| 258 - a b | Tunnockschacht: Littoral North | 2 ?? |
|---|
The Littoral North leads northwards out of the chamber below Caramel Catharsis past taped formations on the floor. The roof lowers and the sandy passage continues to a further taped formation. There is a branch to the left here [to be described]. The main way is through a low arch straight ahead to a 3m climb down in a rift below an aven, which can be climbed far enough to see that it probably doesn't go. At the bottom is a wide stony passage with a pool useful for collecting water. There are ways on to the left and straight ahead.
If the passage straight ahead is taken from the water collecting pool, a 2m climb up rotten calcite leads (past [2007-258-4-A], LHW) to an unusual critical-angle pile of 10cm diameter rocks Y KeyKey Beach. The narrowing at the top of this pile (it gets close to the roof) has a stonking gale coming through it. Just beyond this where the passage widens to 8m, behind the large rock on the left is the hidden entrance to Rhubarb Crumbly, leading to the lower levels via String Theory and the northern areas via Max Pleasure.
On the right, at the widening, is a shallow pit [2007-258-*05-C][Has this been ticked off? Or does it need to be put into tunnel and the QM list? - Becka Lawson].
Ahead the comfortable passage only goes for about 20m before reaching the edge of a huge shaft undercutting the RH wall The Thin Red Line. An airy traverse to the left of this reaches another hole on the left down, apparently into the same pitch[2007-258-89-B]. Immediately ahead is another large hole [2007-258-91-A]. Up is a large aven (30m+ [2007-258-98-X]. There appears to be a continuation across the other side - a long bolted traverse away[2007-258-92-B].[Needs continuing - Ollie Stevens and Becka Lawson]
Climbing down behind a large rock in Littoral North gives access to nice walking passage floored with dark dirt, trending NNW. A strong breeze blows in. After 40m the passage passes over a cross-joint forming a pitch that can be seen through a very small hole in the floor[2007-258-26B]. Would need capping to get in. Immediately beyond a C2 gets into almost perfectly straight passage with some popcord on the walls. At the end is a wider T-junction. Down to the left is a stoop into a boulder-floored chamber containing a too-tight crawl on the left and two small avens [2007-258-21-X] (at 1st corner), [2007-258-20-X] (at end). To the right is another T-junction only 5m further on. Right is Max Pleasure leading to the northern areas of the cave. Left is Dubious Pleasure, which takes the draught, and leads to the lower levels of the cave via String Theory.
Back at the water collecting pool, to the left (west) a passage leads almost immediately to a tricky climb (rope recommended) up to the right. This gains a further muddy passage, which draughts inwards strongly, leading after about 50 metres to a balcony at the head of the 100m deep pitch The Usual Suspects. This pitch is wet, and is impassible in times of high water (a party was marooned beneath it in 2009), and is now superceded by the route via String Theory. Across the pitch head may be seen a window accessible via the route to String Theory.
Back in the passage to the left, following straight ahead without taking the tricky climb to the right leads to a stepped pitch Frankly Freezing [description needed]. [Description needed of Litteral north 4 - Julian Todd or Becka Lawson] [2007-258-6B] [2007-258-44B] [2007-258-46A] [Description needed of stomach ulsa - Holly and Noel and Mike TA] [2009-258-39A] [Description Needed - Serena Povia and Frank Tullym and Natalie Uomini and Becka and Andrew A] [2008-258-24A] [2008-258-25A] [2008-258-26C] [2009-258-01X] [2009-258-02C] [2009-258-03A] [2009-258-04A]