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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf8" />
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<title>1623/161 Kaninchenhöhle - mainline to Siberia</title>
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<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/main2.css" />
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</head>
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<body>
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<p><center><a href="161.html"><img alt="Overview "
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src="ovview.png" width=40 height=40></a>
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<a href="pixrh.htm"><img alt=" Photos "
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src="vtour.png" width=40 height=40></a>
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<img alt="Rigging" src="rigbut.png" width=40 height=40>
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<a href="names.htm"><img alt=" Glossary "
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src="idx161.png" width=40 height=40></a>
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<a href="../index.html#id161"><img alt=" Desc "
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src="desc.png" width=40 height=40></a>
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<a href="../../index.htm"><img alt=" Expo "
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src="ausbut.png" width=40 height=40></a>
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<a href="../../infodx.htm"><img alt=" Topics "
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src="index.png" width=40 height=40></a>
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<a href="../../indxal.htm"><img alt=" Index "
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src="indxal.png" width=40 height=40></a>
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<a href="../../../index.htm"><img alt=" CUCC"
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src="cucc.png" width=40 height=40></a>
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<h2>161 Kaninchenhöhle: Mainline to Siberia</h2></center>
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<h3>Overview</h3>
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<p>From the massive collapse at Knossos/Tower Blocks, the Northerly trending
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main trunk of YAPATE and Chicken Flied Nice rise gradually up dip, punctuated
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by an abrupt step up at a small fault at Staircase 36. This fossil phreatic
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passage seems to stay consistently within the same bed of limestone as
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far as the significant change of direction leading to Strange Downfall.
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At this point, the cave becomes more maze-like, with passages going north
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and northwest to Exhaustion and Siberia, and others going more east and
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northeast through Repton towards the most remote parts of the system.
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The complex development of the Leadmine area provides links between
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Exhaustion and Repton.
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<p>As exploration is incomplete, and the big trunk passages seem to have
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disappeared, it is difficult to single out a "main way on" to the north.
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However, the deep route from Siberia is now the deepest point of the cave,
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and this is the "logical" destination of a tourist trip. The other routes are
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described in terms of the "normal" or shortest currently known ways to the
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remotest points of the cave, with the proviso that further exploration may
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reveal more direct or more logical ways.
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<p>"Traditionally", the easiest way to Siberia is across the tyrolean at
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Strange Acrossfall, and through Leadmine. However, the current pushing
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generation feel that Burble crawl is sufficiently short that it is almost
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certainly quicker, even carrying gear and assuming that the tyrolean was
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already rigged. Since the ropes have been removed, the tyrolean is no longer
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considered a "main" route, except when approaching the far north.
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<h3><a name="knossos">Knossos</a> and Star Wars (1988)</h3>
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<p><a href="l/knoss.htm"><img alt="Knossos photo" src="t/knoss.jpg"
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width=181 height=122 align=left hspace=10></a>Whether reached from Right Hand
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Route or Triassic Park, <b>Knossos</b> is the key to the deep routes and the
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extensive sub-horizontal system to the north. The 30m <a
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href="rhr.htm#knossosp">Knossos pitch</a> from the Right Hand Route drops
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onto large boulders sloping northwest, at the southwest side of the 60m
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diameter chamber. The route from the third pitch along <a
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href="triasp.htm#minoan">Minoan Surprise</a> in Triassic Park lands on
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boulders at the eastern side of Knossos, from where a route down towards the
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lowest point reaches the same place. <a href="kctotp.htm#knossos">Up this
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pitch</a> (if rigged) the quickest exit from Knossos is via Triassic Park.
