diff --git a/years/2023/logbook.html b/years/2023/logbook.html index c4cd4a544..3c9349aa3 100644 --- a/years/2023/logbook.html +++ b/years/2023/logbook.html @@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ maintain half a dozen parser functions. Sorry about all the crap that surrounds the image tags which has been imported along with the content when UK Caving blogs have been parsed. -Exported on 2023-08-31 16:08 using either the control panel webpage or when editing a logbook entry online +Exported on 2023-09-01 16:09 using either the control panel webpage or when editing a logbook entry online See troggle/code/views/other.py and core.models/logbooks.py writelogbook(year, filename) --> @@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ ALSO title is {place hyphen title} -->
2023-06-22
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 1
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 1
Blog Author: ILoveCaves
CUCC 2023 EXPO BLOG

@@ -124,29 +124,28 @@ RRPC/DUSA/CUCC/FCCC
2023-06-23
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 2
+
UK Caving Blog post 2
-Blog Author: currywuss
Will be with you in spirit (or should that be in Gösser ) Hope you find tonnes of cave, and don't burn down the bier tent
- -
 
- - - - - - - - - - +
+
+Blog Author: currywuss
Will be with you in spirit (or should that be in Gösser +
+
+ ) +
+
+Hope you find tonnes of cave, and don't burn down the bier tent +
+
+
T/U: 0.0 hours
2023-06-25
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 3
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 3
Blog Author: Adam 63
A little something on preparing for my first expedition,
@@ -176,7 +175,7 @@ This pretty much sums up my prep for my first time on expedition and aside from
2023-07-02
Honorata Bogusz,
-
plateau - water collection
+
plateau - water collection


12 people went to top camp. We hauled most stuff out of the storage cave (had to rig some out of the snow) @@ -187,7 +186,7 @@ and set up one water collection tarp.
2023-07-03
Philip Sargent, Martin Green,
-
basecamp - nerding
+
basecamp - nerding


Philip arrived by train at lunchtime. Joined Martin for serious nerding to get WiFi internet working in potato hut. @@ -200,7 +199,7 @@ serious nerding to get WiFi internet working in potato hut.
2023-07-03
Honorata Bogusz, Radost Waszkiewicz, Mike Butcher, Jana Podbelsek, Will Kay,
-
plateau - second water collection tarp
+
plateau - second water collection tarp


Me, Radost, Mike, Jana and Will went to top camp to set up main tarp and the second water collection tarp (which was a success). @@ -210,7 +209,7 @@ main tarp and the second water collection tarp (which was a success).
2023-07-03
Harry Kettle, Charlotte Payne, Christian Kuhlmann, Janis Huns, Emma Caspers,
-
Balkon - Rescuing Balcony ropes
+
Balkon - Rescuing Balcony ropes


A crack team of expo's hardest cavers was assembled to take a rope out of balcony that was left there last year.

@@ -226,7 +225,7 @@ at about 5pm. Charlotte and Harry were both very grumpy walking back with very h
2023-07-03
Amelia Oliver, Jonty Pine, Emily Mabbett,
-
Fishface - Digging the snow out of Fishface entrance
+
Fishface - Digging the snow out of Fishface entrance


After a carrying day on the 2nd, we suspected ff would be snowed in. A faff morning of acquiring shovel. We got to ff with shovels, discovering it did need digging. Jonty got particularly into this, producing quit the snow trench. @@ -236,7 +235,7 @@ did need digging. Jonty got particularly into this, producing quit the snow tren
2023-07-04
Philip Sargent,
-
basecamp - nerding again
+
basecamp - nerding again


Everyone due to come down from plateau due to bad weather forecast. Much shopping for food being done.[Netgear router seems to have got into an IP6-only state. RETIRED @@ -249,7 +248,7 @@ non-working internal wifi on netbook causing config problems even though it was
2023-07-04
Wassil Janssen, Ashley Gregg, Merryn Matthews, Amelia Oliver, Philip Balister, Sarah Parker,
-
plateau - []
+
plateau - []


Ash, Merryn, Amelia in [com?] Philip B., Sarah and me went up to the plateau in the morning. We carried own gear up, @@ -261,7 +260,7 @@ came down the mountain.
2023-07-04
Harry Kettle, Charlotte Payne, Alice Kirby, Christian Kuhlmann, Will Kay,
-
Surface - Rope carry to Homecoming + Trial walk from Garlic Cave to Car Park on painted track
+
Surface - Rope carry to Homecoming + Trial walk from Garlic Cave to Car Park on painted track


After more faff from Chi, we set off about 10AM to carry gear and check out the route to Homecoming. Fishface to Homecoming was well cairned and fairly straightforward to follow.

Gear ledt at Homecoming entrance: @@ -276,7 +275,7 @@ came down the mountain.
2023-07-04
Honorata Bogusz,
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 4
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 4
Blog Author: honorata
Progress after the first 3 days of expo
@@ -333,7 +332,7 @@ The weather forecast shows rain and thunderstorms today and tomorrow, which jeop
2023-07-04
Rob Watson,
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 5
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 5
Blog Author: nobrotson
Nice write up. The rope there now is stuff we bought! Think Ben is going to collect the UKC rope this weekend :)
@@ -361,7 +360,7 @@ Blog Author: nobrotson
Nice write up. The rope there now i
2023-07-05
Sarah Parker, Philip Balister, Lizzie Caisley, Joel Stobbart, Maddie Kirby,
-
Surface - Reflecting the Homecoming -> Fishface route, scoping out a Homecoming to col route
+
Surface - Reflecting the Homecoming -> Fishface route, scoping out a Homecoming to col route


