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-The large trunk passages described on this page were originally -accessed by descending Mordor pitch from the -Country for Old Men level in 2011. In 2012, this area was accessed -and explored from Steinbrückenhöhle via the Far from Support -traverses from the bottom of Fat Cat. The southern extremity -(Runnel Stone area) is very close to -Chicken Flied Nice, so in the future it -may prove easier to access these passages via an as yet undiscovered -connection in this area, thereby bypassing the Tyrolean traverse at -Strange Acrossfall.
- -Mordor is a small, very windy (blowing up) pitch at the northern -end of Sudetenland (accessed from -Country for Old Men) that is rigged -from the roof. After the initial 10m drop, the way on is to climb down -a further 10m to a second hang. It is also possible to get off the -rope and explore round a corner into windy rifts. The second drop -descends from a thread then a roof bolt where the pitch opens out. A -deviation ~7m down on a spike avoids a rub at a rebelay (huge thread) -to drop nicely in a large space to near the floor. A 60m rope is -recommended (this pitch was left rigged in 2011 and 2012).
- -At the foot of the first 10m drop is a soily climb up 12m to the SW. -It doesn't go. In the opposite direction, round a corner a narrow rift -passage can be followed upwards for 18m, then back down again to come -out near the top of the 2nd drop of Mordor pitch. All of this passage -is very windy.
- -The chamber at the bottom of Mordor is about 15m high. To the west is a -north-south trending rift leading to an impassable hole in the floor -at the S end, beyond which is The Stables -[2011-161-XX C]. There is a hole in the floor at the north end of this -rift [2011-161-XX C] and a narrow slot in the wall near the foot of -the rope [2011-161-XX C]. East leads to March of the Ents.
- -The large passage of March of the Ents heads eastwards from the -chamber at the base of Mordor pitch 4m -higher up, reached via an easy traverse. There is a strong draught -from east to west (into the chamber). After 18m, a t-junction is -reached with a much less windy passage (the base of the T) to the -right (south), which leads to the main route to the -south (Rivendell). Straight ahead (east) the main passage continues uphill then -turns northeast. 30m beyond the Rivendell junction, climbing up to -the left in a complex area reaches the head of No -Sign of Sauron pitch. Most of the draught appears to coming from -the area around this pitch. Immediately beyond is a passage on the -left (bearing on 352°) [C2011-161-XX B]. -The phreatic passage zig-zags for another 30m. At the corner is a high (12m) -solution area in the roof [C2011-161-XX C]. Ahead the passage becomes a very high -hading rift with a short drop. Traversing across the drop leads to -Bored of the Rings.
- -Bored of the Rings can be accessed either by descending a short -pitch and climbing up the far side, or (preferred) by traversing along -the right-hand wall of the hading rift (bolts placed for a traverse line). -[FIXME: (Andrew/Julian) the survey shows two C leads at the bottom of the -rift, and a B lead at the top, also a p5 - is this a QM?] At the far end -of the traverse is a junction. Ahead leads after 10m to a pitch -[C2011-161-XX B]. A passage to the right here connects heads back to -overlook the hading rift.
- -The main way on at the junction is to the left (north). The passage -continues for 55m, past a pool (traversed on the left) to a rift in the -floor (undescended [C2011-161-XX B]). Left here leads to -[FIXME: (Emma/Olly) 2 QMs on survey, B and a C - descriptions? Also, c2 -to the east of the passage - is there a QM there?]. Stepping over the rift -(traverse line advisable) leads to a breakdown chamber with lots of holes -in the floor. [FIXME: (Emma/Olly) extension to west near survey station -'a' leads to 2 B grade QMs - description?] Keeping right passes a small -passage on the right [C2011-161-XX C]. Clambering among the boulders leads to -a short climb down near the right-hand wall (handline useful) to -reach a drippy pitch (undescended). [C2011-161-XX B]. The -Far From Support traverses head -off along the right-hand wall of this pitch (left rigged in 2012) and is -the connection route to Steinbrückenhöhle, emerging in -Cirque du Soleil. A tube -heading up on the right immediately before the start of the traverse -links back to overlook the pitch and also a possible continuation -east [C2011-161-XX C].
- -No Sign of Sauron pitch is accessed by heading north and uphill from -March of the Ents into the wind to a -rock pillar at the pitch head. The pitch is rigged by traversing -along the left hand wall to a rock bridge overlooking a second, -connected hole that is the descent route. An aven above the pitch on -the left at this point appears to be main source of the draught -[C2012-161-XX X]. It would be relatively easy to continue the -traverse to an apparent passage on the far side of the pitch -[C2012-161-XX B] - it is unclear whether or not this passage -continues.
- -The pitch is a fine circular shaft, 5m round and 32m deep, and is -descended via a deviation 4m down and a y-hang rebelay approximately -halfway down. At the base of the pitch, a rift passage heads south, -accessed by climbing down through boulders. The passage was followed -for 15m, via a 2m down climb, and continues to the south, tight but -passable [C2012-161-XX B]. There is little discernible draught.
- -A 3m diameter phreatic passage heading south from -March of the Ents for 25m leads to a chamber -Rivendell. A hole in the floor is approximately 10m deep with a pool at the -bottom [C2011-161-XX A]. There is possible passage uphill to the -northeast [C2011-161-XX B]. The way on is downhill to the southwest, -quickly arriving at a large T-junction with a horizontal passage. This -is very windy again (blowing from southeast to northwest). -Left is the large passage of The Shires. Right -is the main way on.
- -After 17m, the passage opens out at a small streamway with a -junction, and splits. The two passages soon reunite at The Stables. Left continues downhill for 17m to -where the stream sinks in a too tight rift with an aven on the right -[C2011-161-XX-X]. The main way on is ahead (west).
- -In The Stables the passage continues past a -stagnant pool and quickly reaches -a 3m drop at a junction. Right connects to the north-south trending -rift accessed from the base of Mordor pitch, (but -is not passable). -To the left, a traverse round the 3m drop (left rigged) is the main -way on. Large passage continues, under a rock bridge and up a 2m climb, -reaching a junction 35m from the traverse. The main way on is to the -left into Southern Gallop. Right -leads via wide passage to a hole on the right and Soilothon on the left.:.
- -Turning left (southeast) at the large T-junction by -Rivendell enters a huge phreatic passage -5m across trending gently downhill, The Shires. This reaches a -pitch edge after 50m looking out into large chamber/area -[C2011-161-XX A]. The drop is about 10m, then another 10m in a further -hole. A small passage continues ahead for ~7m to look out over another -drop, probably the same space [C2011-161-XX B]. Halfway along the Shires -a small rift passage goes off [C2011-161-XX C] -[FIXME: (Wookey/Cat/Adam) not explicitly labelled on survey].
- -A short climb up gains access to a large passage heading southeast. -After 10m a hole is reached that can be traversed on the right (rope -useful) to gain access to the continuing passage. [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) -have I correctly identified this obstacle? Is the hole a QM].
- -After a further 10m, a 4m climb down into a rift is reached (becoming -progressively more awkward on the return as ever more mud becomes smeared -on the footholds). The rift passage heads south for 20m to a junction -where the left hand branch quickly closes down [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) does -it close down? survey is unclear] and the main way on is to the right.
- -The passage continues in fine style for 100m to a breakdown chamber. -[FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) Are there really no QMs on this entire stretch?]. -Clambering up and under the biggest boulder leads to a continuation in a -tall rift. The passage continues for a further 50m to a local widening -with an undescended pitch to the west [C2011-161-XX A]. Ahead the rift -closes down, but a 5m climb up (rope left rigged) leads to -Mad Dogs.
- -From the top of the 5m climb from Southern Gallop, -Mad Dogs continues south, with a draught heading from north to south, -for 30m before turning west. After a further 80m, a 3m pitch down is -reached. An immediate 4m climb up from the base of the pitch arrives at -Holey Cow, an area with many holes to avoid -falling down (bolts placed for a traverse line). A pitch estimated at -20m deep at the top of the climb is undescended [C2011-161-XX A], as is -an estimated 5m pitch in a side passage a little further on -[C2011-161-XX B]. Traversing round the right hand (western) wall -gains a mud floored passage heading south, with an unexplored passage -heading east immediately after the holes [C2011-161-XX B]. 10m south -from here a side passage to the west has been explored for 15m -[FIXME: (Julian/Andrew/Cat) to a pitch??] with a draught heading to -the west [C2011-161-XX B]. The main route continues for 15m to a junction -opposite an undescended 8m pitch on the left [C2011-161-XX B]. Right -at the junction leads to Blown Away. Straight ahead -is the continuation towards the Runnel Stone. -At this point the draught changes direction, with the combined airflow -from the point of entry and continuation heading down -Blown Away.
