mirror of
https://expo.survex.com/repositories/expoweb/.git/
synced 2024-11-22 23:31:56 +00:00
2147 lines
100 KiB
HTML
2147 lines
100 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN">
|
||
<html>
|
||
<!-- finally complete ? all 161 trips numbered, partly threaded -->
|
||
<head>
|
||
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
|
||
<title>1990: Logbook</title>
|
||
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" />
|
||
</head>
|
||
<body>
|
||
|
||
<h1>1990 Expedition Trip Log</h1>
|
||
ONLY FIRST TWO
|
||
<p>This is a (fairly) faithful transcription of the CUCC 1990 Expedition
|
||
Logbook (<b>Captain's Turd '90</b>). The only changes made are some
|
||
reformatting to allow for easier perusal and the limitations of ASCII.
|
||
|
||
<p>The first part of the log is traditionally taken up by the journey out.<br>
|
||
If this is of no interest, here is a link <a href="#start">to the caving</a>!
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
30/6/90 | Journey out - Wild Rovers Return | Paul T, Adam, Jeremy
|
||
|
||
<p>Wild Rovers Return - Paul T, Adam, Jeremy 30/6/90 - 9/7/90
|
||
|
||
<p><u>Found</u> rover parked somewhere off Mill Rd, & spent a whole day
|
||
filling it full of crap (springs bending). The invincible trio managed to
|
||
meet up & promptly spent a day festering (except Paul who was busy
|
||
graduating <- Narg!!)
|
||
|
||
<p>Paul T:<br>
|
||
Half an hour after the graduation garden party, stomach full of salmon
|
||
sandwiches, strawberries and cream, we were off....Down Churchill private
|
||
road, Storey's Way, up Madingley Road, down the M11, and then a strange
|
||
petrol smell, ah well never mind, just filled too high, but no, a strange
|
||
liquid spurting out of the bonnet, 5 miles from Cambridge and we pulled into
|
||
the hard shoulder, large petrol stain on the road, ranting and swearing, the
|
||
terrifying trio attempt emergency repairs, armed with only 3 tools boxes
|
||
situated at vaious inpenetrable areas of the landrover.
|
||
|
||
<p>Jeremy:<br>
|
||
Possible slight exaggeration - team trio only stopped when they
|
||
spotted petrol pouring onto the windscreen (don't tell Mike!). After a quick
|
||
nut tightening & feeling that landy repairs were easy, set off again to
|
||
brave hours of sore bottoms.
|
||
|
||
<p>M11 to Ramsgate was easy peasy despite desperate double declutching &
|
||
only a minor look of incredulity from the slate faced customs officer.
|
||
|
||
<p>Sally line had it's customary eat as much as you can for £7.50, so I
|
||
(Jeremy) ate as much as I could in 5 minutes & spent the next 2 hrs
|
||
feeling V.V. green!!
|
||
|
||
<p>Adam:<br>
|
||
2 hours later, Jeremy holding in the puke, and the steak We turnover the
|
||
first page to reveal Adam's turn.... <Jeremy missed the heart-stopping
|
||
moment when the oil pressure dived to zero, then just returned to normal as
|
||
we were on the verge of pulling over>
|
||
|
||
<p>Animal:<br>
|
||
If the twats had read the instructions, they would have known that the oil
|
||
pressure gauge had been dead for nearly two years!!
|
||
|
||
<p>Adam:<br>
|
||
Off ferry into dark, pissing rain, LHS driving & first serious drive in
|
||
rover since two expdn's ago. Also petrol horrendously low, but made it in
|
||
time! We drove for a long time. Sleeping didn't really work & we got very
|
||
zonked. Finally got to Sölden without much further ado ~8.30 (roads
|
||
really nice on Sundays). It was raining (surprise!) Some time was spent
|
||
trying to be decisive Re: sleep in rover or rough camp or camp in the nearby
|
||
site (we had thought we would meet the other's here but they'd gone
|
||
hütte walking). Eventually plumped for the latter & got off the next
|
||
day without paying!<br>
|
||
> Oh yes, no shops open 'cos the Austrian's are crap, bloody bank
|
||
holiday.
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
30/6/90 | Journey out - In Jeremy's car | <u>Julian</u>, Matt & David H
|
||
|
||
<p>Met Matt who was late (8:30pm) in Chad's carpark, so didn't get away from
|
||
Cambridge in time to avoid Mark & Tony who dumped lots of extra gear with
|
||
us... Turned off M25, heading for Dover (of course) until Matt suggested that
|
||
the Ferry tickets (which we hadn't looked at) might be for Felixstowe.
|
||
Fortunately they were for Folkestone, so we adjusted course, parked, left
|
||
Matt in the car & crashed in a dark corner of the passenger demarkation
|
||
area among the Moop-Neek! coin-take machines. A ferry arrived at 1:30am, so
|
||
we had to move to a more comfortable building with private toilets, cushions
|
||
on sofas and freedom to switch off video machines.
|
||
|
||
<p>Freed from ferry at 6.30am, Dave drove the car all the way to Bad Aussee
|
||
in 15 hours almost non-stop. Food for the journey was a pile of grease bought
|
||
on the ferry, a thermos of coffee, a bag of sandwiches made by me from
|
||
leftovers when I moved out of my room, and 5 fermenting nectarines. Matt
|
||
navigated for the first half, and then let me take over when it ceased to be
|
||
too difficult for me. Henceforth all navigation errors were due to Dave
|
||
overshooting Ausfahrts because no one had any confidence in the signposts. It
|
||
began raining at Salzburg and so far hasn't stopped.<hr />
|
||
|
||
1/7/90 | Journey out - Wookmobile I hits the streets | <u>Wookey</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(date unknown)
|
||
|
||
<p>After already having done 1,500 miles in the previous week (Cam ->
|
||
Nottingham -> Settle -> Assynt -> Cam -> Poole -> Cam), the
|
||
wookmobile was given a new set of points & loaded up with a million tons
|
||
of gear & taken to Tonys to unload it all again & put it in his loft.
|
||
It was then loaded up with another million tons of kit - removing all the
|
||
rear suspension. Easy trip in convoy with Del - despite leaving all the
|
||
packing to the last possible minute we still had an hour to spare at
|
||
Folkestone & then were told to go to Dover anyway at 5.00amish. Went
|
||
through France, Belgium & Luxembourg no probs - terminal sunburn on the
|
||
right elbow!
|
||
|
||
<p>Team old cunty crosses europe - loads of food thanks to Tina, lots of
|
||
stops - all a bit relaxing really!
|
||
|
||
<p>I changed cars at 8.00pm ish in Germany so Tina & Damage were in mine
|
||
- unfortunately as it went dark it became impossible to keep track of them
|
||
amongst the autobahn lights & we lost them behind a lorry or two. After
|
||
much slowness & waiting in parkplatzes and getting lost trying to go back
|
||
we gave up and carried on - getting the campsite at 5.30am. We rang Fearon
|
||
the next morning & discovered from Mike TA that they were alive &
|
||
well but stuck on the wrong side of border with wrong passports! (Where
|
||
Damage doesn't look like Wookey much at all)
|
||
|
||
<p>After mucho driving around they went for it & arrived at Sölden
|
||
at about 5pm - a little miffed!
|
||
|
||
<p>The wookmobile was attacked by a bus at the border but suffered only minor
|
||
damage - another wing - only 2 more corners to do!<hr />
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p>13/7/90 | Journey out - Team Cavalier | <u>Mark D</u>, Francis, Peter S
|
||
|
||
<p>I set off at 1.30pm on Friday. Drove to Cambridge to pick up Julian's
|
||
hangglider and found problem no 1 - the roof rack provided didn't fit on the
|
||
Cavalier. Fortunately I found an ancient roof rack in my parents' garage
|
||
which I managed to bend to fit (It was so rusty it wouldn't adjust).
|
||
Proceeded to Dover picking up Francis & Pete en route. Second problem
|
||
appeared sometime after Dover - the car was drinking stacks of oil. Since
|
||
lifting the bonnet to fill the oil up involved taking the hangglider
|
||
fastenings off we had a rather trying time. Arrived eventually at 9pm
|
||
Saturday evening, absolutely knackered.
|
||
God, did I enjoy the beer in Hildas.
|
||
<p align=right>MSD<hr />
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p>11/7/90 | Near 161 - Jeremy does it again - Another cave | Jeremy
|
||
|
||
<p>- After putting in the bolts two years ago (yes 2 years!) I eventually got
|
||
round to descending the obvious rift in the ground at the bottom of the col
|
||
& to my suprise it goes!!
|
||
|
||
<p>Small crawl (over snow) below snow plug at bottom of rift => snow
|
||
plugged crawl off => pitch => ???
|
||
|
||
<p>Tell you more tommorow!
