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<title>1984: Logbook</title>
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<h1>Expedition 1984</h1>
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The first part of the log is traditionally taken up by the journey out.<br>
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If this is of no interest, here is a link <a href="#id1984-142-1">to the
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caving</a>!
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<h3>THE WAY OUT</h3>
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-07-22a">1984-07-22 | travel - Team advance party - Orange Fiesta | Brian, <u>Mike T</u>, Wiggy</a>
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<p>Brian, Mike T + Wiggy set off for Dover at 19:30 Friday after an
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excellent feed at Becky's cafe. The ferry was old + slow, so we didn't make
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Belgium 'till 5:30. 10 miles out of the docks we had a flat. This caused
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some lack of confidence in Brian's driving as we thought the bad handling
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was due to his incompetance ! On with the spare, next stop, Austria. The
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landlady's eyes lit up with dollar signs when she met us at 20:30 Saturday.
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-07-22b">1984-07-22 | travel - TEAM MOMENTUM | Andy Dolby, Mike R</a>
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<p>Andy D, Mike R in ROVER the ROVER
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<p>We may not have travelled as fast as everyone else, but by god we had a
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lot of momentum. Interesting steering and a brake drum full of oil added to
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the interest. Left Cam 1 O'Clock Saturday morning, spent most of Saturday
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going to sleep over the wheel, crashed out by the side of a German autobahn.
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Visited Dachau on Sunday. Full of happy smiling people. Ugh. Arrived Sunday
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evening after Rover got hot and bothered on the climb from Bad Goisern
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to Bad Aussee.
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-07-22c">1984-07-22 | travel - THE LITTLE BLUE BASTARD MINI | Andy Waddington, <u>Bill H</u></a>
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<p>Andy W, Bill H + Blue Mini van
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<p>Set off from Bramham X-roads on A1 down to Cambridge in fine style with
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the tyres scraping the wheel arches and the exhaust an inch off the floor.
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Kipped overnight at Becky's and then down to Ramsgate for the Sally-line
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11.00 am Sat crossing to Dunkirk. Very nearly came off the road in France
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due to a sharp corner & Bill's expectation that the brakes would work
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properly.
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<p>Crashed out near Munich in a forest & hoped it wouldn't rain.
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<p>Arrived Grundlsee Sun lunchtime to find C.U.C.C. swimming in the lake.
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-142-1">1984-07-23 | 144 - Day 1 142/41 -> 144 | Mike Martin, Bill, Brian</a>
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<p>It was decided to put 3 intrepid speleos who had never been down 142 on
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this trip. Long delay as Mike's exhaust was welded up. Took wrong turning on
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footpath, got to 142 at 4 pm. In to big chamber pitch no problems on route
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finding. Spent a long time mucking about failing to find the draught from
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the ramp/chamber after the tube. Bill found what later was found to be the
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way on past a small bit of hanging death. H.D. was moved and small sequence
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of ramps + pitches followed. Way on is through here. Tackle dumped and out
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in 20 mins.
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<p>4 hours
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<p><a href="../1983/log.htm#id1983-142-7">Previous trip</a> (last year) /
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<a href="#id1984-142-2">Next trip</a>
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-145-1">1984-07-23 | Wolfhöhle | Pete, Wiggy, Wadders</a>
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<p>Pete + Wiggy persuaded Wadders to help carry horrendous quantities of
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rope, bolts and hangers up to Wolfhöhle. Of course, we didn't take any MRs,
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that would be too easy.
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<p>Wiggy thought that this complete lack of anything to hang rope on would
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mean that we could all go home. He didn't reckon with the super-hero
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qualities of Plank. Needless to say, we ended up rigging all but the last
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two (known) pitches on an assortment of things that I daren't detail 'coz
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it'd frighten the rest of you.
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<p>In @ 16:00, 7 hour trip. Although we knew the way fairly well, bailer
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twine would be useful at night.
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<p>* a rapidly descending rope protector gave Wiggy heart failure when he
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thought it was the sheath !
