"Kataster Number","Kat Status Code","Entrances","Unofficial number","Multiple entrances","Autogen file","Link file","Name","Unofficial Name","Comment","Area","No Info","Explorers","Underground Description","Equipment","qm list","Kataster status","References","Underground centre line","Underground drawn survey","Survex file to get length and deapth","Length","Depth","Extent","Header","Footer","Notes","Entrance name","tag point in dataset","other point in dataset","description of other point","exact entrance in dataset (drip line/highest enclosed contour)","Type of survey fix","GPS pre SA","GPS post SA","Northing","Easting","Altitude","Bearings","Map","Location","Approach","Entrance description","Photo of location","Marking" 1,"2/(W) +","a b",,,"noinfo/aaussee/1.htm",,"Liägerhöhle","D'Liëger",,10,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 19xx

Sektion Ausseerland 1960

Dived by Verein für Höhlenkunde in Obersteier in 1984 and 1985, when the final sump went to about -20m. On the first occasion they spoiled the visibility in the sump by not being careful enough about how they drained the sump on the approach route. ","Seasonally active cave. Ends in a 'Lake', which is a sump pool, apparently higher than the level of Altausseer See, and close to the surveyed level of the Stellerweg sump.

Access to the final sump is guarded by short siphons in each of the two passages going to the far end of the cave. These can be drained, but care should be taken to ensure they are drained towards the entrance, otherwise the final sump will become muddy. Visited by Mike Thomas and Pete Lancaster in 1989, as far as the short sumps.

A note on the geology : The north shore of the lake follows a large fault with a big throw, so that this cave is in the same block of limestone as the Stögerweg area caves. The Austrians think there is no hydrological connection between this cave/resurgence and the lake level, since vauclusian resurgences in the lake appear to be in a very different block of limestone which has been down-faulted relative to the plateau. However, it seems more likely that these risings are actually on the fault, and that the lake level, and the level of the sumps in this cave and in Stellerweghöhle are closely related. ",,,,"There are descriptions (in German) of dives in the terminal sump in 1985 and 1988. A further follow-up article is awaiting scanning in...",,"A4 survey in Mitt. der Sektion Ausseerland 18(4), Oct. 1980, facing p 86. This is dated 1935, 1960 and looks like a third generation photocopy of a larger survey - the quality is very poor. ",,"306m","71m","NW-SE 160m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"East Entrance 812m West entrance 809m",,"28.1 cm E, 15.4 cm N, sheet 15/1 Alpine Club 1:25000 map","At the foot of a gully cutting the southwestern end of Steller, a major cliff band SE of the Loser - Bräuning area. A couple of hundred metres north of the Youth Hostel at the NE corner of Altausseer See.","If you follow the lakeside path (shortest approach from Altaussee on north side of lake) there is a junction where the path to Hochklapfsattel departs. A short way west of (ie. before) this junction is a bridge over a normally dry stream bed. Follow the stream bed up for a short way until it splits, then follow the apparently smaller branch to the right (east). Scramble up rocks to the East Entrance. This is marked on the Alpine Club 1:25000 map.

Although the Altitude given is 812m, it doesn´t seem that high, and 812m is exactly 100m above lake level, which is a little suspicious. If you accept instead the phrase ""climb 70m higher"" in the original kataster description, the altitude comes out about 780 to 785m, which puts the final sump at almost exactly the level of the lake. ",,"CUCC were shown some photographs of 1 & 2 in flood, when a truly enormous river emerges from both entrances and numerous impenetrable cracks. This explains the vegetation-free state of the twin river beds leading down towards Altausseer See. ", 2,"0/(W) =",,,,"noinfo/aaussee/2.htm",,"Wasserlöcher",,,10,"No Info","Unexplored ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"810m",,,,,,"CUCC were shown some photographs of 1 & 2 in flood, when a truly enormous river emerges from both entrances and numerous impenetrable cracks. This explains the vegetation-free state of the twin river beds leading down towards Altausseer See. ", 3,"1/T(W) +",,,,"noinfo/augstb/3.htm",,"Gellerofen",,,11,"No Info","Oldest documentation is dated 1880. Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1937 Sektion Ausseerland, 1968",,,,,,,"Plan by Alfred Auer at 1:100, 1968 ",,"13.1m","3.04m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1015m",,"This is not marked on the Austrian´s map.","at the SW foot of the Loserstockes","reached from Altaussee above Posern. (I think this is below the toll road somewhere).","The entrance is 7.5m wide by 1.2m high.

