+There is evidence that the club had it in 1988, when in Austria, but +I suspect that this may be a red herring and references to "1977/8 in +the 1977 logbook" are really references to "B8" from 1976. + +Eislufthöhle next trip diff --git a/years/1977/logbook.html b/years/1977/logbook.html new file mode 100644 index 000000000..92aa6cb2d --- /dev/null +++ b/years/1977/logbook.html @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ + + +
+ ++There is evidence that the club had it in 1988, when in Austria, but +I suspect that this may be a red herring and references to "1977/8 in +the 1977 logbook" are really references to "B8" from 1976. + +Eislufthöhle next trip +
Team Youth -
John Bowers, Nicky Davies, Ben van Millingen, Mike Shearme+
Team Ropes -
First Wave : Doug Florence, Simon Farrow, Andy Waddington+
+Second Wave : Julian Griffiths, Nick Thorne
Team Geriatric -
Vic Brown, Rod, Jont & Carole Leach, Dave Fox, Keith who ?+ +
Team Youth -
John Bowers, Nicky Davies, Ben van Millingen, Mike Shearme+
Team Ropes -
First Wave : Doug Florence, Simon Farrow, Andy Waddington+
+Second Wave : Julian Griffiths, Nick Thorne
Team Geriatric -
Vic Brown, Rod, Jont & Carole Leach, Dave Fox, Keith who ?+ +
Got up at 7.30 (not Simon). We reached the café at about 12 and +then discovered how heavy the gear was and how hot the weather was. The snow +was out in force, but Simon, Andy and Doug found that 106 was possible. So +the rest of us split into two groups and started .
+ +Nicky went down a shaft that appeared to go off to one side, however this +only proved to be a tight and sharp (blood everywhere) way under the snow +plug. About 50' deep.
+ +98 : A small shaft in a large clint (oops, +grike). Very sharp rocks at the top, after which the shaft bells out toward +a lightly boulder covered floor about 27m (85 feet to sensible people) from +surface, but as yet the ladder doesn't reach the floor. + +
+Well we went down this hole somewhere near 106 but after c +30' it got tight so returned to brilliant sunshine. We continued sweating +around the plateau looking down things - the only one of interest was a huge +entrance c 200 yds from 106 which ended after 50-60' free climb in a small +snowfield with a beautiful 7' 6" ice stalagmite. On the way back to the +van I attempted the left hand variant of the superdirect route across the +plateau, but as I was laybacking up this flake, the whole thing fell off with +me on it - do they have helicopter hearses ? John.
+ +Mega panic because of huge volumes of snow, noted 96 choked with snow and +lots of patches of snow between the snakes on the plateau. Navigation +eventually got us to 106 where a draught was still evident in 106 and 106A +but not in 106B. Simon went down and put bolts in - last year's anchors +were well preserved - but had to smash off ice-formations to get into 106A. +The Bluewater was fed in and belayed and Andy went down to the top of the +snow plug, which had a tiny gap round it. + +
Tried a new hole which led down c6m to a small chamber with a side aven whose walls were +coated with a thick ( 6cm ) layer of hexagonal ice-crystals which were very loose, so the +explorer exitted to the top of the snow and started to DIG out the original route past the +plug. Hacking away with the hammer soon enlarged the 15cm slot to 1m and got down to 5m deep +where it got bigger and loose snow could be kicked down. Here ice formations smashed off for +safety and Andy could see down to the 'snow platform' which was just a step in the steep n +évé. However, he did not descend to it because of a nasty rub above. Andy +exitted and Simon descended to put a bolt in at the snow plug level, which took slightly +longer than expected. The pitch is obviously going to be a right bastard to rig on SRT, even +more than ladders - probably 3 more bolts needed. + +Andy.
+ + +Ben and Mike went down first shaft and Mike +started down the next to put a bolt in. Through the thrutchy bit brings you +to the top of the next pitch, supposedly 60-80'. Mike was lined down a few +feet to a ledge where he put a bolt in. John has meanwhile rerigged the +entrance pitch and abseiled down and tossed a coin with Ben as to who should +go down the next pitch first. Ben won and then John went to rig the second +pitch. On the way through the thrutchy bit he dropped Mike's carbide down, +making a superb noise sounding like a very deep shaft. Ben went down only to +find that the bottom was the bottom of the pot. +
A small aven comes in next +to the shaft, leaving only muddy earth at the bottom. It does not so much +choke but the rift to either side narrows and the floor is flat. The second +pitch was only about 35' from the ledge. Quite a nice shaft, but coming to +nothing. John went up, then Mike came down. Then we derigged and went out.
+ +Previous trip/ +Guidebook description
+Two descents made today. On the first, Andy finished off putting in the +bolt of the thunderstorm-interrupted trip of yesterday, whilst I sat on the +ice at the bottom of the first pitch in darkness having dropped my helmet at +Andy earlier. We returned to the surface to thaw out and I ate a tin of +sardines. Then after a brief policy discussion we redescended. +
Andy zipped +down to Yesterday's Terminus whilst I went down after him, adding another +ladder to the one on the snow plug and then stopping halfway down Plugged +Shaft to put a bolt in while Andy rumbled snow and ice down from Yesterday's +Terminus. After about 3/4 of the hole, my stinky went out, so I descended in +darkness to Yesterday's Terminus. At this point Andy's light went out as +well, so we tried to relight, Andy pouring his waste carbide down his wellie +and myself pouring it into my Hard Man's Handbag. We then decided it must be +fairly late and exitted. Plugged Shaft has some very beautiful but +potentially extremely dangerous. (Sorry, my brain stopped) Ice formations. +Doug. My God, is that ice dangerous enough or what ? Andy.
+ + +Simon abbed to YT. Doug put in a rebelay bolt while +Simon perused the situation at YT. The previously immovable ice boulders +were easily kicked down the pitch leaving only one reasonably jammed large +iceberg left. A bolt was placed well out in the passage giving a fine free +hang to the large chamber at the top of Saved Shaft. The Bluewater now +stretches all the way from the surface to the bottom of Plugged Shaft. +Dropped the Interalp at the bottom and left rapidly, my Gibbs breaking on +exit. Simon.
+ + +We managed to run up to the col, and then collapsed under the weight of +sweat. The gallon water container was filled and we set off prospecting +again. And it was hot. We tried wearing just shorts, but the sunburn hurt +too much - a great incentive for going down holes. We went 40-60' down +several promising passages but all choked/were snow plugged. And it was +still hot. We wandered round in circles getting more demented in the heat. +Nicky wearing her shorts on her head, me sitting down a hole with just head +projecting and Ben screaming about boulders falling out of the sky. It was +hot. John.
