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expoweb/smkridge/204.htm
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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML lang=en><HEAD><TITLE>1623:204</TITLE>
<BODY>
<DIV align=center>
<CENTER>
<TABLE border=0 width="100%">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TH align=left width="20%"><FONT size=+2>204</FONT></TH>
<TH lang=de><FONT size=+2>Steinbrückenhöhle</FONT></TH>
<TH align=right width="20%"><FONT size=+2>4/S x</FONT></TH></TR>
<TR>
<TH align=left><FONT size=+1>(CUCC
99/03)</FONT></TH></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER></DIV>
<P><B>Altitude:</B> 1820m, length 2.5km, depth 368m<BR><B>Location:</B> 204b
entrance E 36673 N (52)83716
<P>The cave is situated on the west side of the col between the <SPAN
lang=de-at>Hinterer Schwarzmooskogel</SPAN> and <SPAN lang=de-at>Nieder
AugstEck</SPAN>.
<P><B>Access route:</B>The 1999 route from Top Camp (probably near optimal) is a
cairned path via <SPAN lang=de>Wolfhöhle</SPAN> (<A
href="../plateau/145.htm">1623/145</A>) and Laser
Point 5, then up to the top of the bare patch of white limestone visible from
Top Camp, passing <A
href="195.htm">195</A> and <A
href="196.htm">196.</A> Laser 0/5 can
also be approached via <A
href="../plateau/107.htm">107</A>, a slightly
lower route; or the white patch of limestone can be reached by a more central
route across the plateau. In all these cases there is scope for endless
variation, and an approach which keeps the large bare patch in view is
recommended. Alternatively, the cave may be approached from the summit of HSK -
probably the optimal route if you are coming from any of the <A
href="161/top.htm">161</A> entrances.
<P><B>Marking:</B>Tag. Does it say "CUCC 99-03" or "CUCC 204"?
<P><B>Description:</B>204a entrance is directly opposite a 10m x 3m stone bridge
from which it derives its name. The entrance itself is approximately 8m high and
5m wide, and leads down a boulder slope and round a right hand bend to the top
of the first pitch. 204b entrance is 15m away to the west, and this is the
entrance which is rigged. A 3m climb down (handline useful) leads into the
entrance gully and a ledge at the head of the first pitch, <B>Trick or
Treat</B>, opposite 204a entrance. This loose, sloping pitch of 20m is rigged
from a Y-hang on the right hand wall, with a rebelay and deviation. The pitch is
tedious to prussik on return and is best climbed. The landing is by a large snow
plug with (in 1999) an ice corridor round the edge leading to the top of a
boulder slope. A rift passage on the right becomes too tight.
<P><A name=jim>Descending</A> the boulder slope (care required to avoid kicking
rocks off) leads to the head of the second pitch, <B>Jim'll Fix It</B> (18m). An
unexplored passage is visible from the pitch head, which could be accessed by a
bolt traverse round the right hand side of the pitch head
[<A href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-01" name=qC1999-204-01>C1999-204-01 C</A>].
The pitch is rigged from a bolt in the
left hand wall with a deviation from a spit immediately after the pitch head
bolt. This protects a marginal rub point and also avoids a jet of water which
spurts from a crack in the wall after heavy rain. The landing is by a large
pointed snowplug. Landing on top of the snow plug and climbing up 2m to the
right (when facing the wall on which the pitch is rigged) leads to an
undescended pitch/climb [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-02"
name=qC1999-204-02>C1999-204-02 B</A>] which lies above the northern end of <A
href="204.htm#wolp">Wolpertinger
Way</A>. In 1999 there was sufficient gap between snow and wall to complete the
descent and emerge in a sloping phreatic passage. There are two ways on: Right
leads uphill as stooping/crawling height passage for 30m to emerge at the top of
<A
href="204.htm#umshit">Umshitshimbo</A>.
Left leads downhill into <A
href="204.htm#nearend">The Near
End</A> and is the main way on. There is a further unexplored passage in the
wall above the gap between the snow plug and the rock [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-03"
name=qC1999-204-03>C1999-204-03 C</A>].
<H3><A name=nearend>The Near End</A></H3>
<P><B>The Near End</B> is a collective name for a complex network of high level
phreatic passages which slope approximately 20° following the dip of the beds.
