diff --git a/smkridge/204/subsoil.html b/smkridge/204/subsoil.html new file mode 100644 index 000000000..624d00735 --- /dev/null +++ b/smkridge/204/subsoil.html @@ -0,0 +1,320 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" /> +<title>1623:204 -- Subsoil level</title> +</head> + +<body> + +<table id="cavepage"> +<tr><th id="kat_no">204</th><th id="name">Steinbrückenhöhle</th><th id="status">4/S x</th></tr> +</table> + +<h1>Subsoil level</h1> + +<div> +<b><!--<a href="#survey">-->Survey<!--</a>--></b> -- +<b><a href="204.html">204 index</a></b></div> +<hr /> + +<p>Subsoil is a large horizontal level at altitude around 1520m. Access is from +the <a href="uworld.html">Underworld</a> via Gardener's World pitch.</p> + +<h3>Subsoil Chamber area</h3> + +<img src="subsoil_centre.png" /> + +<h4><a id="subsoilchamber">Subsoil Chamber</a></h4> + +<p> <a href="l/crystals.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/crystals.jpg" +alt="crystal-encrusted rock" /></a> Subsoil Chamber +is large with a boulder floor, sloping down to the south. <i>Heading north up +the slope leads to <a href="#heavilysoiled">Heavily Soiled</a> (q.v.).</i>. +Heading south from the base of the University Challenge pitch, <i>after 10m on +the right is the entry to the canyon leading to <a +href="#earthenware">Earthenware</a></i>, while <i>on the left a passage leads +up steeply past conservation-taped fine, white crystals to a small, wet aven +with two QM C's[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-56" id="qC2004-204-56">C2004-204-56 +C</a>]</i> as the chamber drops down steeply with a boulder-strewn floor to a +small, wet aven with fine, large banks of conservation-taped mud and mud pillar +formations topped by pebbles. At the base of the chamber, to the right is a +large phreatic passage three-quarters filled with mud; this connects back to <a +href="#earthenware">Earthenware</a>, while to the left is <a +href="#hippohollows">Hippo Hollows</a> passage.</p> + +<p>These two trunk passages, Hippo Hollows to the south and Earthenware Passage +to the north, together with the short linking passage in between appear to +originally have been a single, large phreatic passage running north/south which +has subsequently been cut into three sections by two canyons running parallel +in Subsoil Chamber.</p> + +<h4><a id="heavilysoiled">Heavily Soiled</a></h4> + +<p>Clambering up from the base of University Challenge pitch to the top of +Subsoil Chamber, a traverse on the left wall (free climbable with care) is the +easiest way to the obvious, large passage heading off on to the north. +<i>Following the canyon leading down from here leads to <a +href="#earthenware">Earthenware</a>. A sandy passage leads off up steeply from +the top of Subsoil Chamber. From this passage, a sandy tube soon branches off +to the right and rapidly closes down. The restricted main passage ahead swings +left then heads down and provides a bypass connection into Heavily Soiled +passage.</i> At the north end of Subsoil Chamber, the main passage initially +ascends steeply with a rift in the mud-covered floor. It immediately passes a +steeply descending passage leading off to the right [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-50" id="qC2004-204-50">C2004-204-50 A</a>] and quickly +reaches a large boulder in the passage where the sandy bypass described above +joins from the right. Just beyond the junction of the two routes is a tube on +the right, which has not been explored in 2004, [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-51" +id="qC2004-204-51">C2004-204-51 B</a>], nor has another slightly further on [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-53" id="qC2004-204-53">C2004-204-53 B</a>]. The main +passage then levels off and there is a 1.8m climb down a mud bank. At the +bottom a passage leads off to the left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-52" +id="qC2004-204-52">C2004-204-52 C</a>], after which the passage continues up +through large boulders and breakdown. A restricted crawl on the left through +boulders is followed by either an easy squeeze on the left [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-54" id="qC2004-204-54">C2004-204-54 C</a>] or a climb +ahead that opens out onto a large muddy ledge above a mud-floored chamber where +the 2004 survey ends. Descending to the left leads to <b><a +id="nightsoil">Night Soil Chamber</a></b> [WOOKEY BECKA] [<a +href="qm.html#C2005-204-72" id="qC2005-204-72">C2005-204-72 B</a>] (mislabelled +as 05-71 on survey), while to the right is <b><a id="hippocratic">Hippocratic +Oath</a></b> [BECKA ANDREW WOOKEY][<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-01" +id="qC2005-204-01">C2005-204-01 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-02" +id="qC2005-204-02">C2005-204-02 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-03" +id="qC2005-204-03">C2005-204-03 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-04" +id="qC2005-204-04">C2005-204-04 D</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-05" +id="qC2005-204-05">C2005-204-05 X</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-06" +id="qC2005-204-06">C2005-204-06 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-07" +id="qC2005-204-07">C2005-204-07 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-65" +id="qC2005-204-65">C2005-204-65 A</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-66" +id="qC2005-204-66">C2005-204-66 D</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-67" +id="qC2005-204-67">C2005-204-67 ?</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-68" +id="qC2005-204-68">C2005-204-68 ?</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-69" +id="qC2005-204-69">C2005-204-69 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-70" +id="qC2005-204-70">C2005-204-70 X</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-71" +id="qC2005-204-71">C2005-204-71 D</a>].</p> + + +<h3>Southern area: Hippo Hollows / Fat Worm</h3> + +<img src="subsoil_south.png" /> + +<h4><a href="l/hippohollows.html"><img class="onright" src="t/hippohollows.jpg" +alt="Hippo Hollows mud pots" /></a><a id="hippohollows">Hippo Hollows</a></h4> + +<p>On the left, from the southern base of Subsoil Chamber, a 1.8m climb up a +mud bank leads to a mud-floored passage that enters Hippo Hollows. This section +of passage has a series of small, attractive pots floored with cracked mud +(CARE - traverse above the pots). Straight on after the pots, the passage ends +in a rift and <b><a id="chalkcheese">Chalk and Cheese</a></b> pitch. <i>Before +this point, but after the pots, a ramp up on the left leads to a pitch (p.8). +At the base of this pitch a squeeze appears to open out onto a further pitch +[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-X72" id="qC2004-204-X72">C2004-204-X72 ?</a>]. +Traversing over the 8m pitch and up a steep muddy bank leads shortly to the +head of a further pitch which has not yet been descended [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-58" id="qC2004-204-58">C2004-204-58 B</a>]. Shortly +after this first left ramp, a second ramp to the left leads to a position +overlooking the same rift that can be more easily accessed by continuing +straight along the main Hippo Hollows passage.</i> On the right of the main +Hippo Hollows passage, opposite the second ramp, there is an aven on the right +with sounds of running water in wet conditions [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-59" +id="qC2004-204-59">C2004-204-59 B</a>]. The climb up to the aven would require +bolting. Chalk and Cheese pitch is rigged from bolts in the roof to a +self-lined climb down a narrow rift to enter the Fat Worm Blows A Sparky +area.