More 2014 logbook entries.

years/2014/logbook.html

@@ -468,19 +468,127 @@ Then proceeded to a large open pit that Mike Futrell found in 2013. Snow plug at
 <div class="trippeople"><u>Chris</u>, Fleur, Noel, Holly</div>
 <div class="triptitle">107 - derig</div>
 
-<p>none of us had been in the cave before but a dearth of gear at TC meant that a tactical derig was required. On the way in we eyed up the gear we passed, and were disappointed by the sparse rigging. Noel & I popped down to see what we could find at the bottom of China. I found an up-rope at the top end of this impressive fault chamber but we decided it would be antisocial to derig so left in situ. it turned out that, some way beyond was ~80m rope + rigging gear in a bag, somewhere near the connection to 161, opps. Still, between the 4 of us we retrieved 7 tacklesacks of booty to the surface in time to get down to the expo dinner :-)</p>
+<p>None of us had been in the cave before but a dearth of gear at TC meant that a tactical derig was required. On the way in we eyed up the gear we passed, and were disappointed by the sparse rigging. Noel & I popped down to see what we could find at the bottom of China. I found an up-rope at the top end of this impressive fault chamber but we decided it would be antisocial to derig so left in situ. It turned out that, some way beyond was ~80m rope + rigging gear in a bag, somewhere near the connection to 161, opps. Still, between the 4 of us we retrieved 7 tacklesacks of booty to the surface in time to get down to the expo dinner :-)</p>
 <div class="timeug">T/U: 5 hrs </div>
 
 <div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-10a">2014-08-10</div>
 <div class="trippeople">Nathanael & <u>Holly</u></div>
 <div class="triptitle">Balcony H&ouml;hle</div>
 
-<p>Back to Pit Pot. We derigged the deviation & pulled up the rope from the previous trip and swung on to the boulder bridge. I was drilling -> put in a couple of bolts on the rock bridge & abseiled down a very short pitch ~3m. landed on a boulder + mud slope. This was rather treacherous, particularly near the edge of the slope where there was a vertical section. I put in a couple more bolts on the left hand side of the passage to attempt to keep us away from these boulders. Was OK but not great. Landed on a boulder floor, then called Nat down. We had been surveying at each stage of the rigging, so Nat had been sat on a boulder on the boulder slope whilst I rigged (and generally made unhappy sounds at the boulders). In this time, Nat had managed to sit on his nail varnish - breaking the neck & pour nail varnish all over himself & the boulder. :(</p>
+<p>Back to Pit Pot. We derigged the deviation & pulled up the rope from the previous trip and swung on to the boulder bridge. I was drilling -> put in a couple of bolts on the rock bridge & abseiled down a very short pitch ~3m. Landed on a boulder + mud slope. This was rather treacherous, particularly near the edge of the slope where there was a vertical section. I put in a couple more bolts on the left hand side of the passage to attempt to keep us away from these boulders. Was OK but not great. Landed on a boulder floor, then called Nat down. We had been surveying at each stage of the rigging, so Nat had been sat on a boulder on the boulder slope whilst I rigged (and generally made unhappy sounds at the boulders). In this time, Nat had managed to sit on his nail varnish - breaking the neck & pour nail varnish all over himself & the boulder. :(</p>
 <p>Anyway Nat joined me on the boulder floor. I had thought that this pitch was blind, but turned out there was a rift heading off. This was a short pitch, which Nat rigged. It wasn't easy as there was limited choice due to crap rock. But rig it he did & down he went - making unhappy noises at the boulders. I joined Nat at the bottom (~7m) and we were in the rift, surrounded by boulders wedged in the rift. It wasn't my favourite place in the world. The rift continued, which would mean climbing down, under the boulders. It is drafter.</p>
 <p>We have decided this should be a QMB. It's a good sized lead & is drafting. However the boulder slope before isn't very nice & it's likely that the boulders will get worse. If this was to be pushed the rigging would need further thought. As there were other leads, we derigged this for this year.</p>
 <p>
 <UL><i>Rigging and pitch topo</UL></i></p>
 
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-07c">2014-08-07</div>
+<div class="trippeople">Holly & <u>Noel</u></div>
+<div class="triptitle">Balcony H&ouml;hle: Traversing + dropping Pit Pot</div>
+
+<p>I had my eye on an exciting traverse/bridge over a rift with large passage continuing beyond. We set up & just as I abseiled over the edge, and got ready to make the great leap across I could hear Chris's voice from the passage ahead. Shouting made contact & he came round the corner on the far side of the traverse. Doh! hence the Leeds by-pass name.</p>
+<p>After crossing Pit Pot traverse earlier (see Katey's entry) we headed back to drop the first of the pits which looked promising & reasonably simple. Holly started from some bolts she had previously placed in the traverse, descending around 20m to a boulder slope. With a bit of gardening, the slope was followed down to the edge of another pit, with solid walls for bolting in.</p>