'Durch das 7,5m breite und 1,2m hohe, flachbogenförmige Portal gelangt man zunächst in eine kuppelförmige Vorhalle, dann in einen durch Korrosionskolke ausgeformten Canyon. Höhlenkarren, Bergmilchbildungen, eine Sickerwasserquelle und Höhlenfauna fallen besonders auf.'",, 4,"1/T(W) +",,,,"noinfo/augstb/4.htm",,"Ritscherbachhöhle",,,11,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1937",,,,,,,"Plan at 1:100 by Alfred Auer, 1968 ",,"12.3m","1.07m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1015m",,,"Near Gellerofen (Kat. 3), at the SW foot of the Loserstockes.",,"A 2.2m wide and 1.3m high entrance leads horizontally to ""Bruchschutt und Sickerwassergerinne"". ",, 5,"1/S(W) +",,,,"noinfo/gschwand/5.htm",,"Holzknechtbrünndlloch",,,9,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1938",,,,,,,"Plan at 1:100 by Alfred Auer, 1968 ",,"12m","8m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1230m",,,"SW foot Loserstockes","reached by path west from Loser Hütte, past Augst A.H.","Eine 1,5m grosse Schachtöffnung fü in einen stiefelförmigen Schacht, in dem ein Sickerwassergerinne früher von Holzknechten als Trinkwasserquelle genutzt wurde.'",, 6,"0/W +",,,,"noinfo/gschwand/6.htm",,"Quelle","Wasserloch",,9,"No Info","Unexplored – Noted for Kataster: Sektion Ausseerland, 1968 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1425m",,,"150m west of Augst A.H. ",,"a small unenterable resurgence ",, 7,"1/(W) +",,,,"noinfo/loser/7.htm",,"Bachschläg",,,"8a","No Info",,,,,,,,,,"3m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1550m",,"Location plan by Alfred Auer at 1:200, 1968 ","West of the Loser Hütte below the south face of Loser.","Reached from the path up Loser by diagonalling down to the head of the gully from the path as it starts to climb again at about 1600m. ","A 1.8m wide by 1.2m high rock shelter, and an occasionally active rising. There is a noticeable gully below this, presumably carrying water in wet weather.

""Bei Hochwasser entströmt ihm ein mächtiger Bach und stürzt als Wasserfall über zwei Geländstufen und durch einen Graben 200m zur Loserstraße herab, wo das Wasser nach einem Durchlaß im verkarsteten Gestein versickert."" ",, 8,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/8.htm",,"Großes Loserloch",,,"8a","No Info","First recorded in 1774
Explored since 1931
J Völlenkle of L.V.H.Linz, 1:250, 1972","The round 8m wide by 10m high entrance leads into an upper level, the Hauptgang, leading north then northeast to Regenhalle, a sizeable chamber apparently formed on a significant SW-NE joint. Immediately right at the start of the chamber, a boulder slope leads up into Teilungshalle, from where a wider slope drops left back into Regenhalle about halfway along. At the highest point of Teilungshalle, a SE-going passage quickly chokes with boulders, but appears to be heading directly for the end of Kleines Loserloch, perhaps 10m away.

Keeping to the right (SW) wall entering Teilungshalle, a rift leads SW. A passage left after 5m quickly ends too tight. A traverse to the left hand side bypasses a 5m shaft in the floor. 15m beyond, another lead on the left leads up into a small chamber, Kapelle. The continuing rift, Südwest-Kluft, gets narrower for c 25m until deemed impassable.

Back in Regenhalle, a narrow section along the joint between the two ways to Teilungshalle, gives access to a lower series via a sharp turn to the right, due south. This wide passage, Südwest-gang, passes under Teilungshalle, and turns SW directly under Südwest-Kluft. A narrow rift on the left parallels the main passage for some way. The main way develops into Gr. Dom, 12m wide, with a boulder slope up until the passage chokes comprehensively on a broad front, almost exactly below the cliff outside.