- -The continuing passage turns northeast and heads uphill past a side -passage on the right after 15m [C2011-161-XX B]. The passage develops a floor -trench and turns each. The next four passages on the right all connect to -Lärchenrepublik, with the main route to -this area being the easternmost and largest of these. Immediately -beyond this junction, a passage to the right rejoins the main passage some -15m further on. The main route continues southeast, past the junction with -Polka Dot Passage on the left after 20m. 15m further -on the passage briefly divides in two before turning east. 15m beyond -this corner, a low sandy passage to the right opens out at the head of -a soil chute down to the head of a pitch near the Runnel Stone. Ahead is the -main route, which opens out at the top of the Runnel -Stone chamber 10m further on.
- -The access route from Holey Cow emerges at the top -of a large chamber sloping down to the right. A passage heading uphill and -to the north opposite the point of entry leads to -Runnel North. Descending into the chamber, another passage on the left -also leads to Runnel North. Immediately beyond is a massive boulder (the -Runnel Stone). An undescended pitch on the right (west) here can also -be accessed from the soil chute [C2012-161-XX A]. Continuing beyond -the Runnel Stone, the chamber narrows to become rift passage, at which -point a passage on the right (south) is Welly Popper. -The rift passage continues east for 35m, past undescended pitches of -20m [C2011-161-XX B] and 5m [C2011-161-XX B] to a further pitch -[C2011-161-XX B]. This point is very close to -Chicken Flied Nice, and it is thought likely -that this passage may be accessible by rigging a non-trivial bolt -traverse over this pitch. Right immediately beyond the pitch head also -leads to Welly Popper.
- -[FIXME: (Holly/Noel) description needed]
- -[FIXME: (Becka/Julian) description needed]
- -Polka Dot Passage heads uphill and east from the main route to the -Runnel Stone with a breeze blowing from east to west. -The passage develops a small floor trench, and after 20m a junction is reached. -Most of the breeze eminates from the right-hand branch, which can be followed -for 15m to reach two holes in the floor. These are very close to the -northern end of Runnel Stone chamber and are -presumed to connect. There is a possible continuation that could be reached -by traversing over these holes, but it is highly likely to connect to either -the chamber or Runnel North [C2012-161-XX C].
- -Left (north) at the junction, a much less windy walking passage (breeze -from north to south) continues past a roof tube on the right [C2012-161-XX C] -and a too-tight rift on the left, beyond which the passage narrows and becomes -more rift-like. Some specks of mud on the right hand wall at this point -give the passage its name. 50m from the junction a pitch is reached, which -is located directly above the northern extremity of -Runnel North. A climb up to the right immediately before the pitch head -leads only to a further hole with a visual connection to this pitch.
- -[FIXME: (Becka/Julian/Andrew) description needed]
- -Lärchenrepublik starts as a substantial walking passage heading south -from the trunk passage between Holey Cow and -Runnel Stone with a significant breeze blowing from north -to south. A 3m climb down is quickly reached, beyond which the passage turns -right reaching a junction at which left is the main way on.
- -Right at the junction leads to a series of passages that all ultimately -connect back to the main trunk passage. The first of these is a tube on the -right reached after 10m that joins the main passage at the junction with the -main route into Lärchenrepublik. 5m beyond, a 2m climb down is reached on -the left. Ahead at this point is a tube reached by a short climb up that goes -through a puddle to join the trunk passage 10m back from the main junction -towards Holey Cow. Descending the climb leads to a narrow winding passage that -joins the trunk passage af further 10m back.
- -Turning left at the junction, the passage continues downhill in fine style -with a northerly breeze past some nice crystals (gypsum?) - care required to -avoid damage. After 50m, the roof lowers briefly, then opens up at a tall rift. -The rift passage continues south and has not been followed, but does not appear -to carry a significant draught [C2012-161-XX B]. A 6m climb up at this point -leads only to a drop that is presumed to connect to the rift at a lower level.
- -The main way on is found by turning right then immediately left and crawling -under a boulder to emerge in a parallel rift passage. A roof tube doubling back -over the point of entry is presumed to connect back to the main passage near -the point where the roof lowers. The continuing rift at floor level does not -appear to be draughting [C2012-161-XX B].
- -The way on is found by via an easy 6m diagonal climb up into the rift on the -right to enter the Spiral Staircase area, so called because -the route to the continuing passage is somewhat convoluted. At the top of the -climb, a narrow, draughting, phreatic rift passage heads off. After 10m, a climb -on the right is the way on. Straight ahead at floor level leads, after 15m, -to a pitch estimated at 12m deep [C2012-161-XX B]. There may be a possible -continuation beyond at floor level.
- -Heading up the climb on the right enters another phreatic rift passage. -After 5m, a roof tube doubling back over the point of entry can be accessed -by climbing up into the rift. Continuing at floor level for a further 10m, -the same pitch as reached from the lower rift is reached. There is a solid -roof at this level. There is also a more obvious continuing passage at the -opposite side of the pitch; access will be difficult [C2012-161-XX B].
- -The roof tube reaches a further level overlooking the lower rifts from -which access was gained. A short climb doubling back over the point of entry -gains access to Bundestrasse.
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+The large trunk passages described on this page were originally +accessed by descending Mordor pitch from the +Country for Old Men level in 2011. In 2012, this area was accessed +and explored from Steinbrückenhöhle via the Far from Support +traverses from the bottom of Fat Cat. The southern extremity +(Runnel Stone area) is very close to +Chicken Flied Nice, so in the future it +may prove easier to access these passages via an as yet undiscovered +connection in this area, thereby bypassing the Tyrolean traverse at +Strange Acrossfall.
+ +Mordor is a small, very windy (blowing up) pitch at the northern +end of Sudetenland (accessed from +Country for Old Men) that is rigged +from the roof. After the initial 10m drop, the way on is to climb down +a further 10m to a second hang. It is also possible to get off the +rope and explore round a corner into windy rifts. The second drop +descends from a thread then a roof bolt where the pitch opens out. A +deviation ~7m down on a spike avoids a rub at a rebelay (huge thread) +to drop nicely in a large space to near the floor. A 60m rope is +recommended (this pitch was left rigged in 2011 and 2012).
+ +At the foot of the first 10m drop is a soily climb up 12m to the SW. +It doesn't go. In the opposite direction, round a corner a narrow rift +passage can be followed upwards for 18m, then back down again to come +out near the top of the 2nd drop of Mordor pitch. All of this passage +is very windy.
+ +The chamber at the bottom of Mordor is about 15m high. To the west is a +north-south trending rift leading to an impassable hole in the floor +at the S end, beyond which is The Stables +[2011-161-XX C]. There is a hole in the floor at the north end of this +rift [2011-161-XX C] and a narrow slot in the wall near the foot of +the rope [2011-161-XX C]. East leads to March of the Ents.
+ +The large passage of March of the Ents heads eastwards from the +chamber at the base of Mordor pitch 4m +higher up, reached via an easy traverse. There is a strong draught +from east to west (into the chamber). After 18m, a t-junction is +reached with a much less windy passage (the base of the T) to the +right (south), which leads to the main route to the +south (Rivendell). Straight ahead (east) the main passage continues uphill then +turns northeast. 30m beyond the Rivendell junction, climbing up to +the left in a complex area reaches the head of No +Sign of Sauron pitch. Most of the draught appears to coming from +the area around this pitch. Immediately beyond is a passage on the +left (bearing on 352°) [C2011-161-XX B]. +The phreatic passage zig-zags for another 30m. At the corner is a high (12m) +solution area in the roof [C2011-161-XX C]. Ahead the passage becomes a very high +hading rift with a short drop. Traversing across the drop leads to +Bored of the Rings.
+ +Bored of the Rings can be accessed either by descending a short +pitch and climbing up the far side, or (preferred) by traversing along +the right-hand wall of the hading rift (bolts placed for a traverse line). +[FIXME: (Andrew/Julian) the survey shows two C leads at the bottom of the +rift, and a B lead at the top, also a p5 - is this a QM?] At the far end +of the traverse is a junction. Ahead leads after 10m to a pitch +[C2011-161-XX B]. A passage to the right here connects heads back to +overlook the hading rift.
+ +The main way on at the junction is to the left (north). The passage +continues for 55m, past a pool (traversed on the left) to a rift in the +floor (undescended [C2011-161-XX B]). Left here leads to +[FIXME: (Emma/Olly) 2 QMs on survey, B and a C - descriptions? Also, c2 +to the east of the passage - is there a QM there?]. Stepping over the rift +(traverse line advisable) leads to a breakdown chamber with lots of holes +in the floor. [FIXME: (Emma/Olly) extension to west near survey station +'a' leads to 2 B grade QMs - description?] Keeping right passes a small +passage on the right [C2011-161-XX C]. Clambering among the boulders leads to +a short climb down near the right-hand wall (handline useful) to +reach a drippy pitch (undescended). [C2011-161-XX B]. The +Far From Support traverses head +off along the right-hand wall of this pitch (left rigged in 2012) and is +the connection route to Steinbrückenhöhle, emerging in +Cirque du Soleil. A tube +heading up on the right immediately before the start of the traverse +links back to overlook the pitch and also a possible continuation +east [C2011-161-XX C].
