.We followed the draft into big passage, at first we followed it to a -rift lvel, climbing over big boulders – this led to a hole in the +rift level, climbing over big boulders – this led to a hole in the floor, so we went back and followed at the base of the passage, past some pretty mud, down a climb and some more mud. We eventually got to a pitch that we had no gear to descend or cross. The draft and passage @@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ quite a pitch below and we removed quite a few of the footholds last time (to clatter down the pitch).
Went to the pushing front and rigged over the pitch, following the -draft. Shortly after the passage mad a sharp right hand turn into +draft. Shortly after the passage made a sharp right hand turn into passage that was much more phreatic in character ~2m wide. We then hit another rift was also strongly drafted, doubling the strength of the draft in the passage heading for ICH – it is seriously cold and windy. @@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ This is “The Coldest Place in Earth”.
rope and Olly rigged it across the traverse and down the short pitch to a gloopy muddy pool below. We continued along the rift beyond, which headed fairly persistently east. We stopped when another pitch -blocked our way on. This looked like a long traverse was needed then +blocked our way on. This looked like a longer traverse was needed then we had rope for. We surveyed out getting colder and colder as we went. @@ -153,21 +153,21 @@ went.Back into Sleepless, re-rigging some ropes along the way to free up what we needed for later. Got the The Coldest place in Earth, Olly is -going first, and he discoveres what happens if you use a rack, it +going first, and he discovers what happens if you use a rack, it isn’t locked off and you don’t keep hold of the down rope. Fortunately the pitch is only ~5m high, he was already down 1m and he landed in soft squelchy mud. Still it was a very scary few moments for both of us…
Got to yesterdays pushing front and Olly preceeded to bolt down the -pitch into passage beyond. To keep watm I drew the elevation that got +pitch into passage beyond. To keep warm I drew the elevation that got missed yesterday. After traversing over the pitch we followed the walking size rift on (with the draft), over a short climb and a hole and to a widening. This time the way on is down a short pitch to some more squelchy mud pools and sadly another pitch that we don’t have rope for.
-Olly comes up with the mad idea that I reassessed the reascend the +
Olly comes up with the mad idea that I reascend the previous pitch, throw him the rope so he can see what happens on the next pitch. I took both slings up with me to aid with me getting the rope back. Amazingly the mad plan worked. Olly ascertained that the @@ -189,13 +189,13 @@ on. The passage is now much riftier and less obvious what level to be at. We stay at the level of the bottom of the pitch, not the floor trench and traverse along until we have to drop down a bit. A bit further on the passage widens and we rig a short rope to get to a lower -level. A pitch drops deeper but we continue a long with the draft. We +level. A pitch drops deeper but we continue along with the draft. We stay either at the base of the rift or <4m above mostly and work our way along. Sadly we then get to another pitch in the way.
Olly rigged round, it took him a while as each time he hammered to dress the rock, flake fell and boomed down the pitch. I kept telling myself it -was a really short pitch that echoed alot... There was nowhere to wait +was a really short pitch that echoed a lot... There was nowhere to wait out of the draft and I started to wonder why I had used up nearly a whole years worth of annual leave to sit and shiver in Austria. Fortunately Olly got to the other side with 1 hanger left to rig there. @@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ jammer too far away from me to undo with cold fingers and I got increasingly unhappy.
I finally made it to the other side where I told Olly this was the worse -thing he had ever rigged and that we might die when we have to retun to +thing he had ever rigged and that we might die when we have to return to get out the cave. Fortunately he took it as a compliment...
We continued on with the draft (which might be a bit weaker), until we @@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ out but we were keen to survey back before we went down the hill.
As luck would have it we didn't die on the way out but I still whimpered quite a lot despite trying to be brave. This is called Too Bold for this Spit as Olly lifted a Hilti out on the way back. We got the Makita drill -and batteries out of the cave, and surveyed back to the previous dat, +and batteries out of the cave, and surveyed back to the previous day, Also we made our call out and nearly got to the car park in time, where Julian was patiently waiting to take us down the hill.
@@ -229,8 +229,8 @@ Julian was patiently waiting to take us down the hill.Becka rigged Caramel Catharsis then showed Chris and Mike the top of -String Theory which Chris made a start om rigging whilst Becka headed -out to help Holly, Anthony + martin with top camp bivvy fettling.