+<p>Noel continued to descend, hoping for a good lead after having the last one bypassed by Chris & co. Bolting in from the right wall saw fairly simple rigging with 1 re-belay & deviation to the floor of the pit. Looking up at the top of this second pitch, it is obvious you are just (~20 - 30m) below the ledge at the traverse above (Leeds by-pass).</p>
+<p>At the bottom, a small rift led off with a bit of draft. We surveyed along for a while before reaching the time we had agreed to prussik out. Maybe worth returning but still plenty of better leads here.</p>
+
+<p><UL><i>Rigging Sketch</UL></i></p>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-05e">2014-08-05</div>
+<div class="trippeople"><u>Fleur</u>, Pete & Uncle Joe</div>
+<div class="triptitle">go down Champagne on Ice / Coldfinger in Tunnocks</div>
+
+<p>Arrived in Austria delighted to see our lead from last year being pushed & going so well. Arrived at the rigging front in slightly drippy shaft series. Joe went down from Anthony & CJD's last rebelay, but this left a wet final hang to the floor. So I persuaded Joe to come back up fro a re-rig. He dismantled Anthony's rebelay, but instead of heading for a window as I had hoped, he continued to the floor. Still the cave went on, Joe kept rigging, Pete & I following surveying. It was all looking great, but after two more pitches it died. The stream went into a tiny rift and sumped. I said I would de rig as I wanted a look in the window 2 pitches up. I swung in and it looked like a different floor. So Joe went for a quick bolt to see it it went. It did! And also interrupted a horizontal passage which turned out the next day to connect to Arctic Angle. Satisfied we were leaving a good leave, we could now exit without derigging.</p>
+<p>Not exactly a gentle introductory.</p>
+<div class="timeug">T/U: 12 hrs </div>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-06c">2014-08-06</div>
+<div class="trippeople"><u>Fleur</u>, Aled & David</div>
+<div class="triptitle">Balcony H&ouml;hle: Room with a View</div>
+
+<p>Apparently the entrance pitch needed a little tweaking, and a lot of gardening.</p>
+<p>Job 1. Rig climb down cliff to entrance &#10004;</p>
+<p>Job 2. De rig pitch pre gardening &#10004;</p>
+<p>Job 3. Rig extended traverse line approach to pitch &#10004;</p>
+<p>Job 4. Garden top ledge at head of pitch &#10004;</p>
+<p>An unforeseen problem arises - large boulder is pushed down pitch but wedges firmly in route down cave.</p>
+<p>Job 5. Extra bolt at first rebelay &#10004;</p>
+<p>This proved very useful for extra task of trying to dislodge boulder. Ultimately this proved unsuccessful and a further deviation was rigged.</p>
+<p>Job 6. Garden "bridge" and slope of doom &#10004;</p>
+<p>here we stopped due to end of drill battery + need for Aled & David to have time to run away down hill.</p>
+<div class="timeug">T/U: 6 hrs </div>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-07b">2014-08-07</div>
+<div class="trippeople"><u>Fleur</u>, ChrisD, Pete</div>
+<div class="triptitle">Balcony H&ouml;hle</div>
+
+<p>See Chris' main write up. but first Fleur continued jobs:<p>
+<p>Job 7. Finish bolted deviation &#10004;</p>
+<p>Job 8. Y hang for main hang &#10004;</p>
+<p>Job 9. Extra rebelay at base of main hang&#10004;</p>
+<p><UL><i>Rigging Guide</UL></i></p>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-10b">2014-08-10</div>
+<div class="trippeople"><u>Pete Talling</u>, Fleur Loveridge, Andy Chapman</div>
+<div class="triptitle">Room with a View Cave ~300m surveyed</div>
+
+<p>An unholey trinity of a team was carefully assembled for this daring mission, fuelled by tea, oatso and currys (phaart). We bumbled down the (now safer) entrance pitches to the junction at the base of climb up to Leeds Bypass / end of Pete's traverse rope.<p>
+<p><u>A</u> We started with the sandy phreatic tube on the left that was a strongly drafting A lead. This carried on for a short but very drafty phreatic stomping to a big pitch with 8-10 second rattle. VERY GOOD A LEAD - WITH A LEAD ACROSS TRAVERSE AT THE SAME HEIGHT.</p>
+<p><u>B</u> We then went back to a small side lead that involved a short u-tube and up into walking passage that went to the far side of Gardener's Question Time (Chris' Pitch), across which we shot a leg to his top bolt.</p>
+<p><u>C</u> We then backtracked to a side lead that looped back to the far side of the traverse just beyond the station 9 where we started the day. Andy free climbed across hole to make a loop closure. Due to the number of loops we called this the <u>AMALGAMATION SERIES</u>.</p>
+<p><UL><i>Sketch survey</UL></i></p>
+<p><u>D</u> A rather scrotty side crawl with mud floor then headed off to a third loop closure. When we came out into a passage with (Noel & Holly's) rope hanging down.</p>
+<p><u>E</u> <u>Gardener's Question Time</u> Andy then started rigging down the inclined tube of this pitch, past the first rope that Chris had rigged before. This led down to a chamber with a climb up to another aven/chamber off right - probably a B/C lead. A wobbly rock stopped us from climbing up further.</p>
+<p>In the floor of the chamber was a very unpleasant hands + knees or flat out tube in mud, which continues. This is where the water goes... Using Fleur's temperature as an excuse, Pete + Andy headed back up pitch + derigged.