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U ¼ + ½ hr => <u>¾ hrs</u><br>
|
||
(2 trips on first day up top!)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>11/7/90 | Surface | Adam
|
||
|
||
<p>Adam poked into a few random holes previously ignored. Will return to see
|
||
what happens with a light.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U ¼ hr<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>12/7/90 | Surface - Everyone not really caving | Paul T, Olly, Claire, Julian, <u>Adam</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Poking further into various holes. The obvious pit by the "high
|
||
level" route to 161 was descended using IRT (indestructible rope
|
||
technique) after declining to use a Bunda belay. Ended at about 12m with a
|
||
ledge about ½ way, choked as usual. Marked with '+'. Two other
|
||
adjacent pits were free climbed. The nearest just a shallow pit. Other showed
|
||
some minor horiz develop at bottom (about 15m) but collapsed. A hole was
|
||
observed at about -4m (squeeze not suitable with T-shirt) into a pit with
|
||
boulder floor. Not entered as too nasty & was in direction of first pit
|
||
anyway. No number allocated as just pits. Continued via another shitty pit
|
||
nearer to 161. Descended into opposite side of hill to plateau just poking
|
||
about when we saw Wooks emerge from 161 new entrance! (see below). Dashed
|
||
over to greet the dazed looking caver & found a spray painted cairn =>
|
||
foreigners (F or G) cave somewhere. Shortly found another entrance only ~12m
|
||
from the new 161 entrance marked:
|
||
|
||
<p> VSS2<br>
|
||
88AF<br>
|
||
1623/ [161c inserted here later - Ed]<br>
|
||
-
|
||
|
||
<p>Inside ent found a french mineral water bottle.
|
||
|
||
<p>This was on a bearing ~30° from the 161 ent. Had a look inside &
|
||
couldn't see any bolts at the obvious pitch head. There was a vocal
|
||
connection through rubble only a few feet from the new 161 ent. Bolted pitch
|
||
but as soon as had got far from the (very loose) pitch head found a spit.
|
||
Continued a bit and found signs of frequent use (mud smeared all over walls
|
||
as from oversuit contact)
|
||
|
||
<p>Rough survey : from ent to pitch head ~6m on <strike>50°</strike>
|
||
230° cave was steeply descending hading (steeply) rift going ~ mag
|
||
<strike>north</strike> south. Obviously deeper than 50m
|
||
|
||
<p>[comment with arrows to the two changed directions: I'm a div who can't
|
||
tell red from white !]
|
||
|
||
<p>Olly T/U: ~15 mins<br>
|
||
Adam T/U: 1½ hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161c-2">Next trip</a> (connection to 161)
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
11/7/90 | Surface | Paul T, <u>Julian</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Poking around on plateau miles from 161 away from the camp getting
|
||
sunstroke. One was 20m long 40° slope down, dig through at end into small
|
||
chamber. It's cold down there crawling in shorts & T-shirt.
|
||
|
||
T/U ½ hr
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-185-1">12/7/90</a> | near 161 - 2 year Gestiation | Jeremy & <u>Matt</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(2 years Gestation) <- cave name (matt is
|
||
a tosser!)
|
||
|
||
<p>As the name suggests this cave was discovered two years ago by Jeremy, he
|
||
descended first, leaving me sweating on the surface. The first pitch
|
||
("fancy a coffee") descended past a small snow plug down to a
|
||
large(ish) chamber covered with snow which appeared to be about 20ft deep. A
|
||
small section to the left let a shaft of light into the cave, which changed
|
||
from a a wide beam to a narrow shaft of light. A low crawl on the left (ice
|
||
covered) led to the second pitch ("your place or mine") - a short
|
||
10ft (approx) drop to a ledge then a alonger (30-40ft) drop down to the
|
||
floor. The second pitch was slightly wet, with small amounts of water
|
||
dripping from the roof. A loose climb lead to a tight crawl and even tighter
|
||
pitch (Marble Sink revisited according to Jeremy). It took J a lot of moaning
|
||
& swearing to get the main bolt for the 3rd pitch hammered into place.
|
||
The 3rd pitch is now named "Get your kit off" this descended into a
|
||
small chamber, where the limestone changed in colour from yellow to blue, a
|
||
rift then dropped into a boulder covered chamber, with a larger boulder
|
||
choked to the right and a very, very small hole leading to the left, which is
|
||
as yet unexplored. the 4th & probably final pitch has been named
|
||
"Came too soon". As it was getting close to the call out time, we
|
||
made a hasty retreat with a smallish pause as we negotiated to top of the 3rd
|
||
pitch.
|
||
|
||
<p> T/U -> 6 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-185-2">Next trip</a><hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-2">12/7/90</a> | 161 - Rigging RH Route | Del & <u>Damage</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Trundled over loadsa boring limestone get to cave about to die. Put on
|
||
caving gear. Too hot. lobbed off down some nice greasy slimy fast 11mill
|
||
Edelrid and I rigged the last deviation this time with a light. I wandered
|
||
around. Del came down. Trumm Trumm. Lots later Wookey came down with some
|
||
rope and hangers. Rigged second pitch with half a ladder and some Bluewater
|
||
"11mm steel hawser" rope. We rambled off round Dungeon pitch
|
||
climbed something a bit silly over Dungeon found some new passage [Umleitung
|
||
- Ed] a 15m or so pitch more passage extending parallel to B Sainsburys.
|
||
Climbed down in an epic style. ran back rigged 3rd pitch (well Del did!. I
|
||
ran off and rigged pitch traverse round to Dreamtime with Dave and Geraldine
|
||
with lots of style. Del Rigged wth pitch. I ran down after (clatter,
|
||
clatter), Saw squeeze pitch. We re-rigged 3rd pitch (again apparently) and
|
||
came out.
|
||
|
||
<p> T/U -> 8 festerent hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-1">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
DaveH's part in <a href="#id1990-161-2a">this trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-3">Next trip</a><hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-2a">12/7/90</a> | 161 - Dreamtime | <u>David H</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>'solo'
|
||
|
||
<p>As it says above, went down to see if I could help anyone downstairs -
|
||
took Geraldine & used it with Damage to rig the Traverse around to
|
||
dreamtime. Then left Del + Damage to finish rigging 3rd pitch and went to see
|
||
what Wookey & Juliette were doing down Adrians route, only to find that
|
||
they had found another lower entrance to 161 only metres away from the French
|
||
entrance. Came out of 161 to see them walking up the hill!