</p> + +<h4><a id="fatworm">Fat Worm Blows a Sparky</a></h4> + +<p><a href="l/whiteclouds.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/whiteclouds.jpg" +alt="Little White Clouds ceiling formations" /></a> Chalk and Cheese pitch +enters a moderate-sized chamber. <i>To the right, a short (3m) climb leads up +to a window overlooking the chamber. A crawling sized passage continues north +west for about 35m ending in a pitch down [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-60" +id="qC2004-204-60">C2004-204-60 A</a>].</i> A large walking passage leads off +to the left. From this walking passage, a ramp soon leads down to the right. +This shortly comes to a junction. <i>Down and straight ahead leads to a pair of +windows overlooking what is almost certainly the same pitch [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-61" id="qC2004-204-61">C2004-204-61 A</a>].Turning +right before these windows a climb through a window leads to a small, awkward +and sharp passage that has several windows on the right leading to pitches [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-62" id="qC2004-204-62">C2004-204-62 B</a>].</i> To the +right the passage squeezes past unusual white plastic-like formations (<b><a +id="littlewhiteclouds">Little White Clouds</a></b>) to a small chamber. The +left of this chamber opens out over a pitch, the first of the Four Pitches of +the Apocalypse. Straight ahead from the chamber the passage continues to a +second pitch.</p> + +<p><a href="l/deadbat.html"><img class="onright" src="t/deadbat.jpg" alt="Dead +bat" /></a> The main walking passage soon reaches <b><a id="batchamber">Dead +Good Bat Chamber</a></b> with a freshly deceased bat marked by conservation +tape by the prominent central boulder. <i>Low on the left of this chamber, Thin +Rift passage goes down steeply in tight rift. A handline was needed to continue +down at the limit of surveying in 2004 [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-X73" +id="qC2004-204-X73">C2004-204-X73 A</a>].</i> Several passages lead down on the +right from Good Dead Bat Chamber: all interconnect in a maze of small walking +and crawling tubes. An alcove in one tube is conservation-taped off to protect +the hundreds of bat bones; many other bat bones are found at lower +concentrations throughout Subsoil, possibly washed out of the mud deposits. In +another tube is an unexplored passage [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-64" +id="qC2004-204-64">C2004-204-64 C</a>]. Continuing ahead beyond Good Dead Bat +Chamber, a free-climb steeply up on the left leads to a point around 4m below a +large tube which would require bolting to access [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-65" id="qC2004-204-65">C2004-204-65 B</a>]. Straight +ahead leads steeply down large boulders to a small chamber and a wet aven [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-66" id="qC2004-204-66">C2004-204-66 C</a>].</p> + +<h3>Northern area (The Wares)</h3> + +<img src="subsoil_north.png" /> + +<h4><a id="earthenware">Earthenware</a></h4> + +<p>From the foot of <a href="uworld.html#univchallenge">University Challenge</a> pitch, +descending around 10m south down the chamber, there is a very large boulder on +the right with two spits in the roof to rig a 3m pitch (free-climbable with +care) to a steeply descending canyon. Following down the canyon, shortly an +opening on the right links to the start of <a href="#heavilysoiled">Heavily +Soiled</a> passage. <i>At the base of the canyon the passage continues as +fairly tight rift guarded by poised rocks [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-22" +id="qC2004-204-22">C2004-204-22 A</a>].</i> Between these points, <i>a high mud +bank on the left opens into the short section of phreatic passage which +continues further south as Hippo Hollows, passing a high tube in the right-hand +wall [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-20" id="qC2004-204-20">C2004-204-20 X</a>]. +</i> The main way on is opposite this high mud bank. Here, on the right near +the bottom of the canyon, a short traverse (two spits and a natural and a 12m +rope; free-climbed for 2005 trips) over a large, loose mud bank gains access up +to a large walking passage, Earthenware. This drafts out strongly and continues +north, horizontally, for 100m. Earthenware initially passes some stalactites, +opposite which there is a passage on the left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-23" +id="qC2004-204-23">C2004-204-23 C</a>]; then the phreatic development extends +to slope up on the right side. Continuing leads to a trench; climbing down +into the trench on the left-hand side of the passage leads to a side passage, +<b><a id="software">Software</a></b> [WOOKEY BECKA] [<a +href="qm.html#C2005-204-73" id="qC2005-204-73">C2005-204-73 A</a>] and at the +other end is a climb down into <b><a id="firmware">Firmware</a></b> [WOOKEY +BECKA]. + +<p>A little beyond this is a junction, <i>where a passage leads off to the left +to join <a href="#software">Software</a>, while a +muddy slope on the right leads to a muddy tube that goes steeply up to a +boulder choke. A second, less obvious tube leads up on the right just before +this first tube. This second tube climbs up very steeply and continues beyond +the end of the 2004 survey though some aid may be needed to complete the climb +up [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-28" id="qC2004-204-28">C2004-204-28 A</a>]. +These two tubes are the <b><a id="chimney">Chimney</a></b>.</i> The main +passage of Earthenware continues up a slope over mud floor formations and +boulders to an obvious junction. The draft comes from the continuation of +Earthenware straight ahead. <i>The larger passage on the left is <b><a +id="stoneware">Stoneware</a></b>. Stoneware leads steeply down and narrows from +large walking passage to twisting vadose passage with a clean-washed rock floor +with loose, sharp rocks balanced on it. This continues for around 50m to a +chamber. Here there is a drop through loose mud [XXX unnumbered QM B] and a +roof tube [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-29" id="qC2004-204-29">C2004-204-29 +X</a>]. Continuing on, past another roof tube [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-30" +id="qC2004-204-30">C2004-204-30 X</a>], the passage terminates at a drippy aven +[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-32" id="qC2004-204-32">C2004-204-32 X</a>].</i> +<i>[Editor's note: I'm rather puzzled by this as the QM grades assigned on the +survey don't match the description. Somewhere along here there is another one +[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-31" id="qC2004-204-31">C2004-204-31 +C</a>].]</i></p> + +<p>Earthenware continues smaller and soon reaches a complex junction, the +beginning of the labyrinth known as The Wares. On the right are three passages +leading into <a href="#underware">Underware</a>. The second contains attractive +calcite on the walls and is conservation-taped off. On the left there are also +three passages: the first and third lead into <a href="#hardware">Hardware</a> +(the third passing [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-76" +id="qC2005-204-76">C2005-204-76 C</a>] on the way], while the second slopes +down to a small chamber with no way on. + +<p><b><a id="hardware">Hardware</a></b> is initially small but strongly +drafting and twists along and soon reaches a junction. Ahead on the left drops +down a ramp past a fine white formation but soon finishes. Just beyond this +ramp, a muddy passage leads up on the right back to Earthenware. Continuing +straight ahead, the main passage soon opens up into very large phreatic passage +with large boulders on the floor. Soon there are openings on both left and +right. <i> Taking this left, the passage, <b><a id="someware">Someware</a></b>, +drops down steeply. Two junctions on the right both lead to a small chamber +beyond which is a wet aven [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-74" +id="qC2005-204-74">C2005-204-74 X</a>] on the right which feeds a small, sharp, +immature streamway on the left [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-X82" +id="qC2005-204-X82">C2005-204-X82 C</a>]. Note that this aven is separate from +that at [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-39" id="qC2004-204-39">C2004-204-39 B</a>]. +The continuation of this left passage down is [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-75" +id="qC2005-204-75">C2005-204-75 A</a>] and takes a small stream.