+<p><UL><i>Sketch survey and rigging</UL></i></p>
+<p><u>F</u> <u>DARK ARTS I</u> (Pete's Lead).</p>
+<p>We then continued down Leeds Bypass a short distance to a side lead on left. This carries a <u>very</u> good draft, it is initially contorted with a climb up (from which Dark Arts II starts) followed by a phreatic tube - that is usually big enough to stand up in. This gets very interesting - and was pushed further the next day.</p>
+<p><u>G</u> <u>Dark Arts II</u> (Fleur's lead)</p>
+<p>On the way out Fleur saw the start of this side lead. It goes though an eye hole to a clean washed chamber with a phreatic tube leading off. This also drafts and is a good prospect!</p>
+<p>The name Dark Arts refers to the failure of Fleur's Rude Nora at start of day...</p>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-11a">2014-08-11</div>
+<div class="trippeople"> Fleur Loveridge, Holly Bradley, <u>Pete Talling</u></div>
+<div class="triptitle">Room with a View Cave - Leeds Bypass + Dark Arts</div>
+
+<p>As the other hoards went down Tunnocks/Champagne on Ice - this crack posse headed into RWAV cave.</p>
+<p><u>ENTRANCE SERIES / RAIN</u> Pete had just arrived at bottom when Fleur heard a rumble which was followed by incredible water flow. Holly got wet from drips. BUT pitch was OK on way out after a day of pretty heavy rain.</p>
+<p><u>NICER PIT</u> finished the last few meters of rigging across Chris' traverse at the far end of Leeds Bypass. We then merrily surveyed down lovely big phreatic tube downhill to a junction. Straight ahead led shortly to a pitch that would be OK to rig. From lip a 15/20m hang arrives on a clean washed ledge, followed by another big hang. This is an A lead.</p>
+<p><u>BIGGER NASTIER PIT</u> We went back to junction, and Pete rigged a very easy 6 bolt traverse uphill above a pit. The passage then turned left to arrive at lip of huge void. Near side of void is drippy, but dry beyond. Rigging down pitch would be a <u>hard</u> project. <u>But</u> it may be better to start rigging down the hole below Pete's traverse - which probably goes to same place. On far side of the void is the continuing passage - but bolt traverse round side of void is an Andy Atkinson project.</p>
+<p>But this is all where the big draft goes - A** leads.</p>
+<p><u>DARK ARTS 2</u> We then went back to Fleur's lead and surveyed a nice phreatic tube that had good draft. We went ~100m to an easy 5-10m pitch down. This is an easy and good project with a decent draft!</p>
+<p><u>DARK ARTS 1</u> We continued surveying, to avoid wet entrance pitch. This phreatic tube carried on even further than Dark Arts 2 and has an even stronger draft. Also a very good prospect. We did a couple of down climbs that were entertaining on the return, and could do with short ropes. we stopped at an up climb that would probably be free climbable. There is a good natural sling on left and 1/2 bolts may be needed. Very <u>good</u> draft!</p>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-11b">2014-08-11</div>
+<div class="trippeople"> <u>Noel</u>, Julian, RobW, DaveW</div>
+<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks - Arctic Angle - "The wrong choice"</div>
+<p>Julian had made a rare appearance & wanted to go to the leads at the bottom of Tunnocks - we got a sketch of Neil, Becka & Mike's survey from Fleur to find their A++ lead beyond the traverse at the end. A nice trip to the end & we soon found said traverse. Whilst I set up and started the traverse, the others set off exploring & surveying some small passages nearby (to ensure there was no easy way around the traverse this time).</p>
+<p>9 bolts crossed on an ascending ledge with a couple of exposed airy stances. TAKE CARE stepping over the balanced boulder - I could not push it off the edge but you never know what falls off here (as per my "incident" a few years ago. Once on the other side the strong draft resumed & a junction was reached after a few meters.</p>
+<p>The others sorted their survey gear & we split into 2 groups - Julian & I taking the left branch & the others the right. Ours turned out to be narrow & not too drafty ("the wrong choice") but ended after 150m & a "narrow section" at a short exposed climb down to a ledge - few possible leads here - a wet sounding pitch & a possible traverse over - needs another look from down the climb (not done by us - possibly requires a rope). Back at the other survey front we helped the others finish up where the drafting passage ended in a small boulder floored chamber with two possible pitches out (~5m & ~10m) - both bouldery <u>but</u> good prospects.</p>