Heading downhill from the base of <B>Jim'll Fix It</B> in a stooping height
passage leads round a double bend to a 2m climb down to a junction. Right leads
to more <A
href="204.htm#nearside">side
passages</A> whilst the main route is straight ahead to a crossroads. Right
leads into the same <A
href="204.htm#nearside">side
passages</A> as the previous right turn. Left is <B>Needle Crawl</B> past an
unexplored passage on the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-04"
name=qC1999-204-04>C1999-204-04 C</A>] and a crawl on the right (feels like
straight ahead) which becomes too small after ~8m. Straight ahead (feels like a
left) leads to the head of a fine 4m diameter circular shaft, <B>Thread
Pitch</B>. This pitch of 17m leads into <A
href="204.htm#wolp">Wolpertinger
Way</A>. A continuation of the
crawl is visible at the opposite side of the pitch head [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-06"
name=qC1999-204-06>C1999-204-06 C</A>].
<P>From the crossroads, the main route in 1999 was straight ahead, downhill in
mostly stooping height passage with a short section of sandy crawling. After 15m
is a short climb down to the top of a 4m deep pit with a too-tight passage at
the bottom, with the phreatic passage continuing to the right. After a further
10m the passage is intersected by a large rift with a big rock partially
blocking the passage. Climbing up to the right leads back into a tall rift in
the <A href="204.htm#nearside">side
passages</A>. A climb up to the left leads to a passage containing attractive
white mud which was not entered, however a visual connection to the <A
href="204.htm#pendulum">Pendulum
Pitch</A> was established.
<P>Straight ahead leads to a further junction after 15m. Left opens out to the
head of <A
href="204.htm#pendulum">Pendulum
Pitch</A>, the main route to the bottom of <A
href="204.htm#wolp">Wolpertinger
Way</A> used in 1999. Right leads to a narrow stooping height passage which
continues for 25m with several clear pools in the floor to a widening where most
routes ahead and to the left are choked with boulders. To the right, a body
sized tube leads upwards for ~15m before opening out into a low chamber on the
left. The continuation of the crawl is immediately opposite the entry point [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-05"
name=qC1999-204-05>C1999-204-05 B</A>] and there is a climb down into a rift on
the far side of the chamber to the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-07"
name=qC1999-204-07>C1999-204-07 B</A>]. The chamber doubles back on itself to
the left and encounters an area of breakdown which was not fully investigated,
but is presumed to be the opposite side of the boulder choke.
<H3><A name=nearside>The Near End: Side Passages</A></H3>
<P>The first two right turns encountered when heading downhill from the foot of
<A href="204.htm#jim">Jim'll Fix
It</A> unite in a walking sized passage. After 10m the bottom of <A
href="204.htm#umshit">Umshitshimbo</A>
is passed on the right, whilst straight ahead leads to a junction with a large
keyhole passage. Left leads after 15m to a climb up behind a precariously placed
boulder, to an immediate climb down of 4m which emerges in the 1999 main route
through the near end before <A
href="204.htm#pendulum">Pendulum
Pitch</A>. Right leads immediately to an undescended pitch [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-08"
name=qC1999-204-08>C1999-204-08 B</A>]. A difficult and exposed traverse round
the left hand wall leads to a further 30m of passage with a steadily lowering
roof culminating in a boulder choke.
<P>
<CENTER><IMG alt="plan: 24k gif" height=783 src="1623204_files/pl1999.gif"
width=582></CENTER>
<H3><A name=umshit>The Near End: Umshitshimbo and Updip Passages</A></H3>
<P><B>Umshitshimbo</B> is a fine phreatic ramp, 2m wide and about 4m high, which
heads uphill in a straight line for 40m. At the top a passage doubling back on
the right leads back to the base of <A
href="204.htm#jim">Jim'll Fix It</A>
and there is a climb up into a rift passage heading south over the top of
Umshitshimbo which becomes too narrow. Large passage continues uphill past a 2m
deep blind pit on the right to a junction.