</i> Right +leads up steeply to Underware. Further along is another crossroads; left links +back into Someware; right soon chokes. This large passage soon closes down +again and slopes steeply up in a large boulder pile. The 2004 survey ended at +the top of the boulder slope. A deep pitch descends on the left [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-39" id="qC2004-204-39">C2004-204-39 C</a>] and there is +a possible continuation up on the right of the slope through boulders [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-40" id="qC2004-204-40">C2004-204-40 C</a>].</p> + +<h4><a id="underware">Underware</a></h4> + +<p>The three passages up on the right of Earthenware all enter a very large, +horizontal phreatic passage, Underware. This continues both left (north) and +right (south).</p> + +<p>From the entry points from Earthenware, Underware continues to the left for +around 50m north, to end in a huge boulder choke and roof collapse. <i>A large +passage on the left at the start of this collapse zone drops into Hardware, +following a small stream. A small tube just beyond this passage soon chokes. A +small drafting passage off to the right at the start of the collapse zone is +the start of <a href="#tableware">Tableware</a>.</i></p> + +<p>Underware continues to the right as large passage heading south, passing a +small passage to the left[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-47" +id="qC2004-204-47">C2004-204-47 C</a>], before closing down in a boulder slope. +Just before it closes down a large passage leads off up to the left. This +climbs up steeply past a huge boulder mid-passage then narrows as it reaches a +small mud chamber. Under a boulder on the left of this chamber the passage +turns right, becoming too tight after 4m, and at the far end of the chamber a +passage goes off which becomes too tight after 6m. The main way on is a +drafting thin rift on the left that soon opens out into the bottom of a large +sloping passage. This mud-floored ramp climbs up very steeply and in 2004 the +survey ended at the point at which protection was needed to continue the ascent +[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-49" id="qC2004-204-49">C2004-204-49 A</a>]. A +second passage leads off on the right where the thin rift enters this steep +ramp. This second passage again climbs up steeply and appeared to reach an +aven, with possible passages leading off around 4m up [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-48" id="qC2004-204-48">C2004-204-48 X</a>].</p> + +<h4><a id="tableware">Tableware</a></h4> + +<p>The passage heads steeply upwards, and it splits into many small +tubes which all meet up with each other and meet a horizontal piece of phreatic +tube. <i>To the right passes a hole going down to the right [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-43" id="qC2004-204-43">C2004-204-43 C</a>], where +stones will rattle for quite a while, probably due to a sloping pitch rather +than any great depth, while continuing past the hole leads up slope to come +into a larger passage, which is more easily accessed by following the main +route.</i> To the left a little more scrambling up leads into a passage that +goes off to the left and right, and is high enough to stand up in.</p> + +<p><i>To the right opens up some more and leads to a pitch [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-44" id="qC2004-204-44">C2004-204-44 B</a>], and an aven +[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-45" id="qC2004-204-45">C2004-204-45 X</a>]; a small +hole on the right before the pitch is where the previously described passage +enters.</i> To the left, the passage continues to a small sloping chamber, at +the bottom of which a crawl goes off but chokes, while at the top of the +chamber a couple of short passages also quickly choke. From the higher +entrance to the chamber there is a rift in the ceiling, which continues on the +opposite side of the chamber; [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-46" +id="qC2004-204-46">C2004-204-46 C</a>] this would require a climb of a couple +of metres to access.</p> + +<hr style="clear: both" /> + +<ul id="links"> +<li><a href="204.html">Back to 204 index page</a></li> +<li><a href="../index.html#id204">Schwarzmooskogel ridge area index and description</a></li> +<li><a href="../../indxal.htm#id204">Full Index</a></li> +<li><a href="../../areas.htm">Other Areas</a></li> +<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expedition Intro page</a></li> +</ul> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/smkridge/204/swings.html b/smkridge/204/swings.html index b09e6cc5e..24479122b 100644 --- a/smkridge/204/swings.html +++ b/smkridge/204/swings.html @@ -34,117 +34,42 @@ Crawl</a>, at what was QM2000-12B. Initially, a walking sized passage <b><a id="playground">Playground</a></b> leads past some mud formations and a drippy mini-aven to a view overlooking a mid-sized chamber, <b>Magic Roundabout</b>, with several exits. The easiest way to the chamber -floor is via a climb down through a hole in the floor on the right at the end -of Playground.</p> +floor is via a corkscrew climb down through a hole in the floor on the right.</p> <h3><a id="magicroundabout">Magic Roundabout Chamber</a> and surrounding passage</h3> -<p>Once in the chamber, climbing down over boulders to the left leads to a +<p><a href="l/mround2.html"><img src="t/mround2.jpg" class="onleft" /></a> <a +href="l/gafferpassage.html"><img src="t/gafferpassage.jpg" class="onright" +/></a> Once in the chamber, climbing down over boulders to the left leads to a small exit between rocks. A short rubble-strewn chute (which is free-climbable -but crumbly, and was rigged in 2002 with a Y-hang following Dave falling off it) -leads to a duck under a flake into a mud-floored ramp. After 15m or so a large -shaft is reached, <a href="#gaffertape">Gaffer Tape</a>, the start of the Gaffered -to the Walls series.</p> +but crumbly, and was rigged in 2002 with a Y-hang following Dave falling off +it) leads to a duck under a flake into a mud-floored ramp. After 15m or so a +large shaft, <b>Gaffer Tape</b>, is reached. Descending this leads to the <a +href="uworld.html">Gaffered to the Walls Series</a>, while there is also a <a +href="#the21bolttrav">traverse</a> across the pitch head.</p> <p>Back in the main chamber, a rubble slope to the north leads onwards. To the -north up the slope is an unpromising passage called -<a href="#ermintrude">ermintrude</a>; to the east leads back to the point where -Playground overlooks the chamber. To the west is the main passage -continuation. A passage on the left is <a href="#dutchbeauty">Dutch Beauty</a>, -which also has windows into the main chamber. Continuing over rocks, a phreatic -tube enters from <a href="#juicybits">Juicy Bits</a> on the left ahead, and a -crawl enters from Dutch Beauty behind; the main way on is up a short slope over -boulders to the start of the main Swings trunk passage: 10m wide and 8m -high.