Fix links to moved PDFs

This commit is contained in:
Philip Sargent 2020-05-10 18:01:14 +01:00
parent 5e2161aadd
commit 867ba6cfd5
5 changed files with 34 additions and 36 deletions

View File

@ -112,9 +112,8 @@ Use <tt>python databaseReset.py
<p>Clicking on 'New cave' (at the bottom of the cave index) lets you enter a new cave. <a href="caveentry.html">Info on how to enter new caves has been split into its own page</a>.</p> <p>Clicking on 'New cave' (at the bottom of the cave index) lets you enter a new cave. <a href="caveentry.html">Info on how to enter new caves has been split into its own page</a>.</p>
<p>(If you remember something about CAVETAB2.CSV for editing caves, that was
superseded in 2012).</p> <p>This may be a useful reminder of what is in a survex file <a href="/expofiles/documents/surveying/survex-guide.pdf">how to create a survex file</a>.
<p>This may be a useful reminder of what is in a survex file <a href="../survey/how_to_make_a_survex_file.pdf">how to create a survex file</a>.
<h3><a id="updatingyears">Updating expo year pages</a></h3> <h3><a id="updatingyears">Updating expo year pages</a></h3>

View File

@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
<H1>Rope History</H1> <H1>Rope History</H1>
<p>Rope should be labeled at both ends with "CUCC", the year of first use and the rope length. Where the manufacturer specifies the maximum end of life date, this may also be specified, eg CUCC 2016-25. Rope without a specified manufacturers lifetime, shall be retired after 5 years and one expo. The exception to this is where we have guidance from the manufacturer that the rope will last longer and drop testing results indicate the rope is OK.</p> <p>Rope should be labeled at both ends with "CUCC", the year of first use and the rope length. Where the manufacturer specifies the maximum end of life date, this may also be specified, eg CUCC 2016-25. Rope without a specified manufacturers lifetime, shall be retired after 5 years and one expo. The exception to this is where we have guidance from the manufacturer that the rope will last longer and drop testing results indicate the rope is OK.</p>
<p>Rope should be chained only when it is washed and checked. Dirty or unchecked rope may be coiled. Rope should be washed, checked and measured at the end of each expo. Ropes should be retired, when they have received a fall with a factor of greater than 0.5, when there any defects detected (<a href="../../documents/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">examples bottom left corner</a>) or are older than 5 years without a maximum end of life date. The maximum end of life date may be determined by cutting of a section of rope and finding the plastic strip that should contain the manufacturer and date of manufacture. This may then allow the manufacturers guidance to be determined.</p> <p>Rope should be chained only when it is washed and checked. Dirty or unchecked rope may be coiled. Rope should be washed, checked and measured at the end of each expo. Ropes should be retired, when they have received a fall with a factor of greater than 0.5, when there any defects detected (<a href="/expofiles/documents/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">examples bottom left corner</a>) or are older than 5 years without a maximum end of life date. The maximum end of life date may be determined by cutting of a section of rope and finding the plastic strip that should contain the manufacturer and date of manufacture. This may then allow the manufacturers guidance to be determined.</p>
<a href="../i/rope-damage.jpg" style="margin: 40px"> <a href="../i/rope-damage.jpg" style="margin: 40px">
<figure> <figure>
@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
<td class="year">2018</td> <td class="year">2018</td>
<td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td> <td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td>
<td class="type">9mm Equirial</td> <td class="type">9mm Equirial</td>
<td class="docs"><a href="rope/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td> <td class="docs"><a href="/expofiles/documents/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td>
<td class="desc">green with 3 black strips</td> <td class="desc">green with 3 black strips</td>
<td class="droptest">To be tested 2021</td> <td class="droptest">To be tested 2021</td>
<td class="retirement">Post expo 2028</td> <td class="retirement">Post expo 2028</td>
@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
<td class="year">2016</td> <td class="year">2016</td>
<td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td> <td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td>
<td class="type">9mm Equirial</td> <td class="type">9mm Equirial</td>