<P>Left leads uphill past a choked inlet on the left to a steep uphill section
with a crawl on the right, which leads shortly to a 2m climb down and immediate
choke. At the top of the steep section the passage to the right immediately
chokes, whilst left is <B>Dolly Parton climb</B>, a 2m climb up with huge jugs,
to a further 15m of upward trending phreatic passage, terminating in a boulder
choke with a slight draught (air coming into the cave.) There are two small
steep phreatic ramps on the left hand side of this passage, both very small and
both choked.
<P>Straight ahead at the junction leads through a short section of rift to an
enlargement with an alcove on the right and a keyhole passage ahead. The rift
section at the bottom quickly becomes choked, with a slight draught coming in. A
3m climb gains access to the phreatic section which goes over the top of the
choke, and about after a further 3m reaches a large boulder, which almost blocks
the passage with a strong breeze blowing through the gap (into the cave.)
Squeezing through yields a steeply ascending rocky crawl which chokes after
about 5m.
<H3><A name=wolp>Wolpertinger Way</A></H3>
<P><B>Thread Pitch</B> from <A
href="204.htm#nearend">The Near
End</A> lands at the top of a large 6-8m diameter phreatic passage,
<B>Wolpertinger Way</B>, which heads downhill past some ice formations on the
left hand side, for 35m to a junction. Straight ahead is a steep gully leading
to a 6.5m diameter circular shaft with aven above - <B>You're So Veined</B>.
There is a traverse round the right hand side of the gully on an increasingly
narrow ledge.
<P><B>You're So Veined</B> is rigged at its southern end, and this is reached
via a sandy crawl off to the right from the top of the steep gully, which passes
over a hole in the floor through dangerous boulders [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-09"
name=qC1999-204-09>C1999-204-09 C</A>] to reach a junction. Right is a
passage, which quickly chokes, straight ahead leads into <A
href="204.htm#110aday">110 A Day</A>,
whilst left is the main route.
<P>More sandy crawling leads to a crossroads, where left leads to the ledge
overlooking the pitch, and right is a short crawl leading to the main passage
part of the way down <A
href="204.htm#pendulum">Pendulum
Pitch</A>, the easiest route to the <A
href="204.htm#elephant">White
Elephant Series</A>. Straight ahead leads to a further junction. Right is a
short passage to a traverse round a blind pit, an alternative route to <A
href="204.htm#pendulum">Pendulum
Pitch</A>. Left is the head of <B>You're So Veined</B>, the start of the <A
href="204.htm#ariston">Ariston
Series</A>. </P>
<H3><A name=110aday>110 A Day</A></H3>
<P><B>110 A Day</B> is a long, dusty passage which varies between stooping and
crawling for 110m. Immediately after the start is a sharp right hand bend with
a crawl straight ahead to <B>110 Bidet</B>. About halfway along is a crossroads,
where low passages lead off to the left to <B>110 Bidet</B> and to the right [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-13"
name=qC1999-204-13>C1999-204-13 C</A>]. At the terminus reached in 1999, the
passage splits into two. Each branch immediately becomes tight, but could be
pushed further with a little determination and effort [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-14"
name=qC1999-204-14>C1999-204-14 C</A> and <A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-15"
name=qC1999-204-15>C1999-204-15 C</A>]. In the left hand branch, just before the
passage becomes tighter, is an undescended pitch [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-16"
name=qC1999-204-16>C1999-204-16 A</A>] of perhaps 20m.
<H3><A name=110bidet>110 Bidet</A></H3>
<P><B>110 Bidet</B> is a stooping size passage which runs parallel to <B>110 A Day</B>.
It can be accessed via a crawl about 1m up that carries straight on from where
<B>110 A Day</B> starts with a sharp right hand turn. The crawl emerges into
larger passage; to the left after 5m is <B>Pendulum Pitch</B>. Going right leads
to a hole in the floor among boulders, <B>Marble Run</B>. To the left here
is a low passage leading to <B>No Pain No Gain</B>, whilst <B>110 Bidet</B> carries straight on.
Continuing on, the passage turns right, followed shortly by a crossroads with a crawly passage.
To the right is a dead end; to the left is [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-54"
name=qC2000-204-54>C2000-204-54 B</A>]. Straight on emerges into <B>110 A Day</B>
about half way along its length.
