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<head><title>2002 Expo Logbook</title></head>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" />
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<h1>Expo 2002</h1>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">28/07/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Earl</u> + Mark</div>
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<div class="triptitle"> Journey - + 1/2 Ton of Expo gear go to Austria in a van</div>
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<p>Departed Cavendish Labs at 4.10pm, having finally got (nearly) all the necessary gear together an dpacked into Earl's van and the
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Wookmobile (Ol having taken a good amount of gear out already). Mark had passed his driving test a week before, and so I was wondering
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what the drive woudl be like. I'm pleased to report that it was entirely fine. Mark drove to Dover and we took the 8.15pm Sea France
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ferry to Calais. Needing some fuel we tried to find the Calais ELF station. As we ended up in a Carrefour carpoark where the 24hr pums
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didn't take English credit cards, herewith some directions: from the ferry terminal, take the main road out following signs to Dunkirk and
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Calais centre. At the turnoff for Calais centre, <u>don't go to Calais centre</u> (which is the first exit on the roundabout). Instead,
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carry on round the roundabout 3/4 to where the ELF station is visible.</p>
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<p>Anyway, Mark drove on to just after Brussels. Slightly oddy, we were stuck in a traffic jam at 1:30am getting into Brussels. Quite why
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was uncertain, but tailbacks several miles at this time of night seemed odd. I drove on from Brussels to within 50km of Frankfurt. By this
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time it was 6.30am and we decided that some sleep was in order. We pulled off the motorway (leaving he early morning rush hour traffic
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behind) and found a random layby and deployed carrymats and sleeping bags in the early morning sun. I managed to grab a few hours' sleep
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before being roasted out of my pit by the sun, but unfortunately Mark was kept awake by a surprising quantity of traffic on this rural
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road. After a brief breakfast we continued along the A3; I drove to near Regensburg, where Mark took over to complete the journey.</p>
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<p>As we were good and paid up for an Austrian vignette for the motorways, we thought we would try the new motorway from Wles to Liezen
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rather than the more usual Ried-Volklabruck-Gmunden-Bad Ischl route. This would have been a reasonable choice, not much faster, but
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somewhat simpler. However, the motorway was still under construction so we got to go round mountains, admiring the new but unused tunnels
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that will one day carry the motorway through them. As a finale, the 5km road tunnel under the Pyhrnpaß is two-way without any
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central reservation and only minimal lighting... Anyway, continued on to Liezen and Bad Mitterndorf and so to Bad Aussee, arriving on time
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for a bier at Hilde's.</p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U 15mins in various road tunnels.</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">28/07/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Wook</u> & Alex</div>
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<div class="triptitle">Journey - The Lardmobile's first big trip</div>
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<p>Having spent the previous week finally fettling the wookmobile to run on veg oil, using the system for the drive to Austria was
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something of a leap of faith, as, for example, only the day before I had melted the float sensor, and I hadn't got round to making the
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tank level sensor work (amongst other things) requiring guessing how full the tank is.</p>
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<p>Supposed to catch a 9.30 ferry & be at the port at 8.30. Left my home at 5.20, a mere 20 mins late for intending to get to Alex's
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near Colchster at 6. Unfortunately car died en route. Foud that one fo the 3 plastic T-pieces in the plumbing had melted, despite being OK
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for various trips in the previous week. Swapped bits around to get going again but dropped cap afer bleeding system (aargh!) and wasted
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more time looking for it. Finally pinched one off a bike tyre and continued. Took ages to get to Colchester and then got a bit lost trying
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to find Alex's. All this meant it was 7.15 at Alex's (1 1/2 hours late). At this point realized Colchester is no closer to Dover than
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Cambridge. Net result is we missed the ferry by 15mins - first time I've ever missed an outgoing ferry. Waited until 01.45 (getting some
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kip) & then nice 2hr kip on board (Norfolk lines -> Dunkirk). Then usual drive across Europe, elivened somewhat by buying loads of
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lard in supermarkets & pouring it into system (cheapest oil comes in 1 litre pots!) Arrived at Hilde's ~11pm in time for a couple of
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beers. Bloody Hell - it works! Only problem was a horrible graunching from rear left whieel which is obviously shagged - hopefully it'll
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make it back to the UK.</p>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">30/07/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Wook</u> + Ol</div>
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<div class="triptitle">Loser Plateau - Gear carrying</div>
