[svn r6320] DL: Added description of 2004 finds in Razordance

smkridge/204/ariston.html

@@ -27,17 +27,16 @@ id="status">4/S x</th></tr>
 The pitch series begins with a short pitch of 5m rigged from a large thread in
 the roof a few metres back, with a single spit for the vertical part, which is
 almost a scramble. This lands on a large ledge formed of boulders wedged across
-a narrow point, with impressive aven above.
+a narrow point, with impressive aven above. There are two choices of descent
-There are two choices of descent here: one to the north,
+here: one to the north, <b>You're So Veined</b> (15m) which was used in 1999,
-<b>You're So Veined</b> (15m) which was used in 1999, and one to the south,
+and one to the south, <b><a id="potulike">Pot-U-Like</a></b> (~35m) which has
-<b><a id="potulike">Pot-U-Like</a></b> (~35m) which has been the trade route
+been the trade route since 2000.</p>
-since 2000.</p>
 
 <h4>You're So Veined route</h4>
 
-<p>One rebelay provides a good hang against the wall of You're So Veined to reach
+<p>One rebelay provides a good hang against the wall of You're So Veined to
-the foot of the pitch, which is in a spacious shaft, with an impressive aven
+reach the foot of the pitch, which is in a spacious shaft, with an impressive
-above. From here, there are two ways on.</p>
+aven above. From here, there are two ways on.</p>
 
 <p><i>To the left, facing away from the pitch just descended, is a gully, which
 in 1999 contained a thick layer of ice. Carefully traversing this rather
@@ -65,26 +64,26 @@ of a sloping rock wedged across the rift, from where an entertaining Y-hang on
 the left-hand wall provides a free-hang to the base of the pitch.  A ledge is
 passed a few metres from the bottom.</p>
 
-<p>Crossing an ice floor leads to the head of the next pitch of 14m.  A backup
+<p>At the foot of this pitch is a pool of water, or an ice pan, depending on
-bolt is followed by a Y-hang, which utilises one very cratered spit only usable
+the conditions that year. Crossing this leads to the head of the next pitch of
-with a bollard type hanger.  This is succeeded by a deviation from the opposite
+14m.  A backup bolt is followed by a Y-hang, which utilises one very cratered
-wall, providing a clear hang to the bottom.  The landing is on a floor of
+spit only usable with a bollard type hanger.  This is followed by a deviation
-boulders wedged across the shaft, although
+from the opposite wall, providing a clear hang to the bottom.  The landing is
-it seems sound. A backup bolt protects the approach to the Y-hang at the head
+on a floor of boulders wedged across the shaft, although it seems sound. A
-of the next pitch, <b>Steel Toecap</b> (35m). After a ledge 3m down, where a
+backup bolt protects the approach to the Y-hang at the head of the next pitch,
-deviation optimises the hang, the walls of the shaft bell out dramatically and
+<b>Steel Toecap</b> (35m). After a ledge 3m down, where a deviation optimises
-the rope hangs in stimulating isolation. About 5m from the floor a ledge is
+the hang, the walls of the shaft bell out dramatically and the rope hangs in
-passed, which could be gained by a swing across, where there may possibly be a
+stimulating isolation. About 5m from the floor a ledge is passed, which could
-passage leading off [<a href="qm.html#C1999-204-20"
+be gained by a swing across, where there may possibly be a passage leading off
-id="qC1999-204-20">C1999-204-20 B</a>].</p>
+[<a href="qm.html#C1999-204-20" id="qC1999-204-20">C1999-204-20 B</a>].</p>
 