+ +No Sign of Sauron pitch is accessed by heading north and uphill from +March of the Ents into the wind to a +rock pillar at the pitch head. The pitch is rigged by traversing +along the left hand wall to a rock bridge overlooking a second, +connected hole that is the descent route. An aven above the pitch on +the left at this point appears to be main source of the draught +[C2012-161-XX X]. It would be relatively easy to continue the +traverse to an apparent passage on the far side of the pitch +[C2012-161-XX B] - it is unclear whether or not this passage +continues.
+ +The pitch is a fine circular shaft, 5m round and 32m deep, and is +descended via a deviation 4m down and a y-hang rebelay approximately +halfway down. At the base of the pitch, a rift passage heads south, +accessed by climbing down through boulders. The passage was followed +for 15m, via a 2m down climb, and continues to the south, tight but +passable [C2012-161-XX B]. There is little discernible draught.
+ +A 3m diameter phreatic passage heading south from +March of the Ents for 25m leads to a chamber +Rivendell. A hole in the floor is approximately 10m deep with a pool at the +bottom [C2011-161-XX A]. There is possible passage uphill to the +northeast [C2011-161-XX B]. The way on is downhill to the southwest, +quickly arriving at a large T-junction with a horizontal passage. This +is very windy again (blowing from southeast to northwest). +Left is the large passage of The Shires. Right +is the main way on.
+ +After 17m, the passage opens out at a small streamway with a +junction, and splits. The two passages soon reunite at The Stables. Left continues downhill for 17m to +where the stream sinks in a too tight rift with an aven on the right +[C2011-161-XX-X]. The main way on is ahead (west).
+ +In The Stables the passage continues past a +stagnant pool and quickly reaches +a 3m drop at a junction. Right connects to the north-south trending +rift accessed from the base of Mordor pitch, (but +is not passable). +To the left, a traverse round the 3m drop (left rigged) is the main +way on. Large passage continues, under a rock bridge and up a 2m climb, +reaching a junction 35m from the traverse. The main way on is to the +left into Southern Gallop. Right +leads via wide passage to a hole on the right and Soilothon on the left.:.
+ +Turning left (southeast) at the large T-junction by +Rivendell enters a huge phreatic passage +5m across trending gently downhill, The Shires. This reaches a +pitch edge after 50m looking out into large chamber/area +[C2011-161-XX A]. The drop is about 10m, then another 10m in a further +hole. A small passage continues ahead for ~7m to look out over another +drop, probably the same space [C2011-161-XX B]. Halfway along the Shires +a small rift passage goes off [C2011-161-XX C] +[FIXME: (Wookey/Cat/Adam) not explicitly labelled on survey].
+ +A short climb up gains access to a large passage heading southeast. +After 10m a hole is reached that can be traversed on the right (rope +useful) to gain access to the continuing passage. [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) +have I correctly identified this obstacle? Is the hole a QM].
+ +After a further 10m, a 4m climb down into a rift is reached (becoming +progressively more awkward on the return as ever more mud becomes smeared +on the footholds). The rift passage heads south for 20m to a junction +where the left hand branch quickly closes down [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) does +it close down? survey is unclear] and the main way on is to the right.
+ +The passage continues in fine style for 100m to a breakdown chamber. +[FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) Are there really no QMs on this entire stretch?]. +Clambering up and under the biggest boulder leads to a continuation in a +tall rift. The passage continues for a further 50m to a local widening +with an undescended pitch to the west [C2011-161-XX A]. Ahead the rift +closes down, but a 5m climb up (rope left rigged) leads to +Mad Dogs.
+ +From the top of the 5m climb from Southern Gallop, +Mad Dogs continues south, with a draught heading from north to south, +for 30m before turning west. After a further 80m, a 3m pitch down is +reached. An immediate 4m climb up from the base of the pitch arrives at +Holey Cow, an area with many holes to avoid +falling down (bolts placed for a traverse line). A pitch estimated at +20m deep at the top of the climb is undescended [C2011-161-XX A], as is +an estimated 5m pitch in a side passage a little further on +[C2011-161-XX B]. Traversing round the right hand (western) wall +gains a mud floored passage heading south, with an unexplored passage +heading east immediately after the holes [C2011-161-XX B]. 10m south +from here a side passage to the west has been explored for 15m +[FIXME: (Julian/Andrew/Cat) to a pitch??] with a draught heading to +the west [C2011-161-XX B]. The main route continues for 15m to a junction +opposite an undescended 8m pitch on the left [C2011-161-XX B]. Right +at the junction leads to Blown Away. Straight ahead +is the continuation towards the Runnel Stone. +At this point the draught changes direction, with the combined airflow +from the point of entry and continuation heading down +Blown Away.
+ +The continuing passage turns northeast and heads uphill past a side +passage on the right after 15m [C2011-161-XX B]. The passage develops a floor +trench and turns each. The next four passages on the right all connect to +Lärchenrepublik, with the main route to +this area being the easternmost and largest of these. Immediately +beyond this junction, a passage to the right rejoins the main passage some +15m further on. The main route continues southeast, past the junction with +Polka Dot Passage on the left after 20m. 15m further +on the passage briefly divides in two before turning east. 15m beyond +this corner, a low sandy passage to the right opens out at the head of +a soil chute down to the head of a pitch near the Runnel Stone. Ahead is the +main route, which opens out at the top of the Runnel +Stone chamber 10m further on.
+ +The access route from Holey Cow emerges at the top +of a large chamber sloping down to the right. A passage heading uphill and +to the north opposite the point of entry leads to +Runnel North. Descending into the chamber, another passage on the left +also leads to Runnel North. Immediately beyond is a massive boulder (the +Runnel Stone). An undescended pitch on the right (west) here can also +be accessed from the soil chute [C2012-161-XX A]. Continuing beyond +the Runnel Stone, the chamber narrows to become rift passage, at which +point a passage on the right (south) is Welly Popper. +The rift passage continues east for 35m, past undescended pitches of +20m [C2011-161-XX B] and 5m [C2011-161-XX B] to a further pitch +[C2011-161-XX B]. This point is very close to +Chicken Flied Nice, and it is thought likely +that this passage may be accessible by rigging a non-trivial bolt +traverse over this pitch. Right immediately beyond the pitch head also +leads to Welly Popper.
+ +[FIXME: (Holly/Noel) description needed]
+ +[FIXME: (Becka/Julian) description needed]
+ +Polka Dot Passage heads uphill and east from the main route to the +Runnel Stone with a breeze blowing from east to west. +The passage develops a small floor trench, and after 20m a junction is reached. +Most of the breeze eminates from the right-hand branch, which can be followed +for 15m to reach two holes in the floor. These are very close to the +northern end of Runnel Stone chamber and are +presumed to connect. There is a possible continuation that could be reached +by traversing over these holes, but it is highly likely to connect to either +the chamber or Runnel North [C2012-161-XX C].
+ +Left (north) at the junction, a much less windy walking passage (breeze +from north to south) continues past a roof tube on the right [C2012-161-XX C] +and a too-tight rift on the left, beyond which the passage narrows and becomes +more rift-like. Some specks of mud on the right hand wall at this point +give the passage its name. 50m from the junction a pitch is reached, which +is located directly above the northern extremity of +Runnel North. A climb up to the right immediately before the pitch head +leads only to a further hole with a visual connection to this pitch.
+ +[FIXME: (Becka/Julian/Andrew) description needed]
+ +Lärchenrepublik starts as a substantial walking passage heading south +from the trunk passage between Holey Cow and +Runnel Stone with a significant breeze blowing from north +to south. A 3m climb down is quickly reached, beyond which the passage turns +right reaching a junction at which left is the main way on.
+ +Right at the junction leads to a series of passages that all ultimately +connect back to the main trunk passage. The first of these is a tube on the +right reached after 10m that joins the main passage at the junction with the +main route into Lärchenrepublik. 5m beyond, a 2m climb down is reached on +the left. Ahead at this point is a tube reached by a short climb up that goes +through a puddle to join the trunk passage 10m back from the main junction +towards Holey Cow. Descending the climb leads to a narrow winding passage that +joins the trunk passage af further 10m back.
+ +Turning left at the junction, the passage continues downhill in fine style +with a northerly breeze past some nice crystals (gypsum?) - care required to +avoid damage. After 50m, the roof lowers briefly, then opens up at a tall rift. +The rift passage continues south and has not been followed, but does not appear +to carry a significant draught [C2012-161-XX B]. A 6m climb up at this point +leads only to a drop that is presumed to connect to the rift at a lower level.
+ +The main way on is found by turning right then immediately left and crawling +under a boulder to emerge in a parallel rift passage. A roof tube doubling back +over the point of entry is presumed to connect back to the main passage near +the point where the roof lowers. The continuing rift at floor level does not +appear to be draughting [C2012-161-XX B].
+ +The way on is found by via an easy 6m diagonal climb up into the rift on the +right to enter the Spiral Staircase area, so called because +the route to the continuing passage is somewhat convoluted. At the top of the +climb, a narrow, draughting, phreatic rift passage heads off. After 10m, a climb +on the right is the way on. Straight ahead at floor level leads, after 15m, +to a pitch estimated at 12m deep [C2012-161-XX B]. There may be a possible +continuation beyond at floor level.
