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<title>81.1309: UBSS Description of Some Caves</title>
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<font size=-1>Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spel&aelig;ological
Society, 1981, <b>16</b>(1) pp 11-20</font>
<h2>A Description of Some Caves in the Totes Gebirge, Austria</h2>
<h4>by J.T. Griffiths</h4>
<h3>Abstract</h3>
<p><font size=-1>An account is given of the discoveries made by a joint
University of Bristol Spelaeological Society and Cambridge University Caving
Club expedition to the Totes Gebirge, Austria, in 1980. It includes
descriptions of four caves: 1623/41, 87, 113 and 115, together with surveys
of two of them: 1623/41 and 115. The caves consisted of a mixture of vadose
passages and old phreatic systems and the potential for further discoveries
is great.</font>
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>For a number of years members of Cambridge University Caving Club have
been investigating an area (Fig. 3, map) of high alpine karst north of the
Altausseer See at the western end of the Totes Gebirge (Leach,
<a href="../../years/1976/report.htm">1977</a>, Various,
<a href="../../years/1977/report.htm">1978</a>,
<a href="../../years/1978/report.htm">1979</a>, and
<a href="../../years/1979/report.htm">1980</a>). In August 1980, a joint
U.B.S.S./C.U.C.C. party spent three weeks exploring caves on the north side
of the glaciated valley that runs down to the Altausseer See between the
Schwarzmoos Kogel and the Trisselberg. The expedition prospected a fairly
limited area above the Weisse Wand either side of the footpath that runs from
the Loser H&uuml;tte to the Wildensee at an altitude of about 1500 to 1600m.
(Alpenvereinskarte nr. 15/1: Totes Gebirge, Westliches blatt, scale 1:25000).
This area had not been visited by C.U.C.C. before, but one major cave
(<a href="../../smkridge/41.htm">1623/41</a>, Stellerwegh&ouml;hle) was
known. A German group had previously worked there, though information on
their finds was sparse.
<p><img alt="Fig. 3 - 11k gif" width=438 height=548 src="81f3.png">
<p>It should be noted that access to the area is considerably easier than is
suggested by the map. Since the map was published, a toll road has been
built from the road between Altaussee and Blaa-Alm to a point between the
Loser H&uuml;tte and the Augst See at an altitude of 1600m. From here the
caves were an easy forty minute walk. Groups wishing to undertake work in
the area can negotiate free access to the toll road through the Austrian
caving organisations. As much as the higher karst has been effectively
designated a conservation area, camping is not permitted except by special
arrangement.
<h3>Descriptions</h3>
<p>Descriptions are given of the major systems explored by the expedition. A
number of other sites were investigated but weren't of sufficient
significance to warrant mentioning. The numbering system used for these
caves is the one adopted by the Austrian cavers. The pefix 1623 describes
the general area they are in, ie. the western end of the Totes Gebirge,
while the second number is unique to a particular cave. It is the latter
number that is normally painted on the rock at the entrance to the cave and
enables previously explored sites to be identified.
<hr>
<h3><a name="41">1623/41,</a> STELLERWEGH&Ouml;HLE (Fig. 4)</h3>
<p>Lat. N 47&deg; 40.2', long. E 13&deg; 48.5'
<p>The largest of the caves explored by the expedition, this site had
previously been visited by some German cavers. Reports suggested that they
had got down to -220m, and that the cave was still going.
<p>The cave has two entrances, the lower of which is a classic draughting
tube. This tube quickly led to a slope down into a chamber where a large snow
bank signalled the entry of the passage from the upper entrance, daylight
being visible at the top of the snow slope. On our first couple of trips into
the cave it was not realised that the snow bank masked the main way on into
what later became known as the German route. As a result, the passage was
followed round to the left, across an ice-traverse, and then up dip along a
fine arched passage. At the top of this, a turn to the right opened up onto
one of the large ramps that were such a feature of the cave. Traversing
across this, a short length of passage led to another ramp. Again the way on
was gained by traversing across this and into a crawl at the far side which
draughted strongly. Two more of these ramps were passed before a short climb
down led to a traverse that required a handline. This traverse appeared to be
in a large sloping chamber split by a rock barrier at its top end. Across the
traverse on the other side of this rock barrier, a pitch dropped away: 5m
sloping to a ledge, and then an 18m freehang to the floor. At the bottom were
several possible ways on. Down the bedding was a gently draughting passage
much obstructed by collapse. This was not explored for any great distance. A
climb down from the bottom of the pitch led to a corner of the chamber that
evidently took a lot of water in flood conditions. A squeeze over boulders
here dropped into an immature vadose canyon which was followed for about 30m
with no end in sight. The main way on though, necessitated a climb up onto a
large boulder and then up a ramp opposite the pitch. This led to a steeply
descending phreatic passage dropping down some rift climbs and then into a
short crawl. Two more ramps followed, the first requiring a handline, before
the final ramp was reached; there was no way on on the other side. A series
of scrambles and free climbs down this brought one to the head of a mud slope
that required laddering. Here the whole character of the cave changed, as the
ramp met a large passage in a cross joint and the whole passage dipped
sharply away to the right.