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<p>Carry up hill & install bivi, extracting gear from cave to install water collection. </p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U: Wook 30mins</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">31/07/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Wook</u> + Ol</div>
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<div class="triptitle">Loser Plateau - Loser Plateau</div>
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<p>Moved gear to cave. Tried to follow portal row beyond 40e. Thrashed through bunde for a bit but found nothing so came back higher up
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finding a copule of promising holes, see next write-up. </p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U: 10mins in 02-W-01</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">01/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Duncan</u></div>
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<div class="triptitle"> Journey - flies to expo</div>
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<p>...well, most of the time was spent in cars, buses or trains, but bang on 12 hours from my bed to the fridge in the tatty hut.</p>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">01/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Wook</u> + Ol</div>
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<div class="triptitle">40 - Loser Plateau - Surface work near portal row</div>
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<p>After carrying more shit up hill it was too late to do a big Eishöhle trip so we decided to check out a couple of caves we found
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the day before (when trying to see if there were more entrances beyond "portal row" after delivering our caving gear). There was a cave in
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a gully & a huge shaft, neither of which showed markings or signs of descent.</p>
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<p><b>40f</b>: Returned to big shaft (just 20m from below traverse on 163 -> 40s route) to find that the obvious rig point had a shiny
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stainless fixed hanger - so much for it being new! Wook dropped shaft to see what happened. Classic pitch lands on slope to snow. Down
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side of snow leads into passage containing ... red climbing rope, i.e. the top of Brennerbeserlschluf (40e) before the snow volcano into
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SVH - i.e. this shaft is 40f - Königschacht. GPSsed it. </p>
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<p><b>02-W-01</b>: Next went to look at other "new" cave (~120m away from 40f on 349°). On looking to rig short 10m pitch noticed
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there was a bolt - someone has been here before. At bottom of pitch narrow passage comes back parallel to upper passage to squeeze. Ol
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went round outside to find another entrance which comes in here. Significant draught comes out of canyon in floor, but this is blocked by
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boulders. Very easy dig with a crowbar to get in. GPS: UTM 33T 0411445 5281039 (WGS84). Grade 2 survey - see survey book. </p>
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<p>Also drew survey of 40f & area plan covering both. Photoed 40f & put in tag bolt.</p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U: 40f Wook 35mins; 02-W-01 Wook 25mins Ol 10mins</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">2/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Duncan</u> + Mark</div>
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<div class="triptitle">Cave 2002-01 - 234 - Artischockehöhle (2002-01) + Hauchhöhle (2001-09)</div>
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<p>First off popped some bolts into 204a for an improved descent of the cave. Then went + surveyed the newly found Artischockehöhle. Fine
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3m walking passage ends in a boulder choke with a couple of chambers separated by crawls. Dunks the daft managed to entomb himself in the
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choke for half an hour, eventually digging himself out. Then went to survey Hauchhöhle, but instead spent about 3 hours digging, finding
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some crawls and a new ~20m draughting pitch</p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U 1 hr in 2002-01, 3 hrs in 2001-09</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">02/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Wook</u> + Ol</div>
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<div class="triptitle">40 - Eishöhle, Mission Impossible</div>
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<p>Rigged in. Ol had foolishly removed traverse line at top of "Good Afternoon Mr Phelps" (to stop it getting trapped in the ice). So had
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to use 5 ice-screw placements to regain the top. Then rigged next climb & pitches down to duck to find the pool very wet again. Pushed
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sacks through & continued to pendule. Used old rope to get across but put new rope on it as it had been across shaft all year. Then up
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ramps as far as bottom of "for down". Time to go home in order to get down hill for more gear. Useful start.</p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U: 5 hrs.</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">04/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Wook</u> + Ol</div>
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<div class="triptitle">40 - Eishöhle, Mission Impossible</div>
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<p>Shedloads of gear: 98m rope for connecting down rift plus drill + battery, 2 more bags of rope + small bag of food + rigging gear. Far
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too much shit for 2. Oh yes, and 20m of hosepipe! Put hose into sump and with some difficulty set it siphoning down big MI pitch. Then on
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+ up, rerigging last ramp above "for down". Fonally on up to last year's QMs at Crack of Doom.</p>
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<p>Next went up to rope hanging out of roof. Ol shinned up & took off gear to try squeeze at top. Just got even more miserable beyond.
