","Now, the Austrian's exploration details suggest that the cave was substantially unblocked in 1976 (to -30m in October), while CUCC's find was choked at -10m. Also, the description given of this cave in the local Climbing Guide (Krenmayr) sounds nothing like B5 at all, (he says, already explored in 1921, but today almost forgotten. Need Ice equipment) so the Austrian writing in the caver's magazine who said it was B5 may have been mistaken. Krenmayr gives length 250m, depth 100m.
This description by Karl Gaisberger is from the 1977 Exploration:
After climbing down 8m to where the shaft appeared blocked by snow, progress did not seem likely. I [translator] think ""there was a spiralling way in the snow to a wall of ice columns"". A very steep descent led into a passage with a snow cone. (This was still in the previous year's snow-free climb !). Pushing through a thin snow-wall through which the light glimmered, a direct way was established. Through a hole in the snow in a rubble-filled passage, the way soon branched. Both branches ended blind.
The lower level of the cave, described by O Schauberger, must be found on the opposite side of the snow-cone from the [Schluf?]. One now comes to a chamber complex where a sloping 10m shaft climbs down into the Kristallhalle. The walls here are covered with admittedly large, but superficially weathered calcite somethings (Kalzitdrusen).
From the Kristallhalle, through a narrow bit to a side-something with a pile of rubble, the Tropfsteinhalle. There is a single 60cm high stalagmite here. It shows a corroded appearance, indicating aggressive ground water. Tropfsteinhalle contains, so far, the most beautiful flowstone decorations in the Loser area. These include [plenty dictionary failure here] Sinterfahnen, Boden- und Deckenzapfen, sogar Excentriques.
In the area of the stalagmites, several dead pseudoscorpions (Neobisium aueri) were found. There is some more description of the floor of the chamber (I think), but I can't make head nor tail of it.","","","","","","","","250m","Given 100m in 1980.","","","","","","","","","","","","","1630m","","","Just SW of the col (Schwarzmoossattel), SE of Bräuning Nase. ","","Surface shaft often blocked with snow","","","This hole supposedly has a CUCC painted number ""B5"" of 1976 vintage, which will probably be pretty faded. But the cave descriptions do not agree.","Lost","" 36,"1/S x","","","","noinfo/kratzer/36.htm","","","Schachtgruppe I - V","","",4,"Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, undated. ","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p36","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","Austrian kataster says Hinterbräuning, south of Bräuning Nase, but this isn´t where their map shows it. Map shows it south east of Schwarzmoossattel, on east side of upper Kratzer valley below Schwarzmooskogel.
The cave was located on the ground by CUCC in 1990 and it is, in fact, just south of Schwarzmoossattel, which is almost due east of Bräuning Nase. From the path leaving the col going south, hack off following the little stream down into the valley. This sinks into the northernmost of a group of three shafts below a small headwall facing east.
Number is in red on the headwall just south of the three entrances.
A group of five (presumably small) shafts. One of these was thought, by the Austrians, to be CUCC's 'B1' of 1976. This, however, is patently not the case, since the sequence B1-B4 goes up the valley, and B4 is about level, perhaps slightly lower than 36.","","A group of five (presumably small) shafts","","Paint","Number is in red on the headwall just south of the three entrances. ","Surveyed",""
-37,"0/S -",,,,"noinfo/plateau/37.htm",,,"Schachtgruppe beim Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel",,,"1d","Discovered by Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, undated.
Status is given as totally unexplored, so it could well be a CUCC hole by now, and have a different number.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1700m",,,"West of Ht. Schwarzmooskogel. Well out onto the plateau, and hence, almost impossible to find or identify. ",,,,,,"Lost",
+37,"0/S -","","","","noinfo/plateau/37.htm","","","Schachtgruppe beim Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel","","","1d","Discovered by Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, undated.
Status is given as totally unexplored, so it could well be a CUCC hole by now, and have a different number.","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","1700m","","","West of Ht. Schwarzmooskogel. Well out onto the plateau, and hence, almost impossible to find or identify. ","","","","","","Lost",""
38,"1/T +","","","","noinfo/plateau/38.htm","","","Algenhöhle","","","1d","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1938","Behind the entrance there is a single passage at right angles to it, with boulders (Blockwerk). ","","","","","","Sketch by J. Gaisberger snr., 1938 ","","33m","","","","","","","","","","","","","","1700m","","","West of Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel (exact location unknown) Possibly near Kat.37 (q.v.)","","","","","","Lost",""
39,"1/T +","","","","noinfo/kratzer/39.htm","","","SCHWA höhle 39","","","2b or 4 (unclear)","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1938","","","","","","","","","18m","","","","","","","","","","","","","","1740m","","","West side of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel according to text. Map shows it on S side, not far from the summit area. Later reference says it is above and south of Kat.36, however the kataster description of the location of 36 is also wrong... ","","2.2m wide by 1.2m high entrance leads in a gentle slope to where it becomes too tight. ","","","","Lost",""
-40,"7/S/T/E x","a–s",,"yes","noinfo/smkridge/40.htm",,,"Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle","Schwarzmooskogelhöhlensystem","see also CUCC discoveries in Eishöhle","2b","The main passages as far as Elephantengang were explored by 1938. Since then a variety of groups have worked here finding numerous extensions, of which Schneevulkanhalle is the most significant.
Until recently, it has been difficult to come close to a comprehensive survey or even a good estimate of the length of the system because of a lack of contact and some misunderstanding between the groups involved. However, in 1997 a chance encounter (at the International Congress) by Wookey with Denis Motte, of the G.S.Clerval, led to renewed contacts with one group who explored this area, and Thilo Müller of ARGE has contacted the leaders of other groups and obtained all the rest of the 1980s information that survives. This is being merged into a coherent set of information which will guide necessary resurvey work to complete the picture.
Stellerweghöhle in turn is connected to Schwabenschacht which was over 7km at the time and exploration continues. This must make the combined system at least 19 km long. We have seen figures quoted as high as 25km, but this may involve some double-counting, given the uncertainties involved. Arge's estimate (entirely from extant survey data) was 22.7 km after summer 1999.","Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle is an extensive cave over 1600m long before 1983, extended to 2500m by a German group by 1985. The system is mainly horizontal, though tackle is needed to explore it fully, and crampons are necessary in parts, because of the substantial quantities of ice in the cave. Was extended by the Germans who worked in the area in the early eighties, who suggested then that there was potential for extension vertically. Subsequently linked via a 30m pitch to Lärchenschacht (1623/88) which in turn was connected to the Stellerweghöhlensystem, giving no increase in depth if the laser-rangefound altitude is correct rather than the old kataster one, which seems likely.
From 'Längsten und Tiefsten Hohlen in Österreich', translated by Wookey and Thilo:
The cave is on the southeastern slopes of the Vorderen Schwarzmooskogel (1843) developed in Dachsteinkalk. From seven partly shaft-like entrance points, a huge, flat-floored level with impressive ice formations can be approached. The Schneevulkanhalle at the northern end is the biggest ice-bearing chamber in middle Europe.
Four entrances lead into the central area. A 40m shaft from the Top Entrance 'Oberen Eingang' breaks into the ice-decorated 'Altausseer Halle'. To the west from here via a 25m ramp accessing 'Schneehalle' leads both to entrance 2 and the connecting gallery from the ice-bearing 'Thalhammerhalle', that can be entered from entrances 3 and 4 too. South of the Schnee and Altausseer Halles, the 'Teufelberger Halle' connects, the bottom of which contains an ice lake. A wide passage with side shafts goes southsouthwest to 'Hans-Pfandl-Halle'. The east connected room, also reached by a 23m high chimney (entrance 7), is divided into two by a high block barrier. The 'Flusstunnel' south from here ends blocked.
From the Altausseer Halle, a lofty passage with ice figures heads off NNE. The continuation is the 'Halle des Schiefen Turms', where the 'Wahnsinnschächte' branches off on the west. It was thought that this was blocked by ice. However, over a wall of ice one reaches the 130 by 75 by 50 m Schneevulkanhalle, on the eastern wall of which rises a steep snowslope flowing from the 'Königsschachts' (entrance 6). The chamber with its very impressive ice formations can also be reached via the 'Brennerbeselschluf' (entrance 5). At its northern end a climb reveals the easterly-running 'Kalten Gang' and the parallel 'Spinnenfriedhof'.
The principal objective of both pushing and tourist trips is the huge ice chamber of Schneevulkanhalle, which requires some serious ice work to reach from the older entrances in the middle of the system. Instead, follow the description to the ""new"" entrance (Brennerbeselschluf, 40e), with a somewhat limited area to get changed, perched between the icy blast from the cave and whatever the Austrian weather is offering.
