diff --git a/years/2016/logbook.html b/years/2016/logbook.html index acb2392df..496ca384d 100644 --- a/years/2016/logbook.html +++ b/years/2016/logbook.html @@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ maintain half a dozen parser functions. Sorry about all the crap that surrounds the image tags which has been imported along with the content when UK Caving blogs have been parsed. -Exported on 2022-12-23 21:12 using control panel webpage and exportlogbook() in troggle/code/views/other.py +Exported on 2023-10-04 11:10 using either the control panel webpage or when editing a logbook entry online +See troggle/code/views/other.py and core.models/logbooks.py writelogbook(year, filename) -->

CUCC Logbook 2016

@@ -22,23 +23,22 @@ Exported on 2022-12-23 21:12 using control panel webpage and exportlogbook() in
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2016-06-22
+
2016-06-22
Nat Dalton, Ashley Gregg, Elliott Smith,
Balcony - to rig the entrance shaft
-

After day of topcamp fettling we set off to Balcony to rig the entrance shaft, after initially intending to do only a carry. We reflected en-route, so as to be able to find out way back, arriving ~ 8pm. I rigged the first few rebelays, not really understanding what the bolts wanted me to do. Elliott took over & we eventually got to the bottom with some bodge. Due to a lack of inspiration we headed back out & back to top camp, getting there ~midnight.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-06-22
+
2016-06-22
Jenny Black, Olly Betts,
2007-71 Ngauruhoe
-

Got sufficient gear up the hill to go caving ish (failed to remember sunscreen my safety cord and a few other things). @@ -50,13 +50,13 @@ cord and a few other things).

Checked 15-01B - it is too small to get in to sadly. It might be possible (but not trivial) to move the rock.
T/U: 3.5 hours
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2016-06-23
+
2016-06-23
Nat Dalton, Ashley Gregg,
Tunnocks - rig entrance shaft
-

Feeling Keen we set off to rig Tunnocks entrance shaft, optimistically we took ropes /hangers to get to the bottom of ducks on ice. Burdened by 2 bags & equipped with me skyhook I set off; several exciting swings & wall destruction (by skyhook) complete saw Ash & I in sight of the @@ -64,13 +64,13 @@ bottom ice/snow plug; after a final swing & lunge to gain a skyhook placemen looked up to see the other hilti for a u-hang out of reach. At this point I got fed up of silly acrobatics & we went home despite the end of the entrance being in sight.
T/U: 4.0 hours
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2016-06-23
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2016-06-23
Becka Lawson, Andrew Atkinson, Sioned Haughton,
Walk over Grimming from Niederstuttern via Grimminghutte, Multerek + Grimmingsgipfel+ending at Kulm
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Left my bike at Kulm then drove to Neiderstuttern (this is definitely the better route for the bike->car shuttle as all downhill!). Set off 8:45 but already hot + near heat stroke on the initial ascent. I had 3l water which wouldn't have been enough except there's an excellent @@ -80,13 +80,13 @@ or in a high-snow year. Descent down deep ridges + narrow stony gullies in a fai manner - impressive there's a route over at all. A very fine day out though sadly Julian didn't get to hang-glide over us though we collected him from his field in Bad Mittendorf.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-06-23
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2016-06-23
Nat Dalton, Ashley Gregg,
-

Feeling Keen we set off to rig Tunnocks entrance shaft, optimistically we took ropes /hangers to get to the bottom of ducks on ice. Burdened by 2 bags & equipped with me skyhook I set off; several exciting swings & wall destruction (by skyhook) complete saw Ash & I in sight of the @@ -94,13 +94,13 @@ bottom ice/snow plug; after a final swing & lunge to gain a skyhook placemen looked up to see the other hilti for a u-hang out of reach. At this point I got fed up of silly acrobatics & we went home despite the end of the entrance being in sight.
T/U: 4.0 hours
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2016-06-24
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2016-06-24
Nat Dalton, Elliott Smith,
Balcony rigging - guide (start of 2016)
-

After a disgustingly warm carry up the hill with Anthony, Ash & Elliott, Elliott & I decided we still wanted to go caving. We headed over to Balcony with 100m of 11mm snake rope, bolting & surveying kit. Derigging the far too thin, previous rope we set about swinging into windows on @@ -117,13 +117,13 @@ for a little bimble & found the natural highs had been derigged. See below f
22:00
T/U: 6.0 hours
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2016-06-25
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2016-06-25
Becka Lawson, Anthony Day, Sioned Haughton,
Tunnocks - Rigging to start of String Theory
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I found the end of Nat's rigging on the swing over above the final snow slope and rigged down with 3m less rope than would have been ideal. Some fine ice columns at the bottom of the pitch. I then rigged Caramel Catharsis on 70m of the unloved 11mm, cursing all the way - I had to brace to force my way down and the knots were like dinner plates - no more 11mm please, @@ -134,36 +134,36 @@ all left rigged on nasty red 9mm. Sion got v.v. overheated coming out of the ent be taken up. Walked down the hill just missing the storm.
22:00
T/U: 7.0 hours
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2016-06-26
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2016-06-26
Elliott Smith, Ashley Gregg,
BalkonH - Gosser Wager
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Callout book entry
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-06-26
+
2016-06-26
Anthony Day, Nat Dalton,
Tunnocks - Procrastination
-

Rigging trip down Tunnocks, Anthony continued rigging down string Theory whilst I sat & refrigerated. String Theory rigged we consolidated rigging Kit and Anthony continued rigging down procrastination. I continued to refrigerate. Rigging complete we headed out. 9 Krbas, 9 maillons, 9 hangers (N of Beast, magic glue (dev))
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-06-26
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2016-06-26
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
101 survey practice
-