+String Theory which Chris made a start on rigging whilst Becka headed +out to help Holly, Anthony + Martin with top camp bivvy fettling.Chris + Becka headed in early. becka finished rigging +
Chris + Becka headed in early. Becka finished rigging Procrastination which was dead easy to rig, all the bolts first where -Norl's rigging guide said they would be, unlike String Thoery where -bolts were heard to spot. Chris + I then bodged the traverse at the +Noel's rigging guide said they would be, unlike String Thoery where +bolts were hard to spot. Chris + I then bodged the traverse at the bottom to a broken chamber + then an ugly expo rig on naturals down -aprrox. 4m. Holly + Mike turned up with the drill + Holly bolted the +approx. 4m. Holly + Mike turned up with the drill + Holly bolted the pitch down which finished. They surveyed + headed out. Chris + I had surveyed the upper section then Chris shimmied up a climb then got the -drill when Holly had finished with it + rigged it them added a few +drill when Holly had finished with it + rigged it then added a few bolts - strong draft coming from a small hole in the ceiling&ellipsis; draft good but passage dimensions not great. Chris then bolted a proper pitch to avoid the expo rig then headed up whilst Becka re-rigged with bolts -the traveerese at the bottom of Procrastination. We got 11 holes out of -one battery - surprisingly good&ellipsis; soft rock.
+the traverse at the bottom of Procrastination. We got 11 holes out of +one battery - surprisingly good&ellipsis; soft rock?Changed rope at top of pitch from 80m to 40m then carried on using 80m at large Y-hang at ledge. Hung about on rope for 3 hrs whilst -locating spits. was very disappointed in self for not getting to floor -and leaving Anthonu to get very cold at top of pitch. However first +locating spits. Was very disappointed in self for not getting to floor +and leaving Anthony to get very cold at top of pitch. However first pitch of this size that I've ever attempted to rig, so happy with self for the attempt at least.
@@ -343,8 +343,8 @@ GirlJust to add our part to Becka's report two sides back - took our time on way in to give Becka + Chris time to finish rigging -procrastination. All going well until climbing up bouldery slope between -usual Susspects + String Theory, when two large boulders slid down +Procrastination. All going well until climbing up bouldery slope between +Usual Suspects + String Theory, when two large boulders slid down slope with a Holly holding on thinking of imminent squishish. Thankfully they stopped slidding with only a swollen and grazed hand to show for [smiley]. Mike kicked boulders down to prevent future issues and we carried on to @@ -357,15 +357,15 @@ with only a couple of rub points to deal with on the way out.
10m pitch turned out to be much biger - probably about 30m so this took a little longer than expected to rig. Floor of pitch was again bouldery -hall angled down held together by soil. There was a small hole at bottom +hell angled down held together by soil. There was a small hole at bottom which I declared there was no way I was entering this. (I have decided -that in Noel's absence Tunnocks is targeting me). Mike heroically +that in Noel's absence Tunnocks is targetting me). Mike heroically climbed in, declared it scary and choked. We surveyed quickly and headed -out. Later when writing ip survey notes I dsicovered Mike had called -this 'Surfer girl' after my early boulder surfing! Also up to this date +out. Later when writing up survey notes I discovered Mike had called +this 'Surfer Girl' after my early boulder surfing! Also up to this date this is the deepest part of Tunnocks at -397! Woo hoo! [smiley]
-With 3 bags between us, 1 with a drill + two for rope we headed to the far north of Tunnocks for pushing my infamous lead. Mike chose to -come with me as he was blissfully ignorant of my lead! [smiley]
+come with me as he was blistfully ignorant of my lead! [smiley]Rigged Hooray for Boobies + cut end of rope for small pitch in the
-Flap - which turned out to be perfect (this rope was orginally a 39m).
-Then came the Flap! here Mike releasised he'd been sold a dud! But he
+Flap ~> which turned out to be perfect (this rope was orginally a 39m).
+Then came the Flap! here Mike realised he'd been sold a dud! But he
carried on relentlessly with his uber-bag + by following survey
stations we eventually found ourselves at the top of the pitch. Feeling
guilty for dragging Mike here I encouraged him to rig the pitch. We
carefully passed rigging items back and forth to each other in order to
not drop them down the ptich (we were nicely wedged above the pitch, but
smaller items would fall all the way to the floor). Mike beautifully
-rigged the pitch as follows .
