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<font size=-1>CTS 82.1124: BCRA Caves &amp; Caving 18 (Nov 1982) pp 21,24 [ISSN 0142-1832]</font>

<h1>CUCC in Austria</h1>

<font size=+1><i>For the seventh year running, Cambridge University Caving
Club visited the Totes Gebirge in Austria. The Totes Gebirge are a small
group of mountains fifty km east of Salzburg, and although the depth
potential is a modest 1100 metres, the limestone is very cavernous. Our
explorations have all been on the Loser Plateau on the south-east corner of
the Totes Gebirge, mainly because a toll road climbs a thousand metres from a
lake in the valley below up to plateau level. High altitude camping is
therefore unnecessary and caving is based on day trips from a comfortable
campsite by the lake.

<p>Last year we were joined by members of the University of Bristol
Speleological Society and Schnellzugh&ouml;hle was connected to an upper
entrance Stellerwegh&ouml;hle, giving a sporting through trip to 400m and an
overall depth of 650m. With the way on still open, our main objective this
year was to continue exploration via the lower entrance. Unfortunately no
U.B.S.S. were able to come, though they generously entrusted us with most of
their rope. A small team of nine cavers spent four weeks camping at Altaussee
by the lake, and although numbers were low, enthusiasm for caving ran
high</i></font>

<p>Rigging in Schnellzugh&ouml;hle proceeded rapidly at first, profiting from
experience gained last ear in bolting techniques. The entrance is an old
tunnel intersected by the valley, and this level is followed until a sloping
ramp leads to a series of pitches in a massive rift. Last year we followed
this down into the Big Chamber. From here horizontal passages radiate, both
vadose and dry phreatic. Initially our lack of continental experience had led
us follow the active stream down the notorious Pete's Purgatory. This is a
narrow twisting rift passage similar to the entrance series of Disappointment
POt, but over 800m long. Eventually this tortuous route enlarged at an inlet
at the Confluence, and the streamway continued in classic Yorkshire style
with short wet pitches separated by clean-washed passage and sporting
cascades. Exploration ground to a halt when the streamway alone was over
1500m long and 300m deep, with nowhere to camp. Meanwhile the dry phreatic
passage had been connected to Stellerwegh&ouml;hle final chamber.

<p>This year the unpleasant memories of Pete's Purgatory had faded somewhat,
and we started pushing down the streamway again. Pitch after pitch was
rerigged in a series of fifteen hour trips, and last year's terminus passed.
The cave continued inexorably, now a sizeable winding streamway. The pitches
became longer and wetter, leading to a fine canal. Round a corner this ended
at a deep and murky pool, but a chilly swim reached a sporting duck beyond
which airspace increased and a place to stand again was found. The stream
then plunged abruptly down a spectacular shaft over 70m deep. Meanwhile a
trip through the connection to the passage beyond the Stellerweg final
chamber had found the long hoped for dry bypass to the Purgatory. This
dropped into the streamway at the Confluence, and the inlet here turned out
to be the water from Stellerweg.

<p>It was now feasible to camp underground, and a small tent, well stocked
with tins of corned beef and beans, was set up in a side passage just above
the Confluence. This was to be used by pushing trips as a bivouac on their
way out. The 70m shaft was descended in a series of leaps clear of the water,
and led to a further three pitches into a large shattered chamber. The water
could be followed forward, and almost immediately cascaded into a frothy sump
in a deep rift. At a depth of 903m below the Stellerweg entrance, this sump
is only 20m above the presumed saturation level at the altitude of Altaussee
lake.

<p>By now only six cavers remained, and with a week left, the derig began on
the day following the discovery of the sump. Parts of the survey were rapidly
completed just ahead of the growing mound of tackle making its way up the
streamway. The camp was especially valued at this stage, and all the rope
brought out and down without a day to spare.

<p>The entire cave was surveyed to B.C.R.A. grades V and III and other
entrances triangulated on the surface. WIth over a thousand survey legs in
4km of cave, the amount of data to be processed was considerable. The survey
shown is based on the preliminary sketch made in Austria. This was drawn
using a small programmable calculator to convert tape, compass and clino
readings into 3d coordinates. We felt that taking a microcomputer and printer
would have been well worth while, to reduce tedious calculation. The data has
now been fed into a computer in England and a program is running which will
plot a centreline survey of the plan or any projected or extended elevations.

<p>There is no impervious cap or surface drainage on the plateau, and all the
currently active passages are fed by percolation water. This only forms
discrete streams below a depth of about 300m. However, the size of the Lower
Streamway shows that the integration of underground drainage is already
taking place. The passage finally drops rapidly to saturation level, and a
few well defined resurgences other than seepage flows, owing to the lack of
impervious basement rocks. No dry passage has been found below the
Confluence, and it seems likely that all other streams in the area will drain
to the Lower Streamway.

<p>Most of the known entrances have a cold outward draught, caused by the
temperature differences. However, Sonnenstrahlh&ouml;hle, a 300m deep find of
a few years ago, is slightly above Stellerweg and has a slight inward
draught. It was rerigged with renewed hopes of connecting it to the
Stellerweg system, but this attempt failed. Nevertheless, the area behind it
deserves further attention as it slopes up to the summit of the
Schwarzmooskogel 1100m above the lake. At 903m, the Stellerweg system is now
the second deepest in the Totes Gebirge by only 9m, and with the potential
for more depth we will return next year.

<p>Finally our thanks are expressed to local cavers Karl Gaisberger and Dr.
Gunther Graf, to campsite owner Fritz Madlmaier, and to the Sports Council
for a grant towards equipment.

<p align=right><i>Dave Brindle</i>

<hr />
<!-- LINKS -->
<ul id="links">
<li>1982 Expedition info:
<ul>
<li><a href="log.htm">Logbook</a></li>
<li>Main Expo report, Cambridge Underground 1983:
<ul>
<li><a href="report.htm">CUCC in Austria</a> - Phil Townsend</li>
<li><a href="41gd.htm">Stellerweg Guidebook Description</a> by Pete Lancaster</li>
<li><a href="41svy.htm">Stellerweg Survey</a> article by Andy Waddington</li>
<li><a href="41camp.htm">The Underground Camp</a> by Chas Butcher</li>
<li><a href="newbit.htm">New Discoveries</a> 1982 by Mike Thomas</li>
<li><a href="bats.htm">The Bats of 115</a> by Dave Brindle</li>
</ul></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="../../pubs.htm#pubs1982">Index</a> to all publications</li>
<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expeditions intro page</a></li>
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