<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf8" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/main2.css" /> <title>1623/204 -- Big Boulders area</title> </head> <body> <table id="cavepage"> <tr><th id="kat_no">204</th><th id="name">Steinbrückenhöhle</th><th id="status">5/S x</th></tr> </table> <h1>Big Boulders area</h1> <p><b>Summary</b>: The Big Boulders area is dominated by a large breakdown chamber and contains a number of unexplored leads. It is accessed from the <a href="pussyprance.html#prowl">On the Prowl</a> traverse in the Pussy Prance area.</p> <h3><a name="dogdays">Dog days</a></h3> <p>In the southwest corner of the chamber reached from the end of Puss in Bolts is a 3m pitch. Traversing over this pitch (rope required) leads into a rift passage. The narrow continuation of the rift ahead is unexplored [C2012-204-XX B], but a 3m climb up on the left (bolts placed for a rope) leads into Dog Days. Comfortable walking passage heads south for 20m, past a roof tube on the right and via a 3m climb down, to a complex junction. There are two unexplored passages on the left at this point ([C2012-204-XX B] and [C2012-204-XX C]). [FIXME: (Olly/Becka/Andrew) lots of bits here that AD can't remember/knows nothing about].</p> <p>The way on is a muddy passage which quickly leads to the head of an 18m pitch overlooking a large space. Descending this pitch lands in <a href="#bigboulder">Big Boulder Chamber</a>.</p> <h3><a name="bigboulder">Big Boulder Chamber</a></h3> <p>As its name suggests, Big Boulder Chamber is a large breakdown chamber containing many huge boulders. [FIXME: (Andrew/Becka/Julian/Stuart) survey shows QM C downhill from landing point]. From the point at which the rope lands, the way on is up an unstable rubble slope to the north (care required). [FIXME: (Andrew/Becak/Julian/Stuart) uncertain about the exact route here - lots of bits on the survey to the east that AD knows nothing about] The route continues north through breakdown until a climb beneath a large boulder on the left leads to a boulder slope which can be descended with care to a continuing passage to the north. Shortly beyond the bottom of the boulder slope, a passage on the right leads, past a narrow unexplored passage on the right [C2012-204-XX C] to a muddy, exposed climb up into a possible phreatic passage with a sound of water [C2012-204-XX B].</p> <p>The main route continues north in comfortable sized passage with a draught from south to north. After 10m, a wet aven is reached on the left [C2012-204-XX X] with a 3m pit beneath with a narrow rift exiting [C2012-204-XX C]. The continuing passage gradually narrows and continues for a further 40m to a T-junction where <a href="#pretzel">Pretzel passage</a> leads off to the left and right.</p> <h3><a name="pretzel">Pretzel Passage</a></h3> <p>Turning right at the T-junction leads immediately to a local widening with three ways on. West leads immediately back to the passage from Big Boulder Chamber near the T-junction. North is a 2m climb and east is a low passage, both of which ultimately lead to the same place. The easiest route is to take the low passage to the east. This quickly opens out to a comfortable sized sandy passage which proceeds, past a climb up to a narrow passage on the right [C2012-204-XX C], before the roof lowers again. 10m further on the roof rises at the base of a 3m climb up on the left. <i>Up the 3m climb leads to 15m of narrow, sandy, walking sized passage emerging at the top of the 2m climb at the start of the passage.</i>. Comfortable sized walking passage continues north for 10m before turning northwest and descending gently to the head of an undescended pitch with the sound of water [C2012-204-XX A]. The pitch is at least 15m across and stones rattle for at least 8 seconds. There is a draught blowing from the pitch towards the known cave.</p> <p>Turning left at the T junction, a sandy slope down to the right is quickly reached (rope required for a safe descent) with a passage heading off at the bottom [C2012-204-XX A]. Traversing across the top of the slope leads to a further passage with an immediate junction. Left is a steeply ascending passage which requires protection [C2012-204-XX B]. Ahead, comfortable passage continues for 8m to a sand choke, with a small continuation to the left with no draught [C2012-204-XX C]. Right leads, via a 2m climb up, to a muddy rift. This passage proceeds for 30m reaching the head of an undescended pitch that is at least 20m across [C2012-204-XX A]. This pitch is 40m away from the pitch at the end of the other branch of Pretzel Passage, and has a similar character. There is a draught heading towards this pitch. A climb up on the right at the pitch head gains access to a roof tube [C2012-204-XX C].</p> <div> <b><a href="#survey">Survey</a></b> -- <b><a href="204.html">204 index</a></b></div> <hr /> <hr /> <div class="centre"> <h3><a id="survey">Survey</a></h3> </div> <hr /> </body> </html>