There is a dry (metal trough) toboggan run worth a visit near Bad Ischl. Wear
long sleeves and trousers if you value your skin - doing so enables you to
dispense with the brakes entirely.
Of four expo attempts, two have
+succeeded - in 1984 and again in 1990. An earlier attempt was thwarted by
+a wasps' nest, and the 1992 attempt
+made the error of retreating from high up in what turned out to be quite an
+epic in a thunderstorm. It must be about time someone else had a go...Expedition primer
+CUCC Austria Expeditions: Primer
-The annual CUCC expedition to Austria lasts up to five weeks each
-summer and concentrates mainly on new exploration in the high alpine karst of
-the Loser plateau (about 80km E of
-Salzburg). The current main projects are:
+ The annual CUCC expedition to Austria lasts around five weeks each summer
+and concentrates mainly on new exploration in the high alpine karst of the
+Loser plateau (about 80km E of Salzburg). The current main projects are: Kaninchenhöhle was connected to the Schwarzmooskogelsystem by a group of German cavers in 2002.
-It is expected that Steinbrückenhöhle will
-eventually be connected to this system. Around ninety shorter caves have also
-been explored and recorded over the twenty year history of expo, and
-prospecting for new entrances is still an important activity.
+
+
+
-
-
Over a hundred shorter caves have also been explored and +recorded over the twenty year history of expo, and prospecting for new +entrances is still an important activity.
+ +So much for the executive summary, but what does that mean for the new -expo member ? What is actually involved in going on expo ? +expo member? What is actually involved in going on expo?
Very few people, whether undergraduate or old lag, can afford the time to go on expo for the full period. People come and go, and people pursue @@ -40,84 +52,84 @@ putting more resources into rigging than we have manpower to use, nor concentrating on so few goals that the cave is always crowded. So it is important that those doing the organising have a pretty good idea a few weeks before expo of who is going, for how long, and how hard they expect -to cave. +to cave.
-But don't expect too much from that word "organising" - expedition is not -a boot camp ! No one will kick you out of your pit and make you go caving -(except perhaps in an emergency, such as a call-out). Nor is it entirely a -holiday - once the effort has been put in to rig things, it is important that -people get in there and do the work exploring, surveying, photographing and -eventually derigging. The "organisation" is essentially a matter of pre-expo +
But don't expect too much from that word "organising" – expedition is not a +boot camp! No one will kick you out of your pit and make you go caving (except +perhaps in an emergency, such as a call-out). Nor is it entirely a holiday - +once the effort has been put in to rig things, it is important that people get +in there and do the work exploring, surveying, photographing and eventually +derigging. The "organisation" is essentially a matter of pre-expo behind-the-scenes things like getting grants and sponsorship, buying tackle, -coordinating transport and the like. On expo itself, it is a matter of -judging which projects can reasonably be tackled by the number of people -present, and suggesting the best lines of attack. This avoids rigging things -which no one has the time or will-power to push, and ensures that there is -enough gear to tackle the things which folk are keen to explore. +coordinating transport and the like. On expo itself, it is a matter of judging +which projects can reasonably be tackled by the number of people present, and +suggesting the best lines of attack. This avoids rigging things which no one +has the time or will-power to push, and ensures that there is enough gear to +tackle the things which folk are keen to explore.
There are important differences between expedition caving and a typical -Yorkshire weekend. On a tourist trip in the UK, a party will rig in, bottom -the cave and rig out (or, at most, there may be a separate rigging in and -rigging out trip on the same day). In Austria, a project cave will be rigged -at the start of expo, and then numerous working trips will use that rigging -until either the cave or the expedition finishes, and derigging takes place. -This clearly places a lot more wear and tear on the ropes, which also tend to -get muddier, so quality rigging is essential. Of course, some of this rigging -is new exploration, not just "follow the P-hangers", so it is an exciting and +Yorkshire weekend. On a tourist trip in the UK, a party will rig in, bottom the +cave and rig out (or, at most, there may be a separate rigging in and rigging +out trip on the same day). In Austria, a project cave will be rigged at the +start of expo, and then numerous working trips will use that rigging until +either the cave or the expedition finishes, and derigging takes place. This +clearly places a lot more wear and tear on the ropes, which also tend to get +muddier, so quality rigging is essential. Of course, some of this rigging is +new exploration, not just "follow the P-hangers", so it is an exciting and challenging activity. Also, unlike a Yorkshire tourist trip, you must survey -and describe what you find - logbook write-ups form part of a long-term -record of what has been done so are rather more important than on weekend -meets at home. Surveying may be an entirely new activity for first-time expo -members, but it is also a very important one, and one which it is worth -making the effort to get right from the start. +and describe what you find – logbook write-ups form part of a long-term record +of what has been done so are rather more important than on weekend meets at +home. Surveying may be an entirely new activity for first-time expo members, +but it is also a very important one, and one which it is worth making the +effort to get right from the start.