+ +Generally low cloud and ominous weather ruined Ben, John and my own's
+prospect of a nice peacefully energetic rest day by making everyone jack. We
+proceeded to Bad Aussee where we caused chaos and many puzzled looks in one
+car park and then parked in another. We took Bad Aussee, buying some bread
+and really smelly garlic sausage. I lingered hopefully outside the museum
+but nobody else followed which was a pity since we later discovered that it
+had a speleological exhibition on. Back to Altaussee for a noon pub crawl
+round the lake while me and Nicky went for a swim with a naked log. Back to
+camp for sardines and mackeral and biscuits then, as per usual. Distributed
+whiskey to Krauts next door. Doug.
+Plummers can't spell. Andy
+I washed my socks. John.
S changed his prusiking system radically, converting to a frog system. A +abbed first and we had a short discussion at the "loose" ice +boulder. A rather too short rope and a ladder were rigged on Saved Shaft and +we descended. After some confusion, we got the bolt kit down and rigged a +traverse line across the top of Keg series. Eventually S descended last +year's penultimate pitch, a fine free hang. It was decided that further +descent would cause a rub about halfway up the pitch, a bolt will have to be +placed tomorrow. Today was quite successful. S.
+ +PS. Tomorrow should see Team Bluewater breaking new ground.
+ + +We decided to move on to a new area on the right of the plateau (going +up). Before moving we all had a shave (not Nicky) down a cave with a +flat-out crawl over razor blades wearing shorts and shirts. After which a +superb knife-blade pitch occurred (for keep-fit enthusiasts) ten pull-ups +required for exit. After moving to our new area, several caves were looked +at until Nicky found a superb drafting entrance (handline required to pull +against the gale). To date we are still attempting to remove some very nasty +boulders, keystones, from the head of the first pitch. Mike.
+ +Some plummers can spell even less than others. Andy.
+ + +Low motivation led to a slow start, Doug abseiled first and adjusted the +amount of slack in the rebelays, kicked the iceberg and continued. Andy +followed with lots of rope in a tockle bog. Rigged a new (club rope first) +rope on Saved Shaft before removing the old (shitty) rope to act as a +traverse line for above Keg series. The Interalp was removed from same and +put in the tockle bog.
+ +Moving forward (urgh !) we reached the takeoff for pitch 6 (gnuk, thrutch +!). Andy put in a bolt about 1m below the big ledge which gives a very good +changeover for the stand-off pitch below. This pitch gives the impression of +dropping into the side of a vadose canyon - confirmed by finding an inlet +10m up on the left (ie. upstream).
+ +Down the narrow passage into boulder land, Andy found a climb up on the +right which led to a short roomy passage to yet another shaft - no draught +[found by Nick, 1977]. Directly onward to the big chamber, less drip this +time, we found an OK freeclimb down c 5m under a colossal boulder. Straight +on, the rift proved to be very high but not too wide. Andy dropped down to +an impossibly narrow streamway, while Doug found a useful traverse level +leading about 50m to a small chamber into which we could not safely descend, +but observed a hole into which boulders were lobbed, 25m ? The rift +continues beyond, and we can't tell where the (much increased) draught comes +from, retreated.
+ +Back at the 'final' pitch, Andy set off and observed more question marks +halfway up the pitch. Doug had immense problems with his system, and the +exit, right to the surface, was accompanied by continuous swearing and +cursing, Doug surfacing 15 mins or so behind Andy. + +
This is getting silly. We went back to the same hole as yesterday and +started manoeuvering boulders. Stones fell for 2 secs plus before hitting +and bouncing, while the draught is massive. The cloud dropped once, covering +the plateau in fog, then you could see the mist swirling in the wind coming +from our hole. This encouraged us to get engrossed in some technical digging +using bolts in boulders and tied off knife blades as pulley points. Probably +the biggest waste of time so far. Just one more boulder to move now. The +main bolt is in place for the pitch, so we should see the bottom of the big +hole tomorrow. John.
+ + +Yes, a really "brown stains on the furry wonder suit" day +today. Simon and I zipped down uneventfully to the pitch with the big ledge +where Simon pulled up the rope and gardened the ledges. On to the climb down +where we rigged a handline, and then through the traverse to the boulder +floor before the chamber with THE PITCH. We chucked a few rocks down and +then started putting a bolt in, eventually finding some good rock to put it +in. Using this bolt as a belay, Simon climbed down into the chamber and then +came back out again very very fast as he noticed what he thought was a nice +solid wall above him was in fact a delicately poised bouder (THE BOULDER).
+ +I calmed Simon down, then had a look myself, trying underneath where we +were standing for a safeish looking pitch head. None was forthcoming. I came +back and Simon went down again, then Simon came back and I went down again. +The pitch has a very impressive echo and will be a naughty word to rig. +Refettled carbides at bottom of climb down and went out, Simon causing more +brown stains by rumouring that the ice boulder had moved.
+ + +Admittedly our boulders were smaller, but they'd still kill you. We had +this large rock jammed in the hole we wanted to go down, so we used the +system rigged up yesterday and pulled and pulled but it didn't move much. +Then Mike had a good idea and eliminated the friction on the pulling rope. +With a quick pull we had it suspended above the hole, held only by a peg +pulling in the direction most likely to pull it out. Then it was chocked up +and the pulleys rearranged so as to pull it out. The rock was put on the +ledge by the pitch where it trembled a bit, but was held by the rope so we +felt we could go down the pitch. Unfortunately, we found a spreader, a long +enough rope and rigged the pitch. Ben was selected to go down. Going through +the hole, which is a bit small, it opens out into a superb enormous shaft, +about 20' in diameter, 55' deep. At the bottom, lots of different passages +lead off, one which is pretty big and horizontal. There's also a good rift +which still carries the draught. Its pretty fucking marvellous down there. +Mike came down after Ben had come back up. Ben.
+ + +After a couple of hours effort and sardines, all dangerous boulders were +removed from the entrance and the shaft abbed down by all four of us. After +gasping or something similar at the SIZE of it and the strong draught, we +split into two exploring parties (there is a lot to explore). Anyway, after +John had descended down 100 foot shaft in a rift section, and made enough +noise to attract attention to this fact, we all followed, finding one good +natural belay besides John's peg. At the foot of this impressive enlarged +canyon, we found another fine pitch (65') which offers several possible +forward routes. A short traverse to the left leads to another large soaring +shaft - which will be intensively explored tomorrow. Only a few loose +boulders were discovered, generally by their rapid descent towards those at +the foot of the pitch - but none of us were much worried, still being too +impressed with the size of the place. Generally the rock seems to be pretty +good and clean and we haven't encountered closely any kind of dubious +boulders. Nicky.
