| 204 | Steinbrückenhöhle | 5/S x |
|---|
Treeumphant Passage area
Bonsai Crawl emerges into The
Colonnade, a wide walking passage with a boulder floor, at a sharp turn,
from which one can continue right or straight on.
To the right the passage comes to a chamber-like crossroads. To the left is an
initially walking-sized tube, Sucker, and to the right a low draughting
crawl, Flopsy the Bunny Rabbit's Lair, which connects back to
Insignificant Chamber. The
Colonnade continues straight on, and a stream joins from the left. Further
along on the left is a pile of stones which must originate from a passage [C2000-204-43 Dig]. The
passage then becomes small with a possible aven [C2000-204-44 X], a tight
rift [C2000-204-45 B],
and a crawl down and to the right. The crawl emerges into a chamber, with a
possible way on over rocks directly ahead [C2000-204-49 C]. The chamber gets larger to the right,
where there are two tight rifts leading off [C2000-204-46 C], [C2000-204-47 C] and an aven [C2000-204-48 X]. Water was
flowing down one of these, possibly to the waterfall entering the chamber in
No Pain No Gain. At this time in 2000
it had not rained on the surface for 8 days.
An initially walking passage branching off from The
Colonnade, which soon degenerates to crawling. After 15m, a 1m diameter
tube continues straight on [C2001-204-33 B], whilst the explored route turns right.
After another 30m a small passage bears to the right [C2001-204-24 C]. A further
15m leads to a small chamber with large dubious boulders on a sloping floor.
Straight on is [C2001-204-25
C], and there is a pitch in the floor [C2001-204-101 B], which can be stepped over. This leads
to a key hole passage with a rift disappearing on the right [C2001-204-32 C], which may
be descendible. The key hole passage then turns right, straight on at this
point a small stream enters, where there is an aven above [C2001-204-27 X], and a flat
out crawl entering from the right [C2001-204-26 C] , this ends in a mud floored chamber
with an aven [C2001-204-28
X]. Continuing along the key hole passage, a passage intersects, and the
keyhole passage becomes blocked. To the right, another passage intersects which
quickly becomes too tight in both directions, the passage continues straight on
to a small partially mud filled passage [C2001-204-29 C]. To the left a body sized passage
continues to a T junction with continuations [C2001-204-30 C], [C2001-204-31 C].
Back where Bonsai Crawl enters, the main
route continues straight northwards for around 70m, with a number of minor passages to the sides.
These are:
- A crawl to the left, which slopes slightly upwards to a pit with a small
body sized tube going off at the bottom [C2001-204-54 C]; continuing over the pit leads to a flat
out crawl [C2001-204-53
C].
- Some
distance further on, two crawling passages to the left (one in a trench in the floor,
and the other slightly higher up a metre or so further on) lead to a passage running parallel
to the main passage for 10m or so, known as Dutch Elm Disease.
- Opposite this is a crawl high up on the right, the other half of Dutch Elm, which leads to a
second parallel passage. This ends at a junction with one passage emerging high in the wall of Treeumphant
and another leading to a chimney climb down which connects back via two crawls at the Treeumphant floor
level.
- On the left slightly beyond the floor trench is a stooping-size passage on the left; this passes
a large mobile boulder then closes down.
The main passage then forks: to the left is blind whilst to
the right the passage continues past the other end of Dutch Elm Disease to a junction where
a boulder slope enters from the left. Ascending
this leads to a fork; the left branch is blind and the right branch ends
shortly afterwards in a choked chamber. In the other direction, Treeumphant
Passage continues over large boulders, sloping slightly upwards. There is a
walking passage off to the left which goes to Crowning
Glory; this junction can be recognised by a large whitish slab, known as the Tombstone.
Slightly further on is the Twiglets, a pair of passages high on
either side [MARTIN]
[C2005-204-48 D].
The passage then increases in height
approaching a sharp turn to the right. Here a walking size passage continues
straight on, connecting with Crowning Glory, and
there may be an aven in the ceiling [C2000-204-27 X]. The main
passage continues for another 20m to arrive at a boulder slope leading down
to Great Oak Chamber; an unobtrusive rifty hole
on the right here is the start of Riverdance.
Great Oak Chamber is a substantial chamber, with a rock bridge crossing it;
the hole on the left can be descended to reach a sloping boulder floor after about 5m.
A rift leads off at the south end of the chamber but this is blind.
Above is an imposing aven [C2000-204-33 X]. A traverse across the left-hand wall
reaches a passage on the far side which is choked after 40m. There is also as a
passage to the right [C2000-204-30 C]. Just before the drop there is a
bouldery slope up to another, smaller, walking size passage, the continuation of Treeumphant..
There is an oxbow to the left, with a possible passage leading off at roof level
(nontrivial to reach, would need 1 or 2 bolts and rock is awful -[C2000-204-34 C]), as well as
an aven [C2000-204-35
X]. There are a couple of digs to the left slightly further on; the first
led to 15m of passage with no leads, while the second is blind. The main passage continues into Cave Tree Chamber.
