| 204 | Steinbrückenhöhle | 4/S x |
|---|---|---|
| (CUCC 99/03) |
Altitude: 1820m, length 2.5km, depth 368m
Location: 204b entrance E 36673 N (52)83716
The cave is situated on the west side of the col between the Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel and Nieder AugstEck.
Access route:The 1999 route from Top Camp (probably near optimal) is a cairned path via Wolfhöhle (1623/145) and Laser Point 5, then up to the top of the bare patch of white limestone visible from Top Camp, passing 195 and 196. Laser 0/5 can also be approached via 107, a slightly lower route; or the white patch of limestone can be reached by a more central route across the plateau. In all these cases there is scope for endless variation, and an approach which keeps the large bare patch in view is recommended. Alternatively, the cave may be approached from the summit of HSK - probably the optimal route if you are coming from any of the 161 entrances.
Marking:Tag. Does it say "CUCC 99-03" or "CUCC 204"?
Description:204a entrance is directly opposite a 10m x 3m stone bridge from which it derives its name. The entrance itself is approximately 8m high and 5m wide, and leads down a boulder slope and round a right hand bend to the top of the first pitch. 204b entrance is 15m away to the west, and this is the entrance which is rigged. A 3m climb down (handline useful) leads into the entrance gully and a ledge at the head of the first pitch, Trick or Treat, opposite 204a entrance. This loose, sloping pitch of 20m is rigged from a Y-hang on the right hand wall, with a rebelay and deviation. The pitch is tedious to prussik on return and is best climbed. The landing is by a large snow plug with (in 1999) an ice corridor round the edge leading to the top of a boulder slope. A rift passage on the right becomes too tight.
Descending the boulder slope (care required to avoid kicking rocks off) leads to the head of the second pitch, Jim'll Fix It (18m). An unexplored passage is visible from the pitch head, which could be accessed by a bolt traverse round the right hand side of the pitch head [C1999-204-01 C]. The pitch is rigged from a bolt in the left hand wall with a deviation from a spit immediately after the pitch head bolt. This protects a marginal rub point and also avoids a jet of water which spurts from a crack in the wall after heavy rain. The landing is by a large pointed snowplug. Landing on top of the snow plug and climbing up 2m to the right (when facing the wall on which the pitch is rigged) leads to an undescended pitch/climb [C1999-204-02 B] which lies above the northern end of Wolpertinger Way. In 1999 there was sufficient gap between snow and wall to complete the descent and emerge in a sloping phreatic passage. There are two ways on: Right leads uphill as stooping/crawling height passage for 30m to emerge at the top of Umshitshimbo. Left leads downhill into The Near End and is the main way on. There is a further unexplored passage in the wall above the gap between the snow plug and the rock [C1999-204-03 C].
The Near End is a collective name for a complex network of high level phreatic passages which slope approximately 20° following the dip of the beds. Heading downhill from the base of Jim'll Fix It in a stooping height passage leads round a double bend to a 2m climb down to a junction. Right leads to more side passages whilst the main route is straight ahead to a crossroads. Right leads into the same side passages as the previous right turn. Left is Needle Crawl past an unexplored passage on the left [C1999-204-04 C] and a crawl on the right (feels like straight ahead) which becomes too small after ~8m. Straight ahead (feels like a left) leads to the head of a fine 4m diameter circular shaft, Thread Pitch. This pitch of 17m leads into Wolpertinger Way, and is likely to be the main route from 2000. A continuation of the crawl is visible at the opposite side of the pitch head [C1999-204-06 C].
From the crossroads, the main route in 1999 was straight ahead, downhill in mostly stooping height passage with a short section of sandy crawling. After 15m is a short climb down to the top of a 4m deep pit with a too-tight passage at the bottom, with the phreatic passage continuing to the right. After a further 10m the passage is intersected by a large rift with a big rock partially blocking the passage. Climbing up to the right leads back into a tall rift in the side passages. A climb up to the left leads to a passage containing attractive white mud which was not entered, however a visual connection to the Pendulum Pitch was established.
