| 204 | Steinbrückenhöhle | 5/S x |
|---|
Millennium Dome / MFC area
The draughting phreatic passage leading off from near the base of Pendulum Pitch heads downhill at a
comfortable walking size past a tight passage on the left, which leads back
towards Wolpertinger Way. 5m further on a
tube at roof level heads towards Bunny's
Bowel. 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 leading to Merry Fucking Christmas. 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).
Climbing down through the hole in the floor for 4 metres lands at the
entrance to a low crawl, Merry Fucking Christmas. While not actually
tight, the crawl continues awkwardly for 20m to a small chamber with QM [C2001-204-71 C]. The crawl
continues slightly larger for another 25m, past a hole in
the floor which is blind.
The crawl opens out in the wall of 7-11 Chamber.
This is part of a large shaft, with high aven (>40m?)
[C2001-204-72 X] and deep
main pitch (35m). The chamber floor is reached by a y-hang followed by a single
bolt rebelay and rope protector. Traversing across the blocks on the floor leads
to a short climb up (rope advised) over a ridge into a parallel shaft (7m deep).
The base of this is choked with boulders; an uninviting wriggle between these
leads back towards the main pitch.
Back at the entrance to 7-11 Chamber, an exposed traverse around the
north-western corner of the shaft leads to a small muddy window. This is a
small chamber with small muddy passage sloping downwards. Following this for a
short distance arrives at a loose funnel; rocks thrown into this rumble down
into the main pitch.
The main pitch, No bits, is descended by continuing on
the rope to a Y-hang using two bolts under the large boulder above the pitch. This
gives a free hang to the floor (see: rigging diagram). At the bottom of the pitch,
a rift leads off. There is a side passage to the right which becomes too tight after
about 10m. The way on is down the rift, which can be descended using a thread and a
single bolt to form a Y hang (the beginning of Hammer and thong). At the
bottom of this initial narrow descent, the rift can be followed at various levels,
but all ways become too tight. Down, Hammer and thong continues with a Y hang
at a ledge and a deviation from the left wall (see rigging diagram).
At the bottom of Hammer and thong, the comfortably-sized rift,
Pussyprance continues steeply down (rope required - see rigging diagram) to
Catflap pitch. To the right at the top of the pitch is a window into a large
phreatic passage (~5m wide). To the right, this passage continues for about 25m to a
large window, which connects to Catwalk . To the left, the
phreatic passage passes a passage in the left hand wall, which could be descended
downwards [C2008-204-06 B] or
climbed upwards [C2008-204-07 B].
The main passage slopes down to a large chamber, Puss in Bolts (20m across).
The chamber can be descended to the right via a 20m pitch (Painted lady) to
Puss in Bolts. Just before the chamber, there is a pitch on
the left, which leads to Catawal.
Descending Catflap, a window back under the pitch head can be reached at about 5m
above the floor of the shaft. This can be swung into, with the rope deviated off
threads in the mud floor, to reach a short section of phreatic passage ending in a 9m
climb which can be protected with a rope belayed off a large thread. At the foot of
this climb there is a junction - to the left is a spacious pitch and aven
[C2009-204-02 A] - the aven has
been connected to one of the large chambers at the bottom of pussy prance. To the
right is a small walking passage ending in a window into a blind pitch with a possible
mud-filled continuation opposite [
C2009-204-04 C]. There are two junctions on the right from Catwalk - these join
after a few meters, and the passage continues past a small waterfall on the left and
junction to the right (which loops back into the same passage) to a window at the top
of another pitch - Snow Leopard. This swings into the bottom 15m of
Brian's Phat Shaft, with a continuation of the passage
in the wall of the pitch opposite - [
C2009-204-10 B]. Catflap was left rigged in 2009 to allow access to this area
from Brian's Phat Shaft - this route was exploited in 2012.
Catawaul starts with a 20m nicely-shaped pitch. Right at the bottom of the pitch
leads to a small chamber with no ways on. The way on is a tight slot in the floor
leading to a small, but less tight rift which ends with a short drop (rope needed),
which is followed by another pitch (< 10m). Another short pitch follows this, which
is undescended [C2009-204-01 B].
At the bottom of Painted lady, is a window to the left to a large pitch
[C2009-204-11 A]. To the left
of this pitch is a shallower pit, which may be choked
[C2009-204-12 B]. Around the
right-hand wall of the large pitch is an 8-bolt traverse (left rigged in 2012), which
starts with an up climb (also permanently rigged; 30m rope needed in addition, see
rigging diagram). At the end of the traverse is a mud bridge, which leads across to
On the Prowl.
On the prowl starts with a traverse along the left hand wall above a blind trench
in the floor. The traverse ends with a pitch down (30m rope required for traverse
and pitch). A deviation is required after 8m to swing off the pitch into the main
chamber; the pitch appears to continue downwards
[C2009-204-19 B]. To the right
in the chamber are a number of pitches
[C2009-204-22 A]
[C2009-204-23 A]
[C2009-204-24 B]. Descending
the latter hole leads to connections with Fat Cat at the level
of the boulders some 5m down to the north. To the south, a rift pitch continues with
further visual connections to the head of the pitch. To the left, the chamber
narrows to a wide passage, at the end of which is a large pitch:
Fat Cat.
Fat cat is rigged initally from a large spike in On the Prowl.
After a 3m climb down to a ledge, there is a y-hang. It is initally narrow, but bells
out below a rebelay, about 10m down. After a further 7m of descent, two phreatic
pockets are reached to the northwest. The upper pocket can be reached via a natural
anchor and a rebelay bolt in the ceiling. This pocket goes in for 8m, at the end of
which two solution pockets are observed in the ceiling which ascend for 10m. The lower
phreatic pocket is unexplored [C2012-204-XX ?].