-The caves in Austria are as different from Yorkshire and Mendip as -those two areas are from each other. There are few sporting streamways -and few formations. The caves are colder (often not much above freezing, -and sometimes below). They are often much deeper than Yorkshire trips, -though the entrances we are currently using mean that even the remotest -places are not at vast depths. However, pitches may be big, and close -together in deep shafts of up to a couple of hundred metres. Though -often dry in good weather, run-off is rapid and a damp pitch can rapidly -become a serious proposition with near-freezing water pouring down it. -Rigging will sometimes seem unnecessarily gymnastic until you have seen -the pitch after a thunderstorm ! Set against this is a large amount of -huge stomping horizontal passage found in the last few years, with many -leads still to push not needing a lot of vertical work at all. +
The caves in Austria are as different from Yorkshire and Mendip as those two +areas are from each other. There are few sporting streamways and few +formations. The caves are colder (often not much above freezing, and sometimes +below). They are often much deeper than Yorkshire trips, though the entrances +we are currently using mean that even the remotest places are not at vast +depths. However, pitches may be big, and close together in deep shafts of up to +a couple of hundred metres. Though often dry in good weather, run-off is rapid +and a damp pitch can rapidly become a serious proposition with near-freezing +water pouring down it. Rigging will sometimes seem unnecessarily gymnastic +until you have seen the pitch after a thunderstorm! Set against this is a large +amount of huge stomping horizontal passage found in the last few years, with +many leads still to push not needing a lot of vertical work at all.
In Austria, expo is effectively split into "Base -Camp" and "Top Camp". Base camp is in +Camp
On the other hand, top camp is in a nature reserve where camping is -theoretically not allowed at all, so we need to keep it as low-profile -and undamaging as possible to avoid being banned. Top Camp is essential, -not only for caving convenience and efficiency, but also for safety. Meeting -these needs consistent with local politics is something of a balancing act -which needs everyone's cooperation. It is likely that in 2001 the main top -camp will be much more of a low-key affair, with additional bivouacs at -the entrances to two of our caves. +
The plateau camps and and Base camp are linked by mobile phone, which are much +better for coordinating and reporting activities than the radios we used +previously. However they should still be used sparingly to ensure that there is +plenty of battery power in an emergency. The result of this is that trips are +mostly organised by the people in top camp, and it is usual to spend periods of +three or four days or so at top camp, alternating with festering at base.
+ +On the other hand, the plateau a nature reserve where camping is +theoretically not allowed at all, so we need to keep it as low-profile and +undamaging as possible to avoid being banned. Camping is essential, not only +for caving convenience and efficiency, but also for safety. Meeting these needs +consistent with local politics is something of a balancing act which needs +everyone's cooperation.
If we have a spell of truly awful weather, usually everyone will come down to Base Camp, and this is a good time for getting surveys drawn up, passage descriptions written, log books up to date etc. It's also not unknown for a certain amount of beer consumption to occur. This is also the case at "expedition dinner" which is usually organised somewhere in -the middle of expo, when the greatest number of people can attend. +the middle of expo, when the greatest number of people can attend.
-What to read next ?
+What to read next?
Obviously, those coming on expedition will have a better and more productive time if they know more about what goes on, what has been done @@ -127,77 +139,73 @@ however, not everyone wants to effectively memorise the guidebook, and devour several books on the history, culture, geography, geology, food, weather and other minutiæ of their holiday area. Even if you are that sort of person, it helps to have some idea of where to -start - there's about three long novels' worth of stuff on the site and much +start – there's about three long novels' worth of stuff on the site and much of it is of mainly historical interest, concerned with caves whose -exploration is considered complete. +exploration is considered complete.