At the far (NE) end of Regenhalle, stright on enters a draughting boulder choke, but two ways up to the right lead into Stufengang, with a complex of little rifts and an extension NE to a low choked area. ",,,,,,"A4 survey in Mitt. der Sektion Ausseerland 18(4), Oct. 1980, facing p 87: a plan by J Völlenkle of L.V.H.Linz, 1:250, 1972. As printed, this looks like about a 4th generation photocopy. Also includes Kat. 9",,"390m","+20m -11m","140m SW-NE",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1615m",,"21.8 cm E, 17.75 cm N, OAV sheet 15/1 ","At the south foot of Loser (visible from Altaussee).","Reached by traversing west from the Loser path as it draws level with the cliffs. ","Round 8m wide by 10m high entrance",, 9,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/9.htm",,"Kleines Loserloch",,,"8a","No Info","since 1932 ","The cave is essentially a single passage for c 60m going NE to a narrowing. To the left at this point is a small extension, with a blind pit to the SW, and a draughting boulder choke to the NE. This is c 10m from a corresponding choke in Teilugshalle of Großes Loserloch.",,,,,,"A4 survey in Mitt. der Sektion Ausseerland 18(4), Oct. 1980, facing p 87: a plan by J Völlenkle of L.V.H.Linz, 1:250, 1972. As printed, this looks like about a 4th generation photocopy. Also includes Kat. 8",,"72m","+12.5 -7.5m","50m SW-NE",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1622m",,,"Just right (25m East) of, and above, Großes Loserloch. ",,"In a narrow rift in the cliff, there are two small entrances, the lower one is the normal way in, and an upper entrance to its left leads to passage which joins the normal way within 5m",, 10,"1/T =",,,,"noinfo/gschwand/10.htm",,"Spalthöhle",,,9,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1937 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,," c1715m",,," In NW face of Loser, overlooking Blaa-Alm.",,,, 11,"1/T =",,,,"noinfo/gschwand/11.htm",,"Höhle in der Loserwestwand 1",,,9,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1937 ",,,,,,,,,"60m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,," c1715m",,," In NW face of Loser, overlooking Blaa-Alm.",,"an impressive 12m wide by 15m high entrance. ",, 12,"0/T -",,,,"noinfo/gschwand/12.htm",,"Höhle in der Loserwestwand 2",,,9,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1937 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,," c1715m",,," In NW face of Loser, overlooking Blaa-Alm.",,,, 13,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/13.htm",,"Knochenhöhle",,,"8d","No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1972 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1690m",,,"Above Dimmelwand, a rockface above the final section of the toll road.(West of Augstsee on Gschirr) ",,,, 14,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/14.htm",,"Schafkirche",,,"8c","No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1968 ",,,,,,,,,"36m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1670m",,"25.3 cm E, 19.75 cm N, sheet 15/1 (named on map). ","SW of Augstsee in the small scars forming the NE face of the small ridge running down to the Bergrestaurant from Loser Fenster, overlooking the lake.",,,, 15,"1/(W) +",,,,"noinfo/egglgrub/15.htm",,"Michel-Gang",,,7,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1953 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1500m",,,"Below main path west of Egglgrube. (About 35m below the path as it contours east of Sommersitz) ",,,, 16,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/16.htm",,"Pauli-Loch",,,"8c","No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1968 ","Since the length is recorded as 40m, it is interesting to read that a maximum/ minimum thermometer and hygrometer were placed 50m from the entrance from June 1976 to September 1977. These showed that the temperature varied from 1 to 5°C, with a relative humidity between 94% and 100%. The cave yielded Pseudoscorpions of the species Neobisium blothrus aueri.",,,,,,,,"40m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1690m",,,"Below cliffs west of Augstsee.",,,, 17,"1/T =",,,,"noinfo/loser/17.htm",,"Bärenhöhle im Höllgraben",,,"8b","No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1949. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1380m",,,"In Höllgraben, which is a major gully starting below the Bergrestaurant and dropping down to Liägerhöhle at the NW end of the Altausseer See. Cave is below and South of Bergrestaurant, just at the top break of slope.",,,, 18,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/18.htm",,"Gaisofen im Ammerei",,,"8b","No Info"," LVHK Wien, 1974 ",,,,,,,,,"250m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1440m",,,"500m NE of Loser Hütte, north of Bärenhöhle (Kat.17) in Ammereich, a small cliff band below the toll road.",,,, 19,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/egglgrub/19.htm",,"Gamsofen im Scharlingkar",,,7,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1953 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1450m",,,"SE of Egglgrubenalm, ie. follow the valley down from Egglgrube until some huts appear - the cave is then SE below a small cliff somewhere. ",,,, 20,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/egglgrub/20.htm",,"Windhöhle",,,7,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1953 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1475m",,,"In Scharlingkar. This is the band of cliffs SW of Weiße Wand. The cave is SW of Gamsofen (Kat.19) and almost due south of the huts in Bräning Alm.",,,, 21,"2/S/T +",,,,"noinfo/egglgrub/21.htm",,"Windloch im Egglgrube",,,7,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1938 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1510m",,,"South of Egglgrubenalm (it looks to be east of it on the map), north of Gamsofen (Kat.19).",,,, 22,"1/S x",,,,"noinfo/egglgrub/22.htm",,"Spiralschacht",,,7,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1939 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1500m",,,"South of Egglgrubenalm. Not