A 39m rope was used, however Mike had to 'elastic band' the rope between @@ -394,10 +394,10 @@ Mike landed on a ledge with another pitch (estimated as 25m). Having run out of rope and time we headed out with Mike declaring it as a good lead.... MuWhahaha! Muwhahahahahahaha!! Determination pays off! Although I'm not sure anyone else is going to be pleased. More -Determination is required for further trips and so it's name is born -> -'The Determiniation Series'.
+Determination is required for further trips and so it's name is born -> +The Determiniation Series. -Lured by tales of an ongoing spacious pitch series, I found myself heading off to Holly’s favourite lead at the far north of Tunnocks. After the usual tedium of the entrance series, -a long sweaty uphill stromp through Flying High etc, we found ourselves staring at the start +a long sweaty uphill stomp through Flying High etc, we found ourselves staring at the start of ‘The Flap’ after ~2½ hours. Having been this far last year I had a rough idea what to expect. I was informed that there was a double bend that Mike had not appreciated due to long legs but was assured that it would be alright. The double bend did indeed prove to be quite entertaining: it took me three attempts with much wibbling and encouragement from Chris and Holly to coax my ample frame through. I’m not used to proper -caving at the best of times – especially within Austria!
+caving at the best of times &endash; especially within Austria! -However the pitch at the far end is most fine – a nice rift pitch that would not look out +
However the pitch at the far end is most fine &endash; a nice rift pitch that would not look out of place in Yorkshire. Chris bolted the next pitch which is ~35m split by a small ledge about halfway down. The continuing rift at the bottom (thankfully much larger than the rift at the top) continues down, quickly reaching a further pitch with a drop of ~3 @@ -425,12 +425,12 @@ guesswork concerning the length of this pitch and the undescended pitch it appea Determination Series is getting close to the level of the horizontal development at the bottom of String Theory.
-
-With that, it was time to do battle with ‘The Flap/ again. This time, Holly had to +
With that, it was time to do battle with 'The Flap' again. This time, Holly had to perform an overtaking manoeuvre in the rift in order to show me how it should be done. With -that obstacle overcame we slogged back to the entrance and staggered back to Top Camp +that obstacle overcome we slogged back to the entrance and staggered back to Top Camp running on empty.
Overall a most satisfying and productive day. Thanks to Holly and Chris for coaxing me @@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ through the small bits.
Took five ropes into cave and rigged entrance series to bottom of third pitch. Left rope +
Took five ropes into cave and rigged entrance series to bottom of 3rd pitch. Left rope on final bolt in tackle sacks. Not much snow. Both warm during rift. A lead may have appeared at final slope on entrance pitch due to melt.
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ rope. Both rather warm during trip. Exit uneventful.Fetched the gear we’d dumped yesterday just beyond the boulder choke + tottered down Flying High to dump them at Starfish Junction. Left a tacklesack arrow for the others then up to the snow + leaves aven. I climbed up as far as the window in the main aven but way -on blocked with snow – cool draft coming out though. Then to the end of the passage where +on blocked with snow &endash; cool draft coming out though. Then to the end of the passage where Matt thought 07-60x looked worth returning to. Back at Starfish discovered the others had missed our arrow but taken our bags to Caramel Catharsis so we went via the Just For a Laugh route to the top of String Theory to meet them packing the gear that Chris and Anthony had @@ -485,17 +485,17 @@ group leaving the entrance and slogged out with fat tacklesacks.
Becka started bolting across the traverse from 31/7 to reach aven, then Chris took over
while Matt froze in the gale. After some time I reached the top:
-
Stepping across the top to the passage at the top of the aven, initially all I could see was a body sized tube at the top of another 2m climb. But surely all that air could not come from such a small hole? Indeed, another cross passage materialised. Becka came up the -now ridiculous rig to look while Matt valiantly volunteered to being +now ridiculous rig to look while Matt valiantly volunteered to begin prussicking out as time was getting on. The cross passage zig-zagged -back after back after a few meters, but a too exposed climb at the end -soon saw Becka back thritching up to the body sized tube – it all +back after a few metres, but a too exposed climb at the end +soon saw Becka back thrutching up to the body sized tube &endash; it all reconnected up with the zig zag at the head if a big pitch: [plan sketch]
At ca. 6:30pm as Becka was prussicking up lower Procrastination pitch there was a sudden @@ -505,29 +505,29 @@ later Becka appeared looking rather wide-eyed but extremely clean.