+ + +Collected a crowbar from 107 and S transported it down +to Yesterday's Terminus, where to great surprise we discovered that the ice +boulder had disappeared and presumably broken up on the floor of the pitch. +Continued on down to the large boulder where Doug put in a bolt, backed up +by the handline. S abbed into a huge pitch meandering forwards and widening. +
+Protection needed on a flake near the top and at a constriction about 30' ? +down. At c 75', worry about the rubs became great, pitch widens out, may +well need rebelay. At least 30' to bottom of pitch, then a further pitch +down after that. It might be possible to have a decent rig from a buttress +further forward, but a floor was visible that. (??) Simon.
+ + +After we had collected all the tackle from the dump, we went back to the +cave (via 106) where we met Ben who was trying to jack by blocking the +entrance pitch with loose boulders. Having removed the rock, we abbed down +to the bottom of the 65 and we started looking along the passage after the +traverse mentioned yesterday. We freeclimbed into the shaft and found a very +strongly draughting (inwards) canyon. This continued (partly choked) to a +pitch of 30 foot down to a false floor followed by another 20 foot to +another false floor followed by yet another yet undescended larger pitch. +There is another pitch on the first false floor down a continuation of the +canyon but this is 100 ft, ie. we don't want to do it. Several bolts are +needed on these pitches only one of which is placed so far, so this will +occupy most of the next trip. PS. while attempting to put a bolt in, Ben +requested and received a hit on the head with the peg hammer.
+ + +Team Fiesta arrived in the previous evening, comprising Nick and Julian, +so a new saga starts here :
+ +Helicopter up to the plateau and abseiled down. Found 110, see sketch. +Six teeth dropped off my anchor ! Huh ! substandard subb ... mumble.... Time +2 hrs. Oh, yes, I forgot, we had to do some digging to get in. Then :
+ +Found 111, 30m to narrow rift which got too tight/choked, shaft split 20m +down to shaft half full of snow.
+[] I suspect that there is a sentence about 112 missing here ] +Both last two shafts are close to 98.
+ +Back at car by 7.15, helicopter never turned up. Nick.
+Mikeandysimonnickybendougjohn Fed/ Festered/ Farted
+ +Found Koppenbrüllerhöhle and investigated with matches.
+Overnight trip by Supercool and Supersmooth + +
Just found the entrance before dark, Phew ! Got underground by 8pm. +Blatted down to the Tap Room, then along traverse to pitch head amongst +boulders. Placed new bolt at head and descended about 15m to microledge and +placed a bolt rebelay. Next section was a "best pitch o'the pot" +so far. 35m to a large ledge with inlet. As the water fell away, we made a +bold step over to an opposite ledge. A couple of bolts later we descended +10m back to the streamway. +
Then we followed an obvious traverse line to the +next pitch. Plenty of black spaces about, so we rigged a traverse line from +bolt above a rocking boulder (really swinging, man). Pitch head ('nother +blot) was smallish but things got bigger further down. And bigger. And +bigger ..... A superb (Even better pitch o'the pot) free hanging 55m job. +Juniper Gulf eat shit ! +
This landed on blodders (good uns) and was followed +by a quick 5m to the floor. Downhill the stream flowed into a lowish +(wetsuitable) passage. Uphill quickly leads to balcony overlooking immense +chamber (15m x 15m x 80m high). Stream could be heard around corner, but +hadn't got enough rope to descend 12m pitch from balcony to reach it.
+ +Exit was slower than expected due to :
+1) Rope on 5m pitch vanishing upwards and coming back down through the
+boulders..... Aaaaaarrrrrgh ! JG came back down to give me the rope having
+prusiked the pitch once already. (A quick half litre for that man).
+2) Falling asleep while prusiking !
Made the entrance again after 10.5 hour trip. Even Unox ham in a cold +drizzle tastes superb after this ! Total depth so far c 280m (Club record +depth) Nick
+(daytime !?) [Between two overnight trips.] + +
As the sun set below the clouds, we disappeared down the first pitch. A +quick grot around the rift of the 7th decided us that we could not easily +eliminate the ladders to the false boulder, so we looked around the bottom +of the 65' pitch. An awkward, loose climb leads to a short traverse across +this hole. You lob boulders down and 4 seconds plus there's a dull boom. 300 +ft ?
+ +Beyond the hole is a 15' pitch rigged off the mankiest bolt in Austria +and a tied off peg and a natural thread. Then the big one. Bolting at 2 +O'Clock in the morning in the wet icy draught is slow work. The water level +in the nearby pool rose quickly and what was a trickle turned into a +freezing stream. 180' of ladder and rope was fed down and I followed. There +are lots of ledges, easy ladder climb, but it was getting colder and wetter. +The whole cave was reverberating to the sound of massed choirs chanting +"Brown Girls". Time to go home. Total depth descended c 400'.
+ +John.
+ + +It had already got dark by the time we went underground, and various +amounts of rerigging delayed us somewhat. Eventually we got to the big pitch +which Andy descended first - it was COLOSSAL ! At the bottom, a couple of +ace natural belays got us down the next 10m pitch to the floor of Mega +boulders. +
At first it appeared to be a big choke, but descending down dip +and then climbing up vast piles of boulders, a roomy gallery - almost an +exhibition hall of all the varieties of unstable boulder bridges - was +found. +
The explorer started a descent of the far side of the boulders under +a boulder estimated at 5000 tons, but waited for support from DHF. +Eventually found the obvious free climb down, but found it overhanging - so +went off for the bolting gear and rigged a short pitch down into the new +chamber. From here a traverse and awkward climb down leads to a stream which +goes off to the left (not pushed very far). +
An additional tributary comes +from a rift about 20' up and flows the same way. Between the two is an OFD +type passage ending in a drop into a rift and a possible (but not without a +lifeline) continuation beyond. +
We rigged a natural belay for the start of +the rift (in a side rift to the left) and placed a bolt rebelay, but did not +descend further due to lack of time. Set off upward and soon got somewhat +warmer (despite the heavy water at the bottom of the 180') on the way up. +Eventually surfaced at a late hour (8.30 am !) after a 12 hour plus trip. +Andy. Deeper than OFD now !
+ +Having struggled into our several layers of wet clothing and watched the +plateau disappear in the layers of mist, we started off down the cave. Having +got thoroughly resoaked by the bottom of the 65' pitch, we carried on to the +head of the "big" pitch, pausing to drop stones down John's +"Big 'ole". +
Mike then proceeded without hesitation or thought to +the bottom of the first section of the pitch - whilst I sat cheerfully at the +top contemplating the rock wall opposite. After half an hour, the merry +strains of "Brown Girls" stopped floating up the pitch and bolting +sounds carried on intermittently. After another half an hour of my own +personal attempts at singing (quietly) and warming up exercises, two whistle +blasts were heard. +
After yet another half hour, Mike reappeared at the top of +the pitch. Damp, cold and wetness ensured that our early (but not hasty) +retreat from the cave was the wisest decision, so we left with only one bolt +as progress. Nicky.