<p><center><img alt="Fig. 4 - 15k gif" width=548 height=870
src="81f4.png"></center>
<p>A six metre descent of the mud slope and a short climb down ended at the
head of a large circular shaft. A pitch of 14m dropped onto a large ledge in
a tremendous shaft, the first shaft merely being a subsidiary shaft. From
here a 55m pitch descended to a further ledge, the last 47m being absolutely
free. A 26m pitch followed, ending on the floor of a large rift. Continuing
along this rift, the passage took the form of a tall narrow canyon with a
stream flowing along its bottom. The stream disappeared down a hole in the
floor after about 40m and no attempt was made to follow it. Instead, a
further 90m of progress was made along the canyon passage to the head of a
9m pitch. Here the character of the cave changed again as a small stream
descended a series of short pitches linked by sections of narrow rift
passage and it may be that the canyon continued above the head of the 9m
pitch. Pitches of 20, 9, 5, 6 and 6m followed in quick succession, before a
short climb up onto a pile of boulders broke out into the impressive final
rift. It could have been anything up to 100m high and averaged about 5m in
width. Its descent was to mark the final stage of the expedition's
exploration of the cave. The first pitch descended a loose gulley for 7m and
then hung free for 24m. Here the rope ran out, necessitating a pendulum to a
point in the rift where one could jam oneself between the walls. From here a
9m pitch brought one to the floor. This point could probably be reached by
rigging the first pitch to the floor. A short but bouldery climb down led to
the head of a 16m pitch and from here descending the rift pitches of 5, 10,
17 and 17m were rigged. At the bottom of this last pitch two short free
climbs ended at the head of another pitch which was not descended due to
lack of time. Total estimated depth of the cave 360m.
<p>A party had the misfortune to be down this cave during a flash flood. At
this stage, the last five pitches in the rift had not been descended, but it
is clear that these must become extremely wet in flood. The series of short
but constricted pitches and the main shaft were unpleasant but passable
under these conditions.
<p>During the course of the exploration of this main way down the cave, the
German route was also investigated and didn't turn out quite as
straightforward as had been expected. Past the snow bank in the entrance a
large passage crossed over a couple of ramps, evidently those descending
from the other series, before a roped traverse around a choked pot reputedly
28m deep ended at a series of pitches. Pitches of 6m and 18m dropped to a
floor in the rift. Off one end of this was a 20m pitch with a small outlet
at its base. This was not investigated, as the other route appeared larger.
Pitches of 3, 14 and 16m followed in quick succession. From the bottom of
this last pitch an awkward sloping traverse down a canyon passage was
explored to where a passage going off on the left seemed to afford easier
progress. A muddy free climb of 10m descended to a low crawl which looked
very much like a dried out sump. Beyond this a window opened out onto a
climb down and then a traverse across a hole to the head of a pitch. This
descended a slope for about 5m before hanging free for 12m. From the chamber
into which this dropped, a rift passage led on. Pitches of 8, 12 and 8m were
rigged in this rift, before exploration was halted at the head of an
estimated 6m pitch. The rift had narrowed considerably at this stage and the
series was proving far more difficult that the main way on. There were signs
of previous exploration up to the dried out sump but not beyond. The limit
of our exploration was estimated as being 140m below the start of the
pitches, possibly therefore 180m below the entrance. Claims that the cave
had previously been explored to -220m must be treated with some suspicion.
<hr>
<h3>1623/87</h3>
<p>Lat. N 47&deg; 40.14', long. E 13&deg; 14.7'.
<p>This was the first and most rapidly explored of the major finds of the
expedition. Located whilst looking for the Stellerwegh&ouml;hle, it lay just
above the path about 100m past the climb up to the Stellerwegh&ouml;hle at
an altitude of about 1550m. The entrance was situated below a cliff at the
top of a gulley. Waht attracted the first party to the cave was the cool
draught filtering up through boulders in the gulley. From the entrance, a
peaty slope gave out onto the head of a pitch. Traversing over this, the
first pitch of 20m was rigged from a rock bridge, the other pitch entering
half way down. The second pitch quickly followed, 16m and sloping, ending in
a chamber. The third pitch of 17m led off from this chamber. Again it
dropped into a chamber from which the fourth and final pitch descended. This
was 38m to a choke, the total depth of the pot being 105m. The draught
noticeable at the entrance was absent here and appeared to come from an
inaccessible passage some way up the last pitch. About half way down this
final pitch, a pendulum could be made onto a large block. However, there was
no way past this.