Joel, Lizzie and Philip fettled the tarp (where some water had pooled overnight) whilst I had a go at attaching the big Daren drum (filled with the solar panels and cables) to my rucksack, ready to carry from top camp to Garlic Cave. @@ -386,7 +385,7 @@ return.
2023-07-06
Janis Huns, Maddie Kirby,
-
Plateau - scoping out a route from col to Garlic Cave
+
Plateau - scoping out a route from col to Garlic Cave


We set out to improve the direct route from the start of the plateau to Homecoming. The way down the wall after the second pole was suprisingly nice. This was followed by an easy flat section until the bunde and tiny cliffs obscured all the alternative paths we tried. Most of the way was already cairned, but we did find some nice fresh transitions through the bunde walls separating the easy-to-walk-on slabs. At Homecoming, we met Harry, Christian, Alice, Merryn getting ready to rig the cave. Then we visited Garlic cave - a massive above ground hole that leads to a bridge below which are the entrances to the cave itself. There was loads of snow - just as in every entrance - but there was a nice campable bit , plenty of water dripping. I sensed some garlic smell, remembering the story that this smell gave the name of the cave, but was still mysterious. Then Maddie realised we were surrounded by chives! Mystery solved.

On the way back we met Jono, Evelyn, and Oakem who were on the way to Garlic. At Homecoming, Honorata and Radost told us they had found 3 intriguing holes while prospecting. We found a baloon with a sweet note on it and read it to them. @@ -397,7 +396,7 @@ return.
2023-07-06
Joel Stobbart, Jonty Pine, Buck Blake,
-
Fishface - Rigging and pitch-measuring trip
+
Fishface - Rigging and pitch-measuring trip


An ambitious day which slowly went increasingly wrong. The group departed base camp at a stunning 8.20AM, blitzed up the plateau and promtly became mired in several hours of faff which soon descended into more festering. The plan had been to rig the entrance series of Fishface down to the bottom of Blitzen Boulevard (4th pitch), from where we expected everything to be left rigged. However, confusion about rope lengths and metalwork and some impressively long grike trips meant that the two shallow pushing groups planning to explore from Blitzen and Liquid Luck caught us up at Top Camp. Uncle Mike was not amused. We swiftly bombed down to FF in 25 mins and started rigging. Joel was left to do everything as Jonty's light 'broke'.

The entrance pitch/spiral traverse thing was completed on a 40m rope. Tasteful noods (2nd pitch) didn't quite go on a 27m due to rerigging around the top rebelay to avoid rub, so Joel initially reached the bottom on a knot pass and Jonty rerigged to the bottom on a 32m. The traverse at the bottom of Tasteful Noods (2A) and pitch 3 both had rope left from last year but not rigged - some of the knots didn't line up and required rerigging but the lengths were fine. Pendulum pitch needs some more bolts at the bottom, possibly as a traverse, to make getting on and off the pitch less deathy. Uncle Mike rigged Blitzen for us as we got too scared, he insisted the step over the huge rift with no traverse was fine, so we left him to it. There may or may not be a bolt there now @@ -409,7 +408,7 @@ return.
2023-07-06
Emily Mabbett, Lizzie Caisley, Charlotte Payne, Mike Butcher, Emma Caspers,
-
Fishface - Surveying around Benign Bubble Baby Bypass
+
Fishface - Surveying around Benign Bubble Baby Bypass


After hiking up to plateau to arrive for midday, we discovered the advanced rigging party still above ground... In order to leave them time to start rigging the first 4 pitches of Fishface, an ungodly amount of faff began. We finally arrived at the cave at 3pm, thinking we'd left plenty of time for the riggers, we quickly changed and headed underground. Alas, our hopes were crushed as we came to the bottom of the first pitch to discover the other pushing party sat freezing their tits off at the top of the second pitch as the riggers rigged just below them. Needless to say, it took some time to descent to the bottom of Blitzen Boulevard with Mike taking over the rigging of the 4th pitch after a debate over placing another bolt at the pitch head. Once arrived at Benign Bubble Baby Bypass, we conducted a quick something time to refresh our surveying technique before splitting into 2 groups. Me and Mike went ahead through the tube leading on through the bottom of the climb heading towards the liquid luck ptch head to bolt the small pitch at the end of the traverse whilst the others began surveying from said turn off. As me and Mike arrived at the pitch head, I asked if I could begin my bolting lesson before a big scary hole. I was refused. Instead I was told to tie the rope around a small head sized bolder wedged in the rift, which were currently both stood on. I thought this was a silly idea but obliged. The actual bolting of the pitch went well (I think?), however comments about placing bolts higher were made which was somewhat impossible given my height. The final bolting and rigging became passable so I decended the large (4m...) hole.

As we finished bolting, the survey team emerged behind us. At the bottom of the pitch, 3 leads emerged, a large passage with a traverse sloping down in front of us, a small drafty tube to the right, and a hole heading into the ceiling behind us. With the rigging team and pushing team 2 in the near vicintity of the cave around us, me and Mike were a bit naughty and scooped the large passage in front of us, as we reached the end, we could hear voices in the rift above us, thinking it was the other pushing team we called up. It was not. It was Buck from the rigging team stood near the base of Blitzen Boulevard essentially where we started. Discovering we'd done a large circle , we returned to the base of the pitch where the survey team were. As we arrived, Zac from the team 2 appeared in the hole above us, they had also done an circle. @@ -420,7 +419,7 @@ return.
2023-07-06
Honorata Bogusz, Radost Waszkiewicz,
-
Prospecting
+
Prospecting


We prospected between Fischgesicht and Heimkehr entrances. We found 5 caves, which I will refer to here using the temporary number and names entered in expo.survex.com. Small drain (2023-hbrw-01) and medium drain (2023-hbrw-02) were surveyed completely and they both strecth for about 20-30m, a small stream passing through each of them.