We have attempted to condense the "how to do it" material into an Expedition Handbook, which covers topics such as Surveying, Prospecting, Rigging and Rescue. There is also a rather -embryonic section on photography. This is still a fairly big chunk of stuff -to read, so an effort has been made this year to provide a "primer" page for -each section, which should be read by everyone new to expo. It is -particularly important that you understand the aims of each activity, since a -job done badly is actually worse than a job not done at all. This is -especially true of cave survey and passage description, or, for prospecting, -the recording of locations. +embryonic section on photography, and some smaller sections that are also worth +reading. This is still a fairly big chunk of stuff to read, so an effort has +been made this year to provide a "primer" page for each section, which should +be read by everyone new to expo. It is particularly important that you +understand the aims of each activity, since a job done badly is actually worse +than a job not done at all. This is especially true of cave survey and passage +description, or, for prospecting, the recording of locations.
To get a feel for what trips are like, it is perhaps worth dipping into -one of the logbooks for recent -years. To get an idea of what expo will be trying to achieve, there is a -"mission statement" for the current year. -And to see how much potential there is, a glance at the current -Steinbrückenhöhle -Question Mark list is a -revelation. Leads are numbered by year, with the oldest first. Following -links from any of these leads will get you into the cave description, which -gives an idea of the sort of caving. +one of the logbooks for recent years. To +get an idea of what expo will be trying to achieve, there is a "mission statement" for the current year. And +to see how much potential there is, a glance at the current Steinbrückenhöhle Question Mark list is a revelation. Leads are +numbered by year, with the oldest first. Following links from any of these +leads will get you into the relevant section of the cave description, which gives an idea of the +sort of caving.
-For the ambitious there is the -complete Kaninchenhöhle description, which runs to c 90 A4 -pages -when printed, so is rather too much to digest in one go ! We recommend +For the ambitious, there is a complete description of Kaninchenhöhle, +which absorbed almost all of CUCC's expedition effort from 1989 to 1999 and now +forms the largest single component of the Schwarzmooskogel system. The description runs to c 90 A4 +pages when printed, so is rather too much to digest in one go! We recommend looking at the printed survey to get an overall idea of the cave and which parts have the most potential. However, as this is too big for a web page, there are now useful survey fragments incorporated throughout the main -descriptions. +descriptions.
If you want to delve deeper into the site, it's worth a quick look at the site road map. This gives you an idea of the structure of the site and where you can expect the graphical links to lead. There are also plenty of textual links, as exemplified by the -expo site index. +expo site index.
-+
-
-Back to CUCC Home page-
-CUCC Expedition Handbook-
-Main Indices:-
-Index to Expo information pages-
-Description of CUCC's area and split to subareas-
-Full Index to cave descriptions in area 1623-
-List of (links to) published reports and logbooks-
-Pictures:-
-Text only Index-
-Index pages (with thumbnails)-
-Other info:-
-Table of members of CUCC expeditions 1976-2000-
-Other groups who have worked in the area.+
-
+
- Back to CUCC Home page +
- Main Indices:
+
-
+
- Index to Expo information pages +
- Description of CUCC's area and split to subareas +
- Full Index to cave descriptions in area 1623 +
- Adjacent area 1626 +
- List of (links to) published reports and logbooks +
+ - Pictures: + +
- Other info:
+
-
+
- Table of members of CUCC expeditions 1976-present +
- Other groups who have worked in the area. +
- Back to CUCC Home page
- Back to Expedition Intro page -
- Main Indices: +
- Main Indices:
-
-
- Index to Expo information pages +
- Index to Expo information pages
- Description of CUCC's area and split to subareas
- Full Index to cave descriptions in area 1623
- List of (links to) published reports and logbooks
- - Pictures: +
- Pictures: -
- Table of members of CUCC expeditions 1976-present +
- Table of members of CUCC expeditions 1976-present
+ |
-
+width="158" height="108" alt="Camp 1977" />
+
+
 |
-
+alt="Camp 1977" />
+
+
 |
| -Views of 1977 Advance camp. | ||
+Views of 1977 Advance camp. +
Schwarzmoossattel bivouac
@@ -142,11 +144,11 @@ practical and necessary to establish a bivouac site somewhere near the 201 established from Top Camp to the Eishöhle area in 1998 and there seems little need now to establish a new high camp.--> -40 bivy
+40 bivvy
-In 2001 people decided to bivy nearer to the the cave entrances. This +
In 2001 people decided to bivvy nearer to the the cave entrances. This involved putting up tarpaulins in natural shelters, and sleeping on inflatable -lilos. The 40 bivy is in the main 40a Eishöhle +lilos. The 40 bivvy is in the main 40a Eishöhle entrance. It is surprisingly comfortable as this entrance does not have a cold gale coming out of it, and the floor is very flat. It is luxurious for 2, comfy for 3 and can sleep 4. Water is collected by putting a tarp. in a steep gulley @@ -157,12 +159,13 @@ width="200" height="128" alt="40 bivvy" />
204 bivy
-In 2001 people decided to bivy nearer to the the cave entrances. Cavers -used the stone bridge that 204 is named after. The sloping floor was terraced -and flat sleeping and cooking areas were made. Tarpaulins were put up to -reduce the drips and wind. Water was obtained from snow at 231, collecting -drips in 231 and a funnel inserted in a grike on the roof of the stone bridge. -Two butts were used for water storage.
