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<center><font size=-1>CTS 91.1327/b: Cambridge Underground 1991 pp 11-15</font>
<h2>1623/161 - Kaninchenh&ouml;hle. Cave description.</h2></center>

<p align=right>Dave Fearon, Mike Richardson, Del Robinson &amp; Wookey

<p>The description that follows is of the 1990 discoveries. A complete
description of the cave up until 1990 may be found in the
<a href="../1989/cavegd.htm">1990 Journal</a>.

<h3>DREAMTIME</h3>

<p>Descend the third pitch to the col below the upper rebelays, between the
pitches to Death's Door and Alternative Shopper. Cross the col and climb the
boulders to the back wall, then traverse left to gain a large passage, the
start of Dreamtime. A traverse line should be used as some boulders are
loose.

<p>The passage descends over boulders and a trench in the floor, with a holes
on the right leading into a blind rift, Bullshit Alley. The main passage
eventually closes off, but a narrow passage to the right descends to Eyehole
Pitch. A hole to the left descends a 20m pitch to an excessively tight rift,
which would be near impossible to rig without a power drill. Ahead, Eyehole
pitch is a 4m drop into a chamber, with a window back to the 20m pitch.
Ahead, climb over or through a rock bridge and down an elliptical tube to
enter a bedding plane.

<p>To the left, the bedding plane leads left to a short pitch to the bottom
of the 20m pitch, and right to Gnome Passage, a small winding passage which
forks just after a stal boss. The right hand fork eventually closes down, the
left hand leads to a drafting choke through which black space can be seen.
This might be worth further attention.

<p>Back at the bedding plane, ahead enters a rift via a handline climb.
Traverse over a hold in the floor, and continue until the rift drops right
into a pit. Climbing the far side of the pit gains a short passage to
Dreaming Pitch. The descends to a short horizontal section, and then Hinge
Pitch. Hinge Pitch drops about 10m to become tight, but about 5m down, a
ledge can be gained on the right. Climb over a notch and down into a larger
passage.

<p>This passage is about 50m long, over a hole which should preferably be
provided with a hand line. This hole has not been descended. At the end of
the passage, just before Stinky Pool, climb up to the right into a cross
passage, leading to the top of Hole in the Roof Pitch. This descends for 30m
via a ledge and rebelay to land on boulders. To the left is a blind pit, to
the right a climb down and short section of passage to join the Right Hand
route, a few metres above Bungalow Pitch.
<hr />

<h3>RIGHT HAND ROUTE</h3>

<h4>Boulder Alley</h4>

<p>A 5m climb up the left wall at the top of Bungalow Pitch leads into a 4m
diameter passage which runs for 20m and then looks out over Boulder Alley.
There is also a hole on the right overlooking Poxy Pitch. Traversing out from
the hole (needs a rope) across some very friable rock leads to the shaft part
way down the Alley.

<h4>Over The Rainbow</h4>

<p>Just to the right of the OTR bypass at the same level is a small passage.
10m along this is a choice of: straight on; a 2m climb down; or a larger
passage on the right which doubles back to a 4m pitch into OTR. Straight on
leads to a 3m wide, 2m deep hole in the floor. It is possible but difficult
to traverse over it and it is easier to go down the climb and along a lower
passage which comes out into this hole, and then climb up the far side.
Beyond this the passage veers left and then wiggles back into the main RH
Route passage via a choice of routes and sandy climbs down.

<h4>Vestabule</h4>

<p>In the Chunnel, 10m before the 3m climb down into OTR there is a small
mud-floored passage going off in the right hand wall. This can be followed
past a junction on the right with a tiny passage leading back into the
Chunnel 10m further along, to a 12m pitch into a 3m wide by 20m high rift.
This pitch lands on a boulder 6m above the actual floor. Steep climbs can be
followed downwards to the lowest point where a further 8m pitch which is just
free-climbable gets down to the choked floor.

