuminate it. Drawn up survey has only one scale bar, though clearly plan and elevation are not to the same scale. Surface survey to top of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel, 1994
Re-explored and surveyed in 1999 - see log-book write-up.
","caves/147/147.svx",,,,,,"Number originally allocated to a cave which was not marked with a number, and which was not relocated until 1988. Interestingly, the Austrians had this as 2/T +, at 1700m, NW of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel, and think CUCC explored it to 60m long and 10m deep in 1984. This suggests a CUCC documentation failure and probably a relocation failure, as the cave explored in 1988 was very different...",,"p147tag","p147","Start of (old) underground survey (Orange circle with orange dot in middle on rock nodule above entrance)",,"Nils",,,,,,,,"Probably somewhat uphill from 146, ie. NW of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel.
"3m entry pitch in rift going into bluff wall on camp 2 side of Vord. Schwarzmooskogel on cairned path." (Camp 2 refers to the 1988/89 camp up near the col between Vord. and Hint. Schwarzmooskogel.)",,,,"paint" -148,"2/t/S +",,,,"plateau/148.htm",,"Marilyn Monroe Höhle",,,"1c","CUCC 1984, 1987","Not really pushed in 1984, since discovered right at the end, but relocated in 1987: horizontal tube entrance about 1m in diameter. An awkward crawl over boulders for 10m leads to a squeeze down behind a boulder with light entering ahead. Short freeclimb reaches a phreatic tube of about 3m diameter. To the right silts up in boulders while to the left descends gently over snow and big rocks to reach a sizeable chamber and pitch of about 20m. Avoiding the pitch, a route down through boulders for 3m reaches a very unstable boulder slope, which is crossed to reach another 3m pitch to a rift with a further pitch on the left. To the right, the roof lowers over large boulders, and a small ice chamber is reached with a frozen stream. A narrow section leads down to a rift of 5m down to an earthy passage.
Back at the boulder slope (I think), the 20m pitch can again be attained and from here is 15m to the floor of a 20m high chamber with three ways on. Facing away from pitch, righthand rift leads to a flat-out crawl over ice. This passes remarkable ice formations to emerge at The Ice Castle, a chamber with a large ice-stalagmite formation. The route terminates in a steep ice slope at the far side of the chamber.
Way directly ahead from pitch is a 3m climb into a large phreatic tube round a 90° bend to a solid wall of boulders. Ways into the choke proved very loose and tight, but a continuing rift/chamber could be seen through a tiny but strongly draughting hole.
Third way on from pitch ascends steeply and becomes tight, with a jammed boulder now in the way. Route ends at a steep ice-climb for which no equipment was available.",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 3","caves/148/148.svx",,"deepest surveyed point is -39.2m",,,,,,,"p148",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"On the plateau, next to cairned path from the col past 82 leading to 107 etc., just by a short climb up; noticeable by (and discovered by) its cold outward draught.",,,,"red painted number ""148"". 1998 tag ""1623 148 CUCC 1984"" on survey point on RHS of entrance." +147,"2/T +",,,,"smkridge/147.htm",,"Schwa Höhle 147",,,"2b","CUCC 1988 ","Horizontal walking entrance leads south to a descending passage and junction. Down to right is a shorter but smaller route to the lower cave, while ahead leads past a small choked passage on the right to the head of a pitch. Across the pitch a smaller passage continues to a blind pitch where a draught enters from the floor, and an even smaller continuing passage which ends too small, also draughting.
Down the main pitch, in a rift, is 10m to a boulder pile in a chamber where the shorter route reenters, and a passage continues back north towards the entrance. South is a rift ending too tight. The main way soon leads to a pitch of 10m with a large ledge halfway. A short passage intersects a cross-rift before becoming too small (with a draught), but down the rift drops c15m to a choke at about -45m.",,,,,"In dataset","Elevation and plan, 1988, unpublished? Claims to be grade 5b, but comment in 1988 logbook suggests that compass may have been seriously deviated by use of a torch to illuminate it. Drawn up survey has only one scale bar, though clearly plan and elevation are not to the same scale. Surface survey to top of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel, 1994
Re-explored and surveyed in 1999 - see log-book write-up.
","caves/147/147.svx",,,,,,"Number originally allocated to a cave which was not marked with a number, and which was not relocated until 1988. Interestingly, the Austrians had this as 2/T +, at 1700m, NW of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel, and think CUCC explored it to 60m long and 10m deep in 1984. This suggests a CUCC documentation failure and probably a relocation failure, as the cave explored in 1988 was very different...",,"t147","p147","Start of (old) underground survey (Orange circle with orange dot in middle on rock nodule above entrance)",,"Nils",,,,,,,,"Probably somewhat uphill from 146, ie. NW of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel.
"3m entry pitch in rift going into bluff wall on camp 2 side of Vord. Schwarzmooskogel on cairned path." (Camp 2 refers to the 1988/89 camp up near the col between Vord. and Hint. Schwarzmooskogel.)",,,,"paint" +148,"2/t/S +",,,,"plateau/148.htm",,"Marilyn Monroe Höhle",,,"1c","CUCC 1984, 1987","Not really pushed in 1984, since discovered right at the end, but relocated in 1987: horizontal tube entrance about 1m in diameter. An awkward crawl over boulders for 10m leads to a squeeze down behind a boulder with light entering ahead. Short freeclimb reaches a phreatic tube of about 3m diameter. To the right silts up in boulders while to the left descends gently over snow and big rocks to reach a sizeable chamber and pitch of about 20m. Avoiding the pitch, a route down through boulders for 3m reaches a very unstable boulder slope, which is crossed to reach another 3m pitch to a rift with a further pitch on the left. To the right, the roof lowers over large boulders, and a small ice chamber is reached with a frozen stream. A narrow section leads down to a rift of 5m down to an earthy passage.
Back at the boulder slope (I think), the 20m pitch can again be attained and from here is 15m to the floor of a 20m high chamber with three ways on. Facing away from pitch, righthand rift leads to a flat-out crawl over ice. This passes remarkable ice formations to emerge at The Ice Castle, a chamber with a large ice-stalagmite formation. The route terminates in a steep ice slope at the far side of the chamber.
Way directly ahead from pitch is a 3m climb into a large phreatic tube round a 90° bend to a solid wall of boulders. Ways into the choke proved very loose and tight, but a continuing rift/chamber could be seen through a tiny but strongly draughting hole.
Third way on from pitch ascends steeply and becomes tight, with a jammed boulder now in the way. Route ends at a steep ice-climb for which no equipment was available.",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 3","caves/148/148.svx","92m surveyed","39.2m surveyed","48m surveyed",,,,,,"p148",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"On the plateau, next to cairned path from the col past 82 leading to 107 etc., just by a short climb up; noticeable by (and discovered by) its cold outward draught.",,,,"red painted number ""148"". 1998 tag ""1623 148 CUCC 1984"" on survey point on RHS of entrance." 149,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/149.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 149",,,"2b","CUCC 1984","Documentation comprises a grade 1 sketch with no description in 1984 logbook. Horizontal entrance leads under a shaft to surface and a 5m climb down to a choke. Over the hole and left leads in a sandy tube to a traverse reaching a 4m diameter tube. To the right this is choked, with small blocked tubes leading off. Ahead and left a 10m pitch leads to a solid choke.",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Until the 1984 logbook surfaced in 1993, we thought this number was not allocated, but, interestingly, the Austrians had this as 2/T +, 1685m, NE of Schwarzmoossattel, and think it was explored in 1984 by CUCC to 100m long and 15m deep. Where is this information coming from, and why didn't CUCC record it for their own benefit too?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The entrance is in a large gully, just above the sandy depression, opposite Wolfhöhle. Several draughting entrances. Sketch with no north arrow, but would guess that its north from 145.",,,, 150,"0/T +",,,,"smkridge/150.htm",,"Schwa Röhrhöhle 150",,,"2b","CUCC 1985 ","Draughting tube, too tight at -2m, and therefore should not really have a kataster number. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p150",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"On the way to 152",,,, 151,"0/T +",,,,"smkridge/151.htm",,"Schwa Höhle 151",,,"2b","CUCC 1985 ","Chamber 3m in diameter with draughting slot which proved too tight, -3m. This suggest that it is is too small to have a number. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p151",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"On the way to 152",,,, -152,"4/S +",,,,"smkridge/152.htm",,"Bananehöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 1985 ","A vertical entrance which leads, at a depth of -145m, into Sonnenstrahlhöhle below the Purple Pit, just before Müsli crawl (-198m from Sonnenstrahl entrance bolt). Entrance pitch Scott is 9m over snow, then a small tube leads down to a short climb down boulders to an 8m pitch Virgil, followed immediately by Alan, another 8m pitch landing in Dump Chamber. A long rift, Boulder Alley leads to a rock bridge and scramble down boulders into Boulder Chamber which ends in a 4m climb and pitches of 5m (John) and 4m (Parker) over boulders. A 5m pitch (Mr. Tracy) drops into the top of a very tall narrow rift. A slight widening allows a short climb down into the canyon, but is soon too tight - Lady Penelope. The rift continues until a fault is met and The Good Pitch Venus is 24m to Behind the Drinks Cabinet. A further rift leads to a 16m pitch which lands in Sonnenstrahlhöhle.
Boulder Chamber appears to correspond with the bouldery Opera House in Sonnenstrahlhöhle, while the Good Pitch Venus and following 16m pitch correlate with the Purple Pit.",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 4","caves/152/152.svx",,,,,,,,,"p152","drilled station at entrance ",,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"on the hillside below and to the east of 113",,,, +152,"4/S +",,,,"smkridge/152.htm",,"Bananehöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 1985 ","A vertical entrance which leads, at a depth of -145m, into Sonnenstrahlhöhle below the Purple Pit, just before Müsli crawl (-198m from Sonnenstrahl entrance bolt). Entrance pitch Scott is 9m over snow, then a small tube leads down to a short climb down boulders to an 8m pitch Virgil, followed immediately by Alan, another 8m pitch landing in Dump Chamber. A long rift, Boulder Alley leads to a rock bridge and scramble down boulders into Boulder Chamber which ends in a 4m climb and pitches of 5m (John) and 4m (Parker) over boulders. A 5m pitch (Mr. Tracy) drops into the top of a very tall narrow rift. A slight widening allows a short climb down into the canyon, but is soon too tight - Lady Penelope. The rift continues until a fault is met and The Good Pitch Venus is 24m to Behind the Drinks Cabinet. A further rift leads to a 16m pitch which lands in Sonnenstrahlhöhle.
Boulder Chamber appears to correspond with the bouldery Opera House in Sonnenstrahlhöhle, while the Good Pitch Venus and following 16m pitch correlate with the Purple Pit.",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 4","caves/152/152.svx","321m","145m","80m",,,,,,"p152","drilled station at entrance ",,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"on the hillside below and to the east of 113",,,, 153,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/153.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 153",,,"2b","Discovered CUCC 1985 (on last day), explored 1987","Entrance climb of 12m in doline appears to choke, but a small letterbox squeeze in side of shaft leads to broken pitch. First section of 6m in a rift less than 2m wide leads to a ledge, then 12m down to a floor. A slightly hammered squeeze leads into another narrow rift dropping 10m. This constricts to 20cm and then becomes totally impassable only shortly below. Squeezes are quite epic to reverse.",,,,,,"Grade 1 elevation from 1987 Log Book, surface survey from cairn on Bunter's Bulge.
",,,,,,,,,,"p153",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.153",,,,,,"~200m on 013° magnetic and +03° from Bunter's Bulge (Weiße Warze).","From Weiße Warze, follow red arrows until you see yellow arrows, follow these (there would seem to be just two of them). After last yellow arrow, cross gully in same direction, then permanent survey mark TC is on large slab in centre of next depression. From here, climb out of depression on bearing 035°, then keep going up gully to 153 (large boulder above on left is a good vantage point). ",,, 154,"1/S x","a b",,"yes","smkridge/154.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 154",,,"2b","Discovered CUCC 1985 (on last day), explored 1987","Loose pitch head gives onto 5m entrance pitch. A rift leads off but quickly chokes, while a draughting slot could be dug, but is rather loose and dangerous, so was left.",,,,,,"Grade 1 plan (no scale) from 1987 Log Book, surface survey from Bunter's Bulge.
",,,,,,,"This doesn't sound much like the 1985 log book description, which is of a climb down in a rift below the survey mark into a chamber with daylight entering in two or three places. There is another way out, though where this is isn't mentioned, and the cave needed a rope to push further. However, the 1987 sketch does sound like this ! It is not clear whether the 1987 push addressed the way out needing a rope - perhaps another look would be a good idea, if a party is working in this area.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"~60m on 222° from outcrop which is ~100m on 10° from 153.","From 153, follow gully, keeping slightly left to end (10° magnetic), climb over ridge to left and continue with next gully into depression. Lower entrance in bottom of depression, but this is not marked, on over next ridge to find marked entrance.",,, ,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p154",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"b",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p154b","unmarked",,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, 155,"0 -",,,,"smkridge/155.htm",,"Unerforscht Schacht 155",,,"2b","CUCC 1985 (on last day), was this pushed in 1987 ?","The cave can be entered via a slot on the right hand side of snow plug, or by crossing the snow plug onto the ice. The ice slopes down in one corner, possibly to a pitch, which, however, will need a rope to verify. Another slot nearby may drop into the same chamber. ",,,,,,"Grade 1 elevation in 1985 Log Book ?",,,,,,,,,,"p155",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.155",,,,,,"about 150m ENE of 154","From 154, climb up and right and around a grassy shoulder. Then walk down (heading roughly east), skirting past a choked doline and 155 lies ahead.","A huge snow-plugged entrance apparently akin to 113.",, -156,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/156.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 156",,,"2b","CUCC 1987","An open rift with a rock bridge. Pitch of 25m drops onto snow bank, and route to southeast of this drops a further 15m to a complete choke with snow.",,,,,,"
Grade 1 plan/elev of 156 and T.B.H. from 1987 Log Book",,,,,,,"The log book refers to exploration in the vicinity of 0/1 including 156 and a nearby cave (unnumbered in 1987) Tumbling Boulder Hole. There is, however, another piece of paper which says it is very near (and NE of) point 0/2. This appears to arise from the diagram which accompanies the log book entry, which shows 0/2 with no north arrow, and uphill up the page. If the point was really 0/1 on this diagram, then the descriptions would match, with north at 7 O'Clock on the diagram. The logbook suggests that the discoverers had visited 0/2 (and found very little nearby) and then 0/1 later, finding 156. GPS location and later a surface survey (1998) confirms that 0/1 is the correct laser point.",,"p156tag","p156","random point or top rigging bolt",,"Surface survey","gps98.156",,,,,,,"Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel, 50m south of laser rangefound point 0/1. The recently (1998) cairned route up the Vd. Schwarzmooskogel NW flank passes very close to the laser point, and skirts the NE end of the open rift of 156. Surface survey connecting Tag and original survey ( to top rigging bolt) done in 1999. ",,,,"""1623 156 CUCC 1987"" on alloy tag on west side of more southerly opening, more-or-less directly above the first rigging bolt" +156,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/156.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 156",,,"2b","CUCC 1987","An open rift with a rock bridge. Pitch of 25m drops onto snow bank, and route to southeast of this drops a further 15m to a complete choke with snow.",,,,,,"
Grade 1 plan/elev of 156 and T.B.H. from 1987 Log Book",,,,,,,"The log book refers to exploration in the vicinity of 0/1 including 156 and a nearby cave (unnumbered in 1987) Tumbling Boulder Hole. There is, however, another piece of paper which says it is very near (and NE of) point 0/2. This appears to arise from the diagram which accompanies the log book entry, which shows 0/2 with no north arrow, and uphill up the page. If the point was really 0/1 on this diagram, then the descriptions would match, with north at 7 O'Clock on the diagram. The logbook suggests that the discoverers had visited 0/2 (and found very little nearby) and then 0/1 later, finding 156. GPS location and later a surface survey (1998) confirms that 0/1 is the correct laser point.",,"t156","p156","random point or top rigging bolt",,"Surface survey","gps98.156",,,,,,,"Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel, 50m south of laser rangefound point 0/1. The recently (1998) cairned route up the Vd. Schwarzmooskogel NW flank passes very close to the laser point, and skirts the NE end of the open rift of 156. Surface survey connecting Tag and original survey ( to top rigging bolt) done in 1999. ",,,,"""1623 156 CUCC 1987"" on alloy tag on west side of more southerly opening, more-or-less directly above the first rigging bolt" 157,"2/S x ",,,,"smkridge/157.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 157",,"Pirat Schacht","2b","Uncertain. Rediscovered CUCC 1987","Entrance shaft of 50m until gap between snow and rock became too perilous in 1987 - bottom still out of sight. About 25m below the karren, a rift passage leads off from side of shaft into parallel shaft with aven. This shaft is of unknown depth but has recent looking bolts of unknown origin. It is just conceivable that these bolts are in 107, but far more likely that the cave had been looked at by GSCB who were in the area on a reconnaissance in 1986 (?) and more seriously in 1987.