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Declared dead. Entertaining time reversing + derigging without leaving hangers behind. Ol succeeded in climbing back down at some risk to
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life + limb. Small rock knocked down speared a hole right through 10m bit lying at base!</p>
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<p>Concluded that draught comes out of thin canyon in roof (as well as Crack of Doom). Went back to main rift where Ol dropped huge rock on
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his foot climbing back out. Whilst he retreated, Wook had a look up the ramp. Blind at the top but off to the right is a climb up a
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canyon. Too hard to solo but there is an easy "back way" which lets you look down several metres into a large canyon lower down. Difficult
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5m climb down gets to shelf but rope needed to go further. Now definitely time for bed, so made our way out, finding that duck level had
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dropped ~10cm in 7hrs.</p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U: 9 3/4 hrs.</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">05/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Wook</u> + Ol</div>
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<div class="triptitle">Loser Plateau - Surface investigations in Eishöhle area</div>
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<p>As Ol had bruised foot, went to sort some surface stuff. Went to bowl containing 40s (Gruner Eingang), 217 + 229 + another hole.</p>
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<p><b>229</b>: First put tag bolt in for 229 (explored + surveyed by ARGE in 2000). Point "1" inside cave was obvious. Surface point "0"
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was less obvious (paint faded) but found it after a bit. Unable to put bolt in here as point crumbled, so put it in middle of <font
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face="Symbol">W</font> 20cm away. Didn't put in tag as didn't have one. Resurveyed 0-1 (as a check) and surveyed 0-tag bolt. GPSsed nearby
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(2m away to get out from under cliff a bit). Sketch of entrance area done. Incorrectly thought this cave was 226 at time of survey;
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records all corrected. Photoed entrance + approach.</p>
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<p><b>2002-W-02</b>: Next went to check out rift hole directly below 229, as there seemed to be no evidence that it has been properly
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described, despite definitely having been looked at (probably repeatedly). Ent is about 20m below 229 + 15m away from 40s. 5m deep rift,
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snow at bottom. Upper end chokes, lower end continues into narrow canyon going in direction of 40s. There is a vocal connection at the
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start of the canyon to 217. (Light can just be seen - far too narrow to pass). Surveyed cave (grade 3-4), put in tag bolt (but no tag),
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and surveyed to 40s tag.</p>
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<p><i>[Editor's note: Owing to a cockup with lost kataster forms, several caves in this area were allocated numbers that had in fact been
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given to ARGE, and new numbers were later issued. I have copied out the description verbatim, using the numbers then in use; but these are
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not the final numbers - see <a href="../2004/kataster2004.html">here</a> for a list of the subsequent alterations.]</i></p>
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<p><b>To 233 area</b> Next went up "path" towards 163 but instead of taking down-trending traverse ledge (above 40f) after very steep slope
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up, we continued up slope and to left to look at various things Martin + Olly noted last year. All in area SW of 163 above portal row zone
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+ below VSMK summit cliffs. Very broken area.</p>
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<p><b>233</b>: First went to 233 - Drei Eingang Abdrosselnhöhle (3-entrance choke). Put in tag bolt by main entrance + tag. As other 2
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entrances are within 10m, putting tags on those seemed excessive. </p>
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<p><b>Snow Skylight (2001-08):</b> Right next to 233 ('c' entrance is ~10m from 233c) is this cave. Impressive view down a hole in an
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alcove to sunlit snow (ent a). Top shaft entrance is hidden in bunde above (ent b). Big 5m diameter shaft. Third ent (c) is narrow rift
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connecting to alcove. Descended from single thread over a few rubs to reach bottom (20m rope minimum). Checked it out thoroughly. A proper
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survey would be good. Very photogenic inside. Photoed down shaft, down canyon/alcove pitch, and views of all 3 entrances. Put tag bolt in
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at a. Grade 2 survey.</p>
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<p><b>2001-07</b> Next headed east across choss bowl + steps to 2001-07, Hoffnungschacht ("RATTLE" in the GPS). Very narrow hole in rift
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with [??, could be "fern"] in entrance. Very good rattle when you throw rocks. Good flake to rig off allows descent. Ledge at -8m then
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another at -11, now into wider rift. 2 'tectors needed as rock very sharp. Bottoms at -22m. Choked floor. Can see through to continuation
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below but not suitable for shorts + T-shirt (the whole cave isn't really!) so not checked out to bitter end. If there is a draught it is
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in not out and isn't strong. Ought to be finished off one day. Put in tag/rig backup bolt. Photoed. Grade 2 survey.</p>
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<p><b>HFG-KA88:</b> Next headed down a couple of ledges, closer to 163 to cave marked by Franco-German group in 1988. Markings hard to read
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but look like "1623 / BFG-(?K)(?A)88". There is mention of a "HFG-KA" group exploring L&amul;rchenschacht so that's almost certainly what
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it says. Nice sloping shaft on rift/diaclase. Photoed markings, entrance + approach view. GPSsed as "BFG88" (since renamed "HFG88"). Has
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red splodge which is probably a "+" rather than a "-". Needs tagging.</p>
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<p><b>163:</b> Climbed around and down into 163 bowl. Photoed ent with cave-marking board + checked it was tagged (so 163 tag left in box
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is superfluous).</p>
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<p><b>234 (Speedy Ant)</b>: Finally followed path towards 162 for ~100m to "Speedy Ant" cave. Put in tag bolt + 234A tag. Dropped pitch to
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snow + found continuation through small hole into space at bottom. Very miserable in shorts due to snow! Grade 2 survey.</p>
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<p>Finally went home for tea!</p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U Wook 45min in 2002-W-02, 20min in 2001-08, 15min in 234. Ol 10min in 2002-W-02.</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">06/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Wook</u> + Ol</div>
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<div class="triptitle">Loser Plateau - Back on surface</div>
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<p>Ol's foot still poorly in welly so took gear back up to yesterday's caves to survey + finish off / push. Ol found one about 8m off the L
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of the path, shortly after leaving 40s before steep section past 40f. Unobvious slot entrance looks choked but in fact can be climbed donw
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7m to look into largish chamber (~6m across). Needs rope for descent. Did sketch survey, put in tag/rig bolt + GPSsed as <b>02-OB-01</b>.