<p>Going uphill from the pitch for 30m leads to a 19m pitch which is also
choked. There is a small 15m long passage in the left wall and a 6m climb up
the right hand wall 10m back from the pitch leads into a passage which
quickly comes back into the Chunnel directly above the OTR climb.
<hr />

<h3>DEHYDRATION</h3>

<h4>Staircase 36</h4>

<p>At the end of Yapate Inlet just beyond a roped traverse over a hole is a
7m pitch up 'Staircase 36'. The first ascent was achieved by climbing up the
less vertical wall 5m to the left (above Gob on You) and then traversing
right along a sloping, muddy ledge. As this was non-trivial, the pitch has
been left rigged (1990).

<h4>Chicken Flied Nice</h4>

<p>At the top of the pitch is a big phreatic passage ('Chicken Flied Nice'),
similar to Yapate but with only a shallow floor trench. After a sharp
left-right zig-zag a sandy 2m slope up on the left leads to a T-junction with
a rift parallel to CFN.

<p>To the left it is very narrow and after 20m looks out over Gob on You.

<p>To the right the rift is much bigger (about 4m by 6m). walking over a few
boulders brings you to the foot of a 3m pitch up to the rest of the rift and
a 3m climb down over blocks into a young, active stream passage. A couple of
2 to 3m climbs back up are possible upstream along this before it gets too
tight.

<p>The main rift continues above the pitch for another 25m past a high aven
on the left to rejoin CFN at a sandy bank.

<h4>Burble</h4>

<p>The CFN phreatic continues up dip past this junction to a 90&deg; right
bend. In the outside wall of this corner is a narrow inlet ('Burble') which
goes for 20m to a small chamber with a little stream on the right and a 3m
climb on the far side. This leads to a dead straight passage which has been
crab-walked for about 60m to an undescended pitch and possible traverse.

<h4>Strange Downfall</h4>

<p>Back in CFN the passage changes at the 90&deg; corner; the floor trench
cuts down and widens to a high stream rift which opens onto a big space,
possibly a partially collapsed shaft. A 23m pitch lands on boulders, where
climbing down the boulders to the left reaches a small rift which is fairly
full of stones at this point. The rift may be followed in either direction.

<h4>Hyper Gamma Spaces</h4>

<p>Turning right and traversing over two 3m deep holes leads to a right turn
and a 4m climb down to a chockstone plus another 5m climb down to a boulder
choke. Descents can be made in various places along this rift for up to about
20m, but all routes seem to choke. This area, including the big chamber is
'Hyper Gamma Spaces'.

<h4>Endless</h4>

<p>Turning left in the rift immediately gives a very loose 3m climb down to a
widening of the rift. This is the start of 'Endless', a steeply descending
(35&deg; to 40&deg;) 140m long rift, only 5m high at this end but a good 40m
high at the other. From here there is a crawl ahead and to the left, and two
climbs down to the right.

<p>The small crawl goes for some 30m before getting too tight.

<p>The first climb is about 3m to a pitch aligned with the rift.

<p>The second climb (of 7m) is the way on. Beneath its foot is a further 3m
climb down leading to a rift pitch (probably the same as the one reached from
the above). These pitches have not been descended.

<p>Continuing down Endless leads to various amusing climbs and a junction to
the left after 60m.

<p>A stoop leads through to an angled chamber with a roof tube 7m up the
right hand wall which winds somewhat before emerging back in Endless some 15m
above the floor (not climbable at this point).

<h4>Hasta La Vesta</h4>

<p>20m further on is a 2m climb up and a 5m climb down followed by a couple
of loose climbs (beware) leading to Hasta La Vesta - a horrible pile of
boulders calling itself a pitch head.

<p>Just before this there is a hard 5m climb down into a sand-filled dead
end.

<p>About 10m down the appalling HLV pitch a pendulum to the right above two
big holes can be made (the wall is very loose).

<p>From here an ascending rift passage can be followed to an unascended (as
most of it fell off when it was attempted) climb. This rift may well be the
one continuing beyond Fifty Francis's Phreatic Freehang in Flat Battery as
voices have been heard in the area.