<hr>
<h3><a name="113">1623/113</a> SONNENSTRAHLH&Ouml;HLE</h3>
<p>Lat. N 47&deg; 40.3', long. E 13&deg; 49'
<p>400 to 500m along the path from Stellerwegh&ouml;hle a long climb up
overgrown gulleys to an altitude of 1650m ended at a large depression. At
the southeast end of this was a large hole, the entrance to 1623/113. The
normal method of entry was to rig a 26m pitch on the far side of the
entrance dropping onto a snow slope, though a series of climbs down the snow
slope would bring one to the same point. From here a short scramble down in
a large chamber led to a 3m climb up into a traverse along a steeply
inclined bedding plane. Following the obvious route in this bedding plane,
past a couple of alternative ways on, the ead of Point Five Gully was
reached about 100m from the chamber. Here a steep descent of the bedding
opened up into Barnsley Methodist Chapel. It is assumed that some of the
alternative ways on in the bedding re-emerge here. This chamber marked the
end of the inclined bedding plane and the cave continued in the form of a
small tube in one wall. Twenty metres of crawling ended at the head of a 14m
pitch in a rift. The passage at the bottom could be followed to a cross
joint where the main way on was to the left and along a short traverse into
an impressive chamber. This chamber, later named the Opera House, was at a
depth of about 100m.
<p>From here a 12.5m pitch dropped to a bouldery floor. At the far side of
the chamber was a 7m pitch of boulders and the passage narrowed into a rift.
This quickly led to a climb and an 11m pitch. Below a tube opened out onto
the head of anohter pitch. The cave was rapidly going vertical. Descents of
11m, 26m and then three short steps of 5m ended at an apparent sump after a
very constricted rift. It was originally thought that the cave ended here at
a depth of 210m. However, a climb up of 3m in the tight rift led to a body
sized tube going off on the left. Ten metres of crawling and once more the
cave headed down, this time in an enormous shaft. After 10m was a rebelay at
a flake and then 30m to a saddle between two shafts. The one taking a small
stream was descended in a series of short pitches, 12, 10, 16, 6 and 12m. At
the bottom of these a ladder descent of the gulley in the floor of 5m ended
at an impenetrable tube taking a small stream. Again the cave seemed to have
come to an end, this time at -310m.
<p>However, a narrow slot in the wall next to the ledges above the gulley
broke out into a large chamber, the Crematorium, after a short length of
passage. This chamber was formed along another steeply inclined bedding
plane. At the far side of the chamber, the bedding closed down, though a
draught was noticeable at this point appearing from a small hole down the
bedding and disappearing into a choke in the roof. It should be noted that in
the main body of the cave the draught was inwards. A hole in the floor of the
passage before the chamber dropped down into a small stream, the one seen at
the bottom of the gulley, and this descended a series of short free climbs to
a depth of 330m. The way on was still open at this point, indeed this section
of the cave was only explored towards the end of the expedition when floods
trapped a party down the cave.
<p>The present limit is still 600m above the Altausseer See and the cave must
offer considerable potential for further exploration.
<hr>
<h3><a name="115">1623/115</a> SCHNELLZUGH&Ouml;HLE (Fig. 5)</h3>
<p>Lat. N 47&deg; 40.1', long. E 13&deg; 48.6'
<p>The entrance to this cave lay directly below Stellerwegh&ouml;hle at an
altitude of about 1520m. The main entrance was a large phreatic tube which
appeared to have been explored before. This tube ended in a small
rock-filled passage from which a strong draught emanated. Excavation enabled
this to be passed to a small chamber. From here a short length of walking
passage ended at the head of a pitch. Down this (8m) a steply descending
passage ended at a choke after about 20m. An airy traverse across the head
of the pitch led to a chamber and choked inlet with no draught. The way on
was anything but obvious ! Half way across and about 1.5m above the traverse
was a small tube in the right hand wall concealed by a lip of rock. The
draught blew strongly through this. After 8m this dropped into a chamber. A
traverse round the left hand wall and a squeeze past some boulders led to a
pitch. This was a fine free hanging shaft of 18m. From the chamber at the
bottom, two narrow vadose trenches descended. The one to the right was the
larger and was followed in preference, though both appeared to rejoin a
short distance on. After an initial steep descent, the canyon could be
followed for 20m to where it broke out in the side of a large phreatic
passage. To the right this was explred for a short distance, further
progress necessitating crawling. The more obvious way though, was to the
left. The passage appeared to be developed along the strike and after 25m
its floor was incised by a very narrow and deep vadose trench. Past this
junction, the phreatic passage continued in fine style to where a couple of
large blocks appeared to be obstructing the way on. Here it was decided
initially to descend the vadose trench in an attempt to regain the way on.
Accordingly a 30m pitch was rigged off the boulders. At the bottom, however,
the canyon choked.
<p><center><img alt="Fig. 5 - 12k gif" width=438 height=625
src="81f5.png"></center>
<p>It was not until the surveying trip that it was realised that, if one came
off the rope about 5m down this pitch and traversed along, it was possible
to pass underneath the boulders into the continuation of the phreatic
passage. On the far side of the boulders, the passage dipped steeply down,
still with the trench in the floor, to a junction with a similar passage
sloping left to right. Up to the left, this ended at the edge of an
estimated 20m pitch, whilst to the right the slope gave way onto a large
oval shaft. Stones thrown down this indicated a depth in the region of 25 to
30m. A small stream could be heard trickling at the bottom. Lack of time
prevented a return to explore this.