<H3><A name=marblerun>Marble Run</A></H3>
<P><B>Marble Run</B> runs along a fault line that created a small passable phreatic
tube, which has subsequently been intersected by a tight rifty stream way. 20m along
the rift bears to the right and is too tight to pass, whilst the phreatic passage continues on to a small
chamber. Here the passage doubles back on itself to continue above the original
passage. The passage does this once more to end in an earth blockage.
<H3><A name=nopainnogain>No Pain No Gain</A></H3>
<P><B>No Pain No Gain</B>is a low tube, which emerges to a mud-floored chamber. (Please
try not to disturb the remaining flow patterns in the mud). A crawly mud floored
passage leaves the chamber to the right. To the right near the end of the crawl is a
bedding plane that continues uphill [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-01"
name=qC2000-204-01>C2000-204-01 B</A>], whilst to the left is a small stone floored pit. There
is a 2m climb up from the top of the pit. This has a stalactite formation at the top on the
right, and threads on the left where a sling may be attached to assist. The crawl then
continues to a junction with two connecting passages to the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-02"
name=qC2000-204-02>C2000-204-02 B</A>] and two connecting passages to the right [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-03"
name=qC2000-204-03>C2000-204-03 C</A>]. The passage then continues to a T junction where it
enlarges slightly. To the right is [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-04"
name=qC2000-204-04>C2000-204-04 C</A>]. To the left there is a chamber that is
intersected by a tight rift with flowing water. Downstream is [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-05"
name=qC2000-204-05>C2000-204-05 C</A>]. Upstream a key hole passage slopes upwards, to a T-junction
with a chamber to the right, and an short, almost flat-out crawl to the left.
Back at the chamber, which has
an aven [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-55"
name=qC2000-204-55>C2000-204-55 X</A>], it is possible to drop into the main part of the chamber.
A rift at the other end leads to a
waterfall which feeds the stream that runs through the chamber. Climbing up before the rift gives
access to a crawl [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-06"
name=qC2000-204-06>C2000-204-06 C</A>]. The flat out crawl emerges to a small angular chamber, at the
top of which, to the right, is a hole [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-07"
name=qC2000-204-07>C2000-204-07 C</A>]. To the left a low passage runs above a 4m drop [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-08"
name=qC2000-204-08>C2000-204-08 B</A>]. This then turns right and continues to a fork in the passage. To
the left is <B>Insignificant Chamber</B>, and to the right is a smaller chamber with a hole in the floor,
windows to <B>Insignificant Chamber</B>, and a bedding plane continuing up at 10&deg;, which again connects into <B>Insignificant Chamber</B>.
<H3><A name=insignificantchamber>Insignificant Chamber</A></H3>
<P><B>Insignificant Chamber</B>can be entered at floor level from <B>No Pain No Gain</B>. It extends to a
passage on the left as one enters, where there are a number a interconnecting holes on the right [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-58"
name=qC2000-204-58>C2000-204-58 C</A>]. Upslope from the entrance is a bedding plane which splits left to
<B>Bonsai Crawl</B> on the left and to [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-09"
name=qC2000-204-09>C2000-204-09 B</A>] on the right. To the right upon entering Insignificant Chamber one can climb up
to a point above the small chamber in <B>No Pain No Gain</B> From here there is a phreatic tube[<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-57"
name=qC2000-204-57>C2000-204-57 C</A>] that can be probably be reached with the aid of a traverse line. The passage
continues climbing ever upward [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-56"
name=qC2000-204-08>C2000-204-56 B</A>]. The passage to the left from Insignificant Chamber gets smaller and
meets a crossroads. To the left is a walking size passage with a small pit in the floor that continues to a large
pitch [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-10"
name=qC2000-204-10>C2000-204-10 A</A>], thought to drop into Pleasuredome. Straight on the passage turns to a steeply
sloping pitch [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-11"
name=qC2000-204-11>C2000-204-11 B</A>]. To the right is some small passage that connects to the Bonsai
Crawl. Half way along this passage there is a hole [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-59"
name=qC2000-204-59>C2000-204-59 C</A>].