</p> +north up the slope is <a href="#ermintrude">Ermintrude</a>; to the east leads +back to the point where Playground overlooks the chamber. To the west is the +main passage continuation. A passage on the left is <a +href="#dutchbeauty">Dutch Beauty</a>, which also has windows into the main +chamber. Continuing over rocks, a phreatic tube enters from <a +href="#juicybits">Juicy Bits</a> on the left ahead, and a crawl enters from +Dutch Beauty behind; the main way on is up a short slope over boulders to the +start of the main Swings trunk passage: 10m wide and 8m high.</p> <h3><a id="ermintrude">Ermintrude</a></h3> -<p> Ermintrude passage, which leads north from <a href="#magicroundabout"> +<p>Ermintrude passage, which leads north from <a href="#magicroundabout"> Magic Roundabout Chamber</a>, soon shrinks to a crawl, with some boulders that need crawling around. This leads to a small chamber, with a small phreatic tube leading off to the right about 2m above the floor. This leads to the base of a free climbable aven [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-01" id="qC2003-204-01">C2003-204-01 B</a>].</p> -<h3><a id="gaffered">Gaffered to the Walls series</a></h3> - -<p><i>See <a href="rigging/gttw.png">rigging guide</a>.</i></p> - -<p>The initial pitch, <b><a id="gaffertape">Gaffer Tape</a></b> (70m), is an -imposing oval shaft, which continues upwards [<a href="qm.html#C2001-204-97" -id="qC2001-204-97">C2001-204-97 X</a>]. It is rigged from a bolted traverse on -the right wall to a bolted Y-hang and a second bolted Y-hang about 25m below.</p> - - -<p>A passage leads off from the top of the small chamber at the bottom, -splitting in two around a pillar and emerging in a chamber formed from a -slightly hading line of weakness. A ledge can be traversed on the right wall to -go up past a large boulder, at which point a rift is intersected at a small -chamber. <i>Down a hole to the left, two uninspiring rifts -[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-02" id="qC2002-204-02">C2002-204-02 C</a>], -[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-03" id="qC2002-204-03">C2002-204-03 C</a>] lead down -and probably rejoin a parallel shaft to LX Tape pitch. Up to the right, -[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-04" id="qC2002-204-04">C2002-204-04 C</a>], a -sloping aven is visible which may be climbable. Upstream and to the right of -the small chamber, a trickle of water emerges from a small slot in the -ceiling.</i> The main way on is down on the left of the small chamber, through -a small hole in boulders in the floor to<b><a id="tapeworm">Tape Worm</a></b> -pitch. This is descended via a backup round the large boulder and a Y-hang on -spits (care to avoid rubs), then a rebelay off a horizontal thread just below -a small ledge. Tape Worm pitch lands at a roomy ledge with large fossils -visible in the floor and walls. Here the small rift of Tape Worm joins the -larger shaft of <b><a id="lxtape">LX Tape</a></b> pitch. <i>Looking out to the -left a parallel shaft can be seen which may be enterable from -[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-02">C2002-204-02 C</a>] and/or -[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-03">C2002-204-03 C</a>].</i> A bolted traverse along -the right wall reaches a natural from which LX Tape pitch is rigged. This -descends, via a deviation on the left wall just below the main ledge, and then -a second deviation on a natural only around 4m lower but much further along. -LX Tape pitch is then rebelayed just below a rock bridge near another large -boulder. <i>On the far wall near the bottom is a ledge -[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-08" id="qC2002-204-08">C2002-204-08 C</a>]. On the -near side of the rock bridge is a tight and unpromising rift [<a -href="qm.html#C2002-204-06" id="qC2002-204-06">C2002-204-06 C</a>].</i></p> -<p> LX Tape pitch lands in another small chamber. Here a spit backup then a -crawl through an eye-hole to a bolted Y-hang provides the main hang for -<b><a id="sellotape">Sellotape</a></b>(or eye hole pitch). This is a fine, 2m -wide rift which lands in a slight puddle. A horizontal floor leads 5m to a roomy -ledge on the left of the main rift. A bolted traverse to the end of the ledge -reaches the <b><a id="trihang">Trihang</a></b> pitch-head. This is no longer -rigged as a tri-hang but instead around the large natural above the ledge. -Tri-Hang pitch descends beyond a small ledge which has a bolted deviation level -with the ledge down to a small puddle. Here wellies and jammers should be -washed clean of mud prior to ascent (washing-up brush left there in 2004 for -this purpose). The tight rift continues down -[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-02" id="qC2003-204-02">C2003-204-02 B</a>] but the -way on is up an awkward and steep bolted traverse up the right wall of the rift -on a small-to-vanishing ledge. After 5m this reaches the top of the final -pitch, <b><a id="cerberus">Cerberus</a></b>. The traverse is best rigged by -free-climbing to the top of Cerberus pitch on the left side of the rift then -rigging the traverse from the top.</p> - -<p><a href="l/kangatwo.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/kangatwo.jpg" /></a> -<i>At the pitch-head for Cerberus, above the traverse up to it, a slightly -exposed sideways traverse gives access to a stooping-height phreatic passage, -<b><a id="eeyore">Eeyore</a></b>, floored with thick, sticky mud. After around -five metres, Eeyore opens out into a moderately large chamber, <b><a -id="kanga">Kanga</a></b>. A bolted Y-hang on the right wall drops down to a -ledge and then to a second bolted Y-hang to the steeply descending floor of the -chamber. There is a small pitch on the left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-68" -id="qC2004-204-68">C2004-204-68 B</a>] which may link to the lower pitch in -Eeyore. At the bottom of the chamber a small passage leads off on the left to a -rift; this heads uphill for a few metres over loose, powdery mud before -emerging in a chamber. Climbing down around a large wedged boulder to the floor -reveals a narrow, unpromising-looking pitch-head, estimated at 10m [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-69" id="qC2004-204-69">C2004-204-69 B</a>].</i></p> - -<p>Cerberus is a steeply sloping, very muddy ramp down. It is rigged from a -bolted Y-hang and then a deviation from a natural the left wall, landing in the -<a href="uworld.html">Underworld</a>.</p> - <h3><a id="the21bolttrav">21 Bolt Traverse</a></h3> -<p>From the head of <a href="#gaffertape">Gaffer Tape</a> pitch, a narrow ledge +<p>From the head of <a href="uworld.html#gaffertape">Gaffer Tape</a> pitch, a narrow ledge continues around the right-hand wall of the shaft towards an opening visible at the far side, which was the target of a loony bolt traverse in 2003.</p> @@ -400,6 +325,11 @@ id="qC2005-204-45">C2005-204-45 C</a>]. <h3>High Hopes and the 2005 entrances</h3> +<div class="onleft"> +<a href="l/hhclimb.html"><img src="t/hhclimb.jpg" /></a> +<a href="l/hhfloor.html"><img src="t/hhfloor.jpg" /></a> +</div> + <p>From the bottom of the pitch a climb up the opposite wall (left rigged as the holds were rather temporary) leads to a passage in the roof, <b><a id="highhopes">High Hopes</a></b> [WOOKEY NIAL BECKA TONY] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-62" id="qC2005-204-62">C2005-204-62 A</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-63" id="qC2005-204-63">C2005-204-63 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-64" id="qC2005-204-64">C2005-204-64 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-08" id="qC2005-204-08">C2005-204-08 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-09" id="qC2005-204-09">C2005-204-09 C</a>].