From 797c9ca2ed1ddcd89f96643cf3825b77aed81345 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: dave Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2005 15:57:24 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] [svn r7272] Moved Gaffered description from Swings page to Underworld page - this is a better match to the layout of the survey data set and seems more logical. Created an independent page for Subsoil. --- smkridge/204/subsoil.html | 320 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ smkridge/204/swings.html | 120 +++--------- smkridge/204/uworld.html | 393 ++++++++++---------------------------- 3 files changed, 447 insertions(+), 386 deletions(-) create mode 100644 smkridge/204/subsoil.html 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 @@ + + + + + +1623:204 -- Subsoil level + + + + + + +
204Steinbrückenhöhle4/S x
+ +

Subsoil level

+ +
+Survey --  +204 index
+
+ +

Subsoil is a large horizontal level at altitude around 1520m. Access is from +the Underworld via Gardener's World pitch.

+ +

Subsoil Chamber area

+ + + +

Subsoil Chamber

+ +

Subsoil Chamber +is large with a boulder floor, sloping down to the south. Heading north up +the slope leads to Heavily Soiled (q.v.).. +Heading south from the base of the University Challenge pitch, after 10m on +the right is the entry to the canyon leading to Earthenware, while on the left a passage leads +up steeply past conservation-taped fine, white crystals to a small, wet aven +with two QM C's[C2004-204-56 +C] 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 Earthenware, while to the left is Hippo Hollows passage.

+ +

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.

+ +

Heavily Soiled

+ +

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. +Following the canyon leading down from here leads to Earthenware. 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. 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 [C2004-204-50 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, [C2004-204-51 B], nor has another slightly further on [C2004-204-53 B]. 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 [C2004-204-52 C], 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 [C2004-204-54 C] 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 Night Soil Chamber [WOOKEY BECKA] [C2005-204-72 B] (mislabelled +as 05-71 on survey), while to the right is Hippocratic +Oath [BECKA ANDREW WOOKEY][C2005-204-01 C] [C2005-204-02 B] [C2005-204-03 C] [C2005-204-04 D] [C2005-204-05 X] [C2005-204-06 B] [C2005-204-07 C] [C2005-204-65 A] [C2005-204-66 D] [C2005-204-67 ?] [C2005-204-68 ?] [C2005-204-69 B] [C2005-204-70 X] [C2005-204-71 D].

+ + +

Southern area: Hippo Hollows / Fat Worm

+ + + +

Hippo Hollows

+ +

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 Chalk and Cheese pitch. 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 +[C2004-204-X72 ?]. +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 [C2004-204-58 B]. 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. 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 [C2004-204-59 B]. 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.

+ +

Fat Worm Blows a Sparky

+ +

Chalk and Cheese pitch +enters a moderate-sized chamber. 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 [C2004-204-60 A]. 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. Down and straight ahead leads to a pair of +windows overlooking what is almost certainly the same pitch [C2004-204-61 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 [C2004-204-62 B]. To the +right the passage squeezes past unusual white plastic-like formations (Little White Clouds) 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.

+ +

Dead +bat The main walking passage soon reaches Dead +Good Bat Chamber with a freshly deceased bat marked by conservation +tape by the prominent central boulder. 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 [C2004-204-X73 A]. 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 [C2004-204-64 C]. 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 [C2004-204-65 B]. Straight +ahead leads steeply down large boulders to a small chamber and a wet aven [C2004-204-66 C].

+ +

Northern area (The Wares)

+ + + +

Earthenware

+ +

From the foot of University Challenge 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 Heavily +Soiled passage. At the base of the canyon the passage continues as +fairly tight rift guarded by poised rocks [C2004-204-22 A]. Between these points, 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 [C2004-204-20 X]. + 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 [C2004-204-23 C]; 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, +Software [WOOKEY BECKA] [C2005-204-73 A] and at the +other end is a climb down into Firmware [WOOKEY +BECKA]. + +

A little beyond this is a junction, where a passage leads off to the left +to join Software, 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 [C2004-204-28 A]. +These two tubes are the Chimney. 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. The larger passage on the left is Stoneware. 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 [C2004-204-29 +X]. Continuing on, past another roof tube [C2004-204-30 X], the passage terminates at a drippy aven +[C2004-204-32 X]. +[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 +[C2004-204-31 +C].]