<hr>
<h3>Discussion</h3>
<p>There is no impermeable covering to the limestone on the Schwarzmoos Kogel
and hence there are no surface streams. Some small permanent streams are
encountered in the caves, at least in summer. These are fed by meltwater
from snow plugs that abound in the surface shafts in the limestone. When
there is heavy rain, water disappears rapidly underground, as there is
nothing on the surface to retain it; the underground streams can then
quickly become impassable. It is believed that the water resurges from
springs in the Altausseer See some 800m below.
<p>Sites likely to repay further investigation are easily identifiable by the
presence of a draught at the entrance. As a general rule if an entrance
doesn't draught then it is not worth exploring. At times it seemed as if the
entire hillside was draughting, and indeed draughts were far more prevalent
in this area than in the areas explored by C.U.C.C. in previous years. This
seems to indicate that the area is honeycombed with caves. At the 1500 to
1600m level, entrances normally draught outwards, while above that they
draught inwards.
<p>Several of the caves were entered through phreatic tubes truncated by the
glaciated valley and it is interesting to note that a further series of
these phreatic tunnels was seen below and slightly to the east of the area
prospected. These were in cliffs on the north side of the path that runs
along the bottom of the glaciated valley between Oberwasser and Hochklapf
sattel. They were at an altitude of about 1200 to 1300m and do not appear to
have been explored.
<p>All the major sites explored, with the possible exception of 1623/87,
afford potential for further exploration and it is likely that they will all
go to over 500m in depth. As has already been indicated, the area prospected
was a fairly limited one, dictated largely by ease of access from the path.
The hillside offers considerable scope for the discovery of further extensive
systems.
<h3>Equipment</h3>
<p>In common with most other groups exploring deep pots in high karst
regions, the expedition almost exclusively used ropes for rigging pitches.
Ladders are too cumbersome for this type of work, though it is useful to
include a number in an expedition's tackle list for short broken descents
that are unsuitable for ropes. In most cases ropes were rigged from 8mm self
drilling bolts, as there were few natural belays. The S.R.T. equipment and
system used varied from individual to individual. Few rope walking systems
were adopted, though, as the short but numerous pitches with frequent
changeovers militate against such systems. Two points on ropes should be
mentioned. First that the rock is very abrasive, far more so than in Great
Britain, and hence a premium is placed on good rigging. Second, as in
previous years, some problems were encountered with muddy ropes, in
particular on the second pitch in the Stellerwegh&ouml;hle. All ascending
devices were prone to slipping on these ropes and whilst alarming this could
be overcome by manually pressing the cam onto the rope. Once jammed they
normally stay jammed. The only real solution to the problem is to include a
toothbrush as part of one's S.R.T. equipment and clean the teeth of the cam
before every ascent.
<p>Waterproof overalls and wool or synthetic undergarments were the most
practical and comfortable clothing. Temperatures in caves at this altitude
are lower than those normally encountered in caves in Great Britain and
wetsuits are not warm enough. They also restrict movement and become very
uncomfortable on long trips, so very little use was made of them.
<p>Carbides were used as the main form of lighting, though most members of
the expedition carried some form of waterproof torch attached to the helmet
as an emergency light. This arrangement is most useful on pitches in case the
carbide lamp is extinguished by water.
<h3>Survey</h3>
<p>The caves were surveyed using a fibron tape and a hand held Suunto compass
and clinometer. Distances were measured to the nearest centimetre and angles
to half a degree. The local magnetic variation is about &frac12;&deg;W
<p>The German route in Stellerwegh&ouml;hle was not surveyed, partly because
of time pressures and partly owing to the fact that it was not considered the
main way on. The Austrians have surveyed it to the head of the pitches, but
we were unable to obtain a copy of their survey. Similarly, in the final
rift, apart from a bearing taken along the line of the rift, only pitch
lengths were measured, again due to lack of time.
<p>Oddments of the Schnellzugh&ouml;hle have not been surveyed, as they did
not represent the main way on, and the last section was only explored at a
late stage and then only by one person, so surveying was impractical.
<p>Sonnenstrahlh&ouml;hle and 1623/87 have been surveyed, but the surveys
have not yet been drawn up. It is hoped to publish these eventually, possibly
with a report of the planned 1981 expedition.
<h3>Members of the Expedition</h3>
<p>Ken Baker, John Bowers, Mike Burgess, Andy Connolly, Julian Griffiths,
Simon Kellet, Julia Kostelnyk, Tim Lyons, Tony Malcolm, Ben van Millingen,
Clive Owen, Steve Perry, Mike Perryman, Nick Thorne and Andy Waddington.