+ + +Karl [Gaisberger] arrived at 10am and we drove up to the plateau café. Walked to +1623/41a (Stellerweghöhle) which is very well concealed in Bunde. The +phreatic-looking horizontal entrance led on into a hading rift and then to a +huge snowpile below another entrance. Below the snow, the rift is very +extensive, and at about 45 degrees, but further on it gets a bit more +vertical. The big pitch at the end is beyond a very nasty traverse through a +window, so we couldn't see much, having brought no rope. On the way through +and back, Karl kept looking under boulders and at one stage showed us a pile +of bat bones, so we thought he was looking for bat remains, but when he +found what he was looking for it proved to be a small creature - little +worms c ½ cm long which he collected with forceps. Eventually, we had +four, and left.
+ +On the way back, we passed various entrances, and did a short trip in +Elchhöhle (1623/31) which is a large phreatic tube in horizontally +bedded rock, with lots of boulders. Karl again kept looking for bugs, despite +having left his collecting gear at the entrance. Then he found a small beetle +under a rock at which he seemed most upset not to have his gear, so Doug +rushed off to get it. When he returned, the beetle had escaped, so Karl was +dismantling the cave to find it. Large rocks crunched and eventually the +terrified beetle was collected - Karl was very pleased as it is only the +second specimen of that species found in Austria. We exitted and had lunch at +the Loser Hütte before returning to camp and drowning the beetle in +Vodka. Andy.
+ +Next trip (start of CUCC exploration) +'nother overnighter. Couple of hours to get down to previous terminus. +Then : descended 30' to bolt rebelay and 40' to floor. Traversed forward in +large meandering vadose canyon (100' high, traverse level 30-40' off floor). +After jammed boulders, descended the yetchiest, muddiest 15m (sorry change of +units) pitch in the entire known universe. Traverse, traverse, traverse and +we rigged another pitch but didn't descend. Further pitch seen below, all in +same canyon. Total depth to this point estimated at 350-360m. The cave mud +mentioned above was examined by Karl and he confirmed that it was not the +sort of mud expected from a sump backing up. I therefore declare, forthwith +and hereby, that Eislufthöhle is very significant, horizontally +significant and likely to go a lot deeper. I forgot to mention in the above +description that we made one thrutchy freeclimb down at one point, but I'm +not sure exactly where.
+ + +Brain aberrations during the above trip write-up were +caused by the distraction of our second trip of the night :
+ +Explored the river by the side of the road below the toll road. Tackle : +one Ford Fiesta. Descended 30' pitch into streamway, with a couple of +mid-air turns too. time c 5 seconds, tackle written off.
+ +The above trip led to a series of extraneous trips to Bad Aussee and +Salzburg hospitals where Simon and Julian were swindling the insurance with +their minor injuries (broken neck, broken sternum). It put an end to pushing +106 for the year, and we were naturally reluctant to indulge in any more +overnight trips.
+At last, decent weather allowed a reasonably early start taking Vic, Rod +and Dave for them to add some depth down the shaft with the boulder floor. +John and Ben meanwhile rerigged the rift pitch with the 100m rope. Pretty +awkward abseil, even worse ladder climb back up. Got to Mike's +"desperate loose ledge", pushed a bolt in the wall and laddered the +rest of the shaft. Fed the rest of the 100m rope down and John started off +down. At -70' he found an enormous mess in the rope and after trying for a +long while to undo it, came back up pulling the rope behind him. We undid the +knots on the ledge after half an hour, and then both descended 110' pitch. +Not bad shaft with big boulder at bottom. Stream continues under rift. +Descended 20' in scramble and bolted another 20' pitch. Continued along above +stream to pitch c 30-50'. Depth so far this way 570'. Ben. Time 7 hrs.
+ +Team Geriatric crawled up the hillside half a mile +behind the fast moving dust cloud that showed where team youth was burning +up the miles. At the cave entrance, when they eventually got there, the +pensioners were heard to be talking about family responsibilities, +arthritis and other ploys for not going underground (one of them even had to +be lent a descender, having conveniently forgotten his own). +
Marshalled +between members of the Youth Team, the ancients were carefully fed down the +entrance of the cave. A curious transformation came over them, a glazed +expression in their old eyes as though recalling distant memories of when +they too had discovered new glories. Down the first pitch, then the second, +and the third, then along the traverse ; so far so good, their aged limbs +had stood up well to the strain. Now at the head of the next pitch they were +sat down and told of hitherto undescended holes ahead of them. Then Team +Youth vanished into the darkness to push into discoveries elsewhere.
+ +Left alone at last, the crones shook off their disguise of weariness. +Swiftly they fixed a rope down the thirty foot pitch to a large floor of +unstable boulders. One of them carried on to the bottom of the boulder choke +while another was fixing a bolt at the top of the rift. Soon Rod was going +down the rift till he ran out of rope at about 70'. He called for another +rope, tied it onto the end of the previous one and carried on down to the +end of that one too. He ascended to a safe spot (The Sentry Box) and called +the others down. Dave, the last man down, took another 200' of rope with him +to the bottom of the second rope. Here he placed another bolt, belayed the +rope, and vanished off into a vast, dark hole. At one stage he was abseiling +down between the wall and a huge pinnacle, 30' high. The rope just reached +the floor. Here a stream appeared. He followed it down a descending rift +until, after about 50' of descent, he came to a small pitch with possibly +another one beyond that.
+ +Dave prusiked back to where Rod and Vic had been waiting in the Sentry +Box sharing both ends of a bar of Kendal Mint Cake at the same time since it +was too hard to break. From here the operation of getting out was a smooth +well-rehearsed exercise that they had done many times before. It took only +just over the hour to get out onto the plateau where they were in time to +enjoy the last few hours of sunshine.
+ +And Team Youth ? They came eventually, weary, dirty and dishevelled as +usual. They had missed the sunshine. It was dark by the time they got +down. Team Geriatric had wined and dined and already gone to the pub.
+ + +Mike, Andy and I went down 106, surveyed down to the bottom of the 100' +pitch. Mucho Chillo. Down to the bottom of the Taproom, Andy spent hours +trying to get his member out of his sitsling for a piss. A few piccies on +the way out. Fairly late out to the surface, dark by the time we reached the +van.
+ +Mike was not the catastrophe I expected. Doug.
+ + +Nicky and I went down a bit late (12.30) due to hanggliding. We rigged +the 30' John and Ben had found using 3 bolts (all manky). About 100' of +freeclimbing ensued down to the Geriatric's previous far point. Due to lack +of time, we then had to leave. Mike.