The entrance is not walk-in, and low crawling in the face of the icy draught starts at once. A small descending tube (somewhat muddy - irritating in crampons!) leads in about 20m to a short climb down into larger (walking/stooping) passage 'Geröllgang. This goes downhill to a scramble up. This was totally ice-covered in 1997 and 1998, but not 1999 or 2000 and has a fixed rope (VfHO-installed), which may be buried in ice at somewhat critical points - a certain amount of care is needed if chipping it out with an ice-axe and gloves really are needed!
Partway up this slope is a space on the left [C0000-40-05 A], including a pitch in the floor. At the far end of this space, a short crawl and a grovel down through boulders where a stream comes in from above both choke. The pitch is a c3, p20, p30 - the last part being very wet in early summer. Leading to Schotterland.
Survey data also suggests a passage off to the right of the iceslope for 20m or so.
Above the scramble up is a short traverse, also rather interesting when covered in hard ice (and also protected by a fixed rope which had to be dug out in 1998). A steeply ascending passage to the L holds a quantity of particularly scrofulous rope (presumably a previous fixed rope). This can be climbed ~10m until it gets too vertical. It draughts. Beyond the ice is a steep snow/ice slope down into the huge Schneevulkanhalle. It is strongly recommended to equip this with a properly rigged SRT rope rather than anything less - the cave has seen a number of accidents, some fatal. Although the slope looks like soft snow, it is a layer of coarsely crystalline hard névé over solid ice. In parts it is almost impossible to kick steps into, whilst in others it offers only minimal purchase for crampon points. Conditions no doubt vary with the season as well as with position on the slope and the year. Tackle required: 50m rope, crampons. There is one bolt at the top, for a traverse line to two bolts off to the R in the roof where the snow-slope proper starts. Sometimes the traverse area is full of snow and an ice-screw or ice-axe rebelay/deviation (club first ? in 1989) may be needed. A deviation (from rock) at the head of the steep section was found adequate in 1998.
The 50m Königschacht (40f) entrance is the source of the snow slope and comes in here. It is often full of snow but was open in 1999 and so was surveyed (by ARGE).
At the bottom is the main chamber from which the pitch does indeed look like a snow-covered volcanic cone. Most of the floor area is ice-covered and only a slight slope is necessary to make crampons vital here. Most of the chamber is filled with ice formations up to 15m high (end of season). Those with two ice-tools can climb almost anything in the chamber, though the formations are no doubt rather more spectacular and fragile in spring or early summer. Formation-ice can also shatter very easily as melting occurs between component crystals later in the season, so it is probably safer for climbers to stick to hard névé. Ways on are mostly reached by steeper slopes that definitely require ice-gear and can be quite unnerving approached from above. Note that the slopes are usually hard ice, ice-axe-braking after a slip is not an option - lifeline or don't fall !
Starting from the pitch (facing outwards from the slope), heading round the chamber to the left leads over a large flat area of ice to where a gap between ice and rock [C0000-40-01 A] drops 10m (2 bolts, one added 1999) into large passage Elefantengang.
Right next to it is an icefall coming in from above [C0000-40-02 C] (Apparently explored by GSCB in early 80s for ~40m). 40m round the wall of the chamber is a rubble run-in, iced on the top half. This was climbed by Haines (1998) and Atkinson (1999), as well as the GSCB. At the top is a wet boulder choke that definately doesn't go, but the GSCB plan shows a narrow rift on the right marked 'tight'.
Halfway up this slope on the left is the narrow entrance to Persistence of Vision.
20m further round another couple of icefalls come in. Both are about 8-10m and vertical [C0000-40-03 A]. GSCB plan shows they have climbed up here to find a 20m pitch beyond into narrow rift. Their survey doesn't make it clear how it ends. CUCC bolted up the left side of the left icefall in 2000 to find an ice water duck leading to a pitch series (Mission Impossible). The duck was dry in 2001, but back again in 2002.
50m further round (downslope) the ice drops away steeply under the wall. A line is advisable for the descent. 20m down, the ice slope peters out giving way to sand and rocks. At the end here is a very strongly draughting hole [C0000-40-04 B]. This appears too tight, but survey data shows this is where Kalten Gang and Spinnefriedhof are (VfHM, 1984). To the right at the foot of the slope closes down with rocks and ice - it would probably connect with Plastic Hell. A few metres up from the bottom of the slope on the left hand (N) wall is a gap between the ice and rock leading into a large chamber [A1998-40-05 B] (reported by Robert Winkler).
Back in Schneevulkanhalle, another 10m clockwise round the chamber is another, steeper iceslope. A rope is definitely needed for this. This is the way to Plastic Hell.
Beyond and above are more thin icefalls coming from high in the ceiling - trying to climb these would be bonkers - the debris from the collapse of some of them is all around.
The foot of the piss-wet pitch opens out into very large triangular passage. You can go NE about 35m until it chokes (a good draught comes out of one hoplessly choked corner) or SW 20 to a T-junction. Right (W) is Kleiner keller. Left, ducking under the low wall, is Schotterland.
Kleiner keller is about 50m on huge passage to where the end is choked with glacial fill and a waterspout comes in the from the roof 3m up. A sling ladder makes it possible to ascend the waterspout - you can even doing it without getting very wet, as the spout is unusually well-concentrated, and thus avoidable. This comes into an E-W rift, with the water coming from the E end. It can be ascended in both directions at various traverse levels for about 30m, but the top appears choked at all points. The top is probably very close to the floor of Elephantengang.
The old Munich cavers' data suggests that there is a passage off kleiner keller that we missed - which seems hard to believe, but maybe it is worth another visit?
Schotterland is more enormous passage (10m wide) going SSE, presumably schotterland, due to the flooring of small rocks. A ramp goes up steeply on the L after 30m. It closes down after 40m. Ahead the passage slowly narrows until it chokes at the end - probably very close to the surface.",,,,,"In dataset",,"smk-system.svx","5257m (SMK system total 54000m)","262m (SMK system total 1032m)","2941m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"SSE of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel and ENE of a large basin in the hillside which often contains a lot of snow. Roughly a 450m NNE of Sonnenstrahlhöhle - CUCC's furthest east permanent survey station.","From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201, ignoring the left turn to the plateau at Egglgrube. Pass the junction path left to Kratzer and continue until a red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the path, marking Kat. 28 (we think).
There is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch path here. Follow this for about half an hour to the back of the limestone knoll known as ""The Nipple"" (and Weisse Warz and bunter's bulge). Things to note: first there is a wire traverse then you pass the lightninged tree in a sizeable valley. (Opposite this tree is the point you would turn left for Schwabenscacht). Shortly after that a pair of red arrows point in opposite directions. Go steeply uphill here doubling back slightly, rather than the more obvious straight on. Turn right about 40m beyond the nipple and head across the limestone for a narrow gully. After a hundred metres or so new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a.
A very large cave entrance, 20 minutes further on, was the German's (Munich) bivouac, and a few minutes later, a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter is the main entrance (""Hauptportal"" - 40a). This was also the site of an old French bivouac, but must have been very cold. Continue along past some big holes and slightly downhill (one 5m step down). After about 180m(?) you reach the area of numerous entrances in a row. There is the small Grüner Eingang (40s), 2 larger entrances ('Eistunnel' and 'Nichts50'), a small blocked entrance, and finally, where the path ends abruptly and unambiguously the ""new"" entrance (40e, Brennerbeserlschluf), also strongly draughting. This is between one and a half and two hours from the car park.",,,,,, +40,"7/S/T/E x","a–s","","yes","noinfo/smkridge/40.htm","","","Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle","Schwarzmooskogelhöhlensystem","see also CUCC discoveries in Eishöhle","2b","The main passages as far as Elephantengang were explored by 1938. Since then a variety of groups have worked here finding numerous extensions, of which Schneevulkanhalle is the most significant.
Until recently, it has been difficult to come close to a comprehensive survey or even a good estimate of the length of the system because of a lack of contact and some misunderstanding between the groups involved. However, in 1997 a chance encounter (at the International Congress) by Wookey with Denis Motte, of the G.S.Clerval, led to renewed contacts with one group who explored this area, and Thilo Müller of ARGE has contacted the leaders of other groups and obtained all the rest of the 1980s information that survives. This is being merged into a coherent set of information which will guide necessary resurvey work to complete the picture.
Stellerweghöhle in turn is connected to Schwabenschacht which was over 7km at the time and exploration continues. This must make the combined system at least 19 km long. We have seen figures quoted as high as 25km, but this may involve some double-counting, given the uncertainties involved. Arge's estimate (entirely from extant survey data) was 22.7 km after summer 1999.","Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle is an extensive cave over 1600m long before 1983, extended to 2500m by a German group by 1985. The system is mainly horizontal, though tackle is needed to explore it fully, and crampons are necessary in parts, because of the substantial quantities of ice in the cave. Was extended by the Germans who worked in the area in the early eighties, who suggested then that there was potential for extension vertically. Subsequently linked via a 30m pitch to Lärchenschacht (1623/88) which in turn was connected to the Stellerweghöhlensystem, giving no increase in depth if the laser-rangefound altitude is correct rather than the old kataster one, which seems likely.