marked on Austrian´s map",,,, 23,"1/t/S =",,,,"noinfo/egglgrub/23.htm",,"Steinbockhöhle",,,7,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1939 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1500m",,,"East of Egglgrubenalm near Weiße Wand. ",,,, 24,"1/S =",,,,"noinfo/egglgrub/24.htm",,"Schachthöhle bei Egglgrubenalm",,,7,"No Info","Schauberger, 1938 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1540m",,,"South of junction of paths near Egglgrube (ie. divergence of CUCC's routes to the col and to Stellerweg) ",,,, 25,"2/T x",,,,"noinfo/egglgrub/25.htm",,"Mauskothhöhle",,,7,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1938 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1500m",,,"East of Egglgrubenalm, very near Steinbockhöhle (Kat. 23).",,,, 26,"1/(W) +",,,,"noinfo/br-alm/26.htm",,"Wasserschlinger I",,,3,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1976 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1542m",,,"In Bräuning Kunntal, the large closed depression west of Bräuning Alm. ",,,, 27,"1/(W) +",,,,"noinfo/br-alm/27.htm",,"Wasserschlinger II",,,3,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1976 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1542m",,," In Bräuning Kunntal, next to Kat.26",,,, 28,"2/t/S +",,,,"noinfo/smkridge/28.htm",,"Augsteckhöhle",,,"2b","No Info","LVHK Wien, 1974 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1630m",,,"Next to Stögerweg (path 201) just beyond Egglgrube and the branch path to the 4. ie. we pass it on the way to Stellerweghöhle. It is marked by a red-painted omega in the path, just where the junction path leading to The Nipple and the German bivouac leaves the main path, at which point there is also a laser-rangefound fixed point. ",,,, 29,"1/S x",,,,"noinfo/br-alm/29.htm",,"Schwarzmoosloch",,,3,"No Info","Schauberger, 1921 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1560m",,,"NE of huts in Bräuning Alm ",,,, 30,"1/S x",,,,"noinfo/br-alm/30.htm",,"Grundloses Loch",,,3,"No Info","LVHK Oberösterreich, 1966 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1570m",,,"Next to path towards Bräuning Alm from Egglgrube junction. (I think this may be the first walled open shaft on the true left of the valley below Bräuning Alm) ",,,, 31,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/smkridge/31.htm",,"Elchhöhle","Megalodontenhöhle",,"2b","No Info","LVHK Wien, 1974","Mainly horizontal and going northish under the path. A large phreatic tube in horizontally bedded limestone. Visited by Andy Waddington, Doug Florence with Karl Gaisberger on August 12th, 1978. Latter person collected a rare cave beetle from it (only the second specimen of this species collected in Austria, if we understood Karl correctly), which I think is now in the Natural History Museum in Vienna, having been pickled in Vodka borrowed from an expedition member. Name comes from discovery of Elk bones when first explored. ",,,,,"In dataset",,"caves\031\031.svx","263m","+9/-18m",,,,,,,"p031","No idea",,"Surface survey",,,81035,35394,"1582m",,,"Next to Stögerweg (path 201) somewhat beyond Augsteckhöhle (Kat. 28). Located very near laser point 0/9.",,,, 32,"1/S +",,,,"noinfo/smkridge/32.htm",,"Windloch am Stögerweg",,,"2b","No Info","LVHK Oberösterreich, 1966 ",,,,,,,,,,"25m",,,,,,,"p032","drilled hole above 1623/32 entrance (next to path)","p032x","Nils",,,81126,35771,"1567m",,,"Obvious horizontal entrance right next to path 201 shortly before you hack off to Stellerweghöhle. ",,"A major landmark for CUCC navigation, and also very useful for storing beer, this obvious 2m high entrance is right next to the path and blows a lot of cold air in summer.",,"drilled hole" 33,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/br-alm/33.htm",,"Schichtgrenzenhöhle",,,3,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1975 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1570m",,,"South of Bräuning Alm. I think this is another of the fenced off shafts near the path north from the junction at Egglgrube. ",,,, 34,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/34.htm",,"Höhle am Kratzer I",,,4,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1973 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1590m",,,"Quite a way east of Bräuning Alm in the top end of the 4. ",,,, 35,"2/S/T x",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/35.htm",,"Dr. Kerschner Höhle",,,4,"No Info","Found by Othmar Schauberger, 1921. Looked at for some years by F Hütter, but always blocked by snow. In October 1976, G Graf managed to descend 30m in the shaft, the uppermost part of which was snow and ice free. The continuation of the way could not be found. In August 1977, 5kg of salt was dumped onto the snow blockage. In October 1977, after a long walk over the plateau, it was looked at again and successfully explored. ","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." 36,"1/S x",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/36.htm",,"Schachtgruppe I - V",,,4,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, undated. ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"gps00.36",,,"1680m",,,"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 4 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",,"Number is in red on the headwall just south of the three entrances. " 37,"0/S -",,,,"noinfo/plateau/37.htm",,"Schachtgruppe beim Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel",,,"1d","No Info","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. ",,,, 38,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/plateau/38.htm",,"Algenhöhle",,,"1d","No Info","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.)",,,, 39,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/39.htm",,"SCHWA höhle 39",,,"2b or 4 location unclear","No Info","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. ",, 40,"7//S/T/E x","a b c d e f g h s",,"yes","smkridge/40.htm",,"Schwarzmooskogeleishöhle","Schwarzmooskogelhöhlensystem",,"2a",,"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.

