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[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.

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<!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">Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle</th><th id="status">4/S x</th></tr>
</table>
<h1>Subsoil level</h1>
<div>
<b><!--<a href="#survey">-->Survey<!--</a>--></b>&nbsp;--&nbsp;
<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>
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@ -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&deg; 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

393
smkridge/204/uworld.html
View File

@ -11,8 +11,7 @@
<table id="cavepage">
<tr><th id="kat_no">204</th><th id="name">Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle</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>&nbsp;--&nbsp;
@ -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
Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle. 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" />