+ +We initially thought that getting up was the worst bit - at 4.30 am, but +we were to learn otherwise later. Underground by 7.40 am, a literal alpine +start. The familiar abseil descent took just over one hour to Hall of the +Greene King, and then we slowed down, carrying gear from the overhanging +boulder pitch to rig the freeclimb that was alleged to follow. +
Abseiling the +next pitch left large clods of mud on the descendeur and below, traversing +started immediately, but ended at an inlet on the left. Andy tried for a +long way at stream level, but eventually jacked and climbed up to a ledge +where Doug had a stinky gonk. Soon arrived at the really shitty pitch which +made a horrible mess on a rack. Not far to go now chaps - a final +undescended pitch was reached and Andy went down to a ledge with almost no +rope left. +
Lobbed rocks down the pitch - sounded like 10-15m to a muddy +ledge, but further out seemed a lot deeper; 30-50m ? Doug repeated the +exercise and then we set off out, derigging.
+ +Carrying vast piles of muddy rope over the traversing section takes quite +a while and derigging each pitch was a serious delay. Doug's ascenders were +slipping (nasty Petzls !) but we were soon back up the rift and got the +rope, including the spare 75m length, into tackle bags and up to Hall of the +Greene King. From here it was just an incredible slog out. Prusiking with a +large tackle bag is really strenuous and Doug tackle-hauled his gear up the +big pitch.
+ +Andy reached the Taproom well ahead of Doug and waited halfway up the +next pitch, which, if we don't find a name for it soon will cause write-ups +to be far too long, until Doug appeared below. As time was getting late, +Doug dropped his gear and the pace increased, and so we reached the entrance +by about 6.25 pm - Much relief. We were acutely aware of the effort of +raising a Mega-bag 300m against its will : ie. knackered. Doug brought the +remaining bag down to the car park.
+Andy.
+10¾ hours +Well, we got off to our usual crack of dawn start (9 am) and wandered up. +Dave and Jont went off to do a surface survey to 82, then surveyed down to +the head of "our" pitch. The Meisterplan failed and they had an +hour's wait here due to gross slowness in prusiking with heavy tackle +bags....however, I run ahead...
+ +Rod and I went down to the previous end. I surveyed the bottom passage +while Rod put a bolt in, then I abseiled down. Not a pleasant abseil as I +had to stop, hang on the rope 100' down, tie the other rope on, pass the +knot and carry on, hoping that the second rope reached the bottom. Due to +our incredible efficiency in calculating the tackle needed, it did. Ice cold +water all down the pitch did not help either - nor the failure of both +electric and stinkie.
+ +Chap. II "The End". Well, there is a big wide rift that ends in +a fairly conclusive choke sans draught. The water disappears down a rapidly +lowering tight passage of the more sordid Yorkshire variety, which I followed +to the limit of my patience (it got even smaller). Much relieved, I exitted, +collecting a chilly Rod on the way out, who did a hero's job with 60m of wet +12mm Marlow up the 95m pitch.
+ +And all in 7 hours. Geriatrics rule OK ? Vic.
+Leaving Andy and Mike to come down on a piccying trip in their own sweet +time, the deriggers of the party descended intrepidly down the cave to the +bottom of the big shaft. Leaving Ben to disappear and pollute yet another +recess with his yards of bog paper and other matter, John and myself +continued resolutely down the narrow rift to derig the bottom ladders. This +was just about completed, and we were beginning to remark on the sheer +efficiency of the operation when a small doubt began tp filter through +John's cold-benumbed brain. Where was the hammer ? +
The pitch was hastily +rerigged, hammer was retrieved, and derigging continued. Andy and Mike made +an appearance on the ledge at the top of the 110' pitch and tackle hauling +up the shaft was done, passing tackle on to Andy and Mike, to ferry up the +rift. +
Most of the tackle was up the rift by the time that the whole cave was +resounding with John's frustrated Yells and Screams, as he swore at carbide +and tackle, stuck halfway up the rift with no lights. Tackle hauling +continued apace, with Andy ferrying several times up the ninety foot, +oblivious of the horrendous and daunting wear in the middle of the rope, +noticed later by Ben. +
John, Andy and myself sneaked up out of the pot before +Ben and Mike had even realised that they had been left to deal with the +remaining tackle at the bottom of the entrance pitch. While we enjoyed the +warm sunshine, Ben sweated and swore, emerging some hours later as the sun +was sinking. Nicky.
+ +Previous trip/ +Guidebook description
+An alpine start by Dave and self meant we got underground before the sun +got a bit too warm. Went down to top of big pitch where we split up; Dave +waiting at the pitch head and with me descending to derig the next couple of +pitches. Started out, derigging, bolt-greasing etc. as we went, and met Jont +just below the Taproom. +
Started to stagger out now and met Vic and Rod on +the last pitch of last year (we ought to have a name for it, and if we +haven't already, then we'd better get thinking). Meanwhile, Doug had been in +to the Taproom and exitted with a tockle bog (Full too !) A slow exit up +Plugged Shaft with antics from Jont, his ascenders and his carbide lamp, and +with the Bluewater being as awkward as ever. Had to abandon the crowbar.
+ +Out after a trip of 7½ hours (for me) and its really nice doing all +those pitches whilst being wide awake !
+ +The first part of the log is traditionally taken up by the journey out.
+If this is of no interest, here is a link to the caving!
"I drove and I drove+ +
+ Oh how I drove, etc."
Down to Somerset to collect food and A N Other item. Met Accountant on +the way to the pub - confirmed Hovercraft tickets - ate food, drank wine, +had last (almost) pint for several weeks - lapsed into fitfully sweaty +sleep. Yours sincerely
The first part of the log is traditionally taken up by the journey out.
+If this is of no interest, here is a link to the caving!
THIS ALL NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY REFORMATTED INTO MODERN FORM. + +
"I drove and I drove+ +
+ Oh how I drove, etc."
Down to Somerset to collect food and A N Other item. Met Accountant on +the way to the pub - confirmed Hovercraft tickets - ate food, drank wine, +had last (almost) pint for several weeks - lapsed into fitfully sweaty +sleep. Yours sincerely
6.00 am sees
Sunday 29th July
+ +Stopped for a brew near Aachen, all five of us, then since the +"Crab" needed more petrol we arranged to meet Nick and Julian down +somewhere near Mannheim. But nasty noises started coming from the L.H.S. +rear wheel and when these developed into heavy clunks and bangs we pulled +into a parking place to inspect. Not really understanding what was wrong we +drove the car up and down the parking area, peering under the rear to see +what was happening. Unfortunately there then appeared a cloud of smoke from +the dashboard and the bonnet. This was discovered to be the whole of the +electrics shorting and burning the insulation from the dynamo via the +regulator and ignition switch to the solenoid. Flames were put out and the +battery disconnected. Luckily we managed to borrow a bit of wire and +insulating tape and botched it up. This enabled the car to start but did +nothing for the rear axle bearing. Left the motorway and arrived in +Rheinböllen. Being a Sunday, all the garages were shut. Went to a +café and drank lots of beer, ate a meal and saw the two most +delicious pair of blonde twins. Such pert little buttocks and nicely +developed bumps under sexy white teeshirts, and only about 13 or 14. Managed +not to get chucked out of the café for ogling by their father and he +found out Fritz's telephone number for us. Slept off the beer next to a +stream and decided to move on slowly to Bingen.