</p> @@ -413,7 +343,7 @@ at the bottom of the <a href="#gent">G entrance</a> pitches. To the right, there boulders at floor level, or a climb up at 45° into a bedding plane, both emerging in a chamber with a high aven above, where the <a href="#hient">H and I entrances</a> drop in.</p> -<h4><a id="gent">G entrance</a></h4> +<h4 style="clear: left"><a id="gent">G entrance</a></h4> <p>The G entrance starts as a sloping phreatic tube of diameter around 3m; this is steep and the floor is loose, and a rope is required, which can be secured from a thread at the entrance and a bolt in the roof. The tube steepens diff --git a/smkridge/204/uworld.html b/smkridge/204/uworld.html index 5a01683f8..cced33aba 100644 --- a/smkridge/204/uworld.html +++ b/smkridge/204/uworld.html @@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ <table id="cavepage"> <tr><th id="kat_no">204</th><th id="name">Steinbrückenhöhle</th><th id="status">4/S x</th></tr> </table> - -<h1>The Underworld and Subsoil</h1> +<h1>Gaffered to the Walls and The Underworld</h1> <div> <b><!--<a href="#survey">-->Survey<!--</a>--></b> -- @@ -20,13 +19,93 @@ <hr /> <p>The Underworld is an area of horizontal development at 1580m, around 160m -deeper than the majority of the horizontal development in +deeper than the majority of the previously known horizontal passage in Steinbrückenhöhle. Access is from <a -href="swings.html#gaffered">Gaffered</a>, although a connection from <a +href="swings.html#magicroundabout">Swings and Roundabouts</a> via the Gaffered to the +Walls pitch series, although a connection from <a href="swings.html#merrygoround">Merry-Go-Round</a> is also suspected to exist. -Below this is a larger and still deeper level, Subsoil, at around 1520m.</p> +Below the Underworld is <a href="subsoil.html">Subsoil</a>.</p> -<h2>Underworld</h2> + +<h3><a id="gaffered">Gaffered to the Walls series</a></h3> + +<p><i>See <a href="rigging/gttw.png">rigging guide</a>.</i></p> + +<p><div class="onleft"> +<a href="l/gaffphead.html"><img src="t/gaffphead.jpg" /></a> +<a href="l/gaffphead2.html"><img src="t/gaffphead2.jpg" /></a></div> +The initial pitch, <b><a id="gaffertape">Gaffer Tape</a></b> (70m), is an +imposing oval shaft, which continues upwards [<a href="qm.html#C2001-204-97" +id="qC2001-204-97">C2001-204-97 X</a>]. It is rigged from a bolted traverse on +the right wall to a bolted Y-hang and a second bolted Y-hang about 25m below.</p> + +<p>A passage leads off from the top of the small chamber at the bottom, +splitting in two around a pillar and emerging in a chamber formed from a +slightly hading line of weakness. A ledge can be traversed on the right wall to +go up past a large boulder, at which point a rift is intersected at a small +chamber. <i>Down a hole to the left, two uninspiring rifts +[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-02" id="qC2002-204-02">C2002-204-02 C</a>], +[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-03" id="qC2002-204-03">C2002-204-03 C</a>] lead down +and probably rejoin a parallel shaft to LX Tape pitch. Up to the right, +[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-04" id="qC2002-204-04">C2002-204-04 C</a>], a +sloping aven is visible which may be climbable. Upstream and to the right of +the small chamber, a trickle of water emerges from a small slot in the +ceiling.</i> The main way on is down on the left of the small chamber, through +a small hole in boulders in the floor to<b><a id="tapeworm">Tape Worm</a></b> +pitch. This is descended via a backup round the large boulder and a Y-hang on +spits (care to avoid rubs), then a rebelay off a horizontal thread just below +a small ledge. Tape Worm pitch lands at a roomy ledge with large fossils +visible in the floor and walls. Here the small rift of Tape Worm joins the +larger shaft of <b><a id="lxtape">LX Tape</a></b> pitch. <i>Looking out to the +left a parallel shaft can be seen which may be enterable from +[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-02">C2002-204-02 C</a>] and/or +[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-03">C2002-204-03 C</a>].</i> A bolted traverse along +the right wall reaches a natural from which LX Tape pitch is rigged. This +descends, via a deviation on the left wall just below the main ledge, and then +a second deviation on a natural only around 4m lower but much further along. +LX Tape pitch is then rebelayed just below a rock bridge near another large +boulder. <i>On the far wall near the bottom is a ledge +[<a href="qm.html#C2002-204-08" id="qC2002-204-08">C2002-204-08 C</a>]. On the +near side of the rock bridge is a tight and unpromising rift [<a +href="qm.html#C2002-204-06" id="qC2002-204-06">C2002-204-06 C</a>].</i></p> +<p> LX Tape pitch lands in another small chamber. Here a spit backup then a +crawl through an eye-hole to a bolted Y-hang provides the main hang for +<b><a id="sellotape">Sellotape</a></b>(or eye hole pitch). This is a fine, 2m +wide rift which lands in a slight puddle. A horizontal floor leads 5m to a roomy +ledge on the left of the main rift. A bolted traverse to the end of the ledge +reaches the <b><a id="trihang">Trihang</a></b> pitch-head. This is no longer +rigged as a tri-hang but instead around the large natural above the ledge. +Tri-Hang pitch descends beyond a small ledge which has a bolted deviation level +with the ledge down to a small puddle. Here wellies and jammers should be +washed clean of mud prior to ascent (washing-up brush left there in 2004 for +this purpose). The tight rift continues down +[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-02" id="qC2003-204-02">C2003-204-02 B</a>] but the +way on is up an awkward and steep bolted traverse up the right wall of the rift +on a small-to-vanishing ledge. After 5m this reaches the top of the final +pitch, <b><a id="cerberus">Cerberus</a></b>. The traverse is best rigged by +free-climbing to the top of Cerberus pitch on the left side of the rift then +rigging the traverse from the top.</p> + +<p><a href="l/kangatwo.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/kangatwo.jpg" /></a> +<i>At the pitch-head for Cerberus, above the traverse up to it, a slightly +exposed sideways traverse gives access to a stooping-height phreatic passage, +<b><a id="eeyore">Eeyore</a></b>, floored with thick, sticky mud. After around +five metres, Eeyore opens out into a moderately large chamber, <b><a +id="kanga">Kanga</a></b>. A bolted Y-hang on the right wall drops down to a +ledge and then to a second bolted Y-hang to the steeply descending floor of the +chamber. There is a small pitch on the left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-68" +id="qC2004-204-68">C2004-204-68 B</a>] which may link to the lower pitch in +Eeyore. At the bottom of the chamber a small passage leads off on the left to a +rift; this heads uphill for a few metres over loose, powdery mud before +emerging in a chamber. Climbing down around a large wedged boulder to the floor +reveals a narrow, unpromising-looking pitch-head, estimated at 10m [<a +href="qm.html#C2004-204-69" id="qC2004-204-69">C2004-204-69 B</a>].</i></p> + +<p>Cerberus is a steeply sloping, very muddy ramp down. It is rigged from a +bolted Y-hang and then a deviation from a natural the left wall, landing at the +start of the Underworld.</p> + +<h3>The Underworld</h3> <p><a href="l/underworld.html"><img class="onright" src="t/underworld.jpg" alt="Dave at foot of Cerberus pitch" /></a>The Underworld starts from the foot @@ -94,8 +173,6 @@ naturals (15m rope; 2 slings) to gain a large passage sloping up. Straight ahead is a thin rift: Bracket Fungus passage, the way on is up the steep mud slope to the left, <a href="#oxtail">Oxtail Oxbow</a>.