Straight ahead leads to a further junction after 15m. Left opens out to the head of Pendulum Pitch, the main route to the bottom of Wolpertinger Way used in 1999. Right leads to a narrow stooping height passage which continues for 25m with several clear pools in the floor to a widening where most routes ahead and to the left are choked with boulders. To the right, a body sized tube leads upwards for ~15m before opening out into a low chamber on the left. The continuation of the crawl is immediately opposite the entry point [C1999-204-05 B] and there is a climb down into a rift on the far side of the chamber to the left [C1999-204-07 B]. The chamber doubles back on itself to the left and encounters an area of breakdown which was not fully investigated, but is presumed to be the opposite side of the boulder choke.
The first two right turns encountered when heading downhill from the foot of Jim'll Fix It unite in a walking sized passage. After 10m the bottom of Umshitshimbo is passed on the right, whilst straight ahead leads to a junction with a large keyhole passage. Left leads after 15m to a climb up behind a precariously placed boulder, to an immediate climb down of 4m which emerges in the 1999 main route through the near end before Pendulum Pitch. Right leads immediately to an undescended pitch [C1999-204-08 B]. A difficult and exposed traverse round the left hand wall leads to a further 30m of passage with a steadily lowering roof culminating in a boulder choke.
Umshitshimbo is a fine phreatic ramp, 2m wide and about 4m high, which heads uphill in a straight line for 40m. At the top a passage doubling back on the right leads back to the base of Jim'll Fix It and there is a climb up into a rift passage heading south over the top of Umshitshimbo which becomes too narrow. Large passage continues uphill past a 2m deep blind pit on the right to a junction.
Left leads uphill past a choked inlet on the left to a steep uphill section with a crawl on the right, which leads shortly to a 2m climb down and immediate choke. At the top of the steep section the passage to the right immediately chokes, whilst left is Dolly Parton climb, a 2m climb up with huge jugs, to a further 15m of upward trending phreatic passage, terminating in a boulder choke with a slight draught (air coming into the cave.) There are two small steep phreatic ramps on the left hand side of this passage, both very small and both choked.
Straight ahead at the junction leads through a short section of rift to an enlargement with an alcove on the right and a keyhole passage ahead. The rift section at the bottom quickly becomes choked, with a slight draught coming in. A 3m climb gains access to the phreatic section which goes over the top of the choke, and about after a further 3m reaches a large boulder, which almost blocks the passage with a strong breeze blowing through the gap (into the cave.) Squeezing through yields a steeply ascending rocky crawl which chokes after about 5m.
Thread pitch from The Near End lands at the top of a large 6-8m diameter phreatic passage, Wolpertinger Way, which heads downhill past some ice formations on the left hand side, for 35m to a junction. Straight ahead is a steep gully leading to a 6.5m diameter circular shaft with aven above - You're So Veined. There is a traverse round the right hand side of the gully on an increasingly narrow ledge.
You're so Veined is rigged at its southern end, and this is reached via a sandy crawl off to the right from the top of the steep gully, which passes over a hole in the floor through dangerous boulders [C1999-204-09 C] to reach a junction. Right is an unexplored passage [C1999-204-10 C], straight ahead leads into 110 A Day, whilst left is the main route.
More sandy crawling leads to a crossroads, where left leads to the ledge overlooking the pitch, and right is a short crawl leading to the main passage part of the way down Pendulum Pitch, the easiest route to the White Elephant Series. Straight ahead leads to a further junction. Right is a short passage to a traverse round a blind pit, an alternative route to Pendulum Pitch. Left is the head of You're So Veined, the start of the Ariston Series.
110 A Day is a long, dusty passage which varies between stooping and crawling for 110m. Immediately after the start is a sharp right hand bend with an unexplored crawl straight ahead [C1999-204-11 C]. About halfway along is a crossroads, where low passages lead off to left and right [C1999-204-12 C and C1999-204-13 C]. At the terminus reached in 1999, the passage splits into two. Each branch immediately becomes tight, but could be pushed further with a little determination and effort [C1999-204-14 C and C1999-204-15 C]. In the left hand branch, just before the passage becomes tighter, is an undescended pitch [C1999-204-16 A] of perhaps 20m.
Pendulum Pitch is in a large rift. The first section is a loose boulder slope (care required) to a rebelay, then a descent of 23m via a deviation off the far wall below a large wedged boulder. There may be a passage on the far side of the rift accessible with difficulty from this boulder [C1999-204-17 C]. From the base of the pitch, two rift passages lead off which very quickly become too tight.