<h4>References</h4>
<dl>
<dt><a href="../../years/1976/report.htm">LEACH, R. 1977</a><dd>Austria
1976. <i>Cambridge Underground, The Journal of the Cambridge University
Caving Club</i>, 1976-77, 43-53
<dt><a href="../../years/1977/report.htm">VARIOUS 1978</a><dd>Austria
1977. <i>Cambridge Underground, The Journal of the Cambridge University
Caving Club</i>, 1977-78, 30-48
<dt><a href="../../years/1978/report.htm">VARIOUS 1979</a><dd>Austria
1978. <i>Cambridge Underground, The Journal of the Cambridge University
Caving Club</i>, 1978-79, 22-36
<dt><a href="../../years/1979/report.htm">VARIOUS 1980</a><dd>Expedition
to Austria, summer 1979. <i>Cambridge Underground, The Journal of the
Cambridge University Caving Club</i>, 1979-80, 12-19
</dl>
<hr>
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<a href="../../smkridge/index.htm">Area description</a><br>
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CUCC <b>cave descriptions</b>:
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<a href="../../smkridge/41.htm">41</a><br>
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<a href="../../smkridge/87.htm">87</a><br>
<img alt="---&gt;" src="../../../icons/lists/1.png">
<a href="../../smkridge/113.htm">113</a><br>
<img alt="---&gt;" src="../../../icons/lists/1.png">
<a href="../../smkridge/115.htm">115</a><br>
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81.1427: UBSS Intro to Austrian Karst
</title>
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<font size=-1>Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spela&aelig;ological Society, 1981, <b>16</b>(1) pp5-10</font>
<h2>An Introduction to Austrian Karst</h2>
<h4>by S.R.Perry</h4>
<h3>Abstract</h3>
<p><font size=-1>The plateaux of the Northern Limestone Alps underwent uplift
between Miocene and Pliocene times due to pressure from the Central Alps. The
run-off from the Central Alps took a linear northerly direction to the
Northern Foreshore. Subsequent dissection separated the plateaux physically
and local radial drainage patterns developed. The surface features of the
plateaux are dependant on glaciation, solution and weathering. The plateaux
show good conditions for cave formation. This has occurred in two major
phases, late Tertiary northerly phreatic tunnels and post glacial radial
vadose development.</font>
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>This paper gives an introduction to the karst of Austria, as reviewed by
Bauer and Z&ouml;tl. (1972). It provides a background to the interest the
University of Bristol Spelaeological Society is now showing in the Loser
plateau area of the Totes Gebirge.
<p>Karstifiable rock makes up about one sixth of Austria. Four fifths of the
karst area lies in an east-west band of limestone, the Northern Limestone
Alps, which lies to the north of the Central Alps. The hardrock Central Alps
are separated from the Limestone Alps by the longitudinal rivers: the Inn,
the Salzach and the Enns. The Northern Limestone Alps include the High Alps
(summits greater than 2000m) and to their north the pre-Alps (summits less
than 1500m) (Fig. 1)
<p><img alt="Fig. 1 - 15k gif" width=780 height=450 src="81f1.png">
<p>The dominant rocks of the High Alps are the Triassic Limestones
Wettersteinkalk and Dachsteinkalk. Both are fine-grained, light coloured,
bedded strata up to 1500m thick. The pre-Alps contain many less permeable
rocks including dolomites and shales. They have suffered greater surface
erosion and show rounded hill forms, corroded flat in the Tertiary period
(Tertiary denudational plains). The classic features of the High Alps are
impressive steep sided, interdigitating plateaux and the corresponding
narrow valleys.
<h3>The Development of the Limestone Alps</h3>
<p>The Triassic limestones were subjected to tectonic pressure from the
Central Alps and suffered extensive nappe-type folding in the early Tertiary,
with overthrusts reaching up to fifty kilometres in a northerly direction.
The nappes were corroded by the run-off from the Central Alps and widespread
denudational plains were formed. During early Miocene these plains were
covered by a several hundred metre thick hardrock gravel blanket
(Augensteine) washed from the Central Alps. The Augensteine can still be
found, especially in the east of the range and where they have been deposited
within caves and fissures by water action (Fig. 2).
<p><img alt="Fig. 2 - 17k gif" width=720 height=450 src="81f2.png">
<p>During early Miocene, only a few hills would have shown above the
Augensteine, but with the uplift of the Alps from then to Pliocene times the
gravel cover was eroded away and widely extending plateaux were exposed. The
plateaux survive as the High Alps, where they are of extensive limestone
sequences (Wettersteinkalk and Dachsteinkalk) with low dip. These factors
have reduced surface erosion by the development of extensive subterranean
drainages. Such areas are termed 'Raxlandshaft' (Raxlandscape).
<p>The Raxlandshaft was dissected by younger tectonic block movements to form
the interdigitating plateaux. The subsequent down-cutting of valleys
interrupted the previous generally northwards drainage from the Central Alps,
which had formed the Tertiary denudational plains and the extensive
horizontal phreatic cave systems of Austria, The Limestone Alps were isolated
physically from the Central Alps by the Inn, the Salzach and the Enns, which
diverted the run-off from the Central Alps to the Danube. This valley
formation reached its present extent (and formed a hydrological barrier) by
the beginning of the Quaternary period. Subsequent drainage was local to each
plateau, with a radial distribution rather than a dominantly northern
direction. The final major event was the Quaternary glaciation.