We also found 3 new caves which seem to continue but we couldn't survey them since they all begin with large pitches: @@ -435,7 +434,7 @@ return.
2023-07-06
Zac Woodford, Emma Caspers, Amelia Oliver, Ashley Gregg,
-
Fishface - Surveying the top of liquid luck
+
Fishface - Surveying the top of liquid luck


Gave the rigging team ~3hr headstart but we still caught up with them at the bottom of first pitch. Emma and Zac then sat around while Ash and Mealy calibrated the disto. We were waiting so long that Uncle Mike's surveying group caught up. We waited in a a bothy for them to pass us before slowly, one-by-one, following on. We then caught up with them again at the top of Blitzen pitch and had to bothy again (after Mealy led us on too low in the rift).

At the beginning of BBBB (Benign Babble Baby Bypass) we talked with Mike's group pushing the other lead and descending some small pitches to push ours. We faffed around a while trying to find it, but when we did, we found it just looped back around to Mike's group's lead. We surveyed it anyway. @@ -446,7 +445,7 @@ return.
2023-07-07
Christian Kuhlmann, Wassil Janssen,
-
Homecoming - Foray into the Second Coming
+
Homecoming - Foray into the Second Coming
Ropes used:
    @@ -480,7 +479,7 @@ Bolts used:
    2023-07-07
    Philip Sargent, Jonty Pine, Nadia Raeburn, Janis Huns,
    -
    Plateau - Hiking to Garlic Cave
    +
    Plateau - Hiking to Garlic Cave


    Jonty's car: Jonty/Nads/Janis up to Garlic and return this evening. Taking new reflectors made this morning.
    T/U: 0.0 hours
    @@ -489,7 +488,7 @@ Bolts used:
    2023-07-07
    Honorata Bogusz, Radost Waszkiewicz, Mike Butcher,
    -
    Fishface - pushing deep Fishgesicht
    +
    Fishface - pushing deep Fishgesicht


    We pushed 60m at the top of "Clap My Pitch Up". Pushing required bolting ~20m of a traverse ( Mike adds: 20m ish of the traverse was new passage surveyed this year but there was about 30m of traverse bolted this year which was naughtily pushed by me - Mike - and Luke last year in the Red Light Spells Danger trip so the traverse is about 50ish m long). The final few metres of the traverse go above a sizeable pitch (30m?). We names the bolted traverse, "European Federalists". At the end of the traverse, we continued walking for another ~40m until arriving at the top of a massive pitch - further pushing would require bolting. The distance from where we were standing to the furthest point down the pitch measured with the disto was ~40m. We kicked rocks down the pitch and the sound continued for 10s, giving rise to a presumption that the pitch may be very deep. If it connects to "Clap My Pitch Up", it's at least 100m deep. IMPORTANT: the traverse passage and the walkable continuation are muddy and slippery; posing a hazard of falling down the pitch. Ash, Jonty, Mealy and Janis want to push the lead further on Saturday 8th July.
    T/U: 0.0 hours
    @@ -498,7 +497,7 @@ Bolts used:
    2023-07-07
    Emily Mabbett, Charlotte Payne, Harry Kettle,
    -
    Rigging towards Watershed in Homecoming
    +
    Rigging towards Watershed in Homecoming


    We wandered down to the cave around 10am, making it to the entrance around 12pm. The entrance series went pretty fast ... at least it did for me as Harry and Charlotte were carrying the heavy bags. On the way we made a quick stop to rerig a knot pass. As we reached the bottom of Wallace and Grommit where they had finished rigging the previous day both me and Harry experienced fizzling as we glazed the dry rope on the final 55m. I did not enjoy this part. We then made our way up the climb and Harry began rigging the small pitches before the long pitch series. The most notable part of this was when Harry appeared the wrong side of a pitch head after following the description and getting lost. It was highly amusing. As Charlotte began rigging the final pitch series me and Harry huddled in a shelter and watched Mathilda the musical. As it came to replacing a bolt Harry left to go help Charlotte and I was left along ... until it was discovered the drill battery was dead and I had to come down with a back up. As 8pm approached we made our way out leaving rope to finish the final part of rigging. On the way out we made a noodle stop at the top of Wallace and Grommit but with no fork a knife had to suffice. The walk back was miserable as we started following new reflectors towards the col and had to turn around and start again. We finally made it back to top camp at 1 am.
    T/U: 0.0 hours
    @@ -507,7 +506,7 @@ Bolts used:
    2023-07-07
    Ashley Gregg, Amelia Oliver, Will Kay, Alice Kirby,
    -
    Fishface – Surveying Stalagtite Loop to the top of Liquid Luck
    +
    Fishface – Surveying Stalagtite Loop to the top of Liquid Luck


    Following our previous shallow trip into Fishface we set out to continue the previous combined leads from the day before. The journey across the plateau and into the cave was uneventful, aside from @@ -536,7 +535,7 @@ camp for curry.
    2023-07-08
    Philip Sargent, Martin Green,
    -
    Basecamp - Nerd faff
    +
    Basecamp - Nerd faff


    Another frustrating day with network. WiFi router refused to allow connections - rebooted at ~0830. Ok.