+Cavers working in 204 (Steinbrückenhöhle) used the eponymous stone +bridge as a bivouac. The sloping floor was terraced and flat sleeping and +cooking areas were made. Tarpaulins were put up to reduce the drips and wind. +Water was obtained from snow at 231, collecting drips in 231 and a funnel +inserted in a grike on the roof of the stone bridge. Two butts were used for +water storage.
This camp was the main high camp in 2002 and the only one in 2003; it has been extensively reterraced to increase its capacity (as of 2003 it could sleep diff --git a/tollrd.htm b/tollrd.htm index 6596e4e44..1b8bd3963 100644 --- a/tollrd.htm +++ b/tollrd.htm @@ -1,7 +1,8 @@ - - + +
-Straight on (now two-way), leads uphill, often narrow, to a further junction. Straight on here is a deteriorating track to Blaa-Alm, offering a restaurant with Reininghaus bier, excellent views of the cliffs NW of Loser, and an aerial ropeway intended for kids, but well worth playing on for groups of inebriate cavers. This is also the approach for the -Naglsteghöhle and resurgence - outside our area, but worth a visit. +Naglsteghöhle and resurgence - outside our area, but worth a visit.
Right at the junction is a metalled road, the Loser Panoramastraße, which immediately has a toll-gate (and often the @@ -30,12 +31,15 @@ and evening hostelry - it was rebuilt as "Hotel Loser" for 1995. Beyond the old hut, the road continues to a new (in the mid-seventies) Bergrestaurant, only open during the day, and with a huge car park, full of tourists whenever the weather is half decent. The area is also a small ski resort in the -winter, and various lifts line the hillsides. +winter, and various lifts line the hillsides.
-
- 
-
+
+
+The Loser Panoramastraße with view to the Dachstein
The cost of the toll road is fairly reasonable if you want to make one trip for the view, but quickly becomes prohibitive for a caving expedition @@ -47,7 +51,7 @@ and rather restrictive, particularly if an emergency arises. Permission is needed to camp within the Nature Reserve at the top, so it is best to negotiate a cheaper deal. The owner is very interested to know about the caves on "his" plateau, so it's important to send a report as soon as -possible after the expedition. +possible after the expedition.
Familiarity soon breeds contempt, and typical expo drivers don't spend much time looking at the view after the first couple of trips. This style of @@ -57,30 +61,35 @@ timings are between the "stop" line across from the toll booth at the bottom, and the drainage line (looks like a narrow cattle grid across ¾ of the road) at the west end of the car park. We don't recommend speeding through the car park owing to the propensity of tourists to wander around looking at -the views, not the traffic :-) +the views, not the traffic :-)
-| Vehicle | Time up | by | Time down | by |
|---|
| Vehicle | Time up | by | Time down | by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bike | 01:15:00 | Justin (1992) | 00:09:26 | Clive George |
| Car | 00:07:46 | Andy Waddington (1998) | 00:07:30 | Andy Waddington (1998) |
+
-
-Back to CUCC Home page-
-Back to Expedition Intro page-
-Main Indices:-
-Index to Expo information pages-
-Description of CUCC's area and split to subareas-
-Full Index to cave descriptions in area 1623-
-List of (links to) published reports and logbooks
+-
+
- Back to CUCC Home page +
- Main Indices:
+
-
+
- Index to Expo information pages +
- Description of CUCC's area and split to subareas +
- Full Index to cave descriptions in area 1623 +
- List of (links to) published reports and logbooks +
+ - Pictures: + +
- Other info:
+
-
+
- Table of members of CUCC expeditions 1976-present +
- Other groups who have worked in the area. +
CUCC Expo - Getting There
+ +CUCC Expo: Getting THere
By Car
Getting to the other side of the Sea
This can be the most expensive bit, but with a bit of perseverence and ingenuity, the cost can be minimised.
