The draughting phreatic passage leading off from near the base of Pendulum Pitch heads downhill at a
-comfortable walking size past a tight passage on the left, which leads back
-towards Wolpertinger Way. 5m further on a
-tube at roof level heads towards Bunny's
-Bowel. After 20m, a 3m climb up into a roof tube on the right hand side is
-the way into the White Elephant Series. The phreatic
-passage continues for a further 15m past a too tight inlet on the right and a
-traverse over a blind pit to a 3m deep hole in the floor leading to Merry Fucking Christmas. Traversing
-over the hole and up a loose climb with a too tight rift in the right hand wall
-leads into an uphill passage, which is choked with mud after 5m. A sandy crawl
-on the right just before the choke leads via a left hand bend with a too tight
-rift on the right (probably connecting to that at the loose climb) ending at a
-2m climb down. There is a possible way on at the bottom of this, but it is
-very small and tall people at least would have to enter feet first [C1999-204-19 C]. There is
-a noticeable draught here blowing downhill (into the cave).
Climbing down through the hole in the floor for 4 metres lands at the
-entrance to a low crawl, Merry Fucking Christmas. While not actually
-tight, the crawl continues awkwardly for 20m to a small chamber with QM [C2001-204-71 C]. The crawl
-continues slightly larger for another 25m, past a hole in
-the floor which is blind.
-
-
The crawl opens out in the wall of 7-11 Chamber.
-This is part of a large shaft, with high aven (>40m?)
-[C2001-204-72 X] and deep
-main pitch (35m). The chamber floor is reached by a y-hang followed by a single
-bolt rebelay and rope protector. Traversing across the blocks on the floor leads
-to a short climb up (rope advised) over a ridge into a parallel shaft (7m deep).
-The base of this is choked with boulders; an uninviting wriggle between these
-leads back towards the main pitch.
-
-
Back at the entrance to 7-11 Chamber, an exposed traverse around the
-north-western corner of the shaft leads to a small muddy window. This is a
-small chamber with small muddy passage sloping downwards. Following this for a
-short distance arrives at a loose funnel; rocks thrown into this rumble down
-into the main pitch.
-
-
The main pitch, No bits, is descended by continuing on
-the rope to a Y-hang using two bolts under the large boulder above the pitch. This
-gives a free hang to the floor (see: rigging diagram). At the bottom of the pitch,
-a rift leads off. There is a side passage to the right which becomes too tight after
-about 10m. The way on is down the rift, which can be descended using a thread and a
-single bolt to form a Y hang (the beginning of Hammer and thong). At the
-bottom of this initial narrow descent, the rift can be followed at various levels,
-but all ways become too tight. Down, Hammer and thong continues with a Y hang
-at a ledge and a deviation from the left wall (see rigging diagram).
-
-
At the bottom of Hammer and thong, the comfortably-sized rift,
-Pussyprance continues steeply down (rope required - see rigging diagram) to
-Catflap pitch. To the right at the top of the pitch is a window into a large
-phreatic passage (~5m wide). To the right, this passage continues for about 25m to a
-large window, which connects to Catwalk . To the left, the
-phreatic passage passes a passage in the left hand wall, which could be descended
-downwards [C2008-204-06 B] or
-climbed upwards [C2008-204-07 B].
-The main passage slopes down to a large chamber, Puss in Bolts (20m across).
-The chamber can be descended to the right via a 20m pitch (Painted lady) to
-Puss in Bolts. Just before the chamber, there is a pitch on
-the left, which leads to Catawal.