The second cave has a walk-in entrance, splitting just inside. The left passage comes out below a shaft from the surface, and apparently continues unexplored. The main passage reaches a 10m pitch, also below a surface shaft, which drops into a chamber. To the left is a short passage to an undescended pitch of about 10m, while to the right are three ways on. First is a rift, then a passage with an ice floor, and finally, half back towards the entrance, is a passage emerging below another surface shaft (passed on the surface just before reaching the entrance). This final passage also appeared to continue. Because a large carbide pig was found outside the entrance, it was assumed that someone else was in the course of exploring this cave.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1697m",,,"""about 6m above Laser rangefound point 0/5"" (which is above gully containing Kat. 107 and marked with an alloy tag stamped ""LASER 0-5""). The cave was looked for but not seen in a visit to this laser point in 1998. A second cave 100m from 0/5, uphill to the left, was not given a number because of evidence of previous exploration, but should be investigated further. 157 was relocated in 2001, visible to the right of the route up to 204. It was marked with faded yellow paint.",,,, 158,"3/S +",,,,"smkridge/158.htm",,"Donner und Blitzen Höhle",,,"2b","CUCC 1987","A body-width passage formed by a wall on the left and a large detached slab on the right descends for about 5m at 45°, with occasional glimpses of daylight above. A cross passage is then encountered. To the right is blocked after a few metres, but left descends to meet the base of the wall. To the right here, a 20-22cm squeeze is passed by lying on one side. After 2m of further tight progress, the rift opens onto a drop. A steep tube descends for about 12m to a small chamber and with care can be descended free.
From the chamber, the passage curves to the left and opens onto the head of a 7m pitch, which drops onto a large ledge. A rebelay just over the lip of the ledge at the left hand side gives a further 18m free-hanging pitch to a landing on boulders several metres across, which appear to be jammed across the shaft.
A narrow rift around a corner stops at a drip and a small pool. The way on is through a gap to a hole with a jammed block. Climbing down to the block leads to the head of an 18m pitch which rapidly opens into a huge split-level chamber. The pitch lands on Big Bertha, a boulder some 4m in diameter.
To the north, a narrow rift has been followed for about 10m to a tight vertical drop of at least 5m down the rift, but this has not been pushed. East from Big Bertha leads to a 5m drop to the lower half of the chamber, which is floored with loose rock. An archway to the left leads to a 7m pitch to a small stream. This disappears down an impassable slot, but is met lower in the cave.
From the archway, a climb up behind a boulder propped against the side of the chamber leads to a col. One side rapidly curves up to the roof. The other ascends over very loose boulders for at least 25m (15m vertical) until the roof is met. This area has not been exhaustively pushed, but seems unlikely to lead anywhere.
Descending the other side of the col gives a series of ledges via 5m, 7m and 8m pitches, in a canyon some 5m wide and at least 15m high. The stream enters at the bottom of the 7m pitch. Below, the rift continues down a moderate slope and round a corner, with a final short 4m pitch to a soil and rock floored chamber.
A strong draught is felt around the edges of the chamber, rising from the choked floor. It is possible to descend in loose boulders in a number of places but all ways meet the roof and choke - pushing in this area is dangerous and unpromising.
Near the bottom of the previous pitch, a 5m deep circular pit in the floor can be descended. This takes a large drip from the stream above. At the bottom, a tight (22-26cm) rift leads on for 3m to a further 3m pitch to a small chamber. An impassable passage continues, while a small window gives a view of a widening beyond.",,,,,"In dataset","Grade 3 plan and elevation in Cambridge Underground 1988, p 6
",,,"128m (deepest surveyed point is -118m)",,,,,,,"p158","on big rock at entrance",,"Surface survey",,"gps00.158",,,,,,"400m NNE of The Nipple (Weißen Warze) at the base of a wall to the left after passing a sandy depression (walking from the Nipple).",,,,"paint"
-159,"2/S +",,,,"plateau/159.htm",,"Winded Hole",,,"1a","CUCC 1988 (1st pitch Chris & Becka, bottomed by Chris).","Two bolts in entrance for Y-hang to give c40m vertical to a boulder floor, then a further 20m in a big boulder chamber. A ""nice skeleton"" and an old colander (!) were found on the terminal choke in 1988.",,,,,,,,,"c50m",,,,,,"p159tag",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"1990 Bearings (we have no idea where these came from and they aren't remotely in the right place): HSK 116°, Nipple 174°, Bräuning Nase 199°, Bräuning Zinken 216°
1996: HSK 059°, VSK nipple 111°, Bräuning Nase 152°, Kleine Wild Kogel 009°(left) and 010°(right), Bräuning Wall pt. 1828 209°, Bräuning Wall pt. 1835 221°, Bräuning Zinken 232° ",,"Near 'crapping region' of Top Camp (1990). Cave is on the same fault/joint as 1623/90, 1623/207 and 1623/208, but further out from the Bräuning Wall, c 100m on 067°.","Cave relocated 1990, 1996 and surveyed to in 1998. Entrance reached in two minutes from upper top camp by heading west and dropping down one terrace.",,"
","orange number ""159"" facing north. 1998 tag ""1623 159 CUCC 1988"" attached to more northerly of two Y-hang bolts, just below surface. This is the anchor visible in the photograph (with an orange circle painted round it), taken before the tag was attached." +159,"2/S +",,,,"plateau/159.htm",,"Winded Hole",,,"1a","CUCC 1988 (1st pitch Chris & Becka, bottomed by Chris).","Two bolts in entrance for Y-hang to give c40m vertical to a boulder floor, then a further 20m in a big boulder chamber. A ""nice skeleton"" and an old colander (!) were found on the terminal choke in 1988.",,,,,,,,,"c50m",,,,,,"t159",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"1990 Bearings (we have no idea where these came from and they aren't remotely in the right place): HSK 116°, Nipple 174°, Bräuning Nase 199°, Bräuning Zinken 216°
1996: HSK 059°, VSK nipple 111°, Bräuning Nase 152°, Kleine Wild Kogel 009°(left) and 010°(right), Bräuning Wall pt. 1828 209°, Bräuning Wall pt. 1835 221°, Bräuning Zinken 232° ",,"Near 'crapping region' of Top Camp (1990). Cave is on the same fault/joint as 1623/90, 1623/207 and 1623/208, but further out from the Bräuning Wall, c 100m on 067°.","Cave relocated 1990, 1996 and surveyed to in 1998. Entrance reached in two minutes from upper top camp by heading west and dropping down one terrace.",,"
","orange number ""159"" facing north. 1998 tag ""1623 159 CUCC 1988"" attached to more northerly of two Y-hang bolts, just below surface. This is the anchor visible in the photograph (with an orange circle painted round it), taken before the tag was attached." 160,"2/S/ +",,"Jared's Hole",,"plateau/160.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 160",,,"1a","CUCC 1988 ","Bottoming trip used a 70m rope to reach a choke (with a draught). A small side rift at the bottom choked after 3m.
The cave could probably do with another descent to record some details of the interior or even a survey !",,,,,,,,,,,,,"1988 logbook implies that this is "Jared's Hole". Was provisionally numbered "181" but apparently never marked. ",,"p160",,,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.160",,,,,,"On plateau, near B10 (according to B10 info). Map in 1988 logbook shows 160 as out on the plateau from Bräuning Scharte in an area of terracing, and WSW of B10. Hole tagged in 1998 is just east of 91, and can also be reached by following the terrace west from the 159 entrance.",,,,"the hole believed to be 160 was unmarked until tagged in 1998 ""1623 160 CUCC 1988"" on flat limestone 1m east of entrance. This had been relocated in 1996 and was then thought to be 159, but latter was found marked in 1998." 161,"5/S/E x","a b c d e f g h",,"yes","smkridge/161/top.htm",,"Kaninchenhöhle",,,"2a","CUCC 1988-98","Rather than adopting the usual approach of describing every side passage in the main description, which makes the 'normal' descent route hard to follow, this description describes each main route down the cave first, mentioning side passages only where necessary to make the correct main route clear. Various side passages and connecting routes are described subsequently, area by area. The directions left and right are always relative to travel in the direction of the description, compass directions are given where there is any ambiguity. Most passages are described going 'into the cave', on the assumption that this is how they will be first met. Some passages are described in both directions, either because it is difficult to follow them without getting into side leads, or because they form important links between different parts of the system, and may be traversed either way on various round trips.
The clickable index has developed into a glossary, which it is hoped will make it easier to find bits of the cave by name - be warned, this became so big that it was decided to split it up and it is now a framed page.
There are also virtual tours, containing thumbnails of all the pictures of the caves. Although these pages are kept small, all the photos mean that they can require a lot of memory to load. The original comprehensive tour has been split into two, for the Right Hand Route, and for passages most conveniently reached from the Scarface entrance. Two new tours have been created for the Lost World and Wheelchair Access, and for the new way into the Forbidden Land via Steinschlagschacht.Each thumbnail on these tours links to a full-size version of the picture, and each full-size picture has links into the appropriate bit of the description.
Throughout the guide, the date of exploration is noted for each area. There is a history page which can be used as a clickable index into the logbook write ups of all the 161 trips, so it should be easy to follow the exploration of any part of the cave. Warning, this was also getting too big and is now framed.
The upper part of the system can be best thought of as a number of separate areas, each with its own vertical development. The more recently found extensive horizontal development, being easier to traverse, is generally better connected. Although there are various links between the vertical routes, a given destination will tend to have one 'obvious' approach. These areas are France, the Left Hand Routes, the Right Hand Routes, the southernmost part of the system reached via Steinschlagschacht, routes from Scarface entrance. So rapidly has exploration proceeded from Triassic Park that now more than half the total length is most conveniently reached via 161d.
The key to all the deepest and most remote parts of the system is the huge collapse chamber of Knossos. This was reached from the 161a entrance via the Right Hand Route, and now via the 161d ""Scarface"" entrance through Triassic Park. This provides a much easier route in, making trips to the further reaches less strenuous. From Knossos, horizontal trunk passage leads north, giving access first to a series of deep vertical systems, and further on to complex areas of rifts and old passages. A significant horizontal route leading northwest, Siberia, has only been pushed as a result of the new entrance, but has yielded a new deep point to the cave. There appear to be deep vertical leads in the far north, too, though they have mostly been avoided by a series of ""mental"" tyroleans and bolt traverses.
It is still probably some way off the time when one might choose a tourist trip on the basis of its ""classic"" quality. Mostly, choices available depend on what is rigged this year for exploratory purposes. This will usually only include one main route into an area, so trips like a Left Hand Route / Garden Party or Drunk & Stupid exchange will not be easy. Similarly, the original classic Right Hand Route / Dreamtime exchange was only really possible during the exploration of the latter, before the Squeeze was bypassed and this modified RHR became the trade route.
However, now that Knossos is accessible from the Scarface entrance, this has opened up the possibilities for a whole raft of pull-through trips with a minimum of pre-rigging. The one fly in the ointment is the relative difficulty of surface travel between the 161d and upper entrances. The route used in 1996 seems to be good enough to have become a trade route, and after one benightment through loss of the route in 1997, it has been very well marked with cairns.
Already possible is the 161c to 161d through trip via France. In the future, pull-throughs of LHR, Garden Party or Drunk and Stupid should all be possible via Ambidextrous. Right Hand Route or Dreamtime give access to Knossos. Care must be taken, however, not to try rapelling down any of the plethora of routes which don't connect into the Knossos area.
As in the more famous Dent du Crolles system, route-finding errors on bridge-burning trips could entail a long wait for someone to figure out where you went!
Line plots of the cave give some idea of it's shape, extent and structure.
The main entrance at 1787m drops to a major sub-horizontal level at 1720-1750m, containing the large passages of Big Sainsbury's and its continuation into the upper part of Dreamtime, and the smaller passages of the Rabbit Warren and the French entrances 161b and 161c. From this level a number of vertical routes drop to another significant sub-horizontal level dipping from around 1700m in the SW of the system (upper part of France) to around 1600m where this level is lost in the roof of Knossos. [This is probably debatable, as Boulder Alley from Poxy Pitch downwards is probably in a fault rift].
Multiple, predominantly vertical, routes drop to the cave's most important sub-horizontal passages around 1540m in the area below the entrance dipping to c1510m in Tower Blocks and the start of YAPATE. This is a major fossil passage rising up the dip to the NNE, and continuing as Chicken Flied Nice to c1540m where complexity increases. The major horizontal development in France is entered at c1550m, with the lowest passages down to 1480m. The major trunk route through Triassic Park is between 1560 and 1620m, and this level is also lost in what is presumed to be the roof of Knossos.
Whilst none of the routes below the entrance area get below about 1480m, there are a series of interconnecting shafts dropping below YAPATE and Chicken Flied Nice ending at or just above 1290m in sumps or tightness. The original deepest point, at the bottom of Flapjack, is at 1289m, 498m below the main entrance. Passages to the northwest led through a bitterly cold, draughty passage known as Siberia, which was left well alone until access via 161d made it easier. It was pushed in 1997 and 1998 down two very large pitches to a new deep point 534m below the 136 entrance at 1258m altitude.
There is just one section of horizontal level at c1400m, which is not very extensive to date, and similarly a tantalising glimpse of what appears to have been very large trunk passage below 1300m in Siberia, but this is comprehensively choked in both directions.
This overview is currently mostly updated to reflect exploration to 1995, though the line plots are up to 1996. ",,"Outstanding and now finished",,,"In dataset","? grade 5","smk-system.svx","24485m after 1999 expedition","534m",,,"
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"On the limestone ridge between the Hinterer and Vorderer Schwarzmooskogels, about 200 metres up towards the Hinterer from the col, and about 20m down the east side of the ridge itself. The main 161a entrance shaft overlooks a gully dropping steeply SE towards Augstwies See. The 161b and 161c (French) entrances are close together about 75m to the SE, down the gully. Considerably further down the gully, a traverse is possible (somewhat engineered) to reach an area of recently fallen rock, where the ""Scarface"" 161d entrance is located. Continuing the traverse, but regaining about 20m of height to the NE, the ""exits"" of 161f and then 161e can be reached.",,,, ,,"a",,"entrance","smkridge/161/161a.htm",,,,,,,"Click here for underground description",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p161a",,,"Nils",,"gps00.161a2",,,,,,,,,,"Tag." @@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ ,,"e",,"entrance","smkridge/161/161e.htm",,,,,,,"Click here for underground description",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p161e",,,"Nils",,,,,,,,,,,,"Tag." ,,"f",,"entrance","smkridge/161/161f.htm",,,,,,,"Click here for underground description",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p161f",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,"Tag." ,,"g","2003-06","entrance","smkridge/161/161g.htm",,"Arachnowrapper",,,,,"Click here for underground description",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p161g",,,,,,"gps03.161g",,,,,,,,,,"Tag ""CUCC 2003/06""." -,,"h","2004-12","entrance","smkridge/161/161h.htm",,,,,,"CUCC 2004","Click here for underground description",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p161h",,,,"Underground survey",,"gps04.p2004-12",,,,,,"NE slope of Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel","Difficult route finding past Damoclesschact and 2003-07 to edge of plateau. Climb down to easy gemsa path and turn north for 200m.","Above short climb low body sized tube below cleft in cliff.","
161h entrance
","Tag “CUCC 2004-12”" +,,"h","2004-12","entrance","smkridge/161/161h.htm",,,,,,"CUCC 2004","Click here for underground description",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p161h",,,,"Underground survey",,"gps04.p2004-12",,,,,,"NE slope of Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel","Difficult route finding past Damoclesschact and 2003-07 to edge of plateau. Climb down to easy gemsa path and turn north for 200m.","Above short climb low body sized tube below cleft in cliff.","
161h entrance
","Tag ""CUCC 2004-12""" ,,136,,"last entrance",,"smkridge/161/136.htm",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 162,"2/S +",,,,"smkridge/162.htm",,"Schwa Höhle 162",,,"2b","CUCC 1988","The cave takes a good couple of hours to explore thoroughly. Through the entrance is a large chamber with a 4m × 8m crater in it. A 3m climb down to the bottom gives access to a 3m climb back up to the right, leading into the cave and a crawl at the lowest point of the boulders leading into a choked bit of cave with small solutional stuff in the roof. It is also possible to traverse around the left edge of the crater to reach a triangular crawl which goes for about 10m before it gets too tight.
The entire floor of this cave consists of small rocks and boulders. There is no solid rock anywhere horizontal, except halfway down the pitch.
After climbing out of the hole there is another 5m deep choked hole beyond. Traverses round to both the left and right are possible, although a little care is required due to the low roof and loose floor.
To the right, rubble coming out of the bottom of a choked shaft almost blocks the passage but a crawl through to the left remains, with a strong wind blasting through the confined space. Beyond this constriction the draught is lost. The roof remains low on the other side, although it is possible to stand up off to the left where there is a 4m climb up to what looks like a way on but is actually blind. Moving around the boulder pile to the right leads to a big passage. There are a few large boulders 10m to the right with a 4m climb down between them leading to a tight choked rift. This was also dug into from the top passage by the extremely zealous original explorers! There is an alcove in front and a rubble slope up to the right. Round the corner to the right is another shaft-bottom rubble pile and a hole disappearing into the roof. At the top of the slope to the left is a 4m climb up through and around big wedged boulders to reach an impressive chamber 7m × 9m and 12m high. There is a possible climb up into an aven in the corner which probably doesn't go and has a couple of moves at the top which need protecting.