<p>The limestone plateaux are most prominent in the isolated massifs of the
Steinernes Meer, Tennengebirge, Dachstein, Totes Gebirge and east as far as
the Vienna Basin. To the west a mountain chain form, the Northern Tyrolean
Alps, formed of steeply dipping Wettersteinkalk and of less spelaeological
interest, is continuous with the high alpine dolomite ranges.
<h3>Surface Features of the Plateaux</h3>
<p>Large karst features such as dolines predate Quaternary glaciation. The
glaciers themselves enlarged surface rifts to gouge out straight narrow
ravines several metres deep and up to one hundred metres or more long. These
'Gassenlandschaft' are characteristic of the glaciated plateau and indicate
the network of main faults and joints. Step-like scarps separated by flat
beddings, 'Plattenlandschaft', are found in areas of distinctly bedded
low-dip limestone, again due to glacial scouring. As the glaciers receded
(the Dachstein still has a glacier which was once 400m thick) the released
water aided the formation of numerous surface-open shafts, usually blocked
with surface moraine or glacial scree.
<p>Since the glaciation, small features, 'lapies', have developed: fine
sharply fluted 'Trittkarren' formed above the tree line (about 1600m) and
rounded bollard-like 'Rinnenkarren' up to one metre deep formed below the
tree line, under soil cover. There is a band of overlap due to the timber
line having fallen three to four hundred metres since the thermal maximum. On
the bare plateau, where hte temperature is low (increasing the carbon dioxide
solubility) and precipitation is high, post-glacial erosion is estimated at
15-20cm of limestone. Lower down the vegetation reduces the available water
(transpiration) but the acid soil increases the corrosive power of the
slightly warmer water. Trittkarren are centimetres deep, Rinnekarren up to
one metre deep. Above about 2200m, frost weathering is sufficient to prevent
lapies formation.
<h3>Hydrology</h3>
<p>The development of an underground drainage system depends on the amount
and structure of the bedrock, the surface morphology, the amount and quality
of the water having access to the surface, the position of the base level of
drainage (potential energy gradient) and the time available.
<p>The tendency to cave formation rather than surface run-off is greatest if
the surface is nearly horizontal. High precipitation and carbon dioxide
content help. Surface features, such as lapies and Gassenlandschaft, direct
water to the bedrock and subterranean drainage will then take advantage of
and enlarge the internal weaknesses, with flow directed by the local base
level. All the necessary factors, including depth of limestone are found
<i>par excellence</i> in the high plateaux around the Dachstein, though
changes in the parameters since Tertiary times have dictated several phases
of cave development.
<p>A limestone mass can be divided according to the drainage conditions in
various regions. Highest is a zone of vadose development, where passages are
essentially air-filled and gravity drives flow and passage formation
vertically down planes of weakness, usually joints and faults. At some depth
a level of permanent flooding is reached, where flow is dictated by
hydrostatic pressure and may travel in many directions to reach base level.
This phreatic zone is limited by the extent of the karstifiable rock. The
upper portions of this karst water body will experience the most rapid motion
and turnover, and will be the zone of greatest passage formation. This region
overlaps with the vadose region in a zone where water level and flow type
varies closely with the precipitation. A 9.7 km tunnel through the Schneealp
has allowed direct observation of these zones in a Wettersteinkalk plateau to
the east of the range.
<h3>The Caves</h3>
<p>The earliest phase of development is evidenced by Liassic deposits within
the Tertiary limestone. These pockets are not relevant to the present caves,
which divide into phreatic tunnels and precipitous vadose systems. The
phreatic tunnels run in a northerly direction, formed by late Tertiary
run-off from the Central Alps, before the latter were separated by their
longitudinal valley systems. This drainage ran through the Limestone Alps to
the base level of the northern foreshore and was associated with the
drainage which formed the denudational plains. At this time, several large
'poljes' are thought to have sat perhaps 1000m above the presnt plateau.
<p>The phreatic tunnels of the major known caves lie between 1300 and 1800m
above sea level. The systems often have several stories denoting successive
uplifting of the Alps during their formation, the phreatic tunnels being
formed in the upper, rapidly moving layer of the karst water body. The
Dachstein Mammut Cave is a classic example with 16.5 km of passage lying at
altitudes between 1250 and 1500m. The Eisriesenwelt Cave of the Tennegebirge
has 42km of passage between 1600 and 1800m.
<p>Late vertical developments, either connected with the horizontal passages,
as in the 432m shaft of the Geldloch, or in separate shaft caves, such as
the Gruberhornh&ouml;hle (854m total depth), were formed in the isolated
vadose zones of the Quaternary plateaux. Much of the water supply was
glacial and post-glacial meltwater (ie. local) and radial drainage patterns
were formed with overlapping water systems running centrifugally within the
plateau. Vertical connections in the Dachstein Mammut Cave betray their
links with the glacier bed above by the moraine deposited at their junctions
with the phreatic tunnels.
