At the junction at PT03 the main route goes L to a c2 down into a short rift that soon reaches a p6 (RIG05 - 18m?, 5 hangers? Awkwardly rigged, could be improved). This drops to a large ledge (the pitch continues below here, wet. This pitch probably connects to the p56 by PT03 described in the Far Side section). From the ledge turn R to follow the rift down to a c2. Descend this and follow varied passage (note the level traversed at in the rift for the return) to a chamber with a water inlet then past a run-in of distinctive, white stones then to a small chamber with a pit on the L (this is still a QM and is undescended I believe). At the pit, take the c3 up through a window on the R of the central pillar and climb over boulders (care - the boulders may be loose, use the worn route; do not climb direct, to the L of the pillar). At the top turn L. R leads steeply up to the base of a climb, Backslash, QM83X. This ascends a steeply sloping aven. The climb was started in 2019 by Radost and Crossley and is still going. It lacks a centreline or survey. From here follow easy, ascending walking passage for ~100m to reach a distinctive four way junction, the Trident, with a prominent survey station 34 painted on it.
-At the Trident turn L.
+At the Trident turn L.
-.Straight ahead passes QM74C then ends at QM73C. R leads to a CHECK chamber with a deep hole which cannot be traversed without rigging???? CHECK. Beyond this hole is the complex chamber at PT04, where the main route (ie going L at the Trident) comes in from the L (W)and then the main route continues up a climb to the N whilst the passage to the R leads E then S back towards the entrance, eventually looping back to PT03 via Flapjack Regained and the Far Side).
+.Straight ahead at the Trident passes QM74C then ends at QM73C. R leads to a CHECK chamber with a deep hole which cannot be traversed without rigging???? CHECK. Beyond this hole is the complex chamber at PT04, where the main route (ie going L at the Trident) comes in from the L (W)and then the main route continues up a climb to the N whilst the passage to the R leads E then S back towards the entrance, eventually looping back to PT03 via Flapjack Regained and the Far Side).
From the L at the Trident it is just 4m to PT05.
Here, at PT05, an obscure L turn leads to Honeycomb Pitch via a short, flat-out crawl. This is the only route to the lowest levels of Balkonhöhle, see separate section.
-The main route to the remaining upper horizontal passages of Balkonhoehle, to the north, continues past PT05, curving R until it reaches a T junction. L here quickly leads to a complex junction. From this complex junction heading L (to the S) leads to a wet pitch at Cathedral Chasm and this eventually connects back around SE to PT05 via Avalanche Experience and the Mendips; R, to the N connects back to the main route at PT06 near Turtlehead; a further R - a few metres W of the 1st R - heads N for some distance then ends at what? No QM?.
+The main route to the remaining upper horizontal passages of Balkonhöhle, to the north, continues past PT05, curving R until it reaches a T junction. L at the T junction quickly leads to a complex junction. From this complex junction heading L (to the S) leads to a wet pitch at Cathedral Chasm and this eventually connects back around SE to PT05 via Avalanche Experience and the Mendips; R, to the N connects back to the main route at PT06 at the start of Turtlehead; a further R - a few metres W of the 1st R - heads N for some distance then ends at what? No QM?.
-R at the T junction immediately reaches PT04 at a chamber with 5 routes off. R, to the S, is the end of the route from the R turning at the Trident, described above. Ahead, to the E, is the route into Flapjack Regained and the Far Side described in a separate section. The main route involves a c4 up the L wall of the chamber at PT04 then continue straight north along Turtlehead. The 1st L ends in a dig. The 2nd L and 3rd L soon re-join at PT06 and then lead to Cathedral Chasm.
+R at the T junction quickly reaches PT04 at a chamber with 5 routes off. R, to the S, is the end of the route from turning R at the Trident, described above. Ahead, to the E, is the route into Flapjack Regained and the Far Side described in a separate section. The main route involves a c4 up the L wall of the chamber at PT04 then continue straight north past PT06 and along Turtlehead. The 1st L ends in a dig. The 5th route is the way you have come from. At PT06 ignore the left that leads back around to Cathedral Chasm.
-Further along Turtlehead the 1st R and 2nd R both lead to the same passage running parallel to Turtlehead. Both passages eventually connect to Ice Cock aven (named after a priapic ice stal, knocked over on original exploration) and the Frozen North, named due to the ice floor and snow slopes that suggest a nearby entrance that has, to date, remained elusive. The first connection made between Balkonhöhle and Tunnockschact came in down Ice Cock Aven, connecting in to the March of the Penguins area of Tunnockschacht. This area is complex and involves a maze of interconnected passages at various levels and interspersed with pitches. There may be plenty of leads remaining here and it should only take 1-2 hours to reach this area from the entrance to Balkonhöhle.
+Further N along Turtlehead, past PT06, the 1st R and 2nd R both lead to the same passage running parallel to Turtlehead. Both passages eventually connect to Ice Cock aven (named after a priapic ice stal, knocked over on original exploration) and the Frozen North, named due to the ice floor and snow slopes that suggest a nearby entrance that has, to date, remained elusive. The first connection made between 1623/264 Balkonhöhle and 1623/258 Tunnockschact came in down Ice Cock Aven, connecting it to the March of the Penguins area of Tunnockschacht. This area is complex and involves a maze of interconnected passages at various levels and interspersed with pitches. There may be plenty of leads remaining here and it should only take 1-2 hours to reach this area from the entrance to Balkonhöhle.