Descending Catflap, a window back under the pitch head can be reached at about 5m
-above the floor of the shaft. This can be swung into, with the rope deviated off
-threads in the mud floor, to reach a short section of phreatic passage ending in a 9m
-climb which can be protected with a rope belayed off a large thread. At the foot of
-this climb there is a junction - to the left is a spacious pitch and aven
-[C2009-204-02 A] - the aven has
-been connected to one of the large chambers at the bottom of pussy prance. To the
-right is a small walking passage ending in a window into a blind pitch with a possible
-mud-filled continuation opposite [
-C2009-204-04 C]. There are two junctions on the right from Catwalk - these join
-after a few meters, and the passage continues past a small waterfall on the left and
-junction to the right (which loops back into the same passage) to a window at the top
-of another pitch - Snow Leopard. This swings into the bottom 15m of
-Brian's Phat Shaft, with a continuation of the passage
-in the wall of the pitch opposite - [
-C2009-204-10 B]. Catflap was left rigged in 2009 to allow access to this area
-from Brian's Phat Shaft - this route was exploited in 2012.
Catawaul starts with a 20m nicely-shaped pitch. Right at the bottom of the pitch
-leads to a small chamber with no ways on. The way on is a tight slot in the floor
-leading to a small, but less tight rift which ends with a short drop (rope needed),
-which is followed by another pitch (< 10m). Another short pitch follows this, which
-is undescended [C2009-204-01 B].
At the bottom of Painted lady, is a window to the left to a large pitch
-[C2009-204-11 A]. To the left
-of this pitch is a shallower pit, which may be choked
-[C2009-204-12 B]. Around the
-right-hand wall of the large pitch is an 8-bolt traverse (left rigged in 2012), which
-starts with an up climb (also permanently rigged; 30m rope needed in addition, see
-rigging diagram). At the end of the traverse is a mud bridge, which leads across to
-On the Prowl.
On the prowl starts with a traverse along the left hand wall above a blind trench
-in the floor. The traverse ends with a pitch down (30m rope required for traverse
-and pitch). A deviation is required after 8m to swing off the pitch into the main
-chamber; the pitch appears to continue downwards
-[C2009-204-19 B]. To the right
-in the chamber are a number of pitches
-[C2009-204-22 A]
-[C2009-204-23 A]
-[C2009-204-24 B]. Descending
-the latter hole leads to connections with Fat Cat at the level
-of the boulders some 5m down to the north. To the south, a rift pitch continues with
-further visual connections to the head of the pitch. To the left, the chamber
-narrows to a wide passage, at the end of which is a large pitch:
-Fat Cat.
Fat cat is rigged initally from a large spike in On the Prowl.
-After a 3m climb down to a ledge, there is a y-hang. It is initally narrow, but bells
-out below a rebelay, about 10m down. After a further 7m of descent, two phreatic
-pockets are reached to the northwest. The upper pocket can be reached via a natural
-anchor and a rebelay bolt in the ceiling. This pocket goes in for 8m, at the end of
-which two solution pockets are observed in the ceiling which ascend for 10m. The lower
-phreatic pocket is unexplored [C2012-204-XX ?].
-
-
After a further 7m, it is possible to swing off to the southwest
-[C2009-204-27 A]. A 4m climb
-up loose boulders leads to the base of twin avens with visual connections to the level
-of the head of Fat Cat. [FIXME: (Olly) which holes are these?]
-
-
Decending the main pitch a further 7m leads to a ledge from where there are two
-ways to descend. The main route down descends a further 10m to a ledge. At the
-opposite side of the shaft at this level, a passage leads off into
-Cirque du Soleil. It is possible to descend a further 10m into
-a large chamber, at the bottom of which is a slot
-[C2009-204-30 B]. 80m of rope
-is required to reach the lowest "floor". From the ledge 20m above the
-floor, an alternative descent of 10m down a smaller shaft is the route to
-Catgut.
From the bottom of the alternative shaft from Fat Cat, a 2m
-climb to the southwest over Boris the Boulder leads into a small phreatic passage,
-Catgut. This closes down after 4m, but the second of two holes down and to the right
-is passable. Awkward progress is made downhill through small, popcorn encrusted
-passage passing a passage on the right that doubles back under the passage just
-traversed that is blocked by rocks [C2012-204-01 D]. Further on, a junction is
-quickly reached by survey station 7. To the right leads to Cat Flea.