After a further 7m, it is possible to swing off to the southwest
[C2009-204-27 A]. A 4m climb
up loose boulders leads to the base of twin avens with visual connections to the level
of the head of Fat Cat. [FIXME: (Olly) which holes are these?]
Decending the main pitch a further 7m leads to a ledge from where there are two
ways to descend. The main route down descends a further 10m to a ledge. At the
opposite side of the shaft at this level, a passage leads off into
Cirque du Soleil. It is possible to descend a further 10m into
a large chamber, at the bottom of which is a slot
[C2009-204-30 B]. 80m of rope
is required to reach the lowest "floor". From the ledge 20m above the
floor, an alternative descent of 10m down a smaller shaft is the route to
Catgut.
From the bottom of the alternative shaft from Fat Cat, a 2m
climb to the southwest over Boris the Boulder leads into a small phreatic passage,
Catgut. This closes down after 4m, but the second of two holes down and to the right
is passable. Awkward progress is made downhill through small, popcorn encrusted
passage passing a passage on the right that doubles back under the passage just
traversed that is blocked by rocks [C2012-204-01 D]. Further on, a junction is
quickly reached by survey station 7. To the right leads to Cat Flea.
Cat Flea is delightful... [FIXME: (Olaf) description
needed]
At survey station 7, a popcorn encrusted squeeze down to the left leads over a
pitch of at least 10m [C2012-204-02 A] to a larger phreatic passage. A window on
the right leads to a 5m down climb to a small stream that sinks into a mud choke
[C2012-204-03 D]. Continuing east along the phreatic passage a small stream
enters immediately from the right from a passage at ceiling level that can be
accessed via a 3m climb [C2012-04-04 B]. Continuing a further 10m a small chamber
is reached via a 2m down climb. The exit is via a 3m climb to a larger boulder
filled chamber with many holes in the floor, which marks the start of
Pussy Riot.
The initial chamber in Pussy Riot contains a number of leads. Immediately to the
left (east) on entry is a hole down between boulders and wall that appears to be
2-3m deep [C2012-204-05 B]. Immediately to the right (west) is a larger undescended
pitch estimated at 15m [C2012-204-06 A], above which is a window that leads back into
Catgut. On the southwest wall of the chamber are two holes
through the boulders, [C2012-204-07 B] and [C2012-204-08 B], that may be linked.
8m up on the southeast wall of the chamber, a phreatic passage appears to enter which
might be accessible via a diagonal climb up the wall (protection required)
[C2012-204-09 B].
The way on is reached by following the left-hand wall of the chamber to an exit
passage in the eastern corner that carries a considerable draught. A 3m drop (rope
required) leads into a crawling size continuation to the east (the western
continuation of the lower level passage appears to choke immediately). Continuing
past two connected tubes on the right heading steeply uphill [C2012-204-10 C], a
local widening is reached with a crawl exiting to the right (south) [C2012-204-11 B]
and the main route heads left (north) via two passages that reunite at a junction
after 5m. To the left (west) at the junction leads to the bottom of
Fat Cat. Right leads to
Cirque du Soleil.
Swinging off 10m from the bottom of Fat Cat, a passage to
the southeast leads off. A crawl through large boulders with a possible crawling
passage to the left [C2012-204-12 C] leads to a junction. Twin passages to the right
(south) mark the start of Pussy Riot. Ahead (east) is
Cirque du Soleil. The passage opens out into a large, boulder filled chamber some 15m
in diameter. At the enlargement there is a narrow rift to the north that will require
rope for descent [C2012-204-13 B]. Immediately beyond this, a passage to the left
ultimately links back to Cirque du Soleil.
To the south are two phreatic windows at the top of a mud slope [C2012-204-14 A]
with a possible visual connection to Pussy Riot. Immediately beyond these is a window
onto a drippy pitch with a considerable draught [C2012-204-XX B]. A traverse round
the right hand wall of this pitch (permanently rigged) is the start of the
Far from Support traverses that lead to Kaninchenhöhle.
Continuing round the same wall, a descending mud bank is reached in the southeast
corner that will require a rope for descent [C2012-204-15 B]. 10m away to north is a
small hole through boulders [C2012-204-16 B]. From this point, a clamber down a
boulder pile leads to a northward trending passage some 5m wide and 10m high that
carries a considerable draught from the north. At the bottom of the slope, a passage
doubling back on the left connects back to the route into Cirque du Soleil, and a
small hole through the boulders has not been descended [C2012-204-17 B]. The passage
continues for a further 20m to a window onto a large, drippy pitch that is at least
20m across at the largest extent. This is almost certainly the final pitch of the
Kiwi Suit series.
At the southern end of Cirque du Soleil a
permanently rigged bolt traverse heads off round the right-hand side of a drippy
pitch. The route descends, via a rebelay, to a ledge 5m down, then up into a
rift on the opposite side of the pitch. Continuing round the corner to the
right leads to a pitch in the rift of unknown depth on the right [C2012-204-XX B]
and a much larger, drippy pitch on the left. The rope goes up a climb to a second
bolt traverse round the left-hand wall of this pitch. This leads after 15m to
the northern end of Bored of the Rings
in Kaninchenhöhle.
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. (This is almost certainly the connection through to Pleasuredome). 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
tight with running water clearly audible [C2000-204-78 C],
but not visible beyond. West from the
base of the rope leads to junction with a tight rift continuing to the west
[C2000-204-79 C],
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.
