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<title>1990: Cambridge Underground report</title>
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<center><font size=-1>CTS 91.1327/b: Cambridge Underground 1991 pp 11-15</font>
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<h2>1623/161 - Kaninchenhöhle. Cave description.</h2></center>
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<p align=right>Dave Fearon, Mike Richardson, Del Robinson & Wookey
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<p>The description that follows is of the 1990 discoveries. A complete
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description of the cave up until 1990 may be found in the
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<a href="../1989/cavegd.htm">1990 Journal</a>.
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<h3>DREAMTIME</h3>
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<p>Descend the third pitch to the col below the upper rebelays, between the
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pitches to Death's Door and Alternative Shopper. Cross the col and climb the
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boulders to the back wall, then traverse left to gain a large passage, the
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start of Dreamtime. A traverse line should be used as some boulders are
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loose.
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<p>The passage descends over boulders and a trench in the floor, with a holes
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on the right leading into a blind rift, Bullshit Alley. The main passage
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eventually closes off, but a narrow passage to the right descends to Eyehole
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Pitch. A hole to the left descends a 20m pitch to an excessively tight rift,
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which would be near impossible to rig without a power drill. Ahead, Eyehole
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pitch is a 4m drop into a chamber, with a window back to the 20m pitch.
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Ahead, climb over or through a rock bridge and down an elliptical tube to
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enter a bedding plane.
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<p>To the left, the bedding plane leads left to a short pitch to the bottom
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of the 20m pitch, and right to Gnome Passage, a small winding passage which
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forks just after a stal boss. The right hand fork eventually closes down, the
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left hand leads to a drafting choke through which black space can be seen.
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This might be worth further attention.
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<p>Back at the bedding plane, ahead enters a rift via a handline climb.
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Traverse over a hold in the floor, and continue until the rift drops right
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into a pit. Climbing the far side of the pit gains a short passage to
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Dreaming Pitch. The descends to a short horizontal section, and then Hinge
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Pitch. Hinge Pitch drops about 10m to become tight, but about 5m down, a
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ledge can be gained on the right. Climb over a notch and down into a larger
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passage.
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<p>This passage is about 50m long, over a hole which should preferably be
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provided with a hand line. This hole has not been descended. At the end of
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the passage, just before Stinky Pool, climb up to the right into a cross
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passage, leading to the top of Hole in the Roof Pitch. This descends for 30m
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via a ledge and rebelay to land on boulders. To the left is a blind pit, to
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the right a climb down and short section of passage to join the Right Hand
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route, a few metres above Bungalow Pitch.
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<hr />
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<h3>RIGHT HAND ROUTE</h3>
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<h4>Boulder Alley</h4>
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<p>A 5m climb up the left wall at the top of Bungalow Pitch leads into a 4m
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diameter passage which runs for 20m and then looks out over Boulder Alley.
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There is also a hole on the right overlooking Poxy Pitch. Traversing out from
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the hole (needs a rope) across some very friable rock leads to the shaft part
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way down the Alley.
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<h4>Over The Rainbow</h4>
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<p>Just to the right of the OTR bypass at the same level is a small passage.
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10m along this is a choice of: straight on; a 2m climb down; or a larger
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passage on the right which doubles back to a 4m pitch into OTR. Straight on
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leads to a 3m wide, 2m deep hole in the floor. It is possible but difficult
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to traverse over it and it is easier to go down the climb and along a lower
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passage which comes out into this hole, and then climb up the far side.
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Beyond this the passage veers left and then wiggles back into the main RH
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Route passage via a choice of routes and sandy climbs down.
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<h4>Vestabule</h4>
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<p>In the Chunnel, 10m before the 3m climb down into OTR there is a small
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mud-floored passage going off in the right hand wall. This can be followed
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past a junction on the right with a tiny passage leading back into the
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Chunnel 10m further along, to a 12m pitch into a 3m wide by 20m high rift.
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This pitch lands on a boulder 6m above the actual floor. Steep climbs can be
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followed downwards to the lowest point where a further 8m pitch which is just
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free-climbable gets down to the choked floor.
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<p>Going uphill from the pitch for 30m leads to a 19m pitch which is also
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choked. There is a small 15m long passage in the left wall and a 6m climb up
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the right hand wall 10m back from the pitch leads into a passage which
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quickly comes back into the Chunnel directly above the OTR climb.