</p> - - <h3><a href="l/bracketfungus1.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/bracketfungus1.jpg" alt="bracket fungus formations" /></a> <a id="bracketfungus">Bracket Fungus Passage</a></h3> @@ -149,292 +226,26 @@ id="qC2004-204-16">C2004-204-16 C</a>].</p> <h3><a id="quiz">Quiz Rift</a></h3> <p>At the junction before Terra Firma, turn right and clamber over large wedged -boulders <i>(CARE - deep, undescended rift below -[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-25" id="qC2003-204-25">C2003-204-25 C</a>])</i>, to a +boulders <i>(CARE - deep, undescended rift below [<a +href="qm.html#C2003-204-25" id="qC2003-204-25">C2003-204-25 C</a>])</i>, to a small mud chamber. Duck under the low arch, avoiding contacting the conservation-taped stalactites, to a further small mud chamber. Crawl down again under a second low arch, up a mud slope on the right and turn left into -Quiz Rift. <i>To the right a narrow rift goes up to a ledge which is the start of -the <b><a id="generation">Generation Game</a></b> bolted traverse. This leads over -the top of Quiz Rift to the passage the far side; this appears to have no way -on. On the other side of this ledge are a series of phreatic roof tubes and -passage, <b><a id="uppertube">Upper Tube</a></b>, which overlook the mud slopes -and chambers just described, in which there are a couple of QM's: a roof tube -[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-19" id="qC2004-204-19">C2004-204-19 C</a>] and a -muddy chute [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-21" id="qC2004-204-21">C2004-204-21 -C</a>].</i> Quiz Rift soon turns right down a mud slope (traverse line on -naturals and one bolt) to the <b><a id="gardenersworld">Gardener's -World</a></b> pitch (p25). This descends via awkward rigging (not perfected in -2004) to a ledge in a moderately large chamber. From this ledge <b><a -id="univchallenge">University Challenge</a></b> pitch (p15) descends to land -partway down the large, confusing Subsoil Chamber.</p> - -<h2><a id="subsoil">Subsoil level</a></h2> - -<h3>Subsoil Chamber area</h3> - -<img src="subsoil_centre.png" /> - -<h4><a id="subsoilchamber">Subsoil Chamber</a></h4> - -<p> <a href="l/crystals.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/crystals.jpg" -alt="crystal-encrusted rock" /></a> <a href="l/mudpillars.html"><img -class="onright" src="t/mudpillars.jpg" alt="mud pillars" /></a> Subsoil Chamber -is large with a boulder floor, sloping down to the south. <i>Heading north up -the slope leads to <a href="#heavilysoiled">Heavily Soiled</a> (q.v.).</i>. -Heading south from the base of the University Challenge pitch, <i>after 10m on -the right is the entry to the canyon leading to <a -href="#earthenware">Earthenware</a></i>, while <i>on the left a passage leads -up steeply past conservation-taped fine, white crystals to a small, wet aven -with two QM C's[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-56" id="qC2004-204-56">C2004-204-56 -C</a>]</i> as the chamber drops down steeply with a boulder-strewn floor to a -small, wet aven with fine, large banks of conservation-taped mud and mud pillar -formations topped by pebbles. At the base of the chamber, to the right is a -large phreatic passage three-quarters filled with mud; this connects back to <a -href="#earthenware">Earthenware</a>, while to the left is <a -href="#hippohollows">Hippo Hollows</a> passage.</p> - -<p>These two trunk passages, Hippo Hollows to the south and Earthenware Passage -to the north, together with the short linking passage in between appear to -originally have been a single, large phreatic passage running north/south which -has subsequently been cut into three sections by two canyons running parallel -in Subsoil Chamber.</p> - -<h4><a id="heavilysoiled">Heavily Soiled</a></h4> - -<p>Clambering up from the base of University Challenge pitch to the top of -Subsoil Chamber, a traverse on the left wall (free climbable with care) is the easiest way to the obvious, large passage heading off on to the north. <i>Following the canyon leading down from here leads to <a -href="#earthenware">Earthenware</a>. A sandy passage leads off up steeply from the top of Subsoil Chamber. From this passage, a sandy tube -soon branches off to the right and rapidly closes down. The restricted main -passage ahead swings left then heads down and provides a bypass -connection into Heavily Soiled passage.</i> At the north end of Subsoil Chamber, the -main passage initially ascends steeply with a rift in the mud-covered floor. It -immediately passes a steeply descending passage leading off to the right [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-50" id="qC2004-204-50">C2004-204-50 A</a>] and quickly -reaches a large boulder in the passage where the sandy bypass described -above joins from the right. Just beyond -the junction of the two routes is a tube on the right, which has not been -explored in 2004, [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-51" -id="qC2004-204-51">C2004-204-51 B</a>], nor has another slightly further on [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-53" id="qC2004-204-53">C2004-204-53 B</a>]. The main -passage then levels off and there is a 1.8m climb down a mud bank. At the -bottom a passage leads off to the left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-52" -id="qC2004-204-52">C2004-204-52 C</a>], after which the passage continues up -through large boulders and breakdown. A restricted crawl on the left through -boulders is followed by either an easy squeeze on the left [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-54" id="qC2004-204-54">C2004-204-54 C</a>] or a climb -ahead that opens out onto a large muddy ledge above a mud-floored chamber where -the 2004 survey ends. Descending to the left leads to <b><a -id="nightsoil">Night Soil Chamber</a></b> [WOOKEY BECKA] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-72" id="qC2005-204-72">C2005-204-72 B</a>] (mislabelled -as 05-71 on survey), while to the right is <b><a id="hippocratic">Hippocratic -Oath</a></b> [BECKA ANDREW WOOKEY][<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-01" id="qC2005-204-01">C2005-204-01 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-02" id="qC2005-204-02">C2005-204-02 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-03" id="qC2005-204-03">C2005-204-03 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-04" id="qC2005-204-04">C2005-204-04 D</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-05" id="qC2005-204-05">C2005-204-05 X</a>] -[<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-06" id="qC2005-204-06">C2005-204-06 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-07" id="qC2005-204-07">C2005-204-07 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-65" id="qC2005-204-65">C2005-204-65 A</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-66" id="qC2005-204-66">C2005-204-66 D</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-67" id="qC2005-204-67">C2005-204-67 ?</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-68" id="qC2005-204-68">C2005-204-68 ?</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-69" id="qC2005-204-69">C2005-204-69 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-70" id="qC2005-204-70">C2005-204-70 X</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-71" id="qC2005-204-71">C2005-204-71 D</a>].