+<p><UL><i>Sketch survey and rigging</UL></i></p>
+<p><u>Julian</u></p>
+<p>While Noel rigged, Rob, Dave, and me looked down through a tight hole into a chamber, Noel instructed that I should operate the distox as I'd pay if broken. The chamber had usual waterfall pitch breakdown. My God the crawl was tight on the way back. through a U bend with rocks wedged in it, arms by my side, distox lost somewhere underneath. I did not care if I broke it, just get me out of here. Serious chance of doing my back in by forcing self on. Horrible.</p>
+
+<p><UL><i>Map of a gas place, and a big label in different hand writing "LAGERHAUS is the place to get gas, not this one."</UL></i></p>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-03d">2014-08-03</div>
+<div class="trippeople"> Sam, Elaine, Matt, Aled, David, <u>Sophie D</u></div>
+<div class="triptitle">Prospecting opposite Clownh&ouml;hle (Elaine's write-up of 2014-NEO-01 continued)</div>
+
+<p>While Aled was watching Sam bolt his pitch and David was helping Elaine survey her horizontal hole in the overhang, Sophie and Matt headed to the end of the cliff and up the gully behind. The area they wandered round above was dotted with lots of big holes. One could be walked into and was found to crap out, with a ceiling that came away if you touched it. Some gear would be required to investigate the others, so Sophie and Matt headed back to fetch stuff and anyone they could interest. As they picked their way down the chossy gully they noticed Elaine on the bunde covered hillside excitedly "discovering" what Matt recognised as Clownh&ouml;hle. Sam and Elaine were left to bash their way round the hill, while Aled and David were successfully enticed to Sophie and Matt's area. Matt, Sophie then David free-climbed into a pit</p>
+<p>PLEASE TURN OVER (SEVERAL PAGES?) FOR CONTINUATION</p>
+<! I can't find this, did it ever get written?>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-12a">2014-08-12</div>
+<div class="trippeople"> <u>Chris</u>, Andy</div>
+<div class="triptitle">Overflying 'Ducks on Ice'</div>
+
+<p>Discovered that neither the 'new' rope - rigging Ducks on Ice - nor the old one rigging the trad way in was long enough for a new overpass, but we put one in anyway & used both ropes after going up & down several times. At least it kept us out of the rain & gets the rigging up to the required standard... Sketch added to [something] rigging topo.</p>
+
+<div class="tripdate" id="t2014-08-13a">2014-08-13</div>
+<div class="trippeople"> <u>Chris</u>, Andy</div>
+<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks - The number of the Beast pt II</div>
+<p>Put a few extra bolts on way in as previous year's bolt scarcity was evident. At limit of exploration, at bottom of steeply sloping rift landing in large chocked floor, climbed up & descended 10m to another false floor, using an immense [something] boulder for a deviation. At N. end of false floor was young & drippy at S. end was unstable & aged, but offered the draft & depth. I started gardening enthusiastically sending increasingly large masonry down the shaft. Andy pointed at another hole which I started chucking stuff down but decided it was no safer so let it be. After I climbed back out a large piece spontaneously threw itself down the shaft. Crumbs. Having cleared the main shaft lip I inspected a possible large thread "I wouldn't go near that if I were you" said Andy. I kicked it and the metre-cubed chunk rolled down the shaft. We chose the nearest safest drop down to a false floor 10m below. This appeared to give a reasonable route down to the 30-40m main pitch below. I hopped over a large boulder & wondered what was holding it up. We pulled out a couple of loose blocks & I jumped up on the boulder but it stayed put. never the less I started rigging a traverse along the far wall. Suddenly the boulder decided to roll, all on its own, to become wedged by a small flake. A few minutes with a bolting hammer & it was on its way again, to become wedged by another small obstruction. I carried on rigging the traverse before we decided to call it a day & leave the shaft for teh next team to come with a crowbar...</p>
+<p><UL><i>Rigging/survey Sketch</UL></i></p>
+
 <p>
 </html>
 </body>