+ +Heading up the climb on the right enters another phreatic rift passage. +After 5m, a roof tube doubling back over the point of entry can be accessed +by climbing up into the rift. Continuing at floor level for a further 10m, +the same pitch as reached from the lower rift is reached. There is a solid +roof at this level. There is also a more obvious continuing passage at the +opposite side of the pitch; access will be difficult [C2012-161-XX B].
+ +The roof tube reaches a further level overlooking the lower rifts from +which access was gained. A short climb doubling back over the point of entry +gains access to Bundestrasse.
+ +
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-The large trunk passage of Country for Old Men was reached by a bolt -climb into the roof of Repton II in -2009 leading to Irony of Time. It ultimately leads to a pitch - -Mordor - into a further trunk passage -at a lower level. This lower level connects to Steinbrückenhöhle -via the Far from Support traverses.
- -Irony of time was accessed via a bolt climb from Repton II in 2009; -the 18m pitch has been left permanently rigged. At the top, a tall, -sandy floored rift passage heads north - Irony of Time - with a -significant breeze blowing from the north. A small passage on the left -after 50m is choked (possible dig [C2011-161-XX D]) and another 20m on -a further passage to the left quickly becomes too tight. The main passage -continues for a further 20m to a junction. Straight ahead leads after 7m -to a 5m climb up, at the top of which a narrow passage continues with a -draught coming from the north [C2011-161-XX B]. The main way on is to -turn sharp left at the junction, which also carries a draught towards -the point of entry. After a further 20m a junction with Country for -Old Men is reached.
- -Country for Old Men is a phreatic passage that generally trends -approximately along a north-south line, sloping gently down to the south -with the local dip of the beds. It is mostly approximately 10m wide and carries a noticable draught from north to south.
- -Heading south from the point of entry from Irony of Time, -a sandy floored passage heads south for 25m to a -narrowing. Continuing under a rock arch, a passage on the right has a -visual connection back to just before the narrowing. Continuing -downhill [FIXME: (Alex/Jess) past a passage on the right on the survey - QM?] -under another rock arch leads to a 15m pitch on the right -[FIXME: (Alex/Jess) I assume this is an undescended QM - what grade?]. The -passage continues past the pitch head for a further 15m. [FIXME: (Alex/Jess) -Survey implies 2 QMS here, uphill level change to SW, sandy -passage downhill to SE].
- -The passage heads north from Irony of -Time in fine style. A passage at ceiling level is presumed to rejoin -the main passage after a 15m. Proceeding a further 25m round a double -bend, a complex area is reached where the main route on is found by -keeping to the left hand wall where a pretty chocolate river is soon -reached. To the right, several routes round rock pillars -ultimately join together until the inlet for the chocolate river is -reached on the right [FIXME: (Becka/Julian) is this a QM?]. Continuing -ahead the passage quickly ends, but a side passage to the right heads -uphill to a 5m climb up. [FIXME: (Becka/Julian) Is there a QM at the -top of this climb?]
- -The chocolate river should be traversed to the left (care required -to avoid kicking sand onto it). After 20m, the chocolate river heads -down a pitch to the right [C2011-161-XX B]. A traverse over the top of -this pitch leads to Popcorn Passage. Country for -Old Men continues left, past an impassable hole on the left with a stream -(good for filling water bottles). Immediately beyond the watering a hole, -a small draughting passage doubles back on the left - this is -Massive for Mendip. Immediately beyond is a slope -down to a pitch with a rift passage exiting with water audible -[C2011-161-XX B]. The main passage continues north, traversing round a -pit on the left with a wet aven above [C2011-161-XX X]; the water exits -down a too tight rift at the bottom of the pit. From here, the passage -heads uphill to the north past a small hole in the floor [C2011-161-XX B] -and a small choked passage on the right [C2011-161-XX D] for 45m until a -10m pitch is reached. A traverse round the right of the pitch is blind. -Descending the pitch leads to Sudetenland.
- -The 10m sloping pitch into Sudetenland is formed where the phreatic passage -changes level. At the base of the pitch, two tall narrow passages on -the left lead to a side passage heading south. A -little further on, a further side passage on the -right also heads south. The main route continues uphill to the northeast. -50m from the base of the pitch, a floor trench is reached. Continuing -to the left here leads, after 15m, to a drop overlooking the continuing -passage that would require rigging. The easiest way to proceed is head -right down the floor trench after which a 2m climb down is reached (sling -or handline useful for the return). Shortly beyond the base of the climb -a small passage on the right leads immediately to a pitch with a strong -draught [C2011-161-XX A]. The main passage continues for a further -40m to a junction. Right heads uphill and chokes almost immediately. -To the left, the passage narrows markedly, and is consequently very -cold since it appears to carry most of the draught present throughout -Sudetenland and Country for Old Men. After 25m, the head of -Mordor pitch is reached which is extremely -draughty and extremely cold. All alternative ways on at the head of the -pitch appear to be choked.
- -[FIXME: description needed - see Becka's logbook entry, 2011-08-10]
- -A low area leads off on the left, with a significant draught inwards. Crossing -a 2m-deep water-washed hole a stooping soilyy passage is reached which -soon opens out into a small soily chamber. A hole down low on the left -goes to more dead-end soiliness (and a turd left by Mr Todd). A sharp -right turn leads to a high, narrow rift, starting with a slippery 3m climb, then a 4m traverse -above a hole continaing a steep sandy slope. Holes go off into the -ceiling, and take most of the wind. It is possible to climb part-way up, but not -all the way - too vertical and too tight.
- -Climbing down a couple of metres gets out of the narrow rifty bit -into a wide, high passage, 8m high and 3m wide and 20m long. There is an -alcove on the right and a slot in the wall which can be climbed up -for 10m or so. Ahead the floor rises over boulders and the walls -narrow. There are holes in the floor but nothing seems to go. It seems -very likely that the passage continues about 10-12m up on the -right, above the alcove. The climb does not look difficult but would need -rope and some protection. [QM B].
- -Near the base of the pitch from Country for Old Men -into Sudetenland, there are two -side passages - one heading approximately southwest, the other -southeast.
- -The southwest passage is a tall, narrow rift that heads gently downhill to the -south with a small draught from south to north. [FIXME: the bit -covered by the oldmensouth survey needs describing - see -Becka's logbook entry, 2011-08-10]
- -The southeast passage is a walking sized, sandy floored passage that draughts -towards the southeast. A number of crystals (gypsum?) were observed -in numerous places in this passage. After 55m a 5m climb up is -reached. At the top of the climb, a rift passage heads off to the -west [C2011-161-XX B]. To the east is a further climb up, apparently -with a passage beyond, that has not been followed [C2011-161-XX B]
- -5m back from the base of the 5m climb, a narrow passage heads off to the -west. A further 5m back is another small passage heading west [FIXME: -(Anthony/Becka) choked? QM?], and another 10m back is another passage -heading west [C2011-161-XX C]. It seems probable that these passages are all -connected. Following the passage closest to the base of the climb -proceeds past many crystals and a well preserved dead bat, and -quickly degenerates to a crawl. After 10m, a junction with two -similarly small passages on the right is reached [C2011-161-XX C] -[C2011-161-XX C]. The passage continues in a similar vein, with -popcorn encrusted walls in places, for a further 35m before opening -out at the head of a pitch, estimated at 7m, at the base of which a -larger rift passage is seen continuing to the southeast [C2011-161-XX -A]. There is little draught in this area considering the size of the -passage.
- -
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+The large trunk passage of Country for Old Men was reached by a bolt +climb into the roof of Repton II in +2009 leading to Irony of Time. It ultimately leads to a pitch - +Mordor - into a further trunk passage +at a lower level. This lower level connects to Steinbrückenhöhle +via the Far from Support traverses.
+ +Irony of time was accessed via a bolt climb from Repton II in 2009; +the 18m pitch has been left permanently rigged. At the top, a tall, +sandy floored rift passage heads north - Irony of Time - with a +significant breeze blowing from the north. A small passage on the left +after 50m is choked (possible dig [C2011-161-XX D]) and another 20m on +a further passage to the left quickly becomes too tight. The main passage +continues for a further 20m to a junction. Straight ahead leads after 7m +to a 5m climb up, at the top of which a narrow passage continues with a +draught coming from the north [C2011-161-XX B]. The main way on is to +turn sharp left at the junction, which also carries a draught towards +the point of entry. After a further 20m a junction with Country for +Old Men is reached.
+ +Country for Old Men is a phreatic passage that generally trends +approximately along a north-south line, sloping gently down to the south +with the local dip of the beds. It is mostly approximately 10m wide and carries a noticable draught from north to south.