<H3><A name=Bonsaicrawl>Bonsai Crawl</A></H3>
<P><B>Bonsai Crawl</B>is a wide bedding plane. A tall and thin passage to the right goes to a chamber
with a pitch [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-52"
name=qC2000-204-52>C2000-204-52 C</A>] and a couple of small passages to the right [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-50"
name=qC2000-204-50>C2000-204-50 C</A>] and [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-51"
name=qC2000-204-51>C2000-204-51 C</A>]. A passage leads off to the left and gets lower, passing some
pretties on the floor. It then continues [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-53"
name=qC2000-204-53>C2000-204-53 A</A>]. Bonsai Crawl continues to a fork that has a stooping-size
passage to the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-12"
name=qC2000-204-12>C2000-204-12 B</A>]. To the right is a walking-size passage with a boulder floor.
There is a hole in the right wall that has a couple of small passages leading off [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-13"
name=qC2000-204-13>C2000-204-13 C</A>], [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-14"
name=qC2000-204-59>C2000-204-14 C</A>]. The passage then debouches into <B>The Colonnade</B>.
<H3><A name=thecolonnade>The Colonnade</A></H3>
<P><B>Bonsai Crawl</B> joins at a point where <b>The Colonnade</b>, a wide walking passage with a boulder
floor, makes a sharp turn. To the right the passage comes to a chamber-like crossroads. To the left
is an initially walking-sized tube [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-41"
name=qC2000-204-41>C2000-204-41 A</A>] and to the right a low draughting crawl [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-42"
name=qC2000-204-42>C2000-204-42 B</A>]. <b>The Colonnade</b> continues and a stream joins from the left.
Further along on the left is a pile of stones which must originate from a passage [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-43"
name=qC2000-204-43>C2000-204-43 C</A>]. The passage then becomes small with a possible aven [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-44"
name=qC2000-204-44>C2000-204-44 X</A>], a tight rift [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-45"
name=qC2000-204-45>C2000-204-45 B</A>], and a crawl down and to the right. The crawl emerges into
a chamber, with a possible way on over rocks directly ahead [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-49"
name=qC2000-204-49>C2000-204-49 C</A>]. The chamber gets larger to the right, where there are two
tight rifts leading off [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-46"
name=qC2000-204-46>C2000-204-46 C</A>], [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-47"
name=qC2000-204-47>C2000-204-47 C</A>] and an aven [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-48"
name=qC2000-204-48>C2000-204-48 X</A>]. Water was flowing down one of these, possibly to the waterfall
entering the chamber in <b>No Pain No Gain</b>. At this time in 2000
it had not rained on the surface for 8 days. Back where
<B>Bonsai Crawl</B> enters, the passage goes straight on with a number of minor passages to the sides.
These are a crawl to the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-15"
name=qC2000-204-15>C2000-204-15 C</A>]; then some distance further on, another crawl on the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-16"
name=qC2000-204-16>C2000-204-16 B</A>] leading from a trench in the passage; a small passage on the
right [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-17"
name=qC2000-204-17>C2000-204-17 C</A>] that links to [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-21"
name=qC2000-204-21>C2000-204-21 C</A>]; and a crawl high up to the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-18"
name=qC2000-204-18>C2000-204-18 C</A>]. A short distance further a walking-size passage goes to the
left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-19"
name=qC2000-204-19>C2000-204-19 C</A>]. The main passage then forks: to the left is [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-20"
name=qC2000-204-20>C2000-204-20 C</A>] whilst to the right the passage continues past a high up crawl [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-21"
name=qC2000-204-21>C2000-204-21 C</A>], and then possibly [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-22"
name=qC2000-204-22>C2000-204-22 C</A>]. The main passage then pops out into <B>Treeumphant Passage</B>.
<H3><A name=treeumphantpassage>Treeumphant Passage</A></H3>
<P><B>The Colonnade</B> meets <B>Treeumphant Passage</B> at a narrow angle. In one direction
<B>Treeumphant Passage</B> ends just next to its entrance at a boulder slope which can be climbed
over [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-23"
name=qC2000-204-23>C2000-204-23 A</A>]. In the other direction it continues over large boulders going
slightly up hill. There is a walking passage off to the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-24"
name=qC2000-204-24>C2000-204-24 A</A>], as well as a high up crawl to the right [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-25"
name=qC2000-204-25>C2000-204-25 C</A>] and then a tight high passage to the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-26"
name=qC2000-204-26>C2000-204-26 C</A>]. The passage then increases in height approaching a sharp turn
to the right. Here a walking size passage [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-28"
name=qC2000-204-28>C2000-204-28 A</A>] continues straight on, and there may be an aven in the ceiling [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-27"
name=qC2000-204-27>C2000-204-27 X</A>]. The main passage passes possibly diggable holes at floor level [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-29"
name=qC2000-204-29>C2000-204-29 C</A>], and continues into <B>Great Oak Chamber</B>.