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<p><a href="../1983/log.htm#id1983-145-11">Previous trip</a> (last year) /
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<a href="#rescue84">Next trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1984-136-1">1984-07-23 | Steinschlag | Mike R</a>
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<p>Horrible walk up burdened down with tackle, it was hard climbing amongst
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the rocks with your rucksack threatening to pull you over. Finally arrived
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at hole after getting thoroughly lost. While we were recovering, Planc
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appeared to beg some MRs. After he'd left we descended the first pitch after
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doing some gardening first. Hell of a lot of loose rocks. Went into big
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chamber and proceeded to rig 2nd pitch. I got stranded on a ledge until Mike
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came back up from the bottom; then we quickly made our way out. Seems to be
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best to keep away from 1st pitch while someone is on it. Easy (relative to
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that on way there) walk back.
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<p><a href="../1983/log.htm#id1983-136-4">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-136-2">Next trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1984-142-2">1984-07-24 | 142 - 142/41 | Mike Martin, Brian, Wiggy</a>
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<p>Mike M, Brian + Wiggy went down 142 because its a shorter walk than
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everywhere else. We spent about 3 hours taking pickies of the 142
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Mega-chamber using six flashguns and lots of other pretty camera gear. Wiggy
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thought that after taking 60 pics, we could justify retireing to the pub
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before it got dark. The majority verdict won + we went down the connection
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to 41. We made the link to a large chamber in 41, put a bolt in on the
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traverse from there + left further explorations for later.
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<p>We pulled all the tackle out to the surface + walked back to the car in
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the rain. In @ 13:00, out @ 23:00. 10 hours.
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<p><a href="#id1984-142-1">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-142-3">Next trip</a>
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-136-2">1984-07-25 | Steinschlag | Mike T and Mike R</a>
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<p>Mike R forgot light part way across the plateau so had to return.
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Underground about 1-30, down very efficiently putting in some extra rebelays
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on the way. (NB: the first 120' pitch could use a rebelay at the protector
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to stop the rope bouncing so much). Passed phreatic level at about -150m,
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then to about 5m below last year. Short on ropes, we calculated that we
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could get back for a couple of beers. Passed John and Bill on the way out,
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back at 10 O'clock, well before the thunderstorm.
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<p>In 13:30, out 20:00, 6½ hours
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<p><a href="#id1984-136-1">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-136-3">Other trip same day</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-136-4">Next trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1984-136-3">1984-07-25 | Steinschlag - SteinschlagSchacht | John & Bill</a>
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<p>Exhausting walk up to S/S/S with full tackle bag. Decided to do a
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"second wave" trip but did not count on thunderstorm. Abbed down
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to pass Mikes T & R at about -100m and did a bit of rerigging and added
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c 24m of new rope. Came out in middle of thunderstorm and dark &
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couldn't find the way back so sat out all night - the nâdir of the
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expedition for your author so far.
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<p>Time in : 15.00 (25th) Time out : 01.00 (26th) Time back at camp site:
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08.00 (26th)
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<p>10 hours
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<p><a href="#id1984-136-1">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-136-2">Other trip same day</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-136-4">Next trip</a>
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-07-25r" name="rescue84">1984-07-25 | Wolfhöhle | Andy Dolby and Pete</a>
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<p>Carefully leaving the survival bag at the entrance, but armed with nearly
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300m of rope, we went down to tidy up last trips rigging (restoring my
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personal SRT gear to its rightful place), finish rigging to last year's
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limit, and push on. We put a ladder on the Bog Seat Pitch, completely
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destroyed the little squeeze just after the first big shaft, and put a bolt
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into the head of the pitch which was previously just belayed to a shitty
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column. Managed to find John's rebelay on Tiddly Pom pitch, which was
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carefully concealed behind a flake. Then some more bits, then we rigged the
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small pitch before last year's final 40m pitch. This lands on a small ledge.
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We found Wiggy's two bolts which we rigged (the start of the 200m Edelrid)
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in a fine Y belay. It's a fine circular shaft, but twanging 10mm Edelrid
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forced a rebelay ~10m from the floor. From here on we were in the new stuff,
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it continues as a completely dry canyon ~4m wide. It looks as if it has been
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washed out very thoroughly, very recently - there are no loose stones
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around, and no mud, but no water flowing at all - I doubt whether it takes
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any water even in flood (see later), it's probably an oxbow for the water
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entering just before the pitch before the 40m - it may well flow in the
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spring thaw. The canyon continues down in smallish pitches (4, 10, 6, 20) to
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a large boulder-strewn section. All were rigged for zero abrasion, but
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non-zero effort. At this bouldery bit there were some superb helictites. In
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general, Wolfhöhle is the best decorated cave in this part of the
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world. Also from this ledge was a pitch (10m ?) which looked to end in a mud
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choke, but may be a way on. But we went down the obvious way, a 30m (?)