+ +Heading south from the point of entry from Irony of Time, +a sandy floored passage heads south for 25m to a +narrowing. Continuing under a rock arch, a passage on the right has a +visual connection back to just before the narrowing. Continuing +downhill [FIXME: (Alex/Jess) past a passage on the right on the survey - QM?] +under another rock arch leads to a 15m pitch on the right +[FIXME: (Alex/Jess) I assume this is an undescended QM - what grade?]. The +passage continues past the pitch head for a further 15m. [FIXME: (Alex/Jess) +Survey implies 2 QMS here, uphill level change to SW, sandy +passage downhill to SE].
+ +The passage heads north from Irony of +Time in fine style. A passage at ceiling level is presumed to rejoin +the main passage after a 15m. Proceeding a further 25m round a double +bend, a complex area is reached where the main route on is found by +keeping to the left hand wall where a pretty chocolate river is soon +reached. To the right, several routes round rock pillars +ultimately join together until the inlet for the chocolate river is +reached on the right [FIXME: (Becka/Julian) is this a QM?]. Continuing +ahead the passage quickly ends, but a side passage to the right heads +uphill to a 5m climb up. [FIXME: (Becka/Julian) Is there a QM at the +top of this climb?]
+ +The chocolate river should be traversed to the left (care required +to avoid kicking sand onto it). After 20m, the chocolate river heads +down a pitch to the right [C2011-161-XX B]. A traverse over the top of +this pitch leads to Popcorn Passage. Country for +Old Men continues left, past an impassable hole on the left with a stream +(good for filling water bottles). Immediately beyond the watering a hole, +a small draughting passage doubles back on the left - this is +Massive for Mendip. Immediately beyond is a slope +down to a pitch with a rift passage exiting with water audible +[C2011-161-XX B]. The main passage continues north, traversing round a +pit on the left with a wet aven above [C2011-161-XX X]; the water exits +down a too tight rift at the bottom of the pit. From here, the passage +heads uphill to the north past a small hole in the floor [C2011-161-XX B] +and a small choked passage on the right [C2011-161-XX D] for 45m until a +10m pitch is reached. A traverse round the right of the pitch is blind. +Descending the pitch leads to Sudetenland.
+ +The 10m sloping pitch into Sudetenland is formed where the phreatic passage +changes level. At the base of the pitch, two tall narrow passages on +the left lead to a side passage heading south. A +little further on, a further side passage on the +right also heads south. The main route continues uphill to the northeast. +50m from the base of the pitch, a floor trench is reached. Continuing +to the left here leads, after 15m, to a drop overlooking the continuing +passage that would require rigging. The easiest way to proceed is head +right down the floor trench after which a 2m climb down is reached (sling +or handline useful for the return). Shortly beyond the base of the climb +a small passage on the right leads immediately to a pitch with a strong +draught [C2011-161-XX A]. The main passage continues for a further +40m to a junction. Right heads uphill and chokes almost immediately. +To the left, the passage narrows markedly, and is consequently very +cold since it appears to carry most of the draught present throughout +Sudetenland and Country for Old Men. After 25m, the head of +Mordor pitch is reached which is extremely +draughty and extremely cold. All alternative ways on at the head of the +pitch appear to be choked.
+ +[FIXME: description needed - see Becka's logbook entry, 2011-08-10]
+ +A low area leads off on the left, with a significant draught inwards. Crossing +a 2m-deep water-washed hole a stooping soilyy passage is reached which +soon opens out into a small soily chamber. A hole down low on the left +goes to more dead-end soiliness (and a turd left by Mr Todd). A sharp +right turn leads to a high, narrow rift, starting with a slippery 3m climb, then a 4m traverse +above a hole continaing a steep sandy slope. Holes go off into the +ceiling, and take most of the wind. It is possible to climb part-way up, but not +all the way - too vertical and too tight.
+ +Climbing down a couple of metres gets out of the narrow rifty bit +into a wide, high passage, 8m high and 3m wide and 20m long. There is an +alcove on the right and a slot in the wall which can be climbed up +for 10m or so. Ahead the floor rises over boulders and the walls +narrow. There are holes in the floor but nothing seems to go. It seems +very likely that the passage continues about 10-12m up on the +right, above the alcove. The climb does not look difficult but would need +rope and some protection. [QM B].
+ +Near the base of the pitch from Country for Old Men +into Sudetenland, there are two +side passages - one heading approximately southwest, the other +southeast.
+ +The southwest passage is a tall, narrow rift that heads gently downhill to the +south with a small draught from south to north. [FIXME: the bit +covered by the oldmensouth survey needs describing - see +Becka's logbook entry, 2011-08-10]
+ +The southeast passage is a walking sized, sandy floored passage that draughts +towards the southeast. A number of crystals (gypsum?) were observed +in numerous places in this passage. After 55m a 5m climb up is +reached. At the top of the climb, a rift passage heads off to the +west [C2011-161-XX B]. To the east is a further climb up, apparently +with a passage beyond, that has not been followed [C2011-161-XX B]
+ +5m back from the base of the 5m climb, a narrow passage heads off to the +west. A further 5m back is another small passage heading west [FIXME: +(Anthony/Becka) choked? QM?], and another 10m back is another passage +heading west [C2011-161-XX C]. It seems probable that these passages are all +connected. Following the passage closest to the base of the climb +proceeds past many crystals and a well preserved dead bat, and +quickly degenerates to a crawl. After 10m, a junction with two +similarly small passages on the right is reached [C2011-161-XX C] +[C2011-161-XX C]. The passage continues in a similar vein, with +popcorn encrusted walls in places, for a further 35m before opening +out at the head of a pitch, estimated at 7m, at the base of which a +larger rift passage is seen continuing to the southeast [C2011-161-XX +A]. There is little draught in this area considering the size of the +passage.
+ +| 204 | Steinbrückenhöhle | 5/S x |
|---|
Summary: The Big Boulders area is dominated by a large breakdown -chamber and contains a number of unexplored leads. It is accessed from the -On the Prowl traverse in the Pussy -Prance area.
- -In the southwest corner of the chamber reached from the end -of Puss in Bolts is a 3m pitch. Traversing over this pitch -(rope required) leads into a rift passage. The narrow -continuation of the rift ahead is unexplored [C2012-204-XX B], -but a 3m climb up on the left (bolts placed for a rope) leads -into Dog Days. Comfortable walking passage heads south for 20m, -past a roof tube on the right and via a 3m climb down, to a -complex junction. There are two unexplored passages on the left -at this point ([C2012-204-XX B] and [C2012-204-XX C]). -[FIXME: (Olly/Becka/Andrew) lots of bits here that AD can't remember/knows -nothing about].
- -The way on is a muddy passage which quickly leads to the -head of an 18m pitch overlooking a large space. Descending -this pitch lands in Big Boulder -Chamber.
- -As its name suggests, Big Boulder Chamber is a large -breakdown chamber containing many huge boulders. -[FIXME: (Andrew/Becka/Julian/Stuart) survey shows QM C downhill from landing point]. -From the point at which the rope lands, the way on is -up an unstable rubble slope to the north (care required). -[FIXME: (Andrew/Becak/Julian/Stuart) uncertain about the exact route here - lots of -bits on the survey to the east that AD knows nothing about] -The route continues north through breakdown until a -climb beneath a large boulder on the left leads to a -boulder slope which can be descended with care to a -continuing passage to the north. Shortly beyond the -bottom of the boulder slope, a passage on the right -leads, past a narrow unexplored passage on the right -[C2012-204-XX C] to a muddy, exposed climb up into a possible -phreatic passage with a sound of water [C2012-204-XX B].
- -The main route continues north in comfortable sized passage -with a draught from south to north. After 10m, a wet aven is -reached on the left [C2012-204-XX X] with a 3m pit beneath -with a narrow rift exiting [C2012-204-XX C]. The continuing -passage gradually narrows and continues for a further 40m to -a T-junction where Pretzel passage -leads off to the left and right.
- -Turning right at the T-junction leads immediately to -a local widening with three ways on. West leads immediately -back to the passage from Big Boulder Chamber near the -T-junction. North is a 2m climb and east is a low passage, -both of which ultimately lead to the same place. The easiest -route is to take the low passage to the east. -This quickly opens out to a comfortable sized sandy passage -which proceeds, past a climb up to a narrow passage on the -right [C2012-204-XX C], before the roof lowers again. 10m -further on the roof rises at the base of a 3m climb up on the -left. Up the 3m climb leads to 15m of narrow, sandy, -walking sized passage emerging at the top of the 2m climb at -the start of the passage.. Comfortable sized walking passage -continues north for 10m before turning northwest and descending -gently to the head of an undescended pitch with the sound of -water [C2012-204-XX A]. The pitch is at least 15m across and -stones rattle for at least 8 seconds. There is a draught blowing -from the pitch towards the known cave.
- -Turning left at the T junction, a sandy slope down to the -right is quickly reached (rope required for a safe descent) with -a passage heading off at the bottom [C2012-204-XX A]. Traversing -across the top of the slope leads to a further passage with an -immediate junction. Left is a steeply ascending passage which -requires protection [C2012-204-XX B]. Ahead, comfortable passage -continues for 8m to a sand choke, with a small continuation -to the left with no draught [C2012-204-XX C]. Right leads, via a -2m climb up, to a muddy rift. This passage proceeds for 30m -reaching the head of an undescended pitch that is at least 20m -across [C2012-204-XX A]. This pitch is 40m away from the pitch -at the end of the other branch of Pretzel Passage, and has a -similar character. There is a draught heading towards this -pitch. A climb up on the right at the pitch head gains access -to a roof tube [C2012-204-XX C].