 <p>At the foot of the pitch, the way on is a very chossy, sloping descent which
 will require either re-rigging or bypassing (which may be possible by a climb
 up and over) in future. This leads to a further short pitch (10m), which lands
 in an aven chamber of ample proportions. <i>From here drops an 8m pitch,
 landing on a rubble floor. The only way on is a tight rift [<a
-href="qm.html#C2000-204-60" id="qC2000-204-60">C2000-204-60 C</a>], which
+href="qm.html#C2000-204-60" id="qC2000-204-60">C2000-204-60 C</a>], which was
-was penetrated for only a short distance. More progress might be possible by
+penetrated for only a short distance. More progress might be possible by
 someone small and imaginative. Not surveyed in 2000.</i> From the aven chamber,
 a crawl leads off, followed by a descending rubble slope. The rubble slope
 curves round to the right, passing a tight rift on the left [<a
@@ -116,44 +115,68 @@ a couple of metres back). Suddenly, at the base of the funnel, there is an
 impressive black space. In 2000 the descent was rigged New-Zealand style,
 entirely from naturals, which seemed sound, but worrisome for us bolt-junkies,
 especially given the record of 'Bomb-Proof' naturals in KH visiting the bottoms
-of pitches; the current rig as of 2003 uses a pitch-head deviation, and a
+of pitches; the current rig as of 2002 uses a pitch-head deviation, and a
 Y-hang rebelay around halfway down, to keep the descent clear of walls and the
 small trickle of water which falls down the shaft. This looks worryingly like
 it would become a huge deluge after rain, drenching anyone on the rebelay, but
-apparently even in the miserable weather of 2002 there was only a very slight
+even during one epic trip in 2004 when water levels throughout the cave were 
-increase. The floor is reached after 54 metres of descent. The way on is a
+extremely high this area was no more than drippy. The floor is reached after 54
-short traverse, an 8 metre pitch, another short traverse, and then a 20 metre
+metres of descent. The way on is a short traverse, an 8 metre pitch, another
-pitch to a ledge. The final pitch from this ledge is an impressive rift of 47
+short traverse, and then a 20 metre pitch to a ledge. The final pitch from this
-metres depth, rigged in 2000 from a natural, one bolt, and the rope from the
+ledge is an impressive rift of 47 metres depth, rigged from a Y-hang backed up
-pitch above.</p>
+to the pitch above. This is also slightly  drippy at the bottom if the water
+levels are high, but this is not problematic.</p>
 