</p> - - -<h3>Southern area: Hippo Hollows / Fat Worm</h3> - -<img src="subsoil_south.png" /> - -<h4><a href="l/hippohollows.html"><img class="onright" src="t/hippohollows.jpg" -alt="Hippo Hollows mud pots" /></a><a id="hippohollows">Hippo Hollows</a></h4> - -<p>On the left, from the southern base of Subsoil Chamber, a 1.8m climb up a mud -bank leads to a mud-floored passage that enters Hippo Hollows. This section of -passage has a series of small, attractive pots floored with cracked mud (CARE - -traverse above the pots). Straight on after the pots, the passage ends in a -rift and <b><a id="chalkcheese">Chalk and Cheese</a></b> pitch. <i>Before this -point, but after the pots, a ramp up on the left leads to a pitch (p.8). At the -base of this pitch a squeeze appears to open out onto a further pitch [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-X72" id="qC2004-204-X72">C2004-204-X72 ?</a>]. -Traversing over the 8m pitch and up a steep muddy bank leads shortly to the -head of a further pitch which has not yet been descended [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-58" id="qC2004-204-58">C2004-204-58 B</a>]. Shortly -after this first left ramp, a second ramp to the left leads to a position -overlooking the same rift that can be more easily accessed by continuing -straight along the main Hippo Hollows passage.</i> On the right of the main -Hippo Hollows passage, opposite the second ramp, there is an aven on the right with sounds of -running water in wet conditions [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-59" -id="qC2004-204-59">C2004-204-59 B</a>]. The climb up to the aven would require -bolting. Chalk and Cheese pitch is rigged from bolts in the roof to a -self-lined climb down a narrow rift to enter the Fat Worm Blows A Sparky -area.</p> - -<h4><a id="fatworm">Fat Worm Blows a Sparky</a></h4> - -<p><a href="l/whiteclouds.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/whiteclouds.jpg" -alt="Little White Clouds ceiling formations" /></a> Chalk and Cheese pitch -enters a moderate-sized chamber. <i>To the right, a short (3m) climb leads up to -a window overlooking the chamber. A crawling sized passage continues north -west for about 35m ending in a pitch down [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-60" -id="qC2004-204-60">C2004-204-60 A</a>].</i> A large walking passage leads off -to the left. From this walking passage, a ramp soon leads down to the right. -This shortly comes to a junction. <i>Down and straight ahead leads to a pair of -windows overlooking what is almost certainly the same pitch [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-61" id="qC2004-204-61">C2004-204-61 A</a>].Turning -right before these windows a climb through a window leads to a small, awkward -and sharp passage that has several windows on the right leading to pitches [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-62" id="qC2004-204-62">C2004-204-62 B</a>].</i> To the -right the passage squeezes past unusual white plastic-like formations (<b><a -id="littlewhiteclouds">Little White Clouds</a></b>) to a small chamber. The -left of this chamber opens out over a pitch, the first of the <a -href="thetube.html#apocalypse">Four Pitches of the Apocalypse</a> Straight -ahead from the chamber the passage continues to a second pitch.</p> - -<p><a href="l/deadbat.html"><img class="onright" src="t/deadbat.jpg" alt="Dead -bat" /></a> The main walking passage soon reaches <b><a id="batchamber">Dead -Good Bat Chamber</a></b> with a freshly deceased bat marked by conservation -tape by the prominent central boulder. <i>Low on the left of this chamber, Thin -Rift passage goes down steeply in tight rift. A handline was needed to continue -down at the limit of surveying in 2004 [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-X73" -id="qC2004-204-X73">C2004-204-X73 A</a>].</i> Several passages lead down on the -right from Good Dead Bat Chamber: all interconnect in a maze of small walking -and crawling tubes. An alcove in one tube is conservation-taped off to protect -the hundreds of bat bones; many other bat bones are found at lower -concentrations throughout Subsoil, possibly washed out of the mud deposits. In -another tube is an unexplored passage [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-64" -id="qC2004-204-64">C2004-204-64 C</a>]. Continuing ahead beyond Good Dead Bat -Chamber, a free-climb steeply up on the left leads to a point around 4m below a -large tube which would require bolting to access [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-65" id="qC2004-204-65">C2004-204-65 B</a>]. Straight -ahead leads steeply down large boulders to a small chamber and a wet aven [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-66" id="qC2004-204-66">C2004-204-66 C</a>].</p> - -<h3>Northern area (The Wares)</h3> - -<img src="subsoil_north.png" /> - -<h4><a id="earthenware">Earthenware</a></h4> - -<p>From the foot of <a href="#univchallenge">University Challenge</a> pitch, -descending around 10m south down the chamber, there is a very large boulder on -the right with two spits in the roof to rig a 3m pitch (free-climbable with -care) to a steeply descending canyon. Following down the canyon, shortly an -opening on the right links to the start of <a href="#heavilysoiled">Heavily -Soiled</a> passage. <i>At the base of the canyon the passage continues as fairly -tight rift guarded by poised rocks [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-22" -id="qC2004-204-22">C2004-204-22 A</a>].</i> Between these points, <i>a high mud -bank on the left opens into the short section of phreatic passage which -continues further south as Hippo Hollows, passing a high tube in the right-hand -wall [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-20" id="qC2004-204-20">C2004-204-20 X</a>]. -</i> The main way on is opposite this high mud bank. Here, on the right near -the bottom of the canyon, a short traverse (two spits and a natural and a 12m rope; free-climbed for 2005 trips) over a large, loose mud -bank gains access up to a large walking passage, Earthenware. This drafts out -strongly and continues north, horizontally, for 100m. Earthenware initially -passes some stalactites, opposite which there is a passage on the left [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-23" id="qC2004-204-23">C2004-204-23 C</a>]; then the -phreatic development extends to slope up on the right side. Continuing leads -to a trench; climbing down into the trench on the left-hand side of the passage -leads to a side passage, <b><a id="software">Software</a></b> [WOOKEY BECKA] -[<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-73" id="qC2005-204-73">C2005-204-73 A</a>] and at -the other end is a climb down into <b><a id="firmware">Firmware</a></b> [WOOKEY -BECKA]. - -<p>A little beyond this is a junction, <i>where a passage leads off to the left -to join <a href="#software">Software</a>, while a -muddy slope on the right leads to a muddy tube that goes steeply up to a -boulder choke. A second, less obvious tube leads up on the right just before -this first tube. This second tube climbs up very steeply and continues beyond -the end of the 2004 survey though some aid may be needed to complete the climb -up [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-28" id="qC2004-204-28">C2004-204-28 A</a>]. -These two tubes are the <b><a id="chimney">Chimney</a></b>.</i> The main -passage of Earthenware continues up a slope over mud floor formations and -boulders to an obvious junction. The draft comes from the continuation of -Earthenware straight ahead. <i>The larger passage on the left is <b><a -id="stoneware">Stoneware</a></b>. Stoneware leads steeply down and narrows from -large walking passage to twisting vadose passage with a clean-washed rock floor -with loose, sharp rocks balanced on it. This continues for around 50m to a -chamber. Here there is a drop through loose mud [XXX unnumbered QM B] and a -roof tube [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-29" id="qC2004-204-29">C2004-204-29 -X</a>]. Continuing on, past another roof tube [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-30" -id="qC2004-204-30">C2004-204-30 X</a>], the passage terminates at a drippy aven -[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-32" id="qC2004-204-32">C2004-204-32 X</a>].