- - -| 204 | Steinbrückenhöhle | 5/S x |
|---|
Summary: The Big Boulders area is dominated by a large breakdown +chamber and contains a number of unexplored leads. It is accessed from the +On the Prowl traverse in the Pussy +Prance area.
+ +In the southwest corner of the chamber reached from the end +of Puss in Bolts is a 3m pitch. Traversing over this pitch +(rope required) leads into a rift passage. The narrow +continuation of the rift ahead is unexplored [C2012-204-XX B], +but a 3m climb up on the left (bolts placed for a rope) leads +into Dog Days. Comfortable walking passage heads south for 20m, +past a roof tube on the right and via a 3m climb down, to a +complex junction. There are two unexplored passages on the left +at this point ([C2012-204-XX B] and [C2012-204-XX C]). +[FIXME: (Olly/Becka/Andrew) lots of bits here that AD can't remember/knows +nothing about].
+ +The way on is a muddy passage which quickly leads to the +head of an 18m pitch overlooking a large space. Descending +this pitch lands in Big Boulder +Chamber.
+ +As its name suggests, Big Boulder Chamber is a large +breakdown chamber containing many huge boulders. +[FIXME: (Andrew/Becka/Julian/Stuart) survey shows QM C downhill from landing point]. +From the point at which the rope lands, the way on is +up an unstable rubble slope to the north (care required). +[FIXME: (Andrew/Becak/Julian/Stuart) uncertain about the exact route here - lots of +bits on the survey to the east that AD knows nothing about] +The route continues north through breakdown until a +climb beneath a large boulder on the left leads to a +boulder slope which can be descended with care to a +continuing passage to the north. Shortly beyond the +bottom of the boulder slope, a passage on the right +leads, past a narrow unexplored passage on the right +[C2012-204-XX C] to a muddy, exposed climb up into a possible +phreatic passage with a sound of water [C2012-204-XX B].
+ +The main route continues north in comfortable sized passage +with a draught from south to north. After 10m, a wet aven is +reached on the left [C2012-204-XX X] with a 3m pit beneath +with a narrow rift exiting [C2012-204-XX C]. The continuing +passage gradually narrows and continues for a further 40m to +a T-junction where Pretzel passage +leads off to the left and right.
+ +Turning right at the T-junction leads immediately to +a local widening with three ways on. West leads immediately +back to the passage from Big Boulder Chamber near the +T-junction. North is a 2m climb and east is a low passage, +both of which ultimately lead to the same place. The easiest +route is to take the low passage to the east. +This quickly opens out to a comfortable sized sandy passage +which proceeds, past a climb up to a narrow passage on the +right [C2012-204-XX C], before the roof lowers again. 10m +further on the roof rises at the base of a 3m climb up on the +left. Up the 3m climb leads to 15m of narrow, sandy, +walking sized passage emerging at the top of the 2m climb at +the start of the passage.. Comfortable sized walking passage +continues north for 10m before turning northwest and descending +gently to the head of an undescended pitch with the sound of +water [C2012-204-XX A]. The pitch is at least 15m across and +stones rattle for at least 8 seconds. There is a draught blowing +from the pitch towards the known cave.
+ +Turning left at the T junction, a sandy slope down to the +right is quickly reached (rope required for a safe descent) with +a passage heading off at the bottom [C2012-204-XX A]. Traversing +across the top of the slope leads to a further passage with an +immediate junction. Left is a steeply ascending passage which +requires protection [C2012-204-XX B]. Ahead, comfortable passage +continues for 8m to a sand choke, with a small continuation +to the left with no draught [C2012-204-XX C]. Right leads, via a +2m climb up, to a muddy rift. This passage proceeds for 30m +reaching the head of an undescended pitch that is at least 20m +across [C2012-204-XX A]. This pitch is 40m away from the pitch +at the end of the other branch of Pretzel Passage, and has a +similar character. There is a draught heading towards this +pitch. A climb up on the right at the pitch head gains access +to a roof tube [C2012-204-XX C].
+ + +| 204 | Steinbrückenhöhle | 5/S x |
|---|
Summary: The Pussy Prance area is a network of substantial phreatic -passages at the southern end of Steinbrückenhöhle. At the time of its -discovery it extended significantly further south than all other development in -the cave with the exception of the deepest parts. It was originally explored -from a passage heading south from You're so -Veined. In 2012 this area was accessed from -Brian's Phat Shaft, a pitch in -Pleasuredome that can be accessed from a number of alternative routes. The -connection to Kaninchenhöhle was found from the Pussy Prance area.
- -Merry Fucking Christmas is accessed from a hole in the floor at the end of a -draughting phreatic passage that heads south from -You're so Veined. Climbing down through the hole for 4 metres lands at the -entrance to a low crawl, Merry Fucking Christmas. While not actually -tight, the crawl continues awkwardly for 20m to a small chamber with QM [C2001-204-71 C]. The crawl -continues slightly larger for another 25m, past a hole in -the floor which is blind.
- -The crawl opens out in the wall of 7-11 Chamber. -This is part of a large shaft, with high aven (>40m?) -[C2001-204-72 X] and deep -main pitch (35m). The chamber floor is reached by a y-hang followed by a single -bolt rebelay and rope protector. Traversing across the blocks on the floor leads -to a short climb up (rope advised) over a ridge into a parallel shaft (7m deep). -The base of this is choked with boulders; an uninviting wriggle between these -leads back towards the main pitch.
- -Back at the entrance to 7-11 Chamber, an exposed traverse around the -north-western corner of the shaft leads to a small muddy window. This is a -small chamber with small muddy passage sloping downwards. Following this for a -short distance arrives at a loose funnel; rocks thrown into this rumble down -into the main pitch.
- -
The main pitch, No bits, is descended by continuing on
-the rope to a Y-hang using two bolts under the large boulder above the pitch. This
-gives a free hang to the floor (see: rigging diagram). At the bottom of the pitch,
-a rift leads off. There is a side passage to the right which becomes too tight after
-about 10m. The way on is down the rift, which can be descended using a thread and a
-single bolt to form a Y hang (the beginning of Hammer and thong). At the
-bottom of this initial narrow descent, the rift can be followed at various levels,
-but all ways become too tight. Down, Hammer and thong continues with a Y hang
-at a ledge and a deviation from the left wall (see rigging diagram).
At the bottom of Hammer and thong, the comfortably-sized rift, -Pussyprance continues steeply down (rope required - see rigging diagram) to -Catflap pitch. To the right at the top of the pitch is a window into a large -phreatic passage (~5m wide). To the right, this passage continues for about 25m to a -large window, which connects to Catwalk . To the left, the -phreatic passage passes a passage in the left hand wall, which could be descended -downwards [C2008-204-06 B] or -climbed upwards [C2008-204-07 B]. -The main passage slopes down to a large chamber, Puss in Bolts (20m across). -The chamber can be descended to the right via a 20m pitch (Painted lady) to -Puss in Bolts. Just before the chamber, there is a pitch on -the left, which leads to Catawal.
- -Descending Catflap, a window back under the pitch head can be reached at about 5m -above the floor of the shaft. This can be swung into, with the rope deviated off -threads in the mud floor, to reach a short section of phreatic passage ending in a 9m -climb which can be protected with a rope belayed off a large thread. At the foot of -this climb there is a junction - to the left is a spacious pitch and aven -[C2009-204-02 A] - the aven has -been connected to one of the large chambers at the bottom of pussy prance. To the -right is a small walking passage ending in a window into a blind pitch with a possible -mud-filled continuation opposite [ -C2009-204-04 C]. There are two junctions on the right from Catwalk - these join -after a few meters, and the passage continues past a small waterfall on the left and -junction to the right (which loops back into the same passage) to a window at the top -of another pitch - Snow Leopard. This swings into the bottom 15m of -Brian's Phat Shaft, with a continuation of the passage -in the wall of the pitch opposite - [ -C2009-204-10 B]. Catflap was left rigged in 2009 to allow access to this area -from Brian's Phat Shaft - this route was exploited in 2012.
- -Catawaul starts with a 20m nicely-shaped pitch. Right at the bottom of the pitch -leads to a small chamber with no ways on. The way on is a tight slot in the floor -leading to a small, but less tight rift which ends with a short drop (rope needed), -which is followed by another pitch (< 10m). Another short pitch follows this, which -is undescended [C2009-204-01 B].
- -At the bottom of Painted lady, is a window to the left to a large pitch -[C2009-204-11 A]. To the left -of this pitch is a shallower pit, which may be choked -[C2009-204-12 B]. Around the -right-hand wall of the large pitch is an 8-bolt traverse (left rigged in 2012), which -starts with an up climb (also permanently rigged; 30m rope needed in addition, see -rigging diagram). At the end of the traverse is a mud bridge, which leads across to -On the Prowl.