<td class="docs"><a href="rope/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td> <td class="docs"><a href="/expofiles/documents/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td>
<td class="desc">black green black</td> <td class="desc">black green black</td>
<td class="droptest">To be tested 2019</td> <td class="droptest">To be tested 2019</td>
<td class="retirement">Post expo 2026</td> <td class="retirement">Post expo 2026</td>
@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
<td class="year">2016</td> <td class="year">2016</td>
<td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td> <td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td>
<td class="type">10mm Equirial</td> <td class="type">10mm Equirial</td>
<td class="docs"><a href="rope/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td> <td class="docs"><a href="/expofiles/documents/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td>
<td class="desc">black green</td> <td class="desc">black green</td>
<td class="droptest">To be tested 2019</td> <td class="droptest">To be tested 2019</td>
<td class="retirement">Post expo 2026</td> <td class="retirement">Post expo 2026</td>
@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
<td class="year">2016</td> <td class="year">2016</td>
<td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td> <td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td>
<td class="type">11mm Equirial</td> <td class="type">11mm Equirial</td>
<td class="docs"><a href="rope/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td> <td class="docs"><a href="/expofiles/documents/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td>
<td class="desc">alternating black green</td> <td class="desc">alternating black green</td>
<td class="droptest">To be tested 2019</td> <td class="droptest">To be tested 2019</td>
<td class="retirement">Post expo 2026</td> <td class="retirement">Post expo 2026</td>
@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
<td class="year">2015</td> <td class="year">2015</td>
<td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td> <td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td>
<td class="type">9mm Equirial</td> <td class="type">9mm Equirial</td>
<td class="docs"><a href="rope/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td> <td class="docs"><a href="/expofiles/documents/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td>
<td class="desc">black green black</td> <td class="desc">black green black</td>
<td class="droptest">To be tested 2018</td> <td class="droptest">To be tested 2018</td>
<td class="retirement">Post expo 2025</td> <td class="retirement">Post expo 2025</td>
@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
<td class="year">2015</td> <td class="year">2015</td>
<td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td> <td class="manafacturer">Corde Courante</td>
<td class="type">10mm Equirial</td> <td class="type">10mm Equirial</td>
<td class="docs"><a href="rope/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td> <td class="docs"><a href="/expofiles/documents/notice_generale_cordes_courant_downloaded_22_07_16.pdf">General notice</a></td>
<td class="desc">black green</td> <td class="desc">black green</td>
<td class="droptest">To be tested 2018</td> <td class="droptest">To be tested 2018</td>
<td class="retirement">Post expo 2025</td> <td class="retirement">Post expo 2025</td>

View File

@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ and tell someone nerdy when you have finished and they will
ensure that it is <em>saved, committed, </em>and<em> pushed</em> appropriately to the :loser: repo. ensure that it is <em>saved, committed, </em>and<em> pushed</em> appropriately to the :loser: repo.
<p>If you have several parts of the cave surveyed on one trip, create several distinct .svx files. <p>If you have several parts of the cave surveyed on one trip, create several distinct .svx files.
<ul> <ul>
<li><a href="/expofiles/documents/surveying/survex-guide.pdf">How to create a survex file</a> - PDF - Brendan;s guide. <li><a href="/expofiles/documents/surveying/survex-guide.pdf">How to create a survex file</a> - PDF - Brendan's guide.
<li><a href="getin.htm">From muddy book to survex plot</a> - the survex file format (to be revised) <li><a href="getin.htm">From muddy book to survex plot</a> - the survex file format (to be revised)
<li><a href="qmentry.html">How to add QM data and cave descriptions</a> - and why this is vital <li><a href="qmentry.html">How to add QM data and cave descriptions</a> - and why this is vital
<li><font color=red>[survex software docm.]</font> <a href="https://survex.com/docs/manual/svxhowto.htm">Contents of .svx files</a> - How do I? <li><font color=red>[survex software docm.]</font> <a href="https://survex.com/docs/manual/svxhowto.htm">Contents of .svx files</a> - How do I?