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shaft which was rebelayed with various bits and pieces (Team zero
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imagination). This landed on a solid floor, the way to the <u>left</u> led
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to a muddy rift which ended in an aven (could thus be the continuation of
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the pitch we saw on the bouldery bit); the way to the <u>right</u> led, yes,
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you've guessed it, to a muddy rift, BEEZLEY STREET (where the cats have
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rickets) (see note at end). We almost thought this was the final sump, but a
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traverse above (the static puddle) led to some stal (now muddy) and a 15m
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pitch from a flake. This dropped into the bottom of a fine phreatic shaft
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with fine round potholes in the floor, another rift leads off (with puddle
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in the bottom too) and where a slab falls across the rift a pitch (10m) was
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undescended (our caving correspondant informs me). This area looks a bit
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like the phreatic bits in 115 (well, a bit, anyway).
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<p>So, at 1.30 am after 12 hours caving, we turned round and had to
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negotiate all our nasty rigging. We got back to the pitch just above where
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the stream disappears down the floor, and all of a sudden heard a WHOOSH and
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a couple of seconds later the water volume tripled. Not being very slow, we
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realised we'd been hit by a flood pulse. We retreated to think in the dry
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bit for a while, but after half an hour decided to try and get out. We got
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up the 50m Edelrid OK, but the lower section of Tiddly Pom pitch proved too
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wet and we had to retreat to the rift before this, which was reasonably
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draught free. We sat down to wait and assessed our situation, 10 hours
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carbide, the very broken remains of a packet of Dig bics and 2 cherry sweets.
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We attempted intellectual conversation - "What time is it
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Andy ?", "I'm bored Pete, can't we go out yet ?",
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"Has the water gone down yet ?"
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<p>We played I-Spy (Dark, bristle, innertube, eyebrows), rigged each other
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up in strait jackets, and to maintain traditions, "huddled together to
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keep warm" - Shalford man in rescue drama - and built stone walls
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without much success. After 3 hours, the water started to go down, but being
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simple lads and only expecting one pulse, we waited; unfortunately it went
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up again. After it had fallen and risen once again, we realised it was
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raining fairly continuously, and it might be days before it fully went down.
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So after 12 hours wait, we took the advantage of a slight downflow in the
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water to make a break for it. The bottom 15m were extremely wet (similar to
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Main Shaft in reasonable water), but fortunately, John's rebelay was out of
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the water, which had been our main worry because Andy's gobbler doesn't work
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too well under water. The only problem was opening jammer safety catches
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with frozen fingers. We both suffered slight nauseous shock as our fingers
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defrosted at the head of the big pitch.
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<p>The rest of the way out was damp everywhere, but no severe problems. At
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every turn we were expecting to hear cheerful voices and friendly faces, but
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we emerged at 5pm to fine mist and drizzle, with no sign of burnt rice
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pudding anywhere. Where was our rescue ? (see next exciting installment).
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<p>Pete 28 hours underground, 18 caving hours.
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<p>Uneducated bugger:
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<p><blockquote>"... the <u>rats</u> have all got rickets,<br>
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they spit through broken teeth..."</blockquote>
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<p><a href="#id1984-145-1">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-145-3">Next trip</a>
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-07-25t" name="rescue">1984-07-25 | Wolfhöhle - The Rescue (or the day Wadders almost had to go caving) | Wadders, Mike Martin, Brian, Wiggy</a>
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<p>It was wet. Team Boy Sprout had been performing various rain-dances for
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several days, and they finally succeeded. They timed the thunderstorm so it
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caught 2/3rds of team exploding sweetcorn underground down Wolfhöhle.