Back at the fork near the entrance, turning left and thrutching over a couple of rocks (another windy spot) leads to the head of a 17m pitch broken by a ledge 8m down. There is a bolt for a ladder hang on this ledge. Going off to the left allows a safe traverse past the pitch continuation to the bottom of a 6m high rift with some ice in it, slowly narrowing as it goes up.
At the foot of the pitch is what looks like an ancient phreatic remnant. It is about 40m long and 6m wide, and mostly full of rocks. To the left it is blocked at the end by the rubble coming out of the bottom of a big shaft. It is possible to work round the foot of this for about 3m to the left and 10m to the right.
Going the other way down the passage reveals a large snow column by the left hand wall. It is possible to climb up between the column and its containing shaft, presumably all the way to the surface, but no-one has managed it yet. Beyond this column the roof gets lower, apart from a couple of solutional avens and eventually a small shaft-bottom rock pile and a couple of small inlet tubes mark the end of the cave.",,,,,"In dataset","1990 plan Cambridge Underground 1991
","caves/162/162.svx","156-159m","22 m (survey) or 33 m (text)",,,,"The 1988 log book refers to this cave as ""Adam's Hole (2)"".",,,"p162",,,"Surface survey","gps96.162 gps96bestfit.162","gps00.162",,,,,,"Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel, about halfway between 161 and Eishöhle. Following the French traverse route along the shelf marked with orange paint from 161c will take you to just below 162 and 163.","About 250m from survey point vd1. From vd1, head directly down the gully (bearing about 100°, for about 130m, then turn right, angle right and traverse below the bunde field on the right along the most obvious shelf (you should find the french path here) for another 130m or so. The cave entrance is a 1.5m × 2m hole in the wall to the right of the traverse shelf with a very cold draught coming out of it. It is one shelf above the French path and if you are at the wrong level you will miss it.",,,
163,"2/S +",,,,"smkridge/163.htm",,"Schwa Höhle 163",,,"2b","CUCC 1988 ","This is a fairly small cave remnant, but it does have a draught at the end suggesting more passage beyond.
The entrance is low and wide (3.5m) and descends down a rocky slope for 20m to some impressive ice stals. There is a small tube in the roof on the right through which daylight can be seen. The cave extends another 10m past the ice stals in fossil passage until it chokes. A 3m climb up on the left allows access to a tiny rift which can be climbed down for a few uninspiring metres.
5m back from the ice stals, towards the entrance, there is a stoop under a massive boulder forming the left wall. Here is a 3m climb down into the second part of the cave. Downslope from here is a chamber with a small frozen stream running through it and a choked alcove containing another ice stal beyond the stream. The chamber through which the stream 'flows' appears to have been formed by the entire roof falling about 1.5m in one piece and it is possible to climb beneath this huge rock near the way in. Over on the right is a climb through an eyehole to a 3m climb down into a stream rift. This has a howling draught coming out of it but it is too small to get down - although the heavy application of a hammer might do the trick.",,,,,"In dataset","1990 plan, Cambridge Underground 1991
","caves/163/163.svx","58m","17m",,,,"The 1988 log book refers to this cave as ""Adam's Hole (1)"".",,"p163tag","p163",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.163",,,,,,"In the right hand side of a 15m diameter couloir near 162.",,,,"Tag."
@@ -211,10 +211,10 @@
165,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/165.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 165",,,"2b","CUCC 1989","15m shaft explored by Adam and Planc on 24th August 1989, and apparently never returned to, but did get its number painted. Relocated and surveyed to in 1999.
In same fault line, but further north, in an area of bare limestone is another shaft. This already had a bolt when encountered in 1989, despite being outside the area previously looked at by CUCC. It was in excess of 35m deep and was not marked by CUCC. Cross on Schönberg 322°, Bräuning Nase 222°
This latter cave may be 195 (marked in 1995) which is c 80m almost due north, although the faults in this area are mainly aligned on about 020°, so it may be an as-yet-unrelocated shaft.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p165",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"Cross on Schönberg 331°, Bräuning Nase 226°",,"On the west side of the Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel in a fault line. About 80m due south of 195, which is visible from top camp.",,,,"Tag. 1999" "166-170",,,,,,,,,"Not CUCC numbers",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 171,"1/T +","a b","90/1","yes","plateau/171.htm",,"Plateau Höhle 90/1",,,"1b","CUCC 1990.","Subhorizontal phreatic tube trending 154°. Multiple entrances and windows with total passage length in excess of 150m. Passage generally elliptical: 5m wide and 3m high.
Along the fault to the north are numerous choked shafts with a maximum depth of 5m.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1644m","Bräuning Nase 190½° (in 1995, recorded as 186° in 1990), Bräuning Zinken 236½° (1995), Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel appears as a single peak on 056° (both 1990 and 1995), East end of Top Camp 177° (1995), Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel appears as 126° (1990 and 1995) but this point is not the true summit, and therefore cannot be used to plot the cave on the map. It is useful if you just want to find the cave.",,"150m north of Top Camp (camp 3). c 20-50m east of prominent fault which cuts through Bräuning Nase, in sub-horizontal limestone.",,,"
","On wall facing southwest
Original 90/1 marking of 1990 vintage, converted to ""171"" in 1991. This image taken in 1995. There is also a metal tag bolted on by the Austrians in 1995." -,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p171tag",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, +,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"t171",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"b",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p171b",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, 172,"1/T +",,"90/2",,"plateau/172.htm",,"Plateau Höhle 90/2",,,"1b","Almost certainly seen before, but recorded CUCC 1990","Horizontal, walk-in phreatic tube dipping to S and trending 190°. 40m long, 4m wide, 1.5 to 2m high. Choked at end.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/172/172.svx",,,,,,,,,"p172",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"North of 171 along fault, on cliff facing north, 10m east of fault. HSK 063°, Schönberg cross 343°. Relocated from these bearings, which seem about right, in 1995.",,,"
Entrance to 1623/172, seen in 1995
","Originally marked ""CUCC 90/2"" in red, changed to ""172"" in 1991. An Austrian metal tag bolted to entrance in 1995." -173,"1/S +",,"90/3",,"plateau/173.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 90/3",,,"1b","Recorded CUCC 1990","Lies along fracture line from 172 with several shafts connected by a narrow rift. Most of these are snow plugged - 173 also has a plug but this has shrunk and a large gap is visible around the edges. Fracture trends 024°, shaft is c20m deep and 7m diameter.",,,,,,,,,"C20m",,,,,,"p173tag",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"Bräuning Nase 191° (1995, 1990 record says 186°), Nipple 159°, Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel appears as two peaks, left hand one is 080° (1995, 1990 figure 082° unclear which peak), Bräuning Zinken 224° (1995, 1990:220°)",,,,,"
","Originally marked ""CUCC 90/3"" in red, changed to ""173"" in 1991. An Austrian metal tag bolted to entrance in 1995." +173,"1/S +",,"90/3",,"plateau/173.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 90/3",,,"1b","Recorded CUCC 1990","Lies along fracture line from 172 with several shafts connected by a narrow rift. Most of these are snow plugged - 173 also has a plug but this has shrunk and a large gap is visible around the edges. Fracture trends 024°, shaft is c20m deep and 7m diameter.",,,,,,,,,"C20m",,,,,,"t173",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"Bräuning Nase 191° (1995, 1990 record says 186°), Nipple 159°, Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel appears as two peaks, left hand one is 080° (1995, 1990 figure 082° unclear which peak), Bräuning Zinken 224° (1995, 1990:220°)",,,,,"
","Originally marked ""CUCC 90/3"" in red, changed to ""173"" in 1991. An Austrian metal tag bolted to entrance in 1995." 174,"1/S +",,"90/4",,"plateau/174.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 90/4",,,"1b","Recorded CUCC 1990, descended by Adam ?","c 30m shaft, climbable for first 10m to rock bridge. Snow at bottom, but cobble floor also visible.",,,,,,,,,"C30m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1665m (by altimeter set 1610 at Bergrestaurant)","Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel 088° (1995, 1990:087°) to right hand peak, Rightmost apparent peak of three on Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel 160° (1990), Bräuning Nase 188° (1995, 1990:189°), Bräuning Zinken 221° (1995, 1990:218°)",,"Situated on fracture bearing 044° which forms prominent banded cliff visible North of Top Camp on second low ridge.","This cave is quite hard to find, even though the bearings get you very close. It is just below a cliff, which is almost the highest bit of cliff in the vicinity. The entrance is almost on the (E-W) axis on the ridge and the cliff faces SE. The number is easily missed.",,"
","Originally marked ""CUCC 90/4"" in red, changed to ""174"" in 1991. An Austrian metal tag bolted to entrance in 1995." 175,"1/S -",,"90/5",,"plateau/175.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 90/5",,,"1b","Recorded CUCC 1990, but not descended ?","c20m shaft, snow at bottom, but quite possibly open.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Nipple 167°, Bräuning Nase 193°, Bräuning Zinken 220°, HSK 100° (1990 bearings)",,,"Further round cliff to NE of 174 on NW side of shallow valley bounded on one side by the HSK.
If you are coming from 174, 175 is a couple of scars down from where you arrive by simply following the cliff.",,"
","Originally marked ""CUCC 90/5"" in red, changed to ""175"" in 1991. An Austrian metal tag bolted to entrance in 1995." 176,"1/S -",,"90/6",,"plateau/176.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 90/6",,,"1b","Recorded CUCC 1990","c30m shaft with snow-covered ledge at 15m. Rocks thrown down land on cobble floor.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1665m (by altimeter set 1610 at Bergrestaurant)","Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel 102½ (1995, to left hand peak; 1990/91 100 or 104°?), rightmost (of three) peak of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel 168½° (1990/91: 167 or 169°), Bräuning Nase 195° (1995, 1990:193°), Bräuning Zinken 220½ (1995, 1990/91 220 or 214°), Top Camp 192° (1991?)",,"At foot of SE-facing scar, just NE of a much more obvious (but unmarked) NW-SE rift with snow. Below this scar is a pavement formed in a shelly band of limestone, which dips c 10-15° on a strike of 135-315°. Following the pavement down and dropping down one scar leads to 175.",,,"
","Originally marked ""CUCC 90/6"" in red, changed to ""176"" in 1991, on scar above cave, rather small. An Austrian metal tag bolted to entrance next to the number in 1995." @@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ 179,"1/S +",,"90/9",,"plateau/179.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 90/9",,,"1b","CUCC 1990 ","A 7m pitch leading to c5m of low cave.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Bräuning Scharte 218°",,,,,, 180,"2/S +",,"90/10",,"smkridge/180.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 90/10",,,"2b","CUCC 1990 ","There is an ice shaft under collapsed boulders. A bedding in the side of this gives access to two adjacent loose pitches. Various impenetrable vocal connections to the surface exist. 30m pitch with ledge and rebelay at -15m leads to Icicle Works - very nice stals and flows. Follow flow down hole Slush crawl then rift. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p180",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"Located on terrace N of 161b and 161c (French entrance), before a big bowl of choss and rifts.",,,"
","Red painted ""CUCC 90/10"". Spit placed for tag in 1997. Tag 1999" 181,"1/S +",,"90/11",,"plateau/181.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 90/11",,,"1b","CUCC 1990 ","12m shaft with snow at bottom and rocky ledge at -5m. Aligned on 120°. Short way off at bottom is soon too tight.",,,,,,,,,"12m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"HSK 074°, Bräuning Nase 165°, Bräuning Scharte 194°, Bräuning Zinken 216°",,,,,, -182,"4/S +",,"90/12",,"plateau/182.htm",,"Bovistundpuderzuckerhöhle","Puffball and Icing Sugar Cave",,"1a","CUCC 1990-1992 - see History for index into logbooks","The main entrance joins with a secondary, slightly smaller entrance in a daylit chamber on top of a snow plug. Sky can be seen through a third entrance in the ceiling, which is surrounded by undergrowth on the surface. A hole down the back edge of the snow plug leads to a slither down a partially iced steep (30°) boulder slope, with a low ceiling which soon rises. A large boulder several metres across is jammed across the slope at a few metres further down, below which the boulder slope continues. An inlet to the left just before an ice formation soon becomes too tight. Carrying on, the slope soon gives way to a traverse above a vadose canyon, with a laddered climb (6m) after about 25m. It is possible to continue along the top of the rift all the way to above the top of shell pitch. It is much more spacious than below but has a couple of bad steps.
From the bottom of the ladder, the passage soon drops down a climb of 2m. Then there is a winding, rifty passageway, named ""Magic Mushroom Passage"" due to the peculiar mushroom-like formations on the walls. These, together with the white dusty look of the walls in places, give the cave its name. After 100m the rift widens, and a traverse develops above a narrower rift below. The upper level may be followed to above the first rope pitch, but the more usual route is to climb down a rock pile into the lower rift (40cm wide), which is known as the Yorkshire Ripper, due to the effect of the sharp, narrow rift on oversuits, and the Yorkshire feel of the cave at this point. After 15m, relieved at one point by a small alcove with an irritating spray of water, the narrow rift widens, after a final flourish, to the head of the first rope pitch (6m).
Shell Pitch
Carrying on from the base of the pitch, the tiny rift in the floor deepens, and traversing along leads soon to the head of Shell pitch (19m). Descending gives a fine view of the chamber, the walls of which contain many large bivalve fossils (hence the pitch's name). From this chamber, a short traverse leads to a junction. Left is an unclimbable aven, whilst to the right is Piezo de Resistance, described below. The main route is currently down Q8 pitch which is broken by a ledge after 16m. After a further 9m and a rebelay, a pendulum through a window to one side leads on. Descending further, the shaft stops after 19m and a further rebelay. There are no passable ways on from the bottom (Strike One).
After the pendulum, a vast army of rebelays lies in wait (Dot to Dot), eventually ending in a larger pitch (25m) the bottom of which, again, has no ways on (Strike Two).
Yet again, a pendulum (at -14m) yields more cave (Bottom Bypass). A dubious 11m hang leads to a ledge. At one end of the ledge, ducking under an arch enters a chamber at the bottom of a high shaft (Lady's Loo), down which a vast torrent pours in wet weather. A further 9m down from the ledge is a floor. Progress can be made along the top of a slimy keyhole shaped rift (Tarzan's Folly) which is irritating to pass, especially with tackle. After 20m, a false floor appears and a few metres further on is The Dark Room, a high chamber with dark, textured walls. A waterfall cascades down from unfathomable heights, and pounds onto a ledge to the back right of the cavern.
Climbing down a slimy slope (which in an ideal world would be lined) the way on is along a rift which exits from the rear of the chamber on the left side. The rift has a couple of false floors in it. The middle level leads to the head of the next pitch: Natural Redundancy (11m) is reached after about 10m. The rope is belayed to a large chock stone at head level, then to a bolt about two inches from a beautifully rounded thread, hence the name. Cyclotron pitch follows immediately, then comes Quark, Strangeness and Charm, a rift passage with many possible traverse levels. In places there are flowstone bosses, and near the roof, some odd tippex stals can be seen. The formations are only notable due to their rarity in the caves of this region.
| Cloud Chamber | Quark Strangeness & Charm |
At the end of QS&C, the passage sweeps round to the left as the floor drops away into Cloud Chamber. The pitch is broken by two rebelays. The grade 5 survey stops about 20m back from the pitch head. The details of the passage leading to the next pitch are uncertain, although the consensus is that it is around 20-30m long, and fairly straight. The lack of information led to the name Amnesia Alleyway. The next pitch is NDE, an acronym for ""Near Death Experience"" , since a party of cavers was flood-pulsed just below this pitch during the initial exploration. This incident also named The Delicate Sound of Thunder, another rift passage with a traverse along to a pitch (Traditional Style - laddered in 1991, marking the end of exploration that year).
After the first 5m slope to a rebelay, Traditional Style drops 12m (with one deviation) to a wide shelf. At the right hand edge is another 12m pitch. This lands in a muddy area which quickly becomes a very muddy steeply descending rift. An 8m pitch (2 bolts, Y-hang) a bit of clambering and a 5m pitch (one bolt) get you to a washing-up-bowl-sized sump at -292m.
5m up on the left hand wall (by the last bit of string) is a muddy crawl. This is below the 'tide-mark' of the sump so is somewhat oppressive. It leads, after 8m to a high parallel rift. A couple of 2m climbs ahead lead back down to another, slightly larger, sump. The rift rises at least 20m, apparently without connecting back to the main descent route.
From the head of ""Q8"" pitch, an alternative route may be followed along a rift on a fault at 20-200°, hading 80° to the west. Taking the passage to the right, a traverse develops after 10m. Water sinks into a hole in the floor after a further 10m, and beyond this, is a 9m pitch, followed after 10m or so by a longer pitch of 16mm.
| Crow's Nest | The Chimney |
This lands on a ledge with an obvious continuation below, but the route, to keep away from potential water, takes a much more interesting route. It goes up a 6m pitch to the Crow's Nest, a narrow rock rib separating two parts of the shaft. This was originally reached by a bolt traverse round the right hand wall. From the Crow's Nest, The Chimney drops 30m in typical Puffball triangular pitch (elliptical joint-aligned phreas cut down on lower side by vadose action). The rope stays resolutely on the upper side with a series of epic hanging rebelays.
