| 204 | Steinbrückenhöhle | 4/S x |
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Rhino Rift is an area of mainly rift passages to the west of Swings and Roundabouts. The main access is from Taking the Piss, the pitch at the end of Dutch Beauty. Other connections back to the rest of the cave are via a very loose connection to Insignificant Chamber or the 21 Bolt Traverse.
Descending this 8m pitch is the most direct, although not the original, route into the series; it lands in a short narrow passage which is followed by a climb down out of a window in the wall of the passage to the north of Meeting House.
At the top of Taking the Piss, continuing to the left rather than descending leads to a narrow horizontal rift, the original Rhino Rift. After around 5m this emerges in a wider passage floored with blocks. A passage on the left leads to a 6m climb down into Meeting House chamber; alternatively, continuing straight on downslope leads into 21 Bolt Bypass and to an alternative 3m climb down into Meeting House.
Meeting House chamber is around 8m long and floored with boulders. At the north-eastern end a narrow passage leads off on the right [C2003-204-49 C]; continuing north from here past a too-tight passage on the left reaches a pitch, Wot No Bolts?, leading into On A Mission. To the right of the pitch-head are a multiplicity of openings which connect and lead into Rhino Rift II.
Rhino Rift 2 continues eastwards for 20m to a right-hand bend with water dripping. Continuing along the passage southwards leads to a fork. Sharp left a small passage branches off [C2003-204-45 C]. Ahead and to the left is down a ramp to an undescended pitch [C2003-204-44 A]. The right fork continues past a bend to the left, another corner with oxbows on each side, and a pit in the floor on the left [C2003-204-43 ?]. Finally the passage emerges at a circular chamber. On the left is a slot in the floor [C2003-204-42 B], while at the far end climbing back up leads to the base of a climb into Insignificant Chamber.
Continuing southwards from Rhino Rift 1 this passage heads southwards, passing a side passage choked with stalactites and a pit [C2003-204-50 ?] on the left, to reach an upwards ramp emerging at the top of the boulder choke reached by the notorious 21 Bolt Traverse around Gaffered to the Walls main pitch. At the far side of this is a continuing passage [C2003-204-51 B].
Wot No Bolts pitch is 9m deep and lands in a chamber (which doesn't seem to have its own name). South from the foot of the pitch leads to a small passage at the southern end [C2003-204-46 C], and also a pit in the floor [C2003-204-47 ?]. Northwards leads to a crossroads. To the right is too tight. Straight ahead leads over boulders to a small hole in the floor [C2003-204-53 C] and beyond this a larger pitch [C2003-204-54 B], both undescended. On the left is a substantial passage, On A Mission, with a T-shaped cross-section. This continues essentially straight westwards for 100m, but there are a number of important side branches where it intersects cross-rifts.
Finally the passage reaches a chamber with a loose boulderous hole in the floor [C2003-204-74 C] and side passages to the right and left. Right leads to a sizeable pitch [C2003-204-75 A] with a possible continuation of the passage beyond the pitch-head [C2003-204-76 B]. Straight on leads to a few metres of passage and a 4m pitch into Anonymous Chamber. Left is a narrower passage which drops down a 3m pitch into the southern end of the same chamber.
[This doesn't appear to have a name, but needs one -- DL] This is a large breakdown chamber floored with boulders. Straight across from the landing is a passage high on the opposite wall; this can be reached by climbing up a convenient chimney somewhat further to the right, then traversing along a ledge to the passage (a handline is useful, and there are numerous naturals). This passage is Wot No Butcombe. Back in the chamber, there is a loose pitch at the northern end [C2003-204-77 C] and two small passages lead back under the east wall [C2003-204-78 C] [C2003-204-79 C].
The passage slopes upwards gradually at first, passing a passage on the right [C2003-204-81 A] and a hole in the floor [C2003-204-82 B], until it reaches a steep clamber up choss to a junction. Up the slope straight ahead is blind. On the left, Round Trip passage leads back directly above Wot No Butcombe to emerge in the ceiling of Anonoymous Chamber. A hole in the floor communicates with Wot No Butcombe, and there is a crawl to the left [C2003-204-80 ?]. To the right is a too-tight slot in the floor and another fork; left here leads to a mud-floored chamber, whereas right leads to Wot No Connection.
Crawling over the large fallen block down to the right leads to a cross rift chamber; the north wall and roof are composed of fault breccia. The draught disappears at this point into the roof and walls. The rift continues right and up through shattered boulders into a number of small chambers with no solid walls; one of these connects back into the first fault chamber. Climbing 5m up to the right leads back to the top of What No Butcombe chamber; stepping over this chamber continues into main passage in area at high level 5-8m up.
Cat's Claw, Limescale Cistern...