<p>Spore tests reflect both types of cave form. Radial patterns were found
for drainage from the centre of the Totes Gebirge. In contrast, drainage from
the southern edge of the Totes Gebirge (Tauplitz fault zone) passed 30km
north through the entire massif.
<h4>Reference</h4>
<p>Bauer, F and Z&ouml;tl, J, 1972<br>
In <i>Karst. Important Karst Regions of the Northern Hemisphere</i>,
Ed. Herak, M. and Stringfield, V.T.
<h4>Additional Reading</h4>
<p>Jennings, J.N., 1971<br>
<i>Karst.</i> M.I.T.Press
<hr>
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<a href="811309.htm">A Description of Some Caves</a>
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83.1621: UBSS Stellerweg write-up
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<font size=-1>Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spela&aelig;ological
Society, 1982, <b>16</b>(2) pp 77-83</font>
<h2>The Stellerwegh&ouml;hle System, Totes Gebirge, Austria</h2>
<h4>by R.J. Barker, S. Kellet and S.R. Perry</h4>
<h3>Abstract</h3>
<font size=-1>Members of the joint C.U.C.C. and U.B.S.S. expedition to the
Totes Gebirge in Austria in 1981 extended Schnellzugh&ouml;hle (1623/115|) to
a depth of around 500m and joined Stellerwegh&ouml;hle (1623/41) to these
extensions, making 650m in all. Both caves appear to continue beyond the
limits of exploration, Schnellzugh&ouml;hle as a descending canyon streamway
and Stellerwegh&ouml;hle in a steeply descending dry phreatic passage
breaking into rifts above unentered streamways.</font>
<h3>Introduction</h3>
The Stellerwegh&ouml;hle System is the name now given to the two caves,
Stellerwegh&ouml;hle (41) and Schnellzugh&ouml;hle (115), since the
connection was made, which is the subject of this paper. 41 was the
original entrance to Stellerwegh&ouml;hle and 41a is a higher one.
<p>A description of the entrance series of both caves was given by
<a href="811309.htm">Griffiths (1981)</a> following the expedition of 1980 by
the combined Cambridge University Caving Club (C.U.C.C.) and University of
Bristol Spel&aelig;ological Society (U.B.S.S.) teams. In brief, the entrance
to 115 is a dry draughting horizontal phreatic passage which, when discovered
in 1980, ended in a choke. This was cleared to give access to a complex
abandoned system. The limit of exploration then was a ramp leading upwards
out of sight and downwards to undescended pitches at -80m. The exploration of
the lower reaches of 41 had followed a series of pitches down a high rift
passage. Here the stream was lost and then regained for a couple of pitches.
In 1980 it was last seen pouring out of sight from an undescended pitch head.
This last pitch (15m) gains a chamber now called Junction Chamber. It leads
to the connection with 115 and also to a dry phreatic series. These are
described <a href="#41andconn">below</a> in 'Stellerwegh&ouml;hle and the
Connection'.
<h3>Explorations of 1981</h3>
<h4>Schnellzugh&ouml;hle (115) (Fig. 16)</h4>
An inlet before the final ramp of 1980 was followed up eight cascades gaining
30m to a choke, thought to be near the surface and with no draught. The limit
of 1980 gave two routes on from the deepest pitch; a main shaft and a side
rift. Rubble poised at the head of the shaft directed attention to the side
rift.
<p>The route down the rift involved pitches and roped climbs of 14, 9, 7 and
27m. The pitches are broken by muddy ledges and awkward changes of angle.
They give access to a small active 'well polished' streamway, taking only a
dribble of water in fine weather. Two clean-washed pitches of 19 and 14m lead
to a damp 9m pitch onto a 15 x 15m ledge. Here the water drops left into
boulders. This section becomes very active but remains passable in light
rain, which is not the only sort of rain in Austria. The way on is over
boulders and down a 34m pitch into a 30 x 30m chamber of unseen height. The
stream drops into an uninviting slot in the floor.
<p>A 5m diameter phreatic tube can be followed downstream by traversing up
through boulders from the stream bed. This is a difficult way to follow.
Fifty metres from the chamber the tube branches into a phreatic maze of sandy
and bouldery abandoned passages. The draught was initially pursued to a
second stream and a small cairn was built.
<p>60m downstream from the 30 x 30m chamber, a large inlet on the left can be
followed up to a sloping aven. Following the stream from the chamber down the
slot in the floor, one gains a narrow meandering trench streamway. This is
some 800m long and is uncomfortable, with several awkward traverses and a
couple of drops. The last 150m is of more comfortable streamway, enlarged by
the entry of another stream, which may be the Stellerwegh&ouml;hle water from
Junction Chamber. After this a 7m roped climb drops to a sump.
<p>The sump has a 10m bypass. This is a 3m diameter tube which emerges above
a 7m pitch leading back to the stream. 50m of canyon passage, 1.5 to 2m wide
and too high to see the roof, reaches a 5m pitch and 500m of fine streamway
whcih gains depth quite rapidly by numerous sporting cascades.