At the bottom a 34m freehang lands in the Darkroom, but the bottom of this is in the waterfall (noted in the Darkroom description), so the route goes through a window near the top of the hang which gives a nice dry 30m hang.",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 5","caves/182/182.svx",,"292m",,,,,,,"p182",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"Bräuning Scharte 180°,Bräuning Zinken 210°, HSK 070°. Journal CU's 1991,92 says VSK 210° but this has to be a typo, maybe 110 ?
Top Camp below the Bräuning wall is on 144° and +01.5° but can't actually be seen from entrance.",,,,,"
Entrance Rift
", +182,"4/S +",,"90/12",,"plateau/182.htm",,"Bovistundpuderzuckerhöhle","Puffball and Icing Sugar Cave",,"1a","CUCC 1990-1992 - see History for index into logbooks","The main entrance joins with a secondary, slightly smaller entrance in a daylit chamber on top of a snow plug. Sky can be seen through a third entrance in the ceiling, which is surrounded by undergrowth on the surface. A hole down the back edge of the snow plug leads to a slither down a partially iced steep (30°) boulder slope, with a low ceiling which soon rises. A large boulder several metres across is jammed across the slope at a few metres further down, below which the boulder slope continues. An inlet to the left just before an ice formation soon becomes too tight. Carrying on, the slope soon gives way to a traverse above a vadose canyon, with a laddered climb (6m) after about 25m. It is possible to continue along the top of the rift all the way to above the top of shell pitch. It is much more spacious than below but has a couple of bad steps.
From the bottom of the ladder, the passage soon drops down a climb of 2m. Then there is a winding, rifty passageway, named ""Magic Mushroom Passage"" due to the peculiar mushroom-like formations on the walls. These, together with the white dusty look of the walls in places, give the cave its name. After 100m the rift widens, and a traverse develops above a narrower rift below. The upper level may be followed to above the first rope pitch, but the more usual route is to climb down a rock pile into the lower rift (40cm wide), which is known as the Yorkshire Ripper, due to the effect of the sharp, narrow rift on oversuits, and the Yorkshire feel of the cave at this point. After 15m, relieved at one point by a small alcove with an irritating spray of water, the narrow rift widens, after a final flourish, to the head of the first rope pitch (6m).
Shell Pitch
Carrying on from the base of the pitch, the tiny rift in the floor deepens, and traversing along leads soon to the head of Shell pitch (19m). Descending gives a fine view of the chamber, the walls of which contain many large bivalve fossils (hence the pitch's name). From this chamber, a short traverse leads to a junction. Left is an unclimbable aven, whilst to the right is Piezo de Resistance, described below. The main route is currently down Q8 pitch which is broken by a ledge after 16m. After a further 9m and a rebelay, a pendulum through a window to one side leads on. Descending further, the shaft stops after 19m and a further rebelay. There are no passable ways on from the bottom (Strike One).
After the pendulum, a vast army of rebelays lies in wait (Dot to Dot), eventually ending in a larger pitch (25m) the bottom of which, again, has no ways on (Strike Two).
Yet again, a pendulum (at -14m) yields more cave (Bottom Bypass). A dubious 11m hang leads to a ledge. At one end of the ledge, ducking under an arch enters a chamber at the bottom of a high shaft (Lady's Loo), down which a vast torrent pours in wet weather. A further 9m down from the ledge is a floor. Progress can be made along the top of a slimy keyhole shaped rift (Tarzan's Folly) which is irritating to pass, especially with tackle. After 20m, a false floor appears and a few metres further on is The Dark Room, a high chamber with dark, textured walls. A waterfall cascades down from unfathomable heights, and pounds onto a ledge to the back right of the cavern.
Climbing down a slimy slope (which in an ideal world would be lined) the way on is along a rift which exits from the rear of the chamber on the left side. The rift has a couple of false floors in it. The middle level leads to the head of the next pitch: Natural Redundancy (11m) is reached after about 10m. The rope is belayed to a large chock stone at head level, then to a bolt about two inches from a beautifully rounded thread, hence the name. Cyclotron pitch follows immediately, then comes Quark, Strangeness and Charm, a rift passage with many possible traverse levels. In places there are flowstone bosses, and near the roof, some odd tippex stals can be seen. The formations are only notable due to their rarity in the caves of this region.
| Cloud Chamber | Quark Strangeness & Charm |
At the end of QS&C, the passage sweeps round to the left as the floor drops away into Cloud Chamber. The pitch is broken by two rebelays. The grade 5 survey stops about 20m back from the pitch head. The details of the passage leading to the next pitch are uncertain, although the consensus is that it is around 20-30m long, and fairly straight. The lack of information led to the name Amnesia Alleyway. The next pitch is NDE, an acronym for ""Near Death Experience"" , since a party of cavers was flood-pulsed just below this pitch during the initial exploration. This incident also named The Delicate Sound of Thunder, another rift passage with a traverse along to a pitch (Traditional Style - laddered in 1991, marking the end of exploration that year).
After the first 5m slope to a rebelay, Traditional Style drops 12m (with one deviation) to a wide shelf. At the right hand edge is another 12m pitch. This lands in a muddy area which quickly becomes a very muddy steeply descending rift. An 8m pitch (2 bolts, Y-hang) a bit of clambering and a 5m pitch (one bolt) get you to a washing-up-bowl-sized sump at -292m.
5m up on the left hand wall (by the last bit of string) is a muddy crawl. This is below the 'tide-mark' of the sump so is somewhat oppressive. It leads, after 8m to a high parallel rift. A couple of 2m climbs ahead lead back down to another, slightly larger, sump. The rift rises at least 20m, apparently without connecting back to the main descent route.
From the head of ""Q8"" pitch, an alternative route may be followed along a rift on a fault at 20-200°, hading 80° to the west. Taking the passage to the right, a traverse develops after 10m. Water sinks into a hole in the floor after a further 10m, and beyond this, is a 9m pitch, followed after 10m or so by a longer pitch of 16mm.
| Crow's Nest | The Chimney |
This lands on a ledge with an obvious continuation below, but the route, to keep away from potential water, takes a much more interesting route. It goes up a 6m pitch to the Crow's Nest, a narrow rock rib separating two parts of the shaft. This was originally reached by a bolt traverse round the right hand wall. From the Crow's Nest, The Chimney drops 30m in typical Puffball triangular pitch (elliptical joint-aligned phreas cut down on lower side by vadose action). The rope stays resolutely on the upper side with a series of epic hanging rebelays.
At the bottom a 34m freehang lands in the Darkroom, but the bottom of this is in the waterfall (noted in the Darkroom description), so the route goes through a window near the top of the hang which gives a nice dry 30m hang.",,,,,"In dataset","? grade 5","caves/182/182.svx","1177m","292m","302m",,,,,,"p182",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"Bräuning Scharte 180°,Bräuning Zinken 210°, HSK 070°. Journal CU's 1991,92 says VSK 210° but this has to be a typo, maybe 110 ?
Top Camp below the Bräuning wall is on 144° and +01.5° but can't actually be seen from entrance.",,,,,"
Entrance Rift
", 183,"2/S +",,"90/13",,"plateau/183.htm",,"Elchfalle",,,"1a","CUCC 1990-1992","A small man-sized hole behind a flake in the obvious fault. Boulder almost blocking entrance was pulled clear in 1992. Descend a boulder pile for 5m then sloping start to an 8m pitch. Strong draught at this point. A few metres of boulder-floored passage lead to another short pitch (5m sloping, then 5m vertical). Another very short passage leads to the third pitch of 10m to a flat boulder floor followed quickly by the fourth pitch rigged clear of a tiny stream by bolts on the roof/far wall. This is again c 10m with a deviation half way to land on more boulders. The water quickly sinks in these, and a little way forward, a hole opens onto a pitch of 6m rigged from a Y-hang. The stream comes down at the east end of this chamber, joined by another inlet from the north, and leaves south to another 5m pitch, quickly followed by another 5m pitch to a terminal rift.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/183/183.svx","106m","71m",,,,,,,"p183",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"From 182, go N up pavement. Just over crest turn left along sporadically vegetated ledge below 2m wall (to S). After 100m, a large fault is met which contains 183. ",,, 184,"1/T +",,"90/14",,"plateau/184.htm",,"Shiruken",,,"1a","Recorded CUCC 1990, descended by Adam ?","It's a sharp narrow canyon and it's a BASTARD. Hence is called Shiruken (the sharp spikey things Ninjas throw).",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p184",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"From 183, go south up the fault until an area of exposed limestone is met on the left (about 20m). Go left (E) along this exposure up to where the bunde starts and locate a surface stream canyon. This becomes 184 when it goes underground (and it's marked). ",,, 185,"2/S +",,,,"smkridge/185.htm",,"Zweijahreentstehungshöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 1990 ","A narrow slot first bolted in 1988 and descended in 1990. First pitch, Fancy a coffee, descends past a small snow plug down to a large(ish) chamber covered with snow which appears to be about 7m deep. A small section to the left lets in a shaft of light, which changes from a wide beam to a narrow one. A low crawl on the left (ice covered) leads to the second pitch Your place or mine ?, a short (3m approx) drop to a ledge, then a longer (10 to 13m) drop down to the floor. The second pitch is slightly wet, with small amounts of water dripping from the roof. A loose climb leads to a tight crawl and even tighter pitch (Marble Sink revisited, JR), which is now named get yer kit off. This descends into a small chamber, where the limestone changes in colour from yellow to blue. A rift then drops into a boulder covered chamber, with a larger boulder choked to the right and a very, very small hole leading to the left for a few metres. The fourth and probably final pitch has been named Came too soon.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/185/185.svx",,,,,,,,,"p185",,,"Nils","gps96.185 gps96bestfit.185","gps00.185",,,,,,"On pavement on the east side of the col between the two Schwarzmooskogels on the usual (89/90) route from Top Camp to 161.",,,, @@ -234,8 +234,8 @@ ,,"b",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"c",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"d",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, -189,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/189.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 189",,,"1a","CUCC 1993 or 1994","In fact, it doesn't appear to have been written up at the time. It was redescended in 1996, and there is nothing in the 1996 logbook or notKH survey book, so there is no description here.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p189tag",,,,"Surface survey","gps96.164/189",,,,,,,,"From Schwarzmoossattel directly out onto the plateau, keeping to the left edge of a large flat area of karren, passes first Fuchshöhle B11, then 164, a snow-plugged shaft below a small north-facing scar. 164 and 189 are both on the same joint going 018-198°: a few metres north of 164 is a fault line on 102-282° with a large open and heavily snow-plugged shaft, noted often since 1976, but not explored and written up until 1994 (or 1993?).",,"
164 entrance (left of centre) seen over 189 entrance.
The entrance looking north during surface survey in 1996.
","This is 189, numbered in red paint, and marked with an Austrian metal tag in 1995." -190,"1/S/t/E =",,"B9",,"plateau/190.htm",,"Glitterstompf",,"B9 now known to be same as 190","1a","CUCC 1976, 1993","Rectangular shaft 6.7m long (aligned on a joint on 275°) and 4.0m wide. Wall on south side is 1.5m higher than rest of surface. Freeclimb descent of 6m to scree/boulder floor usually with snow plug. At eastern end of the south wall, a horizontal passage leads 7.5m on 185° to the lip of a second pitch. This is 10m leading to a big rift. Ahead over boulders and ice an 8m pitch descends through (sic) spectacular ice stalactites. Way on is effectively blocked by ice but could well connect with a major shaft nearby (1623/189), not descended in 1976 on account of the condition of the ice. The small alternative hole back in the rift is blocked by ice at -6m.
In 1993 the cave was ""extremely cold and some ice formations"".",,,,,,,,,"c 25m",,,,,,"p190tag",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"From 164, north to an east-west fault line (climbing past the large open and heavily snow-plugged shaft, which is 189). To the east, this fault line is a north-facing scarp, below which is 190 (number in red, and Austrian metal tag on this wall above the SW corner of the shaft), somewhat before (ie. west of) B8 (1623/197). ",,"
","On wall above entrance, facing N, number in red, 1993. Austrian metal tag, 1995. The 1976 number ""B9"" was in dull green and was already hard to spot in 1977, since when it has not been seen." +189,"1/S +",,,,"plateau/189.htm",,"Plateau Schacht 189",,,"1a","CUCC 1993 or 1994","In fact, it doesn't appear to have been written up at the time. It was redescended in 1996, and there is nothing in the 1996 logbook or notKH survey book, so there is no description here.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"t189",,,,"Surface survey","gps96.164/189",,,,,,,,"From Schwarzmoossattel directly out onto the plateau, keeping to the left edge of a large flat area of karren, passes first Fuchshöhle B11, then 164, a snow-plugged shaft below a small north-facing scar. 164 and 189 are both on the same joint going 018-198°: a few metres north of 164 is a fault line on 102-282° with a large open and heavily snow-plugged shaft, noted often since 1976, but not explored and written up until 1994 (or 1993?).",,"
164 entrance (left of centre) seen over 189 entrance.
The entrance looking north during surface survey in 1996.
","This is 189, numbered in red paint, and marked with an Austrian metal tag in 1995." +190,"1/S/t/E =",,"B9",,"plateau/190.htm",,"Glitterstompf",,"B9 now known to be same as 190","1a","CUCC 1976, 1993","Rectangular shaft 6.7m long (aligned on a joint on 275°) and 4.0m wide. Wall on south side is 1.5m higher than rest of surface. Freeclimb descent of 6m to scree/boulder floor usually with snow plug. At eastern end of the south wall, a horizontal passage leads 7.5m on 185° to the lip of a second pitch. This is 10m leading to a big rift. Ahead over boulders and ice an 8m pitch descends through (sic) spectacular ice stalactites. Way on is effectively blocked by ice but could well connect with a major shaft nearby (1623/189), not descended in 1976 on account of the condition of the ice. The small alternative hole back in the rift is blocked by ice at -6m.
In 1993 the cave was ""extremely cold and some ice formations"".",,,,,,,,,"c 25m",,,,,,"t190",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"From 164, north to an east-west fault line (climbing past the large open and heavily snow-plugged shaft, which is 189). To the east, this fault line is a north-facing scarp, below which is 190 (number in red, and Austrian metal tag on this wall above the SW corner of the shaft), somewhat before (ie. west of) B8 (1623/197). ",,"
","On wall above entrance, facing N, number in red, 1993. Austrian metal tag, 1995. The 1976 number ""B9"" was in dull green and was already hard to spot in 1977, since when it has not been seen." 191,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/191.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 191",,,"2b","CUCC 1995 ","A 1½m diameter shaft in a limestone shelf with the sound of water. 4m 1st pitch leads to loose floor sloping to passage 3m long heading SSW. 2nd pitch in floor has water entering from above (which could simply be meltwater). 5m pitch leads to sloping boulder choke. ",,,,"Anthony from James 95.07.08 S94p45",,,,,,,,,,,,"p191",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,"Trisselberg cross 185½°, Summit of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel 222½°, Prominent col to north of Trisselberg 147½°.",,"About 100m NNE from 161c",,,,"""CUCC 191 +"" in paint and a metal tag ""CUCC 191"" added in 1997." 192,"1/S -",,,,"smkridge/192.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 192",,,"2b","Unknown, and CUCC 1995 (unfinished) ","About a 15m shaft with a large rift at the bottom. Probably doesn't go but can't be sure. Rift c 10m long, on 50-230° with deepest point to SW. Descended to -10m on ladder, but can't see round corner to left (SE) below. Existing spit found near top, but previously unmarked.",,,,"Kate 95.07.26 S94p42",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"c1755m","1623/161c 200°",,"About 100m NNE from 161c, and a few metres higher.",,"Two cairns, one either side of entrance.",,"Marked with the number in paint" 193,"1/S +",,,,"smkridge/193.htm",,"Schwa Schacht 193",,,"2b","CUCC 1995, 2000 ","Rift at 70-80°. A 3m by 4m shaft descends 7m to a rock floor. To the south a tight bit of rift can be entered for a few metres. To the west a small chamber can be entered via a 1m step down.",,,,"
","In dataset","
","caves/193/193.svx",,,,,,,,,"p193",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"200m East of 161c.",,,,"tag 2000"
@@ -245,11 +245,11 @@
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",,,,,,"b8tag",,,,"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)
","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." 198,"2/S +",,"B11",,"plateau/198.htm",,"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",,,,,,,,,,,"gps96bestfit.b11 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.",,,"
","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 will shortly be replaced (on the same bolt) with a new tag bearing the official Austrian number.