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<p>The morning dawned (or rather 10:30am dawned) to find Mike (unwashed)
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Thomas muttering dire things about rescues and how his gear was still on the
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SchwarzmoosKergle [KÖGEL Pratt !!] and so someone else would have to
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go. This was met with a suitable lack of enthusiasm. Eventually four
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volunteers (?) were found to form the first 2 waves of the rescue:
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<pre>
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/ Wadders - Qualified by having not been caving yet<br>
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Team A | + hence had dry gear.<br>
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| Also knew where Wolfhole was.<br>
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The only { Mike M - Was stupid enough to bring a wetsuit<br>
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volunteer ----> (uninformed burk !! Left westuit at campsite +<br>
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\ took furry gear !!)<br>
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/ Brian - Had his gear at the camp<br>
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Team B {<br>
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\ Wiggy - Knew the cave
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</pre>
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<p>Having decided who was going on the projected rescue, the next task was
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to put off doing anything for as long as possible, in the hope that it would
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prove unnecessary. Hence we auctioned off Pete's and Andy's gear before
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retireing to the cafe to mull over how to drag two very large dead bodies
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out of Wolfhöeler.
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<p>In the cafe, opinions diverged as to the probable state of our intrepid
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duo. The three states we oscillated between were:
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<p>(1) Crazy sods, rigging into the abyss and now cut off by rising water.
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<br>(2) Shattered bodies lying at the bottom of a pile of broken tackle.
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<br>(3) Still rigging after 28 hours (Pete was on the trip).
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<p>Opinions also varied as to which of these states was prefereable. By now
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the possible confusion of two independent rescue parties was judge
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dangerous, so a third party was formed. We returned to the camp at 1pm and
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sent Andy and Mike off with almost all the first aid kit (2 bandages and a
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lot of morphine derivative), lots and lots of food and a whistle (see
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later).
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<p>At 3pm, wave 2 set out. Discovering the Loser restaurant shut, we had to
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set out. Heading straight for Wolfhöhle in the mist, carrying enough
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tackle to haul out an entire troop of dead boy scouts, we heard whistles
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through the impenetrable miasma. "Thank god they're safe" we
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thought, but no ...
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<p>Instead of rescuing Pete and <strike>Dobbers</strike> *
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Andy Dolby, we had instead<br>
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* Dobbers objects to being called DOBBERS<br>
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rescued Wadders and Mike Martin. <-- incorrect - we heard voices so
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blew whistle to attract their attention (assuming Andy and Pete only to find
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party 2). NB We were <u>not</u> lost. We <u>had</u> been.
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<p>We decided that rescue seemed so easy that we set off to the cave again.
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Indeed rescue was so easy that the moment we got to the cave Pete and Andy
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appeared.
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<p>We marked the way to Wolfhohle with twine to stop people getting lost.
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<p>Time underground 0 hours.
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<p>Case for the defence:
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<p>Well, OK, so we got lost. Found 101 though ! No-one's been there for seven
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years ! And we <u>weren't</u> rescued. We had just got ourselves back to col
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and were setting off back to Wolfhöhle again when Wiggy arrived and told
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us we were in the wrong place (We weren't - and it took some while to
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convince him). Only then did Team B lead (almost) faultlessly to
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Wolfhöhle - the timing perfect. A.
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<hr /><a id="id1984-142-3">1984-07-29 | 142 - The Day | Bill, Pete, Mike Martin</a>
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<p>After several days unsuccessfully trying to get someone to walk across to
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142 in the rain, I finally succeeded to persuade Pete. Bill, bored, came
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along for the sardines !
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<p>Through 142 into 41 (despite knacked back) + rigged traverses on ramps.
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At point where you descend ramp to route to Big Pitch we explored up.
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Ascended ~40m varying from easy to desperate. Explored side passage
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(previously looked at) + surveyed "connection" with 143 to head of
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each Big Pitch route.
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<p>Time under 8 hrs.
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<p><a href="#id1984-142-2">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-142-4">Next trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1984-142-4">1984-07-30 | 142 | John, Brian + Wiggy</a>
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<p>John, Brian + Wiggy (Team waster) went down 142 to look at the possible
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connection and take more pix. Unfortunately, the sketch opposite wasn't
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available at the time, so we got lost. This was due in part to the previous
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team omitting to mention an 18m rope we needed to descend ! Ah well, lots
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more photographs were taken and an early exit to bright sunshine was made.