<p>A 5m pitch drops to a further 500m streamway, followed by a 10m wet pitch
and 300m more passage. In two places here the vadose canyon gives way to low
wet ramps where progress is between boulders. A free 10m pitch drops into a
dark pool running into 150m of stream to the next 10m pitch, broken by a
ledge. Then after a 4m roped climb a further 70m of horizontal passage
follows which has dismal pools, suggesting the appearance of a sump. However
a 15m dry pitch gains an open streamway and a further undescended pitch of
15m.
<h4><a name="41andconn">Stellerwegh&ouml;hle</a> (41) and the Connection</h4>
Turning right out of Junction Chamber one follows a gently descending stream.
Soon the way traverses the rift above the stream to anter a phreatic zone.
Further traverses regaining and losing the stream lead to a series of
5m&nbsp;x&nbsp;5m tubes, floored in white dust with a black surface layer.
The tubes can be followed back to the Junction Chamber, which they join
10m above the floor. Ahead they take a series of swooping inclines punctuated
by dramatic bends. A final incline to a sharp left bend regains the stream
in its rift, at the site of the cairn built during the exploration from
Schnellzugh&ouml;hle. This was an encouraging sight to the explorers, who
realised that they had made the connection between the two caves (Fig. 17).
<p>From this, the lowest point of the connection, there are two routes on.
One is a traverse over the stream and then a climb over large boulders into
a passage entering from the left; the other is a 0.75m hole at floor level
to the left at the start of the final incline. The two ways join in an
uphill sandy passage, 1.5m high by 3m wide. This leads by way of a flat-out
crawl in the face of a healthy draught to a large passage. Turning right,
90m of phreatic tube lead to the main streamway in Schnellzugh&ouml;hle.
<h4>The lower reaches of Stellerwegh&ouml;hle</h4>
From Junction Chamber a 15m climb to the left gives a choice of phreatic
passages with further avens gaping above. This is a large junctional
complex into which the expected higher entrances to the system may lead.
To the right after 50m the passage leads to a rift above a stream. The
other choice is a large phreatic tube, 10 x 10m, in which easy progress
down a 30&deg; slope gains 50m depth. This scramble down boulders leads to
a cross-rift after about 150m. To the right is a stream, to the left a
traverse after a short distance. None of these routes have yet been
pursued.
<h4>The German Route</h4>
For the purpose of completing the account by <a href="811309.htm">Griffiths
(1981)</a> an extended elevation of the German Route is given in Fig. 18.
<h3>Surveys</h3>
Fig. 16 is a sketch extended elevation by Pete Lancaster. It includes the
area surveyed to BCRA Grade 5 and included in Griffiths' (1981) paper. 115
from the ramp to the bottom of the pitches and the Connection (Fig. 17) were
both surveyd to Grade 4. The vertical misclosure is 2m but the horizontal
misclosure is very large. It is thought that the compass may have been
sticking. Pete's Purgatory was measured to 800m long. Below this the section
of the streamway from the inlet to the Twelve Foot Climb (the second marked
as p5) was surveyed to Grade 3 and this has been extrapolated downstream on
the Grade 1 survey to give a total depth of 680m &plusmn; 40m.
<h3>Acknowledgements</h3>
Thanks are due to all the members of the joint C.U.C.C.-U.B.S.S. expedition,
more particularly to Pete Lancaster for the drawings. The members of the
expedition were Richard Barker, Dave Brindle, Charles Butcher, John Cownie,
Judith Greaves, Simon Kellet, Pete Lancaster, Jane Lolly, Tim Lyons, Fraser
Macdonald, Mike Martin, Pat Martin, Mick McHale, Janet Morgan, Clive Owen,
Rob Parker, Tim Parker, Steve Perry, Phil Townsend, Julian Walker and Martin
Warren.
<h4>Reference</h4>
GRIFFITHS,J.T. 1981 A description of some caves in the Totes Gebirge,
Austria.<br>
<cite>Proc. Univ. Bristol Spel&aelig;ol. Soci.,</cite> <b>16</b>(1), 11-20
<hr>
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CUCC <b>cave descriptions</b>:
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<a href="../../smkridge/41.htm">41</a><br>
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<a href="../../smkridge/115.htm">115</a><br>
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@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ with UBSS connections, who was on the 1977 expedition. Other UBSS members
first joined CUCC's Austria expedition as guests in 1980, and UBSS was a
"guest club" on the CUCC expedition in both 1981 and 1982, after which their
involvement declined. The work done by UBSS members was written up in the
prestigious Proceedings of UBSS:
prestigious Proceedings of UBSS.
<p>Sadly we have been asked to remove these pieces
of documentation, which are relevant to CUCCs exploration of the area. We are currently
trying to contact the orginal authors of the articles to ask for their
permission to publish the articles.
<dl>
<dt><a href="811427.htm">81.1427</a><dd>