Retagged 1999" 199,"1/T +",,,,"smkridge/199.htm",,"Stürzender Felsbrocken Höhle","Tumbling Boulder Hole",,"2b","
","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","65m","29m",,,,,,,"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.",,,"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)." -200,"1/S +",,"93/01",,"plateau/200.htm",,"Verlorener Rucksack Schacht","Lost Rucksack Cave",,"1b","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.",,,,,,"
",,,"45m",,,,,,"p200tag",,,,"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 Lätchen), 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
","M6 stud with alloy tag ""CUCC 1993 01"" on flat rock NE of shaft. This will be replaced with the correct kataster number in due course." +200,"1/S +",,"93/01",,"plateau/200.htm",,"Verlorener Rucksack Schacht","Lost Rucksack Cave",,"1b","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.",,,,,,"
",,,"45m",,,,,,"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 Lätchen), 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
","M6 stud with alloy tag ""CUCC 1993 01"" on flat rock NE of shaft. This will be replaced with the correct kataster number in due course." 201,"1/S +",,"1998/01",,"smkridge/201.htm",,"Haftefelle Schacht","Ski-skin shaft",,"2b","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","15m","15m",,,,,,,"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.",,,"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)." 202,,,,,"noinfo/smkridge/202.html",,"Dominoschacht",,,"2b",,,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/202/202.svx",,,,,,,,,"p202",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, 203,,,,,"noinfo/smkridge/203.html",,"Sonnenscheinschacht",,,"2b",,,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/203/203.svx",,,,,,,,,"p203",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, -204,"5/S x","a b c d e f","CUCC 1999/03","yes","smkridge/204/204.html",,"Steinbrückenhöhle",,,"2b","
","
",,"Question mark list and Completed question mark list. ",,,"In dataset","
","caves/204/204.svx","7.2km","510m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on the west side of the col between the Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel and Nieder Augst-Eck. It is currently one of the main areas of exploration for CUCC, who in 2001 established a bivvy site under the stone bridge opposite the entrance.","The route from Top Camp used since 1999 (probably near optimal) is a cairned path via Wolfhöhle (1623/145) and Laser Point 5, then up to the top of the bare patch of white limestone visible from Top Camp, passing 195 and 196. The path used in 2001 then skirts around the contours, passing the unmistakable arched entrance of Hauchhöhle, to arrive directly opposite the stone bridge after which the cave was named (in previous years a route slightly higher up towards the Hinter was used, which some people still prefer; this is also cairned). Alternatively, the cave may be approached from the summit of HSK - probably the optimal route if you are coming from any of the 161 entrances.",,,"Tags on both 204a and 204b entrances." +204,"5/S x","a b c d e f","CUCC 1999/03","yes","smkridge/204/204.html",,"Steinbrückenhöhle",,,"2b","
","
",,"Question mark list and Completed question mark list. ",,,"In dataset","
","caves/204/204.svx","7.2km","510m","645m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on the west side of the col between the Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel and Nieder Augst-Eck. It is currently one of the main areas of exploration for CUCC, who in 2001 established a bivvy site under the stone bridge opposite the entrance.","The route from Top Camp used since 1999 (probably near optimal) is a cairned path via Wolfhöhle (1623/145) and Laser Point 5, then up to the top of the bare patch of white limestone visible from Top Camp, passing 195 and 196. The path used in 2001 then skirts around the contours, passing the unmistakable arched entrance of Hauchhöhle, to arrive directly opposite the stone bridge after which the cave was named (in previous years a route slightly higher up towards the Hinter was used, which some people still prefer; this is also cairned). Alternatively, the cave may be approached from the summit of HSK - probably the optimal route if you are coming from any of the 161 entrances.",,,"Tags on both 204a and 204b entrances." ,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p204a",,,"Nils",,,,,,,,,,,,"tag" ,,"b",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p204b",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,,"tag" ,,"c",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p204c",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, @@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ ,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p208",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"b",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 209,"1/S +",,"1996WK8 (maybe also CUCC 1996-08)",,"smkridge/209.htm",,"Schistock-Absturzschacht","Dropped skipole hole",,"2b","
","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.",,,"136d Tag, 8m away. ?has its own tag too" -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",,,,,,,"p210tag","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 Lätchen), 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 on doline wall opposite cave." +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 Lätchen), 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 on doline wall opposite cave." 211,,,,,,,"?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 212,,,,,,,"?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 213,,,,,,,"?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, @@ -282,9 +282,9 @@ 219,"1/S -",,"1996WK5",,"smkridge/219.html",,"Tertaeingfester",,,"2b","CUCC 1996 (Wookey)","Cave in rift with two vertical ways in, both c 5m deep. There is a tight third way in at an angle. The floor of the rift chokes.",,,,,,"? wookey.",,,,,,,,,,"p219",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.219",,,,"Grießkogel: 354°, HSK (rightmost peak) 018°",,"Holes CUCC1996WK5 and CUCC1996WK6 are close together, at GPS fix GK 5411291 5282969. (Converted from GPS: E 36414 N (52)82369 H?, Averaged from GPS: E 36417 N (52)82366 H? )","On return from 161d, whilst heading up gully towards the col (and survey point Vd1), turn off left heading for top of VSK.",,,"tag 2000 as WOOK5" 220,,,"2000-04",,,,"Kennedyalternature",,,,"CUCC ?Wookey","? wookey",,,,,,"? wookey.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"? wookey","? wookey","? wookey","? wookey", 221,,,,,,,"?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, -222,"1/S -",,"1996-04",,"smkridge/222.html",,"Gösserhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 1993 (only marked “+""), 1996","Large space at foot of 5m cliff in very broken area. 5 x 1.8m shaft bridged by chockstone, 8m deep to a sloping choked floor.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p222",,,"Surface survey","gps96bestfit.96_04","gps00.96_04 gps00.96_04a",,,,"VSK (probably true summit): 213°, ?? (not Hollweiser - nearest peak across Hochklapf valley): 114°",,"East of HSK summit, in an area of small shafts (north of CUCC 96-02, south of 96-03)",,,,"A spit with tag ""CUCC 9604"" placed in 1996 and a red ""+"" next to chockstone on east side opposite cliff." -223,"1/S -",,"1996-03",,"smkridge/223.html",,"Eggenbergschacht",,,"2b","CUCC 1993 (only marked “+""), drawn + tagged 1996, surveyed 2000","Cave appears as narrow slot. Two tight holes after 6m climb down gives p10 to choked floor & quite large chamber 10 x 5m floor area.","Ladder required",,,,,"? wookey.",,,,,,,,,,"p223",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.96_03",,,,"VSK (probably true summit): 213°, ?? (not Hollweiser - nearest peak across Hochklapf valley): 114°",,"East of HSK summit, in an area of small shafts (north of CUCC 96-02 and 96-04)","See 2000 survey",,"
","A spit with tag ""CUCC 96-03"" placed in 1996 and a red ""+"", both on wall of doline facing north." -224,"1/S -",,"1996-02",,"smkridge/224.html",,"Toplesscayonhöhle ",,,"2b","CUCC 1993 (only marked “+""), explored 1996, surveyed 2000","Cave is exposed section of canyon formed on a bend. Bridge of roof remains at one point, separating the two entrances. At the bottom of the canyon (~8m deep) about 10m of descending rift is accessible with a climb back up part way along. All choked.","No tackle required",,,,,"? plan, elevation",,,,,,,,,,"p224",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.96_02",,,,"VSK (probably true summit): 213°, ?? (not Hollweiser - nearest peak across Hochklapf valley): 114°",,"East of HSK summit, in an area of small shafts (south of CUCC 96-03 and 96-04)","area map notKH p23.",,,"A spit with tag ""CUCC 9602"" placed in 1996 and a red ""+"", on wall of canyon, facing west." +222,"1/S -",,"1996-04",,"smkridge/222.html",,"Gösserhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 1993 (only marked ""+""), 1996","Large space at foot of 5m cliff in very broken area. 5 x 1.8m shaft bridged by chockstone, 8m deep to a sloping choked floor.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p222",,,"Surface survey","gps96bestfit.96_04","gps00.96_04 gps00.96_04a",,,,"VSK (probably true summit): 213°, ?? (not Hollweiser - nearest peak across Hochklapf valley): 114°",,"East of HSK summit, in an area of small shafts (north of CUCC 96-02, south of 96-03)",,,,"A spit with tag ""CUCC 9604"" placed in 1996 and a red ""+"" next to chockstone on east side opposite cliff." +223,"1/S -",,"1996-03",,"smkridge/223.html",,"Eggenbergschacht",,,"2b","CUCC 1993 (only marked ""+""), drawn + tagged 1996, surveyed 2000","Cave appears as narrow slot. Two tight holes after 6m climb down gives p10 to choked floor & quite large chamber 10 x 5m floor area.","Ladder required",,,,,"? wookey.",,,,,,,,,,"p223",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.96_03",,,,"VSK (probably true summit): 213°, ?? (not Hollweiser - nearest peak across Hochklapf valley): 114°",,"East of HSK summit, in an area of small shafts (north of CUCC 96-02 and 96-04)","See 2000 survey",,"
","A spit with tag ""CUCC 96-03"" placed in 1996 and a red ""+"", both on wall of doline facing north." +224,"1/S -",,"1996-02",,"smkridge/224.html",,"Toplesscayonhöhle ",,,"2b","CUCC 1993 (only marked ""+""), explored 1996, surveyed 2000","Cave is exposed section of canyon formed on a bend. Bridge of roof remains at one point, separating the two entrances. At the bottom of the canyon (~8m deep) about 10m of descending rift is accessible with a climb back up part way along. All choked.","No tackle required",,,,,"? plan, elevation",,,,,,,,,,"p224",,,"Surface survey",,"gps00.96_02",,,,"VSK (probably true summit): 213°, ?? (not Hollweiser - nearest peak across Hochklapf valley): 114°",,"East of HSK summit, in an area of small shafts (south of CUCC 96-03 and 96-04)","area map notKH p23.",,,"A spit with tag ""CUCC 9602"" placed in 1996 and a red ""+"", on wall of canyon, facing west." 225,,,"90 ADAM",,,,"Jahrzehnschacht",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 226,,"a b","1999OB03","yes","plateau/226.html",,"Skaschacht",,,"1a",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"226b tagged in 2001 as 226, 226a untagged" ,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p226a",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, @@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ 228,,,,,"noinfo/egglgrub/228.html",,"?",,,"3 or 7 (unclear)",,,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/228/228.svx",,,,,,,,,"p228",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, 229,,,,,"noinfo/smkridge/229.html",,"?",,,"2b",,,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/229/229.svx",,,,,,,,,"p229",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, 230,"+(?)",,"1999-04",,,,"Vergeßlichheithöhle",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"tag 99-04" -231,"2/E +","a b c d e f g h i","2000-01","yes","smkridge/231/231.html",,"Traungoldhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2000","Entrance A leads to daylight chamber, down an awkward climb, whilst entrance B is a snow and boulder slope to the same chamber. To the right leads to another chamber, which ent H drops into, and a slope up to the left about 2m up the wall leads to entrance D. Continuing on stooping passage leads to a climb which emerges under a stone bridge which contains entrances E, F and G. A crawl at ground level between A & B leads to some loose slopes and entrance I. From the day light chamber the passage to the left leads quickly to a 3m climb down into the largest chamber of the cave. From here around to the left leads to entrance shaft C, and a passage leads off the other side of the shaft that is walking height leading to climbs up over boulders with a loose ceiling above. This leads to a T junction, which ends in boulders to the right and a short climb to a dead end to the left. To the right in the largest chamber, a wide low short passage leads to an ice-floored chamber. Crawling passage then leads to the deepest chmber, which has an ice flow into and down the chamber. At the opposite end of the chamber a 3m climb is reached, which was climbed and quickly closed down. ",,,,,"In dataset","
Survey of 231 ","caves/231/231.svx","229m","27m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated 30m NE of 204b.",,,"
Photo of 231A
","Spit holes prepared, Tags made saying “1623/231"" and may be placed for all entrances." +231,"2/E +","a b c d e f g h i","2000-01","yes","smkridge/231/231.html",,"Traungoldhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2000","Entrance A leads to daylight chamber, down an awkward climb, whilst entrance B is a snow and boulder slope to the same chamber. To the right leads to another chamber, which ent H drops into, and a slope up to the left about 2m up the wall leads to entrance D. Continuing on stooping passage leads to a climb which emerges under a stone bridge which contains entrances E, F and G. A crawl at ground level between A & B leads to some loose slopes and entrance I. From the day light chamber the passage to the left leads quickly to a 3m climb down into the largest chamber of the cave. From here around to the left leads to entrance shaft C, and a passage leads off the other side of the shaft that is walking height leading to climbs up over boulders with a loose ceiling above. This leads to a T junction, which ends in boulders to the right and a short climb to a dead end to the left. To the right in the largest chamber, a wide low short passage leads to an ice-floored chamber. Crawling passage then leads to the deepest chmber, which has an ice flow into and down the chamber. At the opposite end of the chamber a 3m climb is reached, which was climbed and quickly closed down. ",,,,,"In dataset","
Survey of 231 ","caves/231/231.svx","229m","27m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated 30m NE of 204b.",,,"
Photo of 231A
","Spit holes prepared, Tags made saying ""1623/231"" and may be placed for all entrances." ,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231a",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,"
Photo of 231A
", ,,"b",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231b",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"c",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231c",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, @@ -304,19 +304,19 @@ ,,"h",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231h",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"i",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p231i",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, "232-233",,,,,,,,,"Not CUCC numbers; apparently allocated to ARGE",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, -234,"2/S/T x",,"2000-09","yes","smkridge/234/234.html",,"Hauchhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2000, 2002, 2004.","The horizontal entrance slopes downhill for about 20m, passing beneath a skylight and a crawl to the left, entering the Left Hand Series. At the bottom of the slope there is an unpushed crawl to the left and a wriggle up over rubble into a chamber. From this chamber, the obvious way on is a pitch of approximately 15m, but there is a possible crawl above this (doesn't look promising). At the foot of the pitch, in large rift passage, a crawl on the left leads for about 15m before turning left and becoming too tight. Straight ahead, a crawl reaches a junction with continuations upwards, to the left, straight ahead, and to the right, none of which have been pushed. To the right is a further unpushed crawl.
Back in the rift passage is an exposed, but easy traverse leads to an upwards sloping passage, with an aven above from which daylight emerges (vocal connection to the surface shaft tagged 2002-02). The passage continues upwards past some loose boulders to emerge in a small chamber leading down to the right. A wriggle through boulders to the left in the chamber leads to a drop, thought to connect into the roof of Flashgun Chamber - QM C.
Climbing down the hole in the rift leads quickly to Doesn't Go Rift, where an ascending traverse can be followed up a ledge on the left-hand wall; alternatively it is possible to force through at floor level, but this is difficult. Climbing back down as far as two prominent wedged boulders, there are threads in the left-hand wall from which a handline can be rigged for the 3m climb down to the floor of Flashgun Chamber. Here one can climb back down underneath to the head of an undescended, awkward-looking pitch, Foolish Idea - QM B. Climbing up to the left leads to a ledge of loose boulders (care); to the left is a crawl, with a narrow tube in the ceiling and an oxbow on the right. A few metres on there is a T-junction: straight on is tight and looks unpromising - QM C - while the draughting right-hand passage, Geometers' Crawl, is the main way on. A few metres in is the other end of the oxbow from Flashgun Chamber, and further along is a passage on the right, the far end of Clifton's Circuit.
At the end of Geometers' Crawl is a T-junction. Left leads to Hades, two interconnecting parallel passages sloping steeply upward. The right-hand passage is too tight; the left fork levels off slightly, at which point there are three possibilities: straight on is too tight; down a hole in the floor is choked; down and to the left through an extremely tight tube leads to a drop, awkward even to throw stones into, which could possibly be passed by someone really small and ambitious - QM C.. Right is a 2m deep hole in the floor, which can either be traversed over or climbed down.
At the bottom of the 2m climb there are two passages to the right and one to the left. The leftwards branch passes over some dry cascades to a climb down, where there are curious golfball-like formations in the ceiling. Crawling on from here the passage gradually becomes impassably tight; more spacious passage is visible through a slot in the floor, but this seems to be impossible to enter - QM C. The rightwards branches soon unite and lead back into Geometers' Crawl, forming the loop known as Clifton's Circuit.
An intimidating ascending traverse across the hole, You Must Be Joking, soon regains the floor. Climbing into the roof at this point gains access to Dangly Bag Jazz. Straight on is Tacklesack Blues, an awkward section of tight hading rift, with intermittent wider sections where there are holes in the floor - these could possibly be entered but are very tight (QM C). A stal on the right-hand wall heralds the return to easier passage, where there is a triple junction. Climbing down a hole in the floor (handline recommended) leads to a small chamber, with possible crawls left, right and down, all looking tight and awkward - QM C. Traversing over this hole to the left leads to Measles Inlet. Straight on leads to Stalactite Passage.
Stalactite Passage continues to a duck under some formations to the right; shortly beyond this is a choice of a floor-level crawl or a clamber over a greasy slab into a chamber on the right. There is a possible passage in the roof on the right behind some wedged boulders (QM C). Straight on leads to a junction. Straight on is a climb down of around 4m to the head of a large pitch, estimated to be at least 30m - QM A. To the left is an upwards-sloping passage to a triple junction, Forking Hell. The leftmost passage leads to a drop; this has not been descended but there is a light connection to Cess Pot. The middle and largest passage bends round to the right. A sequence of rightward branches all unite at the head of a pitch, probably at least 20m; traversing over this (rope advised) leads to Sweet Sight. Straight on the passage narrows to a short sloping climb up round to the left; at the top of this there is a window into a large chamber with a hole in the floor, Cess Pot . This has not been descended but looks boulderous at the bottom. There may be passage leading off at the far side of the chamber, which could be accessed by an exposed and loose traverse (QM C).