View File

@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en"> <html>
<head> <head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<title>Expo 2007: mission statement</title> <title>Expo 2007: mission statement</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" />
</head> </head>
<body> <body>
<h1>Expo 2007: mission statement</h1>
<h2 align=center>Expo 2007 (Cambridge Austrian Cave Science Expedition): mission statement</h2> <h2 align=center>Expo 2007 (Cambridge Austrian Cave Science Expedition)</h2>
<p>Expo 2007 (Cambridge Austrian Cave Science Expedition) seeks to build on decades of expeditions by incorporating scientific research aims while maintaining a high standard of original exploration and survey. Below is a provisional outline of our major exploration and research goals. For additional descriptions, please see the <a href="grants.shtml">grant and institution application page</a>. The <a href="gearreq.shtml">gear requirements</a> page addresses rope lengths required and other gear that needs to be budgeted. </p> <p>Expo 2007 (Cambridge Austrian Cave Science Expedition) seeks to build on decades of expeditions by incorporating scientific research aims while maintaining a high standard of original exploration and survey. Below is a provisional outline of our major exploration and research goals. For additional descriptions, please see the <a href="grants.shtml">grant and institution application page</a>. The <a href="gearreq.shtml">gear requirements</a> page addresses rope lengths required and other gear that needs to be budgeted. </p>
<p>Note that numbers given by cave names are those of the <a href="../../indxal.htm">Austrian Kataster for our area</a>.</p> <p>Note that numbers given by cave names are those of the <a href="../../indxal.htm">Austrian Kataster for our area</a>.</p>
@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ pitch of Keg Series.</li>
<ul> <ul>
<li>Since novel ecology, temperature gradients and sustained exercise encountered underground also influence stress physiology (see e.g. Ronsen, et al., 2001; Rhind et al., 2004) the dataloggers provide a control background to the inter-individual variation (behavioural or physiological) of the stress response. We will explore a) caver variability in stress-hormone levels; b) what underground stressors (e.g. high humidity, darkness) are dominant and c) stress-coping mechanisms (e.g. flight or fight response). Understanding responses to the stresses of the subterranean environment is limited (e.g. Stenner et-al. 2006) and this project aims to increase awareness. </li> <li>Since novel ecology, temperature gradients and sustained exercise encountered underground also influence stress physiology (see e.g. Ronsen, et al., 2001; Rhind et al., 2004) the dataloggers provide a control background to the inter-individual variation (behavioural or physiological) of the stress response. We will explore a) caver variability in stress-hormone levels; b) what underground stressors (e.g. high humidity, darkness) are dominant and c) stress-coping mechanisms (e.g. flight or fight response). Understanding responses to the stresses of the subterranean environment is limited (e.g. Stenner et-al. 2006) and this project aims to increase awareness. </li>
</ul> </ul>
<h4>Condensation and cave microclimates (undergraduate dissertation to be completed, Aaron Curtis) </h4> <h4>Condensation and cave microclimates (undergraduate <a href="/expofiles/writeups/2007/dissertation.pdf">dissertation</a> to be completed, Aaron Curtis) </h4>
<ul> <ul>
<li>We aim to produce a dataset of cave atmospheric data using datalogged climatic sensors placed throughout caves. An investigation of cave microclimates and specifically their interaction with condensation will employ the data to predict and quantify the geographical distribution of condensation. Implications for phenomena such as cave thermal inertia, cave breathing, speleogenesis, karst water balance, and ultimately the response of caves to climate change will be considered. Various techniques for condensation prediction and theories of microclimates will be evaluated. Climactic overlays for surveys will be produced. </li> <li>We aim to produce a dataset of cave atmospheric data using datalogged climatic sensors placed throughout caves. An investigation of cave microclimates and specifically their interaction with condensation will employ the data to predict and quantify the geographical distribution of condensation. Implications for phenomena such as cave thermal inertia, cave breathing, speleogenesis, karst water balance, and ultimately the response of caves to climate change will be considered. Various techniques for condensation prediction and theories of microclimates will be evaluated. Climactic overlays for surveys will be produced. </li>
</ul> </ul>

View File

@ -1,16 +1,14 @@
<!DOCTYPE html> <!DOCTYPE html>
<html> <html>
<head> <head>
<title>Untitled Document</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf8"> <title>Science and Surveying: Totes Gebirge, Austria 2007</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" />
</head> </head>
<body> <body>
<h1>Science and Surveying: <h1>Science and Surveying: <br>
Totes Gebirge, Austria 2007 </h1> Totes Gebirge, Austria 2007 </h1>
<p><strong>Cambridge University Caving Club's latest expedition mapped an unprecedented 7.6km while stress, microclimate, and radon studies gave a scientific focus to the expo. Aaron Curtis reports. </strong><em>Originally published in Speleology <p><strong>Cambridge University Caving Club's latest expedition mapped an unprecedented 7.6km while stress, microclimate, and radon studies gave a scientific focus to the expo. Aaron Curtis reports. </strong><em>Originally published in Speleology 10, pages 10-14. </em></p>