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<br clear=all>
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<p><center><a href="l/pebble.htm"><img alt="Knossos photo - 26k" width=245
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height=170 align=middle vspace=10 src="t/pebble.jpg"></a>
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<a name="starwars" href="l/starwr.htm"><img alt="Star Wars photo"
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src="t/starwr.jpg" width=169 height=125 align=middle vspace=10></a></center>
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<p>Just downslope from the foot of the Knossos pitch,
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following around the wall northwards to the lowest point of the boulder
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floor, is a walking sized route through a boulder choke, <b>Star Wars</b>. It
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is so named as looking up at the stupendous roof boulder is reminiscent of
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the huge spaceship at the start of the film. Through this is lots of jumbled
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rock and open space. Over to the left, a gap looks over the cliff west into
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<a href="#tblocks">Tower Blocks</a> and to the right is a steep, loose climb
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down and a small rift passage in the right hand wall. At the foot of the
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climb the way on is to go left down a slope SW into Tower Blocks. To the
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right is <a href="offkns.htm#thamlets">Tower Hamlets</a>, which is very
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obvious on the way back so the junction should be remembered.
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<p><center><a href="300dpi/knoss.png"><img alt="Knossos survey: 28k gif"
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src="inline/knoss.png" width=600 height=400></a></center>
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<h4><a name="tblocks">Tower Blocks</a> (1988/1989)</h4>
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<p>The chamber is large, domed, about 20m high in the centre and contains
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some really big fallen blocks. From the normal route in, via the 4m slope
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from Star Wars, keeping to the right hand wall leads round to the north to
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the foot of a sand slope up NE into <a href="offkns.htm#thamlets">Tower
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Hamlets</a>. A little left (north) is a col at the start of the 8m wide
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passage to <b>Waterfall Chamber</b> and <b>Carrefour</b>.
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<p>Across Tower Blocks is <a href="offkns.htm#olympus">Olympus</a>.
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<h3><a name="carrefour">Carrefour</a> (1988)</h3>
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<p><a href="l/cfour.htm"><img src="t/cfour.jpg" width=200
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height=134 align=right hspace=10></a>Over the col and down the
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boulder-floored passage north from Tower Blocks, a route leads into a wide
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open area, <a name="wfallc"><b>Waterfall Chamber</b></a>. There is a deep
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blocked pit to the left with a large wet window through the wall behind,
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looking over towards <a href="deepwy.htm#flapjack">Flapjack</a>. A lot of
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water is falling from the roof into the pit. Continuing by the right hand
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wall leads to a junction with a very big phreatic passage. This junction is
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<b>Carrefour</b> (French for Crossroads, and part of the long-term
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supermarket series).
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<p>Turning left at Carrefour (SSW) leads past the very wet window into
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Waterfall Chamber (good water source) to <a href="deepwy.htm#flapjack">
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Flapjack</a>, a large pitch, the far side of which can be reached from
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<a href="offkns.htm#olympus">Olympus</a>. Straight ahead at Carrefour (NNW)
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is <a href="offkns.htm#toiletb">Toilet Block</a>. To the right at Carrefour
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(NNE) is the major trunk passage of <b>YAPATE Inlet</b> (Yet Another Pitch
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At The End).<br clear=all>
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<p><a href="300dpi/yapate.png"><img alt="survey - 20k gif" width=640
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height=500 src="inline/yapate.png"></a>
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<h3><a name="yapate">YAPATE Inlet</a> (1988/1989)</h3>
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<p><a href="l/yapate.htm"><img src="t/yapate.jpg" width=200
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height=134 align=left hspace=10></a>
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<p>A large phreatic passage, with a deep (about 10m) vadose canyon, is now an
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inlet to the Carrefour area, but was originally an up-dip downstream passage.
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This goes northwards for 100m with an inlet on the left and a large wet pit
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about half way along, bypassed by a 2m down-climb on the right hand side.
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25m beyond this pit (c 30m from the end), a sandy slope up on the right to a
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straight rift apparently ends quickly but ducking under the right wall leads
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to <a href="deepwy.htm#fbs">Flat Battery Series</a>.