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Photoed ent + approach view, then carried to what we were supposed to be doing.</p>
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<p><b>88F + 230</b> Ol went and found these two and tagged them whilst Wook was faffing down 234.</p>
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<p><b>234:</b> Down again. Took ages due to solo surveying down pitch after Ol had gone. Then dropped through tight slot after moving a
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rock - quite exciting as a little committing. Inside large snow slope with 3 avens. Choked at far end. Surveyed as far as possible on own.
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Pitch off to one side needed Ol down to pass me more rope. Also now able to measure chamber with someone to tape. Pitch went ~8m down past
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ice to a choke. Off out. Now started raining properly; hid in bivi site opposite 163 for half an hour before heading back to bivi + down
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hill.</p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U: Wook 2hrs, Ol 30mins in 234; 10mins in 02-OB-01.</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">8/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Duncan</u>, Steve</div>
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<div class="triptitle">204 - Rigging down Ariston</div>
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<p>Rigged down Ariston series with Steve + a big bag of rope. Snow levels on 2nd pitch of the entrance series very low, so went via Thread
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Pitch rather than Stitch This.</p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U 5hrs</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">8/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople">Wook, <u>Olly</u></div>
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<div class="triptitle">40 - Eishöhle</div>
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<p>Back to the top of MI to look at the continuation of the rift which Wook found last time. Siphon still siphoning the duck - still not
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empty. Realised that the pushing front we'd forgotten the drill bit (but had carried the drill + battery). Rigged off naturals with the
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36m dynamic rope. Looks like the rift is continuing up at much the same angle, but is now somewhat wider - at least at higher levels.
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Pushed up to waterfall (i.e. floor of rift has risen to our level) and also traversed back to bypass our rigging and return to last ramp
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of 2001 series. Scaling rift looks hard. Might be possible to regain top by entering from higher window up ramp, but hard to be
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enthusiastic about yet more bolting up when we're already 100m above our target. Surveyed and derigged to ramp after pendule. Tried to
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take some photos of MI with Expo camera and also with Wook's digital. Only one digital one worked - hopefully film worked better! Emerged
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at 5.20am to glorious dawn.</p>
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<div class="timeug">T/U 10 hours (?)</div>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">9/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople">Tony, Alex, <u>Earl</u></div>
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<div class="triptitle">204 - Steinbrücken</div>
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<p>Went in through 204E. Earl rigged the main 204e pitch, adding a bolt, but leaving it in need of another rebelay. Tony joined us and we
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descended to Boulder Coaster / Treeumphant Passage junction. Walked round to Great Oak Chamber to look at the feasibility of attempting
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the traverse to the large A lead visible across the chamber. After a bit of thought, we go for it. Tony lifelines Earl out from a boulder
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on one side of the chamber. As I go, I clear a ledge of loose boulders and add a number of bolts with shiny new drill. Feeding the rope
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through a carabiner at each hanger means I don't have to tie the knots as I go, plus Tony can give me just the right amount of rope,
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withough me bothering with a stop or having a heavy tackle sack dangling off me. Also, the rope is always tight, and if I did fall the
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fall factor is much less than 0.1 as there is rope through the karabiners to take the shock. From what was an uncertain start, a good
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ledge and taut traverse emerges. When I got to the end I returned to the start, rigging the rope properly to the maillons. Alex and Tony
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came to see what lies beyond.</p>
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<p>After only a few minutes I am called across to bring rope and slings. It appears that the huge A lead closes down within about 15m, and
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the only way on is a couple of C-grade leads in one wall. We try a small phreatic tube, but it gets rather committing, and climb up a
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loose flakey wall, but that also becomes a bit risky. We decide to run away.</p>
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<p>We leave the traverse rigged for a photography and survey trip, and Earl suggests that the quickest way back might be through 204a (we
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did not go back out of 204e as it needed another rebelay to avoid a rub). So we go through No Pain No Gain and up to the base of Thread
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Pitch, which Duncs had rigged earlier that day. However, there was NO ROPE there... "Maybe he rigged Pendulum Pitch instead?" we thought.