Measles Inlet begins as a fine phreatic passage, sloping slightly upwards. A few metres in there is a passage entering from the left. A few metres into this there is a rightwards bend, at which point a wriggle down into the floor on the left leads to a tight tube, Dangly Bag Jazz; after an S-bend this emerges in the roof above the top end of You Must Be Joking traverse. The passage continues past a prominent pillar to emerge in Cascade Chamber, an aven chamber with water dripping down several tiers of cascades. One can climb up for some distance but it is loose and rather unappealing; decidedly exposed steps lead into two passages to either side, which look rather narrow (QM C); there is also a climb down at floor level at the far end of the chamber, which is too tight after around 3m. The water disappears into a hole in the floor, where there is another small chamber, with a crawl leading off to the right in sharp rock (QM C). The main Measles Inlet passage continues sloping gradually upwards; the left-hand wall is covered in brown mud blobs (hence the passage name). After some distance a chamber is reached; the only obvious way on is a crawl at floor level to the left, which was not pushed as it passes over attractive calcited mud with dessication cracks (QM B).
Traversing round the left-hand side of the pitch (rope advised; two natural pillars provide ample backup, and there is a thread at the far end). This leads to an ascending ruler-straight phreatic tube Sweet Sight. After 30m this bends sharply right, and there is a sloping downwards crawl leading off straight ahead. Round the corner is a chamber, Fledermaushalle, with a high dripping aven on the right; the floor is amply sprinkled with bat excrement, and a bat skeleton was observed by the discoverers in 2004. Across the chamber, a crawl straight on and a slot in the floor are both too tight; but there is a passage leading off to the left. A few metres into this is a branch to the left which connects back to the downward-sloping passage at the previous junction. The main passage continues on for a further 40m or so before closing down in a pebble choke (QM C). Midway along this passage is a climb up into an ascending roof tube on the left (QM B).
The crawl leads to a drop into a rift, where there are three ways on. To the right closes down; to the left, there are crawls at two levels. The higher-level crawl chokes; the two crawls at the lower level unite and then reach a junction. To the left chokes; to the right leads to a chamber. This chamber can also be reached by going straight on from the aforementioned junction at the rift.
From this chamber, there are two ways on. A small choss wall surrounds a vertical hole through which it is possible to drop down (tricky on the return) into a small chamber. From here, an awkward squeeze leads into a continuing crawl, which has not been pushed. To the left is a crawl over choss which enlarges. Straight ahead leads to an earthen-floored draughting crawl which has been dug, and needs further work to get through. Shortly before the crawl becomes flat-out, a tube leading up on the right becomes too tight. After a short distance a tube on the right leads to the head of a pitch (not pushed; probably 15-20m) and continues to a choke. The head of this pitch draughts outwards significantly. ",,,"Form submitted summer 2003 as part of a misnumbering cockup. Resolved 2004-07-28 with allocation of new number 234.",,"In dataset","Plan at 1:250 drawn by Dave, Expo 2004. Will be scanned in due course.","caves/234/234.svx",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The arch-shaped entrance and gully are obvious from the route used in 2000 onwards from Top Camp to Steinbrückenhöhle. Shortly after crossing the large bare area of limestone slabs on the flanks of the Hinter, the path traverses directly around the right-hand side of the entrance gully.",,,"Tag." +234,"3/S/W x",,"2000-09","yes","smkridge/234/234.html",,"Hauchhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2000, 2002, 2004.","The horizontal entrance slopes downhill for about 20m, passing beneath a skylight, and a crawl to the left leading to the Left Hand Series. At the bottom of the slope there is an unpushed crawl to the left [C2002-234-01 C] and a wriggle up over rubble into a chamber. From this chamber, the obvious way on is a pitch of approximately 15m, but there is a possible crawl above this (doesn't look promising).
At the foot of the pitch, in large rift passage, a crawl on the left leads for about 15m before turning left and becoming too tight. Further along, a crawl on the left leads to Underhand Passage, while the main passage continues to a choice of a climb down of around 2m or an ascending traverse round to the left.
The traverse is exposed but easy, and leads to an upwards sloping passage, with an aven above from which daylight emerges; a vocal connection has been established to a nearby surface shaft, which has accordingly been tagged as 234b. The passage continues upwards past some loose boulders to emerge in a small chamber leading down to the right. An awkward wriggle through boulders to the left in the chamber leads to a drop [C2004-234-01 C].
The climb leads to a short slope down, after which ducking under a low arch leads to Doesn't Go Rift, where an ascending traverse can be followed up a ledge on the left-hand wall; alternatively it is possible to force through at floor level, but this is difficult. It is advisable to climbing back down to the level of two prominent wedged boulders, where there are threads in the left-hand wall from which a handline can be rigged for the 3m climb down to the floor of Flashgun Chamber. This is a large rift chamber whose floor slopes upwards steeply to the left; there is an aven above [C2004-234-30 X]. At the bottom of the chamber one can climb back down underneath the rift to the head of an undescended, awkward-looking pitch, Foolish Idea [C2004-234-02 B]. At the far side of the chamber is a ledge loose boulders (care); to the left is a crawl, with a narrow tube in the ceiling and an oxbow on the right. A few metres on there is a T-junction: straight on is tight and looks unpromising [C2004-234-35 B] while the draughting right-hand passage, Geometers' Crawl, is the main way on. A few metres in is the other end of the oxbow, and further along is a passage on the right, the far end of Clifton's Circuit.
At the end of Geometers' Crawl is a T-junction. Left leads to Hades, two interconnecting parallel passages sloping steeply upward. The right-hand passage is too tight; the left fork levels off slightly, at which point there are three possibilities: straight on is too tight; down a hole in the floor is choked; down and to the left through an extremely tight tube leads to a drop, awkward even to throw stones into, which could possibly be passed by someone really small and ambitious [C2004-234-03 C]. Right at the T-junction is a 2m deep hole in the floor, which can either be traversed over or climbed down.
At the bottom of the 2m climb there are two passages to the right and one to the left. The leftwards branch passes over some dry cascades to a climb down, where there are curious golfball-like formations in the ceiling. Crawling on from here the passage gradually becomes impassably tight; more spacious passage is visible through a slot in the floor, but this looks to be difficult to enter to enter [C2004-234-04 C]. The rightwards branches soon unite and lead back into Geometers' Crawl, forming the loop known as Clifton's Circuit.
An intimidating ascending traverse across the hole, You Must Be Joking, soon regains the floor. Climbing into the roof at this point gains access to Dangly Bag Jazz. Straight on is Tacklesack Blues, an awkward section of tight hading rift, with intermittent wider sections where there are holes in the floor - these could possibly be entered but are very tight [C2004-234-11 C]. A stal on the right-hand wall heralds the return to easier passage, where there is a triple junction. Climbing down a hole in the floor (5m handline recommended) leads to a small chamber, with possible crawls left, right and down, all looking tight and awkward [C2004-234-12 C]. Traversing over this hole to the left leads to Measles Inlet. Straight on leads to Stalactite Passage.
Stalactite Passage is a fine stooping-height phreatic passage with a soft mud floor; after a few metres there is a duck under a low section where there are some formations on the right. Shortly beyond this is a choice of a floor-level crawl, or a clamber over a greasy slab, into a chamber on the right. There may be a passage in the roof on the right behind some wedged boulders [C2004-234-13 C]. Immediately beyond is a junction, where a 3m climb leads to the Pie Series, while on the left is an upwards-sloping passage. This soon trifurcates. The leftmost passage leads to a drop [C2004-234-14 C]; this has not been descended but there is a light connection to Cess Pot. The middle and largest passage bends round to the right, where a sequence of small passages branch off to join up with the remaining fork at the head of a loose, chossy pitch of at least ten metres [C2004-234-15 B]; traversing over this leads to Sweet Sight. The main passage continues to a climb up to the left over a large smooth slab, where there is a window into a chamber. There is a possibly free-climbable hole in the floor, Cess Pot [C2004-234-16 B] and there may be passage continuing at the other side of the chamber [C2004-234-17 C]; there is also an aven above [C2004-234-31 X].
Measles Inlet begins as a fine phreatic passage, sloping slightly upwards. A few metres in there is a passage entering from the left. A few metres into this there is a rightwards bend, at which point a wriggle down into the floor on the left leads to a tight tube, Dangly Bag Jazz; after an S-bend this emerges in the roof above the top end of You Must Be Joking traverse. The passage continues past a prominent pillar to emerge in Cascade Chamber, an aven chamber with water dripping down several tiers of cascades. One can climb up for some distance but it is loose and rather unappealing [C2004-234-06 C]; decidedly exposed steps lead into two passages to either side [C2004-234-05 B] [C2004-234-07 B]. There is also a climb down at floor level at the far end of the chamber, which is too tight after around 3m. The water disappears into a hole in the floor, where there is another small chamber, with a crawl leading off to the right in sharp rock [C2004-234-08 C]. The main Measles Inlet passage continues sloping gradually upwards; the left-hand wall is covered in brown mud blobs (hence the passage name). There is a crawl leading off to the right around halfway along [C2004-234-09 C]. After some distance a chamber is reached; the only obvious way on is a crawl at floor level to the left, which was not pushed as it passes over attractive calcited mud with dessication cracks [C2004-234-10 B].
The initial 3m climb is free-climbable but in view of the drop beyond it is advisable to rig from the spit in the ceiling, which may be backed up to a thread back on the right. At the bottom is a wide ledge, with a narrow crawl leading off to the left [C2004-234-20 B]. Ahead is the head of the first pitch, Steak (21m), rigged from a Y-hang in the ceiling and a deviation from the left-hand wall around 5m down. There is a sizeable aven above the pitch [C2004-234-32 X]. The landing is on a boulder floor, a few metres away from the head of the next pitch, Kidney (17m). This is a fine shaft with a kidney-shaped cross-section; it is possible that in wet conditions it might need a deviation to stay out of the drips, but it has been drip-free on all trips so far. The landing is on another boulder-strewn floor; at the far side of the chamber is a narrow slot in the floor, Who Ate All The Pies, bridged by a large boulder. It is possible to squeeze past the boulder and climb down, but it does not appear to be possible to climb back up. For further exploration this will need rigging, and possibly a crowbar [C2004-234-21 A].
Around 5m from the floor of Kidney, a side passage, Crust leads off; after passing a puddle of water it turns to the right and slopes steeply upwards. At the top of the slope the continuation is a mud-floored, body-sized tube, which was explored for some distance but was becoming increasingly tedious; shortly beyond the furthest survey station it opens out into a small chamber (just big enough to turn round in) after which it closes in horizontally to a narrow high slot, which may be passable if anyone can be arsed [C2004-234-22 C]. If anyone does decide to go there, they may wish to collect in passing a bottle of red nail varnish accidentally left at the last survey station by the original explorers!
Traversing round the left-hand side of the pitch (rope advised; two natural pillars provide ample backup, and there is a thread at the far end). This leads to an ascending ruler-straight phreatic tube, Sweet Sight. After 30m this bends sharply right, and there is a sloping downwards crawl leading off straight ahead. Round the corner is a chamber, Fledermaushalle, with a high dripping aven on the right [C2004-234-36 X]; the floor is amply sprinkled with bat excrement, and a bat skeleton was observed by the discoverers in 2004. Across the chamber, a slot in the floor is too tight, and there is a possibly passable but awkward crawl beyond this [C2004-234-18 C]. Easier going is provided by a passage leading off to the left. A few metres into this is a branch to the left which connects back to the downward-sloping passage at the previous junction. The main passage continues on for a further 40m or so before closing down in a pebble choke [C2004-234-19 Dig]. Midway along this passage is a climb up into an ascending roof tube on the left, Sour Taste, which closes down after a few metres.
The crawl to the left in the entrance passage leads to a drop into a rift, where there are three ways on. To the right closes down; to the left, there are crawls at two levels. The higher-level crawl chokes; the two crawls at the lower level unite, passing two branches to the left [C2002-234-02 C] [C2002-234-03 C] and then reach a junction. To the left chokes; to the right leads to a chamber. This chamber can also be reached by going straight on from the aforementioned junction at the rift.
From this chamber, there are two ways on. A small choss wall surrounds a vertical hole through which it is possible to drop down (tricky on the return) into a small chamber. From here, an awkward squeeze leads into a continuing crawl, which has not been pushed. To the left is a crawl over choss which enlarges. After a short distance a tube on the right leads to the head of a pitch (not pushed; probably 15-20m) and continues to a choke. Straight ahead leads to an earthen-floored draughting crawl which has been dug, and needs further work to get through. Shortly before the crawl becomes flat-out, a tube leading up on the right also becomes too tight.
The crawl on the left in the main rift shortly after the bottom of the first pitch leads to a small mud-floored chamber, after which a further downward-sloping crawl emerges in a large rift passage parallel to the main route. To the right are a profusion of tubes, one leading down into the floor [C2004-234-26 C], one leading up into the ceiling [C2004-234-25 C], and two at more or less head level [C2004-234-23 B] [C2004-234-24 B]. These have been explored by Pete Clifton, leading to a maze known as the Flatulence Series, but no description is extant. There is also an aven above [C2004-234-33 X], which is presumed to connect to undescended pitch 02-05 in the Left-Hand Series.
To the left, the rift passage continues onwards, sloping gradually downhill, past another aven [C2004-234-34 X]. After around 20m it closes down; a passage to the left leads to a contortion into a narrow immature dry streamway, which draughts somewhat and continues in both directions [C2004-234-27 C] [C2004-234-28 C]. ","20m rope + 2 slings for ent pitch; 5m handline + 1 or 2 slings for climb down into Flashgun Chamber. More needed for Pie Series and traverse to Sweet Sight.","Question mark list.","Form submitted summer 2003 as part of a misnumbering cockup. Resolved 2004-07-28 with allocation of new number 234.",,"In dataset","
Plan of 234 following 2004 expo ","caves/234/234.svx","619m","61m","127m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The arch-shaped entrance and gully are obvious from the route used in 2000 onwards from Top Camp to Steinbrückenhöhle. Shortly after crossing the large bare area of limestone slabs on the flanks of the Hinter, the path traverses directly around the right-hand side of the entrance gully.",,,"Tag." ,,,,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p234a",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,"2002-02","last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p234b",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, 235,"1/T +",,,,"smkridge/235/235.html",,"Schaukelfelsbrockenhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2001","A rift can be descended, over wedged stones, inculding one that rocks. This leads to a narrow hading rift with wedged boulders for a ceiling.",,,,,,"
",,"6m","3m",,,,,,,"gps01.p235",,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on a flatish area of limestone uphill from the row of Eishöhle entrances that lead to Schneevulcanhalle. ",,,,"""1623/235"" tag placed 2002-08-09. (Is this correct, or does the tag really say 1623/230?)" 236,"1/T +",,,,"smkridge/236/236.html",,"Moostunnelhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2001","A short initially mossy cave that slopes downhill to a corner, where the cave becomes to tight.",,,,,,"
",,"5m","2m",,,,,,,"gps01.p236",,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on a flattish area of limestone uphill from the row of Eishöhle entrances that lead to Schneevulcanhalle. ",,,"
Photo of 236 entrance
Close up photo of 236 entrance
","Alloy tag ""1623/232"" placed 2002-08-09. Number realised to be in error 2004; should be corrected by end of 2004 expo." -237,"1/T +","a b c",,"yes","smkridge/237/237.html",,"Dreieingangabdrosselnhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2001","A moderate sized chamber with large blocks on the floor, one entrance is low and wide, one is small up a 3m climb and one is a walk in entrance",,,,,,"
",,"10m","5m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on a flattish area of limestone uphill from the row of Eishöhle entrances that lead to Schneevulcanhalle. ",,,"
Photo of 237A entrance
Photo of 237B entrance
","Main entrance tagged ""1623/233A"" in 2002. Spits placed for 233B and 233C and tags left by spit holes 2002-08-09 (failed to take enough bolts – d'oh). Misnumbering noticed 2004. New tags should be placed by end of expo 2004." +237,"1/T +","a b c",,"yes","smkridge/237/237.html",,"Dreieingangabdrosselnhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2001","A moderate sized chamber with large blocks on the floor, one entrance is low and wide, one is small up a 3m climb and one is a walk in entrance",,,,,,"
",,"10m","5m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on a flattish area of limestone uphill from the row of Eishöhle entrances that lead to Schneevulcanhalle. ",,,"
Photo of 237A entrance
Photo of 237B entrance
","Main entrance tagged ""1623/233A"" in 2002. Spits placed for 233B and 233C and tags left by spit holes 2002-08-09 (failed to take enough bolts - d'oh). Misnumbering noticed 2004. New tags should be placed by end of expo 2004." ,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps01.p237",,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"b",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"
", ,,"c",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 238,"1/T +","a b",,"yes","smkridge/238/238.html",,"Flinkameiseschacht","Speedy Ant Shaft",,"2b","CUCC 2001,2002","An approximately 20m deep shaft with snow at the bottom. If snow levels allow, a way on can found down the left side of the snow plug, through an awkward squeeze over a large rock into a chamber with a snow and ice slope. A second short pitch leads off to the left, but soon ends.