    Rebooted network for a reason I can't remember - failed to re-establish routing to router. Much faff standing on chairs trying [illegible] as cables all duct taped to the wall with it in [illegible] operating position up by ceiling. Found [illegible], edited into [illegible]. Redocumented everything in handbook. @@ -546,7 +545,7 @@ camp for curry.
    2023-07-08
    Ashley Gregg, Jonty Pine, Amelia Oliver, Janis Huns,
    -
    Pushing deep Fishface
    +
    Pushing deep Fishface


    We went to where the group - Honorata, Radost and Mike - had left off the previous day. European Federalists was a very tough traverse that required the use of ascenders. We bolted and rigged (my first bolt!) the pitch at the end of the muddy passage about 10m down to a choke of boulders. At the bottom of it we saw that there is a large, smooth crack continuing east leading to a large, deep chamber that seems to be the same one we saw on the right. If it is it would be elongated roughly in a north east to south west direction. Ash and Mealy also explored some C leads which did not go far.
    T/U: 0.0 hours
    @@ -555,7 +554,7 @@ camp for curry.
    2023-07-08
    Will Kay, Emma Caspers, Mike Butcher,
    -
    Following up on Radost and Honorata's prospecting leads (Unlucky Gemse cave and Amphitheatre cave)
    +
    Following up on Radost and Honorata's prospecting leads (Unlucky Gemse cave and Amphitheatre cave)


    Radost and Honorata had found a few promising entrances that they could explore with just a hand line on Thursday so me, Mike and Emma set out with caving kit, bolting kit and a few ropes to investigate further (ropes were slightly out of date ones - ropes were very hard to come by at Top Camp so we pinched two 20m ropes from the stash at Fishface entrance). @@ -576,7 +575,7 @@ We then walked back, attempting but failing to find Garlic Cave. On the way back
    2023-07-08
    Sarah Parker, Charlotte Payne, Harry Kettle,
    -
    Beyond Watershed in Homecoming - Flowstone Canyon
    +
    Beyond Watershed in Homecoming - Flowstone Canyon


    I carried my caving and bivvy gear from Top Camp to Homecoming whilst Harry and Charlotte carried Top Camp's second shovel and a camp bed (surprisingliy heavy) to be picked up by the Garlic Cave people. @@ -593,7 +592,7 @@ Slow, tired progress out saw us leave the cave at about 1am. I stumbled to Garli
    2023-07-09
    Bier Tent,
    -
    basecamp - Nothing happened today at all
    +
    basecamp - Nothing happened today at all


    Nowt, apparently.
    T/U: 0.0 hours
    @@ -602,7 +601,7 @@ Slow, tired progress out saw us leave the cave at about 1am. I stumbled to Garli
    2023-07-10
    Buck Blake, Joel Stobbart, Amelia Oliver, Jonty Pine, Janis Huns, Ashley Gregg,
    -
    Fishface - Carrying rope to Fishface and failing to rig entrance
    +
    Fishface - Carrying rope to Fishface and failing to rig entrance


    After the complicated operation of handling the solar panels out of the storage cave, the six of us packed kit, rope and a rescue bag and set off for Fishface. It was a hot but pleasant walk and the route was well marked. We arrivced and stashed bags under a nearby overhang then entered through @@ -619,7 +618,7 @@ the rope underground, by the head of the first pitch and left our caving kit und
    2023-07-10
    Wassil Janssen, Christian Kuhlmann, Harry Kettle, Merryn Matthews, Alice Kirby,
    -
    Homecoming - Rig faff
    +
    Homecoming - Rig faff


    This was a long day that started at Base Camp with the intent of rigging the entrance series of Homecoming cave. We set off only slightly later than the planned 8:00 [illegible] some faff. Quite surprising since Will was not part of the team.

    The walk up to Top Camp took almost 2 hours, just as expected. We were also carrying drills, string, food, and other Top Camp equipment. We followed the reflectors to Fishface. They were white on both sides, which could make it frustrating if you are someone who is lost on their way to Top Camp. Instead, it should be red that leads to Top Camp, while white leads to caves and the car park. @@ -632,7 +631,7 @@ the rope underground, by the head of the first pitch and left our caving kit und
    2023-07-10
    Philip Sargent, Becka Lawson,
    -
    basecamp - Becka arriving
    +
    basecamp - Becka arriving


    She is arriving at 0941 at the station, would like lift.
    T/U: 0.0 hours
    @@ -641,7 +640,7 @@ the rope underground, by the head of the first pitch and left our caving kit und
    2023-07-10
    Honorata Bogusz, Radost Waszkiewicz, Harry Kettle, Christian Kuhlmann, Ashley Gregg,
    -
    festering - Canyoning Strubklamm
    +
    festering - Canyoning Strubklamm


    We went canyoning on a rest day. The "Strubklamm" canyon is located near Saltzburg, approximately 1h of driving from Bad Aussee. The canyon is graded V1A3 (vertical 1, aquatic 3). It's very aquatic, with many small jumps available and a 300m swimming passage. There are 2 bigger jumps: approx. 8m and 10m, both can be abseiled (topo can be found online). @@ -654,7 +653,7 @@ We went canyoning on a rest day. The "Strubklamm" canyon is located near Saltzbu
    2023-07-10
    -
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 6
    +
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 6
    Blog Author: Babyhagrid
    Canon Ball Run - Austria (Attempted)
    @@ -678,7 +677,7 @@ Three blokes from Cardiff Uni on their first Expo with CUCC. Left a house at Rea
    2023-07-11
    Philip Sargent, Will Kay, Ashley Gregg, Ely Brookes, James Waite, Thomas Phillips, Honorata Bogusz, Radost Waszkiewicz,
    -
    plateau - walk in
    +
    plateau - walk in


    Will and Phil went up as part of the 2-car lift to the carpark. Others all going to topcamp. Cardiff contingent (Ely, James, Thomas) arrived the previous day (at last)

    Dep. carpark 10:06 we walked to the col but got spread out, 2 Cardiffians particularly heavily loaded so Ash dropped back to accompany them while James headed on with Radost and Honorata. @@ -688,7 +687,7 @@ Three blokes from Cardiff Uni on their first Expo with CUCC. Left a house at Rea
    2023-07-11
    Philip Sargent, Will Kay,
    -
    plateau - Garlic and reflectors
    +
    plateau - Garlic and reflectors


