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From upslope above the entrance, descend a c6 (RIG01 - 15m, 1 bunde backup, 1 top hanger, 1 rebelay hanger ... needs another hanger at the top to make top-out easier) using a handline to reach a large ledge.
-The phreatic tube at the end of the Water Source traverse immediately leads to a junction at PT03. A major passage, the Far Side, leads off on the R here that goes to the Flapjack Regained area, see separate section below.
Further N along Turtlehead, past PT06, the 1st R and 2nd R both lead to the same passage running parallel to Turtlehead. Both passages eventually connect to Ice Cock aven (named after a priapic ice stal, knocked over on original exploration) and the Frozen North, named due to the ice floor and snow slopes that suggest a nearby entrance that has, to date, remained elusive. The first connection made between 1623/264 Balkonhöhle and 1623/258 Tunnockschact came in down Ice Cock Aven, connecting it to the March of the Penguins area of Tunnockschacht. This area is complex and involves a maze of interconnected passages at various levels and interspersed with pitches. There may be plenty of leads remaining here and it should only take 1-2 hours to reach this area from the entrance to Balkonhöhle.
-A traverse (care, loose rocks) along the L wall from the first balcony is followed by an ascent of a short pitch (RIG12-06, see rigging guide) to reach the upper part of the chamber above the big pitch and the start of Medusa's Maze. This upper chamber was originally accessed by a climb on the R wall then a squeeze through loose boulders - not recommended. From this upper chamber a QMB passage leads off the L wall. The main passage continues W out of the chamber via a c5 down. This is easiest to descend by climbing past boulders on the R wall with a possible QMB at this point. The main passage soon reaches a 4 way junction. Ahead quickly leads to a pitch, QM2019-B. L enters a low, wide room and is an enticing QM2019-A. R immediately goes to a T-junction. I won't continue to describe the route here until at least some of the QMs are cleared up and the main way on is clear.
-The massive chamber at the base of Mongol Rally seems only to have one way on, Grand Prix. This is reached by initially descending past huge boulders then traversing up R as the roof lowers and the walls close in. This passage soon reaches the p15 into Little Boy chamber (RIG13, see rigging guide). This pitch starts with a protected c2 down to a loose, muddy slope and then a vertical drop with a rebelay into a large, attractive round chamber. Little Boy chamber was used as a camp later on the 2018 Expo by moving the camping gear from Camp Kraken in Tunnockschacht which had been used in 2016, 2017 and early 2018; the Little Boy camp was not used in 2019 and was completely removed that year.
@@ -196,7 +198,7 @@ code used in the Austrian kataster e.g '1/S +' - https://expo/.survex.com/katastFrom PT09, just outside Little Boy chamber, there are three ways on though this isn't immediately obvious. First, turning L here immediately re-joins the main passage into Grand Prix.
+From PT09, just outside Little Boy Chamber, there are three ways on though this isn't immediately obvious. First, turning L here immediately re-joins the main passage into Grand Prix.
Second, going straight ahead enters Scoopy Loop. Scoopy Loop leads to a junction (L is a QM2018- B) where R enters One Direction. One Direction can be followed until it drops down at PT10 to join the main route to Rubberman described below or, by turning L at the next junction, it can be followed to Crab Louse which ends in a QM2018-A.
@@ -206,6 +208,8 @@ code used in the Austrian kataster e.g '1/S +' - https://expo/.survex.com/katastThe lower section of the Rubberman pitch (RIG15, see rigging guide) descends to a loose slope. Traverse to the R wall and continue down to a ledge on the L where a waterfall fills a pool on the L. Traverse along the ledge, past the waterfall, following the L wall then scramble up a steep mud slope to the top of the L wall a 2018 traverse rope up here and beyond was left in situ in the 2019 derig trip. At the top of this slope descend the slope and cross to the R wall to continue the descent (QM2018 A).
+Grand Prix continues as 20-30m wide passage then it narrows before opening out again into more huge passage. At the start of this section you need to move a cheval (shuffling along with one leg each side of a triangular ridge) to cross from the R to the L wall.
At the far side of this a cheval ridge a p40 (RIG13-01 - see rigging guide) descends to Suction Cup, a complex area beneath the main, huge Grand Prix passage. Below the p40, a further p20 may be a QM2018 A. The main route in Suction Cup scrambles S then E through boulders then climbs up steeply sloping ramps to reach an aven with QM2018-B's off it. Near the base of the ramps a passage on the R leads to QM2018 A.