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<hr />
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<h3>DEHYDRATION</h3>
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<h4>Staircase 36</h4>
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<p>At the end of Yapate Inlet just beyond a roped traverse over a hole is a
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7m pitch up 'Staircase 36'. The first ascent was achieved by climbing up the
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less vertical wall 5m to the left (above Gob on You) and then traversing
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right along a sloping, muddy ledge. As this was non-trivial, the pitch has
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been left rigged (1990).
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<h4>Chicken Flied Nice</h4>
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<p>At the top of the pitch is a big phreatic passage ('Chicken Flied Nice'),
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similar to Yapate but with only a shallow floor trench. After a sharp
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left-right zig-zag a sandy 2m slope up on the left leads to a T-junction with
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a rift parallel to CFN.
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<p>To the left it is very narrow and after 20m looks out over Gob on You.
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<p>To the right the rift is much bigger (about 4m by 6m). walking over a few
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boulders brings you to the foot of a 3m pitch up to the rest of the rift and
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a 3m climb down over blocks into a young, active stream passage. A couple of
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2 to 3m climbs back up are possible upstream along this before it gets too
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tight.
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<p>The main rift continues above the pitch for another 25m past a high aven
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on the left to rejoin CFN at a sandy bank.
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<h4>Burble</h4>
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<p>The CFN phreatic continues up dip past this junction to a 90° right
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bend. In the outside wall of this corner is a narrow inlet ('Burble') which
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goes for 20m to a small chamber with a little stream on the right and a 3m
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climb on the far side. This leads to a dead straight passage which has been
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crab-walked for about 60m to an undescended pitch and possible traverse.
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<h4>Strange Downfall</h4>
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<p>Back in CFN the passage changes at the 90° corner; the floor trench
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cuts down and widens to a high stream rift which opens onto a big space,
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possibly a partially collapsed shaft. A 23m pitch lands on boulders, where
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climbing down the boulders to the left reaches a small rift which is fairly
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full of stones at this point. The rift may be followed in either direction.
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<h4>Hyper Gamma Spaces</h4>
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<p>Turning right and traversing over two 3m deep holes leads to a right turn
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and a 4m climb down to a chockstone plus another 5m climb down to a boulder
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choke. Descents can be made in various places along this rift for up to about
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20m, but all routes seem to choke. This area, including the big chamber is
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'Hyper Gamma Spaces'.
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<h4>Endless</h4>
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<p>Turning left in the rift immediately gives a very loose 3m climb down to a
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widening of the rift. This is the start of 'Endless', a steeply descending
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(35° to 40°) 140m long rift, only 5m high at this end but a good 40m
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high at the other. From here there is a crawl ahead and to the left, and two
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climbs down to the right.
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<p>The small crawl goes for some 30m before getting too tight.
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<p>The first climb is about 3m to a pitch aligned with the rift.
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<p>The second climb (of 7m) is the way on. Beneath its foot is a further 3m
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climb down leading to a rift pitch (probably the same as the one reached from
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the above). These pitches have not been descended.
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<p>Continuing down Endless leads to various amusing climbs and a junction to
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the left after 60m.
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<p>A stoop leads through to an angled chamber with a roof tube 7m up the
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right hand wall which winds somewhat before emerging back in Endless some 15m
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above the floor (not climbable at this point).
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<h4>Hasta La Vesta</h4>
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<p>20m further on is a 2m climb up and a 5m climb down followed by a couple
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of loose climbs (beware) leading to Hasta La Vesta - a horrible pile of
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boulders calling itself a pitch head.
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<p>Just before this there is a hard 5m climb down into a sand-filled dead
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end.
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<p>About 10m down the appalling HLV pitch a pendulum to the right above two
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big holes can be made (the wall is very loose).
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<p>From here an ascending rift passage can be followed to an unascended (as
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most of it fell off when it was attempted) climb. This rift may well be the
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one continuing beyond Fifty Francis's Phreatic Freehang in Flat Battery as
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voices have been heard in the area.