Got a lift up the hill in the morning and learnt to use the distoX and topodroid in the bivi cave. Learnt enough to go and do something useful, so headed to 101. Sounds simple. Sadly we didn't completely @@ -178,13 +178,13 @@ surveying out the skylight entrance as we went.
20:00
T/U: 2.0 hours
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2016-06-27
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2016-06-27
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
2007-71 Ngauruhoe survey
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Down to the Ngauruhoe snowcone and surveyed out. On the way we lost the nail polish back down the pitch (I looked for a while, but gave up in the end). I swung across into the parallel shaft from 07-01B and confirmed there were no further bolts. Derigged and planned to move onto @@ -195,13 +195,13 @@ new entrances.
20:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-06-27
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2016-06-27
Wookey, Nat Dalton,
Tunnocks
-

Set off to continue rigging down Tunnocks (aiming to carry 2 bags to camp). On the way the one bolt wonder handline before usual suspects was converted (more or less) into a bonafide traverse line. Picked up Krabs, hangers & maillons from bottom of string theory & carried on @@ -220,13 +220,13 @@ that", on a spike, bags were left just below magic glue, with a long plod out.
07:00 +1
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-06-27
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2016-06-27
Sioned Haughton, Andrew Atkinson, Becka Lawson,
Balkonhöhle
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Went for an explore with a few 30m lengths of rope. Was mine & Andrew's first trip down & Becka hadn't been down since 2014. Andrew was initially considering dropping down one of the pitches at Natural High but George suggested a better option further on that turned out to be @@ -238,23 +238,23 @@ from the right & a squeeze over a 4m drop at the bottom but we had no rope l
22:00
T/U: 6.5 hours
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2016-06-27
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2016-06-27
Nathan Walker, George Breley, Luke Stangroom,
Balkonhöhle - Bipedal
-

Callout book entry
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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Edit this entry
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2016-06-28
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2016-06-28
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
2007-71, 15-02B
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Olly rigged down 15-02B. Sadly it ended about where the final disto leg of 2015 landed. Derigged out and removed all of our gear from the cave. I was very sad it had ended. Went to look at 97 (The day before I had climbed down the entrance chimney to see if the @@ -268,13 +268,13 @@ off it, but not really an actual cave.
20:00
T/U: 2.5 hours
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2016-06-28
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2016-06-28
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
76 rigging
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Took the first rope in to 76 to make a start on the rigging. I've barely rigged in years, and not been to 76 since 2007, and was using the stop that Julian kindly lent me, having only used a rack for years. Anyway it all went fine, and 76 was comfortably familiar, the hiltis has @@ -287,13 +287,13 @@ in German the next day!
20:00
T/U: 1.5 hours
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2016-06-28
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2016-06-28
Becka Lawson, Sioned Haughton, Andrew Atkinson,
Balkon - Pitch of Bipedal
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We went back to investigate the lead with some more short pieces of rope & 100m of 9mm. Having received a 13m piece of rope that had been dropped at Natural High. We rerigged the initial drop & continued back to the bottom of the boulder slope. Squeezing round a piller we @@ -311,13 +311,13 @@ only up to 50m (the one we used the day before was 100m) so we de-rigged and cam
22:00
T/U: 6.0 hours
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2016-06-28
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2016-06-28
Nat Dalton, Luke Stangroom,
Tunnocks - entrance rerig
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Fettled Tunnocks entrance:
- Replaced all slings in deviations with tat
- Fiddled with hang on a 2nd rebelay (clown) @@ -327,22 +327,22 @@ only up to 50m (the one we used the day before was 100m) so we de-rigged and cam
21:00
T/U: 4.0 hours
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2016-06-28
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2016-06-28
Nathan Walker, George Breley,
Balkonhöhle - Bipedal
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Callout book entry
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-06-29
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2016-06-29
Nathan Walker, Chris Densham, Anthony Day,
Tunnocks - Set up Camp and Living the Dream
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Weds 29th

I had spent a year dreaming of where the 5m diameter phreatic tunnel "Octopussy" led, from the bottom of Kraken chamber. Sitting on a knot at the end of a long length of 6mm cord, @@ -389,23 +389,23 @@ the same order.

Living the Dream
09:00 +2days
T/U: 36.0 hours
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2016-06-29
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2016-06-29
Luke Stangroom, George Breley, Frank Tully,
Balkonhöhle - Dig Dug Pitch
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Callout book entry
21:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-06-29
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2016-06-29
Anthony Day,
Balcony - The Kraken Wakes
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[This blog is dated 4 August 2016. /the-kraken-wakes/]

@@ -419,13 +419,13 @@ the same order.

With a mixture of relief and excitement we went off exploring and clocked up 350m of new passage with half a dozen promising leads before returning to the surface to relay the good news. Subsequent campers who went in found more passages and even more leads. The region was christened Hydra since, for every lead that closed down, another two appeared.

Kraken3
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-06-30
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2016-06-30
Becka Lawson, Nat Dalton, Andrew Atkinson, Sioned Haughton,
Tunnocks (258)- Champagne on Ice (rigging)
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Nat and I had good memories of the leads down Champagne on Ice so we packed four tacklesacks and ~260 rope and started rigging. Missed the 1st two pitches by (something) Tom Claytons sneaky route through boulders below the short climb on the main route. Took turns @@ -441,13 +441,13 @@ the short traverse beyond.