@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@ SeaFrance http://www.seafrance.co.uk Dover-Calais - P&O Stena Line http://www.posl.com + P&O Stena Line http://www.posl.com Dover-Calais - P&O North Sea Ferries http://www.ponsf.com + P&O North Sea Ferries http://www.ponsf.com Hull-Rotterdam Hull-Zeebrugge @@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ with the motor rules then get off just before the border and drive through Salzburg - this is actually quite easy and not usually too busy outside the rush hour. Otherwise follow the A1 to Mondsee, the 154 to St. Gilgen, the 158 to - Bad Ischl, the 145 to Bad Ausee over the Pötschen Pa;β. + Bad Ischl, the 145 to Bad Ausee over the Pötschen Paß.The Northern Route (From Köln)
The A3 autobahn runs from Köln all the way to the border with Austria, passing Siegburg, Limburg, Frankfurt, Aschaffenburg, Würzburg, Nürnberg, Regensburg, Deggendorf and Passau. In Austria, the autobahn continues as the Austrian A8. About 20 miles into Austria, turn off to Ried. From this point, the rest of the route is on much smaller roads, a welcome relief after endless motorways, and the scenery starts to become distinctly alpine. Follow the 143 via Eberschwang, Ampfelwang, Vöcklabruck and Gmunden, where the 145 is picked up. Follow the 145 via Altmunster, Traunkirchen, Ebensee and Weissenbach to Bad Ischl. You're nearly there now - only The Last Bit left to go.
@@ -96,33 +96,35 @@This is getting to be a reasonably priced option, but gear still needs to find its way to Austria, and we need enough cars out there to - ensure a free flow of cavers up and down the toll road. + ensure a free flow of cavers up and down the toll road.
-Cheap flights are available to Munich and Salzburg. Salzburg is - closer, but has fewer flights and may even be more expensive. The +
Cheap flights are available to Munich and Salzburg. Salzburg is + closer, but has fewer flights and may even be more expensive. The extra cost difference to Munich on the railways seems to be very little. In 2000, a return from Munich to Bad Aussee on the train - was about 23ukp. + was about 23ukp. (Note: In 2004, Ryanair were flying from Stansted + to Salzburg for the princely sum of £5.99 plus airport tax (£19.98 + all in.)
The German railway website is excellent for planning journeys in both Germany and Austria. - Remember to buy a ticket before getting on the train. + Remember to buy a ticket before getting on the train.
Munich Airport to Bad Aussee
From Munich airport, there's a shuttle bus to the main railway station (München Hbf) from where you can take a train which stops at - Attnang-Puchheim. Now follow the description below from this point. + Attnang-Puchheim. Now follow the description below from this point.
Salzburg Airport to Bad Aussee
Take a bus to the main railway station (Salzburg Hbf) and a train to Attnang-Puchheim. The train will probably be bound for Wein (Vienna). Change at Attnang-Puchheim and get on a local train to Bad Aussee. This train - will probably be bound for Stainach-Irdning. + will probably be bound for Stainach-Irdning.
Train changes can be tight (only a couple of minutes); the platform numbers - are given on the timetables on the station platforms. + are given on the timetables on the station platforms.
Once on the train for Bad Aussee, you've got a couple of hours until you arrive. The journey is very pleasant, and the scenery improves as @@ -133,7 +135,7 @@ valley after Obertraun station, you can catch a glimpse of the huge amount of water which pours from Koppenbrühlehöhle on the right-hand side. The train continues for a few minutes to arrive at Bad - Aussee. + Aussee.
The Last Bit
@@ -143,13 +145,12 @@ can try to ring Gasthof Staud'nwirt and get a lift to Base Camp; if not, you may be able to catch a bus from outside the Post Office, on the left just before the roundabout. Buses may also run from the station to - the Post Office. + the Post Office.It's about three miles from here to Base Camp; to walk, take the exit of the roundabout to the right, following signs to Gössl. Now follow - the route description given above for this section of road. + the route description given above for this section of road.
-By Train
It's been done - apparently it was very tedious, even with a special Railwayman's Family Member ticket.
@@ -158,5 +159,28 @@This has been done twice, first by Dave Fearon in 1992, who took 9 days (return to UK only), and more recently by Brian Outram in a more leisurely 16 days (I think).
- ++ + +
-
+
- Back to CUCC Home page +
- Main Indices:
+
-
+
- Index to Expo information pages +
- Description of CUCC's area and split to subareas +
- Full Index to cave descriptions in area 1623 +
- List of (links to) published reports and logbooks +
+ - Pictures: + +
- Other info:
+
-
+
- Table of members of CUCC expeditions 1976-present +
- Other groups who have worked in the area. +