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So we went to Pendulum Pitch to find that there is NO ROPE there either. I check at You're So Veined, and there is indeed a rope there, so
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the conclusion we came to is that for some reason Duncs has pulled the rope up after him on leaving the cave...</p>
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<p>So we return through No Pain No Gain and ehad out to 204d via Swings and Roundabouts. The rubble slope up to Suspended Solution is still
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really loose and if anything there are more threatening Big Boulders which could be dislodged by the careless/unwary. We pulled-through on
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the climb donw into Living Daylight Cavern and free-climbed out through 204d. Returned to Steinbrücken bivvy, Tony cursing the "route"
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which had been mainly chosen for surveying (taking in all high points) and not really for ease of progress... A reasonable trip, combining
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new exploration work with a (rather longer than expected) tourist around the main horizontal development in Steinbrücken.</p>
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<hr />
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<div class="tripdate">10/08/2002</div>
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<div class="trippeople"><u>Ben</u>, Duncan, Frank, Anthony</div>
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<div class="triptitle">204 - 204</div>
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<p>Date is actually ??/08/2002</p>
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|
|
<p>Duncan and Ben proceeded to the top of Kiwi Suit pitches and rerigged them placing several bolts. Carried on down Razor Dance and noted
|
|
mud on the walls from trip 2 years ago - no major flooding then. Rigged handline climb and placed 2 bolts. We then continued to the
|
|
undescended pitch found 2 years ago. Traversed out above the pitch head and gained a free hang (approx 15m) well away from the water (3
|
|
bolts used), massive hanging "plate" of rock above the pitch head. We then surveyed down the pitch and into the continuing streamway at
|
|
the bottom. Below the pitch the streamway gets distinctly easier, and continues for about 50m until a climb down (5m) reaches the head of
|
|
another pitch visible beyond.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>At this point Duncan and Ben headed back to the bottom of the new pitch to collect more rope. As we arrived Anthony and Frank could be
|
|
heard above. Ben and Duncan headed out as Anthony and Frank continued exploration. Ben and Duncan finally reached the surface at 1.30am, a
|
|
trip of 12 hours. Ben's brand new Meander oversuit was totally fucked after its first ever trip.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Frank and <u>Anthony</u> carried on. Frank put some bolts in the next pitch. Anthony descended 12m to a ledge that the water bounces
|
|
off. A deviation off what proved to be a temporary natural failed to save him from a thorough drenching on the rest of the descent. This,
|
|
plus a likely rub point, prevented him from going all the way to the bottom. It is about as far again from the ledge, and it appears that
|
|
the stream flows off into a rift again at the bottom. There is a parallel route that might provide a dry descent. After that we buggered
|
|
off out, emerging at 5.30am.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U Duncan + Ben 12hrs, Anthony + Frank 11 1/2 hours</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">10/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople">Wook, Tess, Alex, *Ol's Mum, *Ol's Dad, <u>Ol</u></div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">40 - SVH tourist</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Walked up with parents, and met Alex (who had come down from 204) at Appelhaus junction. Wook had gone to collect Tess from Salzburg
|
|
airport and they caught us up just as we reached the 40A bivvy (took us 2 hours - not bad going). Had a brew and went on to 40h, descended
|
|
and toured the chamber. Mum tripped over crampons twice, but still seemed to enjoy it. Alex had a go at ascending the first MI pitch and
|
|
got strung up on the rebelay while we shouted helpful advice. Journey downhill to 1 1/2 hours (Wook + Tess stayed at the bivvy) arriving
|
|
at the car just as darkness fell.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U 2 hours</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">14/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople">Mark, <u>Ol</u></div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">Loser Plateau - 40 - Surface work near Eishöhle</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>or 15th</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Walked up, investigated 2 holes on left of 40a-> Portal Row route, just past the hole we're fairly sure is 40b. Both descend tot he
|
|
entrance Thilo says is 40d, emerging high on the right wall. Sketch map:</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="centre"><img src="logbook1.jpg" /></div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Trogged down to 40D to check thaey did indeed connect. Looked around 40D area a bit:</p>
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|
|
|
<div class="centre"><img src="logbook2.jpg" /></div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Mark suggested the flattish sandy area could be fettled for use as a bivvy - it does appear to be inside the dripline, so might not
|
|
need a tarp - 40a can get very drippy after prolonged rain.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U 2 hours</div>
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|
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|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">16/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople"><u>Ol</u></div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">Loser Plateau - Surface work near Eishöhle</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Walk up from car park to Appelhaus junction with Mark. He heads to 204 to collect gear while I head to Eishöhle area. Fettle bivvy tarp
|
|
back up (it blew down in the bad weather) the over to meet Mark and Steve, doing some tagging of 2001-XX caves. Tagged "Bootlace"
|
|
(<b>2001-11</b>) and decided that in fact it's free-climbable. Descended. Doesn't go.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Next up to Big Job (<b>2001-10</b>). Tagged. Had another look, but had not light so couldn't reach a better conclusion than last
|
|
year.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>On to Funkberaterschacht (<b>2001-09</b>). Tagged.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>On to "3-entrance choke". Attached two tags left before (ran out of bolts!) Then over to meet Mark and Steve. Got back to Bivvy in
|
|
deepening twilight.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U Ol 15mins</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">17/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople">Steve, Mark, <u>Ol</u></div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">40 - Eishöhle, checking out passages behind 40A bivvy</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Decided to see if we could find any side leads from older parts of Eishöhle, since SVH has been looked at rather thoroughly. Rigged
|
|
down ramp and over edge. No sign of spits for rebelay so used a 'tector. Steve followed, Mark reached last rebelay before edge and decided
|
|
he'd rather go in through 40s. Later turned out he'd fled back to base camp instead. The pitch down has a very spacious feel - the edge
|
|
rapidly retreats as you descend and you're hanging in the middle of a large, long chamber (Altausseer Halle), partly lit by daylight.