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>T.U. 5½ hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="../1989/log.htm#id1989-161-36">Previous Dreamtime trip</a>
|
||
(last year) / <a href="#id1990-161-2">Del & Damage's trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161b-1">Wookey & Juliette's trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-10">Next Dreamtime trip</a><hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-1">11/7/90</a>| 161 - Rigging 1st pitch | <u>Damage</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Went down lost last deviation came up.
|
||
|
||
<p> T/U -> ½ hour
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="../1989/log.htm#id1989-161-42">Previous trip</a> (last year) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-2">Next trip (main route)</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161b-1">Next trip (Adrian's - 161b)</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161c-1">Finding 161c</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161b-1">12/7/90</a> | 161 - Strollers 1st cave | Wookey & <u>Juliette</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Rigged down Adrians route - to the head of the large pitch discovered 2
|
||
years ago. The Wook - proudly bearing WOOK - on every gear item including
|
||
Wembly helmet + ass - was belayed accross a really vegetable garden of a
|
||
pitch head traverse. Percy Thrower really was needed as the rocks clattered
|
||
down - I had the feeling that the entire ledge would follow the furrows down
|
||
the shaft.
|
||
|
||
<p>Two Wook bolts were rigged and several tension traverses fixed. The
|
||
ferretting reflex took over and it dashed off after being belayed across the
|
||
traverse (leaving me clutching a cold rope) whilst ferretting Wook popped out
|
||
- A new entrance - and shouted "Where the fuck am I." to the
|
||
nearest Bunda bush - Adam appeared. The alternative is only to be recommended
|
||
to really 1st Pitch-O-Phobiacs - as it is crawly + shitty.
|
||
|
||
<p>To give ourselves a 'Smarty' we faffed horrendously Calibrating Compasses
|
||
+ surveying.
|
||
|
||
<p> 7 hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="../1988/log.htm#id1988-161-14">Last Adrian's trip</a> (1988) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161b-2">Next trip</a> (pushing into France)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161b-3">15/7/90</a> | 161 - Disaster Area + Fumble Fingers go shouting | <u>Juliette</u> + Del
|
||
|
||
<p>In the most tedious way - with Boris -> Adrians to rerig the new pitch
|
||
[French Connection II-Ed]. 3 hours for a bolt (7 goes !!!) Lost cones +
|
||
jammed cones. Completely needless bolts drilled. Compasses dropped. Pitches
|
||
descended with harness undone. Much flapjack eaten. At least 4 pisses per
|
||
hour -> oh god!
|
||
|
||
<p> 6½ hrs
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161b-2">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161b-4">Next trip</a><hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-4">14/7/90</a> | 161 - Below Knossus | <u>Julian</u> & David H
|
||
|
||
<p>Dave H <-Mr Sunburn
|
||
|
||
<p>The intention was to go down and check out the ? part way down flapjack,
|
||
but by the time we made it down to boulder alley today's team faff hadn't
|
||
rigged Knossus yet. We sat there with all our rope, poked at the 9m diameter
|
||
hole to the side of the passage that noone had ever descended and Jeremy
|
||
("Oh dear, I seam to have left my dangly bag above the squeeze, could
|
||
you pass it down?") agreed that it had better be sorted out. 3 tapes, a
|
||
small maillon, two natural belays & 2 rope protectors, one with knackered
|
||
velco got us started. then there was a textbook Dave bolt taking us to the
|
||
floor of a rift. walking up one of the false floors leads up to Knossus, 3m
|
||
above a loose hole in its floor no-one has gone down either. Bolting from a
|
||
false floor, through 4 inch crack, then squeezing down in a different place
|
||
to next layer down to gain access to rope met upon a 30m pitch. We were by
|
||
now using Ernie the Earthworm (the 9mm rope)... Ok, well he's easy to carry
|
||
and tie knots in. Pile of rocks at the bottom 4m in diameter, cheap little
|
||
crawl which I shuffled down. By shaking the floor I packed the cracked rocks
|
||
in tighter to produce more room. Fell down a dust pit at the far end. There
|
||
was a slot on the floor with fist sized rocks spilling through. I dug them
|
||
out. Skull sized rocks began rolling through. Crawled through carefully when
|
||
there was enough space, took one glance at boulder choke beyond it and
|
||
retreated. Call it Rabbit Curry. I sent Dave 5m up the pitch to investigate
|
||
large hole in wall. He climbed it quite a way. Then I had to cower as the sky
|
||
began chucking down rocks and Dave followed them. Fortunately still attached.
|
||
He didn't enjoy it. Call it The Pit and the Pendulum. We surveyed &
|
||
derigged out, dumped ropes and beat it for the surface in a shower of sweat.
|
||
|
||
<p> T/U 9½ hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-2">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-3">The trip</a> that caused the delay /
|
||
The trip <a href="#id1990-161-6">that actually went</a> to the Flapjack QM
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-6">15/7/90</a> | 161 - Deep question mark at bottom of flapjack | Julian and <u>David H</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Oh boy what a long way down, and that's before we start any pushing!
|
||
|
||
<p>Made a good start by getting lost in star wars/tower blocks but finally
|
||
arrived at flapjack.
|
||
|
||
<p>Rigged down to the ledge with sally, a little confused why I needed to use
|
||
a rope protector. I discovered why on the way out when I found the
|
||
<u>other</u> bolt so had to faff for ages rerigging and joining Sally to
|
||
Ernie (9mm)
|
||
|
||
<p>When I saw Julian's way on I thought he was joking but the tight thrutchy
|
||
bit did open out to a couple of Small pitches and then entered an interesting
|
||
rift with multiple false floors, following a stream way. I hope it doesn't
|
||
head for the sump.
|
||
|
||
<p>Went zig-zagging down until it was time to bottle - "its like a maze
|
||
down here" I did say! Taking some thread next time would be an idea.
|
||
Anyway, its still going - just!
|
||
|
||
<p>Interesting ceiling and in places, walls, of "pudding stones"
|
||
and mud.
|
||
|
||
<p>Thankful at the chance to leave the gear there we made a quick exit to
|
||
catch Del + Juliette and a lift down to base camp to join the rest of the
|
||
family who'd arrived over the weekend - BUT WHERE'S ALL THE BEER!?
|
||
|
||
<p> T.U. 8½ hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-4">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-16">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
16/7/90| Surface - Walk to Camp 1 via some interesting holes | <u>William</u> & Mark D
|
||
|
||
<p>A new face shows up (well, an old old lag really...)
|
||
|
||
<p>Carried caving gear up pm. My first time on a CUCC exped'n. On the col
|
||
just short of camp 1 looked across to the hillside opposite... a hole.
|
||
Decided to go there & ended up somewhere else, where there was a
|
||
<u>really</u> tight flat-out crawl. just fitted through in a T shirt. Leads
|
||
to a tightish (though passable) rift. Draughting quite strongly outwards.
|
||
Decided to turn back, to make sure I could get out. Did so with a little
|
||
difficulty. The entrance could be enlarged with a lumphammer & a crowbar.
|
||
Ten metres below, Mark found another hole, this time a newly-collapsed small
|
||
unstable hole, with a rock jammed across it. Tried to shift rock & got it
|
||
jammed further. Mark went down a 6m climb, which led to a longish ramp.
|
||
Dumped gear at camp 1, called Hugh at cave 161, had a brew & resolved to
|
||
return morgen fresh. Discovered my sunglasses were still at cave entrance.
|
||
I'd taken them off to go caving. Mark stayed at col, & I went to retrieve
|
||
them. With shouted directions also found the entrance we'd first thought of -
|
||
it goes all of 5 feet before stopping.
|
||
|
||
<p>William
|
||
|
||
<p>P.S: Built a cairn by entrances Bearing 285 Mag to Nose. 350 to
|
||
Gr.Schiebling-Kgl.<br>
|
||
Caves are by col 50m above path on opposite side where path
|
||
by tree meets fault running up mountain.
|
||
|
||
<p>T.U. 5 mins each<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-185-2">13/7/90</a> | Near 161 - return to '2 years Gestation' | <u>Jeremy</u>, Matt & Adam
|
||
|
||
<p>Underground after 4.00pm (Not bad), quick trip to bottom, a quick dig
|
||
(extended cave by about 5m). Surveyed & derigged (derigging through
|
||
squeeze "interesting").
|
||
|
||
<p>No major cock ups etc, out in light
|
||
|
||
<p> T/U 3½ hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-185-1">Previous trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-3">14/7/90</a> | 161 - rig right hand route & push Yapate | Adam & <u>Jeremy</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Team div brain. Trip started well with Adam using Wookeys electric cos
|
||
he'd forgotten his generator.