<H3><A name=greatoakchamber>Great Oak Chamber</A></H3>
<P><B>Treeumphant Passage</B> disappears into an approx 5m drop [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-32"
name=qC2000-204-32>C2000-204-32 B</A>] in Great Oak Chamber and there is an aven above [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-33"
name=qC2000-204-33>C2000-204-33 X</A>]. There may be passage continuing straight across the chamber [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-31"
name=qC2000-204-31>C2000-204-31 B</A>], as well as a passage to the right [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-30"
name=qC2000-204-30>C2000-204-30 C</A>]. Just before the drop there is a bouldery slope up to another
smaller walking size passage. There is an oxbow to the left, with a possible passage leading off
it [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-34"
name=qC2000-204-34>C2000-204-34 B</A>], as well as an aven [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-35"
name=qC2000-204-35>C2000-204-35 X</A>]. There are a couple of possible digs to the left slightly
further on [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-36"
name=qC2000-204-36>C2000-204-36 C</A>], [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-37"
name=qC2000-204-37>C2000-204-37 C</A>] before the passage enters <B>Cave Tree Chamber</B>.
<H3><A name=cavetreechamber>Cave Tree Chamber</A></H3>
<P>There is a climb down of about 2m into <B>Cave Tree Chamber</B>, which has a bouldery floor on
the left, and a pitch on the right [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-39"
name=qC2000-204-39>C2000-204-39 B</A>]. An aven extends above [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-38"
name=qC2000-204-38>C2000-204-38 X</A>], and the passage may continue over the pitch [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C2000-204-40"
name=qC2000-204-40>C2000-204-40 A</A>]. It would be advisable to protect this traverse.
<H3><A name=pendulum>Pendulum Pitch Route</A></H3>
<P><B>Pendulum Pitch</B> is in a large rift. The first section is a loose
boulder slope (care required) to a rebelay, then a descent of 23m via a
deviation off the far wall below a large wedged boulder. There may be a passage
on the far side of the rift accessible with difficulty from this boulder [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-17"
name=qC1999-204-17>C1999-204-17 C</A>]. From the base of the pitch, two rift
passages lead off which very quickly become too tight.
<P>The main route on is reached by swinging off after 16m into a 6m wide
passage. Two passages in the left hand wall are quickly encountered. The first
quickly becomes too tight, the second is a short crawl leading into the network
of sandy crawls at the bottom of <A
href="204.htm#wolp">Wolpertinger
Way</A>, and is the best route from here to the <A
href="204.htm#ariston">Ariston
Series</A>. Continuing down the main passage, passing either side of a huge
boulder, reaches a blind pit in the floor, with two ways on.
<P>A loose and slightly precarious traverse round the blind pit leads to a short
passage on the left, emerging at the head of <B>You're So Veined</B> at the
start of the <A
href="204.htm#ariston">Ariston
Series</A>. A rift visible at the opposite side of the pit has an audible
connection to <B>You're so Veined</B>.
<P>To the right at the blind pit is a draughting phreatic tube which heads
downhill at a comfortable walking size past a tight passage on the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-18"
name=qC1999-204-18>C1999-204-18 C</A>]. After 20m, a 3m climb up into a roof
tube on the right hand side is the way into the <A
href="204.htm#elephant">White
Elephant Series</A>. The phreatic passage continues for a further 15m past a too
tight inlet on the right and a traverse over a blind pit to a 3m deep hole in
the floor, which is blind. Traversing over the hole and up a loose climb with a
too tight rift in the right hand wall leads into an uphill passage, which is
choked with mud after 5m. A sandy crawl on the right just before the choke leads
via a left hand bend with a too tight rift on the right (probably connecting to
that at the loose climb) ending at a 2m climb down. There is a possible way on
at the bottom of this, but it is very small and tall people at least would have
to enter feet first [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-19"
name=qC1999-204-19>C1999-204-19 C</A>]. There is a noticeable draught here
blowing downhill (into the cave).