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All very civilised - the next stage is to drop caving entirely and just take
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piccies above ground.
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<p>Time ~6 hours
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<p>We were met at the BergRest by a guy with full local gear (shaving brush
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etc.) who seemed to be telling us off (we couldn't understand a word). A
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bloke at the Loser hut said shaving brush chap looks after the flowers !
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<p><a href="#id1984-142-3">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-142-5">Next trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1984-136-4">1984-07-30 | STEINSCHLAG - STEINSCHLAGSCHACHT | Mike R + Mike T</a>
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<p>Pushed on down to previous limit, past a very bad Parrington bolt to
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reach the bottom of the shaft after ~15m. A spray lashed ledge with only one
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small alcove to cower in and brew up. A rift in the floor led off ~5-6m to a
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rebelay and a fine 20-25m pitch into a chamber with two ways off. One was
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very tight to an aven, rocks chucked down landed after ~10m on mud. The main
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way on involved a squeeze past a very large boulder, down a 10m pitch to a
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stream flowing through a too narrow draughting rift - the end ~260m Went out
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derigging as we went to -100m. Took some rope out - 10 hours.
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<p>Must do a grade I survey but no space left here.
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<p><a href="#id1984-136-3">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-136-5">Last trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1984-136-5">1984-07-31 | STEINSCHLAG - SCHACHTE DERIGGING | John & Bill</a>
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<p>Due to extremely hot day is was a very sweaty walk up. Abbed down to
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-120m and decided to have a quick look down a parallel unexplored shaft.
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This required a fairly desperate step across the rift (and even worse coming
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back) - but to no avail. It connected at the side and bottom with the rift
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which had already been explored.
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<p>So - derigged & John's light failed at the foot of the entrance (110
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ft) pitch. So he had a bit of a hassle at the rebelay and kicked a few rocks
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down which make a very nasty sound when you're at the bottom.
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<p>Coming out we followed the wrong set of cairns to find the path to
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Wolfhohle !!
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<p>Time underground 1.07<br>
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Time out 8.48<br>
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- 7½ hours
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<p><a href="#id1984-136-4">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="../1997/log.htm#id1997-136-1">Next trip</a> -
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not for a further 13 years !
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-143-1">1984-07-31 |143 | Pete + Mike Martin</a>
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<p>The inevitable happened ! 143 had to be rigged to look for the
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connection! Walk in very hot so an hour was spent cooling in the entrance.
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Rigged to bottom + investigated squeeze. After much destruction of rock,
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squeezing the way on was pronounced impassable for all except midgets who
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can pass 5" (12 cm) squeezes. It is heading the right way + it does
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appear to open up marginally but the aven in "41 connection" can't
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be seen. The draught is very similar + a voice connection and/or midget is
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required.
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<p>Time underground 2.00 pm<br>
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Time out 6.30 pm<br>
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4½ hours
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<p><a href="../1983/log.htm#id1983-143-5">Previous trip</a> (last year) /
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<a href="#id1984-143-2">Next trip</a>
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-07-31z">1984-07-31 |TrisselBerg | Andy Waddington, Wiggy</a>
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<p>In a brave effort to help AERW's continuing avoidance of caving, Wiggy
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joined Andy on an assault of the Trissel Berg via the cliff on the front.
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God it was hell out there. As this is a caving logbook, all I shall say is:
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<p>Trissel Wand, 500+m, severe, loose as shit, no pro, 8h, but very
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photogenic so watch out for bullshit photos (I took 28 !)
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-08-01z">1984-08-01 | 147 - 1st August Prospecting Steinschlagschacht to Wolfhöhle | Andy Dolby and Brian</a>
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<p>Carrying the rope from Steinschlagschacht to Wolfhöhle, found a
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draughting hole. (out). The draught came above a ~10m drop, from a 1m
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diameter phreatic tube, this was followed for ~50m until a small drop.
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<p>The hole lies just below an obvious cliff in altitude between Steinschlag
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and Wolfhöhle.
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[says anon. in logbook. Assumed to be Andy and Brian as they were apparently the
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only people walking to Wolfhohle that day. ed.]
