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+
+
- A +
- ARGE +
- B +
- Groupe Spéléeo de Clerval - Baume les Dames +
- C +
- Cambridge University Caving Club
- A +
- A fine QM - git down there and look. +
- B +
- Not so promising, or requiring some effort (eg. a climb) +
- C +
- Pretty cruddy, or good but very hard to get to. +
- V +
- An aven which might be climbable, but not adequately assessed +
- X +
- A high, wet or unsafe-looking aven unlikely to be climbed +
- ? +
- No-one writing this list actually knows!
- Entrance and The Near End passages +
- Mid-level passages (including Wolpertinger Way) +
- No Pain No Gain through to the Colonnade +
- Trunk way through Treeumphant Passage to Cave Tree Chamber and beyond +
- Swings and Roundabouts area +
- Pleasuredome area +
- Deep routes via the Ariston Series +
- Plan, pre-2001 Expo [71k; approx 2300x3300 pixels, monochrome] +
- Elevation, pre-2001 Expo [22k; approx 1900x2200 pixels, monochrome] +
- CUCC 1999 to length 1365m, depth 226m +
- CUCC 2000 to 2.5km, depth 368m +
- CUCC 2001 to 4.7km, depth 368m +
- A -
- ARGE -
- B -
- Groupe Spéléeo de Clerval - Baume les Dames -
- C -
- Cambridge University Caving Club
- A -
- A fine QM - git down there and look. -
- B -
- Not so promising, or requiring some effort (eg. a climb) -
- C -
- Pretty cruddy, or good but very hard to get to. -
- V -
- An aven which might be climbable, but not adequately assessed -
- X -
- A high, wet or unsafe-looking aven unlikely to be climbed -
- ? -
- No-one writing this list actually knows!
- Aris -
- Ariston Series -
- Insig -
- Insignificant chamber and Bonsai crawl -
- NE -
- Near End -
- NPNG -
- No Pain No Gain -
- Tree -
- The Collonade, Treeumphant passage, Great oak chamber and Cave tree chamber -
- WE -
- White Elephant -
- Wolp -
- Wolpertinger Way and 110 a day level
- C1999-204-01 C
- NE:Passage visible from pitchhead [ent.7 ] -
- C1999-204-02 B [done in 2000] -
- NE:Pitch/climb reached from top of snowplug [ent.7] -
- C1999-204-03 C
- NE:Passage above gap at edge of snowplug above normal route [ent.7] -
- C1999-204-04 C
- NE:Crawl on left in needle passage [ent.25] -
- C1999-204-05 B [done in 2000] -
- NE:Continuation of crawl into boulder chamber [pretty.4] - -
- C1999-204-06 C
- NE:Continuation of crawl opposite Thread Pitch head [ent.27] -
- C1999-204-07 B
- NE:Climb down into rift in low boulder chamber [pretty.4] -
- C1999-204-08 C [done in 2000] -
- NE:Undescended pitch [junction.2] - -
- C1999-204-09 C
- Wolp:Hole in floor through dangerous boulders [veined.10] -
- C1999-204-10 C [done in 2000] -
- Wolp:Passage on right [chokes after 3m][veined.9] - -
- C1999-204-11 C [done in 2000] -
- Wolp:Crawl to left at start of 110-a-day - [110 bidet] - [110aday.23] - -
- C1999-204-12 C [done in 2000] -
- Wolp:Left at X-roads - [110 bidet] - [110aday.17] - -
- C1999-204-13 C
- Wolp:Right at X-roads [110aday.17] -
- C1999-204-14 C
- Wolp:Left branch (tight) [110aday.1] -
- C1999-204-15 C
- Wolp:Right Branch (tight) [110aday.1] -
- C1999-204-16 A [done in 2000] -
- Wolp:20m pitch in left branch [110aday.1] - -
- C1999-204-17 C
- Wolp:Possible Passage heading E on far side of rift opposite pitch head [pendulum.20] -
- C1999-204-18 C
- Wolp:Tight passage on left [pendulum.13] -
- C1999-204-19 C
- Wolp:Awkward way on at bottom of 2m climb down [phreatic.1] -
- C1999-204-20 B
- Aris:Passage possibly leading off from ledge 5m off the floor (RH wall going in) [ariston2.19] -
- C1999-204-21 A [done in 2000] -
- Aris:Short pitch in aven chamber [ariston2.17] - -
- C1999-204-22 C
- Aris:Tight rift on left [ariston2.16] -
- C1999-204-23 A [done in 2000] -
- Aris:Pitch at end of slope [ariston2.14] - -
- C1999-204-24 A [done in 2000] -
- Aris:Big drop at bottom [ariston2.3] - -
- C1999-204-25 B [done in 2000] -
- WE:Eyehole halfway down 10m pitch [dome.17] - -
- C1999-204-26 B
- WE:Narrow slot in rift at -182m [dome.41] -
- C2000-204-01 B
- NPNG:Upward sloping bedding plane [nopainnogain.34] -
- C2000-204-02 B
- NPNG:Two passages merging leading to small pitch, aven [nopainnogain.30] -
- C2000-204-03 C
- NPNG:Crawling passage to right at fork [nopainnogain.30] -
- C2000-204-04 C
- NPNG:Right at T junction [nopainnogain.27] -
- C2000-204-05 C
- NPNG:Rift with stream, going down stream [nopainnogain.26] -
- C2000-204-06 C
- NPNG:Climb at end of chamber to a crawl [nopainnogain.13] -
- C2000-204-07 C
- NPNG:High end of chamber to right[nopainnogain.20] -
- C2000-204-08 B
- NPNG:3m drop down slope in floor of passage [nopainnogain.19] -
- C2000-204-09 B
- Insig:Bedding plane to right [insignificant.5] -
- C2000-204-10 A
- Insig:30m pitch [insignificant.4] -
- C2000-204-11 B
- Insig:Sloping chute to 30m pitch, dead?[treeumphant.2] -
- C2000-204-12 B
- Insig:Stooping passage to left at fork [treeumphant.11] -
- C2000-204-13 C
- Insig:Small passage continuing in direction of main passage through hole in right wall [treeumphant.12] -
- C2000-204-14 C
- Insig:Small passage continuing in opposite direction of main passage through hole in right wall [treeumphant.12] -
- C2000-204-15 C
- Tree:Crawl on right [treeumphant.13] -
- C2000-204-16 B
- Tree:Crawl in trench on left [treeumphant.15] -
- C2000-204-17 C
- Tree:Small passage links to ?21 [treeumphant.15] -
- C2000-204-18 C
- Tree:High up crawl on left [treeumphant.15] -
- C2000-204-19 C
- Tree:Tight stooping passage to left [treeumphant.16] -
- C2000-204-20 C
- Tree:Passage to left at fork, reduces in size [treeumphant.16] -
- C2000-204-21 C
- Tree:Crawl high up links to ?17 [treeumphant.17] -
- C2000-204-22 C -
- Tree:I do not know, this may well not exsist [Tree:I do not know, this may well not exist [treeumphant.17] -
- C2000-204-23 A -
- Tree:Over the bolder slope [treeumphant.18] - -
- C2000-204-24 A
- Tree:Walking passage keeps go a long way [treeumphant.19] -
- C2000-204-25 C
- Tree:Crawl high up on right [treeumphant.19] -
- C2000-204-26 C
- Tree:Tight passage high up [treeumphant.20] -
- C2000-204-27 X
- Tree:Possibly an aven [treeumphant.19] -
- C2000-204-28 A
- Tree:Stooping passage [treeumphant.22] -
- C2000-204-29 Dig
- Tree:Pitch low down on right needs digging [treeumphant.23] -
- C2000-204-30 C
- Tree:Possible passage needing traversing to [treeumphant.24] -
- C2000-204-31 B
- Tree:Passage continues over pitch [treeumphant.24] -
- C2000-204-32 B
- Tree:Down Great oak chamber 5m? [treeumphant.24] -
- C2000-204-33 X
- Tree:Passage continues over pitch [treeumphant.24] -
- C2000-204-34 B
- Tree:Somewhere in oxbow [treeumphant.26] -
- C2000-204-35 X
- Tree:Aven in oxbow [treeumphant.26] -
- C2000-204-36 C
- Tree:Floor level on right needs digging [treeumphant.27] -
- C2000-204-37 C
- Tree:Floor level on right needs digging [treeumphant.27] -
- C2000-204-38 X
- Tree:Aven in cave tree chamber [treeumphant.28] -
- C2000-204-39 B
- Tree:Pitch ?30m [treeumphant.28] -
- C2000-204-40 A
- Tree:Passage continuation over pitch[treeumphant.28] -
- C2000-204-41 A -
- Tree:Initially walking drafting tube 70m draught uphill still going walk/crawl [Tree:Initially walking drafting tube 70m uphill still going walk/crawl [colonade.2] -
- C2000-204-42 B
- Tree:Low drafting crawl [colonade.2] -
- C2000-204-43 Dig -
- Tree:Chose slope on left needs digging[Tree:Choss slope on left needs digging[colonade.5/A>]
-
- C2000-204-44 X
- Tree:Aven [colonade.7] -
- C2000-204-45 B
- Tree:Straight on tight drafting [colonade.7] -
- C2000-204-46 C
- Tree:Tight rift [colonade.9] -
- C2000-204-47 A
- Tree:Tight rift + stream, may be linked to waterfall in chamber in no pain no gain[colonade.9] -
- C2000-204-48 X
- Tree:Aven [colonade.9] -
- C2000-204-49 C -
- Tree:Climb up over bolders [Tree:Climb up over boulders [colonade.8] -
- C2000-204-50 C
- Tree:Small passage low down on right in chamber [bonsai.3] -
- C2000-204-51 C
- Tree:Small passage high up on right in chamber [bonsai.3] -
- C2000-204-52 C
- Tree:Pitch in chamber [bonsai.3] -
- C2000-204-53 A
- Tree:Passage continues [bonsai.6] -
- C2000-204-54 B
- Wolp:Crawl, that is windy [110_bidet.9] -
- C2000-204-55 X
- Tree:Aven [nopainnogain.13] -
- C2000-204-56 B
- Insig:Climb up over boulders in Insignificant Chamber [insignificant.2] -
- C2000-204-57 C
- Insig:Phreatic tube off Insignificant Chamber, may need a traverse bolting [insignificant.2] -
- C2000-204-58 C
- Insig:Connected holes in floor on right [insignificant.2] -
- C2000-204-59 C
- Insig:Hole to the side of the crawl [treeumphant.6] -
- C2000-204-60 C
- Aris: Tight rift after 8m pitch -
- C2000-204-61 C
- Fled: Traverse in Fledermausschacht -
- C2000-204-62 Dig
- Fled: Mudbanks in chamber off the top of Fledermausschacht -
- C2000-204-63 B
- Razor: Upstream waterfall -
- C2000-204-64 A
- Razor: Downstream pitch
- A
- ARGE -
- B
- Groupe Spéléeo de Clerval - Baume les Dames -
- C
- Cambridge University Caving Club -
- A
- A fine QM - git down there and look. -
- B
- Not so promising, or requiring some effort (eg. a climb) -
- C
- Pretty cruddy, or good but very hard to get to. -
- V
- An aven which might be climbable, but not adequately assessed -
- X
- A high, wet or unsafe-looking aven unlikely to be climbed -
- ?