Champagne on Ice topo4
23:00
T/U: 9.5 hours
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2016-07-01
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2016-07-01
Becka Lawson, Julian Todd, Andrew Atkinson,
Balkonhöhle 264 - Frozen North
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Had a good orientation session trying to spot good QMs in 264. Went up Turtlehead and looked for QM92A and concluded it probably didn't exist (it was just the p6). Then looked just to N, looked at S side of QMAp60 but v. wet this side so we picked our way around to @@ -459,13 +459,13 @@ out of a new entrance were dashed so we headed back via Cock Aven.

93b pitch topo
22:00
T/U: 8.0 hours
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2016-07-01
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2016-07-01
Nat Dalton, George Breley,
Tunnocks - Champagne on Ice
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Nat promised me an “adventure” and so led me down Tunnocks after excessive faff to push a lead he’d last visited in 2014. We descended relatively efficiently and route finding was not much of an issue. The following changes were made to the ‘champagne on ice’ pitch series:
@@ -486,13 +486,13 @@ corner (backed up with by a spike).

traverse topo
08:00 +1
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-01
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2016-07-01
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
76 - Rigging Plugged Shaft
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Back into 76 to continue rigging. Olly continued where I left off starting the 65m rope at The Ledge. This year we rigged along the ledge side, with a deviation on the Test Tubes side. This was a good success - it uses fewer hangers, is easier and quicker to pass and hangs @@ -507,13 +507,13 @@ in a trade route rig. So we headed out to rethink.

Callout book entry
20:00
T/U: 3.5 hours
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2016-07-02
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2016-07-02
David Walker, Roshni Gohil, Mark Dougherty,
264 Balcony - Cathedral Chasm
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First 7 hours of the trip went relatively smoothly, despite David forgetting to bring a pencil for surveying. We made our way to Cathedral Chasm, which included getting past a particularly awkward climb, requiring removal of SRT gear and much swearing on my part. Traversed around a rather large @@ -549,13 +549,13 @@ Secondly, appreciate cushions, try sitting still on unforgiving limestone for se Thirdly, you don't need to take drugs to experience altered states of consciousness. Just get really cold. But at the end of the day, it was an experience, albeit not a fun one. We live to cave again.
T/U: 18.0 hours
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2016-07-02
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2016-07-02
Mark Dougherty, George Breley, Nat Dalton, Haydon Saunders,
Balkonhöhle Rescue
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At 22:00 David and Roshni's callout went live. We scanned the hill for lights, but saw nothing. So we prepared for a rescue and departed for the entrance. We had the response bag and Mark had some extra emergency equipment in his own kit. Nat stayed on the surface, prepared to @@ -586,13 +586,13 @@ Nat 2 hours
Haydon 2 hours (extra reinforcement at the surface)
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-02
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2016-07-02
Jenny Black,
76 - Plugged Shaft ropework
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We came up with a plan of starting with our one remaining thick rope (29m) and shift everything else down accordingly. Olly needed a day to rest his knees, so I spent the day untying and re-tying knots in Plugged Shaft. On the second go I got the 29m to reach the second @@ -601,13 +601,13 @@ few m more would have been better). Then the 48m comfortably reached the bottom Shaft. I tweaked some of the lengths on my way out. Today the weather Gods smiled on me, and I got my gear dry before the heavy rain started.
T/U: 4.5 hours
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2016-07-02
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2016-07-02
Haydon Saunders, Ashley Gregg, Mark Dougherty, Sioned Haughton,
Balkonhöhle
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Went down to Long Drop after Haydons desire to do some f**king caving after ecoli.

First tried to approach pitch from wrong direction after Marks misguided directions from last year and Haydon hanging off questionable naturals. (Hammer and setter may have been left here!). @@ -623,13 +623,13 @@ we decided to do some survey practicing down a side passage of loose rock. After the arse, we continued to freeze our tits off at the top of the pitch. Eventually the c**nt (Haydon) returned from bolting and we were able to leave this stupid pitch that will be the end of me.
T/U: 8.0 hours
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2016-07-02
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2016-07-02
Becka Lawson, Andrew Atkinson, Luke Stangroom,
Tunnocks - Champagne on Ice - Rigging Daft Choice beyond Straight Choice Exposed
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A slick trip with the drill back to the Straight Choice Exposed bold bolted climb that Andrew had climbed whilst I belayed back in 2010. The ankle-high traverse wasn't too bad once you realised where the holds were but definetely non-standard SRT. Luke and I then settled down to flapjack whilst Andrew bolted a traverse across the continuation - the left wall of a p15 or so. This, @@ -645,23 +645,23 @@ easier to gain the Daft Choice leads, but on 5/7/16 Frank and I didn't spot a co George and Luke didn't connect when they rigged a parallel shaft in Champagne on Ice.

rigging topo
T/U: 12.0 hours
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2016-07-03
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2016-07-03
Ashley Gregg, Sioned Haughton,
Balcony - Fetching Drills
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Callout book entry
17:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-03
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2016-07-03
Luke Stangroom, Andrew Atkinson, Becka Lawson, George Breley,
Looking for 2nd Balkonhöhle entrance (dropping 2010-04)
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Dropped 2010-04 using naturals to get to snow slope. Andrew and I used the shovel to dig at the base and the side in 3 spots. Soft snow initially and some gaps but no draft. Gave up after less than an hour. Survey in folder #8 (2016-08).