From 'Längsten und Tiefsten Hohlen in Österreich', translated by Wookey and Thilo:
The cave is on the southeastern slopes of the Vorderen Schwarzmooskogel (1843) developed in Dachsteinkalk. From seven partly shaft-like entrance points, a huge, flat-floored level with impressive ice formations can be approached. The Schneevulkanhalle at the northern end is the biggest ice-bearing chamber in middle Europe.
Four entrances lead into the central area. A 40m shaft from the Top Entrance 'Oberen Eingang' breaks into the ice-decorated 'Altausseer Halle'. To the west from here via a 25m ramp accessing 'Schneehalle' leads both to entrance 2 and the connecting gallery from the ice-bearing 'Thalhammerhalle', that can be entered from entrances 3 and 4 too. South of the Schnee and Altausseer Halles, the 'Teufelberger Halle' connects, the bottom of which contains an ice lake. A wide passage with side shafts goes southsouthwest to 'Hans-Pfandl-Halle'. The east connected room, also reached by a 23m high chimney (entrance 7), is divided into two by a high block barrier. The 'Flusstunnel' south from here ends blocked.
From the Altausseer Halle, a lofty passage with ice figures heads off NNE. The continuation is the 'Halle des Schiefen Turms', where the 'Wahnsinnschächte' branches off on the west. It was thought that this was blocked by ice. However, over a wall of ice one reaches the 130 by 75 by 50 m Schneevulkanhalle, on the eastern wall of which rises a steep snowslope flowing from the 'Königsschachts' (entrance 6). The chamber with its very impressive ice formations can also be reached via the 'Brennerbeselschluf' (entrance 5). At its northern end a climb reveals the easterly-running 'Kalten Gang' and the parallel 'Spinnenfriedhof'.
The principal objective of both pushing and tourist trips is the huge ice chamber of Schneevulkanhalle, which requires some serious ice work to reach from the older entrances in the middle of the system. Instead, follow the description to the ""new"" entrance (Brennerbeselschluf, 40e), with a somewhat limited area to get changed, perched between the icy blast from the cave and whatever the Austrian weather is offering.
The entrance is not walk-in, and low crawling in the face of the icy draught starts at once. A small descending tube (somewhat muddy - irritating in crampons!) leads in about 20m to a short climb down into larger (walking/stooping) passage 'Geröllgang. This goes downhill to a scramble up. This was totally ice-covered in 1997 and 1998, but not 1999 or 2000 and has a fixed rope (VfHO-installed), which may be buried in ice at somewhat critical points - a certain amount of care is needed if chipping it out with an ice-axe and gloves really are needed!
Partway up this slope is a space on the left [C0000-40-05 A], including a pitch in the floor. At the far end of this space, a short crawl and a grovel down through boulders where a stream comes in from above both choke. The pitch is a c3, p20, p30 - the last part being very wet in early summer. Leading to Schotterland.
Survey data also suggests a passage off to the right of the iceslope for 20m or so.
Above the scramble up is a short traverse, also rather interesting when covered in hard ice (and also protected by a fixed rope which had to be dug out in 1998). A steeply ascending passage to the L holds a quantity of particularly scrofulous rope (presumably a previous fixed rope). This can be climbed ~10m until it gets too vertical. It draughts. Beyond the ice is a steep snow/ice slope down into the huge Schneevulkanhalle. It is strongly recommended to equip this with a properly rigged SRT rope rather than anything less - the cave has seen a number of accidents, some fatal. Although the slope looks like soft snow, it is a layer of coarsely crystalline hard névé over solid ice. In parts it is almost impossible to kick steps into, whilst in others it offers only minimal purchase for crampon points. Conditions no doubt vary with the season as well as with position on the slope and the year. Tackle required: 50m rope, crampons. There is one bolt at the top, for a traverse line to two bolts off to the R in the roof where the snow-slope proper starts. Sometimes the traverse area is full of snow and an ice-screw or ice-axe rebelay/deviation (club first ? in 1989) may be needed. A deviation (from rock) at the head of the steep section was found adequate in 1998.
The 50m Königschacht (40f) entrance is the source of the snow slope and comes in here. It is often full of snow but was open in 1999 and so was surveyed (by ARGE).
At the bottom is the main chamber from which the pitch does indeed look like a snow-covered volcanic cone. Most of the floor area is ice-covered and only a slight slope is necessary to make crampons vital here. Most of the chamber is filled with ice formations up to 15m high (end of season). Those with two ice-tools can climb almost anything in the chamber, though the formations are no doubt rather more spectacular and fragile in spring or early summer. Formation-ice can also shatter very easily as melting occurs between component crystals later in the season, so it is probably safer for climbers to stick to hard névé. Ways on are mostly reached by steeper slopes that definitely require ice-gear and can be quite unnerving approached from above. Note that the slopes are usually hard ice, ice-axe-braking after a slip is not an option - lifeline or don't fall !
Starting from the pitch (facing outwards from the slope), heading round the chamber to the left leads over a large flat area of ice to where a gap between ice and rock [C0000-40-01 A] drops 10m (2 bolts, one added 1999) into large passage Elefantengang.
Right next to it is an icefall coming in from above [C0000-40-02 C] (Apparently explored by GSCB in early 80s for ~40m). 40m round the wall of the chamber is a rubble run-in, iced on the top half. This was climbed by Haines (1998) and Atkinson (1999), as well as the GSCB. At the top is a wet boulder choke that definately doesn't go, but the GSCB plan shows a narrow rift on the right marked 'tight'.
Halfway up this slope on the left is the narrow entrance to Persistence of Vision.
20m further round another couple of icefalls come in. Both are about 8-10m and vertical [C0000-40-03 A]. GSCB plan shows they have climbed up here to find a 20m pitch beyond into narrow rift. Their survey doesn't make it clear how it ends. CUCC bolted up the left side of the left icefall in 2000 to find an ice water duck leading to a pitch series (Mission Impossible). The duck was dry in 2001, but back again in 2002.
50m further round (downslope) the ice drops away steeply under the wall. A line is advisable for the descent. 20m down, the ice slope peters out giving way to sand and rocks. At the end here is a very strongly draughting hole [C0000-40-04 B]. This appears too tight, but survey data shows this is where Kalten Gang and Spinnefriedhof are (VfHM, 1984). To the right at the foot of the slope closes down with rocks and ice - it would probably connect with Plastic Hell. A few metres up from the bottom of the slope on the left hand (N) wall is a gap between the ice and rock leading into a large chamber [A1998-40-05 B] (reported by Robert Winkler).
Back in Schneevulkanhalle, another 10m clockwise round the chamber is another, steeper iceslope. A rope is definitely needed for this. This is the way to Plastic Hell.
Beyond and above are more thin icefalls coming from high in the ceiling - trying to climb these would be bonkers - the debris from the collapse of some of them is all around.
The foot of the piss-wet pitch opens out into very large triangular passage. You can go NE about 35m until it chokes (a good draught comes out of one hoplessly choked corner) or SW 20 to a T-junction. Right (W) is Kleiner keller. Left, ducking under the low wall, is Schotterland.
Kleiner keller is about 50m on huge passage to where the end is choked with glacial fill and a waterspout comes in the from the roof 3m up. A sling ladder makes it possible to ascend the waterspout - you can even doing it without getting very wet, as the spout is unusually well-concentrated, and thus avoidable. This comes into an E-W rift, with the water coming from the E end. It can be ascended in both directions at various traverse levels for about 30m, but the top appears choked at all points. The top is probably very close to the floor of Elephantengang.
The old Munich cavers' data suggests that there is a passage off kleiner keller that we missed - which seems hard to believe, but maybe it is worth another visit?
Schotterland is more enormous passage (10m wide) going SSE, presumably schotterland, due to the flooring of small rocks. A ramp goes up steeply on the L after 30m. It closes down after 40m. Ahead the passage slowly narrows until it chokes at the end - probably very close to the surface.","","","","","In dataset","","smk-system.svx","5257m (SMK system total 54000m)","262m (SMK system total 1032m)","2941m","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","SSE of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel and ENE of a large basin in the hillside which often contains a lot of snow. Roughly a 450m NNE of Sonnenstrahlhöhle - CUCC's furthest east permanent survey station.","From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201, ignoring the left turn to the plateau at Egglgrube. Pass the junction path left to Kratzer and continue until a red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the path, marking Kat. 28 (we think).
There is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch path here. Follow this for about half an hour to the back of the limestone knoll known as ""The Nipple"" (and Weisse Warz and bunter's bulge). Things to note: first there is a wire traverse then you pass the lightninged tree in a sizeable valley. (Opposite this tree is the point you would turn left for Schwabenscacht). Shortly after that a pair of red arrows point in opposite directions. Go steeply uphill here doubling back slightly, rather than the more obvious straight on. Turn right about 40m beyond the nipple and head across the limestone for a narrow gully. After a hundred metres or so new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a.