10, pages 10-14. </em></p>
<p>The appointment of a rookie leader must increase an expedition's chance of catastrophic failure. In a strange way, it seems also to improve the odds of a wildly successful summer. Far less than the appropriate level of trepidation was involved when I made some ambitious decisions regarding the game plan for Cambridge 's 2007 expedition. With no trips deeper than -200m under my belt, I couldn't have fully understood what it means to rig and derig a tight rift to -600m, while simultaneously conducting a separate push below -400m, and carrying out three scientific investigations. I had a vague idea that it wouldn't be easy; but I also had a nagging feeling that the Cambridge caving community had huge potential, unrealized in recent years. Fortunately, the latter underestimation far outweighed the former. </p> <p>The appointment of a rookie leader must increase an expedition's chance of catastrophic failure. In a strange way, it seems also to improve the odds of a wildly successful summer. Far less than the appropriate level of trepidation was involved when I made some ambitious decisions regarding the game plan for Cambridge 's 2007 expedition. With no trips deeper than -200m under my belt, I couldn't have fully understood what it means to rig and derig a tight rift to -600m, while simultaneously conducting a separate push below -400m, and carrying out three scientific investigations. I had a vague idea that it wouldn't be easy; but I also had a nagging feeling that the Cambridge caving community had huge potential, unrealized in recent years. Fortunately, the latter underestimation far outweighed the former. </p>
<h2>An All-Star Cast</h2> <h2>An All-Star Cast</h2>
<p>The promise of some hard caving brought out the best in CUCC and ExCS (the ex-Cambridge Speleologists). Caving legends crawled out of the metalwork in their PVC and kneepads, novices were inspired. The resulting snowball effect left us with a six week expedition consisting of 31 cavers : up from last year's 12. Keenness permeated the expedition, and not just from those who were returning after decades away. The novices showed their stuff as Ollie Stevens broke the 150 hours of caving mark, Edvin Deadman and Kathryn Hopkins proved a dynamic duo, bringing back 440m of survey in a single trip with Nial Peters, and Djuke Veldhuis collected more spit than you could shake a Bunde branch at. </p> <p>The promise of some hard caving brought out the best in CUCC and ExCS (the ex-Cambridge Speleologists). Caving legends crawled out of the metalwork in their PVC and kneepads, novices were inspired. The resulting snowball effect left us with a six week expedition consisting of 31 cavers : up from last year's 12. Keenness permeated the expedition, and not just from those who were returning after decades away. The novices showed their stuff as Ollie Stevens broke the 150 hours of caving mark, Edvin Deadman and Kathryn Hopkins proved a dynamic duo, bringing back 440m of survey in a single trip with Nial Peters, and Djuke Veldhuis collected more spit than you could shake a Bunde branch at. </p>
@ -20,14 +18,14 @@ Totes Gebirge, Austria 2007 </h1>
<caption align="bottom"> <caption align="bottom">
Becka Lawson giving a spit sample in Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle. Photo: Julian Todd Becka Lawson giving a spit sample in Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle. Photo: Julian Todd
</caption> </caption>
<tr><td><img src="BeckaSpittingJulian.jpg" width="434" height="323" align="right"></td> <tr><td><img src="BeckaSpittingJulian.jpg" width="434" height="323" class="onright"></td>
</tr> </tr>
</table> </table>
Djuke's achievement could probably use further clarification. Spit samples were to be analysed for concentrations of the hormone cortisol, which is an indicator of physiological stress. Each participating caver donated a minimum of fifteen spit samples before the expedition and nine in Austria , and was encouraged to dribble extra 'ad-hoc' samples when in particularly hairy situations. It was hard work generating the required amount of spittle, and filling out the accompanying questionnaire each time was complicated by water, mud, and numb fingers. Whether or not the cavers were stressed to their breaking points, the plastic spit pots certainly were. Many a precious sample oozed out from shattered plastic into undersuit pockets and dangly bags after being scraped through too tight a squeeze or whacked against too hard a wall. Five hundred and eighty samples survived and will be analyzed in Prof J Herbert's lab in the department of physiology, development and neuroscience. Djuke's achievement could probably use further clarification. Spit samples were to be analysed for concentrations of the hormone cortisol, which is an indicator of physiological stress. Each participating caver donated a minimum of fifteen spit samples before the expedition and nine in Austria , and was encouraged to dribble extra 'ad-hoc' samples when in particularly hairy situations. It was hard work generating the required amount of spittle, and filling out the accompanying questionnaire each time was complicated by water, mud, and numb fingers. Whether or not the cavers were stressed to their breaking points, the plastic spit pots certainly were. Many a precious sample oozed out from shattered plastic into undersuit pockets and dangly bags after being scraped through too tight a squeeze or whacked against too hard a wall. Five hundred and eighty samples survived and will be analyzed in Prof J Herbert's lab in the department of physiology, development and neuroscience.