Dour + Chris took in over 100m rope to see what they could do with the pitch at the top +
Dour + Chris took in 100m rope to see what they could do with the pitch at the top of Bring on the Clowns. On the way in Chris put in a bolt to shift the Procrastination part -II Y-hang one bolt over in an attempt to hand the rope out to dry after Becka’s exit on +II Y-hang one bolt over in an attempt to hang the rope out to dry after Becka’s exit on previous trip. Any further would unfortunately have reached another trickle/torrent in rain.
While Chris spent a while converting the messy crochet into something resembling a -reasonable rig up Bring on the Clowns. Anthony begin rigging the pitch down at the top, into -the wind. Some 30m down he met the wall of the shaft. So came nack up and Chris went down -with the drill and thrubolts (having run out of Hiltis 2 days ago).[elv/rigging guide of The Number of the Beast*]
+reasonable rig up Bring on the Clowns, Anthony began rigging the pitch down at the top, into +the wind. Some 30m down he met the wall of the shaft. So came back up and Chris went down +with the drill & thrubolts (having run out of Hiltis 2 days ago).[elv/rigging guide of The Number of the Beast*] -* Dour: "Can you remember those numbers while I get my bok out?" +
* Dour: "Can you remember those numbers while I get my book out?" Chris: "Maybe. Distance 6.66, Clino +66, Ooer!"
-At the bottom was a 3s drop down a dribbly shaft, but we eschewed this is favour of a -shorter, rubblier, older & windier short drops (2 bolts). At the bottom was another drop – +
At the bottom was a 3s drop down a dribbly shaft, but we eschewed this is favour of a +shorter, rubblier, older & windier short drop (2 bolts). At the bottom was another drop &endash; with the wind issuing out of a steep rift cutting down steeply. A couple of spits saw us down this (having run out of thrubolts) to the top of a few metre pitch, which another bolt -saw us down to big rift passage with a 4 to 4 second drop and the wind in our faces.
+saw us down to big rift passage with a 3-4 second drop and the wind in our faces. -We were out of rope and were down to our last 2 clowns. Sadly we realised there were not +
We were out of rope & were down to our last 2 clowns. Sadly we realised there were not going to be enough people left on expo to take this further so we surveyed and derigged out to the top of String Theory, out at 6am.
@@ -544,9 +544,9 @@ to the top of String Theory, out at 6am.The first pitch had previously been dropped by Matt –> a lovely y-hang off two naturals +
The first pitch had previously been dropped by Matt &endash;> a lovely Y-hang off two naturals straight down to a snow and ice bridge 30m down. Becka & I had headed off to AinP ahead of -the others to rerig the entrance (the rope had been removed after the prospecting but the +the others to re-rig the entrance (the rope had been removed after the prospecting but the slings had been left in place) I re-rigged this pitch feeling a little precarious as I wasn’t wearing my oversuit or helmet! (It was a fine hot day so less clothes was needed here).
Becka then headed down to the ice bridge with crowbar in hand (or stuffed down the side of her harness). The ice bridge was a very large but thin block of ice which we had to climb -under in order to proceed further into the cave. We weren’t sure how stable this was and it +under in order to proceed further into the cave. We weren’t sure how stable this was & it would definitely hurt if it collapsed on you! So Becka spent a good 15 mins giving it a bash with the crowbar. It didn’t break so we hoped that meant it was OK as we swapped places and -I headed under the snow bridge with drill, rope and all the other bits and pieces for +I headed under the snow bridge with drill, rope & all the other bits and pieces for vertical cave exploration.
The way on was through a hole in the ice in a corner of the cave. This was tube like with -one half made of ice and the other half being the cave wall. Unfortunately this is where I -realised that perhaps this wasn’t going to be a great entrance alternative – the hole in the +one half made of ice + the other half being the cave wall. Unfortunately this is where I +realised that perhaps this wasn’t going to be a great entrance alternative ~> the hole in the ice was the consequence of water running down the wall of the pitch and therefore I suspect that during a thunderstorm this tube becomes impassable. But as we were already here we carried on regardless (plus it was lovely + sunny with no fear of rain). So I set up a @@ -586,10 +586,10 @@ inside the ice with a constant stream of water flowing down into my wellies! A r needed a few metres down + then the pitch widened out. About halfway down a horizontal snow tube appeared on the left(?) which appears to provide a parallel pitch through the ice. As this was the drier option I chose to continue with the route through here. As I was putting -in the Y-hang to drop the pitch becka arrived to hang out on the snow. By this point my feet -were very cold and I was very happy when I got to move my feet from the ice to rock. I then -headed down to the floor – which ended on a bouldery floor with no further way on. We were -blocked in by the ice. By this point I was pretty cold and so was Becka from sitting on +in the Y-hang to drop the pitch Becka arrived to hang out on the snow. By this point my feet +were very cold & I was very happy when I got to move my feet from the ice to rock. I then +headed down to the floor &endash; which ended on a bouldery floor with no further way on. We were +blocked in by the ice. By this point I was pretty cold & so was Becka from sitting on snow. We had a quick discussion regarding surveying as Matt had come down to join us too. Due to logistics Becka + I surveyed out + sent Matt out with our bags. This has to be the coldest survey ever! By the time I was heading up the entrance pitch my feet were so @@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ reflecting on what a shame it was that there is still no way through.