Dropped 2010-03 using naturals. Becka down - no way on. Turned out Noel had also checked this in 2012 and surveyed it. @@ -669,23 +669,23 @@ Soft snow initially and some gaps but no draft. Gave up after less than an hour.

2010#4 survey
20:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-03
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2016-07-03
Nat Dalton, Haydon Saunders,
Balcony - Haydon's pitch near gear dump
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Callout book entry
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-03
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2016-07-03
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
76 - Keg Series
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Much wetter in Plugged Shaft today, but totally passable. Got to Boulder Chamber and Olly started to rig Keg Series. We were last here in 2004, despite me remembering which rope we rigged it on then, I had no idea on the actual rigging details. Olly started from the Follow @@ -702,13 +702,13 @@ quick look in Razor Advance while Olly came down. Keg Series was very wet and dr Advance was dry, so we left the drill and survey kit there and headed out. When tired and unfit it took just over 2 hrs out.
T/U: 8.25 hours
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2016-07-04
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2016-07-04
Frank Tully, Elliott Smith, Ian Peachey, Rob Watson, Katey Bender, Alice Smith, Nathan Walker,
Balcony Tourists on Independence Day
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There was no cock to crow for the momentous day of Independence for the country served by K Bender, but fortunately Densham did arise at Dawn to faff impressively before going down to camp. We waited for Elliott to get back from @@ -723,13 +723,13 @@ it took just over 2 hrs out.
T/U: 5 hrs
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-04
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2016-07-04
Wookey, Chris Densham, Nat Dalton,
Tunnocks, 2-night camp
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Callout book entry
07:00 +3


After a fairly restful trip with Haydon down Balcony (pushing londrop). I came back to camp @@ -751,13 +751,13 @@ met by Becka, David & a haggard looking Julian. 4.5 hours later saw me catch up Luke who’d been down Champagne on Ice. [Nats boots developed large holes across the toes on this tip, kicking walls hurts with no foot protection]

T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-05
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2016-07-05
Andrew Atkinson, Sioned Haughton,
Balcony - Frozen North
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After finding a promising looking snow slope on a previous trip with Becka and Julian, and an unsuccessful prospecting trip to identify the entrance from the surface, Andrew convinced me to accompany him on a trip to dig our way out from the inside. It was very cold and unsuccessful. Andrew finished off the 55m rope that had been left from the previous trip getting to the @@ -765,13 +765,13 @@ top of the slope where a further few metres of digging in the snow didn't get an from a rock ledge into a passage in the ceiling but that closed down and the rope was left in situ.
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-05
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2016-07-05
Becka Lawson, Katey Bender, Frank Tully, Ian Peachey,
Tunnocks - Champagne on Ice - Daft Choice 2
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Only I had been to Champagne on Ice before and Peachey hadn't been to Tunnocks so we touristed to the head of String Theory on the way in and Peachey took a few photos on the way down. We all went up the Straight Choice Exposed climb but decided to split up at the Daft Choice traverse. Katey and Peachey continued taking photos whilst Frank and I surveyed the passage on the @@ -780,36 +780,36 @@ All met up on the pitches on the way out and I turned one of the nuiscance pitch simplify the route (which needs a rigging guide, Nat!).
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-05
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2016-07-05
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
76
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Callout book entry
07:00 +1
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-05
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2016-07-05
Rob Watson, Elliott Smith, Nathan Walker,
Balcony - Batteries! finishing off and bag retrieval
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A day of tidying up loose ends and transporting equipment. Went and rigged Batteries! and surveyed it to a conclusion. About 50m in the book. Ended in a too tight tube heading down. In common with other passages taking water in Balcony there was very little development. We then went and retrieved my tackle bag which required a 15m pitch to be rigged. Y-hang off two naturals (thread and big column) with spike deviation. Another immature clean washed aven. Drippy. Then left the derigged Batteries! rope at Hilti-a-Plenty for rigging that. Bipedal traverse still rigged! Out quickly with drill and bolting kit.
T/U: 6.0 hours
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2016-07-06
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2016-07-06
David Walker, Becka Lawson, Julian Todd,
Tunnocks - Kracken
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We got to the entrance at 10:45am and started the long descent leaving behind a plateau asleep under a blanket of clag. Down we went, accompanied by a backing track of grumbling from Julian. He was clearly enjoying himself. @@ -852,13 +852,13 @@ we left for the next party. We met the team in question at the camp whilst eatin dinner (~4pm). A long prusik followed.
07:00 +1
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-06
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2016-07-06
Elliott Smith, Ian Peachey, Nathan Walker,
The pitch formally known as "Haydon's pitch" -> "Long Drop"
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Sorry for the write-up delay!

After Haydon had headed down the hill, Nathan, Peachey and I took over the 'project'. Haydon had said he had dropped ~60m to a large ledge, before getting a 6 second drop off it! Of course, @@ -877,13 +877,13 @@ the RHW (looking from the ICU), pulling you away from the initial, pretty loose

Peachey had got cracking on the next drop, but we ran out of hangers and rope.