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-145-3">1984-08-01 | Wolfhöhle | Andy Dolby & Brian</a>
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<p>While most wooftahs sat around and festered, we went caving. Though we
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did have a last moment attack of nerves at the entrance as a thunderstorm
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went over. An easy ab in to the limit so far (350m ?) took 3 hours. Put
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another bolt on the last pre-rigged pitch.
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<p>Way on is a tightening rift to a large jammed flake. Underneath flake is
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small pitch to landing (5m ?). Across landing leads to next pitch of about
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25m in a large shaft. Small pitch in landing also connects with big pitch.
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From big pitch short trench leads to last pitch so far. 15m pitch to deep
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puddle. From here horizontal development begins. We followed this for about
|
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30m before coming to a short pitch-/climb. As we had finished off our
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hangers, we beat our retreat. Others may have the glory.
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[Might have been other Andy - ed.]
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<p>Comment on rigging.
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<p>John Bower's rigs may be tricky but Planc's are suicidal. You can spot
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Julian's bolts as they're the ones half out of the rock.
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<p>In 1500 1st Aug, out 0600 2nd Aug
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<p>15 hours
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<p><a href="#rescue84">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-145-4">Next trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1984-143-2">1984-08-02 | 142 - Attempt at Voice Connection between 143 and 142 | Andy Waddington, John Parrington, Bill, Wiggy </a>
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<p>(1) Four of us made an attempt at connecting these two caves. Me and Andy
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Wadders (his first caving trip for some time) went to 143 and Bill and Wiggy
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went down 142 to the aven mentioned by the party last week. Me and Andy got
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to the top of the Nipple and spent about ½ an hour before we found
|
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143. We descended about an hour after the others should have set off down
|
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142. The pitches were rigged in a very strange manner, obviously the bolts
|
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had been put in by someone with a sense of humour - it was a case of
|
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acrobatics at some of the changeovers. Got to the bottom with no hassle and
|
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started to chip away at the impossible rift. Blew whistles, shouted, for
|
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~1½-2 hours but with no success. We both had a go at the squeeze at
|
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floor level, but to no avail. Made a leisurely retreat.
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<p>John Parrington.
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<p><a id="id1984-142-5">Sat in</a> this bloody cold aven for 2 hours
|
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listening to team 143 chipping. Made lots of noise. Climbed up the aven and
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pushed ~50+ft up an inlet towards (?) chipping noise. Wiggy. ~4 hours
|
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<p><a href="#id1984-142-4">Previous 142 trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-143-1">Previous 143 trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1984-142-6">Next 142 trip</a> (derigging) /
|
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<a href="#id1984-143-3">Last 143 trip</a>
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<hr /><a id="id1984-145-4">1984-08-02 | WOLFHÖHLE | Mike Martin, Pete</a>
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<p>Went underground to the ritual thunderclap. Carrying ~120m of rope which
|
|
we later discovered to be a mistake. The descent was enlivened by occasional
|
|
shrieks from Mike as he suicide-rigged his Baker-converted Petzl bobbin. Put
|
|
another bolt in the small pitch with the v-shaped notch at the top, this
|
|
made it much easier on the return. At Beezley Street we found the rope Brian
|
|
had dropped and carried on to their limit. We went down the free climb and
|
|
soon arrived at another drop. This was rigged with a traverse on muddy
|
|
ledges to a 9m drop, rebelay, 10m and then 8m. This landed in a muddy rift
|
|
which looked to narrow at about 4m. There was another similar small sump,
|
|
and then a climb up a muddy slope (we had to use a rope). This ended at a
|
|
hole. Mike managed to squeeze through, but I had to dig out some of the mud
|
|
before it was possible. Through the hole led to a maze of phreatic tubes
|
|
filled with layered mud. All of these ended in dried out sumps. There is
|
|
possibly 150m of passage down here. An aven drops in, but didn't look
|
|
climbable. So, happy that it had finished, we started out, carrying most of
|
|
the rope we had foolishly brought with us. The whole of the cave below
|
|
Beezley Street is very muddy and toothbrushes were much appreciated.
|
|
Excellent soup at the dump, and a fairly slow exit.