-
-
Cat Flea is delightful... [FIXME: (Olaf) description
-needed]
-
-
At survey station 7, a popcorn encrusted squeeze down to the left leads over a
-pitch of at least 10m [C2012-204-02 A] to a larger phreatic passage. A window on
-the right leads to a 5m down climb to a small stream that sinks into a mud choke
-[C2012-204-03 D]. Continuing east along the phreatic passage a small stream
-enters immediately from the right from a passage at ceiling level that can be
-accessed via a 3m climb [C2012-04-04 B]. Continuing a further 10m a small chamber
-is reached via a 2m down climb. The exit is via a 3m climb to a larger boulder
-filled chamber with many holes in the floor, which marks the start of
-Pussy Riot.
-
-
The initial chamber in Pussy Riot contains a number of leads. Immediately to the
-left (east) on entry is a hole down between boulders and wall that appears to be
-2-3m deep [C2012-204-05 B]. Immediately to the right (west) is a larger undescended
-pitch estimated at 15m [C2012-204-06 A], above which is a window that leads back into
-Catgut. On the southwest wall of the chamber are two holes
-through the boulders, [C2012-204-07 B] and [C2012-204-08 B], that may be linked.
-8m up on the southeast wall of the chamber, a phreatic passage appears to enter which
-might be accessible via a diagonal climb up the wall (protection required)
-[C2012-204-09 B].
-
-
The way on is reached by following the left-hand wall of the chamber to an exit
-passage in the eastern corner that carries a considerable draught. A 3m drop (rope
-required) leads into a crawling size continuation to the east (the western
-continuation of the lower level passage appears to choke immediately). Continuing
-past two connected tubes on the right heading steeply uphill [C2012-204-10 C], a
-local widening is reached with a crawl exiting to the right (south) [C2012-204-11 B]
-and the main route heads left (north) via two passages that reunite at a junction
-after 5m. To the left (west) at the junction leads to the bottom of
-Fat Cat. Right leads to
-Cirque du Soleil.
Swinging off 10m from the bottom of Fat Cat, a passage to
-the southeast leads off. A crawl through large boulders with a possible crawling
-passage to the left [C2012-204-12 C] leads to a junction. Twin passages to the right
-(south) mark the start of Pussy Riot. Ahead (east) is
-Cirque du Soleil. The passage opens out into a large, boulder filled chamber some 15m
-in diameter. At the enlargement there is a narrow rift to the north that will require
-rope for descent [C2012-204-13 B]. Immediately beyond this, a passage to the left
-ultimately links back to Cirque du Soleil.
-
-
To the south are two phreatic windows at the top of a mud slope [C2012-204-14 A]
-with a possible visual connection to Pussy Riot. Immediately beyond these is a window
-onto a drippy pitch with a considerable draught [C2012-204-XX B]. A traverse round
-the right hand wall of this pitch (permanently rigged) is the start of the
-Far from Support traverses that lead to Kaninchenhöhle.
-
-
Continuing round the same wall, a descending mud bank is reached in the southeast
-corner that will require a rope for descent [C2012-204-15 B]. 10m away to north is a
-small hole through boulders [C2012-204-16 B]. From this point, a clamber down a
-boulder pile leads to a northward trending passage some 5m wide and 10m high that
-carries a considerable draught from the north. At the bottom of the slope, a passage
-doubling back on the left connects back to the route into Cirque du Soleil, and a
-small hole through the boulders has not been descended [C2012-204-17 B]. The passage
-continues for a further 20m to a window onto a large, drippy pitch that is at least
-20m across at the largest extent. This is almost certainly the final pitch of the
-Kiwi Suit series.
At the southern end of Cirque du Soleil a
-permanently rigged bolt traverse heads off round the right-hand side of a drippy
-pitch. The route descends, via a rebelay, to a ledge 5m down, then up into a
-rift on the opposite side of the pitch. Continuing round the corner to the
-right leads to a pitch in the rift of unknown depth on the right [C2012-204-XX B]
-and a much larger, drippy pitch on the left. The rope goes up a climb to a second
-bolt traverse round the left-hand wall of this pitch. This leads after 15m to
-the northern end of Bored of the Rings
-in Kaninchenhöhle.