NB This actually occurred over two days!
T/U: 17.5 hours
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2016-07-06
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2016-07-06
Rob Watson, Alice Smith, Katey Bender,
Hilti-a-Plenty exploration - rigging trip
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Underground by 11am. It being Alice's first expo, we wanted to give her some experience of rigging in Austria and this seemed a good choice being close to the entrance, quite deep but not too deep and promising quite a few leads to push later. Alice rigged very well - safe, tight, high and functional rigging all round @@ -896,13 +896,13 @@ ramp to Spunge Chamber (4 pots in a row), this back to find some excellent mud f bottom of the Hilti-a-Plenty pitch and turning right to the large bouldery chamber with many leads. Leaving pushing for another day, we then headed out.
T/U: 6.0 hours
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2016-07-06
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2016-07-06
Rob Watson, Alice Smith, Katey Bender,
Balkonhöhle - Hilti-a-Plenty, surveying Northen Straight
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My (Alice) first surveying trip. We started at where myself, Katey and Rob had had a nose around the day before. George and I started surveying while Rob went ahead to rig a traverse further ahead. across a pitch ~6m. The larger passage continues to the right into a tight popcorny squeeze which brings you out onto a wedged @@ -919,22 +919,22 @@ the right, finishing in an aven (Rob said this has now crapped out).

All in all a good trip ~200m surveyed.

survey
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-07
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2016-07-07
Andrew Atkinson, Sioned Haughton, Becka Lawson,
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Balcony
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Balcony - Callout book entry


Callout book entry
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-07
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2016-07-07
Mark Dougherty, Anthony Day, Luke Stangroom,
Tunnocks Camp
-

Day 1



Descended lunchtime and sent down at a steady pace. Met up with David, Julian and Becka at the camp. After a quick brew we went off exploring. WE headed to the 4m climb mentioned by the @@ -977,13 +977,13 @@ sight of Nat abseiling down meant that we were at last able to get out. An effic out and everybody was back on the surface by 17:00.

Many thanks to all the EXPO members who organised a very efficient rescue!
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-07
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2016-07-07
Jenny Black, Olly Betts,
76 - Keg Series
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Headed into Razor Advance with drill, rope and survey kit to see what happened next. On the way in we had switched the rope in Adventures in Time and Space for the 72m - a few m longer would be better. We also added a bolt to protect the traverse across to the rope up to Razor @@ -1001,13 +1001,13 @@ drop. Attempted to survey out, but after a couple of legs realised the disto was calibrated (we discovered this quickly thanks to Andrew's advice to take three readings of a leg in different directions every so often). Gave up and exited.
T/U: 10.5 hours
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2016-07-08
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2016-07-08
Jenny Black, Olly Betts,
171 survey
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I'd noticed that 171 was a moderately sized cave on the plateau that was unsurveyed, so decided it was a nice job for a rest day. To make life easier just took helmets, clothing and survey kit. We'd spent the morning successfully recalibrating the distox2 inside the bivi @@ -1015,13 +1015,13 @@ cave. Started at 171a and surveyed to 171b - a nice phreatic passage with multip low bit in the middle. Continued a bit beyond the "b" entrances, but decided to return to finish with oversuits.
T/U: 2.5 hours
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2016-07-08
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2016-07-08
Rob Watson, George Breley, Frank Tully,
Dropping pitches and finding more
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Frank brought his spade/shovel along in case of digging potential, but unfortunately his illness prevented him from achieving this. Then me and George went to the pitch down the sandy ramp and climb. I bolted the pitch and put George on book. It turned out this was a bad idea. 14 @@ -1035,13 +1035,13 @@ on lead, heading up a 5m climb to an uphill ramp to a big draughty pot. Around 1 then out.

survey
T/U: 9.0 hours
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2016-07-09
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2016-07-09
Jenny Black, Olly Betts,
16-JB-01 Hohle der guten Hoffnung
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Intended to go back and finish surveying 171, so took ovesuits, kneepads as well as helmets and survey kit. Olly wanted to try a different route to walk there so headed past 2006-70 and up from there. I saw a few shafts and had to have a peer down each one. Near the local high @@ -1057,13 +1057,13 @@ squeeze overlooking a dirty snow plug. Back at the climb a pitch goes back under undescended. Surveyed out. Cave drops a surprising 40m (over 80m of survey) all descended without gear.
T/U: 3.0 hours
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2016-07-09
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2016-07-09
Rob Watson, George Breley,
Annoying resurvey and no Cashback (Pitch is now called Young Love)
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After discovering lots of easy horizontal passage the day before, we returned to get that sorted. After 11 long legs. we popped out in the big bouldery chamber. We later found out that Nathan had surveyed this passage - quite annoying. Then we went to bolt the pitch at the end of @@ -1072,13 +1072,13 @@ as the aven crapped out into an immature meander immediately after we got to the then bolted the pitch below the Cock Piss Partridge, which also crapped out immediately. Then out. Still lots to go at!
T/U: 6.0 hours
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2016-07-09
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2016-07-09
Anthony Day,
Balcony - The Kraken Wakes 2
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[This blog is dated 4 August 2016. /the-kraken-wakes/] @@ -1088,13 +1088,13 @@ Still lots to go at!

I want to publicly thank the members of the expedition and the Austrian cave rescue for coming to look for us. We knew we were fine, but they didn’t and the action they took was both timely and appropriate. I always knew that, if I ever did get into a sticky spot underground, my mates have got my back. It’s nice to have that proved.

It turned out that one of the leads at the bottom of Indian Rope Trick was very important indeed. A later camping party went to look at it, and romped off into a master cave with a substantial stream in places. It eventually choked, but not before reaching 903m depth – by some distance the deepest we have ever been in Austria.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-10
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2016-07-10
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
171, near old top camp - surveying
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Headed to 171 with oversuits and kneepads to finish the survey. On phoning basecamp discovered that the camping team were overdue, but that things were in hand, and there was nothing we could do in the short term. Took the phone with us to get updates. @@ -1114,46 +1114,46 @@ down to our camp to check we were safe - thank you!