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1984-145-3">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1984-145-5">Next trip</a>
|
|
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<hr />
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<a id="id1984-147-x">1984-08-03 | 147 | Mike T, Mike R</a>
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|
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<p>As we weren't allowed to derig Wolfhöhle we went to look at Pete's
|
|
new hole. A very hard slow walk in and followed draught through fine tube to
|
|
climb down. Draught disappeared ~20m further on & despite several
|
|
desperate climbs we couldn't relocate it. No go.
|
|
|
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<p>Underground c 1 hour.
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id1984-08-04">1984-08-04 | Surface - surveying | Andy W, Mike Martin (148)</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>A sweaty walk up followed by survey starting at Wolfhöhle + then to
|
|
107. On return walk (trying to locate 82) Andy's credentials were caressed
|
|
by a howling gale emitting from a pile of rocks which with a little
|
|
modification became a cave entrance. Andy declined Pete's offer of a loan of
|
|
a torch so I accepted on his behalf. Explored to ~60m length. Still
|
|
continuing.
|
|
|
|
<p>Time underground ½ hour.
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id1984-145-5">1984-08-04 | Wolfhöhle - Surveying | Wiggy, Brian</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>We should have guessed that something was amiss because there was no
|
|
thunderstorm at the entrance. We shot down to last year's surveyed limit
|
|
(the top of the "40m" pitch) relieving the tedium with a
|
|
smattering of photography. Going down the 200m Edelrid we found that Planc
|
|
had rerigged some of the rebelays to reduce the acrobatic nature of the
|
|
passing movements. Surveying proceeded at a reasonable pace and camera gear
|
|
was dumped before Beezley St. to prevent it getting muddy. Here Wiggy's
|
|
light started to play up. By the time we had got to the 30m series of
|
|
pitches at the end of the drainage ditch, the light was kaput (as the locals
|
|
say). Though we were almost at the end we had to return leaving the last bit
|
|
unsurveyed. The return was also complicated by Brian's gobbler using up its
|
|
fuel at the foot of the big pitch and Wiggy's technolight giving out halfway
|
|
up it. Exit was made from about -400m by technolight held in teeth and from
|
|
about -150m by one Petzl headlight between two.
|
|
|
|
<p>In 12.30 Sat 4 Aug }<br>
|
|
Out 6.00 Sun 5 Aug } 17½ hours
|
|
|
|
<p>P.S. God it was hell out there. Not to mention slipping cams and worse.
|
|
|
|
<p>[ "Woolfhohle - unsurveyed bit - grade I" ]
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1984-145-4">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1984-145-6">Next trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id11984-08-06">1984-08-06 | base camp - fester | Wiggy</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>Today some pissed up cunt pissed around with my car. If they're not
|
|
careful, tomorrow my car will mess around with their tents. I am not amused;
|
|
be warned. PJW
|
|
|
|
<p>Don't turn your ghetto blaster on people then you twat ! A
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id11984-08-07">1984-08-07 | base camp - fester | Andy Dolby</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>Today I noticed some sober cunt had hung my ice axe, hangers and spanner
|
|
from an electricity pylon. If he's not careful, tomorrow my ice axe will
|
|
stick itself through his skull. I was moderately amused but be careful. AJD
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id1984-145-6">1984-08-05 | WOLFHÖHLE - DERIGGING + SURVEYING | John P, Bill</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>Andy came with us to the entrance in thick fog then found he'd left his
|
|
ascenders behind by accident !! Well, I believed him, but thousands
|
|
wouldn't. Zoomed down with a couple of route finding problems & some
|
|
150T's [?] on our backs. We thought we'd got to the last survey station
|
|
about 3 pitches too early, but soon discovered our mistake. However, in the
|
|
general pissed-offness we forgot to take the bolting spanner with us so John
|
|
had to prussik back to retrieve it after we'd done the survey. Derigged to
|
|
the bottom of the Edelrid & had some trough at the food dump.
|
|
|
|
<p>Prussiked out well-knackered at some ungodly hour.
|
|
|
|
<p>Time in 2.00 pm Sunday<br>
|
|
Time out 10.30 am xSatx MON <- Pratts !!<br>
|
|
20frac12; hours
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1984-145-5">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="#id1984-145-7">Last trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id1984-145-7">1984-08-06 | Wolfhöhle - Heroic Derigging Trip | Andy D, Mike R</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>Underground 4pm and whizzed down to Beezley Street in just 1¼ hour.