The main route on is reached by swinging off after 16m into a 6m wide passage. Two passages in the left hand wall are quickly encountered. The first quickly becomes too tight, the second is a short crawl leading into the network of sandy crawls at the bottom of Wolpertinger Way, and is the best route from here to the Ariston Series. Continuing down the main passage, passing either side of a huge boulder, reaches a blind pit in the floor, with two ways on.
A loose and slightly precarious traverse round the blind pit leads to a short passage on the left, emerging at the head of You're So Veined at the start of the Ariston Series. A rift visible at the opposite side of the pit has an audible connection to You're so Veined.
To the right at the blind pit is a draughting phreatic tube which heads downhill at a comfortable walking size past a tight passage on the left [C1999-204-18 C]. After 20m, a 3m climb up into a roof tube on the right hand side is the way into the White Elephant Series. The phreatic passage continues for a further 15m past a too tight inlet on the right and a traverse over a blind pit to a 3m deep hole in the floor, which is blind. Traversing over the hole and up a loose climb with a too tight rift in the right hand wall leads into an uphill passage, which is choked with mud after 5m. A sandy crawl on the right just before the choke leads via a left hand bend with a too tight rift on the right (probably connecting to that at the loose climb) ending at a 2m climb down. There is a possible way on at the bottom of this, but it is very small and tall people at least would have to enter feet first [C1999-204-19 C]. There is a noticeable draught here blowing downhill (into the cave).
The Ariston Series is the route to the current deepest point in the cave. The pitch series begins with a short pitch of 5m rigged from a large thread in the roof a few metres back, with a single spit for the vertical part, which is almost a scramble. This lands on a large ledge formed of boulders wedged across a narrow point; there are two choices of descent here, one to the north, You're So Veined (15m), which was used in 1999, and an as yet undescended pitch to the south, which will land further down the Ariston Series, which should probably be used in 2000. One rebelay provides a good hang against the wall of You're so Veined to reach the foot of the pitch, which is in a spacious shaft, with an impressive aven above. From here, there are two ways on: to the left, facing away from the pitch just descended, is a gully, which in 1999 contained a thick layer of ice. Carefully traversing this rather slippery section leads to the head of a small pitch of 6m, which was rigged with a Y-hang. From here a walking size phreatic passage leads off, carrying a substantial breeze. The passage initially descends, but then develops a narrow floor trench; as the trench deepens, the phreatic part of the passage rises, and then ends abruptly where the floor trench turns right and leads off as a too-tight rift while ahead the phreas pinches out.
Back at the foot of You're So Veined, a way on to the right leads into a small, very crumbly chamber, from which a short section of awkward rift leads to a fine crow's nest in the wall of a large rift. A very short pitch (5m) lands on a large ledge, from which a roped traverse along the left-hand wall gains the head of the next pitch of 12m, which avoids a large ledge which would have been in the way but for the traverse. This pitch currently requires a rope protector just below the Y-hang at the top. The landing is on another large ledge, where a pool can be used to refill water containers. It is thought that the alternative pitch to You're so Veined will land here, if rigged.
The next pitch of 14m consists of a backup bolt followed by a Y-hang, which utilises one very cratered spit, which can only be used with a bollard type hanger. This pitch requires a deviation from the opposite wall or a rebelay to be installed as there is currently a rub point just below the Y-hang. The ledge that this pitch lands on consists of boulders wedged across the shaft, although it seems sound. A backup bolt protects the approach to the Y-hang at the head of the next pitch (35m). Unfortunately, it seems to be impossible to get a clean hang from here, and a rub-point 3m down will require the installation of a rebelay or deviation in future. Immediately after this point, the walls of the shaft bell out, and the rope hangs in stimulating isolation. About 5m from the floor a ledge is passed, which could be gained by a swing across, where there may possibly be a passage leading off [C1999-204-20 B].