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<p><a name="gobtrav">At the end</a> of YAPATE is a dodgy traverse
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(<a href="../../fixaid.htm#gob">permanently rigged</a>) over a hole in the
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floor to a boulder-floored area with a way on up the end wall,
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<b>Staircase 36</b>, and a 12m pitch down -
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<a href="deepwy.htm#goboy">Gob on You</a> to the left.
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<h3><a name="cfn">Chicken Flied Nice</a> (1990)</h3>
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<p><a href="300dpi/cfn.png"><img alt="survey - 16k gif" width=550
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height=450 src="inline/cfn.png"></a>
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<p><a name="sc36" href="l/s36.htm"><img src="t/s36.jpg" width=109
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height=207 align=left hspace=10>Above</a> <a href="deepwy.htm#goboy">Gob
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on You</a> is a 10m up-pitch, with a <a href="../../fixaid.htm#s36">rope in
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place,</a> <b>Staircase 36</b> (named such by its climbers, who spent a lot
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of time festering on its namesake in Churchill College).
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<p>This climb gives access to another 100m of large up-dip phreatic passage,
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<b>Chicken Flied Nice</b>, with only a shallow floor trench. The pitch is
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formed where YAPATE is intersected by a small fault, and the roof attains the
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same horizon as that followed by the roof of YAPATE itself.<br clear=right>
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<p><a href="fullsize/cfngeo.png"><img alt="Geologic cross-section of CFN"
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src="inline/cfngeo.png" width=300 height=265 align=right
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hspace=10></a><br clear=left>
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<b>Visible geology of the CFN/Burble crawl area.</b><br clear=all>
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<p>At a 90° right bend 80m on is a narrow inlet,
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<a href="#burble">Burble</a>, in the left wall. At this corner, the
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passage changes: the floor trench cuts down and widens to a high stream rift
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which opens onto a big space, <a href="deepwy.htm#hgs">Hyper Gamma
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Spaces</a>.
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<p>Any method of crossing this space now involves replacing ropes via a
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long round trip, and this makes it much less viable as a way on. However,
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this would probably be done if contemplating any further work beyond
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<a href="farnth.htm#repton">Repton</a> under which heading it is described.
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<h3><a name="burblec">Burble</a> (1990/1991)</h3>
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<p>At the 90° corner in <a href="#cfn">Chicken Flied Nice</a>,
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where the passage changes into a canyon, a small streamway passage comes in
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on the left. A strong draught can be followed up here for 20m to a high aven.
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A waterfall comes down on the right (along with most of the draught). There
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is a traverse 2m up around the right hand wall leading to a 2m climb into
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<b>Burble Crawl</b>, the most obvious way out of the aven. A tape assists the
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move up into the passage for shortarses.
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<p><a name="shelfi">A</a> difficult 2m climb above the Burble entrance on the
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right (one bolt for security) gives access to <b>Shelf Indulgence</b>. There
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is only an impassable rift (in back wall) and a small chamber here (on the
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left).
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<p><a name="burble"><b>Burble Passage</b></a> starts at stooping height, but
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rapidly degenerates to crawling, flat out in some bits. 90m of passage leads
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to Vom Pitch. A short traverse around to the right leads to 25m of walking
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passage to a boulder blockage. The traverse to the left has also been made
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(another bolt here for retreat), but it proved to be a dead end.
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<p><a href="300dpi/repton.png"><img alt="survey - 16k gif" width=560
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height=350 src="inline/repton.png"></a>
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<p><a name="vomp"><b>Vom Pitch</b></a> is 37m deep, rigged with a short
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traverse line, a rebelay 5m down and a deviation from a small thread below a
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rock bridge (at c 20m). Below this is a further deviation tied to a small
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rock embedded in the mud/rock wall which continues below this point. At one
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point (above this latter deviation ?) is a sort of ledge where the pitch
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intersects a hading section, forming a large convoluted chamber. This ledge
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can be reached from <b>The Maze</b>. Below the final deviation, a pendule
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over an undescended (though possibly blind) hole [<a name="qC1997-161-21"
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href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-21">C1997-161-21</a> B] reaches a large boulder to which the rope
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can be tied off for a tensioned abseil to this boulder floor of the chamber.