</p> </p>
<p>The stress study was part of the new expedition emphasis on science. More than a year before expo, I began to think about conducting the research for my undergraduate geography dissertation on the expedition. The idea of becoming the lone researcher in a den of cavers made me nervous. Then one evening at the pub, Djuke started talking about milking cavers for spit. Whether or not it was drunken babble, she stood by it. I began speaking with scientists who were expo alumni and realized that expo had tremendous unrealized potential for science : excellent infrastructure, undisturbed environments, and intelligent minds. Despite talk of how tradition runs deep and major changes were likely to meet resistance, I encountered only support for my attempt to re-invent the expedition. In hindsight, someone could have pointed out that "The Cambridge Austrian Cave Science Expedition Two Thousand and Seven" doesn't exactly roll off of the tongue. </p> <p>The stress study was part of the new expedition emphasis on science. More than a year before expo, I began to think about conducting the research for my undergraduate geography <a href="/expofiles/writeups/2007/dissertation.pdf">dissertation</a> on the expedition. The idea of becoming the lone researcher in a den of cavers made me nervous. Then one evening at the pub, Djuke started talking about milking cavers for spit. Whether or not it was drunken babble, she stood by it. I began speaking with scientists who were expo alumni and realized that expo had tremendous unrealized potential for science : excellent infrastructure, undisturbed environments, and intelligent minds. Despite talk of how tradition runs deep and major changes were likely to meet resistance, I encountered only support for my attempt to re-invent the expedition. In hindsight, someone could have pointed out that "The Cambridge Austrian Cave Science Expedition Two Thousand and Seven" doesn't exactly roll off of the tongue. </p>
<h2>Studying the Microclimate </h2> <h2>Studying the Microclimate </h2>
<p align="left"> <p align="left">
@ -35,12 +33,12 @@ Djuke's achievement could probably use further clarification. Spit samples were
<caption align="bottom"> <caption align="bottom">
Aaron Curtis with a weather station on the plateau. Photo: Andreas Forsberg Aaron Curtis with a weather station on the plateau. Photo: Andreas Forsberg
</caption> </caption>
<tr><td><img src="weatherStationSmall.jpg" width="500" height="332" align="left"> <tr><td><img src="weatherStationSmall.jpg" width="500" height="332" class="onleft">
</td> </td>
</tr> </tr>
</table> </table>
Polysyllaby aside, the expedition under that name was approved and supported by the University Expeditions Committee, the Royal Geographical Society, the Ghar Parau Foundation and BCRA's Cave Science and Technology Research Initiative. I was fascinated by how airflow, humidity, and temperature were all portrayed as part of one interconnected system. My dissertation, on cave microclimates and condensation, would use an array of purchased and homebrew electronic equipment. I intended to extend the work of other authors who had drawn connections between condensation and cave temperatures. At the club annual dinner, I got a stern look from Martin Green when I flippantly described my project as "buying a lot of expensive electronic toys and playing with them." </p> Polysyllaby aside, the expedition under that name was approved and supported by the University Expeditions Committee, the Royal Geographical Society, the Ghar Parau Foundation and BCRA's Cave Science and Technology Research Initiative. I was fascinated by how airflow, humidity, and temperature were all portrayed as part of one interconnected system. My <a href="/expofiles/writeups/2007/dissertation.pdf">dissertation</a>, on cave microclimates and condensation, would use an array of purchased and homebrew electronic equipment. I intended to extend the work of other authors who had drawn connections between condensation and cave temperatures. At the club annual dinner, I got a stern look from Martin Green when I flippantly described my project as "buying a lot of expensive electronic toys and playing with them." </p>
<p>It seemed I would have some very expensive toys indeed. Nial unfurled the 2005 survey with such dramatic gusto at our Royal Geographical Society interview in London that they offered us &pound;2000 towards the project for thermistors, dataloggers, and a new set of top camp solar panels. Club members would also put long hours into the construction of two devices designed by Dr Neville Michie, an Australian cave climatologist who was instrumental in assisting our plans. Additionally, the geography department offered to lend a weather station and a thermal camera worth &pound;30,000 for observing cave wall thermal gradients. </p> <p>It seemed I would have some very expensive toys indeed. Nial unfurled the 2005 survey with such dramatic gusto at our Royal Geographical Society interview in London that they offered us &pound;2000 towards the project for thermistors, dataloggers, and a new set of top camp solar panels. Club members would also put long hours into the construction of two devices designed by Dr Neville Michie, an Australian cave climatologist who was instrumental in assisting our plans. Additionally, the geography department offered to lend a weather station and a thermal camera worth &pound;30,000 for observing cave wall thermal gradients. </p>
<p>In the field, those toys provided very little opportunity for playing:it was exhausting work transporting, setting up, troubleshooting, and collecting data. Some of the technology disappointed us. The thermal camera was unavailable because it malfunctioned while in use on a volcano in Ethiopia shortly before we left. The sonic anemometer which I had put months of work into building proved too finicky for underground use. Olly Madge's micropsychrometer never made it underground : I broke the fragile thermopile assembly at top camp while trying to attach a wet wick. A week of weather station data was lost during a battery change. </p> <p>In the field, those toys provided very little opportunity for playing:it was exhausting work transporting, setting up, troubleshooting, and collecting data. Some of the technology disappointed us. The thermal camera was unavailable because it malfunctioned while in use on a volcano in Ethiopia shortly before we left. The sonic anemometer which I had put months of work into building proved too finicky for underground use. Olly Madge's micropsychrometer never made it underground : I broke the fragile thermopile assembly at top camp while trying to attach a wet wick. A week of weather station data was lost during a battery change. </p>
<p> <p>
@ -49,7 +47,7 @@ Polysyllaby aside, the expedition under that name was approved and supported by
Julian Todd in The Silk Road beyond the Razordance sump. Photo: Andrew Atkinson. Julian Todd in The Silk Road beyond the Razordance sump. Photo: Andrew Atkinson.
</caption> </caption>
<tr><td> <tr><td>
<img src="SilkRoadpretties1Andrew.jpg" width="453" height="300" align="right"> <img src="SilkRoadpretties1Andrew.jpg" width="453" height="300" class="onright">
</td> </td>
</tr> </tr>
</table> </table>
@ -64,7 +62,7 @@ Nevertheless, hundreds of thousands of thermistor readings were collected, showi
<caption align="bottom"> <caption align="bottom">
The Silk Road in Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle. Photo: Andrew Atkinson The Silk Road in Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle. Photo: Andrew Atkinson
</caption> </caption>
<tr><td><img src="SilkRoadbigChamberAndrew.jpg" width="345" height="518" align="left"></td> <tr><td><img src="SilkRoadbigChamberAndrew.jpg" width="345" height="518" class="onleft"></td>
</tr> </tr>
</table> </table>
@ -79,7 +77,7 @@ Razordance was a captivating lead for several reasons. It was the deepest sectio
<caption align="bottom"> <caption align="bottom">
Eisehöhle. Photo: Mark Shinwell. Eisehöhle. Photo: Mark Shinwell.