At the foot of the pitch, the way on is a very chossy, sloping descent which will require either re-rigging or bypassing (which may be possible by a climb up and over) in future. This leads to a further short pitch (10m), which lands in an aven chamber of ample proportions. From here is another short, undescended pitch [C1999-204-21 A], a crawl leading off from the foot of the pitch just descended, and a descending rubble slope. The rubble slope curves round to the right, passing a tight rift on the left [C1999-204-22 C], to reach the bottom of a short climb up of 3m on the right, which is followed by a scramble down on the other side. From here, straight ahead is a climb up into the foot of an aven, half-right is a short ascending passage leading to a chamber where a traverse around the right hand wall leads to a slope down to an undescended pitch [C1999-204-23 A], and full right is a stooping/crawling height phreatic passage with a mud floor. This passes on the right the other end of the crawl which led off from the foot of the previous pitch.
Some 50m of alternate crawling and stooping, including a single point where the roof dips and the crawl is flat-out, leads to a small chamber. Here there are two holes in the floor. One, which has not been descended, is a reasonably large drop (stones bounce off the walls a couple of times and then fall free for some 3s)[C1999-204-24 A]. The other drop is much shorter, and is split into two sections by ledges on each wall part way down. The first section of 8m reaches these small ledges, where a stream enters from the foot of a very large aven. The next section of 11m is wet, and lands on a small ledge overlooking a massive shaft. Stones thrown out from here fall for 3s. This is believed to be the same pitch as C1999-204-24, which will probably prove to provide a drier descent. This ledge is the current limit of exploration at -226m.
The White Elephant Series is a series of rift pitches which has not been pushed to a definite conclusion, but does not appear especially promising, despite carrying a considerable breeze. From the head of the 3m climb up, a roof tube leads off. After 8m of crawling, the passage opens out at the head of a 2m climb down by a large boulder. A too-tight rift leads off on the left, but ahead opens out into a large space, the Millennium Dome.
A 20m pitch rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall backed up to the big boulder, with a rebelay and rope protector after 5m, lands on the boulder floor of the Millennium dome, which is an L-shaped chamber at the base of a large aven, with each arm of the L being 15m long and 5m wide. There do not appear to be any ways through the boulders, but a rift leads off at the western end, quickly arriving at the head of a 10m pitch with a constricted take off, rigged from boulders. An eyehole part way down this pitch appears to lead into a parallel shaft [C1999-204-25 B]. The pitch lands on a rubble floor with a blind pit. Heading south quickly reaches a loose pitch head, with a rift passage continuing beyond.
The pitch is 28m, rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall and deviations from natural threads after 4m and 12m. The second deviation is by a small rock bridge, where descending either side appears to go to the same place, and an eyehole opposite connects to the continuation of the rift at the top of the pitch. The base of the pitch is an oddly shaped chamber formed from several rifts (about 7m up the pitch, these rifts coalesce to form a single shaft.) North from the base of the rope leads to a 3m climb down into an inlet rift coming from the north which ends in a blank wall 8m from the base of the rope, but the rift continues too-tight heading south beneath the 3m climb. South from the base of the rope is another rift heading downhill which rapidly becomes too tight with running water clearly audible, but not visible beyond. West from the base of the rope leads to junction with a too tight rift continuing to the west, and another inlet rift coming from the north which ends in a blank wall after 5m.
Traversing over the top of the pitch (rope required) and a short descent leads to a continuation of the rift passage. A hole on the left connects to the 28m pitch described earlier. After 5m the rift narrows and a constricted pitch head is reached. The descent of 15m is rigged from a large boulder and leads immediately to a further drop of 7m rigged from a bolt. This shorter drop may be bypassed by an alternative free climb in a narrow slot immediately beyond the pitch head. From the base the tall, narrow rift continues with two short climbs and a slot in the floor which gradually widens to the head of the next pitch after 6m. This is rigged from a Y-hang on either side of the rift, but soon opens out to give a fine descent of 15m landing in a spacious rift at 182m depth from 204b entrance. A narrow slot in the floor develops, which is just large enough to descend, but stones thrown down sound dead [C1999-204-26 B]. It is possible to traverse above the slot for a short way before the rift becomes too tight.
There is a noticeable breeze at the base of this pitch, as there is through much of the series, with air blowing into the cave. From the base of the 7m pitch, there is no roof visible. This area has potential, but there are no easy leads, and some lunatic bolt traverses may be required to try to bypass the tight sections.
Exploration: CUCC 1999, to length 1365m, depth 226m
CUCC 2000 to 2.5km and -368m
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