+ +Here we asked for a Ford garage at the cop shop, drank some more beer and +then set up camp by the Rhein in an orchard. Watched the most superb +thunderstorm and drifted off to bed, knackered. Also rang Fritz for the +first time.
+ +However, Nick and Julian managed to get safely to Altaussee. They +discovered Karl Gaisberger is in Yugoslavia till August 12th.
+ +Ben.
+Nick and Julian plus a German dictionary negotiated free access to the +plateau. Walked over to 106 and laid a guide line back to the col. Went to +Fischers early, spent a while leering at the new waitress and then got +pissed.
+ +TEAM TRIALS (+ TRIBULATIONS) left Bingen, hobbled to Mainz to see a man +about a rear ... wheel axle bearing. Confused lady in bank with Midland +cheque card; drank some beer standing at the bar ! Collected super efficient +car, drove towards Altaussee until the battery packed up at Bad Ischl. Tried +to telephone the boys at camp - but the jolly rotten fellows failed to find +the note. Had some beer, fell asleep in the car. [SEE TUESDAY FOR CONTINUING +SAGA] --->
+Woke up in the car (several times) - woke Ben up, who was on the ground +outside ?! Daylight (04:40) so we set off to drive to Altaussee. All going +well ... up to Potschen ... down again ... into Luppitsch but miss the short +cut turning, stall and the Crab is out - no push start this time ! So - walk +to Altaussee & welly Nick & Julian out of bed at ten to six. Well, +we had brekkers and rescued the car and made a mess in the campsite, then +someone mentioned caving and all the parties changed.
+I got the short straw and ended up in the caving team. (Andy asked me to +mention that he carried the Bluewater up to the cave.) I'm writing this in +Bar Fischer, looking across at this bird wearing tight white jeans ... +phew ! God, I must concentrate. Got underground, rigged the snow slope with a +ladder, and belayed the B/W at the top of Plugged Shaft, using last year's +bolts. Then unfortunately, the rest of the shaft had totally altered from +last year. Despite less snow than ever seen before, it was arranged very +differently. The snow platform had disappeared. At least the first two +rebelays of last year are buried in about 4' of snow. More rebolting will be +needed, and we had no driver or anchors, hence lack of complete penetration +(LCP).
+ +Walked off the plateau after a
Nick
+ +[ sketch section ]
+Underground by 11.15 Andy descended to a small hole in the ice where 1978 +rebelay was wholly buried, descended to 1977 "Snow Platform" which wasn't, +and then back up to place a bolt. This was a pretty nasty job but eventually +was done and next rebelay was the obvious next stage - a brief Mars bar gonk +to inform Ben and Tony and off - next rebelay easy and good freehang but +then... Why does Plugged Shaft insist on comprehensively redesigning itself +every year ? Vast amounts of extra snow, and contact made with the opposite +wall of the shaft. Soon the next rebelay was needed but god knows where +Doug's bolt is hidden - ice everywhere ! At about -30m from the last bolt, +large, freehanging crumbling ice-stals adorn the far wall. These will have +to be shifted somehow as they look lethal - similar formations on the near +wall fall at a touch. A started looking for a good place to put another bolt +but all the right places were covered in ice or looked manky rock or both. +Other possibilities would cause rubbing further down so the explorer slowly +ascended looking for more places to rebelay but found nothing but snow and +ice - some of it descending rapidly. Vocal contact with T & B suggested that +they exit while A bolted - then lighting failure, an inability to find a +good bolt placement, a powerful desire for a crap, a severe pain in the sit +harness, low flying ice from Tony's boot and great demoralisation determined +A to follow out - More Mars bars - Much Discussion - No Progress - Tony +heads for col, Andy for a grike and Ben to have a look at the underground +scenery.
+ +"Underground scenery" - I'll see nicer scenery when they put me +just 6 feet under in a wooden box ! Went down, took ages passing the first +rebelay, got to the second which was a bit taut since Andy had left his +tockle bog on the bottom of the rope so I came back out, First impressions +pretty bad.
+ +Summary so far: Progress minimal, motivation negligible. A
+ +even Less Coital Penetration
+ + +Having camped the previous evening at the col we were underground by 7.00 +am. Got about 15m below the last rebelay in Plugged Shaft and placed an airy +bolt on the left hand wall - no ledges in sight.
+ +15-20m below this we found one of last year's bolts and so rigged the +final section of Plugged Shaft. Thrashed on down, rigging as we went until +we reached the top of the 55m pitch. As we wanted to put a bolt in at the +bottom, Julian decided that this was a job for someone with a wetsuit, so +Nick descended to do the necessary. He rigged the final section of the pitch +from the bolt but then couldn't find the natural belay for the Balcony Pitch +so he left it. Prusiked out in just under
After a wet sleepless night (the thunderstorm, I mean) three of us got +underground about 8 am. Rerigged Follow-through Shaft. Tony went out when +he'd got to the top of the 15/35m. Ben and Andy continued down. Rigged +Balcony with a piece of Marlow. Ladder on Overhanging Boulder Pitch. After +this we followed a small stream to the left, traversing above it on very dry +muddy ledges. Reached a 15m pitch. Andy put a bolt in which resulted in a +superb free hang, just clearing the wall all the way down. At the bottom the +place enlarged to a flat floor with a stream cut into it. Upstream it soon +became too thrutchy. Downstream we traversed above the stream to reach +another pitch. This was Mars Bar paper tested, and thought to be directly +above the Gents. Went back and tried to rig the 20m pitch. However, the rope +only reached the second bolt so we came back out. Andrew lost his carbide +and all his lights went out so I left him.
Ben.
+ + +Festered all day
+Took the attractive route down to the Fiesta Run rigging the 10m pitch +into the Gents off a bolt. Put another bolt at the head of the last pitch +reached last year and descended a 3m pitch to an obvious traverse level. A +15m traverse led to the head of a broken 15m pitch. A free climb down +brought us to the base of an aven with a vadose canyon leading off at the +far side. After 30m of traversing. another bolting job was called for. A 5m +drop landed on a large ledge. Yet another bolt was placed and we descended +15m to the floor. A very small vadose canyon (2m high, 0.5m wide) was +followed for approximately 30m till it broke out in the side of a large +aven, about 15m off the floor. The stream, which had been left at the last +pitch reached last year, could be heard entering down the aven. Most of the +draught went with the stream.