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There are ways out in the eastern corner and from a ledge 8m up the northern
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side.
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<p>The eastern passage is the key to the Leadmine and Maze areas. It comes
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almost immediately to a T-junction. Left is the <b>Maze</b> and the main way
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on to <a href="#maze">Siberia</a>. (It soon unites with a crawl on the left
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coming from the northern side of the chamber below Vom pitch, whilst the main
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way right (north) here is bigger).
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<p>Right at the first T-junction is the
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<a href="farnth.htm#leadminese">Leadmine</a>, leading to Repton and the
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<a href="farnth.htm">far north</a>.
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<p>Leadmine would be the logical approach to <u>this</u> point from the
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surface, if Strange Acrossfall was safely rigged. This route is described
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now. For the continuation towards Siberia, see <a href="#maze">below</a>.
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<hr />
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<h3><a name="leadmine">Repton I to Siberia via Leadmine</a> and Maze</h3>
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<p>Up the slope in <a href="farnth.htm#repton1">Repton I</a>, just beyond the
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easier climb through boulders, is a wide inclined bedding on the left hand
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wall. This descends 10m into the <b>Leadmine</b> first explored from the
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other end via <a href="#burblec">Burble crawl</a>. A further 25m of straight
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passage heads northwest, until a 4m down climb on the right is reached,
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dropping down into three sand-floored chambers.<!-- Leadmine.16 --> Left out
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of the first chamber up a 2m climb goes northwest for a few metres to another
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junction.<!-- Leadmine.14 --> Straight ahead dead-ends in 5m, whilst sharp
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left (south) leads in 15m to a junction.<!-- Leadmine.12 --> Half left is 20m
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to <a href="farnth.htm#soilp">Soil Pitch</a>, but sharp right leads northwest
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again. Turns left and right and a short step gain a long straight passage
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heading northwest. After 25m on the left is the original way in from Burble
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(at the foot of Vom Pitch), whilst straight ahead up a short climb is walking
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passage - the Maze.
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<h4><a name="maze">Maze</a> (1991)</h4>
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<p>Left at the T-junction below Vom pitch if coming via Burble, or
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straight ahead if coming from Leadmine, is the <b>Maze</b>.
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<!-- 1991 desc. merged with William + Duncan, ref. KH 1997 p 8 -->
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This passage continues north from the junction, walking
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uphill for 15m to a small chamber with a sandy ledge 2m up on the right, and
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a crawl from the top of it connecting back to the roof of the passage just
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traversed. The obvious way out of the chamber is left in a very high, pointy
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rift, which is awkward to traverse along over the holes / rock bridges,
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especially coming back. 15m of this comes to an awkward bridge down to
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another T-junction. The crawl to the left winds back to ledge 8m up
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<a href="#vomp">Vom pitch</a>, and thus to a climb back down into the chamber
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below it. Right in larger passage (a mixture of hands & knees crawl and
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hading rift) leads north to a widening and a muddy 3m climb down with a
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musical flake at its head, dropping into 2m wide passage. To the right, a
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crawl back towards the last junction is quickly blocked by sand.
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<p><a name="duckp">To the left</a>, a stooping passage through a shallow
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pool, <b>Duckpond</b>, and lots of gloopy slime leads northwest into the face
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of a strong draught. In about 20-30m, <a name="exhaustp"><b>Exhaustion
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Pitch</b></a> is reached. This is a 22m deep hading pitch with a deviation on
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the opposite wall 10m down. At the foot is a small window leading to a roped 9m climb down through flakes. The main passage here is tight and may bend
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round to the same spot. The foot of the climb was the 1991 limit [<a
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href="qmdone.htm#C1991-161-02">C1991-161-02</a>].