|
|
Steve reached bottom and we started to explore. </p>
|
|
|
|
<p>One way (away from SVH) leads to ramp rigged with blue polyprop rope. (Someone must have
|
|
bought it in bulk!) We put on some SRT rope instead. At base is a large chamber with an ice floor (Teufelberger Halle). You can get a long
|
|
way along this by traversing along chossy ledges on the right wall. West up breakdown passage leads to a snow and ice slope with daylight
|
|
filtering in from above (Schneehalle). This entrance is probably 40b. Steve quickly adjusts to life with crampons and we stomp around
|
|
checking for ways on. Nothing obvious, apart from a passage which it later turns out leads back to Teufelberger Halle. </p>
|
|
|
|
<p>We return the way we came, cross Teufelberger Halle with crampons, and enter rift at far end. Remove crampons and probe around a bit -
|
|
looks like there could be several ways on. Retracing our steps to the bottom of the pitch, we descend the breakdown slope to more ice,
|
|
follow the passage towards SVH, turning back at the rope up towards Grüner Eingang, since we've not met Mark. On the way back up the
|
|
entrance pitch, we notice a few possible windows in the walls which might make interesting bolting projects.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U Ol + Steve 8 hours, Mark 10 minutes</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">17/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople">Steve, Mark, <u>Ol</u></div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">Loser Plateau - Surface work</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Earlier that same day ... looked at shaft in corner, close to awkward climb, just before 40A on route from Bunter's Bulge. Chokes at
|
|
bottom, but tube off shelf just below entrance could be pushed with a small amount of digging - good for a lazy afternoon. </p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Mark spotted a shaft close by, even nearer the path. Rigged a Y-hang off 2 naturals and descended. Chokes at -16m. Also found very small
|
|
hole directly above 40a - small stones dripped in sometimes fall through into shaft behind bivvy, and there's a vocal connection to the
|
|
bivvy. Hole could probably be enlarged as it seems to be surrounded by soil.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U Ol 30mins</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">17/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople"><u>Martin G</u>, Simon</div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">204 - Tour of Steinbrücken</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>We went in A, and went to the bottom of Wolpertinger Way, to try to remeasure a dodgy leg, which turned out to be OK. So I do not know
|
|
what is going on here. </p>
|
|
|
|
<p>We did a 3m climb down with difficulty, rather than traversing over the top of You're So Veined. We then explored "Up at 35°"
|
|
[<i>this is described as "Up at 45°" on the survey and the guidebook]</i> (which is off 110 Bidet). This was some phreatic passage
|
|
leading to a wet chamber, with a too tight passage. A turning off the main way led to a chamber with a pitch, which I free climbed via a
|
|
crawl which led back to the chamber, which turned out to have three rifts going off which were all very tight. We then surveyed a passage
|
|
between Treeumphant and Crowning Glory, which was explored but not surveyed last year, mutter. Simon got cold so I had to finish the
|
|
survey myself. We then exited through E.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U 8 hours</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">18/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople">Steve, <u>Ol</u></div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">Loser Plateau - Surface work near Eishöhle</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Gloriously sunny, so we opt for staying mostly above ground. I seem slightly keener, so got to take caving gear, while Steve gets to
|
|
sit in the sunshine. First jot - survey a leg from the remains of a cairn (on the 2000 surface survey from near portal row to 40a) ot the
|
|
40b tag (placed early this expo). </p>
|
|
|
|
<p>That done, we followed the path for another 10 or 20m, then hacked off left up the hill to sort out some caves Martin and I noted in
|
|
2001. First was <b>2001-12</b>. Put in bolt for tag and used it to ab into the large doline. reached floor and checked out the nearest
|
|
possible lead - a small tunnel which gets smaller - probably too tight without excavations. Then hotice that it's probably possible to
|
|
enter doline without rope at point where rim is low and there's a pile of rocks. Go round to surprise Steve. We both return to doline and
|
|
I squeeze through into smaller doline next along fault. Nothing there, so return. Rift at other end looks interesting. Steve finds there's
|
|
another entrance at the other end, and there's a hole down in the middle - with a spit! It's a crap one, but with a good solid boulder as
|
|
a backup I rig and descend. There's a draught out. At the bottom a low passage leads off, rising into a ramp then a rift. There's a cairn
|
|
at the base of the raift just where it becomes too tight. May be possible to traverse at a higher level, but too wide and loose for me to
|
|
be keen to free climb above. Check out parallel ramp on way out (chokes). Later we conclude this is the cave with a "15m long", "8m high"
|
|
rift to a doline with a draughting hole in the floor mentioned in one of the writeups by the VFHM people. Put on "2001-12" tag.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Then dropped a (blind) shaft just near the second entrance. 5m deep.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Next up to "Big Job Cave", <b>2001-10</b> - I went into tack, freeclimbed down. Chokes to right. Left could be excavated.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Onto Funkberaterschacht (<b>2001-09</b>). Descended on tag bolt and natural. Chokes. Replaced tag and sketched survey. </p>