Translated brief guide

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'.

Schneevulkanhalle trip:

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 elephantengang.

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.

Schotterland (Munich cavers 198? and ARGE 2000)

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","54000m","1032m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"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","smkridge/40a.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Oberer Eingang",,"p40a","it is laser point 14",,"laser point",,"gps00.40lasr",81700.9294,36459.4949,"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",, 40,,"b",,"entrance","smkridge/40b.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Schneeschacht ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"c",,"entrance","smkridge/40c.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Reichenvaterschacht ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"d",,"entrance","smkridge/40d.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Unterer Eingang",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"e",,"entrance","smkridge/40e.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Brennerbeselschluf ","p40e",,,"p40ex","Nils",,"gps00.40e",81993.397,36625.886,"1642.286m",,,,,,, 40,,"f",,"entrance","smkridge/40f.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Königsschachts ",,"p40f","?",,"Surface survey",,,82042,36587,"1688m",,,,,,, 40,,"g",,"entrance","smkridge/40g.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Einstieg zur Hans Pfandl-Halle",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"h",,"entrance","smkridge/40h.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Eistunnel(Elephant)",,"p40h","?",,"Surface survey",,,81955,36595,"1646m",,,,,,, 40,,"i",88,"entrance",,"noinfo/smkridge/88.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Lärchenschacht (88)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"j","41a","entrance",,"smkridge/41a.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Stellerweghöhle (41a)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"k","41b","entrance",,"smkridge/41b.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Stellerweghöhle (41 b)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"l","41c","entrance",,"smkridge/41.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Stellerweghöhle (?)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"m",115,"entrance",,"smkridge/115.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Schnellzughöhle (115)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"n",142,"entrance",,"smkridge/142.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Schwa-Schacht 142 (142)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"o","78a","entrance",,"smkridge/78a.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Schwaben-Schachthöhle (78a)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"p","78b","entrance",,"smkridge/78b.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Schwaben-Schachthöhle (78b)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"q","78c","entrance",,"smkridge/78c.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Schwaben-Schachthöhle (78c)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"r","78d","entrance",,"smkridge/78d.htm",,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Schwaben-Schachthöhle (78d)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40,,"s",,"last entrance","smkridge/40s.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Grüner Eingang",,"p40s","?",,"Surface survey",,"gps00.40s",81895,36567,"1651m",,,,,,, 41,"7//S/T/E x","a b",,"yes","smkridge/41.htm",,"Stellerweghöhle",,,"2a",,"Length of CUCC's part is approx 5.75 km, while the Germans had about 6 km in 88 in 1987, and the French (?) connected the Eishöhle (2.5 km or more) in the same year. This should make the system about 14-15 km all told before 1996. The Stuttgart group, Arbeitsgemeinschaft Höhle und Karst Grabenstetten e.V., have, early in 1996, connected their cave Schwabenschacht (1623-78) into a passage in 1623/142, one way into the system. This adds no new depth, but considerably increases the overall length. ARGE have also been doing much useful resurvey and some exploration, bringing their estimate of the total length to 22.7 km in 1999.","As the full guidebook description is understandably quite big and is still evolving, just an overview is given here.

Sub-horizontal passages lead through steeply-hading rifts from this entrance. A lower route was originally explored by a German group before CUCC's first visit, and remains poorly documented and not fully explored. The higher route, explored by CUCC, leads past connections to 142, another CUCC find. Passages trend downhill to reach the Big Pitch of 100m vertical.

Lärchenhöhle connects at the bottom of the Big Pitch, and a streamway leads down. A roof passage connects to CUCC's 144, and another leads on to smaller pitches to the Big Rift, dropping steeply down several pitches to reach Junction Chamber with connections to Schnellzughöhle (115).

The route to 115 also leads to Pete's Purgatory, 800m of awful streamway to the Confluence, much more easily reached by large fossil passages starting with Dartford Tunnel from Junction Chamber. The Confluence is around half the depth of the system, and marks a transition to a single linear streamway leading to great depth, a feature currently unique in the known caves of the area.

The streamway is interrupted by a bypassable sump and several, mainly short, pitches, before a low-airspace canal appears to mark the end. However, a low duck can be passed to reach a deep and very wet shaft Orgasm Chasm which drops to the final muddy passage and short pitch to a dismal and deep rift sump.

The sump is 898m below the 41a entrance, and is at just about the same level as Altausseer See, in whose underwater risings the Stellerweg water is presumed to emerge. The scope for greater depth here seems minimal, but connections to various higher entrances have increased this to c971m, with perhaps a little more potential still to realise (optimistically up to 1058m).",,,,,,,"caves\041\041.svx",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Follow Stögerweg to Windloch and then a hundred metres or so further. When the path starts to drop steeply, backtrack 10m (where there should be a permanent survey station 'P4') and start to hack up the hillside. Orange paint flashes on the rock should be visible, and will lead after 300m or so to a cave entrance at the head of a gully. If it isn't blowing the trees around in the cold air, it isn't the right place !",,, 41,,"a","40j","entrance","smkridge/41a.htm",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p041a","station at entrance 41a, left side of main entrance","p041ax","Nils",,,81244,35827,"1621m",,,,"Follow Stögerweg to Windloch and then a hundred metres or so further. When the path starts to drop steeply, backtrack 10m (where there should be a permanent survey station 'P4') and start to hack up the hillside. Orange paint flashes on the rock should be visible, and will lead after 300m or so to a cave entrance at the head of a gully. If it isn't blowing the trees around in the cold air, it isn't the right place ! ",,, 41,,"b","40k","last entrance","smkridge/41b.htm",,,,,,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"p41b","Surface survey",,,81258,35863,"1635m",,,"The upper entrance (41b) is in a large rift about 30m to the east of the lower (41a) which is a strongly outward-draughting tube in a shattered gully.",,,,"Red writing" 42,"1/S =",,,,"noinfo/smkridge/42.htm",,"Wasserschacht",,,"2b","No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1952 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1700m",,,"SSW of Vd. Schwarzmooskogel, not far (50m vertical) up the hill from Stellerweghöhle, so we have probably rediscovered it and renumbered it. ",,,, 43,"1/T+",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/43.htm",,"Höhle beim Wackelstein",,,4,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1973 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1650m",,,"SE of Bräuning Nase, apparently just below the path up to Schwarzmoossattel. ",,,, 44,"1/T+",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/44.htm",,"Höhle am Kratzer II",,,4,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1620m",,,"In upper 4 south of the col. ",,,, 45,"1/S/E +",,,,"noinfo/wilden/45.htm",,"Dannerschacht",,,5,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1610m",,,"East of Vorderer Schwarzmooskogel. NE of the Eishöhle, and looking pretty difficult to get to. ",,,, 46,"1/T =",,,,"noinfo/wilden/46.htm",,"Engelbrechthöhle",,,5,"No Info","Engelbrecht, 1952 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1635m",,,"Near Dannerschacht Kat.45",,,, 47,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/wilden/47.htm",,"SCHWA höhle 47",,,5,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1612m",,,"Near Dannerschacht Kat.45",,,, 48,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/wilden/48.htm",,"SCHWA höhle 48",,,5,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1612m",,,"Near Dannerschacht Kat.45",,,, 49,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/wilden/49.htm",,"SCHWA höhle 49",,,5,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1618m",,,"Near Dannerschacht Kat.45",,,, 50,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/wilden/50.htm",,"SCHWA höhle 50",,,5,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1620m",,,"Near Dannerschacht Kat.45",,,, 51,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/aaussee/51.htm",,"Höhlen 1-3 in Weiße Wand",,,10,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1330-1400m",,,"At the bottom of Weiße Wand west of Hochklapfsattel, some way below the Stögerweg path. ",,,, 52,"1/S/W +","a b",,,"noinfo/gschwand/52.htm",,"Sennerkeller & Sauloch",,,9,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1968 ","To the north, an 11m long, 2m high and 0.5m wide meander passage leads off. Through the passage flows a small gutter, which might well end too tight just after the turn off to Sennerkeller, the water emerging at a small spring to the north of Sennerkeller in a karren field. ",,,,"Mitt. der Sektion Ausseerland 19(3) July, 1981, p 49 ",,"1:250, Alfred Auer, 1968 (no copy available) ",,"32m","15m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1490m",,,"Gschwandalm, by the path.","Reached by walking all the way round Loser from the Loser Hütte. ","n a 15m by 6m wide rift is the 6m by 4m entrance to the Sauloch. This is in a steep-sided doline used as a dumping place for all sorts of refuse.",, 53,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/augstb/53.htm",,"Gellerliäger",,,11,"No Info",,"""Horizontale, niedere Röhre mit Bruchschutt.""",,,,,,"Plan 1:100 by Alfred Auer, 1968 ",,,,"5m N-S ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1020m",,,,"12m east and 5m above Gellerofen (Kat.3)",,, 54,"1/T =",,,,"noinfo/augstb/54.htm",,"Seehöhle",,,11,"No Info","Karl Gaisberger, 1959 ",,,,,,,,,"5m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"780m",,,"South of and well below Gellerofen (Kat.3), not marked on the Austrian´s map, but apparently just off the road in Augstbachtal. Must be almost in the village.