</i> -<i>[Editor's note: I'm rather puzzled by this as the QM grades assigned on the -survey don't match the description. Somewhere along here there is another one -[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-31" id="qC2004-204-31">C2004-204-31 -C</a>].]</i></p> - -<p>Earthenware continues smaller and soon reaches a complex junction, the -beginning of the labyrinth known as The Wares. On the right are three passages -leading into <a href="#underware">Underware</a>. The second contains attractive -calcite on the walls and is conservation-taped off. On the left there are also -three passages: the first and third lead into <a href="#hardware">Hardware</a> -(the third passing [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-76" id="qC2005-204-76">C2005-204-76 C</a>] on the way], while the second slopes down to a small -chamber with no way on. - -<p><b><a id="hardware">Hardware</a></b> is initially small but strongly -drafting and twists along and soon reaches a junction. Ahead on the left drops -down a ramp past a fine white formation but soon finishes. Just beyond this -ramp, a muddy passage leads up on the right back to Earthenware. Continuing -straight ahead, the main passage soon opens up into very large phreatic passage -with large boulders on the floor. Soon there are openings on both left and -right. <i> Taking this left, the passage, <b><a id="someware">Someware</a></b>, -drops down steeply. Two junctions on the right both lead to a small chamber -beyond which is a wet aven [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-74" id="qC2005-204-74">C2005-204-74 X</a>] on the right which feeds a small, sharp, -immature streamway on the left [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-X82" id="qC2005-204-X82">C2005-204-X82 C</a>]. Note that this aven is separate from -that at [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-39" -id="qC2004-204-39">C2004-204-39 B</a>]. The continuation of this left passage -down is [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-75" id="qC2005-204-75">C2005-204-75 A</a>] and takes a small stream.</i> Right leads up steeply to -Underware. Further along is another crossroads; left links back into Someware; -right soon chokes. This large passage soon closes down again and slopes steeply -up in a large boulder pile. The 2004 survey ended at the top of the boulder -slope. A deep pitch descends on the left [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-39" -id="qC2004-204-39">C2004-204-39 C</a>] and there is a possible continuation up -on the right of the slope through boulders [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-40" -id="qC2004-204-40">C2004-204-40 C</a>].</p> - -<h4><a id="underware">Underware</a></h4> - -<p>The three passages up on the right of Earthenware all enter a very large, -horizontal phreatic passage, Underware. This continues both left (north) and -right (south).</p> - -<p>From the entry points from Earthenware, Underware continues to the left for -around 50m north, to end in a huge boulder choke and roof collapse. <i>A large -passage on the left at the start of this collapse zone drops into Hardware, -following a small stream. A small tube just beyond this passage soon chokes. A -small drafting passage off to the right at the start of the collapse zone is -the start of <a href="#tableware">Tableware</a>.</i></p> - -<p>Underware continues to the right as large passage heading south, passing a small -passage to the left[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-47" -id="qC2004-204-47">C2004-204-47 C</a>], before closing down in a boulder slope. -Just before it closes down a large passage leads off up to the left. This -climbs up steeply past a huge boulder mid-passage then narrows as it reaches a -small mud chamber. Under a boulder on the left of this chamber the passage -turns right, becoming too tight after 4m, and at the far end of the chamber a -passage goes off which becomes too tight after 6m. The main way on is a -drafting thin rift on the left that soon opens out into the bottom of a large -sloping passage. This mud-floored ramp climbs up very steeply and in 2004 the -survey ended at the point at which protection was needed to continue the ascent -[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-49" id="qC2004-204-49">C2004-204-49 A</a>]. A -second passage leads off on the right where the thin rift enters this steep -ramp. This second passage again climbs up steeply and appeared to reach an -aven, with possible passages leading off around 4m up [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-48" id="qC2004-204-48">C2004-204-48 X</a>].</p> - -<h4><a id="tableware">Tableware</a></h4> - -<p>The passage heads steeply upwards, and it splits into many small -tubes which all meet up with each other and meet a horizontal piece of phreatic -tube. <i>To the right passes a hole going down to the right [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-43" id="qC2004-204-43">C2004-204-43 C</a>], where -stones will rattle for quite a while, probably due to a sloping pitch rather -than any great depth, while continuing past the hole leads up slope to come -into a larger passage, which is more easily accessed by following the main -route.</i> To the left a little more scrambling up leads into a passage that -goes off to the left and right, and is high enough to stand up in.</p> - -<p><i>To the right opens up some more and leads to a pitch [<a -href="qm.html#C2004-204-44" id="qC2004-204-44">C2004-204-44 B</a>], and an aven -[<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-45" id="qC2004-204-45">C2004-204-45 X</a>]; a small -hole on the right before the pitch is where the previously described passage -enters.</i> To the left, the passage continues to a small sloping chamber, at -the bottom of which a crawl goes off but chokes, while at the top of the -chamber a couple of short passages also quickly choke. From the higher -entrance to the chamber there is a rift in the ceiling, which continues on the -opposite side of the chamber; [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-46" -id="qC2004-204-46">C2004-204-46 C</a>] this would require a climb of a couple -of metres to access.</p> +Quiz Rift. <i>To the right a narrow rift goes up to a ledge which is the start +of the <b><a id="generation">Generation Game</a></b> bolted traverse. This +leads over the top of Quiz Rift to the passage the far side; this appears to +have no way on. On the other side of this ledge are a series of phreatic roof +tubes and passage, <b><a id="uppertube">Upper Tube</a></b>, which overlook the +mud slopes and chambers just described, in which there are a couple of QM's: a +roof tube [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-19" id="qC2004-204-19">C2004-204-19 +C</a>] and a muddy chute [<a href="qm.html#C2004-204-21" +id="qC2004-204-21">C2004-204-21 C</a>].</i> Quiz Rift soon turns right down a +mud slope (traverse line on naturals and one bolt) to the <b><a +id="gardenersworld">Gardener's World</a></b> pitch (p25). This descends via +awkward rigging (not perfected in 2004) to a ledge in a moderately large +chamber. From this ledge <b><a id="univchallenge">University Challenge</a></b> +pitch (p15) descends to land partway down the large, confusing <a +href="subsoil.html#subsoilchamber">Subsoil Chamber</a>.</p> <hr style="clear: both" />