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<h3><a name="siberia">Siberia</a> (1994-8)</h3>
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<!-- ref. William + Duncan 97.08.01, KH 1997 p 8 -->
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<p><a name="notthisjn">The passage</a> from base of climb beyond Exhaustion
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Pitch starts as an awkward thrutch along a rift, then continues as stooping
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passage with a sandy floor. After 50m of gently descending passage, fairly
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consistently southwest is a T-junction, <b>Not This Junction</b> (end of 1994
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survey <!-- 161.siberia.1 --> at a depth of -304m from 161a (Alt. 1482m)).
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The floor of the passage entered here is about 3m below the passage from
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which you enter. A draught goes from right to left, as well as out towards
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the Maze. To the left is <a href="#fuzzy">Fuzzy Logic</a>, and to the right
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is larger passage taken to be the way on.
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<p>The right hand passage continues as a mixture of walking passage and
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thrutchy rift over a small pit in the floor [<a name="qC1997-161-22"
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href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-22">C1997-161-22</a> C]. Ahead, a small chamber where water
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enters from above to the right and disappears down a smaller hole. Several
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passages lead off at this point.
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<p><a name="ggables">Right leads</a> into a small chamber,
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<b>Greengables</b>, with initially easily climbable rift off to left
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[<a name="qC1997-161-23" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-23">C1997-161-23</a>], and small passage to
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right (not pushed) [<a name="qC1997-161-24" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-24">C1997-161-24</a>].
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Half-right leads to rift junction where high left hand passage returns to
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main way, as does straight ahead. Right leads into oval shaped rift with ~6m
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aven [<a name="qC1997-161-25" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-25">C1997-161-25</a>]. Ahead is main way,
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passing two small passages off to left opposite returning loops mentioned
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above. These two unite in easy crawl in muddy phreatic passage which does not
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appear to close down. This latter passage does not seem to have a lead
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number.
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<p>Left after Greengables is a small lead [<a name="qC1997-161-30"
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href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-30">C1997-161-30</a>].
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<p><a name="seproblem">Beyond Greengables, following</a> the draught leads to
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a stooping passage turning into rift which leads to the end of 1994
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exploration at -302m from the 161a entrance (alt. 1484m) at the head of a
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3½ second drop <b>Somebody Else's Problem</b> [<a name="qC1994-161-58"
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href="qmdone.htm#C1994-161-58">C1994-161-58</a>].
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<p>20m before Somebody Else's Problem are two leads in the right hand wall,
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[<a name="qC1997-161-31" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-31">C1997-161-31</a>] and
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[<a name="qC1997-161-32" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-32">C1997-161-32</a>].
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<h3>Somebody Else's Problem
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(<a href="/years/1997/index.htm">1997</a>)</h3>
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<!-- starts at 161.sep.part2.1 -->
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<p>Four bolts, moving round to the right and to a rebelay down from the
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pitch-head, lead to an almost-free hang in this fine 7m diameter shaft. A
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number of windows can be seen leading off this. After 42m, the rope is
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rebelayed to a spike and the descent continues for a further 27m, for a
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total depth of 75m.
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<p><a name="apuff">At the foot</a> is a chamber 5m across with a 3m climb
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down to the right. This is immediately followed by a 10m pitch in two steps
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to a small chamber where the water sinks and reappears. The passage now
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corkscrews round to the left and leads to a very short but awkward rift and a
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4m drop. Beyond is another small chamber and an 18m drop. Across this pitch
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head, small crawls can be seen leading off left
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[<a name="qC1997-161-28" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-28">C1997-161-28</a>] and right
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[<a name="qC1997-161-29" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-29">C1997-161-29</a>]. At the base of the pitch
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is another chamber and the passage continues as a traverse in rift about 5m
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above the water, ending at a sharp left turn at the next pitch head. This
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lands in yet another small chamber with horizontal passage going off to the
|
|
right to some further climbs down. The passage, <b>Auspuff</b>, continues in
|
|
fine form, still draughting towards the main cave at the limit of exploration
|
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in 1997 [<a name="qC1997-161-26" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-26">C1997-161-26</a> A]. This is at a
|
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depth of 421m from the 161a entrance (alt. 1365m).