The White Elephant Series is a series of rift pitches which has not been
-pushed to a definite conclusion, but does not appear especially promising,
-despite carrying a considerable breeze. From the head of the 3m climb up, a roof
-tube leads off. After 8m of crawling, the passage opens out at the head of a 2m
-climb down by a large boulder. A too-tight rift leads off on the left, but ahead
-opens out into a large space, the Millennium Dome.
-
-
A 20m pitch rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall backed up to the big
-boulder, with a rebelay and rope protector after 5m, lands on the boulder floor
-of the Millennium Dome, which is an L-shaped chamber at the base of a large
-aven, with each arm of the L being 15m long and 5m wide. There do not appear to
-be any ways through the boulders, but a rift leads off at the western end,
-quickly arriving at the head of a 10m pitch with a constricted take off, rigged
-from boulders. An eyehole part way down this pitch appears to lead into a
-parallel shaft. (This is almost certainly the connection through to Pleasuredome). The pitch lands on a
-rubble floor with a blind pit. Heading south quickly reaches a loose pitch
-head, with a rift passage continuing beyond.
-
-
The pitch is 28m, rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall and deviations
-from natural threads after 4m and 12m. The second deviation is by a small rock
-bridge, where descending either side appears to go to the same place, and an
-eyehole opposite connects to the continuation of the rift at the top of the
-pitch. The base of the pitch is an oddly shaped chamber formed from several
-rifts (about 7m up the pitch, these rifts coalesce to form a single shaft.)
-North from the base of the rope leads to a 3m climb down into an inlet rift
-coming from the north which ends in a blank wall 8m from the base of the rope,
-but the rift continues too-tight heading south beneath the 3m climb. South from
-the base of the rope is another rift heading downhill which rapidly becomes
-tight with running water clearly audible [C2000-204-78 C],
-but not visible beyond. West from the
-base of the rope leads to junction with a tight rift continuing to the west
-[C2000-204-79 C],
-and another inlet rift coming from the north which ends in a blank wall after
-5m.
-
-
Traversing over the top of the pitch (rope required) and a short descent
-leads to a continuation of the rift passage. A hole on the left connects to the
-28m pitch described earlier. After 5m the rift narrows and a constricted pitch
-head is reached. The descent of 15m is rigged from a large boulder and leads
-immediately to a further drop of 7m rigged from a bolt. This shorter drop may be
-bypassed by an alternative free climb in a narrow slot immediately beyond the
-pitch head. From the base the tall, narrow rift continues with two short climbs
-and a slot in the floor which gradually widens to the head of the next pitch
-after 6m. This is rigged from a Y-hang on either side of the rift, but soon
-opens out to give a fine descent of 15m landing in a spacious rift at 182m depth
-from 204b entrance. A narrow slot in the floor develops, which is just large
-enough to descend, but stones thrown down sound dead [C1999-204-26 B]. It is possible to traverse above the
-slot for a short way before the rift becomes too tight.
-
-
There is a noticeable breeze at the base of this pitch, as there is through
-much of the series, with air blowing into the cave. From the base of the 7m
-pitch, there is no roof visible. This area has potential, but there are no easy
-leads, and some lunatic bolt traverses may be required to try to bypass the
-tight sections.
The main pitch, No bits, is descended by continuing on
-the rope to a Y-hang using two bolts under the large boulder above the pitch. This
-gives a free hang to the floor (see: rigging diagram). At the bottom of the pitch,
-a rift leads off. There is a side passage to the right which becomes too tight after
-about 10m. The way on is down the rift, which can be descended using a thread and a
-single bolt to form a Y hang (the beginning of Hammer and thong). At the
-bottom of this initial narrow descent, the rift can be followed at various levels,
-but all ways become too tight. Down, Hammer and thong continues with a Y hang
-at a ledge and a deviation from the left wall (see rigging diagram).
-