|
|
Dragged the 200m Edelrid up to the camp and stuffed it (just) into a tackle
|
|
bag. Backed John and Bill's "full" two bags into one. Were
|
|
disconcerted by sudden watery noises and anticipated getting stuck, but
|
|
fortunately it didn't come to anything. Decided that we might as well
|
|
detackle the whole cave by hauling the bags up the pitches. Fun on the big
|
|
pitch, being unable to throw a rope back down, and a bag falling off a rope.
|
|
Collected the Wolf and exitted with four bags of rope, one bag of wolf and
|
|
enough rope for 1½ bags more. Mike has to rerig the last pitch 'cos he
|
|
dropped a piddling little bit of rope back down it. Knackered.
|
|
|
|
<p>underground 4.30pm Mon<br>
|
|
out 8.30am Tue<br>
|
|
16 hours
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1984-145-6">Previous trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id1984-142-6">1984-08-07? | 142 - derigging| Pete, John</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>Quick trip. I had my first glimpse of the Big Pitch. 2 hours
|
|
|
|
<p>P.S. Met Dolby and Mike R going to Wolfhöhle to get tackle after
|
|
wasting the afternoon away. The cheeky cunts expected us to come and help
|
|
them and Dolby threw a tantrum.
|
|
|
|
<p>Dolby Comment here |<br>
|
|
V
|
|
|
|
<p>I am sorry. After a really hard days caving it was unreasonable of me to
|
|
expect them to help fetch some more tackle instead of going to have their
|
|
well deserved beer in the Loser Hütte.
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1984-142-5">Previous trip</a> /
|
|
<a href="../1985/log.htm#id1985-142-1">Next trip</a> (next year)
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id1984-143-3">1984-08-08 | 143 - Derigging 143 | Brian, Wiggy</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>Went in, took some boring piccies, collected a bit of rope and came out
|
|
again. Visited 131 (141) on the way back due to gross navigational
|
|
ineptitude.
|
|
|
|
<p>~4-5 h
|
|
|
|
<p>PS the "connection" is awfully small.
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="#id1984-143-2">Previous trip</a>
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id1984-xyz">1984-08-08 | 149 - surface prospecting | John, Mike Martin, Pete</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>146 and 149 Sundry dates John, Mike [probably M, manybe R - ed.], Pete
|
|
<p>149
|
|
|
|
<p>The entrance is in a large gully, just above the sandy depression,
|
|
opposite Wolfhöhle. Several draughting entrances.
|
|
|
|
<p>[ sketch ]
|
|
|
|
<p>Shame it didn't go, it was a nice hole.
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<a id="id1984-xyp">1984-08-08 | 146 - Tony's Toboggan Hole | John, Mike Martin, Pete</a>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>This is the hole we thought was 146, ie. Tony's Toboggan Hole. It's a
|
|
very large entrance, recognisable by the large pyramidal rock. Down a
|
|
snow/ice slope leads to a ledge (rebelay). There are two ways on, through a
|
|
small hole, down an icy 13m pitch till it gets too small with ice/rock. The
|
|
other way is down a 10m frozen waterfall, to a small grotto with large ice
|
|
crystals,where it all ends. The ice formations may even be worth a tourist
|
|
trip.
|
|
<b>
|
|
[Assumed to be same people as other trip today as Brina and Wiggy were derigging and everyone else had gone home? ed.]
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<!-- LINKS -->
|
|
<ul id="links">
|
|
<li>1984 Expedition info:
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><a href="stopp.htm">Stop Press report</a>, CU 1984</li>
|
|
<li>Main Expo report, Cambridge Underground 1985:
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<li><a href="report.htm">Austria 1984 Exposée</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="cavegd.htm">Wolfhöhle</a> - A Guidebook Description</li>
|
|
<li>An Ascent of the <a href="twand.htm">Trisselwand</a></li>
|
|
</ul></li>
|
|
<li><a href="bcracc.htm">BCRA Caves & Caving Report</a></li>
|
|
</ul></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../pubs.htm#pubs1984">Index</a> to all publications</li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expeditions intro page</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../../index.htm">CUCC Home Page</a></li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|