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<h3><a name="moscow">Midnight in Moscow</a>
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(<a href="/years/1998/index.htm">1998</a>)</h3>
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<!-- ref: 1998 KH p 63, Duncan -->
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<p>From the small chamber below the final 1997 pitch, the passage leads off
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right, traversing over a slot in the floor for about 8m to reach a position
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|
overlooking a further small chamber, this one containing a rock bridge.
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|
At this point, the slot in the floor widens and can be descended to the
|
|
head of a further climb (tricky, best roped using a good thread belay).
|
|
Emerging into the chamber seen from above, the way on is a short descending
|
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passage to a small pitch, rigged as a Y-hang from a bolt on each wall.
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|
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<p>Following almost immediately is the large black space of <b>Midnight in
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Moscow</b>. Two bolts at the head of this pitch are backed up to the
|
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preceding pitch rope. The lower bolt needs two maillons to avoid a rub,
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|
and the first 23m of the descent are against the wall. A small knobble on
|
|
the right then provides a deviation, and five metres lower, a thread on
|
|
the left provides another. Below this, the pitch hangs free as the descent
|
|
continues down the centre of a significant widening of the shaft - apparently
|
|
where it intersects a (choked) large phreatic level. Continuing free, the
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rope drops below this level to reach a boulder floor 55m from the takeoff.
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|
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<p>At the foot is a further pitch with a loose pitchhead, and a small hole on
|
|
the opposite side of the shaft, which provides a much better shelter from
|
|
drizzling damp and debris dislodged from the lower deviation. The pitch is
|
|
10m, rigged from a single spit as a continuation of the rope from above. At
|
|
its foot are three ways on. To the left is a climb up to an aven, which seems
|
|
likely to connect with the black space 10m above the foot of Midnight in
|
|
Moscow. To the right is a climb down, following the water through sharp,
|
|
brittle flakes, which becomes too tight. Opposite the rope is the main way
|
|
on, which leads via a crawl and past an aven, to a rift passage. This ends at
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a short (5m) pitch. Doubling back under this is a crawl to an aven.
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|
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|
<p><a name="rasputin">Forwards</a>, opposite the rope, the way on leads to an
|
|
awkward climb down through an eyehole to a series of dried-out cascades in an
|
|
old streamway, <b>Rasputin</b>. The last drop needs a rope, dropping 4m from
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|
naturals to a sandy mud floor. A faint draught issues from a mud choke, with
|
|
no way on. This point is at 1269m altitude, 527m below the 161a entrance -
|
|
the deepest point of the system at the time of exploration.
|
|
|
|
<p>Ten metres above the foot of Midnight in Moscow, the widening blackness
|
|
resolves into a sloping mud and boulder floored chamber. This can be
|
|
entered by a swing on the rope, but all ways at this level choke. It appears
|
|
to be a remnant of phreatic passage c 15m wide, heading on 320-140°.
|
|
Only a 25m length is clear of choking sediment, presumably eroded away
|
|
by the stream responsible for Midnight in Moscow. To the SE of the rope,
|
|
reached by traversing the slope, is another parallel pitch, presumed to
|
|
connect to the aven seen from below.