- No-one writing this list actually knows! -
- Aris
- Ariston Series -
- NE
- Near End -
- WE
- White Elephant -
- Wolp
- Wolpertinger Way and 110 a day level -
- C1999-204-01 C
- NE:Passage visible from pitchhead [ent.7 -] -
- C1999-204-02 B
- NE:Pitch/climb reached from top of snowplug [ent.7] -
- C1999-204-03 C
- NE:Passage above gap at edge of snowplug above normal route [ent.7] -
- C1999-204-04 C
- NE:Crawl on left in needle passage [ent.25] -
- C1999-204-05 B
- NE:Continuation of crawl into boulder chamber [pretty.4] -
- C1999-204-06 C
- NE:Continuation of crawl opposite Thread Pitch head [ent.27] -
- C1999-204-07 B
- NE:Climb down into rift in low boulder chamber [pretty.4] -
- C1999-204-08 C
- NE:Undescended pitch [junction.2] -
- C1999-204-09 C
- Wolp:Hole in floor through dangerous boulders [veined.10] -
- C1999-204-10 C
- Wolp:Passage on right [veined.9] -
- C1999-204-11 C
- Wolp:Crawl to left at start of 110-a-day [110aday.23] -
- C1999-204-12 C
- Wolp:Left at X-roads [110aday.17] -
- C1999-204-13 C
- Wolp:Right at X-roads [110aday.17] -
- C1999-204-14 C
- Wolp:Left branch (tight) [110aday.1] -
- C1999-204-15 C
- Wolp:Right Branch (tight) [110aday.1] -
- C1999-204-16 A
- Wolp:20m pitch in left branch [110aday.1] -
- C1999-204-17 C
- Wolp:Possible Passage heading E on far side of rift opposite pitch head [pendulum.20] -
- C1999-204-18 C
- Wolp:Tight passage on left [pendulum.13] -
- C1999-204-19 C
- Wolp:Awkward way on at bottom of 2m climb down [phreatic.1] -
- C1999-204-20 B
- Aris:Passage possibly leading off from ledge 5m off the floor (RH wall going in) [ariston2.19] -
- C1999-204-21 A
- Aris:Short pitch in aven chamber [ariston2.17] -
- C1999-204-22 C
- Aris:Tight rift on left [ariston2.16] -
- C1999-204-23 A
- Aris:Pitch at end of slope [ariston2.14] -
- C1999-204-24 A
- Aris:Big drop at bottom [ariston2.3] -
- C1999-204-25 B
- WE:Eyehole halfway down 10m pitch [dome.17] -
- C1999-204-26 B
- WE:Narrow slot in rift at -182m [dome.41] - -
- Stogerweg - path 201, for entrances low on @@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ up the hill entrances near it - several variants are possible here.
- An established route to Kaninchenhöhle and down the east side. +
- A route from Top Camp across the plateau, via the large bare patch of +limestone on the side of the Hinter (visible from Top Camp) across to +Steinbrückenhöhle.
Question Mark list conventions
+ +The format for question mark lists +is QM identifier, Quality Grade, Area indicator, decription of QM. The +QM numbers themselves are in the format Discoverer identifier, Year of +discovery, Cave identifier, serial number. If you look at the html, you will +find that the nearest survey station (without its "<cavenumber>." prefix) +is included in an html comment for almost all leads. Now that there is an index to the +surveys, there may soon be a way to get from the QM to the relevant survey +file, but not the pictures :-( +
In general, an unpushed QM will have a link from its QM number in the +description to here, and a link from here to the relevant point in the +description. If there is no link, it means that I can't yet work out where the +QM is in the description, or the description doesn't yet exist :-). +
Discoverer identifiers
+-
+
Quality grades
+-
+
Note that the quality grades are assigned by the explorers at the time, and +that subsequent discoveries may mean that the grade is optimistic, since the +lead may now drop into passage which wasn't then explored. Also, different +explorers have different ideas - one man's "A-lead" may be another's "C-lead" +:-( + +
+ + + + diff --git a/smkridge/204.htm b/smkridge/204.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 3e62f1347..000000000 --- a/smkridge/204.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,656 +0,0 @@ - -
| 204 | -Steinbrückenhöhle | -4/S x |
|---|---|---|
| (CUCC -99/03) |
Altitude: 1820m, length 2.5km, depth 368m
Location: 204b
-entrance E 36673 N (52)83716
-
The cave is situated on the west side of the col between the Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel and Nieder -AugstEck. -
Access route:The 1999 route from Top Camp (probably near optimal) is a -cairned path via Wolfhöhle (1623/145) and Laser -Point 5, then up to the top of the bare patch of white limestone visible from -Top Camp, passing 195 and 196. Laser 0/5 can -also be approached via 107, a slightly -lower route; or the white patch of limestone can be reached by a more central -route across the plateau. In all these cases there is scope for endless -variation, and an approach which keeps the large bare patch in view is -recommended. Alternatively, the cave may be approached from the summit of HSK - -probably the optimal route if you are coming from any of the 161 entrances. - -
Marking:Tag. Does it say "CUCC 99-03" or "CUCC 204"? - -
Description:204a entrance is directly opposite a 10m x 3m stone bridge -from which it derives its name. The entrance itself is approximately 8m high and -5m wide, and leads down a boulder slope and round a right hand bend to the top -of the first pitch. 204b entrance is 15m away to the west, and this is the -entrance which is rigged. A 3m climb down (handline useful) leads into the -entrance gully and a ledge at the head of the first pitch, Trick or -Treat, opposite 204a entrance. This loose, sloping pitch of 20m is rigged -from a Y-hang on the right hand wall, with a rebelay and deviation. The pitch is -tedious to prussik on return and is best climbed. The landing is by a large snow -plug with (in 1999) an ice corridor round the edge leading to the top of a -boulder slope. A rift passage on the right becomes too tight. - -
Descending the boulder slope (care required to avoid kicking -rocks off) leads to the head of the second pitch, Jim'll Fix It (18m). An -unexplored passage is visible from the pitch head, which could be accessed by a -bolt traverse round the right hand side of the pitch head -[C1999-204-01 C] (Explored by Brian?). -The pitch is rigged from a bolt in the -left hand wall with a deviation from a spit immediately after the pitch head -bolt. This protects a marginal rub point and also avoids a jet of water which -spurts from a crack in the wall after heavy rain. The landing is by a large -pointed snowplug. Landing on top of the snow plug and climbing up 2m to the -right (when facing the wall on which the pitch is rigged) leads to an -undescended pitch/climb [C1999-204-02 B] which lies above the northern end of Wolpertinger -Way. In 1999 there was sufficient gap between snow and wall to complete the -descent and emerge in a sloping phreatic passage. There are two ways on: Right -leads uphill as stooping/crawling height passage for 30m to emerge at the top of -Umshitshimbo. -Left leads downhill into The Near -End and is the main way on. There is a further unexplored passage in the -wall above the gap between the snow plug and the rock [C1999-204-03 C]. -
The Near End
-The Near End is a collective name for a complex network of high level -phreatic passages which slope approximately 20° following the dip of the beds. -Heading downhill from the base of Jim'll Fix It in a stooping height -passage leads round a double bend to a 2m climb down to a junction. Right leads -to more side -passages whilst the main route is straight ahead to a crossroads. Right -leads into the same side -passages as the previous right turn. Left is Needle Crawl past an -unexplored passage on the left [C1999-204-04 C] and a crawl on the right (feels like -straight ahead) which becomes too small after ~8m. Straight ahead (feels like a -left) leads to the head of a fine 4m diameter circular shaft, Thread -Pitch. This pitch of 17m leads into Wolpertinger -Way. A continuation of the -crawl is visible at the opposite side of the pitch head [C1999-204-06 C]. -
From the crossroads, the main route in 1999 was straight ahead, downhill in -mostly stooping height passage with a short section of sandy crawling. After 15m -is a short climb down to the top of a 4m deep pit with a too-tight passage at -the bottom, with the phreatic passage continuing to the right. After a further -10m the passage is intersected by a large rift with a big rock partially -blocking the passage. Climbing up to the right leads back into a tall rift in -the side -passages. A climb up to the left leads to a passage containing attractive -white mud which was not entered, however a visual connection to the Pendulum -Pitch was established. -
Straight ahead leads to a further junction after 15m. Left opens out to the -head of Pendulum -Pitch, the main route to the bottom of Wolpertinger -Way used in 1999. Right leads to a narrow stooping height passage which -continues for 25m with several clear pools in the floor to a widening where most -routes ahead and to the left are choked with boulders. To the right, a body -sized tube leads upwards for ~15m before opening out into a low chamber on the -left. The continuation of the crawl is immediately opposite the entry point and there is a climb down into a rift on -the far side of the chamber to the left [C1999-204-07 B]. The continuation is a winding passage which continues upwards. It then increases to stoping -heightand goes over some old gower pools. The passage continues to a flat out section ( not really a squeze, except for lardarses) not -pushed, but running water could be heard. Back in the chamber, it doubles back on itself to -the left and encounters an area of breakdown which was not fully investigated, -but is presumed to be the opposite side of the boulder choke. -
King Carbide
-Please Dome
-The Near End: Side Passages
-The first two right turns encountered when heading downhill from the foot of -Jim'll Fix -It unite in a walking sized passage. After 10m the bottom of Umshitshimbo -is passed on the right, whilst straight ahead leads to a junction with a large -keyhole passage. Left leads after 15m to a climb up behind a precariously placed -boulder, to an immediate climb down of 4m which emerges in the 1999 main route -through the near end before Pendulum -Pitch. Right leads immediately to a 8m pitch. A difficult and exposed traverse round -the left hand wall leads to a further 30m of passage with a steadily lowering -roof culminating in a boulder choke. -
-
The Near End: Umshitshimbo and Updip Passages
-Umshitshimbo is a fine phreatic ramp, 2m wide and about 4m high, which -heads uphill in a straight line for 40m. At the top a passage doubling back on -the right leads back to the base of Jim'll Fix It -and there is a climb up into a rift passage heading south over the top of -Umshitshimbo which becomes too narrow. Large passage continues uphill past a 2m -deep blind pit on the right to a junction. -
Left leads uphill past a choked inlet on the left to a steep uphill section -with a crawl on the right, which leads shortly to a 2m climb down and immediate -choke. At the top of the steep section the passage to the right immediately -chokes, whilst left is Dolly Parton climb, a 2m climb up with huge jugs, -to a further 15m of upward trending phreatic passage, terminating in a boulder -choke with a slight draught (air coming into the cave.) There are two small -steep phreatic ramps on the left hand side of this passage, both very small and -both choked. -
Straight ahead at the junction leads through a short section of rift to an -enlargement with an alcove on the right and a keyhole passage ahead. The rift -section at the bottom quickly becomes choked, with a slight draught coming in. A -3m climb gains access to the phreatic section which goes over the top of the -choke, and about after a further 3m reaches a large boulder, which almost blocks -the passage with a strong breeze blowing through the gap (into the cave.) -Squeezing through yields a steeply ascending rocky crawl which chokes after -about 5m. -
Wolpertinger Way
-Thread Pitch from The Near -End lands at the top of a large 6-8m diameter phreatic passage, -Wolpertinger Way, which heads downhill past some ice formations on the -left hand side, for 35m to a junction. Straight ahead is a steep gully leading -to a 6.5m diameter circular shaft with aven above - You're So Veined. -There is a traverse round the right hand side of the gully on an increasingly -narrow ledge. -
You're So Veined is rigged at its southern end, and this is reached -via a sandy crawl off to the right from the top of the steep gully, which passes -over a hole in the floor through dangerous boulders [C1999-204-09 C] to reach a junction. Right is a -passage, which quickly chokes, straight ahead leads into 110 A Day, -whilst left is the main route. -
More sandy crawling leads to a crossroads, where left leads to the ledge -overlooking the pitch, and right is a short crawl leading to the main passage -part of the way down Pendulum -Pitch, the easiest route to the White -Elephant Series. Straight ahead leads to a further junction. Right is a -short passage to a traverse round a blind pit, an alternative route to Pendulum -Pitch. Left is the head of You're So Veined, the start of the Ariston -Series.
-110 A Day
-110 A Day is a long, dusty passage which varies between stooping and -crawling for 110m. Immediately after the start is a sharp right hand bend with -a crawl straight ahead to 110 Bidet. About halfway along is a crossroads, -where low passages lead off to the left to 110 Bidet and to the right [C1999-204-13 C]. At the terminus reached in 1999, the -passage splits into two. Each branch immediately becomes tight, but could be -pushed further with a little determination and effort [C1999-204-14 C and C1999-204-15 C]. In the left hand branch, just before the -passage becomes tighter, is an undescended pitch [C1999-204-16 A] of perhaps 20m. -
110 Bidet
-110 Bidet is a stooping size passage which runs parallel to 110 A Day. -It can be accessed via a crawl about 1m up that carries straight on from where -110 A Day starts with a sharp right hand turn. The crawl emerges into -larger passage; to the left after 5m is Pendulum Pitch. Going right leads -to a hole in the floor among boulders, Marble Run. To the left here -is a low passage leading to No Pain No Gain, whilst 110 Bidet carries straight on. -Continuing on, the passage turns right, followed shortly by a crossroads with a crawly passage. -To the right is a dead end; to the left is [C2000-204-54 B]. Straight on emerges into 110 A Day -about half way along its length. -
Marble Run
-Marble Run runs along a fault line that created a small passable phreatic -tube, which has subsequently been intersected by a tight rifty stream way. 20m along -the rift bears to the right and is too tight to pass, whilst the phreatic passage continues on to a small -chamber. Here the passage doubles back over itself to continue above the original -passage. The passage does this once more to end in an earth blockage. - -
No Pain No Gain
-No Pain No Gainis a low tube, which emerges to a mud-floored chamber. (Please -try not to disturb the remaining flow patterns in the mud). A crawly mud floored -passage leaves the chamber to the right. To the right near the end of the crawl is a -bedding plane that continues uphill [C2000-204-01 B], whilst to the left is a small stone floored pit. There -is a 2m climb up from the top of the pit. This has a stalactite formation at the top on the -right, and threads on the left where a sling may be attached to assist. The crawl then -continues to a junction with two connecting passages to the left [C2000-204-02 B] and two connecting passages to the right [C2000-204-03 C]. The passage then continues to a T junction where it -enlarges slightly. To the right is [C2000-204-04 C]. To the left there is a chamber that is -intersected by a tight rift with flowing water. Downstream is [C2000-204-05 C]. Upstream a key hole passage slopes upwards, to a T-junction -with a chamber to the right, and an short, almost flat-out crawl to the left. - -The chamber, which has -an aven [C2000-204-55 X], can be dropped into. -A rift at the other end of the chamber leads to a -waterfall which feeds the stream that runs through the chamber. Climbing up before the rift gives -access to a crawl [C2000-204-06 C]. The flat out crawl emerges to a small angular chamber, at the -top of which, to the right, is a hole [C2000-204-07 C]. To the left a low passage runs above a 4m drop [C2000-204-08 B]. This then turns right and continues to a fork in the passage. To -the left is Insignificant Chamber, and to the right is a smaller chamber with a hole in the floor, -windows to Insignificant Chamber, and a bedding plane continuing up at 10°, which again connects into Insignificant Chamber. -
Insignificant Chamber
-Insignificant Chambercan be entered at floor level from No Pain No Gain. It extends to a -passage on the left as one enters, where there are a number a interconnecting holes on the right [C2000-204-58 C]. Upslope from the entrance is a bedding plane which splits left to -Bonsai Crawl on the left and to [C2000-204-09 B] on the right. To the right upon entering Insignificant Chamber one can climb up -to a point above the small chamber in No Pain No Gain From here there is a phreatic tube[C2000-204-57 C] that can be probably be reached with the aid of a traverse line. The passage -continues climbing ever upward [C2000-204-56 B]. The passage to the left from Insignificant Chamber gets smaller and -meets a crossroads. To the left is a walking size passage with a small pit in the floor that continues to a large -pitch [C2000-204-10 A], thought to drop into Pleasuredome. Straight on the passage turns to a steeply -sloping pitch [C2000-204-11 B]. To the right is some small passage that connects to the Bonsai -Crawl. Half way along this passage there is a hole [C2000-204-59 C]. -
Bonsai Crawl
-Bonsai Crawlis a wide bedding plane. A tall and thin passage to the right goes to a chamber -with a pitch [C2000-204-52 C] and a couple of small passages to the right [C2000-204-50 C] and [C2000-204-51 C]. A passage leads off to the left and gets lower, passing some -pretties on the floor. It then continues [C2000-204-53 A]. Bonsai Crawl continues to a fork that has a stooping-size -passage to the left [C2000-204-12 B]. To the right is a walking-size passage with a boulder floor. -There is a hole in the right wall that has a couple of small passages leading off [C2000-204-13 C], [C2000-204-14 C]. The passage then debouches into The Colonnade. -
The Colonnade
-Bonsai Crawl joins at a point where The Colonnade, a wide walking passage with a boulder -floor, makes a sharp turn. To the right the passage comes to a chamber-like crossroads. To the left -is an initially walking-sized tube [C2000-204-41 A] and to the right a low draughting crawl [C2000-204-42 B]. The Colonnade continues and a stream joins from the left. -Further along on the left is a pile of stones which must originate from a passage [C2000-204-43 Dig]. The passage then becomes small with a possible aven [C2000-204-44 X], a tight rift [C2000-204-45 B], and a crawl down and to the right. The crawl emerges into -a chamber, with a possible way on over rocks directly ahead [C2000-204-49 C]. The chamber gets larger to the right, where there are two -tight rifts leading off [C2000-204-46 C], [C2000-204-47 C] and an aven [C2000-204-48 X]. Water was flowing down one of these, possibly to the waterfall -entering the chamber in No Pain No Gain. At this time in 2000 -it had not rained on the surface for 8 days. Back where -Bonsai Crawl enters, the passage goes straight on with a number of minor passages to the sides. -These are a crawl to the left [C2000-204-15 C]; then some distance further on, another crawl on the left [C2000-204-16 B] leading from a trench in the passage; a small passage on the -right [C2000-204-17 C] that links to [C2000-204-21 C]; and a crawl high up to the left [C2000-204-18 C]. A short distance further a walking-size passage goes to the -left [C2000-204-19 C]. The main passage then forks: to the left is [C2000-204-20 C] whilst to the right the passage continues past a high up crawl [C2000-204-21 C], and then possibly [C2000-204-22 C]. The main passage then pops out into Treeumphant Passage. - -
Treeumphant Passage
-The Colonnade meets Treeumphant Passage at a narrow angle. In one direction -Treeumphant Passage ends just next to its entrance at a boulder slope which can be climbed -over [C2000-204-23 A]. In the other direction it continues over large boulders going -slightly up hill. There is a walking passage off to the left [C2000-204-24 A], as well as a high up crawl to the right [C2000-204-25 C] and then a tight high passage to the left [C2000-204-26 C]. The passage then increases in height approaching a sharp turn -to the right. Here a walking size passage [C2000-204-28 A] continues straight on, and there may be an aven in the ceiling [C2000-204-27 X]. The main passage passes possibly diggable holes at floor level [C2000-204-29 Dig], and continues into Great Oak Chamber. -
Great Oak Chamber
-Treeumphant Passage disappears into an approx 5m drop [C2000-204-32 B] in Great Oak Chamber and there is an aven above [C2000-204-33 X]. There may be passage continuing straight across the chamber [C2000-204-31 B], as well as a passage to the right [C2000-204-30 C]. Just before the drop there is a bouldery slope up to another -smaller walking size passage. There is an oxbow to the left, with a possible passage leading off -it [C2000-204-34 B], as well as an aven [C2000-204-35 X]. There are a couple of possible digs to the left slightly -further on [C2000-204-36 C], [C2000-204-37 C] before the passage enters Cave Tree Chamber. -
Cave Tree Chamber
-There is a climb down of about 2m into Cave Tree Chamber, which has a bouldery floor on -the left, and a pitch on the right [C2000-204-39 B]. An aven extends above [C2000-204-38 X], and the passage may continue over the pitch [C2000-204-40 A]. It would be advisable to protect this traverse. - -
Pendulum Pitch Route
-Pendulum Pitch is in a large rift. The first section is a loose -boulder slope (care required) to a rebelay, then a descent of 23m via a -deviation off the far wall below a large wedged boulder. There may be a passage -on the far side of the rift accessible with difficulty from this boulder [C1999-204-17 C]. From the base of the pitch, two rift -passages lead off which very quickly become too tight. -
The main route on is reached by swinging off after 16m into a 6m wide -passage. Two passages in the left hand wall are quickly encountered. The first -quickly becomes too tight, the second is a short crawl leading into the network -of sandy crawls at the bottom of Wolpertinger -Way, and is the best route from here to the Ariston -Series. Continuing down the main passage, passing either side of a huge -boulder, reaches a blind pit in the floor, with two ways on. -
A loose and slightly precarious traverse round the blind pit leads to a short -passage on the left, emerging at the head of You're So Veined at the -start of the Ariston -Series. A rift visible at the opposite side of the pit has an audible -connection to You're so Veined. -
To the right at the blind pit is a draughting phreatic tube which heads -downhill at a comfortable walking size past a tight passage on the left [C1999-204-18 C]. After 20m, a 3m climb up into a roof -tube on the right hand side is the way into the White -Elephant Series. The phreatic passage continues for a further 15m past a too -tight inlet on the right and a traverse over a blind pit to a 3m deep hole in -the floor, which is blind. Traversing over the hole and up a loose climb with a -too tight rift in the right hand wall leads into an uphill passage, which is -choked with mud after 5m. A sandy crawl on the right just before the choke leads -via a left hand bend with a too tight rift on the right (probably connecting to -that at the loose climb) ending at a 2m climb down. There is a possible way on -at the bottom of this, but it is very small and tall people at least would have -to enter feet first [C1999-204-19 C]. There is a noticeable draught here -blowing downhill (into the cave). -
-
Ariston Series
-The Ariston Series is the route to the current deepest point in the cave. The -pitch series begins with a short pitch of 5m rigged from a large thread in the -roof a few metres back, with a single spit for the vertical part, which is -almost a scramble. This lands on a large ledge formed of boulders wedged across -a narrow point; there are two choices of descent here, one to the north, -You're So Veined (15m), which was used in 1999, and an as yet undescended -pitch to the south, which will land further down the Ariston Series, which -should probably be used in 2000. One rebelay provides a good hang against the -wall of You're so Veined to reach the foot of the pitch, which is in a spacious -shaft, with an impressive aven above. From here, there are two ways on: to the -left, facing away from the pitch just descended, is a gully, which in 1999 -contained a thick layer of ice. Carefully traversing this rather slippery -section leads to the head of a small pitch of 6m, which was rigged with a -Y-hang. From here a walking size phreatic passage leads off, carrying a -substantial breeze. The passage initially descends, but then develops a narrow -floor trench; as the trench deepens, the phreatic part of the passage rises, and -then ends abruptly where the floor trench turns right and leads off as a -too-tight rift while ahead the phreas pinches out. -
Back at the foot of You're So Veined, a way on to the right leads into -a small, very crumbly chamber, from which a short section of awkward rift leads -to a fine crow's nest in the wall of a large rift. A very short pitch (5m) lands -on a large ledge, from which a roped traverse along the left-hand wall gains the -head of the next pitch of 12m, which avoids a large ledge which would have been -in the way but for the traverse. This pitch currently requires a rope protector -just below the Y-hang at the top. The landing is on another large ledge, where a -pool can be used to refill water containers. It is thought that the alternative -pitch to You're so Veined will land here, if rigged. -
The next pitch of 14m consists of a backup bolt followed by a Y-hang, which -utilises one very cratered spit, which can only be used with a bollard type -hanger. This pitch requires a deviation from the opposite wall or a rebelay to -be installed as there is currently a rub point just below the Y-hang. The ledge -that this pitch lands on consists of boulders wedged across the shaft, although -it seems sound. A backup bolt protects the approach to the Y-hang at the head of -the next pitch (35m). Unfortunately, it seems to be impossible to get a clean -hang from here, and a rub-point 3m down will require the installation of a -rebelay or deviation in future. Immediately after this point, the walls of the -shaft bell out, and the rope hangs in stimulating isolation. About 5m from the -floor a ledge is passed, which could be gained by a swing across, where there -may possibly be a passage leading off [C1999-204-20 B]. -
At the foot of the pitch, the way on is a very chossy, sloping descent which -will require either re-rigging or bypassing (which may be possible by a climb up -and over) in future. This leads to a further short pitch (10m), which lands in -an aven chamber of ample proportions. From here drops an 8m pitch, -landing on a rubble floor. The only way on is a tight rift -[C2000-204-60 C], -which was penetrated for only a short distance. -More progress might be possible by someone small and imaginative. Not surveyed in 2000. -Back at the head of the 8m pitch. a crawl leading off from the foot of the -pitch just descended, and a descending rubble slope. The rubble slope curves -round to the right, passing a tight rift on the left [C1999-204-22 C], to reach the bottom of a short climb up -of 3m on the right, which is followed by a scramble down on the other side. From -here, straight ahead is a climb up into the foot of an aven, half-right is a -short ascending passage leading to a chamber where a traverse around the right -hand wall leads to a slope down to Fledermausschacht. -Full right is a stooping/crawling -height phreatic passage with a mud floor. This passes on the right the other end -of the crawl which led off from the foot of the previous pitch. -
Some 50m of alternate crawling and stooping, including a single point where -the roof dips and the crawl is flat-out, leads to a small chamber. Here there -are two holes in the floor. One leads to -Kiwi Suit; the other drop is much shorter, and is -split into two sections by ledges on each wall part way down. The first section -of 8m reaches these small ledges, where a stream enters from the foot of a very -large aven. The next section of 11m is wet, and lands on a small ledge -overlooking a massive shaft. Stones thrown out from here fall for 3s. This is -believed to be the same pitch as the first pitch of Kiwi Suit. - -
Kiwi Suit
-The first pitch begins with a funnel-shaped opening. The initial approach is rigged -from a large pillar at the edge of the funnel (the approach to this could be further -protected by a traverse line tied round an even larger pillar a couple of metres back). -Suddenly, at the base of the funnel, there is an impressive black space. In 2000 the -descent was rigged New-Zealand style, entirely from naturals, which seemed sound, but -worrisome for us bolt-junkies, especially given the record of 'Bomb-Proof' naturals in -KH visiting the bottoms of pitches. Two deviations keep the descent clear of walls and -the small trickle of water which falls down the shaft (probably becomes a much bigger -trickle after rain). The floor is reached after 54 metres of descent. The way on is a -short traverse, an 8 metre pich, another short traverse, and then a 20 metre pitch to a -ledge. The final pitch from this ledge is an impressive rift of 47 metres depth, rigged -in 2000 from a natural, one bolt, and the rope from the pitch above.
- -At the bottom, a -merry little stream is reached (similar volume of water to the Top Camp waterhole in -spate). Upstream was not pushed, but reportedly leads quickly to the foot of a -waterfall -[C2000-204-63 B]. -Downstream quickly narrows to about 50cm wide, and -progress is made by constantly changing level to stay where the passage is wide enough. -After about 40m a small cascade of about 4m is reached, which could probably be -free-climbed, but a handline here helps avoid getting soaked. The passage is -considerably wider for a few metres below the cascade, but soon resumes in its previous -manner. Suddenly, the head of a pitch -[C2000-204-64 A], -estimated at about 10 metres, -is reached. This was the limit of exploration in 2000. The streamway can be seen to -continue below the pitch, and perhaps becomes a bit wider.
- -Fledermausschacht
- -The traverse round to the pitch head -is protected by a thread belay at the start of the traverse. A substantial thread -(requiring 2 slings due to its girth) at the pitch head enables the first, sloping -section of the pitch to be descended. Soon the pitch becomes vertical, and a -rebelay on the far wall (at -5m) allows the next few metres to be descended. -Unfortunately the shaft still hades slightly, and a further two rebelays (at -15m -and -28m) are required before the magnitude of this 112m shaft starts to become -apparent. A 40m freehanging section leads to a sloping ledge, where the shaft -doglegs again and a scrappy descent down a gulley, and a further two rebelays (at --68m and -80m), reaches a sloping ledge overlooking the final section of the -pitch. A chossy traverse across the left hand wall appears to head into a parallel -shaft [C2000-204-61 C]. -A bolt round the corner to the right allows a descent of -the final 22m to the floor to be made, where a boulder choke is met, with no way -on. The whole pitch, particularly the far wall, is rather loose and due care must -be taken. A large chockstone near the second rebelay could not be shifted, but -should be treated with suspicion.
- -Nature Note: A bat was observed flitting around -in here on two occasions.
- -At the start of the traverse to the head of Fledermaus Schacht is a small crawl -leading off to the right. This is initially flat-out over crumbly mud, but enlarges -after a short distance to enter a series of small mud-filled chambers. There is no -obvious way on, other than to start excavations in the mud banks -[C2000-204-62 Dig] -Not surveyed in 2000.
- -White Elephant Series
-The White Elephant Series is a series of rift pitches which has not been -pushed to a definite conclusion, but does not appear especially promising, -despite carrying a considerable breeze. From the head of the 3m climb up, a roof -tube leads off. After 8m of crawling, the passage opens out at the head of a 2m -climb down by a large boulder. A too-tight rift leads off on the left, but ahead -opens out into a large space, the Millennium Dome. -
A 20m pitch rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall backed up to the big -boulder, with a rebelay and rope protector after 5m, lands on the boulder floor -of the Millennium dome, which is an L-shaped chamber at the base of a large -aven, with each arm of the L being 15m long and 5m wide. There do not appear to -be any ways through the boulders, but a rift leads off at the western end, -quickly arriving at the head of a 10m pitch with a constricted take off, rigged -from boulders. An eyehole part way down this pitch appears to lead into a -parallel shaft [C1999-204-25 B] (This is probably the connection through to pleasure dome). The pitch lands on a rubble floor with a -blind pit. Heading south quickly reaches a loose pitch head, with a rift passage -continuing beyond. -
The pitch is 28m, rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall and deviations -from natural threads after 4m and 12m. The second deviation is by a small rock -bridge, where descending either side appears to go to the same place, and an -eyehole opposite connects to the continuation of the rift at the top of the -pitch. The base of the pitch is an oddly shaped chamber formed from several -rifts (about 7m up the pitch, these rifts coalesce to form a single shaft.) -North from the base of the rope leads to a 3m climb down into an inlet rift -coming from the north which ends in a blank wall 8m from the base of the rope, -but the rift continues too-tight heading south beneath the 3m climb. South from -the base of the rope is another rift heading downhill which rapidly becomes too -tight with running water clearly audible, but not visible beyond. West from the -base of the rope leads to junction with a too tight rift continuing to the west, -and another inlet rift coming from the north which ends in a blank wall after -5m. -
Traversing over the top of the pitch (rope required) and a short descent -leads to a continuation of the rift passage. A hole on the left connects to the -28m pitch described earlier. After 5m the rift narrows and a constricted pitch -head is reached. The descent of 15m is rigged from a large boulder and leads -immediately to a further drop of 7m rigged from a bolt. This shorter drop may be -bypassed by an alternative free climb in a narrow slot immediately beyond the -pitch head. From the base the tall, narrow rift continues with two short climbs -and a slot in the floor which gradually widens to the head of the next pitch -after 6m. This is rigged from a Y-hang on either side of the rift, but soon -opens out to give a fine descent of 15m landing in a spacious rift at 182m depth -from 204b entrance. A narrow slot in the floor develops, which is just large -enough to descend, but stones thrown down sound dead [C1999-204-26 B]. It is possible to traverse above the -slot for a short way before the rift becomes too tight. -
There is a noticeable breeze at the base of this pitch, as there is through -much of the series, with air blowing into the cave. From the base of the 7m -pitch, there is no roof visible. This area has potential, but there are no easy -leads, and some lunatic bolt traverses may be required to try to bypass the -tight sections. -
Exploration: CUCC 1999, to length 1365m, depth 226m
CUCC 2000 to
-2.5km and depth 368m
-
- -
Back to Expedition Intro
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Full Index by cave
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Schwarzmooskogel ridge area index
| 204 (CUCC 1999/03) |
+ Steinbrückenhöhle |
+ 4/S x |
|---|---|---|
| Extent: | Length 4.7km, depth 368m. | |||
| Location: | +204a | 36697E | (52)83700N | 1812m altitude |
| 204b | 36688E | (52)83713N | 1810m altitude | |
| 204c | 36666E | (52)83905N | 1836m altitude | |
| 204d | 36451E | (52)83882N | 1773m altitude | |
| 204e | 36618E | (52)83860N | 1817m altitude | |
| 204f | 36627E | (52)83873N | 1821m altitude | |
The cave is situated on the west side of the col between the Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel and Nieder +Augst-Eck. It is currently one of the main areas of exploration for CUCC. +
Access route:The route from Top Camp used since 1999 (probably near optimal) is a +cairned path via Wolfhöhle (1623/145) and Laser +Point 5, then up to the top of the bare patch of white limestone visible from +Top Camp, passing 195 and 196. +The path used in 2001 then skirts around the contours to arrive directly opposite the stone bridge +after which the cave was named (in previous years a route slightly higher up towards the Hinter was used). +Alternatively, the cave may be approached from the summit of HSK - +probably the optimal route if you are coming from any of the 161 entrances. + +
Marking:Tags on both 204a and 204b entrances. + +
Description
+-
+
Exploration and surveys
+ +A revised survey, including the areas explored on the 2001 expedition, is currently +in preparation and will be available in time for the 2002 expedition. + +
The question mark list (not yet updated with 2001 question marks) is available +here. + +
On-line surveys: +
-
+
Exploration history: +
-
+
+ + + + + diff --git a/smkridge/204/ariston.shtml b/smkridge/204/ariston.shtml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..648584b34 --- /dev/null +++ b/smkridge/204/ariston.shtml @@ -0,0 +1,156 @@ +
| 204 (CUCC 1999/03) |
+ Steinbrückenhöhle |
+ 4/S x |
|---|---|---|
Deep routes via the Ariston Series
+ +Ariston Series
+The Ariston Series is the route to the current deepest point in the cave. The +pitch series begins with a short pitch of 5m rigged from a large thread in the +roof a few metres back, with a single spit for the vertical part, which is +almost a scramble. This lands on a large ledge formed of boulders wedged across +a narrow point; there are two choices of descent here, one to the north, +You're So Veined (15m), which was used in 1999, and an as yet undescended +pitch to the south, which will land further down the Ariston Series, which +should probably be used in 2000. One rebelay provides a good hang against the +wall of You're so Veined to reach the foot of the pitch, which is in a spacious +shaft, with an impressive aven above. From here, there are two ways on: to the +left, facing away from the pitch just descended, is a gully, which in 1999 +contained a thick layer of ice. Carefully traversing this rather slippery +section leads to the head of a small pitch of 6m, which was rigged with a +Y-hang. From here a walking size phreatic passage leads off, carrying a +substantial breeze. The passage initially descends, but then develops a narrow +floor trench; as the trench deepens, the phreatic part of the passage rises, and +then ends abruptly where the floor trench turns right and leads off as a +too-tight rift while ahead the phreas pinches out. +
Back at the foot of You're So Veined, a way on to the right leads into +a small, very crumbly chamber, from which a short section of awkward rift leads +to a fine crow's nest in the wall of a large rift. A very short pitch (5m) lands +on a large ledge, from which a roped traverse along the left-hand wall gains the +head of the next pitch of 12m, which avoids a large ledge which would have been +in the way but for the traverse. This pitch currently requires a rope protector +just below the Y-hang at the top. The landing is on another large ledge, where a +pool can be used to refill water containers. It is thought that the alternative +pitch to You're so Veined will land here, if rigged. +
The next pitch of 14m consists of a backup bolt followed by a Y-hang, which +utilises one very cratered spit, which can only be used with a bollard type +hanger. This pitch requires a deviation from the opposite wall or a rebelay to +be installed as there is currently a rub point just below the Y-hang. The ledge +that this pitch lands on consists of boulders wedged across the shaft, although +it seems sound. A backup bolt protects the approach to the Y-hang at the head of +the next pitch (35m). Unfortunately, it seems to be impossible to get a clean +hang from here, and a rub-point 3m down will require the installation of a +rebelay or deviation in future. Immediately after this point, the walls of the +shaft bell out, and the rope hangs in stimulating isolation. About 5m from the +floor a ledge is passed, which could be gained by a swing across, where there +may possibly be a passage leading off [C1999-204-20 B]. +
At the foot of the pitch, the way on is a very chossy, sloping descent which +will require either re-rigging or bypassing (which may be possible by a climb up +and over) in future. This leads to a further short pitch (10m), which lands in +an aven chamber of ample proportions. From here drops an 8m pitch, +landing on a rubble floor. The only way on is a tight rift +[C2000-204-60 C], +which was penetrated for only a short distance. +More progress might be possible by someone small and imaginative. Not surveyed in 2000. +Back at the head of the 8m pitch. a crawl leading off from the foot of the +pitch just descended, and a descending rubble slope. The rubble slope curves +round to the right, passing a tight rift on the left [C1999-204-22 C], to reach the bottom of a short climb up +of 3m on the right, which is followed by a scramble down on the other side. From +here, straight ahead is a climb up into the foot of an aven, half-right is a +short ascending passage leading to a chamber where a traverse around the right +hand wall leads to a slope down to Fledermausschacht. +Full right is a stooping/crawling +height phreatic passage with a mud floor. This passes on the right the other end +of the crawl which led off from the foot of the previous pitch. +
Some 50m of alternate crawling and stooping, including a single point where +the roof dips and the crawl is flat-out, leads to a small chamber. Here there +are two holes in the floor. One leads to +Kiwi Suit; the other drop is much shorter, and is +split into two sections by ledges on each wall part way down. The first section +of 8m reaches these small ledges, where a stream enters from the foot of a very +large aven. The next section of 11m is wet, and lands on a small ledge +overlooking a massive shaft. Stones thrown out from here fall for 3s. This is +believed to be the same pitch as the first pitch of Kiwi Suit. + +
Kiwi Suit
+The first pitch begins with a funnel-shaped opening. The initial approach is rigged +from a large pillar at the edge of the funnel (the approach to this could be further +protected by a traverse line tied round an even larger pillar a couple of metres back). +Suddenly, at the base of the funnel, there is an impressive black space. In 2000 the +descent was rigged New-Zealand style, entirely from naturals, which seemed sound, but +worrisome for us bolt-junkies, especially given the record of 'Bomb-Proof' naturals in +KH visiting the bottoms of pitches. Two deviations keep the descent clear of walls and +the small trickle of water which falls down the shaft (probably becomes a much bigger +trickle after rain). The floor is reached after 54 metres of descent. The way on is a +short traverse, an 8 metre pich, another short traverse, and then a 20 metre pitch to a +ledge. The final pitch from this ledge is an impressive rift of 47 metres depth, rigged +in 2000 from a natural, one bolt, and the rope from the pitch above.
+ +At the bottom, a +merry little stream is reached (similar volume of water to the Top Camp waterhole in +spate). Upstream was not pushed, but reportedly leads quickly to the foot of a +waterfall +[C2000-204-63 B]. +Downstream quickly narrows to about 50cm wide, and +progress is made by constantly changing level to stay where the passage is wide enough. +After about 40m a small cascade of about 4m is reached, which could probably be +free-climbed, but a handline here helps avoid getting soaked. The passage is +considerably wider for a few metres below the cascade, but soon resumes in its previous +manner. Suddenly, the head of a pitch +[C2000-204-64 A], +estimated at about 10 metres, +is reached. This was the limit of exploration in 2000. The streamway can be seen to +continue below the pitch, and perhaps becomes a bit wider.
+ +Fledermausschacht
+ +The traverse round to the pitch head +is protected by a thread belay at the start of the traverse. A substantial thread +(requiring 2 slings due to its girth) at the pitch head enables the first, sloping +section of the pitch to be descended. Soon the pitch becomes vertical, and a +rebelay on the far wall (at -5m) allows the next few metres to be descended. +Unfortunately the shaft still hades slightly, and a further two rebelays (at -15m +and -28m) are required before the magnitude of this 112m shaft starts to become +apparent. A 40m freehanging section leads to a sloping ledge, where the shaft +doglegs again and a scrappy descent down a gulley, and a further two rebelays (at +-68m and -80m), reaches a sloping ledge overlooking the final section of the +pitch. A chossy traverse across the left hand wall appears to head into a parallel +shaft [C2000-204-61 C]. +A bolt round the corner to the right allows a descent of +the final 22m to the floor to be made, where a boulder choke is met, with no way +on. The whole pitch, particularly the far wall, is rather loose and due care must +be taken. A large chockstone near the second rebelay could not be shifted, but +should be treated with suspicion.
+ +Nature Note: A bat was observed flitting around +in here on two occasions.
+ +At the start of the traverse to the head of Fledermausschacht is a small crawl +leading off to the right. This is initially flat-out over crumbly mud, but enlarges +after a short distance to enter a series of small mud-filled chambers. There is no +obvious way on, other than to start excavations in the mud banks +[C2000-204-62 Dig]. +Not surveyed in 2000.
+ + ++ + + + + diff --git a/smkridge/204/el1999.png b/smkridge/204/el1999.png deleted file mode 100644 index cf510d500..000000000 Binary files a/smkridge/204/el1999.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/smkridge/204/entrance.shtml b/smkridge/204/entrance.shtml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..39530c134 --- /dev/null +++ b/smkridge/204/entrance.shtml @@ -0,0 +1,168 @@ +
| 204 (CUCC 1999/03) |
+ Steinbrückenhöhle |
+ 4/S x |
|---|---|---|
Entrance and The Near End passages
+ +The 204a entrance is directly opposite a 10m x 3m stone bridge +from which it derives its name. The entrance itself is approximately 8m high and +5m wide, and leads down a boulder slope and round a right hand bend to the top +of the first pitch. The 204b entrance is 15m away to the west, and this is the +entrance which is rigged. + +First Pitch
+ +A 3m climb down (handline useful) leads into the +entrance gully and a ledge at the head of the first pitch, Trick or +Treat, opposite 204a entrance. This loose, sloping pitch of 20m is rigged +from a Y-hang on the right hand wall, with a rebelay and deviation. The pitch is +tedious to prussik on return and is best climbed. The landing is by a large snow +plug with an ice corridor round the edge leading to the top of a +boulder slope. A rift passage on the right becomes too tight. + +The snow level varies: in 2000 it was much higher than in 1999, rendering the +original route impassable (see here). A revised route was +explored, which was the main route in 2001. + +Second and Third Pitches
+Descending the boulder slope (care required to avoid kicking +rocks off) leads to the head of the second pitch, Jim'll Fix It (18m in 1999 but +only about 10m in 2000/2001 due to increased snow levels). An +unexplored passage is visible from the pitch head, which could be accessed by a +bolt traverse round the right hand side of the pitch head +[C1999-204-01 C] (explored by Brian?). +The pitch is rigged from a bolt in the +left hand wall with a deviation from a spit immediately after the pitch head +bolt. This protects a marginal rub point and also avoids a jet of water which +spurts from a crack in the wall after heavy rain. + +The landing is on a large snow plug. Following the wall around to the right (facing the +wall on which the pitch is rigged) leads to a 2m +climb into a rift, which quickly descends to the head of the impressive third pitch, +Stitch This (30m). A Y-hang rebelay on the left wall is shortly +followed by a deviation from the opposite side of the shaft to obtain a free-hang into +Wolpertinger Way. This pitch is in fact +an (upwards) continuation of Thread Pitch. + +
1999 route to Wolpertinger Way
+ +In 1999, the landing of Jim'll Fix It was by a large +pointed snowplug. +There was sufficient gap between snow and wall to complete the +descent and emerge in a sloping phreatic passage. There are two ways on: Right +leads uphill as stooping/crawling height passage for 30m to emerge at the top of +Umshitshimbo. +Left leads downhill into The Near +End and is the main way on. There is a further unexplored passage in the +wall above the gap between the snow plug and the rock [C1999-204-03 C]. + +The Near End
+The Near End is a collective name for a complex network of high level +phreatic passages which slope approximately 20° following the dip of the beds. +Heading downhill from the base of Jim'll Fix It in a stooping height +passage leads round a double bend to a 2m climb down to a junction. Right leads +to more side +passages whilst the main route is straight ahead to a crossroads. Right +leads into the same side +passages as the previous right turn. Left is Needle Crawl past an +unexplored passage on the left [C1999-204-04 C] and a crawl on the right (feels like +straight ahead) which becomes too small after ~8m. Straight ahead (feels like a +left) leads to the head of a fine 4m diameter circular shaft, Thread +Pitch. This pitch of 17m leads into Wolpertinger +Way. A continuation of the +crawl is visible at the opposite side of the pitch head [C1999-204-06 C]. +
From the crossroads, the main route in 1999 was straight ahead, downhill in +mostly stooping height passage with a short section of sandy crawling. After 15m +is a short climb down to the top of a 4m deep pit with a too-tight passage at +the bottom, with the phreatic passage continuing to the right. After a further +10m the passage is intersected by a large rift with a big rock partially +blocking the passage. Climbing up to the right leads back into a tall rift in +the side +passages. A climb up to the left leads to a passage containing attractive +white mud which was not entered, however a visual connection to the Pendulum +Pitch was established. +
Straight ahead leads to a further junction after 15m. Left opens out to the +head of Pendulum +Pitch, the main route to the bottom of Wolpertinger +Way used in 1999. Right leads to a narrow stooping height passage which +continues for 25m with several clear pools in the floor to a widening where most +routes ahead and to the left are choked with boulders. To the right, a body +sized tube leads upwards for ~15m before opening out into a low chamber on the +left. The continuation of the crawl is immediately opposite the entry point and there is a climb down into a rift on +the far side of the chamber to the left [C1999-204-07 B]. The continuation is a winding passage which continues upwards. It then increases to stoping +heightand goes over some old gower pools. The passage continues to a flat out section ( not really a squeze, except for lardarses) not +pushed, but running water could be heard. Back in the chamber, it doubles back on itself to +the left and encounters an area of breakdown which was not fully investigated, +but is presumed to be the opposite side of the boulder choke. +
The Near End: Side Passages
+The first two right turns encountered when heading downhill from the foot of +Jim'll Fix +It unite in a walking sized passage. After 10m the bottom of Umshitshimbo +is passed on the right, whilst straight ahead leads to a junction with a large +keyhole passage. Left leads after 15m to a climb up behind a precariously placed +boulder, to an immediate climb down of 4m which emerges in the 1999 main route +through the near end before Pendulum +Pitch. Right leads immediately to a 8m pitch. A difficult and exposed traverse round +the left hand wall leads to a further 30m of passage with a steadily lowering +roof culminating in a boulder choke. + +
The Near End: Umshitshimbo and Updip Passages
+Umshitshimbo is a fine phreatic ramp, 2m wide and about 4m high, which +heads uphill in a straight line for 40m. At the top a passage doubling back on +the right leads back to the base of Jim'll Fix It +and there is a climb up into a rift passage heading south over the top of +Umshitshimbo which becomes too narrow. Large passage continues uphill past a 2m +deep blind pit on the right to a junction. +
Left leads uphill past a choked inlet on the left to a steep uphill section +with a crawl on the right, which leads shortly to a 2m climb down and immediate +choke. At the top of the steep section the passage to the right immediately +chokes, whilst left is Dolly Parton climb, a 2m climb up with huge jugs, +to a further 15m of upward trending phreatic passage, terminating in a boulder +choke with a slight draught (air coming into the cave). There are two small +steep phreatic ramps on the left hand side of this passage, both very small and +both choked. +
Straight ahead at the junction leads through a short section of rift to an +enlargement with an alcove on the right and a keyhole passage ahead. The rift +section at the bottom quickly becomes choked, with a slight draught coming in. A +3m climb gains access to the phreatic section which goes over the top of the +choke, and about after a further 3m reaches a large boulder, which almost blocks +the passage with a strong breeze blowing through the gap (into the cave.) +Squeezing through yields a steeply ascending rocky crawl which chokes after +about 5m. + +
+ + + + + diff --git a/smkridge/204/midlevel.shtml b/smkridge/204/midlevel.shtml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..69a3fcb60 --- /dev/null +++ b/smkridge/204/midlevel.shtml @@ -0,0 +1,132 @@ +
| 204 (CUCC 1999/03) |
+ Steinbrückenhöhle |
+ 4/S x |
|---|---|---|
Mid-level passages (including Wolpertinger Way)
+ +Wolpertinger Way
+Thread Pitch and Stitch This from The Near +End land at the top of a large 6-8m diameter phreatic passage, +Wolpertinger Way. This heads downhill past some ice formations on the +left hand side, for 35m to a junction. Straight ahead is a steep gully leading +to a 6.5m diameter circular shaft with aven above - You're So Veined. +There is a traverse round the right hand side of the gully on an increasingly +narrow ledge. +
You're So Veined is rigged at its southern end, and this is reached +via a sandy crawl off to the right from the top of the steep gully, which passes +over a hole in the floor through dangerous boulders [C1999-204-09 C] to reach a junction. Right is a +passage, which quickly chokes, straight ahead leads into 110 A Day, +whilst left is the main route. +
More sandy crawling leads to a crossroads, where left leads to the ledge +overlooking the pitch, and right is a short crawl leading to the main passage +part of the way down Pendulum +Pitch, the easiest route to the White +Elephant Series. Straight ahead leads to a further junction. Right is a +short passage to a traverse round a blind pit, an alternative route to Pendulum +Pitch. Left is the head of You're So Veined, the start of the Ariston +Series.
+ +110 A Day
+110 A Day is a long, dusty passage which varies between stooping and +crawling for 110m. Immediately after the start is a sharp right hand bend with +a crawl straight ahead to 110 Bidet. About halfway along is a crossroads, +where low passages lead off to the left to 110 Bidet and to the right [C1999-204-13 C]. At the terminus reached in 1999, the +passage splits into two. Each branch immediately becomes tight, but could be +pushed further with a little determination and effort [C1999-204-14 C and C1999-204-15 C]. In the left hand branch, just before the +passage becomes tighter, is an undescended pitch [C1999-204-16 A] of perhaps 20m. + +
110 Bidet
+110 Bidet is a stooping size passage which runs parallel to 110 A Day. +It can be accessed via a crawl about 1m up that carries straight on from where +110 A Day starts with a sharp right hand turn. The crawl emerges into +larger passage; to the left after 5m is Pendulum Pitch. Going right leads +to a hole in the floor among boulders, Marble Run. To the left here +is a low passage leading to No Pain No Gain, whilst 110 Bidet carries straight on. +Continuing on, the passage turns right, followed shortly by a crossroads with a crawly passage. +To the right is a dead end; to the left is [C2000-204-54 B]. Straight on emerges into 110 A Day +about half way along its length. + +
Marble Run
+Marble Run runs along a fault line that created a small passable phreatic +tube, which has subsequently been intersected by a tight rifty stream way. 20m along +the rift bears to the right and is too tight to pass, whilst the phreatic passage continues on to a small +chamber. Here the passage doubles back over itself to continue above the original +passage. The passage does this once more to end in an earth blockage. + +
Pendulum Pitch Route
+Pendulum Pitch is in a large rift. The first section is a loose +boulder slope (care required) to a rebelay, then a descent of 23m via a +deviation off the far wall below a large wedged boulder. There may be a passage +on the far side of the rift accessible with difficulty from this boulder [C1999-204-17 C]. From the base of the pitch, two rift +passages lead off which very quickly become too tight. +
The main route on is reached by swinging off after 16m into a 6m wide +passage. Two passages in the left hand wall are quickly encountered. The first +quickly becomes too tight, the second is a short crawl leading into the network +of sandy crawls at the bottom of Wolpertinger +Way, and is the best route from here to the Ariston +Series. Continuing down the main passage, passing either side of a huge +boulder, reaches a blind pit in the floor, with two ways on. +
A loose and slightly precarious traverse round the blind pit leads to a short +passage on the left, emerging at the head of You're So Veined at the +start of the Ariston +Series. A rift visible at the opposite side of the pit has an audible +connection to You're so Veined. +
To the right at the blind pit is a draughting phreatic tube which heads +downhill at a comfortable walking size past a tight passage on the left [C1999-204-18 C]. After 20m, a 3m climb up into a roof +tube on the right hand side is the way into the White +Elephant Series. The phreatic passage continues for a further 15m past a too +tight inlet on the right and a traverse over a blind pit to a 3m deep hole in +the floor, which is blind. Traversing over the hole and up a loose climb with a +too tight rift in the right hand wall leads into an uphill passage, which is +choked with mud after 5m. A sandy crawl on the right just before the choke leads +via a left hand bend with a too tight rift on the right (probably connecting to +that at the loose climb) ending at a 2m climb down. There is a possible way on +at the bottom of this, but it is very small and tall people at least would have +to enter feet first [C1999-204-19 C]. There is a noticeable draught here +blowing downhill (into the cave). + +
+ + + + + diff --git a/smkridge/204/nopain.shtml b/smkridge/204/nopain.shtml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..abdce61a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/smkridge/204/nopain.shtml @@ -0,0 +1,159 @@ +
| 204 (CUCC 1999/03) |
+ Steinbrückenhöhle |
+ 4/S x |
|---|---|---|
No Pain No Gain through to the Colonnade
+ +No Pain No Gain
+No Pain No Gain is a low tube, which emerges to a mud-floored chamber. (Please +try not to disturb the remaining flow patterns in the mud). A crawly mud floored +passage leaves the chamber to the right. To the right near the end of the crawl is a +bedding plane that continues uphill [C2000-204-01 B], whilst to the left is a small stone floored pit. There +is a 2m climb up from the top of the pit. This has a stalactite formation at the top on the +right, and threads on the left where a sling may be attached to assist. The crawl then +continues to a junction with two connecting passages to the left [C2000-204-02 B] and two connecting passages to the right [C2000-204-03 C]. The passage then continues to a T junction where it +enlarges slightly. To the right is [C2000-204-04 C]. To the left there is a chamber that is +intersected by a tight rift with flowing water. Downstream is [C2000-204-05 C]. Upstream a key hole passage slopes upwards, to a T-junction +with a chamber to the right, and an short, almost flat-out crawl to the left. + +The chamber, which has +an aven [C2000-204-55 X], can be dropped into. +A rift at the other end of the chamber leads to a +waterfall which feeds the stream that runs through the chamber. Climbing up before the rift gives +access to a crawl [C2000-204-06 C]. The flat out crawl emerges to a small angular chamber, at the +top of which, to the right, is a hole [C2000-204-07 C]. To the left a low passage runs above a 4m drop [C2000-204-08 B]. This then turns right and continues to a fork in the passage. To +the left is Insignificant Chamber, and to the right is a smaller chamber with a hole in the floor, +windows to Insignificant Chamber, and a bedding plane continuing up at 10°, which again connects into Insignificant Chamber. + +
Insignificant Chamber
+Insignificant Chamber can be entered at floor level from No Pain No Gain. It extends to a +passage on the left as one enters, where there are a number a interconnecting holes on the right [C2000-204-58 C]. Upslope from the entrance is a bedding plane which splits left to +Bonsai Crawl on the left and to [C2000-204-09 B] on the right. To the right upon entering Insignificant Chamber one can climb up +to a point above the small chamber in No Pain No Gain. From here there is a phreatic tube[C2000-204-57 C] that can be probably be reached with the aid of a traverse line. The passage +continues climbing ever upward [C2000-204-56 B]. The passage to the left from Insignificant Chamber gets smaller and +meets a crossroads. To the left is a walking size passage with a small pit in the floor that continues to a large +pitch [C2000-204-10 A], thought to drop into Pleasuredome. Straight on the passage turns to a steeply +sloping pitch [C2000-204-11 B]. To the right is some small passage that connects to the Bonsai +Crawl. Half way along this passage there is a hole [C2000-204-59 C]. + +
Bonsai Crawl
+Bonsai Crawl is a wide bedding plane. A tall and thin passage to the right goes to a chamber +with a pitch [C2000-204-52 C] and a couple of small passages to the right [C2000-204-50 C] and [C2000-204-51 C]. A passage leads off to the left and gets lower, passing some +pretties on the floor. It then continues [C2000-204-53 A]. Bonsai Crawl continues to a fork that has a stooping-size +passage to the left [C2000-204-12 B]. To the right is a walking-size passage with a boulder floor. +There is a hole in the right wall that has a couple of small passages leading off [C2000-204-13 C], [C2000-204-14 C]. The passage then debouches into The Colonnade. + +
The Colonnade
+Bonsai Crawl joins at a point where The Colonnade, a wide walking passage with a boulder +floor, makes a sharp turn. To the right the passage comes to a chamber-like crossroads. To the left +is an initially walking-sized tube [C2000-204-41 A] and to the right a low draughting crawl [C2000-204-42 B]. The Colonnade continues and a stream joins from the left. +Further along on the left is a pile of stones which must originate from a passage [C2000-204-43 Dig]. The passage then becomes small with a possible aven [C2000-204-44 X], a tight rift [C2000-204-45 B], and a crawl down and to the right. The crawl emerges into +a chamber, with a possible way on over rocks directly ahead [C2000-204-49 C]. The chamber gets larger to the right, where there are two +tight rifts leading off [C2000-204-46 C], [C2000-204-47 C] and an aven [C2000-204-48 X]. Water was flowing down one of these, possibly to the waterfall +entering the chamber in No Pain No Gain. At this time in 2000 +it had not rained on the surface for 8 days. Back where +Bonsai Crawl enters, the passage goes straight on with a number of minor passages to the sides. +These are a crawl to the left [C2000-204-15 C]; then some distance further on, another crawl on the left [C2000-204-16 B] leading from a trench in the passage; a small passage on the +right [C2000-204-17 C] that links to [C2000-204-21 C]; and a crawl high up to the left [C2000-204-18 C]. A short distance further a walking-size passage goes to the +left [C2000-204-19 C]. The main passage then forks: to the left is [C2000-204-20 C] whilst to the right the passage continues past a high up crawl [C2000-204-21 C], and then possibly [C2000-204-22 C]. The main passage then pops out into +Treeumphant Passage. + +
+ + + + + diff --git a/smkridge/204/pl1999.png b/smkridge/204/pl1999.png deleted file mode 100644 index f8074516d..000000000 Binary files a/smkridge/204/pl1999.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/smkridge/204/pl1999orig.png b/smkridge/204/pl1999orig.png deleted file mode 100644 index f258f0504..000000000 Binary files a/smkridge/204/pl1999orig.png and /dev/null differ diff --git a/smkridge/204/pleasuredome.shtml b/smkridge/204/pleasuredome.shtml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..842b18242 --- /dev/null +++ b/smkridge/204/pleasuredome.shtml @@ -0,0 +1,80 @@ +
| 204 (CUCC 1999/03) |
+ Steinbrückenhöhle |
+ 4/S x |
|---|---|---|
Pleasuredome area
+ +Pleasuredome
+This description will follow in due course. + +
White Elephant Series
+The White Elephant Series is a series of rift pitches which has not been +pushed to a definite conclusion, but does not appear especially promising, +despite carrying a considerable breeze. From the head of the 3m climb up, a roof +tube leads off. After 8m of crawling, the passage opens out at the head of a 2m +climb down by a large boulder. A too-tight rift leads off on the left, but ahead +opens out into a large space, the Millennium Dome. +
A 20m pitch rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall backed up to the big +boulder, with a rebelay and rope protector after 5m, lands on the boulder floor +of the Millennium dome, which is an L-shaped chamber at the base of a large +aven, with each arm of the L being 15m long and 5m wide. There do not appear to +be any ways through the boulders, but a rift leads off at the western end, +quickly arriving at the head of a 10m pitch with a constricted take off, rigged +from boulders. An eyehole part way down this pitch appears to lead into a +parallel shaft [C1999-204-25 B] (This is probably the connection through to pleasure dome). The pitch lands on a rubble floor with a +blind pit. Heading south quickly reaches a loose pitch head, with a rift passage +continuing beyond. +
The pitch is 28m, rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall and deviations +from natural threads after 4m and 12m. The second deviation is by a small rock +bridge, where descending either side appears to go to the same place, and an +eyehole opposite connects to the continuation of the rift at the top of the +pitch. The base of the pitch is an oddly shaped chamber formed from several +rifts (about 7m up the pitch, these rifts coalesce to form a single shaft.) +North from the base of the rope leads to a 3m climb down into an inlet rift +coming from the north which ends in a blank wall 8m from the base of the rope, +but the rift continues too-tight heading south beneath the 3m climb. South from +the base of the rope is another rift heading downhill which rapidly becomes too +tight with running water clearly audible, but not visible beyond. West from the +base of the rope leads to junction with a too tight rift continuing to the west, +and another inlet rift coming from the north which ends in a blank wall after +5m. +
Traversing over the top of the pitch (rope required) and a short descent +leads to a continuation of the rift passage. A hole on the left connects to the +28m pitch described earlier. After 5m the rift narrows and a constricted pitch +head is reached. The descent of 15m is rigged from a large boulder and leads +immediately to a further drop of 7m rigged from a bolt. This shorter drop may be +bypassed by an alternative free climb in a narrow slot immediately beyond the +pitch head. From the base the tall, narrow rift continues with two short climbs +and a slot in the floor which gradually widens to the head of the next pitch +after 6m. This is rigged from a Y-hang on either side of the rift, but soon +opens out to give a fine descent of 15m landing in a spacious rift at 182m depth +from 204b entrance. A narrow slot in the floor develops, which is just large +enough to descend, but stones thrown down sound dead [C1999-204-26 B]. It is possible to traverse above the +slot for a short way before the rift becomes too tight. +
There is a noticeable breeze at the base of this pitch, as there is through +much of the series, with air blowing into the cave. From the base of the 7m +pitch, there is no roof visible. This area has potential, but there are no easy +leads, and some lunatic bolt traverses may be required to try to bypass the +tight sections. + +
+ + + + + diff --git a/smkridge/204/qm.htm b/smkridge/204/qm.shtml similarity index 54% rename from smkridge/204/qm.htm rename to smkridge/204/qm.shtml index 3764a944e..36edc702b 100644 --- a/smkridge/204/qm.htm +++ b/smkridge/204/qm.shtml @@ -1,548 +1,424 @@ -
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Steinbruckenhöhle Question Mark list
-Format is QM identifier, Quality Grade, Area indicator, decription of QM. The -QM numbers themselves are in the format Discoverer identifier, Year of -discovery, Cave identifier, serial number. If you look at the html, you will -find that the nearest survey station (without its "<cavenumber>." prefix) -is included in an html comment for almost all leads. Now that there is an index to the -surveys, there may soon be a way to get from the QM to the relevant survey -file, but not the pictures :-( -