To prevent too many club members blowing neurons in attempting to +describe which pitch they have descended, it has been decided by the cretins +that be to number the pitches.
+ +Ben drove us up the Toll Road before going off to collect Simon + Simon. +From there we strode manfully up to the col camp before dumping some gear at +the large cave entrance visible on the return from 106 about halfway back to +the col. Collected some bits of Tony's gear from 106 and on the return +stumbled across a deep sounding shaft just off the marked route about 100 +yds from 106. We returned to the large entrance and Tony set to at a rock +blocking the previously located passage beyond. After a couple of minutes we +broke through and Tony thrutched through in his shorts, T-shirt and carrying +his emergency electric light - found chamois skeleton in stooping height +phreatic tube which ended in a small cosy chamber after 50 feet. Andy then +attacked another entrance further along the cliff face, which was draughting +intermittently; dug through some loose rubble to enter a phreatic passage +similar to the previous one - but about 3m wide, flat floored and minus the +chamois remains. After about 40 feet a boulder fall split the passage. The +left hand dropped 3 feet to a boulder-choked depression then led up through +a boulder pile in the [looks like 'rough']. which Andy ascended as far as he +dared - about 15 feet - some ice in the roof. The R H lead at the boulder +fall led to the same boulder pile into the roof, which choked similarly. +Emerged with chilly hands after around ten minutes poking around. Tony +wisely decided not to enter, either because the entrance was awkward or more +probably because it was bloody cold and he wasn't wearing a wetsuit.
+ +We then packed up the gear and trundled off to the promising looking +shaft found earlier on near 106. Sun by now blazing down. Andy spent the +first 10 minutes bolting the entrance while Tony fiddled around with his +chest harness and other bits of ironmongery. Rigged the pitch with a 50m +length of Interalp - Tony descended in T-shite and shorts, kicked away some +snow about 20 feet down, decided it was a wetsuit job and prusiked out, +lacerating knees en route !
+ +Andy then descended to a ledge about 45-50' down, then returned to the +surface. Tony, having donned the necessary protective gear abseiled down +beyond the ledge through a narrower slit down to the bottom, which had no +exit. Prussicked back to above the ledge where a short traverse to the right +led to a 25 ft pitch with a possible continuation along the rift. Returned +to surface for reappraisal. Andy then descended to the bottom (of what was +about a 75 ft shaft) came back up to look at the side passage and returned, +considering it not worth pursuing. We thrutched around amongst surface holes +for a while before encountering Nick and Julian on their return from 410m of +106.
+ +What an entertaining and pleasant day.
+ +Tony.
+Due to Julian's late arrival to tell us that there was no tackle at 106, +we aborted the evening walk up and chopped the 110m rope in two. 5 am start +saw us underground by 8.30 (ugh !). Fairly quick even with 3 tackle bags +down to HotGK, then slower as the traversing progressed. Traversing seemed +easier than last year to Fiesta Run (very horrible). Then N & J's 3m pitch - +obvious that new bolt needed - Ben feeling cool after a few minutes so him +to bolt. Andy set off to look for more protectors, bolts etc. on yesterday's +route. Down the 5/10 to a large chamber, free climb down to ante-chamber, +interesting hole up in left wall. Descending traverse to another pitch - +still no tackle in sight so down 5m - aha ! a can and a tackle bag - quick +nip down the next 15m for a brief look - uninspiring and then out - very +much more strenuous and horrific ascender slip of the top 5m pitch back to +Ben - bolt finished - just waiting for hanger. Replaced Marlow by 45m +Interalp - rebelay and Ben abseils into the unknown. One small rub, then +thrutchy - then - FREE ! 30m in an expanding shaft to a ledge, a few more +metres to a second ledge with a cross rift descending for a further 30m ? +Rift getting wider to left under a rock bridge and remarkable pinnacle of +limestone, Obvious rebelay needed - less obvious best place to put it: far +wall to the left best - and most difficult ! Ben ascends, Andy descends for +a look ferrying tackle bag / bolting gear down. A couple of stones lobbed +suggest a landing in a pool with rift continuing to left - possibly a +further drop. A belayed gear and then Tempus Fugit forced exit. Long slog +out with lots of ascender slippage including a certain amount of free fall +by Andy despite very frequent toothbrush stops. Up to HotGK OK and not too +long to get out -
Andy
+ + +What was to be a showabout trip for SK rapidly turned into a minor +derigging operation from the very bottom after a few beers.
+ +Up by 6:30 underground 10 O'Clock after not much breakfast. Down to +Fiesta Run. Tried to find J&N's pitches but failed, instead following +A&B's pitch to the ledge - very impressive. (Forgetting to mention +rerigging the Gents' pitch with new IA).
+ +Slow exit with near fatal [no bullshit] ascender slippage on pitch before +the Gents.
+ +Experienced total ascender failure of CMI on way out. Had to continue on +botched up Petzl system. Eventually exitted at 9.45 followed by SK one hour +later.
+ +Began to shiver and feel nauseous (not nauseating). Managed to crawl back +to col and was promptly violently sick after drinking some water. Staggered +into tent and fell into a fitful sleep.
+ +Not a very useful trip but slow exit can be justifiably blamed on +apallingly slippy ropes and pathological ascenders.
+ +S F--->
+ + + + +Having been informed of the existence of 99 - about 100 yards away from +106 and draughting strongly, reached the plateau at about midday and +promptly disappeared - both of us - into the clints for a grande burundi - +followed at intervals by other offerings throughout the afternoon.
+ +After a superficial examination, rigged the first 25' or so with a +ladder, or two, Andy descended and examined the draughting lead through an +icy orifice, followed by Tony who bolted the pitch head and froze up his +[???] ! Andy [???]ed the pitch with 50m of IA then descended down a snow +slope for about 40', whence the shaft turned slightly - a convenient rebelay +at a later date. Continued to the bottom - on first glance choked with +boulders and not producing any draught. The draught roared out of a vertical +fissure just above the apparent bottom of the pitch - impossible to get +through unless you [ four illegible words ]. Emerged into the bright light +of day after about ¾ hour. Tony then descended, between clint walking +activities, checked the impossibility of penetrating the draughting slot +(through which could be seen a 10° slope down from right to left, ice +covered) and went down to examine the choke below; dropped a pebble which +suggested depth below so removed loose small boulders until only one large +block was left perched above what appears to be about 20 ft down to a ledge +and a further 20-30 ft beyond. This boulder will be moved, when 106 is empty +just in case a connection is possible, in order to pursue this dry old route +which may be considered to be draughting.