</caption> </caption>
<tr><td><img src="eisehoehleMark.jpg" width="345" height="518" align="left"></td> <tr><td><img src="eisehoehleMark.jpg" width="345" height="518" class="onleft"></td>
</tr> </tr>
</table> </table>
@ -96,7 +94,7 @@ Eiseh
Photo: Andreas Forsberg. Photo: Andreas Forsberg.
</caption> </caption>
<tr> <tr>
<td><img src="SilkRoadTraverse%20Andreas.jpg" width="319" height="480" align="right"></td> <td><img src="SilkRoadTraverse%20Andreas.jpg" width="319" height="480" class="onright"></td>
</tr> </tr>
</table> </table>
<p>While we'd like to say it was teamwork and cooperation that led to successes in two deep leads simultaneously, it seems that 'friendly' competition worked just as well. Un-British rope grabbing and name calling began when it became clear that the budgeted 2.5km of rope would be used to the very last metre. Nial Peters mustered a group of cavers who felt that Razordance ('Pussyprance') was for wimps, and the real action was in the stratigraphically deepest, maze-like levels of Steinbr&uuml;cken, accessed via the 80m Gaffer Tape pitch and following series. </p> <p>While we'd like to say it was teamwork and cooperation that led to successes in two deep leads simultaneously, it seems that 'friendly' competition worked just as well. Un-British rope grabbing and name calling began when it became clear that the budgeted 2.5km of rope would be used to the very last metre. Nial Peters mustered a group of cavers who felt that Razordance ('Pussyprance') was for wimps, and the real action was in the stratigraphically deepest, maze-like levels of Steinbr&uuml;cken, accessed via the 80m Gaffer Tape pitch and following series. </p>
@ -112,7 +110,7 @@ Eiseh
<caption align="bottom"> <caption align="bottom">
Becka Lawson surveying in The Silk Road with the Shetland Attack Pony. Photo: Andrew Atkinson. Becka Lawson surveying in The Silk Road with the Shetland Attack Pony. Photo: Andrew Atkinson.
</caption> </caption>
<tr><td><img src="BeckaPonyAndrew.jpg" width="449" height="332" align="left"></td> <tr><td><img src="BeckaPonyAndrew.jpg" width="449" height="332" class="onleft"></td>
</tr> </tr>
</table><p>Continuing south, far past Stienbruckenh&ouml;hle, Olly Betts and Jenny Black continued their work from their plateau camp. Warm invitations had been extended to the Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle crew, but we were all wrapped up in our own projects. Olly and Jenny miraculously turned four of our caves, 81, 82, 85, and 148, into one and a half by finding connections between 82 and 85, and 81 and 148. 81 and 85 could be seen as connected because they discovered a new 81 entrance in the same doline as the 85 entrance. </p> </table><p>Continuing south, far past Stienbruckenh&ouml;hle, Olly Betts and Jenny Black continued their work from their plateau camp. Warm invitations had been extended to the Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle crew, but we were all wrapped up in our own projects. Olly and Jenny miraculously turned four of our caves, 81, 82, 85, and 148, into one and a half by finding connections between 82 and 85, and 81 and 148. 81 and 85 could be seen as connected because they discovered a new 81 entrance in the same doline as the 85 entrance. </p>
<p>Eislufth&ouml;hle (76), yielded a new pitch series, the Sea of Holes , as did Marilyn Munroe H&ouml;hle (148), called Deep Space. The latter cave had admitted no human beings since 1987, and upon entering, Olly and Jenny made an intriguing discovery. There was a page of survey notes on the floor of a passage, still legible after 20 years. Safely removing them from the cave appeared impossible, but photos were taken. We have so far failed to figure out what part of the real world the survey corresponds to. The legs are very long, suggesting a surface survey. Personally, I suspect they lead to buried treasure. </p> <p>Eislufth&ouml;hle (76), yielded a new pitch series, the Sea of Holes , as did Marilyn Munroe H&ouml;hle (148), called Deep Space. The latter cave had admitted no human beings since 1987, and upon entering, Olly and Jenny made an intriguing discovery. There was a page of survey notes on the floor of a passage, still legible after 20 years. Safely removing them from the cave appeared impossible, but photos were taken. We have so far failed to figure out what part of the real world the survey corresponds to. The legs are very long, suggesting a surface survey. Personally, I suspect they lead to buried treasure. </p>