    At the col, Will, Philip and ? followed Philip B's col-to-garlic GPS track. Somebody else was with us (memory hazy, is this true? [correct later editorially]). All OK until we hit the hill in the middle where we followed cairns instead of the GPS track, and got in a bit of a mess leaving the @@ -719,7 +718,7 @@ decisions on which of the many routes we want to standardise on - and more to th
    2023-07-11
    Wassil Janssen, Oakem Kyne,
    -
    Homecoming - Five and Flying
    +
    Homecoming - Five and Flying


    I managed to steal Oakem away from Harry, Charlotte and Becka just as they were preparing to depart from Top Camp. After a quick breakfast @@ -771,7 +770,7 @@ logbook entry.
    2023-07-11
    Honorata Bogusz, Radost Waszkiewicz, Ashley Gregg,
    -
    2023-hbrw-03 - Dropping Amphitheater Hoehle
    +
    2023-hbrw-03 - Dropping Amphitheater Hoehle


    The Amphitheater Hoehle is named after its entrance which resembles an amphitheather. There are a couple of meters of an easy climb from the very top to the boulder where we started rigging. Rigging starts with an approx. 5-6m down climb, where we put a handline. It's followed by a traverse (10m ?) above the entrance to the first pitch. We rigged a Y-hang at the end of the traverse. @@ -783,7 +782,7 @@ The Amphitheater Hoehle is named after its entrance which resembles an amphithea
    2023-07-12
    Merryn Matthews, Joel Stobbart, Lizzie Caisley, Emily Mabbett, Thomas Phillips,
    -
    plateau - Prospecting between Homecoming and Fishface
    +
    plateau - Prospecting between Homecoming and Fishface


    We started by walking to Unlucky Gamse Cave, mostly following the path to homecoming, as Radost and Honorata had told us there was an exciting looking entrance around 50m North of it - Rose Blumen Hoehle (2023-hbrw-05). We dismissed their cave as @@ -814,7 +813,7 @@ Caves found:
    2023-07-12
    Ashley Gregg, Janis Huns,
    -
    Amphitheatre – Surveying Frozen Unknown
    +
    Amphitheatre – Surveying Frozen Unknown


    We went back to continue exploring Amphitheatre. Since we were now pushing decently underground, we kitted up and then headed in. Adjusted the initial traverse line rigging slightly. @@ -836,7 +835,7 @@ was no evidence of a draft at the bottom so not particularly promising.
    2023-07-13
    Honorata Bogusz, Radost Waszkiewicz, Harry Kettle, Charlotte Payne, Oakem Kyne, Jonty Pine,
    -
    festering - Via Ferrata "Panorama Kletterstieg Sisi"
    +
    festering - Via Ferrata "Panorama Kletterstieg Sisi"


    @@ -848,7 +847,7 @@ We went on a via ferrata located close to the Loseralm parking lot. The via ferr
    2023-07-13
    Honorata Bogusz,
    -
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 7
    +
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 7
    Blog Author: honorata
    The first two weeks of expo have been quite eventful, with exploration proceeding in Fishface and Homecoming, and a new camp being set on the plateau.
    @@ -916,7 +915,7 @@ Pic: Oakem Kyne (L) and Jonty Pine (R) on Panorama Kletterstieg Sisi.
    2023-07-14
    James Waite, Harry Kettle, Charlotte Payne,
    -
    Homecoming - pushing down homecoming from flowstone canyon, into alpine showers
    +
    Homecoming - pushing down homecoming from flowstone canyon, into alpine showers


    after a heavy afternoon at the tatty hut, Harry asked if i fancied coming to @@ -996,7 +995,7 @@ uncomfortable platau sleep.
    2023-07-14
    -
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 8
    +
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 8
    Blog Author: CUCC Austria Expedition
    Administrative note: a few days of rain, heavy at times (1 tent bent, 1 flooded) has led to lots of basecamp nerding. So far, 829m of new passage has been surveyed and recorded and expo has been running nearly 2 weeks.
    @@ -1020,7 +1019,7 @@ Full details at 2023-07-15
    Ashley Gregg, Ely Brookes, Janis Huns,
    -
    Prospecting - Up to Homecoming from the Col
    +
    Prospecting - Up to Homecoming from the Col


    Deciding I needed to get into this prospecting lark and find some new caves we kept an eye out for undocumented potential on our walk up to top camp. The intention was to walk up from the Col to Homecoming @@ -1042,7 +1041,7 @@ drops approx. 5m with snow at bottom, can't clearly see bottom from top.
    2023-07-15
    Ashley Gregg, Ely Brookes, Philip Balister,
    -
    2018-DM-04 – Prospecting, exploring, surveying
    +
    2018-DM-04 – Prospecting, exploring, surveying


    The plan was to do some prospecting in the relatively uncovered area around Garlic cave. We met up with Philip at Garlic cave and had some noodles for lunch. Philip had already done some @@ -1064,7 +1063,7 @@ Top Camp.
    2023-07-15
    Christian Kuhlmann, Wassil Janssen, Merryn Matthews,
    -
    In Search Of Salamanders
    +
    In Search Of Salamanders