|
|
|
|
<p>On again to stick a tag on Sorry Tree cave <i>[that is, <b>2001-06</b>]</i>. As I drill the hole it starts to hail. Steve packs the
|
|
drill away while I set the spit and spanner the tag. Then we run for 3-entrance choke and shelter until the hail stops.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U Ol 3 hours, Steve 30 mins</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">18/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople"><u>Martin G</u>, Brian</div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">204 - Merry "Fucking" Go Round</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Went in 204E with Earl and Dave as well. We went to Brian's Merry Go Round, and went down the 1st and 2nd pitch which were pre-rigged. I
|
|
then waited as Brian rigged the 3rd pitch, with a traverse line, Y hang and two deviations. Water was heard down the pitch from above, but
|
|
the pitches above were OK. Earl came and checked we were OK before he went out. Then Brian returned, had an underground brew, and we
|
|
surveyed 1st and 2nd pitches.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U 8hrs</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">21/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople">Steve, <u>Ol</u></div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">40 - Try to reach "Window of Opportunity" + derig Mission Impossible</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Come up hill as darkness falls the previous evening. <i>[This has to be the most idiosyncratic tense construction I've ever seen in
|
|
English.]</i> Get up fairly early and I start to bolt across wall at head of big pitch into Altausseer Halle while Steve festers at the
|
|
bivvy (since it'll be a while). Soon realise that (a) I don't have the skyhook Wookey left for me and (b) this is going to be tricky
|
|
without it. Come back out after 3 or 4 spits and we decide to derig MI instead, since the skyhook is probably at 40h. </p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Uneventful derigging trip. Steve ummed and ahhed at the pendule, but when he tried to derig it he crossed it without any problems. Left
|
|
the old rope on the pendule, and lugged out the dynamic which is now even heavier.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Found Wookey's skyhook at Eistunnel entrance.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U ?? hours</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">22/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople"><u>Martin G</u>, Dave L</div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">204 - Plan Not Interesting</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>I woke up at base camp at 8am, to find by 10am that the plan to get up the hill early turned into a sesh. So I grabbed Dave L, to get a
|
|
bus into Bad Aussee, with the plan to get the bus up the hill. But the morning bus had already gone. So we hitched, our first lift was
|
|
after 3km of walking but the next two lifts came quickly. We then walked to Steinbrücken. We went in E, and went down Plan Not
|
|
Interesting. The drill I took wiht me turned out not to work so I rigged off naturals. I then got Dave to do notes of a survey, to much
|
|
complaining. "Why should I draw a plan [<i>for this particular station</i>], it is not interesting" "But, knowing that the plan is not
|
|
interesting is useful information". So Dave wrote "Plan not interesting" in the notes.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U ??</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">22/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople">Steve, <u>Ol</u></div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">40 - Eishöhle, Window of Opportunity</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Back to bolting across the top of Altausseerhalle. Made better progress with the skyhook. Again Steve waited in the bivvy for a
|
|
while.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>I was hanging in space when Steve started shouting. He just heard on the phone that ArGE had made the connection! Suddenly my antics
|
|
seemed rather pointless, so I finished off the spit I was working on, and then headed out. We had a brew then headed down the hill to hear
|
|
the full story from the Germans in the car park.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U ?? hours</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">23/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople"><u>Martin G</u>, Earl</div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">204 - Merry-Go-Round</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>We returned to Merry Go Round, and I descended the 3rd partially rigged pitch. The previously sloping shaft turned vertical, requiring
|
|
two rebelays. These were both rigged too tight, with too long loops in the Fig 8. The bottom is a boulder floor, with a bed of limestone
|
|
with large bivalves. Up slope led to a narrow rift, which looped around to a chamber, which has eyeholes to the first. The roof of the
|
|
chamber is a very large boulder. Downslope in the main chamber another rift leads off, which continues into the floor, with a very tight
|
|
rift.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>In 10m the rift closes down, but the rift below looked almost passable, so I told Earl that it was his turn to rig. He set at the rock
|
|
with a bolting hammer to find all the rock was of very poor quality. He did however find a thread in the ceiling, which he rigged with two
|
|
slings. After much more hammer, Earl decided the vertical squeeze was now large enough, and he descended a few meters into another
|
|