The first pitch (7m) of this series is narrow and rifty but hangs cleanly from
a rebelay bolt in the ceiling. After a few short climbs down the next pitch (18m)
is reached; this is rigged from a backup and a single hang bolt on the left wall, and
is sloping with numerous ledges. Beyond this a tight S-bend of rift opens out to the
third pitch (8m), and the next three pitches (5m, 8m, 8m) follow in quick succession.
A short climb down leads to the head of the 7th pitch (4m) and soon the 8th (a mere 3m),
notable for the atrocious quality of the rock. This lands in a round chamber;
continuing rift leads shortly to the head of the 9th pitch (not descended in 2006,
but plumbed as 17m). Approximately 160m of rope is needed to reach this point.
This is another substantial chamber, accessed by a climb down of about 2m.
It has a bouldery floor on the left, and a pitch on the right leading into the
Gösser Streamway. An aven extends above [C2000-204-38 X], which is
the 204c entrance discovered by Duncan and MikeTA in 2001; this has not been
used since as it is exceedingly loose and dangerous. The passage continues over
the pitch (via a traverse that has been permanently rigged since 2001) to Chocolate Salty Balls.
[MARK AARON]
Chocolate Salty Balls area
From Cave Tree Chamber, an exposed climb (a
traverse line is a sensible precaution, and one has been left in place since 2001;
it was still in good condition in 2006) above a pitch gains a comfortably
proportioned walking passage, which ascends steadily. After 20 metres, the
passage turns sharp left; here there are two unpromising leads, a narrow rift
[C2001-204-39 C] to the
right and straight ahead a possible opening in a pocket just above head-height
[C2001-204-40 C]. The
passage continues to climb, turning sharp right and again sharp left, to reach
a pile of breakdown over which it is possible to crawl. Some 40 metres beyond
the breakdown there are two crawls on the left, which become too tight.
Another 30 metres reaches a climb down into the base of an aven [C2001-204-42 X].
There are two ways on from the aven; straight ahead leads after 30 metres to
a pitch [C2001-204-38 A]
with an aven [C2001-204-41
X] above it, and a continuing passage [C2001-204-37 B] on the far side. Back at the aven, a
climb up on the left (handline useful) gains a short section of passage to
another climb down into a small chamber.
Again there are two ways on; to the left leads after 25 metres to a choke,
but there is a small hole in the north wall half-way along [C2001-204-36 C], while back
in the chamber a climb up straight ahead (handline useful) leads after 15
metres to a T-junction. To the right ascends and enlarges for 20 metres before
reaching a draughting choke with a narrow gap between the rocks and the ceiling
[C2001-204-43 Dig]. To
the left the passage soon swings right to where a false floor of boulders
conceals a pitch [C2001-204-44 B]. Traversing carefully over the pitch, a
climb up leads to the head of another pitch. Sharp right here is a very strongly
draughting body-size tube, Fingerbang, which passes
a contortion over a boulder on the floor and a dog-leg to the left to enter a small chamber.
Climbing up into the ceiling reveals a connection to another chamber with a critical-angle boulder
slope leading up into the ceiling, where a draught emerges. Removing the boulders would not
be a problem, but doing so without crushing yourself might be harder.
Back at the pitch-head, a traverse across the pitch to an apparent continuation merely gains
an alcove. The pitch is 7 metres; at the bottom a short crawl leads to a small chamber
containing 'The Eleven Second Rattle' [C2001-204-34 A], a pitch down which stones clatter for a
Long Time (measured with a stopwatch).
This
large phreatic passage, with a (normally dry) streambed in the floor, heads
upwards from Treeumphant Passage. Near the
beginning a high up crawl heads off to the left, connecting to Twiglets. Another 20m leads to a boulder infall which can
be climbed over, or the fossil streambed can be followed around to the
right.
Scrambling 2m up loose boulders reaches an important junction (right)
where a side passage, Boulder Coaster, branches
off to the left; this is the route to the 204e entrance.
Continuing along the main passage, boulder infall from the left
leads to a connection back to Treeumphant
Passage.The summit of a boulder is soon reached, as the passage becomes
smaller. Going down the boulders goes into a chamber, with an aven [C2001-204-11 X], and a 4m
climb up at the end, followed by a pitch of approximately 5m. At the bottom of this is a
blind pit; walking up a boulder slope on the other side of this leads to a
further drop, descended in 2003 with a tackle-sack rope protector. To the left
was a rift with an aven (went 3m). In the LH wall, 2m up, was a small crawl [C2003-204-X87 C]. Straight
on, the rift continued down a moderate pitch [C2003-204-X88 B] and above this the passage continued,
which could be reached by bolting up ~3m [C2003-204-X89 B]. (This was not surveyed, so the QM
numbers are provisional.)
Germknödels' Revenge is the short connection between the 204e and 204f
entrances and the Treeumphant end of Boulder Coaster. 204e is a low
square hole in the face of a cliff. From here a low passage leads down and to
the right. A short climb down and up again brings one to the top of the pitch.
