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161 Kaninchenhöhle: Country for Old Men and beyond Mordor

Overview

The large passages of Country for Old Men and Mordor were originally reached by a bolt climb into the roof of Repton II in 2009. In 2011 they were accessed via this pitch, but from 2012 access via Holey Cow, avoiding Strange Acrossfall/Upfall, seems likely.


Mordor (2011)

Small very windy (blowing up) pitch rigged from roof. After 1st 10m drop can be climbed another 10m down to 2nd hang from thread then roof bolt where pitch opens out, deviation ~7m down on spike avoids rub at rebelay (huge thread) to drop nicely to near floor (55m rope is a bit too short, bring 60m for a proper rig). Chamber is about 15m high. To W is N/S rift leading to large pitch at S end.

March of the Ents (2011)

Large passage March of the Ents leads eastwards, 4m up, reached by easy traverse out of Mordor chamber. Strong draught blows westwards (into chamber). Much less windy passage leaves on R after 18m - the way to The Shires & Stables. Main passage continues uphill then turns NE, climbing up to L in complex area reaches 30m pitch, which appears to be the source of the draught (QMA). Immediately beyond this goes off L on 252deg (QMB). The Phreas continues zigzaggy for another 30m . At the corner is a high (12m) solution area in the roof (QMC). Ahead the passage gets very high and there is a 10m pitch/traverse over a hole in the floor. Beyond here is 'Bored of the Rings'.

Bored of the Rings (2011)

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Rivendell (2011)

Large passage to R off March of the Ents in more phreas arrives in a chamber. A hole in the floor is approx p10 with a pool at bottom (QMA). There is possible passage to N. Way on is downhill, arriving at a large T-junction with horizontal passage. This is very windy again (E to W). Left is the large passage of the Shires, right is towards the Stables.

The Shires (2011)

Turning L (S) at

T-junction enters huge phreatic passage 5m across trending gently downhill, 'The Shires'. This reaches a pitch edge after 50m looking out into large chamber/area (QMA). Drop is about 10m then another 10m in further hole. A small passage continues ahead for ~7m to look out over another drop, probably the same space (QMB). Halfway along the Shires a small rift passage goes off (QMC).

The Stables (2011)

17m to R (w) it opens out at a small streamway. Passage continues ahead up small climb (QMA). Another goes downhill to L. The stream sinks in too-tight passage.