In general, an unpushed QM will have a link from its QM number in the -description to here, and a link from here to the relevant point in the -description. If there is no link, it means that I can't yet work out where the -QM is in the description, or the description doesn't yet exist :-). -
Discoverer identifiers -
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Quality Grades: -
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Note that the quality grades are assigned by the explorers at the time, and -that subsequent discoveries may mean that the grade is optimistic, since the -lead may now drop into passage which wasn't then explored. Also, different -explorers have different ideas - one man's "A-lead" may be another's "C-lead" -:-( -
Area indicator: -
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Steinbrückenhöhle Question Mark list
+ +Conventions
+For question mark list conventions, see here. + +
Area codes
+| Aris | Ariston Series |
| Insig | Insignificant Chamber and Bonsai Crawl |
| NE | Near End |
| NPNG | No Pain No Gain |
| Tree | Trunk route from The Colonnade via Treeumphant Passage to Cave Tree Chamber |
| WE | White Elephant Series |
| Wolp | Wolpertinger Way and 110 A Day level |
Question Marks
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-
-Steinbruckenhöhle Cave Description-
-Back to Expedition Intro page-
-Index to info/topic pages-
-Area/subarea descriptions-
-Full Index to 1623 caves-
-Back to CUCC Home page
+
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-Steinbruckenhöhle Question Mark list
-(Last update after 1999 expedition)
- -Format is QM identifier, Quality Grade, Area indicator, decription of QM. -The QM numbers themselves are in the format Discoverer identifier, Year of -discovery, Cave identifier, serial number. If you look at the html, you will -find that the nearest survey station (without its "<cavenumber>." prefix) is included -in an html comment for almost all leads. Now that there is an index to the surveys, there may -soon be a way to get from the QM to the relevant survey file, but not the -pictures :-( - -
In general, an unpushed QM will have a link from its QM number in the -description to here, and a link from here to the relevant point in the -description. If there is no link, it means that I can't yet work out where -the QM is in the description, or the description doesn't yet exist :-). - -
Discoverer identifiers
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Quality Grades:
-
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Note that the quality grades are assigned by the explorers at the time, -and that subsequent discoveries may mean that the grade is optimistic, since -the lead may now drop into passage which wasn't then explored. Also, -different explorers have different ideas - one man's "A-lead" may be -another's "C-lead" :-( - -
Area indicator:
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-
-
-Steinbruckenhöhle Cave Description-
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+| 204 (CUCC 1999/03) |
+ Steinbrückenhöhle |
+ 4/S x |
|---|---|---|
Swings and Roundabouts area
+ +This description will follow in due course. + +
+ + + + + diff --git a/smkridge/204/treeumphant.shtml b/smkridge/204/treeumphant.shtml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..99e44df0d --- /dev/null +++ b/smkridge/204/treeumphant.shtml @@ -0,0 +1,77 @@ +
| 204 (CUCC 1999/03) |
+ Steinbrückenhöhle |
+ 4/S x |
|---|---|---|
Treeumphant Passage through to Cave Tree Chamber
+ +Treeumphant Passage
+The Colonnade meets Treeumphant Passage at a narrow angle. In one direction +Treeumphant Passage ends just next to its entrance at a boulder slope. Ascending this +leads to a fork; the left branch is blind and the right branch ends shortly afterwards in a +choked chamber. + +In the other direction, Treeumphant Passage continues over large boulders going +slightly up hill. There is a walking passage off to the left [C2000-204-24 A], as well as a high up crawl to the right [C2000-204-25 C] and then a tight high passage to the left [C2000-204-26 C]. The passage then increases in height approaching a sharp turn +to the right. Here a walking size passage [C2000-204-28 A] continues straight on, and there may be an aven in the ceiling [C2000-204-27 X]. The main passage passes possibly diggable holes at floor level [C2000-204-29 Dig], and continues into Great Oak Chamber. +
Great Oak Chamber
+Treeumphant Passage disappears into an approx 5m drop [C2000-204-32 B] in Great Oak Chamber and there is an aven above [C2000-204-33 X]. There may be passage continuing straight across the chamber [C2000-204-31 B], as well as a passage to the right [C2000-204-30 C]. Just before the drop there is a bouldery slope up to another +smaller walking size passage. There is an oxbow to the left, with a possible passage leading off +it [C2000-204-34 B], as well as an aven [C2000-204-35 X]. There are a couple of possible digs to the left slightly +further on [C2000-204-36 C], [C2000-204-37 C] before the passage enters Cave Tree Chamber. +
Cave Tree Chamber
+There is a climb down of about 2m into Cave Tree Chamber, which has a bouldery floor on +the left, and a pitch on the right [C2000-204-39 B]. An aven extends above [C2000-204-38 X], and the passage may continue over the pitch [C2000-204-40 A]. It would be advisable to protect this traverse. + + + +
+ + + + + diff --git a/smkridge/204x.htm b/smkridge/204x.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 572ac0266..000000000 --- a/smkridge/204x.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,399 +0,0 @@ - - - -
| 204 | -Steinbrückenhöhle | -4/S x |
|---|---|---|
| (CUCC 99/03) |
Altitude: 1820m, length 2.5km, depth 368m
-
-Location: 204b entrance E 36673 N (52)83716
-
-
The cave is situated on the west side of the col between the -Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel and -Nieder AugstEck. - -
Access route:The 1999 route from Top Camp -(probably near optimal) is a cairned path via -Wolfhöhle -(1623/145) and Laser Point 5, then up to the -top of the bare patch of white limestone visible from Top Camp, passing -195 and 196. Laser 0/5 can also -be approached via 107, a slightly lower -route; or the white patch of limestone can be reached by a more central route -across the plateau. In all these cases there is scope for endless variation, -and an approach which keeps the large bare patch in view is recommended. -Alternatively, the cave may be approached from the summit of HSK - probably -the optimal route if you are coming from any of the -161 entrances. - -
Marking:Tag. Does it say "CUCC 99-03" or "CUCC 204"? - -
Description:204a entrance is directly opposite a 10m x 3m stone -bridge from which it derives its name. The entrance itself is -approximately 8m high and 5m wide, and leads down a boulder slope and -round a right hand bend to the top of the first pitch. 204b entrance is -15m away to the west, and this is the entrance which is rigged. A 3m -climb down (handline useful) leads into the entrance gully and a ledge at -the head of the first pitch, Trick or Treat, opposite 204a -entrance. This loose, sloping pitch of 20m is rigged from a Y-hang on the -right hand wall, with a rebelay and deviation. The pitch is tedious to -prussik on return and is best climbed. The landing is by a large snow -plug with (in 1999) an ice corridor round the edge leading to the top of -a boulder slope. A rift passage on the right becomes too tight. - -
Descending the boulder slope (care required to -avoid kicking rocks off) leads to the head of the second pitch, Jim'll -Fix It (18m). An unexplored passage is visible from the pitch -head, which could be accessed by a bolt traverse round the right hand -side of the pitch head [C1999-204-01 C]. The pitch is rigged from a bolt in -the left hand wall with a deviation from a spit immediately after the -pitch head bolt. This protects a marginal rub point and also avoids a jet -of water which spurts from a crack in the wall after heavy rain. The -landing is by a large pointed snowplug. Landing on top of the snow plug -and climbing up 2m to the right (when facing the wall on which the -pitch is rigged) leads to an undescended pitch/climb [C1999-204-02 B] -which lies above the northern end of -Wolpertinger Way. In 1999 there was sufficient -gap between snow and wall to complete the descent and emerge in a sloping -phreatic passage. There are two ways on: Right leads uphill as -stooping/crawling height passage for 30m to emerge at the top of -Umshitshimbo. Left leads downhill into -The Near End and is the main way on. There is a -further unexplored passage in the wall above the gap between the snow plug -and the rock [C1999-204-03 C]. - -
The Near End
- -The Near End is a collective name for -a complex network of high level phreatic passages which slope -approximately 20° following the dip of the beds. Heading -downhill from the base of Jim'll Fix It in a stooping -height passage leads round a double bend to a 2m climb down to a -junction. Right leads to more side -passages whilst the main route is straight ahead to a -crossroads. Right leads into the same side -passages as the previous right turn. Left is Needle Crawl -past an unexplored passage on the left [C1999-204-04 C] and -a crawl on the right (feels like straight ahead) which becomes too small after ~8m. -Straight ahead (feels like a left) leads to the head of a fine 4m diameter circular shaft, Thread -Pitch. This pitch of 17m leads into Wolpertinger Way, -and is likely to be the main route from 2000. A continuation of the crawl is -visible at the opposite side of the pitch head [C1999-204-06 C]. - -
From the crossroads, the main route in 1999 was straight ahead, downhill -in mostly stooping height passage with a short section of sandy crawling. -After 15m is a short climb down to the top of a 4m deep pit with a too-tight -passage at the bottom, with the phreatic passage continuing to the right. -After a further 10m the passage is intersected by a large rift with a big -rock partially blocking the passage. Climbing up to the right leads back into -a tall rift in the side passages. A climb up to the -left leads to a passage containing attractive white mud which was not -entered, however a visual connection to the Pendulum -Pitch was established. - -
Straight ahead leads to a further junction after 15m. Left opens out to -the head of Pendulum Pitch, the main route to the -bottom of Wolpertinger Way used in 1999. Right leads to a -narrow stooping height passage which continues for 25m with several clear -pools in the floor to a widening where most routes ahead and to the left are -choked with boulders. To the right, a body sized tube leads upwards for ~15m -before opening out into a low chamber on the left. The continuation of -the crawl is immediately opposite the entry point [C1999-204-05 B] -and there is a climb down into a rift on the far side of the chamber to -the left [C1999-204-07 B]. The chamber doubles back on -itself to the left and encounters an area of breakdown which was not -fully investigated, but is presumed to be the opposite side of the -boulder choke. - -
The Near End: Side Passages
- -The first two right turns encountered when heading downhill -from the foot of Jim'll Fix It unite in a walking -sized passage. After 10m the bottom of Umshitshimbo -is passed on the right, whilst straight ahead leads to a junction -with a large keyhole passage. Left leads after 15m to a climb up -behind a precariously placed boulder, to an immediate climb down -of 4m which emerges in the 1999 main route through the near end -before Pendulum Pitch. Right leads -immediately to an undescended pitch [C1999-204-08 B]. A difficult and -exposed traverse round the left hand wall leads to a further 30m -of passage with a steadily lowering roof culminating in a boulder -choke. - -
The Near End: Umshitshimbo and Updip -Passages
- -Umshitshimbo is a fine phreatic ramp, 2m wide and about 4m -high, which heads uphill in a straight line for 40m. At the top a -passage doubling back on the right leads back to the base of -Jim'll Fix It and there is a climb up into a rift passage -heading south over the top of Umshitshimbo which becomes too narrow. Large -passage continues uphill past a 2m deep blind pit on the right to a junction. - -
Left leads uphill past a choked inlet on the left to a steep -uphill section with a crawl on the right, which leads shortly to -a 2m climb down and immediate choke. At the top of the steep -section the passage to the right immediately chokes, whilst left -is Dolly Parton climb, a 2m climb up with huge jugs, to a further -15m of upward trending phreatic passage, terminating in a boulder choke -with a slight draught (air coming into the cave.) There are two small -steep phreatic ramps on the left hand side of this passage, both very -small and both choked. - -
Straight ahead at the junction leads through a short section -of rift to an enlargement with an alcove on the right and a -keyhole passage ahead. The rift section at the bottom quickly -becomes choked, with a slight draught coming in. A 3m climb gains -access to the phreatic section which goes over the top of the choke, and -about after a further 3m reaches a large boulder, which almost blocks the -passage with a strong breeze blowing through the gap (into the cave.) -Squeezing through yields a steeply ascending rocky crawl which chokes -after about 5m. - -
Wolpertinger Way
- -Thread pitch from The Near End -lands at the top of a large 6-8m diameter phreatic passage, -Wolpertinger Way, which heads downhill past some ice formations on -the left hand side, for 35m to a junction. Straight ahead is a steep -gully leading to a 6.5m diameter circular shaft with aven above - -You're So Veined. There is a traverse round the right hand side of -the gully on an increasingly narrow ledge. - -
You're so Veined is rigged at its southern end, and this is -reached via a sandy crawl off to the right from the top of the steep gully, -which passes over a hole in the floor through dangerous boulders -[C1999-204-09 C] to reach a junction. Right is an unexplored passage -[C1999-204-10 C], straight ahead leads into 110 A Day, -whilst left is the main route. - -
More sandy crawling leads to a crossroads, where left leads to -the ledge overlooking the pitch, and right is a short crawl leading -to the main passage part of the way down Pendulum -Pitch, the easiest route to the White -Elephant Series. Straight ahead leads to a further junction. -Right is a short passage to a traverse round a blind pit, an -alternative route to Pendulum Pitch. Left -is the head of You're So Veined, the start of the -Ariston Series.