<h4>Captive Wedge</h4>

<p>Of the two holes, only the right hand one has been descended, although
they may connect about 30m down. After a rebelay, Captive Wedge opens out and
there is a drippy section then another rebelay far out to the left after a
big ledge. From the floor a climb up to the left gives access to a passage
containing increasingly awkward climbs. An obvious hole leads to a large
shaft with a sloping wall. There is a window in the opposite wall. The
obvious way on from the bottom of the shaft becomes too tight. There are
several mud choked passages radiating from the bottom of the pitch. <hr />

<h3>FLAT BATTERY</h3>

<p>This consists of a long series of pitches from ledge to ledge down to a
complex phreatic level where the way on is blocked by sand.

<p>30m back from the end of Yapate Inlet is a sandy slope up to the a
straight rift forking off on the right. This apparently ends quickly in a
narrowing climb but ducking under the right wall, down a slope and over a
boulder which 'obviously' blocks the passage, leads to a small chamber. There
is a floor-level dead-end flat out crawl ahead, a steep passage up (the way
on) to the left and a tiny roof tube ('Short Circuit') which also connects to
the way on but which is impassable.

<h4>Oldham Pitch</h4>

<p>The passage comes out at a double pitch head (two holes leading to the
same place). Above is more shaft, the top of which can be reached by a climb
back in Yapate, and an audible connection to the approach rift.

<p>Down the 25m Oldham pitch is a stream rift to a 6m pitch. At the foot of
this is a hole down and a squeeze along a rift to the right.

<p>Through the hole is 3m climb down to a damp view along a too tight rift.

<h4>Triple A</h4>

<p>The first squeeze is 'AA' ('Double A') and 1m beyond it is another ('AAA'
or 'Triple A') which is great fun, especially with tackle, as it is angled
down to the head of 'Jackpot', an 8m pitch.

<h4>Fifty Francis's Phreatic Freehang</h4>

<p>The rift becomes much bigger beyond Jackpot and across the ledge is a 13m
pitch 'NiFe' leading via another ledge to Fifty Francis's Phreatic Freehang,
a stunning 40m free pitch. At the foot of this is a 2m climb up to the
continuation, which can be seen through a hole ('Maud's Window') in a rock
arch ('The Mathematical Bridge') at the foot of a further 3m climb down from
where FFPF lands.

<p>The continuation is yet another pitch of 15m with a space off to the right
which connects with Ariadne's aven below. At the bottom of this pitch is a 1m
diameter hole onto a final 8m pitch ('FX2') to the phreatic level
('Electrolyte Level').

<h4>Electrolyte Level</h4>

<p>To the left of FX2 is a pair of high avens ('Ariadne's Aven') with a
beautiful pocked and pebbled floor. At the back of the aven there is a 4m
climb up to nothing very exciting.

<p>To the right is a 2m sandy climb to a roped traverse around a 10m long 4m
deep hole.

<p>Near the foot of FX2 the passage cuts down below the sand and rock floor.
It is easy to climb down into this but it soon becomes sufficiently tight to
require removal of SRT gear. Following this tortuous passage through a small
choke leads back out into the main passage at the bottom of the traverse
hole.

<p>In the right hand wall of the hole is a 1.5m by 0.5m passage. This also
soon requires gear removal and is both small and has a couple of athletic
bits. After about 30m it crosses an even more ridiculous passage which could
possibly be followed if this was Mendip. Beyond this there are several
zig-zags of slightly uphill flat-out crawling culminating in a nasty duck
which can be baled to make it a bit less awful. Beyond this is a fork with a
difficult skydive (Quaking-style) 3m climb/pitch to the left into what looks
like larger passage. This would require some rigging to re-ascend.


<p>Right at the fork is a steeply ascending (55&deg;) passage through which
at least an audible connection back to the main passage probably exists. It
was not followed due to lack of time and enthusiasm, but the sound of bolting
was heard.