|
||
|
||
<p>Couldn't find drill at first. Found it, descended to squeeze. Rigged squeeze with dickhead catcher (a sort of donkeys dick for cavers). Ladder to
|
||
short, but who uses it anyway?
|
||
|
||
<p>Spent ages trying to rig next short ladder pitch (how long since I went
|
||
caving!!). Got to Bungalow, waited for Adam cos didn't have rope. Tried to
|
||
put a bolt in with drill but didn't have hammer, where? in SRT bag, above
|
||
squeeze!!?#þþ. luckily so slow that Julian was at top of squeeze
|
||
when I went back.
|
||
|
||
<p>Took 3 attempts to put in a bolt
|
||
|
||
<p>Rigged Knossossss (Dave H & Julian gone down another pitch in
|
||
boredom), Rope to short by 10 foot!!
|
||
|
||
<p>Rerigging adding short rope to traverse, still to short but doable.
|
||
|
||
<p>Got to Yapate & Drill went flat.
|
||
|
||
<p>Adam went for crawl down tube, & we were just about to go out in
|
||
disgust when he found a 30m pitch (joint effort by shouting - I found easier
|
||
way to pitch) - bloody cave is ridiculous!
|
||
|
||
<p>Put in two bolts & Adam zoomed down (really good hang) & found
|
||
going vadoes rift - time to go out
|
||
|
||
<p>I zoomed out & spent half hr at surface wondering where Adam was, he
|
||
appeared late moaning at me - his light had failed. GREAT TRIP!!
|
||
|
||
<p> T/U 9 hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-2">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-4">Dave H & Julian's trip</a> same day (Rabbit Curry)
|
||
/ <a href="#id1990-161-5">Del & DaveF's trip</a> same day
|
||
(to end of Yapate) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-12">Next trip</a> to Flat Battery series
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-5">14/7/90</a> | 161 - Final cut | Del and <u>Damage</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Team get nothing done. Urm trundle. Faff, faff. Trundle. Trundle. Urm did
|
||
anything happen. Might aff but I went brain dead last night. Del rigged some
|
||
of final cut. I put a bolt in. How boring. I took my time in squeeze out, fat
|
||
bastard ! We must have done something, surely ! Met Jeremy. Had a shit. Faff.
|
||
Faff. CRAP TRIP.
|
||
|
||
<p> T/U 8 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-2">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-4">Dave H & Julian's trip</a> same day (Rabbit Curry)
|
||
/ <a href="#id1990-161-3">Adam & Jeremy's trip</a> same day (also in Yapate) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-7">Next trip</a> to end of Yapate<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-7">15/7/90</a> | 161 - Go to climb at end of Yapate | Damage & <u>Wook</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(overnight to 16)
|
||
|
||
<p>On the way popped into side passage before 'over the rainbow'. Found crap
|
||
bolt & rigged rope from Wook & Dam the year before. Rope too short so
|
||
tied on another & lobbed off 10m pitch into long rift - 'The Vestibule'
|
||
choked at one end - pitch at other - left for another day.
|
||
|
||
<p>Got to Yapate climb ('staircase 36') put on rock boots & went for it -
|
||
one decent bolt runner 10 ft off floor - 1 crap chock & a dodgy sling -
|
||
climb wasn't too bad but traverse was slimy & awful - well shitted up !
|
||
|
||
<p>Anyway - I survived so tied rope to a boulder & Damage came up in
|
||
wellies - dangly bag unclipped & fell down - traverse was dire -
|
||
especially as he had to go back to get T.Sack - this then unclipped itself
|
||
from tow line & so we were both at the top of climb with no gear - Grrr.
|
||
|
||
<p>IRT used (climbing rope) to retrieve danglys & climb repeated to take
|
||
off traverse line & retrieve tackle sack. Faff Faff - dire, whinge.
|
||
|
||
<p>Eventually sorted & still alive so bolted pitch then looked along lots
|
||
of nice stomping passage 'chicken flied nice'. 150m of this takes you up
|
||
& then down to 25m pitch 'strange downfall' into large collapse chamber.
|
||
|
||
<p>Slot in rubble to left of pitch goes down 200m along steeply descending
|
||
loose rift to climb requiring handline.
|
||
|
||
<p>Out in 3 hours - well fucked - just in time for dawn. Crashed at 6.00 am.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 16 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-5">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-14">Next trip</a> to 'Endless'
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-9">16/7/90</a> | 161 - Dreamtime | Leif, Jan, <u>Hugh</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Dreamtime, ha, ha.
|
||
|
||
<p>Trip to the above thwarted slightly upon meeting Matt <u>et al</u> - who
|
||
had said that a bolt had pulled out on the 3rd pitch.... as indeed it has.
|
||
Went down to look, put in a hand-driven bolt, realised the bolt was probably
|
||
unnecessary anyway and buggered off out.
|
||
|
||
<p>Very quiet trip. Lots of sunburn makes prussicking painful.
|
||
|
||
<p>T U/G - 4hrs
|
||
|
||
<p>Matt et al's <a href="#id1990-161-8">bolt-pulling trip</a> (same day) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-7">Main pushing trip</a> (same day)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-10">16/7/90</a>| 161 - Dreamtime proper | <u>Mike R</u>, Tina, Jared
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p>Late underground. Went over the new route traverse across to start of
|
||
Dreamtime. It's in a better place this year. Trogged down to the pitch we
|
||
rigged on naturals last year rerigged it with a bolt. Followed the passage
|
||
down through and beyond the eyehole. Rigged the most likely looking of the
|
||
possible pitches at the end. hurray passage way. Minor epic as the flake
|
||
which we rigged the rope from disintegrated as Jared was on it. So we decided
|
||
to be sensible and put bolts in. Trogged down more passage. Found a carbide
|
||
water pool which lucky 'cos we were low. Then "ooh says Jared an obvious
|
||
stream passage going upward" then "oh well er no its another pitch
|
||
actually" or something like that.
|
||
|
||
<p>Descended pitch. At moment rebelay on dubious looking tape on a big flake.
|
||
May be ok for abseiling if you don't jiggle the rope off. But iffy for
|
||
prussiking. Found footprints. Found we'd come out below the chunnel. Thought
|
||
ooh good connection well shall we survey out or make it a round trip and go
|
||
out the other way. Felt knackered so the latter won. Wish I was fitter.
|
||
|
||
<p>Time u/g ~9hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-2a">Previous Dreamtime trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-11">Next Dreamtime trip</a><hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-8">16/7/90</a> | 161 - Novice Pottering trip | Matt, Peter S, Mark S, <u>Francis</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Took us a ridiculous length of time to get down the entrance pitch by
|
||
which time yours truly was no longer warm. Tried to do Damage & Del's
|
||
extension to/near the Dungeon but totally failed to find it. So we pottered
|
||
about at the back of Automatic Doors Lots of leads going nowhere (usu back to
|
||
Big S or each other) also one picth with 2½+ second drop but it was
|
||
disgusting to rig so we didn't. Then I took Adrian back up to surface &
|
||
the rest went to remove a bolt (see hugh's bit)
|
||
|
||
<p>T u/g ~6hrs (Francis)<br>
|
||
7hrs (Matt, Pete, Mark S.)