<P>
<CENTER><IMG alt="elevation: 16k gif" height=780 src="1623204_files/el1999.gif"
width=575></CENTER>
<H3><A name=ariston>Ariston Series</A></H3>
<P>The Ariston Series is the route to the current deepest point in the cave. The
pitch series begins with a short pitch of 5m rigged from a large thread in the
roof a few metres back, with a single spit for the vertical part, which is
almost a scramble. This lands on a large ledge formed of boulders wedged across
a narrow point; there are two choices of descent here, one to the north,
<B>You're So Veined</B> (15m), which was used in 1999, and an as yet undescended
pitch to the south, which will land further down the Ariston Series, which
should probably be used in 2000. One rebelay provides a good hang against the
wall of You're so Veined to reach the foot of the pitch, which is in a spacious
shaft, with an impressive aven above. From here, there are two ways on: to the
left, facing away from the pitch just descended, is a gully, which in 1999
contained a thick layer of ice. Carefully traversing this rather slippery
section leads to the head of a small pitch of 6m, which was rigged with a
Y-hang. From here a walking size phreatic passage leads off, carrying a
substantial breeze. The passage initially descends, but then develops a narrow
floor trench; as the trench deepens, the phreatic part of the passage rises, and
then ends abruptly where the floor trench turns right and leads off as a
too-tight rift while ahead the phreas pinches out.
<P>Back at the foot of <B>You're So Veined</B>, a way on to the right leads into
a small, very crumbly chamber, from which a short section of awkward rift leads
to a fine crow's nest in the wall of a large rift. A very short pitch (5m) lands
on a large ledge, from which a roped traverse along the left-hand wall gains the
head of the next pitch of 12m, which avoids a large ledge which would have been
in the way but for the traverse. This pitch currently requires a rope protector
just below the Y-hang at the top. The landing is on another large ledge, where a
pool can be used to refill water containers. It is thought that the alternative
pitch to You're so Veined will land here, if rigged.
<P>The next pitch of 14m consists of a backup bolt followed by a Y-hang, which
utilises one very cratered spit, which can only be used with a bollard type
hanger. This pitch requires a deviation from the opposite wall or a rebelay to
be installed as there is currently a rub point just below the Y-hang. The ledge
that this pitch lands on consists of boulders wedged across the shaft, although
it seems sound. A backup bolt protects the approach to the Y-hang at the head of
the next pitch (35m). Unfortunately, it seems to be impossible to get a clean
hang from here, and a rub-point 3m down will require the installation of a
rebelay or deviation in future. Immediately after this point, the walls of the
shaft bell out, and the rope hangs in stimulating isolation. About 5m from the
floor a ledge is passed, which could be gained by a swing across, where there
may possibly be a passage leading off [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-20"
name=qC1999-204-20>C1999-204-20 B</A>].
<P>At the foot of the pitch, the way on is a very chossy, sloping descent which
will require either re-rigging or bypassing (which may be possible by a climb up
and over) in future. This leads to a further short pitch (10m), which lands in
an aven chamber of ample proportions. From here is another short, undescended
pitch [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-21"
name=qC1999-204-21>C1999-204-21 A</A>], a crawl leading off from the foot of the
pitch just descended, and a descending rubble slope. The rubble slope curves
round to the right, passing a tight rift on the left [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-22"
name=qC1999-204-22>C1999-204-22 C</A>], to reach the bottom of a short climb up
of 3m on the right, which is followed by a scramble down on the other side. From
here, straight ahead is a climb up into the foot of an aven, half-right is a
short ascending passage leading to a chamber where a traverse around the right
hand wall leads to a slope down to an undescended pitch [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-23"
name=qC1999-204-23>C1999-204-23 A</A>], and full right is a stooping/crawling
height phreatic passage with a mud floor. This passes on the right the other end
of the crawl which led off from the foot of the previous pitch.
