diff --git a/others/ubss/811309.htm b/others/ubss/811309.htm deleted file mode 100644 index f6af2399e..000000000 --- a/others/ubss/811309.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,430 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"> -<html lang="en"> -<head> -<title>81.1309: UBSS Description of Some Caves</title> -</head> -<body> -<font size=-1>Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelæological -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 Hütte 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>, Stellerweghöhle) 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 Hütte 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> STELLERWEGHÖHLE (Fig. 4)</h3> - -<p>Lat. N 47° 40.2', long. E 13° 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° 40.14', long. E 13° 14.7'. - -<p>This was the first and most rapidly explored of the major finds of the -expedition. Located whilst looking for the Stellerweghöhle, it lay just -above the path about 100m past the climb up to the Stellerweghöhle 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> SONNENSTRAHLHÖHLE</h3> - -<p>Lat. N 47° 40.3', long. E 13° 49' - -<p>400 to 500m along the path from Stellerweghöhle 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> SCHNELLZUGHÖHLE (Fig. 5)</h3> - -<p>Lat. N 47° 40.1', long. E 13° 48.6' - -<p>The entrance to this cave lay directly below Stellerweghöhle 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 Stellerweghöhle. 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 ½°W - -<p>The German route in Stellerweghöhle 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 Schnellzughöhle 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>Sonnenstrahlhöhle 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> -<!-- LINKS --> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../../smkridge/index.htm">Area description</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -CUCC <b>cave descriptions</b>: -<img alt="--->" src="../../../icons/lists/1.png"> -<a href="../../smkridge/41.htm">41</a><br> -<img alt="--->" src="../../../icons/lists/1.png"> -<a href="../../smkridge/87.htm">87</a><br> -<img alt="--->" src="../../../icons/lists/1.png"> -<a href="../../smkridge/113.htm">113</a><br> -<img alt="--->" src="../../../icons/lists/1.png"> -<a href="../../smkridge/115.htm">115</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../../areas.htm">1623 Area overview</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -Back to <a href="../../index.htm">Expedition Intro page</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../../../index.htm">Back to CUCC Home page</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../index.htm">Other groups</a> who have worked in the area - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/others/ubss/811427.htm b/others/ubss/811427.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 3e975b59e..000000000 --- a/others/ubss/811427.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,211 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"> -<html lang=en> -<head> -<title> -81.1427: UBSS Intro to Austrian Karst -</title> -</head> -<body> -<font size=-1>Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaæological 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 Zötl. (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 Gruberhornhöhle (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 Zötl, 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> -<!-- LINKS --> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="811309.htm">A Description of Some Caves</a> -in the Totes Gebirge (same UBSS Proc.)<br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../../areas.htm">1623 Area overview</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -Back to <a href="../../index.htm">Expedition Intro page</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../../../index.htm">Back to CUCC Home page</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../index.htm">Other groups</a> who have worked in the area - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/others/ubss/81f1.png b/others/ubss/81f1.png deleted file mode 100644 index eb341614f..000000000 Binary files a/others/ubss/81f1.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/others/ubss/81f2.png b/others/ubss/81f2.png deleted file mode 100644 index 9624c8108..000000000 Binary files a/others/ubss/81f2.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/others/ubss/81f3.png b/others/ubss/81f3.png deleted file mode 100644 index fbb0829f0..000000000 Binary files a/others/ubss/81f3.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/others/ubss/81f4.png b/others/ubss/81f4.png deleted file mode 100644 index c8b89e4d1..000000000 Binary files a/others/ubss/81f4.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/others/ubss/81f5.png b/others/ubss/81f5.png deleted file mode 100644 index c7c56b8b8..000000000 Binary files a/others/ubss/81f5.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/others/ubss/831621.htm b/others/ubss/831621.htm deleted file mode 100644 index ca1a63a82..000000000 --- a/others/ubss/831621.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,183 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"> -<html lang=en> -<head> -<title> -83.1621: UBSS Stellerweg write-up -</title> -</head> -<body> -<font size=-1>Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaæological -Society, 1982, <b>16</b>(2) pp 77-83</font> - -<h2>The Stellerweghöhle 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 Schnellzughöhle (1623/115|) to -a depth of around 500m and joined Stellerweghöhle (1623/41) to these -extensions, making 650m in all. Both caves appear to continue beyond the -limits of exploration, Schnellzughöhle as a descending canyon streamway -and Stellerweghöhle in a steeply descending dry phreatic passage -breaking into rifts above unentered streamways.</font> - -<h3>Introduction</h3> - -The Stellerweghöhle System is the name now given to the two caves, -Stellerweghöhle (41) and Schnellzughöhle (115), since the -connection was made, which is the subject of this paper. 41 was the -original entrance to Stellerweghöhle 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 Spelæological 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 'Stellerweghöhle and the -Connection'. - -<h3>Explorations of 1981</h3> - -<h4>Schnellzughöhle (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 Stellerweghöhle 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">Stellerweghöhle</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 x 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 -Schnellzughöhle. 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 Schnellzughöhle. - -<h4>The lower reaches of Stellerweghöhle</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° 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 ± 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 Spelæol. Soci.,</cite> <b>16</b>(1), 11-20 - -<hr> -<!-- LINKS --> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../../smkridge/index.htm">Area description</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -CUCC <b>cave descriptions</b>: -<img alt="--->" src="../../../icons/lists/1.png"> -<a href="../../smkridge/41.htm">41</a><br> -<img alt="--->" src="../../../icons/lists/1.png"> -<a href="../../smkridge/115.htm">115</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../../areas.htm">Other Areas</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -Back to <a href="../../index.htm">Expedition Intro page</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../../../index.htm">Back to CUCC Home page</a><br> -<img alt=">" src="../../../icons/lists/0.png"> -<a href="../index.htm">Other groups</a> who have worked in the area - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/others/ubss/index.htm b/others/ubss/index.htm index b8219205f..6ee16ec52 100644 --- a/others/ubss/index.htm +++ b/others/ubss/index.htm @@ -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>