 <h3><a id="razor">Razordance</a></h3>
 
 <p>At the bottom of the 47m pitch, a merry little stream is reached (similar
 volume of water to the Top Camp waterhole in spate). Upstream was not pushed,
 but reportedly leads quickly to the foot of a waterfall [<a
-href="qm.html#C2000-204-63" id="qC2000-204-63">C2000-204-63 B</a>].
+href="qm.html#C2000-204-63" id="qC2000-204-63">C2000-204-63 B</a>]. Downstream
-Downstream quickly narrows to about 50cm wide, and progress is made by
+quickly narrows to about 50cm wide, and progress is made by constantly changing
-constantly changing level to stay where the passage is wide enough. After about
+level to stay where the passage is wide enough. After about 40m a small cascade
-40m a small cascade of about 4m is reached, which could probably be
+of about 4m is reached, which could probably be free-climbed, but has been
-free-climbed, but a handline here helps avoid getting soaked. The passage is
+rigged with an SRT line to avoid getting soaked; if  the water level rises much
-considerably wider for a few metres below the cascade, but soon resumes in its
+this is still rather aqueous, and probably needs at  least one more bolt. The
-previous manner. Suddenly, the head of a pitch, <b>Black Lightning</b> (13m),
+passage is considerably wider for a few metres below  the cascade, but soon
-is reached. The streamway continues past a 2m climb and 2m pitch leading to the
+resumes in its previous manner; it is helpful to traverse  quite high up in
-25m pitch of <b>Mystery Wind</b>; this is descended via a crow's-nest which
+this section.</p>
-gives a dry sloping descent to the floor, protected by two rebelays. The
+
-streamway continues to <b>Easy There</b> (p15) and <b>Steady Now</b> (p4), the
+</p>Suddenly, the head of a pitch, <b>Black Lightning</b> (13m), is reached.
-2002 limit. 2003 saw further pushing to a short down pitch (no more than 3m)
+The streamway continues past a 2m climb and 2m pitch leading to the 25m pitch
-shortly followed by a climb up into a large chamber, <b>God Loves a Drunk</b>,
+of <b>Mystery Wind</b>; this is descended via a crow's-nest which gives a dry
-where an (impassably tight) inlet enters from the right. Immediately beyond
+sloping descent to the floor, protected by two rebelays. Immediately  beyond
-this are <b>The Mash Tun</b> (p8) and <b>Copper</b>[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-48" id="qC2003-204-48">C2003-204-48 B</a>] (p17). Beyond this the rift
+this is <b>Dave Dives</b>, an awkward roof-tube climb to bypass a tight spot; 
-becomes tighter and more awkward again, leading to the head of yet another
+this should on no account be descended head-first. A bolt here might render the
-pitch, <b>Yeast</b> (p10). Shortly beyond this the bottom of the rift becomes
+process safer. The streamway continues to the twin pitches of <b>Easy There</b>
-rather tight and an ascending traverse can be followed, as far as a local
+(15m) and  <b>Steady Now</b> (4m), the 2002 limit; the head of the latter is
-widening; here it will be necessary to bolt, either for a pitch to the floor or
+difficult and  tight, but it seems unlikely that the rig could be improved by
-for protection to continue the traverse. A plumb was made at this point to the
+any alteration not involving a large hammer.</p>
-floor 7m below, at 484m below the 204a entrance. Further exploration awaits in
+
-2004 [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-86" id="qC2003-204-86">C2003-204-86 A</a>].</p>
+<p>2003 saw further pushing to a short, rather damp down pitch (3m) shortly
+followed  by a climb up over boulders into a large chamber, <b>God Loves a
+Drunk</b>, where an (apparently impassably tight) inlet enters from the right.
+Immediately beyond this are <b>The Mash Tun</b> (p8) and <b>Copper</b> (p17).
+In high water levels these are both  very wet, dangerously so given the cold
+and draughty nature of the passage. There may  be a continuation at high level
+via a loony bolt traverse across the head of Copper [<a
+href="qm.html#C2003-204-48"  id="qC2003-204-48">C2003-204-48 B</a>].</p>
+
+<p>Beyond this the rift becomes tighter and more awkward again, leading to the 
+head of yet another pitch, <b>Yeast</b> (p10). Shortly beyond this the  bottom
+of the rift becomes rather tight and an ascending traverse can be followed, as
+far as a local widening, the 2004 limit; dropping back to stream level rapidly
+becomes tight again, but a traverse  line across, <b>Nordic Traverse</b>, gives
+access to a dry fossil passage to the head of  <b>Thirteen Year Pitch</b (7m),
+which drops into a spacious dry chamber. Here a tight and  scrofulous-looking
+rift leads off to the right (QM 04-XXX C), while the chosen way on is to
+descend <b>Pepper Pot</b> (20m) back to stream level. Here the passage returns
+to familiar rifty crappiness for a few metres; it is helpful to  take a
+relatively high level for a while until the passage widens again, at which
+point a 6m pitch, <b>(unnamed)</b>, regains the stream level. At this point
+there is a convenient widening at a level that gradually ascends to the head of
+<i>yet another</i> pitch, at which point the exploration team finally got
+bored. (QM 04-XX)</p>
 
 <h3><a id="fled">Fledermausschacht</a></h3>
 
@@ -164,11 +187,11 @@ descended. Soon the pitch becomes vertical, and a rebelay on the far wall (at
 -5m) allows the next few metres to be descended. Unfortunately the shaft still
 hades slightly, and a further two rebelays (at -15m and -28m) are required
 before the magnitude of this 112m shaft starts to become apparent. A 40m
-free-hanging section leads to a sloping ledge, where the shaft dog-legs again and
+free-hanging section leads to a sloping ledge, where the shaft dog-legs again
-a scrappy descent down a gully, and a further two rebelays (at -68m and -80m),
+and a scrappy descent down a gully, and a further two rebelays (at -68m and
-reaches a sloping ledge overlooking the final section of the pitch. A chossy
+-80m), reaches a sloping ledge overlooking the final section of the pitch. A
-traverse across the left hand wall appears to head into a parallel shaft [<a
+chossy traverse across the left hand wall appears to head into a parallel shaft
-href="qm.html#C2000-204-61" id="qC2000-204-61">C2000-204-61 C</a>]. A bolt
+[<a href="qm.html#C2000-204-61" id="qC2000-204-61">C2000-204-61 C</a>]. A bolt
 round the corner to the right allows a descent of the final 22m to the floor to
 be made, where a boulder choke is met, with no way on. The whole pitch,
 particularly the far wall, is rather loose and due care must be taken. A large