+ +

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 Underware. 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 Hardware +(the third passing [C2005-204-76 C] on the way], while the second slopes +down to a small chamber with no way on. + +

Hardware 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. Taking this left, the passage, Someware, +drops down steeply. Two junctions on the right both lead to a small chamber +beyond which is a wet aven [C2005-204-74 X] on the right which feeds a small, sharp, +immature streamway on the left [C2005-204-X82 C]. Note that this aven is separate from +that at [C2004-204-39 B]. +The continuation of this left passage down is [C2005-204-75 A] and takes a small stream. 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 [C2004-204-39 C] and there is +a possible continuation up on the right of the slope through boulders [C2004-204-40 C].

+ +

Underware

+ +

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).

+ +

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. 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 Tableware.

+ +

Underware continues to the right as large passage heading south, passing a +small passage to the left[C2004-204-47 C], 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 +[C2004-204-49 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 [C2004-204-48 X].

+ +

Tableware

+ +

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. To the right passes a hole going down to the right [C2004-204-43 C], 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. 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.

+ +

To the right opens up some more and leads to a pitch [C2004-204-44 B], and an aven +[C2004-204-45 X]; a small +hole on the right before the pitch is where the previously described passage +enters. 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; [C2004-204-46 C] this would require a climb of a couple +of metres to access.

+ +
+ + + + + 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, at what was QM2000-12B. Initially, a walking sized passage Playground leads past some mud formations and a drippy mini-aven to a view overlooking a mid-sized chamber, Magic Roundabout, 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.

+floor is via a corkscrew climb down through a hole in the floor on the right.

Magic Roundabout Chamber and surrounding passage

-

Once in the chamber, climbing down over boulders to the left leads to 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, Gaffer Tape, the start of the Gaffered -to the Walls series.

+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, Gaffer Tape, is reached. Descending this leads to the Gaffered to the Walls Series, while there is also a traverse across the pitch head.

Back in the main chamber, a rubble slope to the north leads onwards. To the -north up the slope is an unpromising passage called -ermintrude; 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 Dutch Beauty, -which also has windows into the main chamber. Continuing over rocks, a phreatic -tube enters from Juicy Bits 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.

+north up the slope is Ermintrude; 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 Dutch Beauty, which also has windows into the main +chamber. Continuing over rocks, a phreatic tube enters from Juicy Bits 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.

Ermintrude

-

Ermintrude passage, which leads north from +

Ermintrude passage, which leads north from Magic Roundabout Chamber, 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 [C2003-204-01 B].

-

Gaffered to the Walls series

- -

See rigging guide.

- -

The initial pitch, Gaffer Tape (70m), is an -imposing oval shaft, which continues upwards [C2001-204-97 X]. 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.

- - -

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. Down a hole to the left, two uninspiring rifts -[C2002-204-02 C], -[C2002-204-03 C] lead down -and probably rejoin a parallel shaft to LX Tape pitch. Up to the right, -[C2002-204-04 C], 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. The main way on is down on the left of the small chamber, through -a small hole in boulders in the floor toTape Worm -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 LX Tape pitch. Looking out to the -left a parallel shaft can be seen which may be enterable from -[C2002-204-02 C] and/or -[C2002-204-03 C]. 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. On the far wall near the bottom is a ledge -[C2002-204-08 C]. On the -near side of the rock bridge is a tight and unpromising rift [C2002-204-06 C].

-

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 -Sellotape(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 Trihang 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 -[C2003-204-02 B] 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, Cerberus. 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.

- -

-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, -Eeyore, floored with thick, sticky mud. After around -five metres, Eeyore opens out into a moderately large chamber, Kanga. 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 [C2004-204-68 B] 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 [C2004-204-69 B].

- -

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 -Underworld.

-

21 Bolt Traverse

-

From the head of Gaffer Tape pitch, a narrow ledge +

From the head of Gaffer Tape 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.

@@ -400,6 +325,11 @@ id="qC2005-204-45">C2005-204-45 C].

