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1623: Main plateau area
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<h1>The Loser Augst-Eck plateau</h1>

<p>The area CUCC calls <b>The Plateau</b> is situated north of the
Br&auml;uning wall. To the west it drops off into Gr&uuml;ne Bichl, a large
valley (relatively unvisited) which marks one boundary with the adjacent <a
href="/1626/index.html">1626</a> kataster area. To the north it continues
further than most are prepared to walk over the rough limestone. Work done
beyond CUCC's normal limit is considered under <a
href="remote.html">&quot;Further&quot; plateau and out to
Augst-Eck.</a> North of this is also area 1626. To the east, the plateau starts
to rise towards the long Schwarzmooskogel ridge, and we take the break of slope
as a rather arbitrary boundary with the western slopes of the next area, the <a
href="smkridge.html">Schwarzmooskogel ridge</a>.</p>

<div class="centre">
<a href="/1623/others/l/nasevw.htm"><img src="/1623/others/t/nasevw.jpg"
width="219" height="138" alt="View from Br&auml;ning Nase" /></a>

<a href="/1623/others/l/nasev2.htm"><img src="/1623/others/t/nasev2.jpg"
width="219" height="138" alt="Clearer View from Br&auml;ning Nase" /></a>
</div>

<h3>Access</h3>

<p>The <a href="walkin.htm">route to the plateau</a> takes between 25 and
45 minutes, depending on weather, load and fitness. This is to reach the start
of the karren at the <span lang="de-at">Schwarzmoosattel</span>; it can take
another hour or more to reach a particular cave.</p>

<h3>Description</h3>

<p>From the Schwarzmoossattel at 1684m, the plateau stretches out to the north,
looking relatively level. On the map it appears gently undulating, rising from
steeper slopes above Gr&uuml;ne Bichl to the west, levelling off about 1600m,
and reaching 1700m in the east where slopes rise to the Schwarzmooskogel ridge.
Far to the north, the bare limestone peaks of Sch&ouml;nberg, Gro&szlig;e and
Kleine Wild Kogel and Grie&szlig; Kogel rise to over 2000m.</p>

<div class="centre"><a href="../piclinks/wildkg.htm">
<img src="../tinypix/wildkg.jpg" width="168" height="123" 
alt="View of plateau from near Schwarzmoossattel" /></a></div>

<p>Once down onto the plateau, the reality is a little different, as
small-scale relief is made up of pavements and cliffs of up to 10m. One bit
looks very much like another and an intermittent covering of impenetrable
thickets of dwarf pine (known as <i>Pinus mugo</i> to botanists, L&auml;rchen
to the Austrians, and, for historical reasons, 'Bunde' within CUCC) also help
to make progress and navigation very difficult.  Sharp rocks and open shafts
lie everywhere, awaiting the unwary.</p>

<div class="centre"><a href="../piclinks/brw-b8.htm">
<img src="../tinypix/brw-b8.jpg" width="165" height="128"
alt="Br&auml;uning wall from the plateau near B8" /></a>
<p class="caption">Small scars and dwarf pine dominate the foreground of this
view to the Br&auml;uning wall from the plateau below Top Camp.</p></div>

<div class="centre"><a href="/1623/others/l/82area.htm"><img alt="82 area of plateau"
src="/1623/others/t/82area.jpg" width="185" height="122" /></a><p class="caption">
View over eastern edge of plateau to entrance 1623/82 and Hinterer
Schwarzmooskogel beyond.</p></div>

<p>Potential new caves are frequent, although the plateau is characterised by
snow- and scree-choked open shafts. <a
href="../handbook/look4.htm">Prospecting</a> is time-consuming, and it's worth
looking <i>very carefully</i> for a painted number or other signs of previous
exploration (eg. bolts) before entering.</p>

<p>There has been a very significant number of recorded finds on the plateau, since the earliest years of CUCC's
work.</p>
<hr />
<ul>
<li><a href="   via201.htm">Stellerweg</a> area;</li>
<li><a href="   br-alm.html">Br&auml;uning Alm</a>  description
<li><a href="   walkin.htm">Walk-in</a></li>
<li><a href="   plateau.html">Plateau</a> description</li>
<li><a href="   areas.htm">Area descriptions</a></li>
<li><a href="   kratzer.html">Kratzer</a>.</li>
</ul>
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