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<h4>Captive Wedge</h4>
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<p>Of the two holes, only the right hand one has been descended, although
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they may connect about 30m down. After a rebelay, Captive Wedge opens out and
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there is a drippy section then another rebelay far out to the left after a
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big ledge. From the floor a climb up to the left gives access to a passage
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containing increasingly awkward climbs. An obvious hole leads to a large
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shaft with a sloping wall. There is a window in the opposite wall. The
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obvious way on from the bottom of the shaft becomes too tight. There are
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several mud choked passages radiating from the bottom of the pitch. <hr />
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<h3>FLAT BATTERY</h3>
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<p>This consists of a long series of pitches from ledge to ledge down to a
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complex phreatic level where the way on is blocked by sand.
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<p>30m back from the end of Yapate Inlet is a sandy slope up to the a
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straight rift forking off on the right. This apparently ends quickly in a
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narrowing climb but ducking under the right wall, down a slope and over a
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boulder which 'obviously' blocks the passage, leads to a small chamber. There
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is a floor-level dead-end flat out crawl ahead, a steep passage up (the way
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on) to the left and a tiny roof tube ('Short Circuit') which also connects to
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the way on but which is impassable.
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<h4>Oldham Pitch</h4>
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<p>The passage comes out at a double pitch head (two holes leading to the
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same place). Above is more shaft, the top of which can be reached by a climb
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back in Yapate, and an audible connection to the approach rift.
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<p>Down the 25m Oldham pitch is a stream rift to a 6m pitch. At the foot of
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this is a hole down and a squeeze along a rift to the right.
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<p>Through the hole is 3m climb down to a damp view along a too tight rift.
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<h4>Triple A</h4>
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<p>The first squeeze is 'AA' ('Double A') and 1m beyond it is another ('AAA'
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or 'Triple A') which is great fun, especially with tackle, as it is angled
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down to the head of 'Jackpot', an 8m pitch.
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<h4>Fifty Francis's Phreatic Freehang</h4>
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<p>The rift becomes much bigger beyond Jackpot and across the ledge is a 13m
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pitch 'NiFe' leading via another ledge to Fifty Francis's Phreatic Freehang,
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a stunning 40m free pitch. At the foot of this is a 2m climb up to the
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continuation, which can be seen through a hole ('Maud's Window') in a rock
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arch ('The Mathematical Bridge') at the foot of a further 3m climb down from
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where FFPF lands.
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<p>The continuation is yet another pitch of 15m with a space off to the right
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which connects with Ariadne's aven below. At the bottom of this pitch is a 1m
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diameter hole onto a final 8m pitch ('FX2') to the phreatic level
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('Electrolyte Level').
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<h4>Electrolyte Level</h4>
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<p>To the left of FX2 is a pair of high avens ('Ariadne's Aven') with a
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beautiful pocked and pebbled floor. At the back of the aven there is a 4m
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climb up to nothing very exciting.
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<p>To the right is a 2m sandy climb to a roped traverse around a 10m long 4m
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deep hole.
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<p>Near the foot of FX2 the passage cuts down below the sand and rock floor.
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It is easy to climb down into this but it soon becomes sufficiently tight to
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require removal of SRT gear. Following this tortuous passage through a small
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choke leads back out into the main passage at the bottom of the traverse
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hole.
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<p>In the right hand wall of the hole is a 1.5m by 0.5m passage. This also
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soon requires gear removal and is both small and has a couple of athletic
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bits. After about 30m it crosses an even more ridiculous passage which could
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possibly be followed if this was Mendip. Beyond this there are several
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zig-zags of slightly uphill flat-out crawling culminating in a nasty duck
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which can be baled to make it a bit less awful. Beyond this is a fork with a
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difficult skydive (Quaking-style) 3m climb/pitch to the left into what looks
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like larger passage. This would require some rigging to re-ascend.
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<p>Right at the fork is a steeply ascending (55°) passage through which
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at least an audible connection back to the main passage probably exists. It
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was not followed due to lack of time and enthusiasm, but the sound of bolting
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was heard.
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<p>Beyond the hole the sandy-floored passage continues past a 0.3m diameter
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hole in the floor. This is a tight 3m pitch down to a sand-choked chamber.
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<p>The passage ends in an amazing 8 inch thick false compacted sand floor and
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a 5m pitch down to a sand slope. This chokes at the bottom, and the top leads
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into a large chamber with a cracked mud and sand floor. There is a choked 15m
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pitch in the floor, a small tube to the right and a 4m pitch up the opposite
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wall.