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-9">Hugh's trip</a>
|
||
(replacing the pulled bolt - same day)
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161b-2">14/7/90</a> | 161 - Adrians Route | Juliette, Wookey, <u>Matt</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>I spent most of this trip sitting on a edge over Adrain's Route waiting
|
||
for Juliette & Wookey to rig a traverse. We descended about 12 via 161B
|
||
and headed for the top of Adrain's Route. A short traverse lead to a small
|
||
rock bridge over the large pitch. J & W then climbed and rigged another
|
||
20m (approx) traverse. while W rigged another pitch J & I surveyed a
|
||
small side passage after the first traverse from the entrance pitch. We
|
||
returned to find the entire pitch rigged. The 45m pitch which descended into
|
||
some foreign cave
|
||
|
||
<p>T U/g ~7 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161b-1">Previous trip</a> (161b discovery) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161b-3">Next trip</a><hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1990-161-11">17/7/90</a> | 161 - 2nd Dreamtime Pitch | Mark S, Leif, Tony, <u>Matt</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Yes, another novice trip, down into Dreamtime, there was a pitch within
|
||
20m of the start of Dreamtime. Me & Mark bolted the pitch, and I
|
||
descended, rigging an emensely tight deviation which later became a rebelay
|
||
so that I could get passed it. The pitch descended for ~30m, follow by a ~10m
|
||
pitch a further ~10m on. This lead to a tight rift, which I failed to descend
|
||
as we were pushing time and it would have required several new bolts. At the
|
||
base of the rift was an as yet un-identified rope.
|
||
|
||
<p>T U/g ~6 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-14">Next Dreamtime trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-10">Previous Dreamtime trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-14">18/7/90</a> | 161 - Second Dreamtime Pitch | Jeremy, <u>Francis</u>, Peter S
|
||
|
||
<p>(extended to 19th, Pete in brackets)
|
||
<p>2nd Dreamtime pitch - The Exposé. also J & F get totally
|
||
knackered.
|
||
|
||
<p>With our surveying gear, bolting kit etc, mostly found in other people's
|
||
SRT bags, we trotted off to survey Matt's Mega New Conexion. Now for the
|
||
facts. Pitch is ~13(not 30)m. Matt's rigging also caused comment. It ends in
|
||
a disgusting rift which ends at a stream not a rope (but now probably has the
|
||
added attraction of a bolting hammer) There was also a bit going backwards
|
||
which was descended by Pete & ends up in a similar sort of rift. Having
|
||
thus punctured Matts ego Pete popped out & Jeremy & Francis went on
|
||
to Chicken Fried Lice & the other bits of the Damage & Wookey Yapate
|
||
pitch discovery. We found their endless rift & it was truly so. Must go
|
||
down to at least - 400m. Ended on a very steep (80°) boulder run above a
|
||
pitch where rocks bounced for a loooong time (7 secs) so a good 30&plusm;m
|
||
pitch is possible. After Jeremy nearly killed himself by thinking the pitch
|
||
was nothing like that (ain't carbides crap really) & Francis went
|
||
tumbling down a pitch that wookey had decided not to go down we sat around
|
||
for hours slowly putting bolts into cheese while sitting on a very unstable
|
||
set of boulders. J eventually descended to a much more solid rock wall which
|
||
split the pitch. On one side it was quite small because J could see the floor
|
||
with his laser, on the other he couldn't. We then came up. Thought about
|
||
surveying but decided were too knacked & proved it by taking a good 4
|
||
hours (damn near 5 for Francis) to get to the surface.
|
||
|
||
<p>Conclusions: 1) Matt earned his alternative dinner award<br>
|
||
2) This is yet another lead going at ~400m<br>
|
||
3) Its a bugger to rig on the top bit so
|
||
bypasses (eg. pitch francis fell down) are required<br>
|
||
4) Jeremy & Francis aren't very hard at all.
|
||
|
||
<p>T U/g Pete 4hrs Jeremy 12½ Francis 13½
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-11">Previous Dreamtime trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-7">Previous 'Endless' trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-17">Next Dreamtime trip</a> (survey/rerig) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-18">Next 'Endless' trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-12">17/7/90</a> | 161 - Flat Battery | Mark F, <u>Adam</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Continued exploring the pitches I (Adam) discovered with Jeremy a few days
|
||
previously :
|
||
|
||
<p><center><img src="fbsloc.png" width=726 height=305
|
||
alt="sketch of location of way in to Flat Battery Series"></center>
|
||
|
||
<p>Descended previously rigged 25m pitch & bolted further 20'->25'
|
||
pitch (slightly damp). Mark descended a further 15' into a pit where water
|
||
flowed out down an impassible rift. A way on thro' a squeeze was found just
|
||
above this pit into a 13m pitch with a second squeeze at the head. Mark was
|
||
unable to get thro' with gear on & was cold & it was time to go out
|
||
so we did. (a lot of time spent faffing wondering how to avoid the squeezey
|
||
bit)
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 9 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-3">Previous (Adam/Jeremy) trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-13">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-13">18/7/90</a> | 161 - Push/Survey Flat Battery Series | William, Mark D, <u>Adam</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Started surveying from S final survey station in Yapate inlet. Series is
|
||
choked-looking insignificant crawl on lh side looking <u>out</u> of cave.
|
||
After a little crawling, however, soon reached sizeable chamber + damp 25m
|
||
pitch, 6m pitch with tight take-off & 3½m pit into which the
|
||
water disappears. (Flows off <u>left</u> looking <u>in</u>) Right above pit
|
||
leads to 2 squeezes + pitch to limit of push. At this point, Mark started
|
||
banging bolts in 19 to the 12 down 8m pitch (Jackpot), a lovely 40m pitch
|
||
(Fifty Francises Phreatic Freehang) to a thoroughly complex chamber with
|
||
rifts off in several directions + a big rock arch (The Mathematical Bridge).
|
||
Mark rigged down one more pitch, then 6:30 pm struck & it was time to go
|
||
out. Passage leads <u>right</u> down 2½ second drop. Cave going like
|
||
a train. Left <u>huge</u> bag of rope at foot of last pitch. Last survey
|
||
point marked S on wall 2m up on rhs near top bolt on last rigged pitch.
|
||
|
||
<p>Met Damage, Wookey, Jeremy & Francis (no relation) on way out. Exited
|
||
10 pm. Felt knackered - must be unfit.
|
||
|
||
<p>T.U. 10 hrs apiece.
|
||
|
||
<p>William
|
||
|
||
<p>PS. Kaninchenhöhle is <u>nice</u>. No horrible tight rifts.
|
||
|
||
<p>Mark carried rope. I took notes. Adam read instruments.
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-12">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-20">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>19/7/90 | Surface | Andy Waddington
|
||
|
||
<p>Caving gear up to Top Camp then relocated and
|
||
redescended 100 (from 1977). Still needs number painting on ! Wandered all
|
||
over the plateau without finding 101-103. Got bitten by Bunde. Back to
|
||
Hilde's whereupon car died. A.<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-16">19/7/90</a> | 161 - Push + survey Julian's route off Flapjack | David H + Del
|
||
|
||
<p>- the Daleswear boys.
|
||
|
||
<p>Push + survey Julian's route off Flapjack. [tick] vg
|
||
|
||
<p>Armed only with a small ball of bailing twine our two insomniacs boldly
|
||
surveyed where other people wouldn't bother caving. However, the Julian hunch
|
||
has worked once more, and a few bolts and not a little thrutching, find us at
|
||
the top of a 50m+ pitch. (NB this is not bullshit ! - Hanging in the
|
||
blackness on the end of a 25-30m piece of string reveals long drops below)
|
||
|
||
<p>Rocks dropped from a traverse above pitch may produce alarm in some cavers
|
||
due to the increasingly loud whistling sound produced + consequent BOOOM !
|
||
Tee Hee.
|
||
|
||
<p>- Twine is (approx) easiest route thru rift, and leads to small pitch<br>
|
||
- Survey is to pitch head bolt<br>
|
||
- In dry conditions, stream trickles down wall so not too wet, but...?
|
||
|
||
<p>V.nice relaxed trip, no time worries, mix surveying with pushing = ACE!
|
||
<br>Brain death at 5 a.m. 2 hrs out from Knossos via Dreamtime.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 16 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-6">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-21">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-17">19/7/90</a> | 161 - Dreamtime - surveying and re-rigging trip |Mike R, Tina, <u>Jared</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Down at about 12.30 armed with 7 choccy bars ! Tina & Mike did a
|
||
romantic (!) surveying trip down to the top bolt of bungalow pitch via
|
||
dreamtime whilst I tried to tidy up the rigging a bit in order to turn the
|
||
dreamtime passages into a 'trade route' into the cave. Put 5 bolts in in all
|
||
with primitive bolting kit, and rigged a traverse line across a nasty hole in
|
||
the floor just before the pool. Del & Dave passed by on their way down to
|
||
Julians route. On the way out we explored a small passage leading off from
|
||
the bottom of eyehole pitch (Gnome passage) which has really white limestone
|
||
walls - just like the limestone at the surface. Explored past a stal
|
||
obstruction (hammered) where the passage forks. Both ways on too tight after
|
||
a few metres but still drafting strongly. Exited at 11.00 pm & Annie was
|
||
kind enough to take orders for food over the radio !