Callout book entry. Have rope + spare drill battery on surface if needed
20:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-10
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2016-07-10
Nat Dalton, Rob Watson,
The Non Rescue - 1st Response Team
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Team were overdue in Tunnocks so me and Nat headed down to camp with the grab bag and first aid kit. Underground by 8.45. Arrived at Kraken for 11.45 to find rope caught up beneath the overhang rebelay on a ledge. Then started to head out. Rope at the bottom of magic glue got wrapped around a large boulder - be aware of the rope catching on the boulder when you ascend the pitch. Out reasonably sufficiently after waiting to see that Mark D could untangle the rope from Magic Glue.
T/U: 7.0 hours
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2016-07-11
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2016-07-11
Ashley Gregg, Luke Stangroom, Alice Smith,
Balcony - Long Drop
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Callout book entry.
19:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-11
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2016-07-11
Sioned Haughton, Elliott Smith, Andrew Atkinson,
Balcony - Gosser, Wager
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Callout book entry.
20:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-11
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2016-07-11
Chris Densham, Ian Peachey, Rob Watson, Katey Bender,
Camp - Tunnocks master cave and unprecedented depth potential!
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A most amazing trip, which despite being shortened by the rescue of the previous day, managed to provide much new cave and a lot of new prospects. We arrived at camp for 1.15pm and ate some noodles and soup. Off down Octopussy for 2pm. Headed to the bottom of the 30m pitch bolted by Anthony et al on the last camping trip. @@ -1197,13 +1197,13 @@ hours until we made a break for it at 8am the next day after a rather restless n series. Overall a truly memorable and excellent trip, one of my best ever and one to remember my whole life!
09:00 +2
T/U: 48.0 hours
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2016-07-11
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2016-07-11
Fleur Loveridge, Pete Talling, Nathan Walker, Andrew Atkinson,
Balcony - Hilti-a-Plenty "Roundabout.svx"
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Pete and Fleur's first caving trip of 2016 expo - to a lead in Hilti-a-Plenty following a tip from Rob Watson et al. We rather enjoyed the Hilti pitches, where we met Andy Atkinson. Nicely sculpt firatic shaft action, top notch. Then we went to Boulder Chamber down some sandy tubes, and arrived at a pitch that Rob had free climbed across. We put a rope across, and @@ -1218,23 +1218,23 @@ a choke, with the others following to survey. Then back to the ranch for tea and

survey
23:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-11
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2016-07-11
Nat Dalton, Becka Lawson, George Breley,
Prospecting North of Balcony
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Callout book entry.
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-11
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2016-07-11
Jenny Black,
76 - Atomic
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Olly's knees were recovered enough to cope with prussicking, so we returned to Keg Series with the now happily calibrated distox2. Started surveying in to get the pitch done, in case it rained later, or it took a while. Happily got it first time and in 1 leg. From the bottom @@ -1256,13 +1256,13 @@ people coming - I wondered if we had a callout mix up, and people were coming to us. Then the rumbling got louder, and louder and it became apparent it was raining. Fortunately we were past the Tap Room and Keg Series, so had an uneventful exit.
T/U: 12.0 hours
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2016-07-12
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2016-07-12
Nat Dalton, Becka Lawson, George Breley,
Tunnocks - Derigging and pushing Champagne on Ice
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Set off with the intention of derigging traverse beyond Arctic Angle and pushing Nat's lead ("What would your Mother say") before finally derigging the Champagne on Ice pitch series and derig traverse beyond Arctic Angle and WWYMS. Off to a flying start I forgot both drill batteries, only realising at the bottom of Champagne on Ice. Subsequently, myself and Becka went to @@ -1291,23 +1291,23 @@ with some hangers.

Nathanael should not be allowed to rig unsupervised in the future.
09:00 +1
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-12
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2016-07-12
Nathan Walker, Elliott Smith, Alice Smith, Luke Stangroom,
Balkon - Gosser Wager
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Callout book entry.
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-12
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2016-07-12
Pete Talling, Fleur Loveridge, Aidan Marks,
Balkon - end of Dark Arts via Bipedal
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The first aim was to derig Bipedal traverse; which was soon dispatched by Fleur. The 40m rope was then taken to the end of Dark Arts. There was some climbs and traverses along Dark Arts, including final climb that stopped Fleur and Pete two years ago. The new end was down a short 5m pitch and looked rather good - with a strong and exciting draft. The dry pitch on the right had @@ -1324,34 +1324,34 @@ draft, but needs dry and settled weather!

survey
21:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-12
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2016-07-12
Haydon Saunders,
Via Ferata: Intersport - Klettersteig
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Callout book entry.

[Probably not Haydon, but anonymous.]
23:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-16
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2016-07-16
Luke Stangroom, Fleur Loveridge, Pete Talling, Martin Green, Elaine Oliver,
Tunnocks - Champagne on Ice
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Callout book entry.
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-16
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2016-07-16
Elliott Smith, George Breley, Nathan Walker, Michael Sargent,
Kraken Camp - pushing Song of the Earth (258)
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Down to camp