[Rigging Guide] -The last trip down Determination saw us dropping two more pitches deeper down in this part of the system. No major comments for the journey in except that I’ll quote Becka who -said the following about the Flap (rift): “this is lovely” – Yes that’s right – my rift is +said the following about the Flap (rift): “this is lovely!” – Yes that’s right – my rift is lovely! Ha! You’re all wimps! [smiley]
-[Ed: One para crossed out] (Sorry this didn't make sense! It's too early after expo dinner) +[Ed: One para crossed out] (Sorry this didn't make sense! It's too early after expo dinner)
Previously Anthony + I hadn’t managed to finish surveying out so whilst Becka + Fleur -finished this I headed to the pushing front.(That's better!) Chris D had already placed 3 bolts so I +finished this I headed to the pushing front. (That's better!) Chris D had already placed 3 bolts so I commenced rigging. But before heading down I noticed that large parts of the wall had long cracks. After taking a hammer to these some fairly large boulders fell down the pitch + I carried on. About 10m down I landed on a ledge + needed to put a rebelay in. But this would cause a rub point further up the pitch and there I prussicked back up the pitch a few -meters to place a deviation. This took me ages as I kept swinging off around the pitch where +metres to place a deviation. This took me ages as I kept swinging off around the pitch where my sky hook kept falling off. Eventually after drilling 2.5 holes (oh dear) I had my -deviation + headed down to place my rebelay, It would actually be much better (+ easier) +deviation + headed down to place my rebelay. It would actually be much better (+ easier) to place a deviation much higher up.
-Eventually I headed down + landed in on another ledge with a rift in the right hand -corneer which opens out onto a second ledge, 3(ish)m down. After placing a couple of +
Eventually I headed down + landed on another ledge with a rift in the RH +corner which opens out onto a second ledge, 3(ish)m down. After placing a couple of bolts I landed on this ledge and discovered a couple of horizontal tubes which led off from -here. Whilst I paced a Y-hang + dropped the next Becka + Fleur had a look in here. One +here. Whilst I placed a Y-hang + dropped the next pitch Becka + Fleur had a look in here. One is a QMA (though quite small) with strong draft heading into cave + very squelchy mud lining the bottom.
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ way. By the time we exited the rift we were knackered. We had 4 uber tacklesacks with 6 bags worth of rope (calculated from the number of bags that brought it into the cave). Becka had done the rift 3 times lugging the bags through! -The three of us managed to drag the bafs to March of the Penguins where we then dumped +
The three of us managed to drag the bags to March of the Penguins where we then dumped some weight to collect another day & also make our call out!
[rigging diagram] @@ -662,13 +662,13 @@ ropeless. Dropped straight down here and did some loopy bits to connect stuff.Went back along ropeless towards the passage heading to 76. I spotted a roof tube which I -climbed up into. It reconnected a few meters on, nut then continued. We followed the passage +climbed up into. It reconnected a few meters on, but then continued. We followed the passage up until it rejoined where the rope comes in. Surveyed back.
Went to the lead towards 76. Clambered down and then traversed along at a widening above floor level. It was tight at first then became more keyhole like. The floor/rift trench turned off -to the right and the phreas (which was getting bigger) went stragiht on. Followed the big -phreas called Wonderland. We got to a couple of junctions turned right each time (towards +to the right and the phreas (which was getting bigger) went straight on. Followed the big +phreas called Wonderland. We got to a couple of junctions, turned right each time (towards 76!). Eventually the passage got smaller and full of soil.
Surveyed out until we realised we