- -110 A Day
- -110 A Day is a long, dusty passage which varies between stooping -and crawling for 110m. Immediately after the start is a sharp right hand bend -with an unexplored crawl straight ahead [C1999-204-11 C]. About halfway along -is a crossroads, where low passages lead off to left and right -[C1999-204-12 C and C1999-204-13 C]. At the terminus reached in 1999, the -passage splits into two. Each branch immediately becomes tight, but could be -pushed further with a little determination and effort [C1999-204-14 C and -C1999-204-15 C]. In the left hand branch, just before the passage becomes -tighter, is an undescended pitch [C1999-204-16 A] of perhaps 20m. - -
Pendulum Pitch Route
- -Pendulum Pitch is in a large rift. The first section is a -loose boulder slope (care required) to a rebelay, then a descent -of 23m via a deviation off the far wall below a large wedged -boulder. There may be a passage on the far side of the rift accessible -with difficulty from this boulder [C1999-204-17 C]. From the base of the -pitch, two rift passages lead off which very quickly become too tight. - -
The main route on is reached by swinging off after 16m into a -6m wide passage. Two passages in the left hand wall are quickly -encountered. The first quickly becomes too tight, the second is a -short crawl leading into the network of sandy crawls at the bottom of -Wolpertinger Way, and is the best route from here to the -Ariston Series. Continuing down the main passage, -passing either side of a huge boulder, reaches a blind pit in the floor, with -two ways on. - -
A loose and slightly precarious traverse round the blind pit -leads to a short passage on the left, emerging at the head of You're -So Veined at the start of the Ariston Series. A -rift visible at the opposite side of the pit has an audible connection to -You're so Veined. - -
To the right at the blind pit is a draughting phreatic tube which heads -downhill at a comfortable walking size past a tight passage on the left -[C1999-204-18 C]. After 20m, a 3m climb up into a roof tube on the right hand -side is the way into the White Elephant Series. -The phreatic passage continues for a further 15m past a too tight inlet on -the right and a traverse over a blind pit to a 3m deep hole in the floor, -which is blind. Traversing over the hole and up a loose climb with a too -tight rift in the right hand wall leads into an uphill passage, which is -choked with mud after 5m. A sandy crawl on the right just before the -choke leads via a left hand bend with a too tight rift on the right -(probably connecting to that at the loose climb) ending at a 2m climb -down. There is a possible way on at the bottom of this, but it is very -small and tall people at least would have to enter feet first -[C1999-204-19 C]. There is a noticeable draught here blowing downhill (into -the cave). - -
Ariston Series
- -The Ariston Series is the route to the current deepest point in the -cave. The pitch series begins with a short pitch of 5m rigged from a large -thread in the roof a few metres back, with a single spit for the -vertical part, which is almost a scramble. This lands on a large -ledge formed of boulders wedged across a narrow point; there are -two choices of descent here, one to the north, You're So -Veined (15m), which was used in 1999, and an as yet -undescended pitch to the south, which will land further down the -Ariston Series, which should probably be used in 2000. One -rebelay provides a good hang against the wall of You're so Veined -to reach the foot of the pitch, which is in a spacious shaft, -with an impressive aven above. From here, there are two ways on: -to the left, facing away from the pitch just descended, is a -gully, which in 1999 contained a thick layer of ice. Carefully -traversing this rather slippery section leads to the head of a -small pitch of 6m, which was rigged with a Y-hang. From here a walking -size phreatic passage leads off, carrying a substantial breeze. -The passage initially descends, but then develops a narrow floor -trench; as the trench deepens, the phreatic part of the passage -rises, and then ends abruptly where the floor trench turns right -and leads off as a too-tight rift while ahead the phreas pinches -out. - -
Back at the foot of You're So Veined, a way on to the right -leads into a small, very crumbly chamber, from which a short section of -awkward rift leads to a fine crow's nest in the wall of a large rift. A -very short pitch (5m) lands on a large ledge, from which a roped traverse -along the left-hand wall gains the head of the next pitch of 12m, which -avoids a large ledge which would have been in the way but for the -traverse. This pitch currently requires a rope protector just below the -Y-hang at the top. The landing is on another large ledge, where a pool can -be used to refill water containers. It is thought that the alternative -pitch to You're so Veined will land here, if rigged. - -
The next pitch of 14m consists of a backup bolt followed by a Y-hang, -which utilises one very cratered spit, which can only be used with a -bollard type hanger. This pitch requires a deviation from the opposite -wall or a rebelay to be installed as there is currently a rub point just -below the Y-hang. The ledge that this pitch lands on consists of boulders -wedged across the shaft, although it seems sound. A backup bolt protects -the approach to the Y-hang at the head of the next pitch (35m). -Unfortunately, it seems to be impossible to get a clean hang from here, -and a rub-point 3m down will require the installation of a rebelay or -deviation in future. Immediately after this point, the walls of the shaft -bell out, and the rope hangs in stimulating isolation. About 5m from the -floor a ledge is passed, which could be gained by a swing across, where -there may possibly be a passage leading off [C1999-204-20 B]. - -
At the foot of the pitch, the way on is a very chossy, sloping descent -which will require either re-rigging or bypassing (which may be possible -by a climb up and over) in future. This leads to a further short pitch -(10m), which lands in an aven chamber of ample proportions. From here is -another short, undescended pitch [C1999-204-21 A], a crawl leading off from -the foot of the pitch just descended, and a descending rubble slope. The -rubble slope curves round to the right, passing a tight rift on the left -[C1999-204-22 C], to reach the bottom of a short climb up of 3m on the right, -which is followed by a scramble down on the other side. From here, -straight ahead is a climb up into the foot of an aven, half-right is a -short ascending passage leading to a chamber where a traverse around the -right hand wall leads to a slope down to an undescended pitch -[C1999-204-23 A], and full right is a stooping/crawling height phreatic -passage with a mud floor. This passes on the right the other end of the crawl -which led off from the foot of the previous pitch. - -
Some 50m of alternate crawling and stooping, including a single point -where the roof dips and the crawl is flat-out, leads to a small chamber. -Here there are two holes in the floor. One, which has not been descended, -is a reasonably large drop (stones bounce off the walls a couple of -times and then fall free for some 3s)[C1999-204-24 A]. The other drop is much shorter, and -is split into two sections by ledges on each wall part way down. The first -section of 8m reaches these small ledges, where a stream enters from the -foot of a very large aven. The next section of 11m is wet, and lands on a -small ledge overlooking a massive shaft. Stones thrown out from here fall -for 3s. This is believed to be the same pitch as C1999-204-24, which will -probably prove to provide a drier descent. This ledge is the current limit -of exploration at -226m. - -
White Elephant Series
- -The White Elephant Series is a series of rift pitches which has not been -pushed to a definite conclusion, but does not appear especially promising, -despite carrying a considerable breeze. From the head of the 3m climb up, -a roof tube leads off. After 8m of crawling, the passage opens out at the -head of a 2m climb down by a large boulder. A too-tight rift leads off on -the left, but ahead opens out into a large space, the Millennium -Dome. - -
A 20m pitch rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall backed up to the -big boulder, with a rebelay and rope protector after 5m, lands on the -boulder floor of the Millennium dome, which is an L-shaped chamber at the -base of a large aven, with each arm of the L being 15m long and 5m wide. -There do not appear to be any ways through the boulders, but a rift leads -off at the western end, quickly arriving at the head of a 10m pitch with a -constricted take off, rigged from boulders. An eyehole part way down this -pitch appears to lead into a parallel shaft [C1999-204-25 B]. The pitch lands -on a rubble floor with a blind pit. Heading south quickly reaches a loose -pitch head, with a rift passage continuing beyond. - -
The pitch is 28m, rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall and -deviations from natural threads after 4m and 12m. The second deviation is -by a small rock bridge, where descending either side appears to go to the -same place, and an eyehole opposite connects to the continuation of the -rift at the top of the pitch. The base of the pitch is an oddly shaped -chamber formed from several rifts (about 7m up the pitch, these rifts -coalesce to form a single shaft.) North from the base of the rope leads to -a 3m climb down into an inlet rift coming from the north which ends in a -blank wall 8m from the base of the rope, but the rift continues too-tight -heading south beneath the 3m climb. South from the base of the rope is -another rift heading downhill which rapidly becomes too tight with running -water clearly audible, but not visible beyond. West from the base of the -rope leads to junction with a too tight rift continuing to the west, and -another inlet rift coming from the north which ends in a blank wall after -5m. - -
Traversing over the top of the pitch (rope required) and a short descent -leads to a continuation of the rift passage. A hole on the left connects to -the 28m pitch described earlier. After 5m the rift narrows and a constricted -pitch head is reached. The descent of 15m is rigged from a large boulder and -leads immediately to a further drop of 7m rigged from a bolt. This shorter -drop may be bypassed by an alternative free climb in a narrow slot -immediately beyond the pitch head. From the base the tall, narrow rift -continues with two short climbs and a slot in the floor which gradually -widens to the head of the next pitch after 6m. This is rigged from a Y-hang -on either side of the rift, but soon opens out to give a fine descent of 15m -landing in a spacious rift at 182m depth from 204b entrance. A narrow slot in -the floor develops, which is just large enough to descend, but stones thrown -down sound dead [C1999-204-26 B]. It is possible to traverse above the slot -for a short way before the rift becomes too tight. - -
There is a noticeable breeze at the base of this pitch, as there is -through much of the series, with air blowing into the cave. From the base -of the 7m pitch, there is no roof visible. This area has potential, but -there are no easy leads, and some lunatic bolt traverses may be required -to try to bypass the tight sections. - -
Exploration: CUCC 1999, to length 1365m, depth 226m
-CUCC 2000 to 2.5km and -368m
-
-
- -
Four approaches are in use:
+ Five approaches are in use:
Caves are indexed in two lists - the first for caves known or strongly
@@ -292,7 +295,7 @@ Höhle
-Back to Expedition Intro page
-
-Full Index by cave number
-
-Other areas
-
-Schwarzmooskogel ridge
-area index
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diff --git a/smkridge/index.htm b/smkridge/index.htm
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--- a/smkridge/index.htm
+++ b/smkridge/index.htm
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ href="../plateau/index.htm">plateau. Steeper slopes to the east drop into
the Hoch Klapf valley which marks the boundary with
the adjacent kataster region 1624. There is no real boundary to the north or
northeast - just a limit to how far we have yet looked. Currently this is
-about as far NE as the summit of the Hinterer
+some distance further NE beyond the summit of the Hinterer
Schwarzmooskogel. Beyond this, there are no known caves for some way,
by which time they fall into the remote
plateau or prospecting
to narrow corridors of access on established routes (these can hardly be
described as paths).
-