- -On the prowl starts with a traverse along the left hand wall above a blind trench -in the floor. The traverse ends with a pitch down (30m rope required for traverse -and pitch). A deviation is required after 8m to swing off the pitch into the main -chamber; the pitch appears to continue downwards -[C2009-204-19 B]. To the right -in the chamber are a number of pitches -[C2009-204-22 A] -[C2009-204-23 A] -[C2009-204-24 B]. -Traversing over one of these pitches in the far southwest corner of the chamber -leads to Dog Days which is the -route to the Big Boulders area. -Descending -the latter hole leads to connections with Fat Cat at the level -of the boulders some 5m down to the north. To the south, a rift pitch continues with -further visual connections to the head of the pitch. To the left, the chamber -narrows to a wide passage, at the end of which is a large pitch: -Fat Cat.
- -Fat cat is rigged initally from a large spike in On the Prowl. -After a 3m climb down to a ledge, there is a y-hang. It is initally narrow, but bells -out below a rebelay, about 10m down. After a further 7m of descent, two phreatic -pockets are reached to the northwest. The upper pocket can be reached via a natural -anchor and a rebelay bolt in the ceiling. This pocket goes in for 8m, at the end of -which two solution pockets are observed in the ceiling which ascend for 10m. The lower -phreatic pocket is unexplored [C2012-204-XX ?].
- -After a further 7m, it is possible to swing off to the southwest -[C2009-204-27 A]. A 4m climb -up loose boulders leads to the base of twin avens with visual connections to the level -of the head of Fat Cat. [FIXME: (Olly) which holes are these?]
- -Decending the main pitch a further 7m leads to a ledge from where there are two -ways to descend. The main route down descends a further 10m to a ledge. At the -opposite side of the shaft at this level, a passage leads off into -Cirque du Soleil. It is possible to descend a further 10m into -a large chamber, at the bottom of which is a slot -[C2009-204-30 B]. 80m of rope -is required to reach the lowest "floor". From the ledge 20m above the -floor, an alternative descent of 10m down a smaller shaft is the route to -Catgut.
- -From the bottom of the alternative shaft from Fat Cat, a 2m -climb to the southwest over Boris the Boulder leads into a small phreatic passage, -Catgut. This closes down after 4m, but the second of two holes down and to the right -is passable. Awkward progress is made downhill through small, popcorn encrusted -passage passing a passage on the right that doubles back under the passage just -traversed that is blocked by rocks [C2012-204-01 D]. Further on, a junction is -quickly reached by survey station 7. To the right leads to Cat Flea.
- -Cat Flea is delightful... [FIXME: (Olaf) description -needed]
- -At survey station 7, a popcorn encrusted squeeze down to the left leads over a -pitch of at least 10m [C2012-204-02 A] to a larger phreatic passage. A window on -the right leads to a 5m down climb to a small stream that sinks into a mud choke -[C2012-204-03 D]. Continuing east along the phreatic passage a small stream -enters immediately from the right from a passage at ceiling level that can be -accessed via a 3m climb [C2012-04-04 B]. Continuing a further 10m a small chamber -is reached via a 2m down climb. The exit is via a 3m climb to a larger boulder -filled chamber with many holes in the floor, which marks the start of -Pussy Riot.
- -The initial chamber in Pussy Riot contains a number of leads. Immediately to the -left (east) on entry is a hole down between boulders and wall that appears to be -2-3m deep [C2012-204-05 B]. Immediately to the right (west) is a larger undescended -pitch estimated at 15m [C2012-204-06 A], above which is a window that leads back into -Catgut. On the southwest wall of the chamber are two holes -through the boulders, [C2012-204-07 B] and [C2012-204-08 B], that may be linked. -8m up on the southeast wall of the chamber, a phreatic passage appears to enter which -might be accessible via a diagonal climb up the wall (protection required) -[C2012-204-09 B].
- -The way on is reached by following the left-hand wall of the chamber to an exit -passage in the eastern corner that carries a considerable draught. A 3m drop (rope -required) leads into a crawling size continuation to the east (the western -continuation of the lower level passage appears to choke immediately). Continuing -past two connected tubes on the right heading steeply uphill [C2012-204-10 C], a -local widening is reached with a crawl exiting to the right (south) [C2012-204-11 B] -and the main route heads left (north) via two passages that reunite at a junction -after 5m. To the left (west) at the junction leads to the bottom of -Fat Cat. Right leads to -Cirque du Soleil.
- -Swinging off 10m from the bottom of Fat Cat, a passage to -the southeast leads off. A crawl through large boulders with a possible crawling -passage to the left [C2012-204-12 C] leads to a junction. Twin passages to the right -(south) mark the start of Pussy Riot. Ahead (east) is -Cirque du Soleil. The passage opens out into a large, boulder filled chamber some 15m -in diameter. At the enlargement there is a narrow rift to the north that will require -rope for descent [C2012-204-13 B]. Immediately beyond this, a passage to the left -ultimately links back to Cirque du Soleil.
- -To the south are two phreatic windows at the top of a mud slope [C2012-204-14 A] -with a possible visual connection to Pussy Riot. Immediately beyond these is a window -onto a drippy pitch with a considerable draught [C2012-204-XX B]. A traverse round -the right hand wall of this pitch (permanently rigged) is the start of the -Far from Support traverses that lead to Kaninchenhöhle.
- -Continuing round the same wall, a descending mud bank is reached in the southeast -corner that will require a rope for descent [C2012-204-15 B]. 10m away to north is a -small hole through boulders [C2012-204-16 B]. From this point, a clamber down a -boulder pile leads to a northward trending passage some 5m wide and 10m high that -carries a considerable draught from the north. At the bottom of the slope, a passage -doubling back on the left connects back to the route into Cirque du Soleil, and a -small hole through the boulders has not been descended [C2012-204-17 B]. The passage -continues for a further 20m to a window onto a large, drippy pitch that is at least -20m across at the largest extent. This is almost certainly the final pitch of the -Kiwi Suit series.
- -At the southern end of Cirque du Soleil a -permanently rigged bolt traverse heads off round the right-hand side of a drippy -pitch. The route descends, via a rebelay, to a ledge 5m down, then up into a -rift on the opposite side of the pitch. Continuing round the corner to the -right leads to a pitch in the rift of unknown depth on the right [C2012-204-XX B] -and a much larger, drippy pitch on the left. The rope goes up a climb to a second -bolt traverse round the left-hand wall of this pitch. This leads after 15m to -the northern end of Bored of the Rings -in Kaninchenhöhle.
- -
-| 204 | Steinbrückenhöhle | 5/S x |
|---|
Summary: The Pussy Prance area is a network of substantial phreatic +passages at the southern end of Steinbrückenhöhle. At the time of its +discovery it extended significantly further south than all other development in +the cave with the exception of the deepest parts. It was originally explored +from a passage heading south from You're so +Veined. In 2012 this area was accessed from +Brian's Phat Shaft, a pitch in +Pleasuredome that can be accessed from a number of alternative routes. The +connection to Kaninchenhöhle was found from the Pussy Prance area.
+ +Merry Fucking Christmas is accessed from a hole in the floor at the end of a +draughting phreatic passage that heads south from +You're so Veined. Climbing down through the hole for 4 metres lands at the +entrance to a low crawl, Merry Fucking Christmas. While not actually +tight, the crawl continues awkwardly for 20m to a small chamber with QM [C2001-204-71 C]. The crawl +continues slightly larger for another 25m, past a hole in +the floor which is blind.
+ +The crawl opens out in the wall of 7-11 Chamber. +This is part of a large shaft, with high aven (>40m?) +[C2001-204-72 X] and deep +main pitch (35m). The chamber floor is reached by a y-hang followed by a single +bolt rebelay and rope protector. Traversing across the blocks on the floor leads +to a short climb up (rope advised) over a ridge into a parallel shaft (7m deep). +The base of this is choked with boulders; an uninviting wriggle between these +leads back towards the main pitch.
+ +Back at the entrance to 7-11 Chamber, an exposed traverse around the +north-western corner of the shaft leads to a small muddy window. This is a +small chamber with small muddy passage sloping downwards. Following this for a +short distance arrives at a loose funnel; rocks thrown into this rumble down +into the main pitch.
+ +The main pitch, No bits, is descended by continuing on
+the rope to a Y-hang using two bolts under the large boulder above the pitch. This
+gives a free hang to the floor (see: rigging diagram). At the bottom of the pitch,
+a rift leads off. There is a side passage to the right which becomes too tight after
+about 10m. The way on is down the rift, which can be descended using a thread and a
+single bolt to form a Y hang (the beginning of Hammer and thong). At the
+bottom of this initial narrow descent, the rift can be followed at various levels,
+but all ways become too tight. Down, Hammer and thong continues with a Y hang
+at a ledge and a deviation from the left wall (see rigging diagram).