""Kleine Höhle mit einer Wasserlacke im Inneren.""",,,, 55,"1/S/T =",,,,"noinfo/loser/55.htm",,"Schachthöhle west. Hochanger",,,"8d","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1750m",,,"Almost on the saddle between Loser and Hochanger. ",,,, 56,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/56.htm",,"Hornsteinhöhle",,,"8c","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1650m",,,"West side of Augstsee. ",,,, 57,"1/S +",,,,"noinfo/loser/57.htm",,"Höhle unterhalb der Schafkirche",,,"8c","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1660m",,,"West side of Augstsee. ",,,, 58,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/58.htm",,"Höhle unterhalb ab Pauli-Loch",,,"8c","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1670m",,,"West side of Augstsee. ",,,, 59,"1/T+",,,,"noinfo/loser/59.htm",,"Bruchshutthöhle",,,"8c","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1680m",,,"West side of Augstsee on map. Text says W Hochangerlift (presumed to be the ski lift which runs from near the Loser Hütte towards Loser Fenster) on Gschirr, which is itself unnamed on the map. Current surmise is that the map location is correct, that the cave is actually east of the lift, and that Gschirr is the ridge running down from Loser Fenster to the Bergrestaurant. However the map symbol implies that this is a shaft, and this location is actually unlikely for a shaft...",,,, 60,"1/S =",,,,"noinfo/gschwand/60.htm",,"Schacht I-IV bei Gschwandalm",,,9,"No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1965, 1968",,,,,"Mitt. der Sektion Ausseerland 19(3) July, 1981, p 49 ",,,,"40m","30m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1590m",,,"1 Km NE of Gschwandalm between spot heights 1537 and 1607m, below the path.