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|
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|
<h3><a name="fuzzy">Fuzzy Logic</a>
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|
(<a href="/years/1997/index.htm">1997</a> /
|
|
<a href="/years/1998/index.htm">1998</a>)</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>Coming from <a href="#duckp">Exhaustion Pitch,</a> a passage is met at <a
|
|
href="#siberia">Not This Junction</a>, with a 3m slot in the floor and a
|
|
draught blowing from right (SEP) to left (Fuzzy Logic) and outwards back
|
|
towards the Maze. The left route was not pursued for any distance when first
|
|
seen in 1994 [<a href="qmdone.htm#C1994-161-59" name="qC1994-161-59">C1994-161-59</a> A].
|
|
|
|
<!-- source: email from Duncan 1998.06.22 -->
|
|
<p>Turning left, an easy traverse down leads to an area of some complexity,
|
|
but following the largest passage at each turning leads through it (other
|
|
routes either link up or end quickly). An awkward step across a small pit is
|
|
followed by a climb up and then a traverse along the right hand wall above an
|
|
undescended pitch [<a name="qC1998-161-01" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-01">C1998-161-01</a> A].
|
|
Beyond is a slope down to a pitch, undescended in 1997 [<a name="qC1997-161-27"
|
|
href="qmdone.htm#C1997-161-27">C1997-161-27</a> A], <b>Paradox Rift</b>.
|
|
|
|
<h4><a name="paradox">Fuzzy Logic Pitches</a></h4>
|
|
|
|
<p>The head of Paradox Rift is in a slot in the floor of a large, dripping
|
|
aven [<a name="qC1998-161-02" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-02">C1998-161-02</a> X], which soars out of
|
|
sight overhead. The rigging is backed up to a handline which protects the
|
|
approach to the pitch down a ramp. A Y-hang gives a pitch of about 4 metres
|
|
to a small chamber, from which the second pitch follows almost immediately.
|
|
|
|
<p>A short constriction separates the chamber below the first pitch from the
|
|
second pitch, although this poses no difficulties. A safety line through the
|
|
approach to the pitch head serves as a backup to a Y-hang, which provides a
|
|
descent against the wall for about 40 metres, passing a deviation and later
|
|
a rebelay below a large ledge.
|
|
|
|
<p>The third pitch is reached from the foot of the second pitch by swinging
|
|
to the right while still attached to the rope from the last rebelay. There is
|
|
a rebelay about halfway down. Approaching the bottom of the pitch, swing
|
|
across the chamber to reach the head of the fourth pitch. Ignoring this swing
|
|
across, the apparent way on quickly becomes too tight.
|
|
|
|
<p>The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Pitches follow on immediately from each other
|
|
and are short, scrappy descents against the wall, except for the Sixth and
|
|
final pitch which hangs free of the wall for about 15m.
|
|
|
|
<h4><a name="psycho">Psycho Street</a></h4>
|
|
|
|
<p>The final pitch in Fuzzy Logic ends in a chamber with three ways on. Two
|
|
of these, opposite the rope, are climbs up of about 2.5 metres. The left-hand
|
|
climb is up a boulder pile, and is much harder than the right hand choice!
|
|
Both ways re-join immediately and lead to <b>Psycho Street</b>. To the right
|
|
of these climbs, following a small flow of water, the other way on leads to
|
|
<b>Clear as Mud</b>. To the left of the climbs is a possible low, wet way on,
|
|
which was not pushed [<a name="qC1998-161-03" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-03">C1998-161-03</a> C].
|
|
|
|
<p>Above the climbs, Psycho Street starts as a traverse in the roof of a
|
|
narrow rift. After 6 metres, a right-angled turn to the right is followed by
|
|
a slight constriction leading into roomier passage which turns leftwards, and
|
|
immediately overlooks a pit some 3 to 4 metres deep, which it is possible to
|
|
traverse around to the left. A climb down into the pit can be made most
|
|
easily towards its far end. At the bottom of the pit is the way into
|
|
<a href="#bearbum">Bearbum Passage.</a>
|
|
|
|
<p>Psycho Street continues beyond the pit as a small passage of highly
|
|
elliptical cross-section, with the major-axis of the cross-section inclined
|
|
at some 40 degrees to the vertical. After a few metres, a rock bridge spans
|
|
the passage. The way past is a relatively easy thrutch above the bridge,
|
|
although the return is more difficult. A final section of crawling leads into
|
|
an enlargement of the passage to form a spacious rift chamber some 15 metres
|
|
long. The continuation of the crawl at the far end of the chamber is choked
|
|
with mud and rock, and is probably too small anyway. A climb up on the
|
|
left-hand wall of the chamber leads via a short crawl to the foot of an aven
|
|
about 15m high [<a name="qC1998-161-04" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-04">C1998-161-04</a> B]. There is
|
|
an obvious passage leading off at the top of this aven, and a booming echo. A
|
|
cleft in the aven wall may make scaling this a relatively easy task.