Being the 6th? camping trip to Kraken, we supposedly had a lot of leads to choose from. Getting to camp was easy enough, there being almost twice as much rope as passage length along the way. Eliott, Nathan and George descending using stops were @@ -1389,13 +1389,13 @@ were all up on the surface by 7.30pm, where we found the wether a bit grim and c hadn't come underground, and indeed lower Procrastination had been a bit drippier than usual.
09:00 +2
T/U: 33.0 hours
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2016-07-16
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2016-07-16
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
2016-JB-01 Hopeless
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Walked up in the morning, having had a tooth extracted the previous day - I promised the dentist that I would avoid strenuous activities for a few days and also not cave if it was raining (he was very concerned that we might underestimate the flooding risk underground!). @@ -1408,44 +1408,44 @@ slot near the pitch head. Olly's from where the chambers join became an inlet. another lead for the next trip.
20:00
T/U: 4.0 hours
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2016-07-16
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2016-07-16
Rob Watson, Ian Peachey, Martin Green,
Balcony - Hilti-a-Plenty
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Callout book entry.
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-16
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2016-07-16
Luke Stangroom, Fleur Loveridge, Pete Talling, Martin Green, Elaine Oliver,
Tunnocks - Champagne on Ice derig
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Callout book entry.
22:00
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-17
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2016-07-17
Jenny Black,
Tagging Jobs
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It rained and rained some more, so enthusiasm was low for going underground and getting wet. It brightend up in the afternoon (ie was claggy not actually raining) so Olly made up some cave tags and we changed the Bivi cave (2004-01) to 269, then I walked to Cairn Cave and tagged it (2006-70) and finally retagged 1987-02 as 267.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-17
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2016-07-17
Rob Watson, Luke Stangroom,
Hilti a Plenty - Pushing and Evening Breakthrough
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After a morning of grim rain delayed the campers from camping, myself and Luke became bored of shit-talking and card games and headed to off into Balcony in the mist to see what could be found. In quickly and soon I was bolting one of the three pots that me and George found in "Lets be Appalling" last time in. After a wee while, and one rogue bolt which decided to fall out @@ -1461,13 +1461,13 @@ downhill and found a promising horizontal B lead - continuation of the ramp - an of water could be heard. Exciting stuff, and judging by the survey heading off in an as yet unexplored direction - an excellent prospect for next year!
T/U: 6.0 hours
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2016-07-18
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2016-07-18
Rob Watson, Ashley Gregg, Anthony Day,
Long Drop - final push, survey & Derig
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After a rather late start to say the least (Anthony & I seem to have a way of starting far to late when we cave with the other), I arrived at balcony Gear Dump (Having shown the Hilti-a-Plenty leads found the other day to Pete, Elliott, Aidan & Martin beforehand) at @@ -1486,13 +1486,13 @@ out and it ran pretty smoothly. At the top it was 10:15 & we were pushing ca out while the others sorted things out. Back at Top Camp for 11:25, our midnight callout was made. Great success!
T/U: 11.5 hours
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2016-07-18
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2016-07-18
Katey Bender, Elaine Oliver, Fleur Loveridge, Ian Peachey,
Camp Kraken - Song of the Earth + Derig (Downstream)
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To be read in conjunction with Fleur's report...

While Fleur and Peachey headed to the uphill lead, Elaine and I went down to the lead advertised as being a 2m wide rift with a howling draft, reached by a massive chamber with a mountain in it! Wow! As it turns out, @@ -1504,13 +1504,13 @@ passage we called a QMB and it will likely need some bolting to progress - steep The climb up will also need bolting for any handline/rope. That done, and slightly disappointed, we headed out to meet Fleur and Peachey.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-18
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2016-07-18
Fleur Loveridge, Katey Bender, Elaine Oliver, Ian Peachey,
Song of the Earth and Camp Derig
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It was supposed to be a 2 night camp starting on Sunday. But on Sunday we woke up and it had been raining in the night and continued to rain. So we deferred to avoid starting off cold and wet. Instead an "alpine start" was called for and I got everyone up at 6am on Monday. We were underground by 8am and down at camp for a late lunch. The idea was @@ -1541,13 +1541,13 @@ Katey ended up derigging a little more. Meanwhile I prussicked on, catching Elai last section together and exited around 11pm.

Ian and Katey returned to Steinbrucken about one hour after us.
T/U: 39.0 hours
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2016-07-18
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2016-07-18
Jenny Black, Olly Betts,
16-JB-01 Dirty Snow
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Weather wasn't great, so we had quite a slow start. Headed back to 16-JB-01 to look at Olly's new lead. Again we started the rope at the ledge, but went down further along, then Olly went to the northen end of the cheesey chamber and over a rock bridge to a rift. The end of this dropped down to a very dirty snow cone, with deep drip holes. @@ -1557,13 +1557,13 @@ snow plug, so presumably it has been here for many years. Passage continued to t rocks and up a climb. Although there were a lot of boulders and collapse it felt fairly solid. Decided that we couldn't get further without gear. Surveyed out.
T/U: 4.0 hours
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2016-07-18
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2016-07-18
Elaine Oliver, Katey Bender, Fleur Loveridge, Ian Peachey,
Tunnocks - Camping in Tunnocksschacht - CHECC Grand Prize entry
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It was decided that this year, the CUCC expo would establish an underground camp in Kraken Chamber, Tunnocksschacht, as pushing trips to the lower leads were getting to be around 18 hours, which was bordering on @@ -1613,13 +1613,13 @@ think I've moved past some mental barriers there. Right now I don't feel like I the camp, but give it time - I'm sure that by next summer I'll be ready to break my Bottom Inspector record once again.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-19
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2016-07-19
Mark Dougherty, David Walker, Ashley Gregg,
Balcony - Cathedral Chasm
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Went down to limit of exploration. David rigged a couple of 10m pitches but both were choked. Walls covered with some nice "flapjack" crystalline calcite.