The (awkward) passage from 204f is a small tube sloping uphill at ~45° on
the right, and there is also a possible undocumented QM across the top of the shaft.
204f is a hole in a pile of boulders a few metres up the surface
gully from 204e. A small tube descends towards 204e via a couple of bouldery
squeezes, passing an unexplored side branch [C2001-204-102 C]. The tube becomes steeper with
a black space beyond. A light shone down this tube reveals that it connects to
the top of the pitch reached from 204e; it was not thought worth the
considerable bother of rigging this route.
A backup and Y-hang are followed by a rebelay or short deviation next to a
window into a parallel shaft (There may be undocumented QMs in this shaft). The
pitch narrows below the deviation, to a rebelay where it bells out to several
metres diameter. The remaining drop is in a fine open shaft, passing a ledge a
few metres off the floor, into Crowning Glory Chamber in Boulder Coaster near its connection to Crowning Glory
Passage.
A walking sized passage goes from Crowning Glory
Passage to Crowning Glory Chamber where 204e
and 204f drop in from Germknödels Revenge,
daylight being just visible (unless F entrance is blocked by snow, which it
frequently is). A rift intersects the chamber at the north end [C2001-204-12 C], [C2001-204-13 C]. The obvious
way out of the chamber continues for 15m before choking, passing under avens
[C2001-204-18 X] and [C2001-204-19 X] at a cross
junction.
Boulder Coaster / Sandpit / Helter Skelter area
To the left is too tight, and to the right, along with the next
passage to the right join up at a chamber with an aven [C2001-204-20 X]. The passage
continues from the bottom of the chamber and passes a pocket on the right with
an aven [C2001-204-21 X].
The passage continues to a a staggered crossroads; to the right there is a
sandy crawl, leading to Sand Pit. The other two ways on
later rejoin; the left route has a phreatic tube going into the roof [C2001-204-22 X]. Continuing
downslope, the passage splits in two; to the left is blind, while the
right way leads to a chamber with a pitch [C2001-204-16 C] and an aven [C2001-204-23 X]. The passage
continues opposite the entrance, in walking sized downhill passage, passing a
crawl to the left [C2001-204-17 C] (not pushed in order not to disturb the attractive white mud), then a too tight passage to the
right.
Further down, the passage turns a sharp left, then turns around to the left,
after which a small crumbly tube goes of to the left [C2001-204-56 C]. Further on a passage is reached, with
an aven above where Cresta Run, the
connection with Swings and Roundabouts, drops in. (In 2005 this was the main
trade route into Cresta Run, but it needs to be rigged from above by a party
going via Swings.) The passage to the right soon
turns left, going downhill to a junction. Straight on is a small passage
(blind). Turning left leads to a junction
with the downhill passage of the previous chamber. Continuing downwards, a
small passage leads to the left, also blind. Further down Helterskelter Pitch is reached. At the
pitch head passages go to the left and right but are too tight. The pitch is 8m
deep and can be climbed down, and spirals around on itself, ending in boulders,
and a visible way on through the boulders [C2001-204-59 B].
A sandy crawl (formerly QM 2001-14B) leads to a small passage. This closes off up + to the right; the main way goes past a dead furry bat to a sandy hole which was dug out in 2003. This tube goes up steeply. At the top, straight ahead leads up into small chamber, with a pitch up + to the right from there [C2003-204-32 C]. On the left is another rift/pitch which probably links to the first one [C2003-204-33 B]. The main way from the sandy tube follows the draft to the left, along a crawling tube past a couple of not-bad straws into a small chamber. There is a thin, deep, narrow rift to the right (leading to a small shaft?). Ahead, there is a nasty loose hole to left but the main way is under a low wall + crawl up a ramp on the right side. Over a loose boulder wall, to the right went to a pitch head with a huge boulder perched on top [C2003-204-35 B]. It's possible to free-climb down this rift to the left to a drippy floor, and Martin climbed a further 2m below this without reaching the bottom of the shaft (doesn't look promising though). Various tubes above pitch head probably don't go [C2003-204-34 C] [C2003-204-36 C]. The main way is to the left after the boulder wall, crawling to the edge of a ramp, passing a small passage on right [C2003-204-37 C]. It is possible to climb down to the left. At the bottom, on the left is a nasty loose pitch-head [C2003-204-38 B]. Ahead, clamber over boulders. At the far end, a small passage leads off + up but gets too small. Climbing up + to the left, a solution tube in the roff can be followed for several metres to the top of an aven before closing down. The main way on at the ramp is across + up to a small sandy tube. Continuing down this + to right, passing a small QM on left [C2003-204-39 C], leads to a crawly passage with odd boulders in it needing gardening + more bat skeletons; this in turn leads up + past final squeeze into a quite large drippy rift. This continues to the left [C2003-204-40 C]; to the right it is possible to climb up two levels (first one a rather dodgy free climb) until it becomes too hard to up-climb, but aven continues up beyond this point [C2003-204-41 C].