+ + +Plodded down to last pitch of last year. Julian then went off and +derigged the dry route whilst I bolted the rebelay for the twelfth. +Descended 30m in damp rift to an 'under over' (go over; the under's wet). +Almost immediately occurs a 50m pitch, split once. At the bottom is a 5m +free climb as the shaft levels out. Next is a pitch of about 20-25m. The +belays are both natural, but the backup is a little near the lip of the +pitch (be warned). From the bottom a large platform is the takeoff to a +pitch of about 20m. These pitches are a little damp, especially after rain. +Total depth ~500m at least.
Nick
+ + +Departed from the surface at about 11.00, starting to rain, with the +intention of continuing the survey to grade V (sic) standard, below the bolt +in Follow-through shaft, which we reached after about 2 hours, including +farting around on rebelays, farting around trying to use the compass - clino +- measuring tape, and sundry stinky gonks.
+ +Eventually commenced surveying - measured the drop from the bolt to the +false floor at the bottom of Follow-through -10.8 metres, and surveyed the +small chamber at the bottom. Clino then packed up, as did enthusiasm and a +swift exit was made, J and N pursuing us on the way.
+ +Entered just after midday and steadily downed the pot. Some jacking +noises were made around 2.00 pm after we had finished two, but the +motivation of the more experienced members of the party saw the team through +a bad spell. Pausing only to leer at the pretties, the 4th, 5th and 6th were +soon finished and at 6.00 pm Andy W and Ben had to exit because of other +commitments. The rest of the team forged on down the 7th but had to stop +shortly afterwards for a food gonk. Heckling a harassed Austrian waiter +produced the necessary results: egg mayonaise, Wiener Schnitzel, ice cream +and another beer. By 9.30pm it was clear that some members of the team were +feeling the effects of a particularly long and tiring trip: clumsiness, +difficulty in focusing and the need to shout to make oneself heard all +pointed towards this. The meet leader therefore, wisely decided to exit +before terminal symptoms set in: vomiting, inability to raise oneself from a +prone position etc. Nearly fell into another pot on the way back. Time taken +10 hours. Depth reached 30 litres. A damn fine trip.
+ +Beats any Reininghaushöhle for pretties.
+After retreating after the 6th, Ben and Andy got up to the col as night +fell, staggering slightly on the way. It all looked set for a brilliant star +studded night. At 1 am, both were awoken by gales and lashing rain. The tent +leaked, tried to take off etc. etc. producing a particularly uncomfortable +night. Were due to get up at 5 but jacked due to the wind. Eventually got +underground at 9 am intending to hit the 600m level. Unfortunately it was a +bit wet underground and after reaching the free 15m pitch it was decided the +new pitches would be too wet so we jacked. Washed the 15m rope, took out a +piece of Marlow and a piece of hawserlaid.
+ +What a stinking day ! Enthusiasm unfortunately overtook common sense and +with Andy lugging 82 metres (yes 82 !) of Interalp we raced up to the +plateau to change rather unhappily in low cloud and drizzle. The wetsuits, +previously left at 106 to freshen themselves, lived up to their name and +caused some discomfort which was accentuated by hanging around in a very +cold pot. Tony went down first, happy to get below the draught and snow +(into which the end of the rope had frozen pretty solidly) in the hope of +moving the obstructive boulder whilst Andy put in another bolt half way down +the shaft. Needing a lifeline to be protected against a head first lob Tony +sat around waiting for Andy so that we were both frozen by the time progress +could be made. The boulder eventually had to be pushed creating a wonderful +noise as it dropped 12 feet to a boulder strewn ledge. Tony then free +climbed down and eventually calling for Andy's assistance the boulder was +pulled back from its position on the top of a longer pitch. Extreme cold led +to a return to the surface after the next pitch had been observed to +corkscrew cleanly away for at least 30-40 feet. Everybody was feeling +miserable though progress looked hopeful and we jacked through more dismal +rain.
+ +PS. Simon K festered coldly on the surface throughout and sensibly +resisted the tempting offer of a tourist trip.
+ + +Didn't rain, therefore:
+ +An early start saw the pushing trio soon reaching the 15th pitch, whilst +the other two plodded on down taking piccies at various places. The short +rope on the 15th was changed for one that reached, and Nick descended. +Trooped off down a very high and wide rift, well supplied with boulders, +including some 'deads' in the roof, if you see what I mean.
+ +The floor sloped down gently, with the stream flowing just under the +boulder floor. Ominous black mud started to cover the rock. The head of a +short pitch was soon reached and the drop tests confirmed with a loud +booming splash that a sump was in the offing. Bolted and descended the pitch +(5m) to ankle deep mud covering boulders, and a large, long, deep lake of a +sump pool - an interesting moment for all concerned. Andy and Julian arrived +and photographed the place to pieces (I hope).
+ +All five of us then started to derig. Then as the cold water pounded down +the pitches, tackle hauls got tangled, tempers got frayed and the weight of +equipment increased, we all began to realise what a shag the derig was going +to be.
+ +With each of us earning hero points of doubtful validity, we eventually +got all the gear above the Hall of the Greene King, spat over our shoulders +and left the place.
Thank god its over. The exhaustion at the time outdid the sense of +achievement, but we'll grow to appreciate it.
+ +Nick.
+ + +Blatted down to top of HotGK with wierd fantasies about derigging whole +lot. Discovered that the tackle bags are f...ing heavy, esp Andy who was +dumb enough to carry the huge yellow TB. SK got jammed in over Keg Series +and swore mightily, also leaving his knee pads and most of his knees here. +Everyone took ages on Plugged, with many slipped ascenders and more +swearing. Eventually removed 3 TBs + ammo cans. Got charged by cattle on way +back - bravely repelled [???]
+ +Simon K
+ + +More derigging. Simon F, Ben, Nock straight (?) out with vast amounts of +tackle, Julian following derigging. Ben's CMI and light met their respective +makers half way up Plugged Shaft accompanied by some very unchristian +language and Julian met Tony and Andy C at the second rebelay to help tackle +hauling. All over in 6½ hours, then to the serious business of carrying +the gear back to the Bergrestaurant. All back by 6.00 pm amd so to the Kitzer +Hotel for food and Fischer's for fizzy wine and beer.
+ +Only problem, I hear, was removing the rock anchors from the wall. (Who +is this man ?)
+ +Previous trip/Guidebook description
+L.C.P.
+ +At an informal meeting of an ad hoc LCP committee the overall expedition +LCP was unanimously awarded to Simon K. Glowing references were made to the +high degree of incompetance maintained by this individual and he was +presented with a packet of rubbers to ensure his line continues no further. +League tables were as follows
+ +