In a hollow is a 4m wide and 40m long rift containing a row of shafts (II-IV). The rift reaches -30m, where there is a melt-water pool. A little higher up the slope is a triangular opening 1.5m wide and 2.2m long. At -15m, this connects with the others.",,,, 61,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/br-alm/61.htm",,"Gemsbockhöhle",,,3,"No Info","Karl Gaisberger, 1975 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1620m",,,"NE of Bräuning Alm, north of the path to Schwarzmoossattel.",,,, 62,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/62.htm",,"Dolinenhöhle",,,"8d","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1620m",,,"Above Dimmelwand - cliff above last section of toll road. ",,,, 63,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/63.htm",,"Pseudoskorpionhöhle",,,"8d","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1625m",,,"Above Dimmelwand. ",,,, 64,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/64.htm",,"Gr. Durchgangshöhle",,,"8d","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1670m",,,"Above Dimmelwand. ",,,, 65,"1/T+",,,,"noinfo/loser/65.htm",,"Widderhöhle",,,"8d","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1645m",,,"Above Dimmelwand. ",,,, 66,"1/T+",,,,"noinfo/augstb/66.htm",,"Löckerweghöhle",,,11,"No Info","Höhlenforschervereinigung Altaussee, 1939 ",,,,,,,"Plan at 1:100 by Alfred Auer, 1968 ",,"11.1m",,"SW-NE",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"980m",,,"SW side of Loserstockes, directly above Ht.Posern. ",,"2.6m wide by 1m high entrance, ""flachbogenförmige Portal führt in eine 1939 von der H.V.A. ausgegrabene horizontal Höhle. Holozäne Knochenfunde.""",, 67,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/67.htm",,"Biwakhöhle am Loser",,,"8d","No Info",,"In October 1977, Karl Gaisberger collected the first examples of the Pseudoscorpion Neobisium hermanni to be found in the Totes Gebirge.",,,,,,,,"55m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1670m",,,"Above Dimmelwand. ",,,, 68,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/aaussee/68.htm",,"Kleine Bärenhöhle",,,10,"No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1370m",,,"At foot of Weiße Wand west of Hochklapfsattel, just NNE of Kat.51",,,, 69,"1/S +",,,,"noinfo/loser/69.htm",,"Schacht am Gschirr",,,"8d","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1690m",,,"Text says West of Augstsee. Map shows it above Dimmelwand. ",,,, 70,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/70.htm",,"Schneckenloch",,,"8d","No Info",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1660m",,,"Above Dimmelwand. ",,,, 71,"2/S/W +","a b",,,"kratzer/71.htm",,"Fledermaushöhle",,,4,"No Info","Discovered by Karl Gaisberger in October 1975, but prevented from continuing by start of winter snows, so shared exploration with CUCC, 1976. ","Initial hands and knees crawl for 20m soon enlarges and descends past a couple of oxbows (one leading to within sight of daylight up an aven) to reach twin climbs of 8m, the easier being through a hole to the right. Soon afterwards is the first pitch, a sloping 8m. Below this, a pleasant passage with occasional bat-droppings leads to a short muddy crawl, an earth bank and a sizeable chamber. The next pitch, of 7m, is reached after more muddy passage, and may be climbed/jumped by a rift to one side, but is best rigged for the return.

Easy going continues past a right turn to a complex junction at several levels. The water can be followed down a rift to a drop into an impenetrable fissure. Back at the junction, a traverse and thrutch through lead to a small tube, which crosses a cross-rift and ends at a filthy sump. Left at the cross rift, however, a low crawl gives onto a greasy chimney climb of 4m with very little in the way of holds. At the foot of this, the water reenters, and soon develops acute verticality. The first 5m are technical and best rigged, but below that, the descent becomes more spiralling in mainly solid rock. After 30m, things become more shattered and muddy and the climb drops into water leading very quickly to a sump at -90m.

Shortly before the second pitch, a right turn leads into an inlet passage, over a slot to the main passage below, over a traverse and a false floor, to reach, eventually, an aven ascended for about 25m and continuing, but with no great prospects.

From the Chamber, a traverse can be entered from the top of the rock-slope. The level closes off after about 15m, but below a climb down, a pitch was excavated dropping into a larger passage which soon choked comprehensively.",,,,,"no","Cambridge Underground 1977, facing page 46.

",,,"90m",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1600m",,,"West of 4, off path to Schwarzmoossattel.",,"Entrance is in a fair-sized shakehole in the dwarf-pine-covered karren before Schwarzmoossattel.",, 72,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/loser/72.htm",,"Skeletthöhle",,,"8c","No Info","Sektion Ausseerland, 1976 ",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1720m",,,"West of Augstsee. ",,,, 73,"2/S =",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/73.htm",,"Suppentellerschacht",,,4,"No Info","Discovered by K Gaisberger and F Hütter in August 1973 (to -30m) Sektion Ausseerland, 1977 (Karl Gaisberger + Edith Bednarik)","The first step is sprayed by meltwater, and the second step leads to -30m. A short rope leads to the next step. A rift follows an acute angle under the entrance way, some metres back. This section is very narrow, and over the narrow section pours a showerbath. Now a second squeeze leads to a fine pitch which bends back under the previous section. Then it gets complicated (the language, not the cave). It sounds like a series of either roomy or narrow wet pitches. Exploration appears to cease at -60m because of water down the neck and in the suit. It isn't clear if the cave actually stops at this point.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1580m",,,"In 4, some way up valley from Fledermaushöhle (Kat.71).",,,, 74,"1/T +",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/74.htm",,"Schneckenhaushöhle",,,4,"No Info","Edith Bednarik, 1977","Sounds like a free-climb to a snow choke (very much like B5, which must be in virtually the same place ?)",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1600m",,,"in 4, down valley from Fledermaushöhle (Kat. 71), on true right some way above bottom of valley. In the same entrance doline as Dr.Kerschner Höhle (Kat.35). ",,,, 75,"2/T +",,,,"noinfo/kratzer/75.htm",,"Wisenthöhle",,,4,"No Info","Edith Bednarik, 1977","This entrance connects with a second shaft just down valley. The Austrian article describing the cave says it is about 60m long, but this did not appear to be the case in 1990, since it seems to choke very quickly - perhaps digging would now be required to get in.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"1680m",,,"Just south of Schwarzmoossattel, in the far upper reaches of Kratzertal. There is an obvious freeclimbable shaft/cave just down valley from the equally obvious shakehole/shaft labelled B4.",,,,"It is numbered twice, once very faded and once very badly run (last seen 1996): both numbers are needed to deduce (with difficulty) that this is indeed ""75""." 76,"5/S/E +","a b c",,"yes","plateau/76.htm",,"Eislufthöhle",,,"1d",,"CUCC 1977-79","Two snow plugged dolines (76 b & c) and a narrow shaft (76a) unite in a narrow rift leading to a windy lifelining position, Draught Bitter, at the head of a 72m shaft plugged with snow. Rigging Plugged Shaft between snow and rock, pitches in 1977 were 18m to a snow platform, 12m to a ledge, then 29m to a substantial ledge, Yesterday's Terminus. In 1979, with changed snow topography, and rigging for SRT, the drops were 11, 7, 17 and 19m to Yesterday's Terminus where a traverse out reaches a bolt for the final 13m drop onto a snow pile in a large aven chamber. A further 13m pitch, Saved Shaft, into a smaller aven chamber, Boulder Chamber, leads to an apparent end, but thrutch through boulders into top of rift/canyon. Hole in floor is 32m pitch into Keg Series (no draught) with further unexplored pitch below. Continuing traverse leads to climbs down then split pitch of 19m and 14m, Follow-through Shaft, dropping into side of abandoned canyon. Upstream to the left ends immediately while down canyon leads to head of a chamber, The Taproom, with a 5m climb down a big boulder under heavy drip/spray (handline useful). Also from the head of the chamber, passage leads back to a large unexplored hole in floor with lots of water entering from a high aven. 1977 terminus at -150m.