A second small entrance leads via an awkward crawl to a sloping ledge on the right hand wall of the shaft a couple of metres down.",,,,,,"
Survey of 238 from 2001. The cave was resurveyed in 2002 but this has apparently never been drawn up.",,"25m","20m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The cave is situated on a flattish area of limestone uphill from the row of Eishöhle entrances that lead to Schneevulcanhalle. The shaft is located at the base of a cliff.",,,,"Tag ""1623/234A"" placed on main entrance in 2002. ""1623/234B"" tag placed 2002-08-09. Misnumbering noticed 2004, new tags should be placed by end expo 2004." ,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps01.p238",,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"b",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, -239,"3/S/T x",,"2001-04",,"smkridge/239/239.html",,"Rock'n'Roll Höhle",,"(a.k.a. Olly's Sucking Höhle)","2b","CUCC 2001 Phil U, Mark S","[Taken from 2001 log book] ""Went to investigate this draughting orifice. Initial entrance climb is fine, if you chimney down on the R side. At the bottom, there are three ways on. The first one goes back under the entrance, down a boulder slope, to emerge in a large chamber ""Cheesy dip"". There are a number of small leads off, all choked. In the roof is lots of daylight, coming from 2001-046. Left from the entrance went down a loose slope (blowing). Right (Sucking) went along a bit. We decided to do some surveying. Which required red paint. Which was at the bivvi site. So we went and had a cup of tea for a bit. Came back with surveying gear and surveyed the LH route to a ~5m deep pit.""
(There were at least three trips to this cave judging by the survey file, but only this one was written up.)",,,"Form sent 2004.04.30. Number 239 allocated by Robert TWC at 2004 expo dinner",,"In dataset","
","caves/239/239.svx","503m","40m","172m N-S",,,,,,"p239",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"In small valley just below top of SMK ridge, 200m S of 204 bivvy site",,,,"Tagged as 2001-04 by initial explorers. Retagged with final kataster number 2004-07-31."
+239,"3/S/T x",,"2001-04",,"smkridge/239/239.html",,"Rock'n'Roll Höhle",,"(a.k.a. Olly's Sucking Höhle)","2b","CUCC 2001 Phil U, Mark S","[Taken from 2001 log book] ""Went to investigate this draughting orifice. Initial entrance climb is fine, if you chimney down on the R side. At the bottom, there are three ways on. The first one goes back under the entrance, down a boulder slope, to emerge in a large chamber ""Cheesy dip"". There are a number of small leads off, all choked. In the roof is lots of daylight, coming from 2001-046. Left from the entrance went down a loose slope (blowing). Right (Sucking) went along a bit. We decided to do some surveying. Which required red paint. Which was at the bivvi site. So we went and had a cup of tea for a bit. Came back with surveying gear and surveyed the LH route to a ~5m deep pit.""
(There were at least three trips to this cave judging by the survey file, but only this one was written up.)",,,"Form sent 2004.04.30. Number 239 allocated by Robert TWC at 2004 expo dinner",,"In dataset","
","caves/239/239.svx","503m","45m","172m",,,,,,"p239",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"In small valley just below top of SMK ridge, 200m S of 204 bivvy site",,,,"Tagged as 2001-04 by initial explorers. Retagged with final kataster number 2004-07-31."
240,"2/S/T +",,"2003-08",,"smkridge/240/240.html",,"Gewölbeschacht","Arch Shaft",,"2b","CUCC 2003 Earl M, Brian O","Entrance is a wide, open rift aligned roughly north-south, spanned by a rock bridge at the southern end. The cave proper starts with a boulder slope at the north-east corner of the rift, which briefly closes down before opening out into a high, narrow slot. Beyond thisis a pitch, the foot of which is blocked by snow.","Approx 75m rope; see elevation survey.","There is a possible lead in an alcove on the far wall of the final pitch, but this was not thought promising, and was left uninvestigated.","Form sent 2004.04.30. Number 240 allocated by Robert TWC at 2004 expo dinner",,"In dataset","
(Notes in 2003#29)","caves/240/240.svx","51m","44m","11m E-W",,,,,"p240",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Tagged as 2003-08 by original explorers. To be retagged with final kataster number 2004." 241,"2/T +",,"2003-04",,"smkridge/241/241.html",,"Dreieckhöhle","Triangle Cave",,"2b","CUCC 2003 Julian T, Dave L, Frank T","A short sloping crawl leads to a stooping passage which opens out into a large horizontal phreatic passage heading northeast, floored with large blocks. This proceeds for around 25m to the northeast before terminating in an unstable boulder pile. Some small tubes branch off but are too small to access. In summer 2003 there was a strong inwards draught, which lost itself in the terminal boulder chokes.","None required","None (one arguable dig, not worth the bother)","Form sent 2004.04.30. Number 241 allocated by Robert TWC at 2004 expo dinner",,"In dataset","
(Notes in 2003#23)","caves/241/241.svx","53m","13m","33m N-S",,,,,"p241",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"In small elliptical depression around 100m N of stone bridge. A short tunnel to the south from this depression can be seen from the stone bridge; this is triangular in cross-section, hence the name.",,,"
","Tagged as 2003-04 by initial explorers. Retagged with final kataster number 2004-07-31." 242,"1/S/W +",,"2002-04",,"smkridge/242/242.html",,"Tropfelhöhle","Dripping Cave",,"2b","
","Square hole at the end of short gully looks out onto a drop of 3m (spit placed for ladder) to a false floor with a further similar-sized drop by a large boulder (continue the same ladder). Landing in a rift, east quickly becomes too tight, while west leads to a 3m free-climbable drop which is choked at the bottom.",,,"Form sent 2004.04.30. Number 242 allocated by Robert TWC at 2004 expo dinner",,"In dataset","
Notes in 2003#22","caves/242/242.svx","17m","11m",,,,,,,"p242","pitch head bolt",,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"Go to 204C and stand facing the stone bridge. The entrance can be seen ~60m away {might be wise to check surface survey if bothered} at the end of a short gully.",,,"Tag on LH wall of gully approaching entrance. Tagged as 2002-04 by original discoverers; retagged with final kataster number 2004.07.31." @@ -374,8 +374,8 @@ ,,,"VSS188F",,,,,,"GSCB",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"tag VSS188F 2002" ,,,"1987/02",,"smkridge/1987_02.html",,,,"? GSCB exploration","2b",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"100m up from 157 and 0/5",,,, ,,,"1989/01",,,,,,"Probably 195. See 165 for more details.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"North of 165",,,, -,,,"1990-15",,,,,,"Possibly 185?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"“185""" -,"1/S -",,"1996-01",,"smkridge/1996_01.html",,"Ski-pole höhle",,,"2b","CUCC 1996-07-15 Nick, Brian, Tina","Climb down shakehole to open shaft with a jammed boulder at the top. Shaft developed on joint is 1.4m across, 1.5m in the other direction and drops straight down 10m. Rift at bottom is 2m high. 1.5m drop then gently ascending rift gets too tight.",,,,,,,,,"11.1m",,,,"There are many holes along the rift - all the others are choked or too tight.",,,,,,,"gps96.96_1",,,,,,,,"Situated at top end of rift/gorge next to path to 161d. Walking to 161d: go into the very narrow gorge, then up the right hand wall about a third of the way along. This gets you into the next gorge, trending on bearing 031° (looking towards 161d end of path). Turn right up the rift. 96/01 is at the top end.",,,"A spit with “CUCC 96-01""" +,,,"1990-15",,,,,,"Possibly 185?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"""185""" +,"1/S -",,"1996-01",,"smkridge/1996_01.html",,"Ski-pole höhle",,,"2b","CUCC 1996-07-15 Nick, Brian, Tina","Climb down shakehole to open shaft with a jammed boulder at the top. Shaft developed on joint is 1.4m across, 1.5m in the other direction and drops straight down 10m. Rift at bottom is 2m high. 1.5m drop then gently ascending rift gets too tight.",,,,,,,,,"11.1m",,,,"There are many holes along the rift - all the others are choked or too tight.",,,,,,,"gps96.96_1",,,,,,,,"Situated at top end of rift/gorge next to path to 161d. Walking to 161d: go into the very narrow gorge, then up the right hand wall about a third of the way along. This gets you into the next gorge, trending on bearing 031° (looking towards 161d end of path). Turn right up the rift. 96/01 is at the top end.",,,"A spit with ""CUCC 96-01""" ,"1/S -",,"1996-05",,"plateau/1996_05.html",,,,,"1d","CUCC 1996 Andy Waddington and Fran","Cave is a North-South rift in a joint hading very steeply - say 85 degrees dip to west. Stones rattle down shaft for a very long time. No evidence of previous exploration (ie. no spits, no mud, vegetation not noticeably trampled).",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps98.1996_05",,,,"c. 1640m","Schönberg 342½°, Bräuning Zinken 204½°, Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel 101° (very flat summit, so exact point not obvious), Loser Cross 213½°, using AndyW compass NPC#2 (Suunto #439258)",,,"From 164, follow recent (1996 vintage? - not of CUCC origin) fluorescent orange paint dots (these had faded almost completely by 1998, but there are some older red ones for the early part of the route), over a ridge passing the OAV ski marker pole, then leftish over a series of limestone steps to reach a descent into a large broken area (thought to be near 173). Climb steeply left up boulders to a large cairn with a bright orange dot, then over a series of limestone shelves. Shortly up here is a shaft now known to be Lost Rucksack Cave (marked with temporary number CUCC 1993 01). The route continues remarkably easily over a series of bunde-free pavements - easily relocated in 1998. Eventually a large orange dot with an arrow points into a gap in the pines with many fresh (1996) cut branches (again, not CUCC's work). No more dots are to be found, and all ways close up in bunde beyond an obvious shaft in a N-S rift which is therefore clearly the ultimate destination of the marked path.",,"
Entrance rift, looking north.
A picture of the Bräuning wall and Loser from the vicinity of the entrance is here.","Tag placed on pavement on east side of shaft near middle, a spit with CUCC tag ""9605""." ,0,,"1996WK4",,"smkridge/1996wk4.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 1996 (Wookey)","Big enough to be worth dropping.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps96.wk4 gps96bestfit.wk4","gps00.wk4",,,,,,"A picture of the Bräuning wall and Loser from the vicinity of the entrance is here.","This is a GPSed hole found by Wookey on a thrashed route whilst looking for a possible route from 161d over the top of the Hochklapf spur of the Vord to the Stogerweg. There is a large N-S (ish) fault/joint in the bunde here which provides useful path. Approximately on top of bulge sticking out into valley."," This cave was a squareish hole in a the path that one had to traverse carefully",, ,"1/S -",,"1997-07 (1996-07, 1996WK7)",,"smkridge/1997_07.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 1996 (Wookey) Incomplete","Descent through narrow rift and choked bouldery leads (after 10m) to an undescended pitch (20m ?). Draught stops and starts with a period of about 30 seconds (on the day of discovery), but when active, it was inwards.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps96.wk7_1 gps96.wk7_2 gps96bestfit.wk7","gps00.wk7",,,"c. 1810-1820m","VSK: 233°, Hollweiser: 145° (from a point between 97-07 and the 97-08 group of entrances)",,"GPS: E 36338 N (52)82260 H? or E 36385 N (52)82234 H? Averaged from GPS: E 36370 N (52)82269 H?","From route to 139 E of VSK, take big shelf which leads to a series of holes (CUCC 96 WK7 to WK10) and eventually to Steinschlagschacht (136).",,,"CUCC metal tag placed 1997" @@ -386,9 +386,9 @@ ,,,"1999_MS_01",,"smkridge/1999_ms_01.html",,,,,"2b",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps00.99ms01",,,,,,,,,, ,,,"1999_MS_02",,"smkridge/1999_ms_02.html",,,,,"2b",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps00.99ms02",,,,,,,,,, ,,,"1999-10",,,,,,,,"CUCC Brian and Becka 1999.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps00.99_10",,,,,,,,,,"tag 2000" -,,,"2000-08",,"smkridge/2000-08/2000-08.htm",,"(as yet unnamed)",,,"2b","CUCC 2000, 2002, 2003 (Mark Shinwell)","Short pitch (~6m) from chossy naturals leads to large (~4m wide) unroofed passage. Uphill leads to rift, which is choked (corresponding to nearby choked surface rift). Downhill passes a wedged rock to a climb down onto a snowbank. Right is blind, left descends and leads to a blind pit with a too-tight continuation (looks diggable though), with a big echo.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p2000-08",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"The large entrance is adjacent to the route used in 2000 onwards across the plateau to Steinbrückenhöhle, shortly before arriving at the stone bridge. It lies almost directly above the huge aven of 7-11 Chamber in 204; the vertical separation, however, is of the order of 120m.",,,,"Tag." -,"=",,"2001-02",,"smkridge/2001-02/2001-02.html",,"(as yet unnamed)",,,"2b","CUCC 2001 MikeTA","Small downhill crawl, choked.",,,,"2001 logbook",,,,,,,,,,,,"p2001-02",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, -,"-",,"2001-03",,"smkridge/2001-03/2001-03.html",,"(as yet unnamed)",,,"2b","CUCC 2001 ",,,,,"2001 logbook",,,,,,,,,,,,"p2001-03",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, +,,,"2000-08",,"smkridge/2000-08/2000-08.htm",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2000, 2002, 2003 (Mark Shinwell)","Short pitch (~6m) from chossy naturals leads to large (~4m wide) unroofed passage. Uphill leads to rift, which is choked (corresponding to nearby choked surface rift). Downhill passes a wedged rock to a climb down onto a snowbank. Right is blind, left descends and leads to a blind pit with a too-tight continuation (looks diggable though), with a big echo.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p2000-08",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"The large entrance is adjacent to the route used in 2000 onwards across the plateau to Steinbrückenhöhle, shortly before arriving at the stone bridge. It lies almost directly above the huge aven of 7-11 Chamber in 204; the vertical separation, however, is of the order of 120m.",,,,"Tag." +,"=",,"2001-02",,"smkridge/2001-02/2001-02.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2001 MikeTA","Small downhill crawl, choked.",,,,"2001 logbook",,,,,,,,,,,,"p2001-02",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, +,"-",,"2001-03",,"smkridge/2001-03/2001-03.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2001 ",,,,,"2001 logbook",,,,,,,,,,,,"p2001-03",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,, ,"-",,"2001-06",,"smkridge/2001-06/2001-06.html",,"Erbärmlichbaumhöhle","Pathetic Tree Cave",,"2b","Entrance noted CUCC 2001 Olly B, Martin",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"In the vicinity of the Eishöhle portal row",,,"
", ,"-",,"2001-07",,"smkridge/2001-07/2001-07.html",,"Hoffnungschacht","Hope Shaft",,"2b","Entrance noted CUCC 2001 Olly B, Martin",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,"+",,"2001-08",,"smkridge/2001-08/2001-08.html",,"Schneeoberlichtschacht","Snow Skylight Shaft",,"2b","CUCC 2001 Olly B, Martin",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, @@ -396,21 +396,28 @@ ,"-",,"2001-10",,"smkridge/2001-10/2001-10.html",,"Großarbeithöhle","Hard Work Cave",,"2b","Entrance noted CUCC 2001 Olly B, Martin",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,"-",,"2001-11",,"smkridge/2001-11/2001-11.html",,"Schnürsenkelschacht","Bootlace Shaft",,"2b","Entrance noted CUCC 2001 Olly B, Martin",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,"-",,"2001-12",,"smkridge/2001-12/2001-12.html",,"Unnotiggewohnlichkeitschacht","Unneccesary Comfort Shaft",,"2b","Entrance noted CUCC 2001 Olly B, Martin",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, -,"2/T x",,"2002-01",,"smkridge/2002-01/2002-01.html",,"Artischockehöhle",,,"2b","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.",,,,,,,,"70m approx.",,,,,,,"t2002-01",,,,"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)
","Tag on rock wall on LH side facing entrance." -,"-",,"2002-03",,"smkridge/2002-03/2002-03.html",,"(as yet unnamed)",,,"2b","Entrance noted CUCC 2002 Dunks, Ben S. Descended CUCC 2004, Dave L.","Awkward climb down leads to constricted chamber floored with choss. No ways on and no draught.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p2002-03",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"At the choss bowl just beyond Hauchhöhle where the 204 walk-in route bends round to the north-east, (and where the rather nonobvious entrance to Artischockehöhle is situated), strike out straight northwards for 45m.",,,"Apparently tagged." +,"2/T +",,"2002-01",,"smkridge/2002-01/2002-01.html",,"Artischockehöhle",,,"2b","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.",,,,,,,,"70m approx.",,,,,,,"t2002-01",,,,"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)