Meanwhile Mark and Ashley explored a B/C lead. A couple of dead bats. After about 50m it @@ -1629,13 +1629,13 @@ turned out to be right next to Trident Junction. more conveniently done via the crawl, rather than going all the way round, which includes a slightly dodgy pitch and a couple of traverses.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-19
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2016-07-19
Pete Talling, Aidan Marks, Elliott Smith, Martin Green, Rob Watson,
"Just Keeps Giving" and "Water Torture" (Below Hilti-a-Plenty)
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The team kept pushing the lead below Hilti-a-Plenty rigged by Rob and Luke on 17/7/2016 (Evening Breakthrough). Rob kindly showed the rest of the team to the right place. Aidan and Pete surveyed upwards from T-junction up a steeping phreatic tube that was muddy but relatively easy to climb. The passage had the sound of water (mmmmm) and a draft (mmm) @@ -1652,13 +1652,13 @@ rigged by Martin from a bolt and various naturals/slings. It then goes to a blin down with good draft.

Overall, these are A leads with a draft.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-19
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2016-07-19
Jenny Black, Olly Betts,
76 Derig
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Decided to derig 76 whilst it wasn't raining, and to free up rope for 16-JB-01. Last year I masterminded a very efficient derig of 107 with 3 people and 6 bags of gear. This year we had 2 people for 76, 4 bags, and 6 bags worth of gear. I went down to Keg series to derig that. I met Olly at the Tap Room, from there I shuttled bags out the cave while Olly derigged. @@ -1666,26 +1666,26 @@ Keg series to derig that. I met Olly at the Tap Room, from there I shuttled bags and everything derigged to the Ledge Below the Ledge.

Went back in for another 2 hours of derigging (Olly) and bag shuttling (me). Now we never need return!
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-20
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2016-07-20
Olly Betts, Jenny Black,
16-JB-01: Hohle der Guten Hoffnung
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Continuing to push the same route as 18th, we (re)rigged on the way in, then dropped the down-climb we'd called it a day at, then down a short pitch with a rebelay to reach some large boulders with a view out into a void beyond. A thrown rock suggested a 20m drop but we only had a couple of metres of rope left, so surveyed back to the end of the previous survey, briefly hampered by Jenny taking out a survey station which turned out to be less well connected to the boulder it was on than it appeared to be.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-20
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2016-07-20
Anthony Day, Elliott Smith, David Walker, Mark Dougherty, Rob Watson,
Tunnocks derig, Upper Kraken to String Theory
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The objective of this trip was to derig at least as far as the top of the flood-prone Procrastination pitch. The intention was to use the PAELLA (Pull An Extremely Long Length Altogether) technique which, a practice run in Long Drop apart, none of us had really done before. A planning session the day meant we had a good idea of what we wanted to @@ -1709,13 +1709,13 @@ It could have been a lot worse - care required! go down and retrieve it. This news was greeted by sympathetic laughter at the top.

topo
T/U: 14.0 hours
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2016-07-20
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2016-07-20
Anthony Day,
Balcony - The Kraken Wakes 3
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[This blog is dated 4 August 2016. /the-kraken-wakes/]

Eventually, the end of the expedition loomed and we had to get a substantial amount of rope out of the cave. The last camping party made a start by removing some of the ropes below camp and the final pitch, leaving a substantial pile behind for the next derigging party, of which I was a member. @@ -1725,13 +1725,13 @@ go down and retrieve it. This news was greeted by sympathetic laughter at the to

Same again next year?

PS: My camera didn’t make it underground this year – so thanks go to Chris Densham, Becka Lawson and Fleur Loveridge for permission to use their photos.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-21
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2016-07-21
Jenny Black, Olly Betts,
16-JB-01: Nervous Breakdown
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This had to be our final trip, so we could carry gear down the next day. Managed to get underground at 9:05am to maximise our chances.

Whizzed down to the pushing front and Olly started off with the rigging, from the final bolt @@ -1752,13 +1752,13 @@ way up the walls. Derigged as we surveyed and survived the boulders again. later while pcking the bivi. Noticed that the entrance is incredibly close to the old path to 204/topcamp (i.e. the one in all-with-tracks).
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-24
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2016-07-24
Ashley Gregg, Martin Green,
Balcony - Hilti-a-Plenty - Galactica
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Went to explore Hilti-a-Plenty and push a pitch discovered by Rob and co. This pitch was eventually named Deep Space 9 - suggested by Rob on a later trip. Martin bolted and rigged, before we descended to a large rocky passage. At the end of this was a promising pitch which Martin began to rig. Meanwhile I @@ -1771,13 +1771,13 @@ year.

Concluded the trip by surveying a smaller lead off the first chamber to conclusion. Good 150m of cave surveyed not including mahoosive Galactica. Of course it was the last day of pushing.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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2016-07-25
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2016-07-25
Ashley Gregg, Martin Green, Rob Watson,
Balcony Derigging - Hilti-a-Plenty
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Went to show Rob Galactica before then the big derigging began. Derigged Deep Space 9 then the traverse of Om? then Can't Stop Now this is Bat Country. Also finished an odd bit of surveying left behind by Rob from before on the pitch. Then I derigged Hilti-a-Plenty with a tackle bag a tad too small. One rebelay near @@ -1786,6 +1786,7 @@ the top proved particularly difficult to de-rig, resulting in a slip and swing a before Martin and I, dissappearing down the hill rather quickly. We were a bit slower, weighted down with lots of gear. And after today all of Balcony was finally derigged and the derig was completed for this year.
T/U: 0.0 hours
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