A very large cave entrance, 20 minutes further on, was the German's (Munich) bivouac, and a few minutes later, a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter is the main entrance (""Hauptportal"" - 40a). This was also the site of an old French bivouac, but must have been very cold. Continue along past some big holes and slightly downhill (one 5m step down). After about 180m(?) you reach the area of numerous entrances in a row. There is the small Grüner Eingang (40s), 2 larger entrances ('Eistunnel' and 'Nichts50'), a small blocked entrance, and finally, where the path ends abruptly and unambiguously the ""new"" entrance (40e, Brennerbeserlschluf), also strongly draughting. This is between one and a half and two hours from the car park.","","","","","","" 40,"","a","","entrance","noinfo/smkridge/40a.htm","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Oberer Eingang","","p40a","it is laser point 14","","laser point","","",81700.93,36459.49,"1689.6784m","","","","From the Bergrestaurant, take path 201, ignoring the left turn to the plateau at Egglgrube. Pass the junction path left to Kratzer and continue until a red upper-case Omega is seen in the middle of the path, marking Kat. 28 (we think). There is a well-marked (cairns and red paint spots/arrows) branch path here. Follow this for about half an hour to the back of the limestone knoll known as ""The Nipple"" (and Weisse Warz and bunter's bulge). Things to note: first there is a wire traverse then you pass the lightninged tree in a sizeable valley. (Opposite this tree is the point you would turn left for Schwabenscacht). Shortly after that a pair of red arrows point in opposite directions. Go steeply uphill here doubling back slightly, rather than the more obvious straight on. Turn right about 40m beyond the nipple and head across the limestone for a narrow gully. After a hundred metres or so new red paint marks appear and take you to 40a. A very large cave entrance, 20 minutes further on, was the German's (Munich) bivouac, and a few minutes later, a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter is the main entrance (""Hauptportal"" - 40a).","a strongly draughting (out in summer) tube about 5m in diameter","","Tag (?)","","Surveyed","Marked entrance thought to be 40a" 40,"","b","","entrance","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Schneeschacht ","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Tag","Tag placed eary in 2002 expo","?","" 40,"","c","","entrance","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Reichenvaterschacht ","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","?","" @@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ s (mainly deduced from survey data) don't correspond well with the 1997 experien "","","c","","last entrance","","","","","","","","CUCC 1983-4. There is now a history file indexing into the log book write-ups.","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p145c","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","","","","","Unmarked","","Surveyed","" 146,"1/S -","","","","smkridge/146.htm","","","Tobogganschacht","","","2c","","","","","","","","","","","","","Interestingly, the Austrians have this as 1/T +, at 1700m, NE of Schwarzmoossattel, and think it was explored by CUCC in 1984 to a depth of -40m. A photocopy of an annotated copy of the OAV map lying around in the Expo files puts this about halfway between 145 and 147, which makes sense when you think about it.","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Unexplored entrance (may be the one Tony called Tobogganschacht)","","","","Refindable","May be unexplored; AERW had this marked as lost, but the mysterious map suggests it shouldn't be too hard to find - worth a look." 147,"2/T +","","","","smkridge/147.htm","","","Schwa Höhle 147","","","2c","CUCC 1988 ","Horizontal walking entrance leads south to a descending passage and junction. Down to right is a shorter but smaller route to the lower cave, while ahead leads past a small choked passage on the right to the head of a pitch. Across the pitch a smaller passage continues to a blind pitch where a draught enters from the floor, and an even smaller continuing passage which ends too small, also draughting.
Down the main pitch, in a rift, is 10m to a boulder pile in a chamber where the shorter route reenters, and a passage continues back north towards the entrance. South is a rift ending too tight. The main way soon leads to a pitch of 10m with a large ledge halfway. A short passage intersects a cross-rift before becoming too small (with a draught), but down the rift drops c15m to a choke at about -45m.","","","","","In dataset","Elevation and plan, 1988, unpublished? Claims to be grade 5b, but comment in 1988 logbook suggests that compass may have been seriously deviated by use of a torch to illuminate it. Drawn up survey has only one scale bar, though clearly plan and elevation are not to the same scale. Surface survey to top of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel, 1994
Re-explored and surveyed in 1999 - see log-book write-up – but apparently never drawn up.
","caves/147/147.svx","","","","Number originally allocated to a cave which was not marked with a number, and which was not relocated until 1988. Interestingly, the Austrians had this as 2/T +, at 1700m, NW of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel, and think CUCC explored it to 60m long and 10m deep in 1984. This suggests a CUCC documentation failure and probably a relocation failure, as the cave explored in 1988 was very different...","","t147","p147","Start of (old) underground survey (Orange circle with orange dot in middle on rock nodule above entrance)","","Nils","","","","","","","","Probably somewhat uphill from 146, ie. NW of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel.
"3m entry pitch in rift going into bluff wall on camp 2 side of Vord. Schwarzmooskogel on cairned path." (Camp 2 refers to the 1988/89 camp up near the col between Vord. and Hint. Schwarzmooskogel.)","","","","Tag","","Surveyed","" -148,"2/t/S +",,,,"plateau/148.htm",,,"Marilyn Monroe Höhle",,,"1c","CUCC 1984, 1987","Not really pushed in 1984, since discovered right at the end, but relocated in 1987: horizontal tube entrance about 1m in diameter. An awkward crawl over boulders for 10m leads to a squeeze down behind a boulder with light entering ahead. Short freeclimb reaches a phreatic tube of about 3m diameter. To the right silts up in boulders while to the left descends gently over snow and big rocks to reach a sizeable chamber and pitch of about 20m. Avoiding the pitch, a route down through boulders for 3m reaches a very unstable boulder slope, which is crossed to reach another 3m pitch to a rift with a further pitch on the left. To the right, the roof lowers over large boulders, and a small ice chamber is reached with a frozen stream. A narrow section leads down to a rift of 5m down to an earthy passage.
Back at the boulder slope (I think), the 20m pitch can again be attained and from here is 15m to the floor of a 20m high chamber with three ways on. Facing away from pitch, righthand rift leads to a flat-out crawl over ice. This passes remarkable ice formations to emerge at The Ice Castle, a chamber with a large ice-stalagmite formation. The route terminates in a steep ice slope at the far side of the chamber.
Way directly ahead from pitch is a 3m climb into a large phreatic tube round a 90° bend to a solid wall of boulders. Ways into the choke proved very loose and tight, but a continuing rift/chamber could be seen through a tiny but strongly draughting hole.
Third way on from pitch ascends steeply and becomes tight, with a jammed boulder now in the way. Route ends at a steep ice-climb for which no equipment was available.",,,,,"In dataset","There is an area plan, drawn at 1:2000, showing 145, 82 and 148 on Gauß and Krüger coordinates, which has never been published.
This description originally just listed the survey as ""MISSING (grade 3)"". It's unclear if this combined plan is this missing survey or not.
.","caves/148/148.svx","92m surveyed","39.2m surveyed","48m surveyed",,,,"p148",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,"On the plateau, next to cairned path from the col past 82 leading to 107 etc., just by a short climb up; noticeable by (and discovered by) its cold outward draught.",,,,"Tag","red painted number ""148"". 1998 tag ""1623 148 CUCC 1984"" on survey point on RHS of entrance.","Surveyed",
+148,"2/t/S +","","","","plateau/148.htm","","","Marilyn Monroe Höhle","","","1c","CUCC 1984, 1987","Not really pushed in 1984, since discovered right at the end, but relocated in 1987: horizontal tube entrance about 1m in diameter. An awkward crawl over boulders for 10m leads to a squeeze down behind a boulder with light entering ahead. Short freeclimb reaches a phreatic tube of about 3m diameter. To the right silts up in boulders while to the left descends gently over snow and big rocks to reach a sizeable chamber and pitch of about 20m. Avoiding the pitch, a route down through boulders for 3m reaches a very unstable boulder slope, which is crossed to reach another 3m pitch to a rift with a further pitch on the left. To the right, the roof lowers over large boulders, and a small ice chamber is reached with a frozen stream. A narrow section leads down to a rift of 5m down to an earthy passage.
Back at the boulder slope (I think), the 20m pitch can again be attained and from here is 15m to the floor of a 20m high chamber with three ways on. Facing away from pitch, righthand rift leads to a flat-out crawl over ice. This passes remarkable ice formations to emerge at The Ice Castle, a chamber with a large ice-stalagmite formation. The route terminates in a steep ice slope at the far side of the chamber.
Way directly ahead from pitch is a 3m climb into a large phreatic tube round a 90° bend to a solid wall of boulders. Ways into the choke proved very loose and tight, but a continuing rift/chamber could be seen through a tiny but strongly draughting hole.
Third way on from pitch ascends steeply and becomes tight, with a jammed boulder now in the way. Route ends at a steep ice-climb for which no equipment was available.","","","","","In dataset","There is an area plan, drawn at 1:2000, showing 145, 82 and 148 on Gauß and Krüger coordinates, which has never been published.
This description originally just listed the survey as ""MISSING (grade 3)"". It's unclear if this combined plan is this missing survey or not.
.","caves/148/148.svx","92m surveyed","39.2m surveyed","48m surveyed","","","","p148","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","On the plateau, next to cairned path from the col past 82 leading to 107 etc., just by a short climb up; noticeable by (and discovered by) its cold outward draught.","","","","Tag","red painted number ""148"". 1998 tag ""1623 148 CUCC 1984"" on survey point on RHS of entrance.","Surveyed",""
149,"1/S +","","","","smkridge/149.htm","","","Plateau Schacht 149","","","2c","CUCC 1984","Documentation comprises a grade 1 sketch with no description in 1984 logbook. Horizontal entrance leads under a shaft to surface and a 5m climb down to a choke. Over the hole and left leads in a sandy tube to a traverse reaching a 4m diameter tube. To the right this is choked, with small blocked tubes leading off. Ahead and left a 10m pitch leads to a solid choke.","","","","","","","","","","","Until the 1984 logbook surfaced in 1993, we thought this number was not allocated, but, interestingly, the Austrians had this as 2/T +, 1685m, NE of Schwarzmoossattel, and think it was explored in 1984 by CUCC to 100m long and 15m deep. Where is this information coming from, and why didn't CUCC record it for their own benefit too?","","","","","","","","","","","","","","The entrance is in a large gully, just above the sandy depression, opposite Wolfhöhle. Several draughting entrances. Sketch with no north arrow, but would guess that its north from 145.","","","","","","Lost","Needs looking at again, AERW doesn't know where to find it"
150,"0/T +","","","","smkridge/150.htm","","","Schwa Röhrhöhle 150","","","2a","CUCC 1985 ","Draughting tube, too tight at -2m, and therefore should not really have a kataster number. ","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p150","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","On the way to 152","","","","","","Surveyed",""
151,"0/T +","","","","smkridge/151.htm","","","Schwa Höhle 151","","","2a","CUCC 1985 ","Chamber 3m in diameter with draughting slot which proved too tight, -3m. This suggest that it is is too small to have a number. ","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p151","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","On the way to 152","","","","","","Surveyed",""
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ s (mainly deduced from survey data) don't correspond well with the 1997 experien
"","","b","","last entrance","","","","","","","","Discovered CUCC 1985 (on last day), explored 1987","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p154b","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","","","","","Unmarked","","Surveyed",""
155,"1/S -","","","","smkridge/155.htm","","","Unerforscht Schacht 155","","","2b","CUCC 1985 (on last day), was this pushed in 1987 ?","The cave can be entered via a slot on the right hand side of snow plug, or by crossing the snow plug onto the ice. The ice slopes down in one corner, possibly to a pitch, which, however, will need a rope to verify. Another slot nearby may drop into the same chamber. ","","","","","","Grade 1 elevation in 1985 Log Book ?","","","","","","","","p155","","","Surface survey","","gps00.155","","","","","","about 150m ENE of 154","From 154, climb up and right and around a grassy shoulder. Then walk down (heading roughly east), skirting past a choked doline and 155 lies ahead.","A huge snow-plugged entrance apparently akin to 113.","","","","Surveyed",""
156,"1/S +","","","","smkridge/156/156.html","","","Schwa Schacht 156","","","2c","CUCC 1987","An open rift with a rock bridge. Pitch of 25m drops onto snow bank, and route to southeast of this drops a further 15m to a complete choke with snow.","","","","","","
Grade 1 plan/elev of 156 and T.B.H. from 1987 Log Book","","","","","The log book refers to exploration in the vicinity of 0/1 including 156 and a nearby cave (unnumbered in 1987) Tumbling Boulder Hole. There is, however, another piece of paper which says it is very near (and NE of) point 0/2. This appears to arise from the diagram which accompanies the log book entry, which shows 0/2 with no north arrow, and uphill up the page. If the point was really 0/1 on this diagram, then the descriptions would match, with north at 7 O'Clock on the diagram. The logbook suggests that the discoverers had visited 0/2 (and found very little nearby) and then 0/1 later, finding 156. GPS location and later a surface survey (1998) confirms that 0/1 is the correct laser point.","","t156","p156","random point or top rigging bolt","","Surface survey","gps98.156","","","","","","","Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel, 50m south of laser rangefound point 0/1. The recently (1998) cairned route up the Vd. Schwarzmooskogel NW flank passes very close to the laser point, and skirts the NE end of the open rift of 156. Surface survey connecting Tag and original survey ( to top rigging bolt) done in 1999. ","","","
Photo © Dave Loeffler 2005","Tag","""1623 156 CUCC 1987"" on alloy tag on west side of more southerly opening, more-or-less directly above the first rigging bolt","Surveyed","" -157,"2/S x ",,,,"smkridge/157.htm",,,"Schwa Schacht 157","Pirat Schacht",,"1c","Uncertain. Rediscovered CUCC 1987","Entrance shaft of 50m until gap between snow and rock became too perilous in 1987 - bottom still out of sight. About 25m below the karren, a rift passage leads off from side of shaft into parallel shaft with aven. This shaft is of unknown depth but has recent looking bolts of unknown origin. It is just conceivable that these bolts are in 107, but far more likely that the cave had been looked at by GSCB who were in the area on a reconnaissance in 1986 (?) and more seriously in 1987.
The second cave has a walk-in entrance, splitting just inside. The left passage comes out below a shaft from the surface, and apparently continues unexplored. The main passage reaches a 10m pitch, also below a surface shaft, which drops into a chamber. To the left is a short passage to an undescended pitch of about 10m, while to the right are three ways on. First is a rift, then a passage with an ice floor, and finally, half back towards the entrance, is a passage emerging below another surface shaft (passed on the surface just before reaching the entrance). This final passage also appeared to continue. Because a large carbide pig was found outside the entrance, it was assumed that someone else was in the course of exploring this cave.",,,,,,,,,,,,,"p157",,,,,,,,,,,,"""about 6m above Laser rangefound point 0/5"" (which is above gully containing Kat. 107 and marked with an alloy tag stamped ""LASER 0-5""). The cave was looked for but not seen in a visit to this laser point in 1998. A second cave 100m from 0/5, uphill to the left, was not given a number because of evidence of previous exploration, but should be investigated further. (This might, or might not, be Bogenhöhle.) 157 was relocated in 2001, visible to the right of the route up to 204. It was marked with faded yellow paint.",,,,"Tag","Tag placed 2000","Surveyed","Much confusion" +157,"2/S x ","","","","smkridge/157.htm","","","Schwa Schacht 157","Pirat Schacht","","1c","Uncertain. Rediscovered CUCC 1987","Entrance shaft of 50m until gap between snow and rock became too perilous in 1987 - bottom still out of sight. About 25m below the karren, a rift passage leads off from side of shaft into parallel shaft with aven. This shaft is of unknown depth but has recent looking bolts of unknown origin. It is just conceivable that these bolts are in 107, but far more likely that the cave had been looked at by GSCB who were in the area on a reconnaissance in 1986 (?) and more seriously in 1987.
The second cave has a walk-in entrance, splitting just inside. The left passage comes out below a shaft from the surface, and apparently continues unexplored. The main passage reaches a 10m pitch, also below a surface shaft, which drops into a chamber. To the left is a short passage to an undescended pitch of about 10m, while to the right are three ways on. First is a rift, then a passage with an ice floor, and finally, half back towards the entrance, is a passage emerging below another surface shaft (passed on the surface just before reaching the entrance). This final passage also appeared to continue. Because a large carbide pig was found outside the entrance, it was assumed that someone else was in the course of exploring this cave.","","","","","","","","","","","","","p157","","","","","","","","","","","","""about 6m above Laser rangefound point 0/5"" (which is above gully containing Kat. 107 and marked with an alloy tag stamped ""LASER 0-5""). The cave was looked for but not seen in a visit to this laser point in 1998. A second cave 100m from 0/5, uphill to the left, was not given a number because of evidence of previous exploration, but should be investigated further. (This might, or might not, be Bogenhöhle.) 157 was relocated in 2001, visible to the right of the route up to 204. It was marked with faded yellow paint.","","","","Tag","Tag placed 2000","Surveyed","Much confusion" 158,"3/S +","","","","smkridge/158.htm","","","Donner und Blitzen Höhle","","","2b","CUCC 1987","A body-width passage formed by a wall on the left and a large detached slab on the right descends for about 5m at 45°, with occasional glimpses of daylight above. A cross passage is then encountered. To the right is blocked after a few metres, but left descends to meet the base of the wall. To the right here, a 20-22cm squeeze is passed by lying on one side. After 2m of further tight progress, the rift opens onto a drop. A steep tube descends for about 12m to a small chamber and with care can be descended free.
From the chamber, the passage curves to the left and opens onto the head of a 7m pitch, which drops onto a large ledge. A rebelay just over the lip of the ledge at the left hand side gives a further 18m free-hanging pitch to a landing on boulders several metres across, which appear to be jammed across the shaft.
A narrow rift around a corner stops at a drip and a small pool. The way on is through a gap to a hole with a jammed block. Climbing down to the block leads to the head of an 18m pitch which rapidly opens into a huge split-level chamber. The pitch lands on Big Bertha, a boulder some 4m in diameter.
To the north, a narrow rift has been followed for about 10m to a tight vertical drop of at least 5m down the rift, but this has not been pushed. East from Big Bertha leads to a 5m drop to the lower half of the chamber, which is floored with loose rock. An archway to the left leads to a 7m pitch to a small stream. This disappears down an impassable slot, but is met lower in the cave.
From the archway, a climb up behind a boulder propped against the side of the chamber leads to a col. One side rapidly curves up to the roof. The other ascends over very loose boulders for at least 25m (15m vertical) until the roof is met. This area has not been exhaustively pushed, but seems unlikely to lead anywhere.
Descending the other side of the col gives a series of ledges via 5m, 7m and 8m pitches, in a canyon some 5m wide and at least 15m high. The stream enters at the bottom of the 7m pitch. Below, the rift continues down a moderate slope and round a corner, with a final short 4m pitch to a soil and rock floored chamber.
A strong draught is felt around the edges of the chamber, rising from the choked floor. It is possible to descend in loose boulders in a number of places but all ways meet the roof and choke - pushing in this area is dangerous and unpromising.
Near the bottom of the previous pitch, a 5m deep circular pit in the floor can be descended. This takes a large drip from the stream above. At the bottom, a tight (22-26cm) rift leads on for 3m to a further 3m pitch to a small chamber. An impassable passage continues, while a small window gives a view of a widening beyond.","","","","","In dataset","Grade 3 plan and elevation in Cambridge Underground 1988, p 6
","","","128m (deepest surveyed point is -118m)","","","","","p158","on big rock at entrance","","Surface survey","","gps00.158","","","","","","400m NNE of The Nipple (Weißen Warze) at the base of a wall to the left after passing a sandy depression (walking from the Nipple).","","","","Paint","","Surveyed",""
159,"2/S +","","","","plateau/159/159.html","","","Winded Hole","","","1a","CUCC 1988 (1st pitch Chris & Becka, bottomed by Chris).","Two bolts in entrance for Y-hang to give c40m vertical to a boulder floor, then a further 20m in a big boulder chamber. A ""nice skeleton"" and an old colander (!) were found on the terminal choke in 1988.","","","","","","","","","c50m","","","","t159","","","","Surface survey","","","","","","1990 Bearings (we have no idea where these came from and they aren't remotely in the right place): HSK 116°, Nipple 174°, Bräuning Nase 199°, Bräuning Zinken 216°
1996: HSK 059°, VSK nipple 111°, Bräuning Nase 152°, Kleine Wild Kogel 009°(left) and 010°(right), Bräuning Wall pt. 1828 209°, Bräuning Wall pt. 1835 221°, Bräuning Zinken 232° ","","Near 'crapping region' of Top Camp (1990). Cave is on the same fault/joint as 1623/90, 1623/207 and 1623/208, but further out from the Bräuning Wall, c 100m on 067°.","Cave relocated 1990, 1996 and surveyed to in 1998. Entrance reached in two minutes from upper top camp by heading west and dropping down one terrace.","","
| View towards col | View down shaft (note tag on shaft wall just below number board) |
Photos © Andy Waddington 1998 and David Loeffler 2005","Tag","orange number ""159"" facing north. 1998 tag ""1623 159 CUCC 1988"" attached to more northerly of two Y-hang bolts, just below surface. This is the anchor visible in the photograph (with an orange circle painted round it), taken before the tag was attached.","Surveyed","" 160,"2/S/ +","","","","plateau/160.htm","","","Plateau Schacht 160","Jared's Hole","","1a","CUCC 1988 ","Bottoming trip used a 70m rope to reach a choke (with a draught). A small side rift at the bottom choked after 3m.
The cave could probably do with another descent to record some details of the interior or even a survey !","","","","","","","","","","","1988 logbook implies that this is "Jared's Hole". Was provisionally numbered "181" but apparently never marked. ","","p160","","","","Surface survey","","gps00.160","","","","","","On plateau, near B10 (according to B10 info). Map in 1988 logbook shows 160 as out on the plateau from Bräuning Scharte in an area of terracing, and WSW of B10. Hole tagged in 1998 is just east of 91, and can also be reached by following the terrace west from the 159 entrance.","","","","Tag","The hole believed to be 160 was unmarked until tagged in 1998 ""1623 160 CUCC 1988"" on flat limestone 1m east of entrance. This had been relocated in 1996 and was then thought to be 159, but latter was found marked in 1998.","Surveyed","" @@ -287,11 +287,11 @@ s (mainly deduced from survey data) don't correspond well with the 1997 experien 222,"1/S -","","1996-04","","smkridge/222.html","","","Gösserhöhle","","","2d","CUCC 1993 (only marked “+""), 1996","Large space at foot of 5m cliff in very broken area. 5 x 1.8m shaft bridged by chockstone, 8m deep to a sloping choked floor.","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p222","","","Surface survey","","gps00.96_04 gps00.96_04a","","","","VSK (probably true summit): 213°, ?? (not Hollweiser - nearest peak across Hochklapf valley): 114°","","East of HSK summit, in an area of small shafts (north of CUCC 96-02, south of 96-03)","","","","Retag","A spit with tag ""CUCC 9604"" placed in 1996 and a red ""+"" next to chockstone on east side opposite cliff.","Surveyed" 223,"1/S +","","1996-03","","smkridge/223.html","","","Eggenbergschacht","","","2d","CUCC 1993 (only marked “+""), drawn + tagged 1996, surveyed 2000","Cave appears as narrow slot. Two tight holes after 6m climb down gives p10 to choked floor & quite large chamber 10 x 5m floor area.","Ladder required","","","","","? wookey.","","","","","","","","p223","","","Surface survey","","gps00.96_03","","","","VSK (probably true summit): 213°, ?? (not Hollweiser - nearest peak across Hochklapf valley): 114°","","East of HSK summit, in an area of small shafts (north of CUCC 96-02 and 96-04)","See 2000 survey","","
","Retag","A spit with tag ""CUCC 96-03"" placed in 1996 and a red ""+"", both on wall of doline facing north.","Surveyed" 224,"1/S +","","1996-02","","smkridge/224.html","","","Toplesscayonhöhle ","","","2d","CUCC 1993 (only marked “+""), explored 1996, surveyed 2000","Cave is exposed section of canyon formed on a bend. Bridge of roof remains at one point, separating the two entrances. At the bottom of the canyon (~8m deep) about 10m of descending rift is accessible with a climb back up part way along. All choked.","No tackle required","","","","","? plan, elevation","","","","","","","","p224","","","Surface survey","","gps00.96_02","","","","VSK (probably true summit): 213°, ?? (not Hollweiser - nearest peak across Hochklapf valley): 114°","","East of HSK summit, in an area of small shafts (south of CUCC 96-03 and 96-04)","area map notKH p23.","","","Retag","A spit with tag ""CUCC 9602"" placed in 1996 and a red ""+"", on wall of canyon, facing west.","Surveyed" -225,"1/S +",,"90 ADAM",,"smkridge/225/225.html",,,"Jahrzehnschacht",,,"2c","CUCC 1990 (by Adam Cooper on 12/7/1990)","The obvious pit by the ""high level"" route to 161 was descended using IRT (indestructible rope technique) after declining to use a Bunda belay. Ended at about -12m (choked as usual) with a ledge about halfway down.","<20m rope presumably.",,,,,,"caves/225/225.svx",,,,,,,"p225",,,"GPS post SA",,,,,,,,"The cave lies right beside the old high-level path to 161 (on the right as you head up to 161), on a section where you're walking over soil-like stuff between bunde bushes. It's just near the ankle-breaking hole.",,,"
| View from entrance area (© Olly Betts 1990) | Wookey at the entrance (© Dave Loeffler 2005) | Entrance shaft (© Dave Loeffler 2005) |
","Tag","Tagged 2005-08-01. Tag hilti not actually set!","Surveyed", -226,,"a b","1999OB03","yes","plateau/226/226.html",,,"Skaschacht",,,"1a","Discovered by CUCC, explored by Olly Betts and Erin Lynch",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"
Photos © Olly Betts 1999. The left picture is 226a; the right is 226b, with a red circle marking the tag (original here)",,"226b tagged in 2001 as 226, 226a untagged",, +225,"1/S +","","90 ADAM","","smkridge/225/225.html","","","Jahrzehnschacht","","","2c","CUCC 1990 (by Adam Cooper on 12/7/1990)","The obvious pit by the ""high level"" route to 161 was descended using IRT (indestructible rope technique) after declining to use a Bunda belay. Ended at about -12m (choked as usual) with a ledge about halfway down.","<20m rope presumably.","","","","","","caves/225/225.svx","","","","","","","p225","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","The cave lies right beside the old high-level path to 161 (on the right as you head up to 161), on a section where you're walking over soil-like stuff between bunde bushes. It's just near the ankle-breaking hole.","","","
| View from entrance area (© Olly Betts 1990) | Wookey at the entrance (© Dave Loeffler 2005) | Entrance shaft (© Dave Loeffler 2005) |
","Tag","Tagged 2005-08-01. Tag hilti not actually set!","Surveyed" +226,"","a b","1999OB03","yes","plateau/226/226.html","","","Skaschacht","","","1a","Discovered by CUCC, explored by Olly Betts and Erin Lynch","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","
Photos © Olly Betts 1999. The left picture is 226a; the right is 226b, with a red circle marking the tag (original here)","","226b tagged in 2001 as 226, 226a untagged","" "","","a","","entrance","","","","","","","","Discovered by CUCC, exploration unknown","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p226a","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","","","","","Unmarked","","Surveyed" "","","b","","last entrance","","","","","","","","Discovered by CUCC, exploration unknown","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p226b","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","","","","","Tag","","Surveyed" -227,,,"1999OB04",,"plateau/227/227.html",,,"Faultienschacht",,,"1a","Discovered by CUCC, explored by Olly Betts and Erin Lynch",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p227",,,"Surface survey",,,,,,,,,,,"
Photo © Olly Betts 1999.","Tag","Tag placed 2001","Surveyed", +227,"","","1999OB04","","plateau/227/227.html","","","Faultienschacht","","","1a","Discovered by CUCC, explored by Olly Betts and Erin Lynch","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p227","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","","","","
Photo © Olly Betts 1999.","Tag","Tag placed 2001","Surveyed" 228,"","","","","noinfo/egglgrub/228.html","","","Kleine Schnellzughöhle","","",7,"ArGE (Nils + Kai Schwekendiek, August 2000)","","","","","","In dataset","","caves/228/228.svx","","","","","","","p228","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Surveyed" 229,"","","","","smkridge/229/229.html","","","Weiße Höhle","","","2b","ARGE (Thilo et al, July 2000). Relocated and confirmatory survey carried out CUCC 2002 (Olly Betts, Wookey)","","","","","","In dataset","","caves/229/229.svx","","","","","","","p229","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","","","","
| Entrance | Entrance from below |
Photos © Wookey 2002","Spit","Tag bolt placed but no tags to hand","Surveyed" 230,"+(?)","","1999-04","","","","","Vergeßlichheithöhle","","","2c","CUCC","","","","","","","","","20m","8m","","","","","p230","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Retag","Tagged as ""99-04""","Surveyed" @@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ s (mainly deduced from survey data) don't correspond well with the 1997 experien "","+ (?)","","HFG-KA88","","smkridge/hfg-ka88/hfg-ka88.html","","","","","","2b","Franco-German group 1988","","","","","See 2002 logbook entry (2002-08-05)","","","","","","","","","","gps02olly.hfg-ka88","","","","","","","","","","","Close to 163, down a couple of ledges from 2001-08.","","Nice sloping shaft on a rift/diaclase","
| Approach | Closeup of entrance | Paint markings |
Photos © Wookey 2002","Paint","Hard to read (originally read as BFG-KA88). Also a red splodge which is more likely to be a + than a -","Surveyed","" "","","","88H","","","","","","","GSCB","2b","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Refindable","Has been seen recently (1998)" "","","","88F","","smkridge/88f.html","","","","","GSCB","2b","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","gps02olly.88f","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Tag","tag VSS188F 2002","Refindable","Has been seen recently (2002)" -,,,"1987-02",,"plateau/1987_02.html",,,,,,"1c","Found by CUCC 1987. Original explorers unknown, possibly GSCB?",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"100m up from 157 and 0/5. Possibly the same cave as Bogenhöhle?",,,,,,"Lost", +"","","","1987-02","","plateau/1987_02.html","","","","","","1c","Found by CUCC 1987. Original explorers unknown, possibly GSCB?","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","100m up from 157 and 0/5. Possibly the same cave as Bogenhöhle?","","","","","","Lost","" "","","","1989-01","","","","","","","Probably 195. See 165 for more details.","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","North of 165","","","","Unmarked","","Lost","May be 195 but seems unlikely; or 196" "","","","1990-15","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Paint","Numbered erroneously as ""185"" ","Lost","AERW doesn't know where to find it" "","1/S -","","1992-X01","","plateau/1992-X01.html","","","","Olly's 1992 minus cave","","1b","CUCC 1992 Olly Betts","Undescended. 2 second drop with a rattle for a bit.","","","","1992 logbook (1992.08.01)","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Unmarked","","Refindable","" @@ -443,14 +443,14 @@ s (mainly deduced from survey data) don't correspond well with the 1997 experien "","1/S =","","2003-X16","","smkridge/2003-X16/2003-X16.html","","","","Earl + Becka's Cave 7","","2d","CUCC 2003 (Earl, Becka)","Moderate shaft, 4m diameter. Drops 10-15m, free-climbable with care. Sloping to boulder floor. One phreatic tube off, sloping up ~20°, not pushed, no draught.","","One crawling lead.","","2003#03","","","","","","","","","","gps03_bis.p2003-x16","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","Very near Rock'n'Roll Höhle.","","","","Unmarked","","Surveyed" "","1/S -","","2003-X17","","smkridge/2003-X17/2003-X17.html","","","","Earl + Becka's Shaft 8","","2d","CUCC 2003 (Earl, Becka)","2m diameter shaft, ~5m deep, possible way off at bottom (not promising).","","","","2003#03","","","","","","","","","","gps03_bis.p2003-x17","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","In grassy meadow at edge of bunde","","","","Unmarked","","Surveyed" "","1/S +","","2003-X18","","smkridge/2003-X18/2003-X18.html","","","","Earl + Becka's Dead Shaft 10","","2d","CUCC 2003 (Earl, Becka)","E-W joint with two shaft entrances. Westerly entrance free-climbable to snow plug. Then crawl under arch into 2nd chamber at base of easterly entrance. No way on.","","","","2003#03","","","","","","","","","","gps03_bis.p2003-x18","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","~40m off 204 path near 2000-08.","","","","Unmarked","","Surveyed" -"","=","","2004-01","","plateau/2004-01/2004-01.html","","","","Bivvy cave","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","Chossy slope heading down hill, with snow plug below skylight. Close to the 76 bivi, used initially to sleep in, and after we started camping it was used to store gear+food and cook in when raining.","","","","Email 2005-05-30","","","","","","","","","","gps04.p2004-01","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","","As for 76","Large entrance facing towards ridge (with smaller skylight entrance near 99)","
| Entrance | Inside (note flat sleeping spot on right; comfortable, but cold!) |
Photos © Olly Betts 2005","Tag","Tag placed 2004","Surveyed" -"","=","","2004-02","","plateau/2004-02/2004-02.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","Draughting hole with a chossy entrance. Just inside is a crap snow plug that collapsed a lot. The draught issues from a too-narrow rift roughly below the entrance. The top of the rift has a large rock wedged in. This can be rocked if pulled very hard. Perhaps it's worth removing to see if the rift is wide enough at the top? It's definitely wider beyond the rift.","","tight slot, see description","","2004 log book","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Short distance further north along same small valley as the 2004 Eislufthöhle bivi","","","","Tag","Tag placed 2004","Refindable" +"","=","","2004-01","","plateau/2004-01/2004-01.html","","","","Bivvy cave","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","Chossy slope heading down hill, with snow plug below skylight. Close to the 76 bivi, used initially to sleep in, and after we started camping it was used to store gear+food and cook in when raining.","","","","Email 2005-05-30","","","","","","","","","p2004-01","","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","","As for 76","Large entrance facing towards ridge (with smaller skylight entrance near 99)","
| Entrance | Inside (note flat sleeping spot on right; comfortable, but cold!) |
Photos © Olly Betts 2005","Tag","Tag placed 2004","Surveyed" +"","=","","2004-02","","plateau/2004-02/2004-02.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","Draughting hole with a chossy entrance. Just inside is a crap snow plug that collapsed a lot. The draught issues from a too-narrow rift roughly below the entrance. The top of the rift has a large rock wedged in. This can be rocked if pulled very hard. Perhaps it's worth removing to see if the rift is wide enough at the top? It's definitely wider beyond the rift.","","tight slot, see description","","2004 log book","","","","","","","","","p2004-02","","","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","Short distance further north along same small valley as the 2004 Eislufthöhle bivi","","","
Photos © Olly Betts 2005","Tag","Tag placed 2004","Surveyed" "","+","","2004-03","","plateau/2004-03/2004-03.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","A large entrance visible from a considerable distance leads a few metres and turns a corner then stops. Reportedly looked at by CUCC as far back as 1976 (when it also didn't go anywhere!)","","","","Email 2005-05-30 and 2006-06-21","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","On cairned route from Eislufthölhle to old Top Camp","Large entrance","","
View from near 76, showing entrance
| | |
| 2004-05 entrance | Jenny Black at the entrance |
","Unmarked","Tag prepared but not placed 2004, stored at 76 bivvy","Refindable" "","-","","2004-06","","plateau/2004-06/2004-06.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","Not descended. ","","","","2004 log book","","Sketch in logbook","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Not far from 175, west and a little north of the erratic boulders","","Rift below a line of small cliffs","
| | |
| View across plateau towards Bräuning Wall | Entrance close-up |
","Unmarked","Tag prepared but not placed 2004, stored at 76 bivvy","Refindable" "","+","","2004-07","","plateau/2004-07/2004-07.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","Scramble down over boulders, and down slope to chamber. Small passage leads off at the end, but becomes to small.","","","","2004 log book","","? Jenny","","","","","","","p2004-07","","","","","","","","","","","","Not far from 175","","Walk/scramble in entrance","","Unmarked","Tag prepared but not placed 2004, stored at 76 bivvy","Surveyed" -"","=","","2004-08","","plateau/2004-08/2004-08.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","Large chamber with partially collapsed roof and two entrances","","","","2004 log book","","","","","","","","","p2004-08","","","","","","","","","","","","West of 2004 Eislufthöhle bivvy","","","
","Unmarked","Tag prepared but not placed 2004, stored at 76 bivvy","Refindable" +"","=","","2004-08","","plateau/2004-08/2004-08.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","Large chamber with partially collapsed roof and two entrances","","","","2004 log book","","","","","","","","","p2004-08","","","","","","","","","","","","West of 2004 Eislufthöhle bivvy","","","
","Unmarked","Tag prepared but not placed 2004, stored at 76 bivvy","Surveyed" "","-","","2004-09","","plateau/2004-09/2004-09.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2004 (Olly, Jenny)","Not descended","","","","2004 log book","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Near where Tantalus Schacht ought to be, apparently","","","","Unmarked","Tag prepared but not placed 2004, stored at 76 bivvy","Refindable" "","-","","2004-10","","smkridge/2004-10/2004-10.html","","","","","","2d","CUCC 2004 Becka + Nial","Go down tube next to main entrance shaft to head of pitch. Pitch less than 10m down. Possible ways on.","20m rope + spits etc.","","","","","","","","","","","","gps04.p2004-10","","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","215 deg to Zinken, 309 deg to Griess Kogel. (I suspect there is an error here, as this would be almost right at the summit of the Griess Kogel -DL.)","","","From 204 bivvy over col then down + west following line of large shafts / collapses.","Entrance shaft with snow plug, pitch visible beyond","
","Tag","Tag 21/7/2004","Surveyed" "","0/S -","","2004-13","","smkridge/2004-13/2004-13.html","","","","","","2d","CUCC 2004 ?. Surface surveyed CUCC 2005 (Anthony, Julia)","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","p2004-13","Part drilled spit hole","","Surface survey","","","","","","","","Between 161E and 161H, on the same level as E","","Horizontal entrance 4-5m wide, quite low, leading to crawl sloping downwards at around 45°. Strong cold outwards draught.","None in existence","Spit","Part-drilled spit hole","Surveyed" @@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ s (mainly deduced from survey data) don't correspond well with the 1997 experien "","1/S =","","2005-06","","smkridge/2005-06/2005-06.html","","","L Shaft","2002-X13","","2d","Entrance noted CUCC 2002 (Duncan). Refound + partially explored CUCC 2005 (Peter + Phil)","","","","","original survey sketches; 2005 log book","","","","","","","","","","p2005-06","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","","","L-shaped shaft entrance, around 15m deep. Needs a ladder / rope.","On Pete's camera","Tag","Tag ""2005-06"" placed 2005","Surveyed" "","1/S +","","2005-07","","smkridge/2005-07/2005-07.html","","","","2002-X12","","2d","Entrance noted CUCC 2002 (Duncan). Refound + explored CUCC 2005 (Peter + Phil)","","","","","original survey sketches; 2005 log book","","Notes in 2005#28","caves/2005-07/2005-07.svx","","","","","","p2005-07","","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","","","Sloping triangular entrance 1m wide","On Pete's camera","Tag","Tag ""2005-07"" placed 2005","Surveyed" "","1/S =","","2005-08","","smkridge/2005-08/2005-08.html","","","","2002-X11","","2d","Entrance noted CUCC 2002 (Duncan). Refound + partially explored CUCC 2005 (Peter + Phil)","","","","","original survey sketches; 2005 log book","","","","","","","","","gps02.p2005-08","","","","","","","","","","","","","","~8m dia shaft, with another shaft adjacent. Looks about 15m deep. Bottom has snow plug, and looks typically chossy. However, rift visible in North end - could go.","","Tag","Tag ""2005-08"" placed 2005","Surveyed" -,,,"2005-91",,"plateau/2005-91/2005-91.html",,,,,,"1d","CUCC 2004 (OllyB and Jenny)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Just round the corner from 2004-01, past 2004-02 and on the left of the valley.",,"Photo exists, taken by Olly.","Tag","Tagged 2005.",, +"","","","2005-91","","plateau/2005-91/2005-91.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2004 (OllyB and Jenny)","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","Just round the corner from 2004-01, past 2004-02 and on the left of the valley.","","
Photos © Olly Betts 2005","Tag","Tagged 2005.","Refindable" "","1/S +","","2005-92","","plateau/2005-92/2005-92.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2005 (Jenny)","Narrow shaft with strong draught, leads to choke","Rope + SRT gear","","","2005 logbook","In dataset","Notes in 2005#05","caves/2005-92/2005-92.svx","","","","","","p2005-92","","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","South of 76, on path towards Top Camp","","","
Photos © Olly Betts 2005","Tag","Tag ""2005-92"" placed 2005","Surveyed" "","1/S +","","2005-93","","plateau/2005-93/2005-93.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2005 (Jenny + Dave)","Rifty shaft, choked with snow. A narrow slot between the snow and the wall was descended by Jenny but soon became too tight.","","","","2005 logbook","In dataset","Notes in 2005#05","caves/2005-93/2005-93.svx","","","","","","p2005-93","","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","South of 76, on path towards Top Camp","","","
Photos © Olly Betts 2005","Tag","Tag ""2005-93"" placed 2005","Surveyed" "","1/S +","","2005-94","","plateau/2005-94/2005-94.html","","","","","","1d","CUCC 2005 (Jenny)","Narrow shaft dropping into rift, soon becoming too tight.","","","","2005 logbook","In dataset","Notes in 2005#05","caves/2005-94/2005-94.svx","","","","","","p2005-94","","","","GPS post SA","","","","","","","","South of 76, on path towards Top Camp, on same rift as 2005-92","","","
Photos © Olly Betts (left) and David Loeffler (right), 2005","Tag","Tag ""2005-94"" placed 2005","Surveyed" diff --git a/plateau/2004-02/ent.jpg b/plateau/2004-02/ent.jpg new file mode 100644 index 000000000..e3927e8ab Binary files /dev/null and b/plateau/2004-02/ent.jpg differ diff --git a/plateau/2004-02/ent_small.jpg b/plateau/2004-02/ent_small.jpg new file mode 100644 index 000000000..299d821cb Binary files /dev/null and b/plateau/2004-02/ent_small.jpg differ diff --git a/plateau/2004-02/view.jpg b/plateau/2004-02/view.jpg new file mode 100644 index 000000000..97be36884 Binary files /dev/null and b/plateau/2004-02/view.jpg differ diff --git a/plateau/2004-02/view_small.jpg b/plateau/2004-02/view_small.jpg new file mode 100644 index 000000000..874254cd1 Binary files /dev/null and b/plateau/2004-02/view_small.jpg differ diff --git a/plateau/2005-91/ent.jpg b/plateau/2005-91/ent.jpg new file mode 100644 index 000000000..734b191fc Binary files /dev/null and b/plateau/2005-91/ent.jpg differ diff --git a/plateau/2005-91/ent_small.jpg b/plateau/2005-91/ent_small.jpg new file mode 100644 index 000000000..3ee243ecc Binary files /dev/null and b/plateau/2005-91/ent_small.jpg differ diff --git a/plateau/2005-91/view.jpg b/plateau/2005-91/view.jpg new file mode 100644 index 000000000..67e58d5a6 Binary files /dev/null and b/plateau/2005-91/view.jpg differ diff --git a/plateau/2005-91/view_small.jpg b/plateau/2005-91/view_small.jpg new file mode 100644 index 000000000..fcad12ab9 Binary files /dev/null and b/plateau/2005-91/view_small.jpg differ