From chamber, scramble down in rift (rope useful owing to greasy rock and 120 metre drop) to reach head of large rift pitch below jammed boulder. Pitch drops in two sections of 10m and 35m, with stream out of reach in canyon, to ledge where stream bed is crossed (traverse line). Further pitch of 10m leads to straddle climb up to rocking boulder, then traverse forward to good belays for 48m pitch. This lands on The Balcony where water runs away from obvious way on into a tight immature drain.


Ben with the Greene King pennant on the Balcony

From the Balcony a 7m pitch drops into the Hall of the Greene King, a huge soaring aven chamber. The way on over a boulder floor leads under suspended boulders, one of immense size, to a 5m pitch down off the edge of a boulder. In the floor is a sharp canyon that loops round to a junction. Left leads to Gents' Pitch route, while right leads to a dry passage. After a few metres in the dry passage, there is a rift in the floor to the left, which is a muddy, broken pitch with sections of 3m, 12m and 18m into the main canyon (1978 route). Another few metres ahead, a bold step across the canyon leads to further passage which eventually degenerates and rejoins the main canyon upstream (right) of the bold step.

   

Julian Griffiths abseiling the 16.5m and Gents' pitches on the bottoming trip in 1979

The 1979 route from the junction leads to a pitch of 16.5m, free hanging just clear of the wall, with an excellent takeoff. However the rope gets muddy from mud on clothing in a couple of trips, so care is required. Next drop is the Gents' pitch of 9.5m, which leads to a short streamway rejoining the main canyon from the 1978 route. The bottom of this pitch is a good place for cavers to perform ablutions with the mud on their ascenders, hence the name (all the explorers were male). The main passage now leads on with stream in floor and muddy ledges above until the Fiesta Run is reached. This awkward slanting rift pitch of 28m is so muddy that ladders are de rigeur. The name derives from the car crash which terminated exploration at this point in 1978.

A traverse forward on muddy ledges leads out over a huge shaft with the ominous sound of a waterfall below. Traversing further eventually leads to a further pitch of 5m to a col. Down another 10m on the side away from the main shaft lands on a solid floor in an abandoned rift. Forward leads through narrow passage with sharp rock to a point where thrutchy traversing is necessary to make further progress. A 23m broken pitch in sharp rock, with very bad rub points leads only to a tight crawl. This was pushed by Julian Griffiths to emerge at a drop with a large aven above, which remains unexplored at about -395m depth.

The main way on, however, is to drop back into canyon towards the ominous hiss of water in a very wide pitch where the stream seems to have hit a fault at right angles to the arriving passage direction. The middle section of this 28m pitch is huge, before narrowing to a ledge parallel to the new fault, and 'downstream' from the original direction of stream flow. From the ledge, a smaller shaft of 33m drops down the new fault rift to a boulder floor where the water sinks. The fault rift, Madlmeier Schacht, now drops in sections of 24 and 19m to the end of the rope in 1979. Here an exposed freeclimb of 5m with icy water flowing over the handholds is not really recommended - take a longer rope. Next pitch of 24m picks up the main water again 10m down, and final pitch of 17m from ledge drops to floor of rift chamber, but mud on floor precedes final muddy 10m pitch down a boulder wall to a deep and terminal rift sump at -506m.

Simon Farrow on the last 17m pitch of Madlmeier Schacht

Julian Griffiths at the final sump - 1979

There are a number of going leads in this cave and you're welcome to them.",,,,"The exploration is written up in many places: