re-merge 2014 logbook missed page and wook writeups

years/2014/logbook.html

@@ -51,10 +51,12 @@
 
 <p>Turned up hoping that Team 1 would have finished rigging the entrance series, found to be far from the truth. After a bit of umming and ah-ing on the surface, decided to rig past Team 1 to get to the bottom. Ice plug at the bottom was found to be significantly lower than previous years so existing bolts could not be used exclusively in quick &amp; dirty rig. Inherited drill &amp; bolting kit from Team 1 to rig the bottom, a traverse across the ice slope. From [here] split in two:</p>
 
-<UL>- Rob stayed on the entrance series to use the bolting kit to continue the re-bolting of the entrance to avoid the loose floor.</UL>
-<UL>- Becka, Neil, and I continued on carrying rope to deeper parts of the cave.</UL>
+<ul>
+  <li>- Rob stayed on the entrance series to use the bolting kit to continue the re-bolting of the entrance to avoid the loose floor.</li>
+  <li>- Becka, Neil, and I continued on carrying rope to deeper parts of the cave.</li>
+<ul>
 
-<p>Handline found in place at Ribs with Knoedel (?). Caramel Catharsis rigged then continued through Y KeyKey Beach &amp; Max Pleasure. Back through Dubious Pleasure, where all 3 traverse lines were found in place. Reached String Theory top &amp; deposited 100m rope &amp; brew kit, then buggered off out again, picking up Rob on the way.</p>
+<p>Handline found in place at Ribs with Knoedel. Caramel Catharsis rigged then continued through Y KeyKey Beach &amp; Max Pleasure. Back through Dubious Pleasure, where all 3 traverse lines were found in place. Reached String Theory top &amp; deposited 100m rope &amp; brew kit, then buggered off out again, picking up Rob on the way.</p>
 
 <div class="timeug">T/U: 10 hrs</div>
 
@@ -71,10 +73,47 @@
 <div class="triptitle">More rigging in 107</div>
 
 <p>Came down hill after last trip as Joe needed to fettle phones. Wook kept getting asked nerding questions so didn't leave till 11ish. So underground by 2pm.</p>
-<p>Lovely trip, partly as I had thick fleece furry instead of thin one so much warmer, but also [something, something] as 2 independent trips, with Joe rigging ahead &amp; Wook following, sorting the `economical' rigging to ad backups to one-bolt-wonders &amp; swap 51m rope on ropeless traverse(?) for 39m one.</p>
-<p>Joe came back to report squeeze then ran off again to keep warm. Wook followed to be confused by implausibly tight crawl with rope for Austria.</p>
+<p>Lovely trip, partly as I had thick fleece furry instead of thin one so much warmer, but also done almost as 2 independent trips, with Joe rigging ahead &amp; Wook following, sorting the 'economical' rigging to ad backups to one-bolt-wonders &amp; swap 51m rope on ropeless traverse for 39m one.</p>
+<p>Joe came back to report squeeze then ran off again to keep warm. Wook followed to be confused by implausibly tight crawl with rope for Austria. Threw bag through squeeze only to note lack of traffic &amp; get second thoughts, so backed out &amp;, looked around. Dind't seem to go, to L or higher up. (He somehow failed to spot 51m rope left on route). Back through bottom squeeze to find confirmatory rope beyond. After a bit more confusion at wrong level in sleepless, whizzed on down to find very happy Joe at 'easy traverse'. Time to go home after great trip.</p>
+<p>1hr out from there, taking top squeeze route instead (not really any better give annying rift pitch approach</p>
+<p>Back to top camp before dark @21:10</p>
 
-<p><u><b>Wookey's handwriting, at this point, is causing me incredible eyestrain :P. There are two more reports following this that need to be included in future.</b></u></p>
+<div class="timeug">T/U: 6 hrs</div>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-07-25a">2014-07-25</div>
+<div class="trippeople"><u>Wookey</u> &amp; Joe, AndrewA, Aled</div>
+<div class="triptitle">3rd Rigging in Trip (107)</div>
+
+<p>Underground by 11 this time, with 3 batts &amp; plenty of keenness. Joes headed for point again, whilst Wookey &amp; AndyA came along as rigging faeries to fix up the dodgy Olly-rigging, particularly his propensity for kneee-high pitch head bolts.  Fixed up entrance stuff that we had left for Aled the day before, as he'd gone down the hill. Then on to add back-up bolts, and often new pitch head bolts too. Caught up with Joe at 'Too Bold For This Spit', where he had managed to scare himself rigging due to having to fish out sling halfway across with a big leg-trembler. He was pleased to see some company. Wook went over &amp; rigged back about 2m higher to turn a horror into a nice traverse. (Fine bit of traversing by Ol/J).</p>
+<p>Aled turned up at this point having come up from base &amp; solo-caved to find us.</p>
+<p>4-some now continued to big Korea pitch, where we had 59 of the rrecommended 64m. Andrew rigged it tight and added 2 bolts and skipped two, to kjust reach the floor, whilst the rest checked out land of confusion QMs. Wook ticked off 13-LC-9C, 13-LC-7C, 13-LC-8X. 13-LC-6C is a c15(!) down to a fairly short pitch into China. Joes &amp; Aled decided 13-LC16A was worth a look.</p>
+<p>We all went down to be impressed by China. 13-LC-10B across the Korea pitch-head, really is a 20-30m blank wall bolting project - too [call?, cave?]. 13-CH-4B at the bottom is not inspiring. It probably doesn't go, but hard to be sure. Beeds a bolt or two to climb in. 13-CH-2C goes through to china in tinyt window.</p>
+<p>At big end 13-CH-1B looks like an alcove but hard to be sure. Could be climbed to with a bit or pro without too much trouble. Best lead is in ceiling, 20-30m up. Probably an aven. Could be where all the wind is coming from.</p>
+<p>Wandered along to southern end whilst Joe &amp; Aled set off out. Clkimbed down at end into new ground to find pitch about 10m further on. Could well be the bottom of 'To Bold...'. Needs surveying, &amp; may well continue across. Good wind.</p>
+
+<p>Out from bottom in ~2hrs</p>
+
+<div class="timeug">T/U: 8 hrs (Wook/Andrew/Joe)</div>
+<div class="timeug">T/U: 5 hrs (Aled)</div>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-07-26a">2014-07-26</div>
+<div class="trippeople"><u>Wookey</u> &amp; Joe, Andrew, Jess</div>
+<div class="triptitle">3rd Rigging in Trip (107)</div>
+
+<p>Back again looking for ways on. Conncetion to R looks unlikely - everything goes L.</p>
+
+<p>Had a good look at roof on the way down. Various roof tube possibilities. ONly promising one (Needs one bolt for pro) well back in sleepless.</p>
+<p>13-RS-2B doesn;t exist. 'Too bold' was to wet to go down but window off about 7m down looked promising. Wook put in (crummy) bolt in only bit of decent rock with good hang. But hanger cranked it out a bit. Getting wet so decided it would have to do &amp; descended. Passage! Windy too. Traverse in the way, but quite easy to do with slings, so got across whilst A + J surveyed.</p>
+<p>Beyond was pitch, only about 20m to floor. Got down quickly (after going back for rope left above) but found only a ledge above bigger pitch - 25-30m. Awkward bolt then time to go home. Descended quickly to find that it came in roof of China, just 'upwind' of the rock bridge. Nice pitch though &amp; not prone to rockfall like korea.</p>
+<p>On way out shit bolt at top popped out of hole whilst Andrew was going up, giving him a hell of a shock (and breaking PDA screen when he got bashed on wall). Fortunately even 9mm is good gear, so he was able to re-rig from traverse &amp; wookey 'quality bolts' was able to get out with a bit of tackle-sack padding.</p>
+<p>So bolts really do fall out if not properly set. It took 4 descents + 2 ascents before popping on 3rd ascent.</p>
+<p>Whizzed out with lots of caving in 1hr 15 from there. (We are getting quicker)</p>
+
+<div class="timeug">T/U: 9 hrs</div>
+
+<p>P.S. A+J went to stone bridge. Wook went down to carpark but realised too late that he had got a lift up so car not there, and no transport arranged. And of course phone flat so no calls, and no spare batt to charge it, and no money. Hmmmm.</p>
+<p>Fortunately Austrian couple in posh camper in car park  were able to provide beer, the gasthof phone number &amp; a phone to call for rescue. Julian came &amp; saved me.</p>
+<p>Doh. Thayt really was quite dim!</p>
 
 <div class="tripdate" id="t2014-07-27a">2014-07-27</div>
 <div class="trippeople"><u>Jess</u>, Andrew, Sam, &amp; David</div>
@@ -93,7 +132,7 @@
 <div class="trippeople">Anthony + <u>Becka</u></div>
 <div class="triptitle">258 - Tunnocks - Rig String Theory + to Beast area</div>
 
-<p>Used rope previously deposited to rig String Theory which was a breeze due to refelctor bolts placed on last year's derig - top gear! Continued on + I rigged Pidgeons in Flight but it needed further tweaking. Anthony + I then went for a [something] checking the in situ nasty red rope on the short climb up + traverse + to look at the Beast pitch + pitch below Bob Om.</p>
+<p>Used rope previously deposited to rig String Theory which was a breeze due to refelctor bolts placed on last year's derig - top gear! Continued on + I rigged Pidgeons in Flight but it needed further tweaking. Anthony + I then went for a tourist checking the in situ nasty red rope on the short climb up + traverse + to look at the Beast pitch + pitch below Bob On.</p>
 
 <div class="timeug">T/U: 10 1/2 hrs</div>
 
@@ -109,7 +148,7 @@
 <div class="trippeople"><u>Becka</u>, Katey, Nathaniel</div>
 <div class="triptitle">258 - Tunnocks -> Pidgeon Droppings -> Flying Rat</div>
 
-<p>Headed down to where we left off yesterday, Katey + Nat breezing down all the airy entrance rigging with all of 9 months caving experience a-piece (though they'd just come from the [--] expedition so are expo-seasoned). We set off surveying, following the draft, but quickly got to a pitch, Nat went back to fetch the gear whilst Katey + I surveyed side leads. When we got back to Nat he shame-facedly confessed that one of the drill batteries had rolled out of the bag he was unpacking + down a small hole. He tried to persuade Katey to go in after it but she's no fool so he wiggled in head first, managed to retrieve the battery, attempted to turn around, failed, tried to back out, failed, started to sound a bit stressed + finally begged for assistance. Katey + I got a leg each + he finally was hauled out. After that he needed a while to compose himself so Katey rigged the pitch ("Flying Rats") with 2 spits at the top + a rebelay then we surveyed down to a traverse with a bad step + then teeter along a ledge with loose rock where we ended the survey having decided that it really should have been rigged. Packed the loose gear up + left it at the top of Pidgeon Droppings + went for a quick check on Neil + Rob below Bob On who were surveying out + then exited steadily.</p>
+<p>Headed down to where we left off yesterday, Katey + Nat breezing down all the airy entrance rigging with all of 9 months caving experience a-piece (though they'd just come from the Picos expedition so are expo-seasoned). We set off surveying, following the draft, but quickly got to a pitch, Nat went back to fetch the gear whilst Katey + I surveyed side leads. When we got back to Nat he shame-facedly confessed that one of the drill batteries had rolled out of the bag he was unpacking + down a small hole. He tried to persuade Katey to go in after it but she's no fool so he wiggled in head first, managed to retrieve the battery, attempted to turn around, failed, tried to back out, failed, started to sound a bit stressed + finally begged for assistance. Katey + I got a leg each + he finally was hauled out. After that he needed a while to compose himself so Katey rigged the pitch ("Flying Rats") with 2 spits at the top + a rebelay then we surveyed down to a traverse with a bad step + then teeter along a ledge with loose rock where we ended the survey having decided that it really should have been rigged. Packed the loose gear up + left it at the top of Pidgeon Droppings + went for a quick check on Neil + Rob below Bob On who were surveying out + then exited steadily.</p>
 
 <div class="timeug">T/U: 12 hrs</div>
 
@@ -135,7 +174,7 @@
 <div class="trippeople"><u>Jess</u>, Wookey, Michael</div>
 <div class="triptitle">107 - Gemshohle - Finalising Nipped Down rigging + Pushing lead in Southern China - "The Last TSA"</div>
 
-<p>Nipped down had been rebolted the rpevious trip, but the ropes needed switching to ensure the rope reached the floor. Wookey sorted this while Jess and Michael passed 5m of slack rope along the popped across traverse back to the pitch at too bold for this spit:</p>
+<p>Nipped down had been rebolted the previous trip, but the ropes needed switching to ensure the rope reached the floor. Wookey sorted this while Jess and Michael passed 5m of slack rope along the popped across traverse back to the pitch at too bold for this spit:</p>
 
 <p>Too Bold for This Spit: (computerised image can be found in expoimages in rigging_topos, 107_tooboldforthisspit.svg)</p>
 <p>Popped Across Traverse: (computerised image can be found in expoimages in rigging_topos, 107_poppedacrosstraverse.svg)</p>
@@ -187,11 +226,11 @@ Craps out in all directions, not worth returning to. On the way out, the Futrell
 <div class="trippeople"><u>Anthony</u>, Rob A, Rob W</div>
 <div class="triptitle">Rig 161g</div>
 
-<p>After a week of effort in 107, the general consensus was that it would be easier to find a connection from the 161 side, so Dr Day's Entrance Pitch Rigging Service was called into action. Trundled over with Rob and enough gear to rig to Strange Downfull, placing a minimal set of reflectors en route. Rigging in proceeded smoothly with few surprises (apart from one handline that had been removed near the start of Peurile Humour - reinstated) and flawless route finding as far as the top of [something starting with k]. Here I discovered that one of the bolts I wanted to use for the pitch head y-hang had been deliberately disabled, so the new rig looks like this:
+<p>After a week of effort in 107, the general consensus was that it would be easier to find a connection from the 161 side, so Dr Day's Entrance Pitch Rigging Service was called into action. Trundled over with Rob and enough gear to rig to Strange Downfull, placing a minimal set of reflectors en route. Rigging in proceeded smoothly with few surprises (apart from one handline that had been removed near the start of Peurile Humour - reinstated) and flawless route finding as far as the top of knossos. Here I discovered that one of the bolts I wanted to use for the pitch head y-hang had been deliberately disabled, so the new rig looks like this:
 
 <UL>Lovely Drawing</UL>
 
-Route finding through [that thing starting with k, again]/Star Wars/Tower Blocks proved to be a bit more tricky - some reflectors would be useful - but we eventually made it to Staircase 36. The rope for the traverse over a big hole near the bottom of Staircase 36 has been removed and should ideally be reinstated. I rigged Strange Downfull unlike Rob and Rob nosed around in Chicken Flied Nice without finding any obvious route through to Runnel Stone. With that we headed out - a most efficient trip.</p>
+Route finding through Knossos/Star Wars/Tower Blocks proved to be a bit more tricky - some reflectors would be useful - but we eventually made it to Staircase 36. The rope for the traverse over a big hole near the bottom of Staircase 36 has been removed and should ideally be reinstated. I rigged Strange Downfall while Rob and Rob nosed around in Chicken Flied Nice without finding any obvious route through to Runnel Stone. With that we headed out - a most efficient trip.</p>
 
 <div class="timeug">T/U: 7 hrs</div>
 
@@ -199,11 +238,11 @@ Route finding through [that thing starting with k, again]/Star Wars/Tower Blocks
 <div class="trippeople"><u>Anthony</u>, Rob A, Rob W</div>
 <div class="triptitle">161 - Reconnaisance trip to Runnel Stone</div>
 
-<p>Following a quick and effective trip the previous day, the same team returned to rig the long way round to the leads near 107. We thought that the trip shouldn't take too long so were in no hurry to leave Top Camp. The flaw in this logic should have been obvious and our failure to get underground before 14:00 proved to be a mistake. Trundled along to Strange Downfull, Rob W prussiked up Strange Upfull to find that the traverse line(?) at the top was (thankfully) still in place. Up Irony of Time and into Country for Old Men, we had a pleasant surprise that the Sudelenland pitch was still rigged - the 100m of rope we had with us was starting to look like overkill. All enjoyed the interesting rig on the Mordor pitch, then along the extreme horizontal stuff at the bottom. By now it was becoming clear that, despite minimal route-finding hassles, the trip was going to take quite a long time.</p>
+<p>Following a quick and effective trip the previous day, the same team returned to rig the long way round to the leads near 107. We thought that the trip shouldn't take too long so were in no hurry to leave Top Camp. The flaw in this logic should have been obvious and our failure to get underground before 14:00 proved to be a mistake. Trundled along to Strange Downfull, Rob W prussiked up Strange Upfall to find that the traverse line at the top was (thankfully) still in place. Up Irony of Time and into Country for Old Men, we had a pleasant surprise that the Sudentenland pitch was still rigged - the 100m of rope we had with us was starting to look like overkill. All enjoyed the interesting rig on the Mordor pitch, then along the extreme horizontal stuff at the bottom. By now it was becoming clear that, despite minimal route-finding hassles, the trip was going to take quite a long time.</p>
 <p>Arriving at Holey Cow, we finally found something that needed rigging. Rob W rigged down the little climb, then put in a hanger to protect the walk across the ridge to the little traverse on the other side. It turns out that this bolt is pretty good since when Rob made it to the location of the y-hang bolts, the ledge he was standing on disappeared and he took a swing and smacked into the ridge.</p>
 <p>After that bit of excitement, we headed off to the Runnel Stone. Survey station 56 looked like the most promising area: there is an undescended pitch with a faint draught. Climbing up into the roof (looks like we are in the bottom of a keyhole) to see if the passage continues at roof level might also be worth a try. The survey puts us 23m laterally and at the same level as a parallel passage to Chicken Flied Nice, so there are a few possibilities here for cutting a significant chunk off the commute.</p>
 <p>Next we went to the end of Bundestrasse. The continuing rift at the end goes to a pitch after ~15m. There is a draught, but it is small compared to that in the phreatic passage. This suggests that most of the draught disappears up the aven, which looks like a phreatic tube and Rob A believes might be climbable.</p>
-<p>By now it was getting very late, so we returned to the junction at the end of [something] Republic and ditched the rope. From here it took about 5 hours to get out, with the only significant delay being to install a sling on a greasy climb in Sudelenland that we had waltzed past on the way down. Emerged to steady rain at 03:50. We were very glad of the extra reflectors that had been installed on the walk out during the soggy walk back. Arrived at Top Camp at 05:00 in time for a dawn curry.</p>
+<p>By now it was getting very late, so we returned to the junction at the end of Lärchen Republic and ditched the rope. From here it took about 5 hours to get out, with the only significant delay being to install a sling on a greasy climb in Sudelenland that we had waltzed past on the way down. Emerged to steady rain at 03:50. We were very glad of the extra reflectors that had been installed on the walk out during the soggy walk back. Arrived at Top Camp at 05:00 in time for a dawn curry.</p>
 
 <div class="timeug">T/U: 14 hrs</div>