|
|
|
|
<p>Just before the constriction at the start of Psycho Street, it is possible
|
|
to climb down back underneath the traverse in two steps each of about 1.5
|
|
metres, to reach a point looking down a short pitch into 'Bearbum Passage'.
|
|
This pitch has never been descended, since the route described above requires
|
|
no tackle.
|
|
|
|
<p>Halfway along the traverse round the pit just after the constriction, is a
|
|
small hole in the roof. Climbing up into this leads into an ascending
|
|
passage, which ends in a calcite blockage after about 20 metres.
|
|
|
|
<h4><a name="bearbum">Bearbum Passage</a></h4>
|
|
|
|
<p>Having climbed down into the pit in Psycho Street, the way doubles back to
|
|
head under the constriction at the end of the initial rift. Here a small
|
|
chamber is entered, from which the way on is a narrow rift. The obvious way
|
|
to enter this rift is a squeeze at floor level, best tackled feet-first,
|
|
which leads to some moderately acrobatic passage before opening out somewhat.
|
|
A better option is to climb up to the top of the rift, where the going is
|
|
much easier, and then drop down into the wider section beyond. Soon a point
|
|
is reached where the route splits.
|
|
|
|
<p>Straight ahead is a short climb down into a chamber (containing an
|
|
attractive overhanging bed of cemented pebbles, immediately to the left of
|
|
the climb down). To the right is a crawl, from which windows give glimpses of
|
|
the chamber. After a short distance in this crawl, a double bend leads to a
|
|
junction, where the left fork is a narrow, steeply ascending tube
|
|
[<a name="qC1998-161-05" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-05">C1998-161-05</a> C] containing calcited
|
|
pools (one of which has a dead spider trapped in it).
|
|
|
|
<p>The right fork enlarges, and splits again. Straight ahead here the passage
|
|
continues as an easy rift, before suddenly turning, after about 15 metres,
|
|
into an awkward squeeze to the right into a parallel, very tight rift
|
|
[<a name="qC1998-161-06" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-06">C1998-161-06</a> C]. This was pushed, with
|
|
the enticement of a booming echo, but was abandoned after a dodgy moment with
|
|
a detached carbide pipe. The left hand turn at the start of the easy rift
|
|
leads to an exposed climb down into the chamber with the cemented pebbles.
|
|
From this chamber, the only way on is a climb down through boulders in the
|
|
floor, which doesn't go. The deepest point of this series is at -415m from
|
|
161a (-424m from 136).
|
|
|
|
<h4><a name="casmud">Clear as Mud</a></h4>
|
|
|
|
<p>From the foot of the final pitch in Fuzzy Logic, facing away from the
|
|
rope, there is a pool to the right. Water from the pitch above flows out of
|
|
this pool to run down a walking-size passage, before disappearing down a tiny
|
|
hole in the floor after about 15 metres. Beyond this the passage continues
|
|
dry, and rises steadily. An aven is encountered, which has been climbed for
|
|
about 10 metres until it closes down. Various mud constrictions are passed
|
|
before the passage finally ends at a mud choke some 70 metres from the foot
|
|
of the last pitch.
|
|
|
|
<hr /></body>
|
|
</html>
|