    Following an impromptu pre-expo-dinner dinner the night before, we all arose with a tinge of hangover. Rapidly consuming breakfast and packing kit, we set off at 8:30am, only 30 minutes after we said we would which in all fairness is very good going for us. After a smooth ferry to the Loser car park by our wonderful chauffer Alice, we set off up the mountain. Almost immediately after we left the car park a navigational faux pas was made and we found ourselves on the wrong path, and with a small section of off-roading, we headed up to top camp with no other further obstructions. @@ -1088,7 +1087,7 @@ Overall, a great trip with over ~294m surveyed and more promising leads found. C
    2023-07-15
    -
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 9
    +
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 9
    Blog Author: Pegasus
    Love the photos
    @@ -1110,7 +1109,7 @@ Blog Author: Pegasus
    Love the photos 2023-07-16
    Ashley Gregg, Evelyn Surman,
    -
    Prospecting - Much prospecting near Balcony
    +
    Prospecting - Much prospecting near Balcony


    Deciding I wanted to go prospecting but didn’t particularly want to walk back over to garlic cave, so recruited Evelyn, our resident non-caver to go wander around near balcony. Armed with known cave @@ -1143,7 +1142,7 @@ yield any new caves.
    2023-07-17
    Jono Lester,
    -
    I Drank Beer
    +
    I Drank Beer


    Today was a good day, i nerded and drank beer. Why should i cave anymore? Maybe i am a armchair caver after all.
    T/U: 8.0 hours
    @@ -1152,7 +1151,7 @@ yield any new caves.
    2023-07-17
    Ashley Gregg, Emma Caspers, Oakem Kyne,
    -
    Fishface – Kresh connection confusion
    +
    Fishface – Kresh connection confusion


    Joel had discovered an exciting new cave, unfortunately this left us with rope and a lead down in the Fish face – happy butterfly connection which no-one was going to. I was naively convinced to go and @@ -1172,7 +1171,7 @@ worthwhile on an otherwise pointless trip.
    2023-07-17
    Harry Kettle,
    -
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 10
    +
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 10
    Blog Author: Harry Kettle
    Pushing Watershed in Heimkehrhohle
    @@ -1275,7 +1274,7 @@ Despite ~300m of passage being surveyed minimal progress was made in getting clo
    2023-07-18
    Ashley Gregg, Zac Woodford, Merryn Matthews,
    -
    Tempest – Touch of Death
    +
    Tempest – Touch of Death


    Excited to go and see (and kill) this new cave, two groups set off to push the two ‘A’ leads at the extent of Tempest. Arriving at the cave we prepared the bags and realised we’d forgotten a hammer, so @@ -1301,7 +1300,7 @@ which we’d left lying around. Once out we packed up and headed back to Top Cam
    2023-07-18
    Amelia Oliver,
    -
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 11
    +
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 11
    Blog Author: Mealy
    Written as we (Mealy, Jonty, Emily) made slow progress through endless traffic in Germany on our route back to the UK. Finished at home with working internet.
    @@ -1376,7 +1375,7 @@ tldr: Camp: Effort does not equal success.
    2023-07-18
    -
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 12
    +
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 12
    Blog Author: andrewmcleod
    @@ -1416,7 +1415,7 @@ Keep the trip reports coming, of course 2023-07-19
    James Waite, Jono Lester,
    -
    Homecoming - pushing beyond death sump and the heifer
    +
    Homecoming - pushing beyond death sump and the heifer
    jono and i had spotted an A lead bolt climb off the edge of propane nightmares over the death sump. armed with bolts and mikes drill we set off from garlic cave and after much faff we finally enteretd into homecoming. we got our kit into two bags of very heavy nature and set off down the cave. the entrance pitches went easily and eventually we got to the traverse . this was a interesting with large blokes and large bags stuck in the rift. after a large amount of swearing we got down to wallace. this went easily, and we got onto grommit. this was rather "fun" as the rope was looking interesting, and you had to go very slowly to avoid sizzling. at the bottom of grommit we gathered some bolts and hangers from the bag down there and set off into propane nightmares.

    @@ -1433,7 +1432,7 @@ we regrouped at the base of the heifer after adding a bolt to make the pitch hea
    2023-07-19
    Ashley Gregg, Zac Woodford, Will Kay,
    -
    Prospecting – dropping Boring Hole and Dead on Arrival
    +
    Prospecting – dropping Boring Hole and Dead on Arrival


    Took Zac to bolt a cave he had previously found not too far of the path to Fishface. Slight delay as we’d forgotten something important (bolts maybe?), which Will went back to get. @@ -1449,7 +1448,7 @@ rift the were no continuations. Will named it Dead on Arrival (2023-ASH-15). Sur
    2023-07-19
    Ashley Gregg, Will Kay,
    -
    Plateau - Surveying Little Tent and Gollum Grotto
    +
    Plateau - Surveying Little Tent and Gollum Grotto


    Deciding we weren’t done for the day yet an afternoon evening trip was decided upon to survey some of the caves Evelyn and I had found a few days ago. Will and I gathered the necessary gear and set off @@ -1469,7 +1468,7 @@ off on the edges of the plateau. Plus curry for dinner.
    2023-07-20
    Jono Lester,
    -
    I Drank More Beer
    +
    I Drank More Beer


    Today was a diffrent day. I walked down the Plat and was supose to enter all my 3D data and Nerd but i drank more beer instead.
    T/U: 5.0 hours
    @@ -1478,7 +1477,7 @@ off on the edges of the plateau. Plus curry for dinner.
    2023-07-20
    Ashley Gregg, Thomas Phillips,
    -
    Plateau - Surveying Top Camp Band and Bat versus Rat
    +
    Plateau - Surveying Top Camp Band and Bat versus Rat


    Decided to go and survey/kill a couple more caves before heading down off the plateau for the year. Aware that I would have a lot of data to sort out and vague plans to go canyoning Friday before the @@ -1496,7 +1495,7 @@ entrance. Good opportunity for Tom to have more practice on book (paperless).
    2023-07-20
    -
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 13
    +
    Expo - UK Caving Blog post 13
    Blog Author: Samouse1
    I’m very happy that Homecoming is being revisited, I pushed that back in 2018 when it was discovered, and named a lot of the bits you can read about above.
    @@ -1522,7 +1521,7 @@ Either way, glad to see it being pushed towards the rest of the system!
    2023-07-23
    Bier Tent,
    -
    basecamp - Nothing happened today at all
    +
    basecamp - Nothing happened today at all