High Hopes and the 2005 entrances

+
+ + +
+

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, High Hopes [WOOKEY NIAL BECKA TONY] [C2005-204-62 A] [C2005-204-63 B] [C2005-204-64 C] [C2005-204-08 B] [C2005-204-09 C].

@@ -413,7 +343,7 @@ at the bottom of the G entrance 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 H and I entrances drop in.

-

G entrance

+

G entrance

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 @@
204Steinbrückenhöhle4/S x
- -

The Underworld and Subsoil

+

Gaffered to the Walls and The Underworld

Survey --  @@ -20,13 +19,93 @@

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 Gaffered, although a connection from Swings and Roundabouts via the Gaffered to the +Walls pitch series, although a connection from Merry-Go-Round is also suspected to exist. -Below this is a larger and still deeper level, Subsoil, at around 1520m.

+Below the Underworld is Subsoil.

-

Underworld

+ +

Gaffered to the Walls series

+ +

See rigging guide.

+ +

+ +
+The initial pitch, Gaffer Tape (70m), is an +imposing oval shaft, which continues upwards [C2001-204-97 X]. 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.

+ +

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. Down a hole to the left, two uninspiring rifts +[C2002-204-02 C], +[C2002-204-03 C] lead down +and probably rejoin a parallel shaft to LX Tape pitch. Up to the right, +[C2002-204-04 C], 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. The main way on is down on the left of the small chamber, through +a small hole in boulders in the floor toTape Worm +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 LX Tape pitch. Looking out to the +left a parallel shaft can be seen which may be enterable from +[C2002-204-02 C] and/or +[C2002-204-03 C]. 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. On the far wall near the bottom is a ledge +[C2002-204-08 C]. On the +near side of the rock bridge is a tight and unpromising rift [C2002-204-06 C].

+

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 +Sellotape(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 Trihang 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 +[C2003-204-02 B] 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, Cerberus. 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.

+ +

+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, +Eeyore, floored with thick, sticky mud. After around +five metres, Eeyore opens out into a moderately large chamber, Kanga. 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 [C2004-204-68 B] 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 [C2004-204-69 B].

+ +

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.

+ +

The Underworld

Dave at foot of Cerberus pitchThe 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, Oxtail Oxbow.

- -

bracket fungus formations Bracket Fungus Passage

@@ -149,292 +226,26 @@ id="qC2004-204-16">C2004-204-16 C].

Quiz Rift

At the junction before Terra Firma, turn right and clamber over large wedged -boulders (CARE - deep, undescended rift below -[C2003-204-25 C]), to a +boulders (CARE - deep, undescended rift below [C2003-204-25 C]), 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. To the right a narrow rift goes up to a ledge which is the start of -the Generation Game 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, Upper Tube, which overlook the mud slopes -and chambers just described, in which there are a couple of QM's: a roof tube -[C2004-204-19 C] and a -muddy chute [C2004-204-21 -C]. Quiz Rift soon turns right down a mud slope (traverse line on -naturals and one bolt) to the Gardener's -World pitch (p25). This descends via awkward rigging (not perfected in -2004) to a ledge in a moderately large chamber. From this ledge University Challenge pitch (p15) descends to land -partway down the large, confusing Subsoil Chamber.

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Subsoil level

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Subsoil Chamber area

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Subsoil Chamber

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mud pillars Subsoil Chamber -is large with a boulder floor, sloping down to the south. Heading north up -the slope leads to Heavily Soiled (q.v.).. -Heading south from the base of the University Challenge pitch, after 10m on -the right is the entry to the canyon leading to Earthenware, while on the left a passage leads -up steeply past conservation-taped fine, white crystals to a small, wet aven -with two QM C's[C2004-204-56 -C] 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 Earthenware, while to the left is Hippo Hollows passage.

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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.

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Heavily Soiled

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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. Following the canyon leading down from here leads to Earthenware. 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. 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 [C2004-204-50 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, [C2004-204-51 B], nor has another slightly further on [C2004-204-53 B]. 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 [C2004-204-52 C], 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 [C2004-204-54 C] 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 Night Soil Chamber [WOOKEY BECKA] [C2005-204-72 B] (mislabelled -as 05-71 on survey), while to the right is Hippocratic -Oath [BECKA ANDREW WOOKEY][C2005-204-01 C] [C2005-204-02 B] [C2005-204-03 C] [C2005-204-04 D] [C2005-204-05 X] -[C2005-204-06 B] [C2005-204-07 C] [C2005-204-65 A] [C2005-204-66 D] [C2005-204-67 ?] [C2005-204-68 ?] [C2005-204-69 B] [C2005-204-70 X] [C2005-204-71 D].