chamber. After Earl demonstrated that the return was possible, I followed and bolted a Y-hang for the next pitch, deviating on a large
|
|
natural a few meters down. The rift continued, then turned into a keyhole passage then phreas with a puddle on the floor. The phreas
|
|
turned back to rift, which looked a bit awkward, so we surveyed and derigged to the bottom of the 3rd pitch where we ran out of time and
|
|
left, leaving the drill and various gear at South Circular.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U 8h</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">23/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople">Martin Sluka, <u>Ol</u></div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">Loser Plateau - 40 - Prospecting on walk up to Eishöhle + SVH tourist trip</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Martin Sluka arrived the previous evening but could only stay for the weekend (today was Friday) so we headed up to the Eishöhle
|
|
bivvy. Martin got distracted by every single hole on the path up, and I got to look at several holes I'd not looked at before. We took the
|
|
route variant which bypasses the climb by the double arrow - turn left rather than dropping down at the lightninged tree. Not far along,
|
|
near a fault intersection, we investigated several holes.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>[Blank box presumably meant to contain a sketch survey]</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Further along the path, after rejoining the usual route, we looked at two holes on the right of the path</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="centre"><img src="logbook3.jpg" /></div>
|
|
|
|
<p>[<i>The arrow top right corresponds to a label saying</i> "On 26th: GPS 33
|
|
410468E 5280126N 1652m (WGS 84). Had to move rocks to allow entry. ~8m deep.
|
|
Choked."]</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Beyond Bunter's Bulge, to the right of the usual (paint marked) route to 40a:</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="centre"><img src="logbook4.jpg" /></div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Finally we reached the 40A bivi and had a snack, then over to Eistunnel for a SVH tourist trip. Martin noticed an odd slanting hole
|
|
near the base of the 50m snow cone, next to the first of 3 major drip holes. Hypothesize that this is formed by warmer air seeping through
|
|
floor and so there is perhaps a passage beneath. Passage through ice slopes, for about 12m at 30-40°.
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">24/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople"><u>Martin G</u>, Earl</div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">204 - Merry-Go-Round</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Duncan and Ben were looking for stuff to carry down the hill. Earl and I returned to Merry Go Round, to finish surveying and derigging
|
|
the 90m rope from the 3rd pitch. Earl derigged and headed out D. I remained to derig the 1st and 2nd, take the rope and our previous day's
|
|
stash to Magic Roundabout. I then left out E derigging as I went. </p>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">25/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople"><u>Martin G</u>, Earl</div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">204 - Plan Not Interesting</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Earl and I surveyed down the 70-odd metre first pitch. I drew up the sketches from Dave L and my previous survey, while Earl continued
|
|
rigging down. When I caught up, Earl had been part way down the next pitch, looking for a route which may stay dry in the wet, with a
|
|
limit of the 5 hiltis we had with us. He used the rope from the previous pitch, which was attached to a horizontal thread in the rift. He
|
|
set along [<i>I think that's what it says</i>] a sloping muddy ledge, to a large natural, which he got a sling around, then abseiled down
|
|
a rope attached to the rope while haging on the rope above with his jammers. [<i>It's a mystery to me what this means, even though I've
|
|
seen the rig</i>] The pitch went down to the floor of the rigt, which descended in both directions, towards the previous pitch a tight
|
|
rift went off, away the pitch continued with a rebelay, to another floor. I came down and rigged the next hang off a horizontal thread at
|
|
the top of the pitch, using two slings and a couple of maillons. This pitch continued in rift passage, and at the bottom the next pitch
|
|
was a short distance away, but we had run out of rope, so we surveyed and derigged out of D. Which involved 3 tackle sacks, 2 dangly bags
|
|
1 blasted yellow box, down climbing a pitch and two tired cavers, who left half the tackle at the entrance to collect the next day.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="timeug">T/U 11 hours.</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<div class="tripdate">29/08/2002</div>
|
|
<div class="trippeople"><u>Duncan</u>, Ben</div>
|
|
<div class="triptitle">Base Camp - TROUBLE</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Had a few quiet beers last night, followed by lots of very noisy ones. A few tins of Weiß Bohnen, Rote Bohnen, Tomaten, etc, etc
|
|
were exploded on the stove, a few pans were rattled a bit and some very raucous singing was done. Turns out that the man over the road
|
|
mistook the exploding cans for gunshots and was very close to calling the plod out. Ruffled feathers required soothing, so this afternoon
|
|
a diplomatic mission was sent bearing a gift of Jagertee and an apology cobbled together in very dodgy German. This seems to have done the
|
|
trick, we were told to "have a good fart" and that Alice was in ordnung.</p>
|
|
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<hr />
|
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