<P>Some 50m of alternate crawling and stooping, including a single point where
the roof dips and the crawl is flat-out, leads to a small chamber. Here there
are two holes in the floor. One, which has not been descended, is a reasonably
large drop (stones bounce off the walls a couple of times and then fall free for
some 3s)[<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-24"
name=qC1999-204-24>C1999-204-24 A</A>]. The other drop is much shorter, and is
split into two sections by ledges on each wall part way down. The first section
of 8m reaches these small ledges, where a stream enters from the foot of a very
large aven. The next section of 11m is wet, and lands on a small ledge
overlooking a massive shaft. Stones thrown out from here fall for 3s. This is
believed to be the same pitch as C1999-204-24, which will probably prove to
provide a drier descent. This ledge is the current limit of exploration at
-226m.
<H3><A name=elephant>White Elephant Series</A></H3>
<P>The White Elephant Series is a series of rift pitches which has not been
pushed to a definite conclusion, but does not appear especially promising,
despite carrying a considerable breeze. From the head of the 3m climb up, a roof
tube leads off. After 8m of crawling, the passage opens out at the head of a 2m
climb down by a large boulder. A too-tight rift leads off on the left, but ahead
opens out into a large space, the <B>Millennium Dome</B>.
<P>A 20m pitch rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall backed up to the big
boulder, with a rebelay and rope protector after 5m, lands on the boulder floor
of the Millennium dome, which is an L-shaped chamber at the base of a large
aven, with each arm of the L being 15m long and 5m wide. There do not appear to
be any ways through the boulders, but a rift leads off at the western end,
quickly arriving at the head of a 10m pitch with a constricted take off, rigged
from boulders. An eyehole part way down this pitch appears to lead into a
parallel shaft [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-25"
name=qC1999-204-25>C1999-204-25 B</A>]. The pitch lands on a rubble floor with a
blind pit. Heading south quickly reaches a loose pitch head, with a rift passage
continuing beyond.
<P>The pitch is 28m, rigged from a bolt on the left hand wall and deviations
from natural threads after 4m and 12m. The second deviation is by a small rock
bridge, where descending either side appears to go to the same place, and an
eyehole opposite connects to the continuation of the rift at the top of the
pitch. The base of the pitch is an oddly shaped chamber formed from several
rifts (about 7m up the pitch, these rifts coalesce to form a single shaft.)
North from the base of the rope leads to a 3m climb down into an inlet rift
coming from the north which ends in a blank wall 8m from the base of the rope,
but the rift continues too-tight heading south beneath the 3m climb. South from
the base of the rope is another rift heading downhill which rapidly becomes too
tight with running water clearly audible, but not visible beyond. West from the
base of the rope leads to junction with a too tight rift continuing to the west,
and another inlet rift coming from the north which ends in a blank wall after
5m.
<P>Traversing over the top of the pitch (rope required) and a short descent
leads to a continuation of the rift passage. A hole on the left connects to the
28m pitch described earlier. After 5m the rift narrows and a constricted pitch
head is reached. The descent of 15m is rigged from a large boulder and leads
immediately to a further drop of 7m rigged from a bolt. This shorter drop may be
bypassed by an alternative free climb in a narrow slot immediately beyond the
pitch head. From the base the tall, narrow rift continues with two short climbs
and a slot in the floor which gradually widens to the head of the next pitch
after 6m. This is rigged from a Y-hang on either side of the rift, but soon
opens out to give a fine descent of 15m landing in a spacious rift at 182m depth
from 204b entrance. A narrow slot in the floor develops, which is just large
enough to descend, but stones thrown down sound dead [<A
href="204/qm.htm#C1999-204-26"
name=qC1999-204-26>C1999-204-26 B</A>]. It is possible to traverse above the
slot for a short way before the rift becomes too tight.
<P>There is a noticeable breeze at the base of this pitch, as there is through
much of the series, with air blowing into the cave. From the base of the 7m
pitch, there is no roof visible. This area has potential, but there are no easy
leads, and some lunatic bolt traverses may be required to try to bypass the
tight sections.
<P><B>Exploration:</B> CUCC 1999, to length 1365m, depth 226m<BR>CUCC 2000 to
2.5km and depth 368m
<HR>
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