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<p>The tube descends for about 10m to a small rift. A climb up for about 5m
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is possible before it gets too wide and muddy.
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<p>Up the 4m pitch the ascent continues via a short climb and a 3m
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free-climbable pitch to a boulder-floored chamber. A loose tube leads back
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down from here to the sandy chamber and there is a 5m pitch down to an
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impassable rift. Off to the right is a crawl to a T-junction. Left it soon
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gets too tight. Right leads to a pitch which looks down on the 5m climb up
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from the small rift mentioned above.
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<hr />
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<h3>FLAPJACK II</h3>
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<p>This leads off from -50m down Flapjack at a rather convenient ledge. Back
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behind the ledge, a narrow rift leads off via two small pitches (7m and 7m)
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to a small chamber with water entering in one corner. The continuation of the
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rift ('No, you go first') is more complex with different levels (guide string
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remains) and an awkward last right hand corner. Rift leads to top of an 8m
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pitch into a larger chamber.
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<h4>Too Much Too Soon</h4>
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<p>The character of the cave changes as the chamber opens into a 100m pitch,
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'Too Much Too Soon'. Traverse to right and up to reach a Y-hang (42m
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free-hang). No other ways continue. The pitch lands on a big ledge at
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-65/70m, and there is a further ledge 10m down. From here a final rebelay
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gives a 20/25m hang down last section of 5m phreatic riser to land on
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squelchy muddy floor, 'Splatdown'. Opposite the landing point is a small tube
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leading to a 3m climb. A 6m climb follows down to a small chamber from which
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an impenetrable rift drops 8 to 10m to water.
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<hr />
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<h3>LEFT HAND ROUTE</h3>
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<h3>POWERSTATION</h3>
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<p>An impressive pitch series that doesn't seem to go anywhere.
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<p>At the corner before Arrow Chamber there are a couple of fallen blocks and
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some holes in the floor. The smallest hole, on the outside of the corner was
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the way chosen although they all seem to go into the same rift. This first
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pitch is 7m down to the stone-covered Foulness Ledge. From here is the
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classic 35m Dounreay pitch down to a ledge.
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<p>From here you can continue down a further 5m pitch (Sizewell A) or go
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through a rift to the left to another 5m rift pitch (Sizewell B). There is a
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visual connection between the bottom of these two pitches.
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<p>There is a further 3m drop from the bottom of Sizewell A to a floor with a
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narrow hole in it and a boulder slope up to a window onto a big space,
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probably the top of Dinorwig, and a very awkward, tight passage just to the
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left of the window. This looks over a couple of holes in the floor and has
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not been pushed.
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<p>Through the narrow hole is a 9m pitch to a ledge looking out onto a
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massive shaft. This is Dinorwig, a 53m pitch with a small rift at the bottom.
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A 4m pitch under a large boulder leads to a 13m pitch. Halfway down this on
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the left is a dead end passage. At the bottom are a couple of small ways off,
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both of which are blocked.
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<hr />
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<!-- LINKS -->
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<ul id="links">
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<li>Cambridge Underground 1991,
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<a href="http://cucc.survex.com/jnl/1991/index.htm">Table of Contents</a></li>
|
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<li>1990 Expedition info:
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<ul>
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<li><a href="index.htm">Index</a> (more detail than in this list)</li>
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<li><a href="log.htm">Logbook</a></li>
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<li><a href="report.htm">Expo Report</a> (Diary)</li>
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<li><a href="162163.htm">Entrances 162 and 163</a></li>
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<li><a href="newent.htm">New Entrances</a></li>
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<li>Surveying Report:
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<ul>
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<li><a href="svy1.htm"> 1: Calibration</a></li>
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<li><a href="svy2.htm"> 2: Survey Production</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li>Bosch Cordless Rotary Hammer <a href="drill.htm">Drill Report</a></li>
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<li><a href="sponsr.htm">Sponsors</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li><a href="../../pubs.htm#pubs1990">Index</a> to all publications</li>
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<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expeditions intro page</a></li>
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<li><a href="../../../index.htm">CUCC Home Page</a></li>
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</ul>
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