<p>Beyond the hole the sandy-floored passage continues past a 0.3m diameter
hole in the floor. This is a tight 3m pitch down to a sand-choked chamber.

<p>The passage ends in an amazing 8 inch thick false compacted sand floor and
a 5m pitch down to a sand slope. This chokes at the bottom, and the top leads
into a large chamber with a cracked mud and sand floor. There is a choked 15m
pitch in the floor, a small tube to the right and a 4m pitch up the opposite
wall.

<p>The tube descends for about 10m to a small rift. A climb up for about 5m
is possible before it gets too wide and muddy.

<p>Up the 4m pitch the ascent continues via a short climb and a 3m
free-climbable pitch to a boulder-floored chamber. A loose tube leads back
down from here to the sandy chamber and there is a 5m pitch down to an
impassable rift. Off to the right is a crawl to a T-junction. Left it soon
gets too tight. Right leads to a pitch which looks down on the 5m climb up
from the small rift mentioned above.
<hr />

<h3>FLAPJACK II</h3>

<p>This leads off from -50m down Flapjack at a rather convenient ledge. Back
behind the ledge, a narrow rift leads off via two small pitches (7m and 7m)
to a small chamber with water entering in one corner. The continuation of the
rift ('No, you go first') is more complex with different levels (guide string
remains) and an awkward last right hand corner. Rift leads to top of an 8m
pitch into a larger chamber.

<h4>Too Much Too Soon</h4>

<p>The character of the cave changes as the chamber opens into a 100m pitch,
'Too Much Too Soon'. Traverse to right and up to reach a Y-hang (42m
free-hang). No other ways continue. The pitch lands on a big ledge at
-65/70m, and there is a further ledge 10m down. From here a final rebelay
gives a 20/25m hang down last section of 5m phreatic riser to land on
squelchy muddy floor, 'Splatdown'. Opposite the landing point is a small tube
leading to a 3m climb. A 6m climb follows down to a small chamber from which
an impenetrable rift drops 8 to 10m to water.
<hr />

<h3>LEFT HAND ROUTE</h3>

<h3>POWERSTATION</h3>

<p>An impressive pitch series that doesn't seem to go anywhere.

<p>At the corner before Arrow Chamber there are a couple of fallen blocks and
some holes in the floor. The smallest hole, on the outside of the corner was
the way chosen although they all seem to go into the same rift. This first
pitch is 7m down to the stone-covered Foulness Ledge. From here is the
classic 35m Dounreay pitch down to a ledge.

<p>From here you can continue down a further 5m pitch (Sizewell A) or go
through a rift to the left to another 5m rift pitch (Sizewell B). There is a
visual connection between the bottom of these two pitches.

<p>There is a further 3m drop from the bottom of Sizewell A to a floor with a
narrow hole in it and a boulder slope up to a window onto a big space,
probably the top of Dinorwig, and a very awkward, tight passage just to the
left of the window. This looks over a couple of holes in the floor and has
not been pushed.

<p>Through the narrow hole is a 9m pitch to a ledge looking out onto a
massive shaft. This is Dinorwig, a 53m pitch with a small rift at the bottom.
A 4m pitch under a large boulder leads to a 13m pitch. Halfway down this on
the left is a dead end passage. At the bottom are a couple of small ways off,
both of which are blocked.

<hr />
<!-- LINKS -->
<ul id="links">
<li>Cambridge Underground 1991,
<a href="http://cucc.survex.com/jnl/1991/index.htm">Table of Contents</a></li>
<li>1990 Expedition info:
<ul>
<li><a href="index.htm">Index</a> (more detail than in this list)</li>
<li><a href="log.htm">Logbook</a></li>
<li><a href="report.htm">Expo Report</a> (Diary)</li>
<li><a href="162163.htm">Entrances 162 and 163</a></li>
<li><a href="newent.htm">New Entrances</a></li>
<li>Surveying Report:
<ul>
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<li><a href="svy2.htm"> 2: Survey Production</a></li>
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