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 10½ hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-14">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-24">Next (photo) trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>17/7/90 | Surface - RosenKavalier Höhle (Shaft-bashing) | Mark D + William
|
||
|
||
<p>... A follow-up to yesterday's enthusiastic write-up.
|
||
|
||
<p>They both choked almost at once.<br>
|
||
It took us 1½ hours to explore the lower cave & 2½ hours to
|
||
shift the rock outside the upper one ! Both caves still unmarked. Where's the
|
||
paint ?
|
||
|
||
<p><center><img src="rosenk.png" width=768 height=627
|
||
alt="sketch elevation of both caves"></center>
|
||
|
||
<p><u>William</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>T.U. = 1 hr 32 mins each<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-15">18/7/90</a> | 161 - Vestabule | <u>Wookey</u> and Damage
|
||
|
||
<p>(to 19/7)
|
||
|
||
<p>Damage- My furry suit was so soggy and I was so cold. Popped down Vestabule
|
||
Near over the rainbow and surveyed down low passage with over a foot of
|
||
squalor. I now pass on to my more enlightened half.
|
||
|
||
<p>Wook- After surveying on my back with tape in teeth in lots of mud
|
||
we finished off the Vestabule survey - leaving a pitch to be descended.
|
||
|
||
<p>Trogged off to CFN - passing Mark D & William at Bungalow pitch. Had a
|
||
brew & meal - damage about to die of cold so did more surveying - pretty
|
||
dull - dropped all the notes in a stream & had to roll huge rocks to get
|
||
them back.
|
||
|
||
<p>Retired before damage died of cold & out v.slowly by 8 am - well
|
||
knackered.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 16 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="../1989/log.htm#id1989-161-26">Previous Vestabule trip</a>
|
||
(last year) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-13">MarkD & William's trip</a> (Flat Battery) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-36">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-19">20/7/90</a> | 161 - Endless | <u>Wook</u> & Damage & Peter S
|
||
|
||
<p>(to 21/7)
|
||
|
||
<p>Yet another overnighter to finish survey of Endless. Went OK except Pete
|
||
screwed up compass readings at steep angles so redid some - also dropped
|
||
Geraldine 15m down rift - tut tut, but she is ace gear & works OK. After
|
||
bunging 30kilo ff2x2 & 150 kilo ff1 down cliff & discovering that
|
||
HILTI bolts are ACE GEAR, we took G.B.H down to do pitch. Damage went down
|
||
1st on one bolt for 50m. I added 2 rebelays but rope now didn't reach
|
||
tacklebag. - Grr. Went home at 1.30am. out by 7 after a brew. Tried Dreamtime
|
||
on way down - well weird!
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 17hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-14">Previous 'Endless' trip</a> /
|
||
Mark S, Julian's <a href="#id1990-161-18">tourist trip</a> (same overnight) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-26">Next pushing trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161b-4">21/7/90</a> | 161 - 161b | Hugh, Tony, Francis
|
||
|
||
<p>After much looking, located entrance (this involved Hugh + Francis
|
||
standing a long way away and shouting directions to Tony as to where he
|
||
should look!). anyway, descended 50m pitch and thence to French Connection
|
||
II. [<i>confusion of names here - read 'France' for 'French ConnII', and
|
||
'FCII' for '50m pitch' Ed.</i>] several/a big one pitch off - probably
|
||
explored by les caveurs Francaises. Surveyed back to base of 50m, intending
|
||
to continue exploration of rift. The foot of the 50m has many ways on, all
|
||
obviously reaching the bottom of the same rift 30-50m lower (one fucking big
|
||
rift). Unfortunately we had no bolting kit. But we did rerig the continuation
|
||
on a 50m rope (should be long enough, but needs another bolt?) and then we
|
||
surveyed out to the connection bolt to 161. Lots left to do. One big bit of
|
||
passage.
|
||
|
||
<p>T U/G 4.5 h
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161b-3">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161b-5">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-18">20/7/90</a> | 161 - Tourist | Mark S, <u>Julian</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(to 21/7)
|
||
|
||
<p>an absolute tourist trip to show Mark how crap caving is as opposed to
|
||
squatting in the campsite waiting for the wind to change direction. Descent
|
||
at 9:95, so had acquired our night vision for start, could actually see
|
||
things. Festered through Dreamtime, tottered into Knossus, walked round it,
|
||
shrugged up staircase 36 and found Wookey (where else would you find him!),
|
||
but his kettle was broken and he'd run out of peanut butter. Plenty of cheese
|
||
cake on the loose rocks in the rift. At pitch end 3.30am, festered a bit,
|
||
then headed out, me falling asleep and/or hallucinating at the bottom of
|
||
pitches, and having to kick Mark awake whenever I got up them. He hated it!
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 10 hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-14">Previous 'Endless' trip</a> /
|
||
Wookey & Co. <a href="#id1990-161-19">Surveying trip</a> (same overnight) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-26">Next pushing trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-20">21/7/90</a> | 161 - Flat Battery Series (cont'd) | Mark D and <u>William</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Set off @ 11:30am + bolting + surveying gear on a push/survey trip.
|
||
Arrived at limit of push quite quickly + rigged down into ... A chamber left
|
||
leading + an aven + a little water lowing down, right to muddy banks & no
|
||
apparent way on. Water sank in a trench in the floor. Follewed this with
|
||
difficulty through a smallish rift partly choked by boulders to a sandy
|
||
chamber. Water by now gone. Here, the obvious way on was blocked - a cheese
|
||
grater type formation of a whole lot of holes in a rock barrier, leading to a
|
||
reasonable sized passage. Climbed up sand bank to side to an insignificant
|
||
rift, which led to a maze of small, sharp phreatic passages, slowly
|
||
descending (the Labyrinth). At this point, we started worrying about getting
|
||
lost, especially as the way on was getting very muddy. These passages
|
||
draught, though, & would keep Wookey happy surveying for ages. Came back
|
||
out & discovered a small rift back to the foot of the pitch over the top.
|
||
At this point, decided to rerig the last pitch with bolts prior to doing a
|
||
serious push. Sent Mark in to bang said bolt in, who then discovered a total
|
||
absence of spits. Bollocks! Resisting the temptation to exit immediately in a
|
||
fit of pique, surveyed down the last 2 pitches in 3 stations & into the
|
||
avens in 2 more. This took an hour & a half & we were very cold.
|
||
Handily realized that we couldn't really do more surveying as we didn't
|
||
really know where the passage went, so cut off the bottom off the rope on the
|
||
last pitch & I climbed up over the rift.... A large phreatic tube with a
|
||
nasty traverse + naturals to rig it. Mark duly rigged said traverse into
|
||
continuation of tube. Tube ca 3m diameter with holes in floor ca 30 foot
|
||
deep. One of these probably leads to the other side of the Cheesegrater.
|
||
Finished at hole in floor ca 30 foot deep with continuation of phreatic level
|
||
opposite - quite easily reachable with bolts. Interesting suspended mud floor
|
||
in side shaft - just the thing for Damage to jump on (he'd go straight
|
||
through). By now 5:30pm. Debated whether to survey the phreatic tube +
|
||
didn't. Last survey st'n (3) marked with S on rock 1m in front of foot of
|
||
last pitch - obvious.