    Nowt, apparently. Again. On a Sunday, again.
    T/U: 0.0 hours
    @@ -1531,7 +1530,7 @@ Either way, glad to see it being pushed towards the rest of the system!
    2023-07-24
    Joe Stell, Kai Trusson,
    -
    Fishface - Tourist Trip to Pisspot
    +
    Fishface - Tourist Trip to Pisspot


    Tourist trip down Fishface to Pisspot. Already more SRT than Joe has done in his entire lifetime combined, hopefully not holding up Kai too much.

    Turned around and headed back out after 2 hours or so as felt we had done enough SRT practice @@ -1541,7 +1540,7 @@ Either way, glad to see it being pushed towards the rest of the system!
    2023-07-24
    Joe Stell, Kai Trusson,
    -
    Surface - surveying/prospecting small leads found yesterday by Luke, Becca and Max
    +
    Surface - surveying/prospecting small leads found yesterday by Luke, Becca and Max


    Following the trip down fishface, Kai and Joe instructed to survey a tight lead from the surface, at GPS location 47.6916192, 13.8128410, to the right of the bottom of a snowy chossy slope.

    Cave starts with a short, loose downwards slope, continuing on for about a metre before being ending, filled with frost-shatter. To the left, a short, again loose, upwards slope leads to a vertically upwards shaft of about 4 or 5 metres in height, and around 1.5m in diameter. The lower 3m or so of the shaft was easily free-climbable, but potentially loose rocks made climbing the rest of the shaft difficult. However, from the highest point reached, it looks to be very narrow carrying on, so was considered dead. @@ -1553,7 +1552,7 @@ Either way, glad to see it being pushed towards the rest of the system!
    2023-07-27
    Joe Stell, Frank Tully,
    -
    Surface - Check your bits
    +
    Surface - Check your bits




    Hearing of an exciting new lead, "Mahlstromhöhle", from Frank, Max and Flo, Frank and I embarked on a walk westward out of Fishface gear dump. Upon finding the entrance (which took considerably longer than anticipated) we quickly started kitting up, only to find an absence of any drill bits in the drill bag, contrary to what Frank believed to be the case. Frank then left for fishface gear dump in search of drill bits, whilst I waited patiently, in kit. @@ -1565,7 +1564,7 @@ Either way, glad to see it being pushed towards the rest of the system!
2023-07-28
Joe Stell, Frank Tully,
-
Maelstrom - Finally Underground
+
Maelstrom - Finally Underground




After the brilliant success of yesterday's failed pushing trip, Frank and I returned to Mahlstromhöhle to actually go underground and push. After the entrance pitch, there is a small hole in the floor, from which several small-ish pitches follow. @@ -1577,7 +1576,7 @@ Either way, glad to see it being pushed towards the rest of the system!
2023-07-29
Joe Stell, Frank Tully, Nadia Raeburn,
-
Maelstrom - "Undersold"
+
Maelstrom - "Undersold"




Hearing of our great success with this shallow lead, Nadia, having returned from a fishface camping trip the day before, decided she would join us for a nice easy surface trip. @@ -1592,7 +1591,7 @@ Either way, glad to see it being pushed towards the rest of the system!
2023-07-30
Bier Tent,
-
basecamp - Nothing happened today at all
+
basecamp - Nothing happened today at all


Nowt, apparently. Again. On a Sunday, again.
T/U: 0.0 hours
@@ -1601,7 +1600,7 @@ Either way, glad to see it being pushed towards the rest of the system!
2023-07-30
Sarah Parker,
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 14
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 14
Blog Author: Sarah P
Pushing Hobnob hallway in Heimkehrhoehle
@@ -1641,7 +1640,7 @@ Also, it is now our closest cave passage to the neighbouring Schönberg system (
2023-07-31
Joe Stell, Ruairidh MacLeod,
-
Surface - Prospecting alternative entrances for Maelstrom
+
Surface - Prospecting alternative entrances for Maelstrom


After a leisurely (not quite for Ruairidh, carrying far too much) walk up to topcamp with Frank and Nadia following a leisurely morning start from me, Ruairidh and I decided that we could attempt to find an easier, quicker entrance to Maelstrom by following the rift from the surface whilst the other two and Sam were actually in the cave derigging. First we found a large basin, containing what appeared to be a large cave entrance, but upon further inspection, choked out towards the back of the cave. Ruairidh did find a nice complete Gaemse skull though, which he seemed quite happy about. Another potential entrance found further along the rift with a steady flow of water disappearing into the ground which could explain some of the bigger drippy pitches after the lovely squeeze. The rift splits into two further on, with some promising, but inaccessible, looking gorges on the right fork as you follow it. The left seemed less promising from memory but this area is definitely worth another look with bolting kit to make sure. Realising we'd actually got quite close to the col, we decided to simply hike towards the slabs and rejoin the carpark-topcamp path and head back.
T/U: 0.0 hours
@@ -1650,7 +1649,7 @@ Also, it is now our closest cave passage to the neighbouring Schönberg system (
2023-07-31
Ben Chaddock, Charlie Crossley, Adam Erskine,
-
Fishface - Cocoa Channel Bolting Mission
+
Fishface - Cocoa Channel Bolting Mission
[Adam E = Adam Erskine-Jones]