","Tag on rock wall on LH side facing entrance." +,"1/T +",,"2002-03",,"smkridge/2002-03/2002-03.html",,,"Hedgehog Höhle",,"2b","Entrance noted CUCC 2002 Dunks, Ben S. Descended CUCC 2004, Dave L.","Awkward climb down leads to constricted chamber floored with choss. No ways on and no draught.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p2002-03",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,"At the choss bowl just beyond Hauchhöhle where the 204 walk-in route bends round to the north-east, (and where the rather nonobvious entrance to Artischockehöhle is situated), strike out straight northwards for 45m.",,,"Apparently tagged." +,"?",,"2002-07",,"smkdridge/2002-07/2002-07.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2002 Frank, Ben",,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2002-07/2002-07.svx","42m","34m","16m",,,,,,"p2002-07","No idea",,,,,,,,,,,,,, +,"?",,"2002-08",,"smkdridge/2002-08/2002-08.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2002 Frank, Ben",,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2002-08/2002-08.svx","21m","14m ","10m",,,,,,"p2002-08","No idea",,,,,,,,,,,,,, +,"?",,"2002-XX",,"smkdridge/2002-XX/2002-XX.html",,"?","Quarries D",,"2b","CUCC 2002 Frank, Ben",,,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/quarriesd/quarriesd.svx","21m","12m","3m",,,,,,"pquarriesd","No idea",,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,"1/S/T +",,"2003-01",,"smkridge/2003-01/2003-01.html",,"Alcove cave",,,"2b","CUCC 2003 Tony R, Brian O","A short climbable rift in an alcove in the side of the hill leads to about an 8metre pitch to a small round chamber which is comprehensively choked ",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2003-01/2003-01.svx","26m","9m","12m N-S",,,,,"p2003-01",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Walk over the back of the ridge from 204",,,"Tagged 2003" -,"2/S/T x",,"2003-02",,"smkridge/2003-02/2003-02.html",,"Blaudrachenschacht",,,"2b","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 large 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.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2003-02/2003-02.svx","49m so far","33m so far","25m E-W",,,,,"p2003-02",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Walk over the back of the ridge from 204",,,"Tagged 2003" +,"3/S/T +",,"2003-02",,"smkridge/2003-02/2003-02.html",,"Blaudrachenschacht",,,"2b","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 large 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.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2003-02/2003-02.svx","133m","109m","25m E-W",,,,,"p2003-02",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Walk over the back of the ridge from 204",,,"Tagged 2003" ,"1/S/T =",,"2003-03",,"smkridge/2003-03/2003-03.html",,"Kartoffelbreihöhle","Mashed Potato Cave",,"2b","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",,,,,,,,"? (~15m)",,,,,,"gps04.p2003-03",,,,"GPS post SA",,,,,,,,"On south flank of Nieder Augst-Eck just north of stone bridge. Directly to the east of 2003-04.",,,"
","Tagged 2003" ,"2/S/T +",,"2003-05",,"smkridge/2003-05/2003-05.html",,"Damoclesschacht",,,"2b","CUCC 2003 Martin G, Brian O","Short entrance crawl gives access to a vertical shaft with extremely precariously balanced boulder. Choked at -46m.",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves/2003-05/2003-05.svx","58m","46m","6m E-W",,,,,"p2003-05",,,,,,,,,,,,,"Originally approached by walking southwards along E side of SMK ridge from 204.",,,"Tagged 2003" ,"?",,"2003-07",,"smkridge/2003-07/2003-07.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2003 ??","Not clear if this has been entered at all.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps03.2003-07",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Presumably tagged 2003" ,"2/E x",,"2003-09",,"smkridge/2003-09/2003-09.html",,"Weizeneishöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2003: Originally located by Olly M; entrance dug out by Olly + Earl; exploration and underground survey Olly M + Mark S.","Entrance is large alcove / chamber in NW side of choss bowl. Very strong outwards draught emerges from small gap under right-hand wall, which leads to a crawl. This opens up to a walking passage with scatterings of ice and snow. A passage goes up to the left as the main way on turns a corner. It enters a large (> 10m diameter) chamber with an ice floor, and an ice stal on the floor. There is some passage with dodgy boulders to the right, but the draught comes from a very dodgy boulder slope on the left (reached by climbing round the edge of the ice). Might be worth poking, but it's quite unstable. We looked up the passage on the left but it doesn't seem to go anywhere.",,"Tightish meander in the floor of left-hand passage might go (blows outwards a bit), but awkward to enter. QM C. Also dodgy boulder slope, which is in the right direction for terminal chokes of On a Mission in 204 and might repay some prodding with a crowbar.","Form will be prepared when Mark draws up the survey",,"In dataset","Notes in 2003#31","caves/2003-09/2003-09.svx","134m","18m","42m E-W",,,,,"t2003-09",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"In large choss bowl southwest of 204d entrance",,"Obvious arched entrance","
","Tagged 2003" -,"2 x",,"2003-10",,"smkridge/2003-10/2003-10.html",,"Skinny Festerers' Cave",,,"2b","CUCC 2003 Frank T, Brian O","No underground description extant.",,"Apparently there is one main QM in the main chamber of the cave.",,,"In dataset","Notes in 2003#33","caves/2003-10/2003-10.svx","121m","51m","36m E-W",,,,,"p2003-10",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"Immediately above and behind the 204 stone bridge bivvy",,,,"Tagged 2003" -,"XXX",,"2004-10",,"smkridge/2004-10/2004-10.html",,"(as yet unnamed)",,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Becka + Nial","Go down tube next to main entrance shaft to head of pitch. Pitch less than 10m down. Possible ways on.","20m rope + spits etc.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"GPS post SA in Lat/Long, WGS84",,,"47 deg 41.640'","013 deg 49.069'",,"215 deg to Zinken, 309 deg to Griess Kogel. (I suspect there is an error here, as this would be almost right at the summit of the Griess Kogel -DL.)",,,"From 204 top camp over col then down + west following line of large shafts / collapses.","Entrance shaft with snow plug, pitch visible beyond","#54 on Nial's camera","Tagged 21/7/2004" -,"XXX",,"2004-11",,"smkridge/2004-11/2004-11.html",,"In Your Face cave",,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Becka + Nial","Crawl then walk steeply down phreatic tube (choked tube to the right + higher) to enter chamber with blocked entrance to left + continuation to choke ahead. Main way on up short free climb on RH wall to pitch head - 5m slope down then ?5m drop. (This was subsequently explored by another party.)","20m rope + spits etc.",,,,"In dataset","Notes in 2004#13","caves/2004-11/2004-11.svx","145m","39m","53m N-S",,,,,"t2004-11",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,"Low (crawling) drafting phreatic hole in shallow valley heading down towards bowl of plateau.","#55 on Nial's camera","Tagged 21/7/2004" -,"XXX",,"2004-13",,"smkridge/2004-13/2004-13.html",,"(as yet unnamed)",,,"2b","CUCC 2004 ?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps04.p2004-13",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, -,"XXX",,"2004-14",,"smkridge/2004-14/2004-14.html",,"(as yet unnamed)",,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Olly M, Mark S + Stuart","Rift continues for ~15m with a critical-angle boulder slope. Choked at bottom with slight draft emerging from rocks.","Oversuit + helmet (and presumably a light as well - DL)",,,,"In dataset","Notes in 2004#41","caves/2004-14/2004-14.svx","23m","13m","18m E-W",,,,,"p2004-14",,,,,,,,,,,,"SMK ridge, near 234 (Hauchhöhle)","Follow normal 204 walk-in path as far as 2002-03 and turn left (northwards). Climb over ridge, down into choss bowl then left over bunderous ridge.","Pit with snow plug (at time of original exploration in 2004) leads to vertical rift entrance.","On Stuart's camera","Tagged 1/8/2004" -,"XXX","a b","2004-15","yes","smkridge/2004-15/2004-15.html",,"(as yet unnamed)",,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Olly M, Mark S + Stuart","20m of rift connects both entrances. Going A->B passage leads off on the left by A but is too tight after ~10m. Next left in the main rift is an oxbow and connects back into main rift after ~4m of tight passage.","Oversuit + helmet (and presumably a light as well - DL)",,,,"In dataset","Notes in 2004#41","caves/2004-15/2004-15.svx","43m","10m","32m E-W",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"SMK ridge, near 234 (Hauchhöhle)","Follow normal 204 walk-in path as far as 2002-03 and turn left (northwards). Climb over ridge, down into choss bowl then left over bunderous ridge.","A: Climb down in rift leads to slot straight ahead. B: Large pit with loose boulders leads to a small rift.","On Stuart's camera","Tagged 1/8/2004" +,"2/S/T +",,"2003-10",,"smkridge/2003-10/2003-10.html",,"Skinny Festerers' Cave",,,"2b","CUCC 2003 Frank T, Brian O","No underground description extant.",,"Apparently there is one main QM in the main chamber of the cave.",,,"In dataset","Notes in 2003#33","caves/2003-10/2003-10.svx","121m","51m","36m E-W",,,,,"p2003-10",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"Immediately above and behind the 204 stone bridge bivvy",,,,"Tagged 2003" +,"?",,"2004-10",,"smkridge/2004-10/2004-10.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Becka + Nial","Go down tube next to main entrance shaft to head of pitch. Pitch less than 10m down. Possible ways on.","20m rope + spits etc.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"GPS post SA in Lat/Long, WGS84",,,"47 deg 41.640'","013 deg 49.069'",,"215 deg to Zinken, 309 deg to Griess Kogel. (I suspect there is an error here, as this would be almost right at the summit of the Griess Kogel -DL.)",,,"From 204 top camp over col then down + west following line of large shafts / collapses.","Entrance shaft with snow plug, pitch visible beyond","#54 on Nial's camera","Tagged 21/7/2004" +,"2/S +",,"2004-11",,"smkridge/2004-11/2004-11.html",,"In Your Face cave",,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Becka + Nial","Crawl then walk steeply down phreatic tube (choked tube to the right + higher) to enter chamber with blocked entrance to left + continuation to choke ahead. Main way on up short free climb on RH wall to pitch head - 5m slope down then ?5m drop. (This was subsequently explored by another party.)","20m rope + spits etc.",,,,"In dataset","Notes in 2004#13","caves/2004-11/2004-11.svx","145m","39m","53m N-S",,,,,"t2004-11",,,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,"Low (crawling) drafting phreatic hole in shallow valley heading down towards bowl of plateau.","#55 on Nial's camera","Tagged 21/7/2004" +,"0/S -",,"2004-13",,"smkridge/2004-13/2004-13.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2004 ?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps04.p2004-13",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, +,"1/T +",,"2004-14",,"smkridge/2004-14/2004-14.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Olly M, Mark S + Stuart","Rift continues for ~15m with a critical-angle boulder slope. Choked at bottom with slight draft emerging from rocks.","Oversuit + helmet (and presumably a light as well - DL)",,,,"In dataset","Notes in 2004#41","caves/2004-14/2004-14.svx","23m","13m","18m E-W",,,,,"p2004-14",,,,,,,,,,,,"SMK ridge, near 234 (Hauchhöhle)","Follow normal 204 walk-in path as far as 2002-03 and turn left (northwards). Climb over ridge, down into choss bowl then left over bunderous ridge.","Pit with snow plug (at time of original exploration in 2004) leads to vertical rift entrance.","On Stuart's camera","Tagged 1/8/2004" +,"1/T +","a b","2004-15","yes","smkridge/2004-15/2004-15.html",,,"Olly's Through Trip",,"2b","CUCC 2004 Olly M, Mark S + Stuart","20m of rift connects both entrances. Going A->B passage leads off on the left by A but is too tight after ~10m. Next left in the main rift is an oxbow and connects back into main rift after ~4m of tight passage.","Oversuit + helmet (and presumably a light as well - DL)",,,,"In dataset","Notes in 2004#41","caves/2004-15/2004-15.svx","43m","10m","32m E-W",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"SMK ridge, near 234 (Hauchhöhle)","Follow normal 204 walk-in path as far as 2002-03 and turn left (northwards). Climb over ridge, down into choss bowl then left over bunderous ridge.","A: Climb down in rift leads to slot straight ahead. B: Large pit with loose boulders leads to a small rift.","On Stuart's camera","Tagged 1/8/2004" ,,"a",,"entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"2004-15.taga",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,"b",,"last entrance",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"2004-15.tagb",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, -,"XXX",,"2004-16",,"smkridge/2004-16/2004-16.html",,"(as yet unnamed)",,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Martin, Frank","Not descended","Oversuit + handline",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps04.p2004-16",,,,,,,,,,,,"On slope above 204 C and E","Go to 204C and head up 15m. Now contour around to large cairn. Cave is downslope towards main plateau.","Climb down hole along a fault with 3m cliff behind. Black hole continues down fault. Sucks slightly.","On Martin's mu300","Tagged 3/8/2004" -,"1/E =",,"2004-21",,"smkridge/2004-21/2004-21.html",,"(as yet unnamed)","Earl's Hat Cave",,"2b","CUCC 2001,2004","Walk down slope (sometimes snow plugged) to chamber. Two passages lead on, left hand passage is choked, right hand passage has not been explored.","Handline may be required","Right hand passage",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"GPS post SA",,,"47 deg 41.569 minutes","013 deg 49.064 minutes",,,,"Very close to 204 D, approx. 15m down slope NW.",,"Huge open triangular entrance, facing North West.",, +,"0/S -",,"2004-16",,"smkridge/2004-16/2004-16.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Martin, Frank","Not descended","Oversuit + handline",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps04.p2004-16",,,,,,,,,,,,"On slope above 204 C and E","Go to 204C and head up 15m. Now contour around to large cairn. Cave is downslope towards main plateau.","Climb down hole along a fault with 3m cliff behind. Black hole continues down fault. Sucks slightly.","On Martin's mu300","Tagged 3/8/2004" +,"0/S -",,"2004-17",,"smkridge/2004-17/2004-17.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Martin, Frank","Not descended","Oversuit + 30m rope",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps04.p2004-17",,,,,,,,,,,,"On slope above 204 C and E","Go to 204C and head up 15m. Now contour around to large cairn by 2004-16. Cave is 25m up fault from here.","Climb down hole in steeply hading rift to 15m pitch blowing out.","On Martin's mu300","Tagged 3/8/2004" +,"0/S -",,"2004-18",,"smkridge/2004-18/2004-18.html",,,,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Martin, Frank","Not descended","20m rope + slings",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps04.p2004-18",,,,,,,,,,,,"On slope above 204 C and E","As for 2004-16 and 17; follow fault northwards to southern edge of large choss bowl containing a number of shafts.","10-15m shaft with snow at bottom. Tagged on south wall.","On Martin's mu300","Tagged 3/8/2004" +,"2/S ?",,"2004-19",,"smkridge/2004-19/2004-19.html",,"Kindergartenhöhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Brian, Tony","After entrance chamber crawling-size phreatic passage leads to stooping-sized cross passage upslope to chamber. Downslope leads to 25m of varying-size phreatic to T-junction. Right to drafting phreas; left down climb to large chamber with 18m surface shaft.","Rope + SRT gear",,,,"In dataset","Notes in 2004#46","caves/2004-19/2004-19.svx","80m","21m","26m E-W",,,,,"p2004-19a",,,,,,,,,,,,"East of 204. Routefinding difficult. GPS essential.",,"4m wide arch in side of limestone bed. Also surface shaft above same bed.",, +,"1/S/T +",,"2004-20",,"smkridge/2004-20/2004-20.html",,"Crowbar höhle",,,"2b","CUCC 2004 Dave, Olly M","Entrance pitch leads to small elongated chamber floored with gravel and blocks. A slope up at the southern end reveals two impassably tight passages to the left (eastwards). Near the foot of the pitch a tube slopes down to the west, but this is blocked by a large boulder; it presumably would connect to 2000-08 which is nearby.","20m rope + two hangers for ent pitch.","One dig, see description.",,,"In dataset","Notes in 2004#51","caves/2004-20/2004-20.svx","15m","10m","10m N-S",,,,,"t2004-20",,,"p2004-20",,,,,,,,,"In choss-filled depression near 2000-08.","Follow usual path from 204 bivvy. Turn left just before 2000-08.","Groove in side of depression allows descent past boulder floor; groove continues upwards to lip of depression and is easily spotted.","On Dave's camera (two photos)","Tagged 8/8/2004" +,"1/E =",,"2004-21",,"smkridge/2004-21/2004-21.html",,,"Earl's Hat Cave",,"2b","CUCC 2001,2004","Walk down slope (sometimes snow plugged) to chamber. Two passages lead on, left hand passage is choked, right hand passage has not been explored.","Handline may be required","Right hand passage",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"GPS post SA",,,"47 deg 41.569 minutes","013 deg 49.064 minutes",,,,"Very close to 204 D, approx. 15m down slope NW.",,"Huge open triangular entrance, facing North West.",,"None" diff --git a/noinfo/CAVETAB2.sxc b/noinfo/CAVETAB2.sxc index 95a9169be..6dbd0ab17 100644 Binary files a/noinfo/CAVETAB2.sxc and b/noinfo/CAVETAB2.sxc differ