|
||
|
||
<p>Came out via Dreamtime (a little rerigging needed if it's to be the main
|
||
route) & exited ca 8:30pm
|
||
|
||
<p>TU 9hrs
|
||
|
||
<p>The following rerigging needs doing + bolt kit in Flat Battery series.<br>
|
||
a) Dodgy traverse on way to Yapate - could do with bolt + tape.<br>
|
||
b) 1st pitch in DBS (Oldham) - Long pendulum if main bolt fails.
|
||
Needs back-up (hole part-drilled)<br>
|
||
c) 40m pitch ditto.<br>
|
||
d) Last pitch - rigged on naturals. Needs bolt at head & wire on rebelay
|
||
(Wire left down there). ... had we any spits we'd have done these.
|
||
|
||
<p><center><a href="elvl.png"><img alt="[extended elevation sketch of
|
||
electrolytic level]" src="elvl2.png" width=704 height=330></a></center>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-13">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-27">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p>6/7/90 | Journey out - Learning to fly or Team me'n'she go to Austria | Claire & <u>Olly</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(to 9/7/90)
|
||
|
||
<p>Sorry about the delay - Claire asked me if I'd done it - I said no, you
|
||
can if you like - she said she would - and seems to have forgotten!
|
||
|
||
<p>Start of on the Friday evening with a lift by boss to Cambridge seemingly
|
||
involving a tour of all country lanes between Hertford & C'bridge. Knock
|
||
on 60 Sedgewick St. door & woman answers and yells "He's here".
|
||
Shovel stuff into Waddersmobile and stand in living room looking at strange
|
||
furniture & lots and lots and lots of computers. Set off after c.5min
|
||
and Wadders tries hard to just miss every car on the road. Stopped for chips
|
||
& Wadders had to leave engine running "'cos it sometimes doesn't
|
||
start when warm". Reached Grassington late & found I had to share a
|
||
tent (rigged upside down) with Tim. After little sleep got up to find Berk's
|
||
Fell abandoned due to too much water & much dithering so get lift to
|
||
station, wait for 3½ hours & get train to Leeds & bus with
|
||
Claire to Ponty (oh yeah, rang her earlier) & stayed night there. After
|
||
major packing sesh in a.m. we're off to Manchester airport after lunch &
|
||
find plane delayed by 1 hr. Enough to miss tight connection with train in
|
||
Salzburg, hence have to wander round Salzburg from 7pm 'til 4am. Then go by
|
||
train to B.A., via Bischopshofen & Staudich Immermann (or something
|
||
similar) since earliest train on Sunday goes that way. Claire buys tickets
|
||
via Bad Ischl, but flattering eyelashes solves a problem with ticket
|
||
collector (number 37, I think). After repeated dozing on train, reach B.A.
|
||
Claire asks for directions to Hilda's & we set off into B.A. only to be
|
||
stopped by the woman Claire asked directions from, offering a lift (even
|
||
though she wasn't going that way). Claire chats to her during journey and I
|
||
get about one word in ten. Get to Hilda's & Hilda tells us the cavers
|
||
aren't coming for a week. Pointedly discuss fate of Wookey's genitalia.
|
||
Hilda says we can stay the night in the Lager hut. Doze under a tree 'til it
|
||
gets hot & then move to lager hut. Awoken by Adam later on to be
|
||
informed that Rover had arrived - Reprieve for Wookey's genitalia! Ten
|
||
minutes later it starts to piss down, after glorious sunshine all day, so
|
||
the expedition had clearly begun!
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U: N/A.<hr />
|
||
|
||
20/7/90 | Journey to Berlin | Matt and <u>Olly</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(Date randomly guessed)
|
||
|
||
<p>Another brick in the wall / Team me'n'he go to Berlin to see the Wall
|
||
(Roger Water's not Berlin's) (Maybe it should be "The Pros & Cons of
|
||
Hitchhiking")
|
||
|
||
Trying to be brief, here it goes (leaving Hilda's at 10:30 AM)
|
||
|
||
<p>[<i>this is a table of lifts, and I can't remotely format it in html and
|
||
its pretty crap in plain ascii. Hence it's commented out, but if you
|
||
look at the source in html, you can read it (if you really want)</i> Ed.]
|
||
|
||
not even slightly about caving :
|
||
_To_ _Transport_
|
||
|
||
B.A.station Foot (with Claire).
|
||
Salzburg stn. Train
|
||
Autobahn near Walk (bloody long way!)
|
||
Salzburg
|
||
Across border Nice lady (in all senses!) in nice red car
|
||
Munich Bloke with little English in transit van with electric chair (wheelchair) in back.
|
||
Ingolstadt Bloke in ICM (ideal caving machine - space cruiser with loud stereo) who gave us some v. nice beer & drank some himself while bombing it down A-bahn.
|
||
Middle of Wrinkly with no English in nicish car.
|
||
nowhere
|
||
Nürnberg lift in less than a minute (!!!) from strange man in Austrian national dress who got lost and confused near Nürnberg.
|
||
All the way to central Berlin (50 yds from Potsdamer-Platz!) at 2am!!!
|
||
Nice man in nice car with nasty music tastes - rap & similar stuff with all the "middle" removed on the graphic equaliser.
|
||
(<12hrs from Salzburg)
|
||
|
||
------------------
|
||
|
||
Wandered around, through Brandenburg gate and then decided to go to airport
|
||
(<10km away) for kip (walking). Awoken at ridiculous time by lots of noisy
|
||
Pan Am staff. Wandered around Airport for a bit, Matt changed some money
|
||
& wandered back to central Berlin. Looked at some sights & at V.
|
||
impressive rig in Potsdamerplatz. Got some food, looked for banks - all shut
|
||
of Friday afternoon (!?!) - so ended up in horrendously packed
|
||
Bureau-de-change, wandered back to grassy bit full of tents across road from
|
||
P-platz, sat dawn & moved on by police at about 11pm, move across road to
|
||
more grassy bit, police give up & we get some sleep - chilly (_never_ get
|
||
seperated from your pit!) Start queueing at about 8.30am get let in about
|
||
1.30pm, find good spot & get v. bored till about 4.30pm when music
|
||
starts. The Wall starts at 10pm ish & is v.good although it needed a lot
|
||
more bass. afterwards join hordes causing traffic chaos - walk toward A-bahn
|
||
get tired & bored & get bus - walk a bit more - arriving at A-bahn at
|
||
c. 5am.
|
||
|
||
------------------
|
||
|
||
Destn Transport
|
||
Nürnberg Two mad germans in Skoda "given to them by some E.Germans" who rolled cigarettes while driving & ran out of petrol on A-bahn, without a spare tank.
|
||
N.München Blue car-like contraption (suitable for caver) with 2 germans. after 2 hour wait
|
||
S.München Informed by Munich-based hitcher that A-bahn signed for Salzburg from N.Munchen is crap & tells us how to get to S.München by using every form of public transport available in city. Walk and take tube & walk again instead.
|
||
Salzburg (in fact Wait on A-bahn junction designed frustrate hitchers for more than 3 hrs, then walk back along road and deviously stand by traffic lights. Get lift in <1/4 hr all the way to Salzburg. The man is a W.German, Austrian pig breeder who drives a plush V.W. with a car phone, sun-roof, etc & hang glides & smuggles cigarettes across international borders in his spare time.
|
||
a couple of exit
|
||
after on road
|
||
signed to Bad
|
||
Ischl)
|
||
Hof About 9pm by this time & no f*cking Austrian b*stards will stop for us. Walk up road. V.tired by Hof, so kip overnight in wood.
|
||
Bad Ischl Wake up with beginnings of frostbite. Walk into town, find bus leaves at 7.15am, now about 5.30 am, so try hitching for a bit - no hope! Find bakery open & buy still-warm rolls & jam - eat 'em & feel better. Bet bus to B.I., even though timetable seems to try for B.A. Fall asleep a lot
|
||
Bad Aussee Train
|
||
Hilda's Walk (bloody hell, not more!)