On the morning of my first pushing trip deep within Fishgesicht (5 minutes from camp) the nervous energy carried me up and away through the bountiful faff. After triple checking that we had all the equipment for bolting and surveying a rift that apparently continued but was too sketchy without a traverse line, Charlie, Adam EJ and I traipsed across the plateau for even more faff outside the entrance. After a prompt descent we met the camping team who showed us the way to silverback scoop including a stop at the tap and going down a wrong branch. Squeezing through a pitch head to descend 7m into a dusty tight canyon with a tackle sack full of heavy gear, I did wonder what I was doing, but once the drill was out that fell away completely. @@ -1664,7 +1663,7 @@ Also, it is now our closest cave passage to the neighbouring Schönberg system (
2023-08-01
Joe Stell, Adam Aldridge, Nathan Walker, Manfred Wuits,
-
Surface - Hike to Garlic
+
Surface - Hike to Garlic


Woke up to see a sub-optimal forecast. Somehow I was convinced that hiking to Garlic Cave Camp was of course the best course of action to take, so we set off. It was actually dry for the first third or so to fishface gear dump to collect our caving gear, but this did not last. The path is a little treacherous in the wet, so it was a little slow going and slightly miserable and wet but we made it. Adam started shovelling snow, Nathan joined in, then I did. I believe Adam had some grand design in mind but I think we ruined it. We then decided to rig a third tarp up to stop the horrible drip right next to the kitchen, but we rigged a drippy tarp and so the situation wasn't drastically improved. We all went to sleep pretty early without anything else to do.
T/U: 0.0 hours
@@ -1673,7 +1672,7 @@ Also, it is now our closest cave passage to the neighbouring Schönberg system (
2023-08-02
Joe Stell, Adam Aldridge, Nathan Walker, Manfred Wuits,
-
Surface - dropping Buzzard Hole on the northerly Kleiner Wildkogel ridge
+
Surface - dropping Buzzard Hole on the northerly Kleiner Wildkogel ridge


After our lovely sleep, we woke up to dry weather, and set off to the top of the ridge above Garlic. Carrying the thick, wet 90m up the mountain was not conducive to good balance so I did fall over in the bunde and struggle to get back up. We reached Buzzard, Adam rigged it, first to the bunde, then hand bolting whilst we waited patiently. The improvement in weather did give a lovely backdrop of the Braeuningzinken for photos. Nathan went down next, followed by Manfred whilst I stayed outside enjoying the view. Upon Adam's return, I swiftly fell asleep, and awoke to find Nathan and Manfred had finished their survey and were finalising some sketches. Adam spotted some interesting holes beneath us on the plateau, so wet set off to prospect (see next entry).
T/U: 3.0 hours
@@ -1682,7 +1681,7 @@ Also, it is now our closest cave passage to the neighbouring Schönberg system (
2023-08-02
Joe Stell, Adam Aldridge, Nathan Walker, Manfred Wuits,
-
Surface - Prospecting east and south of Kleiner Wildkogel
+
Surface - Prospecting east and south of Kleiner Wildkogel


After dropping Buzzard, the fours of us decided to drop down the north face of the ridge, heading east at first, then split to form two prospecting groups, Adam and I heading further east to wrap around to the south face of the ridge, and Nathan and Manfred following the north face westwards to @@ -1702,7 +1701,7 @@ that seem to follow a rift along the base of Wildkogel, then back to Garlic camp
2023-08-02
Hannah Collings, Nadia Raeburn,
-
Fishface Camp - Pushing Theophilus Goon
+
Fishface Camp - Pushing Theophilus Goon


Tuesday was another wet day so a day of top camp fettling was had whilst plans were made for a fish face camp the following day. We had a (fairly) efficient morning, departing top camp shortly after 10 having received a debrief from the previous camp group, who had returned in the early hours, on the state of the latest leads. @@ -1723,7 +1722,7 @@ that seem to follow a rift along the base of Wildkogel, then back to Garlic camp
2023-08-03
Joe Stell, Nathan Walker, Adam Aldridge, Becka Lawson, David Botcherby,
-
Garlic - Fettling
+
Garlic - Fettling


Woke up. 10am. It was rainy :( @@ -1740,7 +1739,7 @@ did also later. I took some photos and made some shoddy diagrams of the tarps. G
2023-08-04
Joe Stell, Hannah Collings,
-
Basecamp - Garlic Guide
+
Basecamp - Garlic Guide


Following a swift departure from Garlic in the morning, and an even swifter (and sweaty) hike across the plateau carrying the thick 90m rope with all my other kit, I partially completed the garlic camp guide. Only the badly taken photos and badly drawn diagrams to add. I think I'll redraw the @@ -1753,7 +1752,7 @@ with continued expo attendance in future years, should this be the case.
2023-08-05
Philip Sargent,
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 15
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 15
Blog Author: PhilipSargent
Survey writeups continue, today we passed 4km of surveyed passage this expo (we don't count splays).
@@ -1776,7 +1775,7 @@ The website currently on shows 3,233.2 m 2023-08-06
Nadia Raeburn,
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 16
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 16
Blog Author: Tinywoman
My first underground camp
@@ -1818,7 +1817,7 @@ After about 20 legs Rob had finished his rigging and came and collected Botch to
2023-08-06
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 17
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 17
Blog Author: h_collings
Fishface Camp - Muddy Goons
@@ -1870,7 +1869,7 @@ The pitches back to camp were painful, despite their shortness, due to our mud c
2023-08-10
Rob Watson,
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 18
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 18
Blog Author: nobrotson
Connecting FF to SMK - a step further
@@ -1930,7 +1929,7 @@ And that was it for my exploration in FF. Lea continued the trend of french name
2023-08-29
-
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 19
+
Expo - UK Caving Blog post 19
Blog Author: El Stobbarto
The Tempest Diaries*