At the bottom of Hammer and thong, the comfortably-sized rift, +Pussyprance continues steeply down (rope required - see rigging diagram) to +Catflap pitch. To the right at the top of the pitch is a window into a large +phreatic passage (~5m wide). To the right, this passage continues for about 25m to a +large window, which connects to Catwalk . To the left, the +phreatic passage passes a passage in the left hand wall, which could be descended +downwards [C2008-204-06 B] or +climbed upwards [C2008-204-07 B]. +The main passage slopes down to a large chamber, Puss in Bolts (20m across). +The chamber can be descended to the right via a 20m pitch (Painted lady) to +Puss in Bolts. Just before the chamber, there is a pitch on +the left, which leads to Catawal.
+ +Descending Catflap, a window back under the pitch head can be reached at about 5m +above the floor of the shaft. This can be swung into, with the rope deviated off +threads in the mud floor, to reach a short section of phreatic passage ending in a 9m +climb which can be protected with a rope belayed off a large thread. At the foot of +this climb there is a junction - to the left is a spacious pitch and aven +[C2009-204-02 A] - the aven has +been connected to one of the large chambers at the bottom of pussy prance. To the +right is a small walking passage ending in a window into a blind pitch with a possible +mud-filled continuation opposite [ +C2009-204-04 C]. There are two junctions on the right from Catwalk - these join +after a few meters, and the passage continues past a small waterfall on the left and +junction to the right (which loops back into the same passage) to a window at the top +of another pitch - Snow Leopard. This swings into the bottom 15m of +Brian's Phat Shaft, with a continuation of the passage +in the wall of the pitch opposite - [ +C2009-204-10 B]. Catflap was left rigged in 2009 to allow access to this area +from Brian's Phat Shaft - this route was exploited in 2012.
+ +Catawaul starts with a 20m nicely-shaped pitch. Right at the bottom of the pitch +leads to a small chamber with no ways on. The way on is a tight slot in the floor +leading to a small, but less tight rift which ends with a short drop (rope needed), +which is followed by another pitch (< 10m). Another short pitch follows this, which +is undescended [C2009-204-01 B].
+ +At the bottom of Painted lady, is a window to the left to a large pitch +[C2009-204-11 A]. To the left +of this pitch is a shallower pit, which may be choked +[C2009-204-12 B]. Around the +right-hand wall of the large pitch is an 8-bolt traverse (left rigged in 2012), which +starts with an up climb (also permanently rigged; 30m rope needed in addition, see +rigging diagram). At the end of the traverse is a mud bridge, which leads across to +On the Prowl.
+ +On the prowl starts with a traverse along the left hand wall above a blind trench +in the floor. The traverse ends with a pitch down (30m rope required for traverse +and pitch). A deviation is required after 8m to swing off the pitch into the main +chamber; the pitch appears to continue downwards +[C2009-204-19 B]. To the right +in the chamber are a number of pitches +[C2009-204-22 A] +[C2009-204-23 A] +[C2009-204-24 B]. +Traversing over one of these pitches in the far southwest corner of the chamber +leads to Dog Days which is the +route to the Big Boulders area. +Descending +the latter hole leads to connections with Fat Cat at the level +of the boulders some 5m down to the north. To the south, a rift pitch continues with +further visual connections to the head of the pitch. To the left, the chamber +narrows to a wide passage, at the end of which is a large pitch: +Fat Cat.
+ +Fat cat is rigged initally from a large spike in On the Prowl. +After a 3m climb down to a ledge, there is a y-hang. It is initally narrow, but bells +out below a rebelay, about 10m down. After a further 7m of descent, two phreatic +pockets are reached to the northwest. The upper pocket can be reached via a natural +anchor and a rebelay bolt in the ceiling. This pocket goes in for 8m, at the end of +which two solution pockets are observed in the ceiling which ascend for 10m. The lower +phreatic pocket is unexplored [C2012-204-XX ?].
+ +After a further 7m, it is possible to swing off to the southwest +[C2009-204-27 A]. A 4m climb +up loose boulders leads to the base of twin avens with visual connections to the level +of the head of Fat Cat. [FIXME: (Olly) which holes are these?]
+ +Decending the main pitch a further 7m leads to a ledge from where there are two +ways to descend. The main route down descends a further 10m to a ledge. At the +opposite side of the shaft at this level, a passage leads off into +Cirque du Soleil. It is possible to descend a further 10m into +a large chamber, at the bottom of which is a slot +[C2009-204-30 B]. 80m of rope +is required to reach the lowest "floor". From the ledge 20m above the +floor, an alternative descent of 10m down a smaller shaft is the route to +Catgut.
+ +From the bottom of the alternative shaft from Fat Cat, a 2m +climb to the southwest over Boris the Boulder leads into a small phreatic passage, +Catgut. This closes down after 4m, but the second of two holes down and to the right +is passable. Awkward progress is made downhill through small, popcorn encrusted +passage passing a passage on the right that doubles back under the passage just +traversed that is blocked by rocks [C2012-204-01 D]. Further on, a junction is +quickly reached by survey station 7. To the right leads to Cat Flea.
+ +Cat Flea is delightful... [FIXME: (Olaf) description +needed]
+ +At survey station 7, a popcorn encrusted squeeze down to the left leads over a +pitch of at least 10m [C2012-204-02 A] to a larger phreatic passage. A window on +the right leads to a 5m down climb to a small stream that sinks into a mud choke +[C2012-204-03 D]. Continuing east along the phreatic passage a small stream +enters immediately from the right from a passage at ceiling level that can be +accessed via a 3m climb [C2012-04-04 B]. Continuing a further 10m a small chamber +is reached via a 2m down climb. The exit is via a 3m climb to a larger boulder +filled chamber with many holes in the floor, which marks the start of +Pussy Riot.
+ +The initial chamber in Pussy Riot contains a number of leads. Immediately to the +left (east) on entry is a hole down between boulders and wall that appears to be +2-3m deep [C2012-204-05 B]. Immediately to the right (west) is a larger undescended +pitch estimated at 15m [C2012-204-06 A], above which is a window that leads back into +Catgut. On the southwest wall of the chamber are two holes +through the boulders, [C2012-204-07 B] and [C2012-204-08 B], that may be linked. +8m up on the southeast wall of the chamber, a phreatic passage appears to enter which +might be accessible via a diagonal climb up the wall (protection required) +[C2012-204-09 B].
+ +The way on is reached by following the left-hand wall of the chamber to an exit +passage in the eastern corner that carries a considerable draught. A 3m drop (rope +required) leads into a crawling size continuation to the east (the western +continuation of the lower level passage appears to choke immediately). Continuing +past two connected tubes on the right heading steeply uphill [C2012-204-10 C], a +local widening is reached with a crawl exiting to the right (south) [C2012-204-11 B] +and the main route heads left (north) via two passages that reunite at a junction +after 5m. To the left (west) at the junction leads to the bottom of +Fat Cat. Right leads to +Cirque du Soleil.
+ +Swinging off 10m from the bottom of Fat Cat, a passage to +the southeast leads off. A crawl through large boulders with a possible crawling +passage to the left [C2012-204-12 C] leads to a junction. Twin passages to the right +(south) mark the start of Pussy Riot. Ahead (east) is +Cirque du Soleil. The passage opens out into a large, boulder filled chamber some 15m +in diameter. At the enlargement there is a narrow rift to the north that will require +rope for descent [C2012-204-13 B]. Immediately beyond this, a passage to the left +ultimately links back to Cirque du Soleil.
+ +To the south are two phreatic windows at the top of a mud slope [C2012-204-14 A] +with a possible visual connection to Pussy Riot. Immediately beyond these is a window +onto a drippy pitch with a considerable draught [C2012-204-XX B]. A traverse round +the right hand wall of this pitch (permanently rigged) is the start of the +Far from Support traverses that lead to Kaninchenhöhle.
+ +Continuing round the same wall, a descending mud bank is reached in the southeast +corner that will require a rope for descent [C2012-204-15 B]. 10m away to north is a +small hole through boulders [C2012-204-16 B]. From this point, a clamber down a +boulder pile leads to a northward trending passage some 5m wide and 10m high that +carries a considerable draught from the north. At the bottom of the slope, a passage +doubling back on the left connects back to the route into Cirque du Soleil, and a +small hole through the boulders has not been descended [C2012-204-17 B]. The passage +continues for a further 20m to a window onto a large, drippy pitch that is at least +20m across at the largest extent. This is almost certainly the final pitch of the +Kiwi Suit series.
+ +At the southern end of Cirque du Soleil a +permanently rigged bolt traverse heads off round the right-hand side of a drippy +pitch. The route descends, via a rebelay, to a ledge 5m down, then up into a +rift on the opposite side of the pitch. Continuing round the corner to the +right leads to a pitch in the rift of unknown depth on the right [C2012-204-XX B] +and a much larger, drippy pitch on the left. The rope goes up a climb to a second +bolt traverse round the left-hand wall of this pitch. This leads after 15m to +the northern end of Bored of the Rings +in Kaninchenhöhle.
+ +
+
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