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Southern area: Hippo Hollows / Fat Worm

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Hippo Hollows

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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 Chalk and Cheese pitch. 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 [C2004-204-X72 ?]. -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 [C2004-204-58 B]. 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. 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 [C2004-204-59 B]. 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.

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Fat Worm Blows a Sparky

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Chalk and Cheese pitch -enters a moderate-sized chamber. 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 [C2004-204-60 A]. 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. Down and straight ahead leads to a pair of -windows overlooking what is almost certainly the same pitch [C2004-204-61 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 [C2004-204-62 B]. To the -right the passage squeezes past unusual white plastic-like formations (Little White Clouds) 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.

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Dead -bat The main walking passage soon reaches Dead -Good Bat Chamber with a freshly deceased bat marked by conservation -tape by the prominent central boulder. 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 [C2004-204-X73 A]. 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 [C2004-204-64 C]. 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 [C2004-204-65 B]. Straight -ahead leads steeply down large boulders to a small chamber and a wet aven [C2004-204-66 C].

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Northern area (The Wares)

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Earthenware

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From the foot of University Challenge 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 Heavily -Soiled passage. At the base of the canyon the passage continues as fairly -tight rift guarded by poised rocks [C2004-204-22 A]. Between these points, 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 [C2004-204-20 X]. - 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 [C2004-204-23 C]; 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, Software [WOOKEY BECKA] -[C2005-204-73 A] and at -the other end is a climb down into Firmware [WOOKEY -BECKA]. - -

A little beyond this is a junction, where a passage leads off to the left -to join Software, 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 [C2004-204-28 A]. -These two tubes are the Chimney. 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. The larger passage on the left is Stoneware. 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 [C2004-204-29 -X]. Continuing on, past another roof tube [C2004-204-30 X], the passage terminates at a drippy aven -[C2004-204-32 X]. -[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 -[C2004-204-31 -C].]

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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 Underware. 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 Hardware -(the third passing [C2005-204-76 C] on the way], while the second slopes down to a small -chamber with no way on. - -

Hardware 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. Taking this left, the passage, Someware, -drops down steeply. Two junctions on the right both lead to a small chamber -beyond which is a wet aven [C2005-204-74 X] on the right which feeds a small, sharp, -immature streamway on the left [C2005-204-X82 C]. Note that this aven is separate from -that at [C2004-204-39 B]. The continuation of this left passage -down is [C2005-204-75 A] and takes a small stream. 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 [C2004-204-39 C] and there is a possible continuation up -on the right of the slope through boulders [C2004-204-40 C].

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Underware

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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).

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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. 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 Tableware.

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Underware continues to the right as large passage heading south, passing a small -passage to the left[C2004-204-47 C], 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 -[C2004-204-49 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 [C2004-204-48 X].

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Tableware

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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. To the right passes a hole going down to the right [C2004-204-43 C], 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. 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.

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To the right opens up some more and leads to a pitch [C2004-204-44 B], and an aven -[C2004-204-45 X]; a small -hole on the right before the pitch is where the previously described passage -enters. 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; [C2004-204-46 C] this would require a climb of a couple -of metres to access.

+Quiz Rift. To the right a narrow rift goes up to a ledge which is the start +of the Generation Game 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, Upper Tube, which overlook the +mud slopes and chambers just described, in which there are a couple of QM's: a +roof tube [C2004-204-19 +C] and a muddy chute [C2004-204-21 C]. Quiz Rift soon turns right down a +mud slope (traverse line on naturals and one bolt) to the Gardener's World pitch (p25). This descends via +awkward rigging (not perfected in 2004) to a ledge in a moderately large +chamber. From this ledge University Challenge +pitch (p15) descends to land partway down the large, confusing Subsoil Chamber.