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U: Can we count Munich's U-Bahn, please?<br>
|
||
P.S. Only 6 Oh D**r's!<br>
|
||
anon:<i>long bit of self-indulgent bullshit!!!</i><br>
|
||
Olly:<i>(Fuck off!OK?)</i><hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-22">22/7/90</a> | 161 - Finishing off Too much too soon | Del, Francis, <u>David H</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>[date deduced to be 1990-07-22 from survey data, Ed.]
|
||
|
||
<p>The first time Julian took me down flapjack to show me the question mark
|
||
he found last year I just laughed and thought he was joking. When it entered
|
||
the rift "no-you go first" I knew he was ! But - three trips later
|
||
and here I am again!
|
||
|
||
<p>The three of us left Juliette and Jeremy at the surface on a gorgeous day,
|
||
with beers at hand, playing with the co-ax and cave radio. The prospect of 16
|
||
hours underground again didn't look good!
|
||
|
||
<p>Following Jeremys advic,... and then ignoring it, we rerigged 'too far too
|
||
soon' further up the rift to take us further round to the right (Del's idea!)
|
||
- a much better (and drier) freelang. After two rebelays and 65m later
|
||
reached a large ledge and two further pitches. Between a little surveying and
|
||
bolting, managed to keep us all occupied before coming out. after looking
|
||
around the 'bottom' trying to find a way on.
|
||
|
||
<p>Well, there was, sort of, after bashing with a hammer and taking off
|
||
dangly's - a further 10m down through an eye hole and a tiny slit in the
|
||
floor that opens out into an impenetrable pitch. Verdict? Splooosh! Probably
|
||
sumps then just <u>below</u> 500m!
|
||
|
||
<p>Came out slowly and walked down to camp (even slower!) But, a good trip.
|
||
|
||
<p>T.U. 16 hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-21">Previous (abortive) trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-24">Next (photo & derig) trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-21">22/7/90</a> | 161 - TRIP BEFORE finishing off 'too far too soon' | Jeremy + <u>Juliette</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Date guessed
|
||
|
||
<p>Very uninteresting prospect this write up.<br>
|
||
Went + looked down too much too soon. Too much on 9mm rope for us bottlers -
|
||
So instead -> the complete survey of a man
|
||
|
||
<p><center><img alt="scan from logbook 672x492" width=672 height=492
|
||
vspace=10 src="ofaman.png"></center>
|
||
|
||
<p>[12½ hrs]
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-16">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-22">Next (successful) trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-23">22/7/90</a> | 161 - Laying the coax (fnaar) | Jeremy + <u>Juliette</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(Date totally guessed)
|
||
|
||
<p>What a lovely trip - Sauntered down the Cave - decorating it like a
|
||
christmas tree with Coax. Jeremy joined me - (pissed) at the 3rd pitch. Coax
|
||
Stretched to squeeze, where we had lost the joiner, So Jeremy volunteered to
|
||
be Sweaty going to get a new one from the entrance,
|
||
|
||
<p>At Pot Of Gold the coax was connected - Wonderful - I could listen to
|
||
Jared + Anna + Jeremy getting pissed in the sunshine. No, seriously it is
|
||
very Calming to talk to somebody whilst Caving. Listening to the 'Whats for
|
||
tea' Conversations relieves boredom whilst Caving. Highly recommended these
|
||
convuntily [??] trips.
|
||
|
||
<p>TESTS
|
||
1 Me on handset in Cave with Coax turned on Could not reach base Camp.<br>
|
||
2 With Coax on -> You Can communicate with the entrance anywhere in
|
||
passage where Cable is + 50m odd on from end of Cable.<br>
|
||
3 With Coax off Can only get entrance with set a few centimetres from Coax.
|
||
Although I could hear entrance but they could not hear me about 1m away<br>
|
||
Jeremy 3hrs<br>
|
||
Juliette 5½hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="../1992/log.htm#id1992-161-1">Removing the coax</a>
|
||
(part I, 1992) /
|
||
<a href="../1995/log.htm#id1995-161-28">Removing the coax</a>
|
||
(part II, 1995)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-40-1a">21/7/90</a> | Eishohle - Trip into the fridge | <u>Mark S</u>, Mark F, David H, Del
|
||
|
||
<p>Bloody long walk up to a titchy entrance for the cave when there were much
|
||
nicer and bigger entrances scattered about everywhere. Well the entrance has
|
||
a squalid cold drafty hole about 20' long which proceeded to come to a pitch
|
||
of solid ice about 40 metres long of 60 degree ice but crampons are great.
|
||
Very pretty and big chamber but quite cold. lots of pretty stals of ice very
|
||
good pottering trip very enjoyable but the bloody walk back was too long.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U:4hrs
|
||
|
||
<p>Del:<br>
|
||
Eishöhle (big entrance with nice tourist plaque) is ~ 20 mins from
|
||
nipple. Follow red dots to red ski pole and end of path ~ 15 mins for
|
||
<u>the</u> entrance. Ice screw rebelay recommended.
|
||
|
||
<p>Could take another SRT rope and do next ice pitch (back + right whilst on
|
||
first pitch - see the <u>nasty</u> poly rope frozen in situ).
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="../1989/log.htm#id1989-40-1">Last CUCC trip here (1989)</a> /
|
||
<a href="../1991/log.htm#id1991-40-1">Next trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>24/7/90 | Surface - Skinrip Passages I-IV | <u>Julian</u>, Keith, Tony, Jeremy
|
||
|
||
<p>Assisted by Kieth, Tony.<br> and the
|
||
total bastard pants gravel hypodermic foreskin up-your-thunk Jeremy. A
|
||
potter up to the camp 1 with bier to hunt for Wadder's lost cave entrances
|
||
wearing insufficient protection from sharp rocks in unmarked sink-grinder
|
||
holes. There is a fun system of about six openings all in a line near the
|
||
camp, all connected by cave, the last of which is very tricky to climb out
|
||
of and in the middle of bunda. Snowplugs have receeded a lot due to the hot
|
||
temperature & good weather (apart from the wind) revealing earthdarks
|
||
(antiskylights) at the edge of the ice the size and sharpness of a small
|
||
shark's mouth. Twice I got into these and Jeremy - may his bollocks turn to
|
||
permafrost and be used as powerstation ball bearing - kicked snow all over
|
||
me. Then, at yet another snow choked crack too tight to escape from, I heard
|
||
his voice below me assuring that - from the other side - there was a way
|
||
through. Cold ice slide, hands scratched by ceiling rocks, I crawled to the
|
||
connection: a seven inch high horizontal skid through a puddle of ice water
|
||
with Jeremy - may his gut squallor infestation scrawl-nose stink-plague give
|
||
him a six day hang-over for every whiff of beer his brother breathes -
|
||
laughing from the other side. I shall keep dry ice in his caving shreddies
|
||
and use his SRT gear for superconducting experiments<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>24/7/90| Surface | Paul Smith, <u>Hugh</u>, Tanya
|
||
|
||
<p>( "Big" Paul Smith)
|
||
|
||
<p>Body failure. Lamp Failure. Motivation failure. All 3 occurred
|
||
<u>prior</u> to descent so I'm surprised we went anywhere. Did listen to Paul
|
||
doing his Geology super-star bit though.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/UG - not much (2½hrs)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a name="trissel">24/7/90</a> | Surface - Trisselwand.| <u>Wookey</u>, Wadders, Joe & Juliette
|
||
|
||
<p>Team hard bastard goes to re-enact the ancient CUCC legend of the Trisselwand climb
|
||
|
||
<p>Found route with minor faff - hearts in mouths. Yummy new ring hangers ran
|
||
out after 1st 3 pitches - all a bit shitty until up main gully where was
|
||
more interesting - albeit a bit hot. Joe had epic on 1st really hard pitch -
|
||
with one poxy runner ½ way up & extreme difficulty finding a
|
||
belay at top. After me & Wadders had sunned ourselves for an hour &
|
||
played radios again - Talk to Eishöhle from ½ way up T.wand?
|
||
Went for Alpine bit across lethal scree slope - carefully ignoring the
|
||
really silly drops to left. Bit of route faffing until found pitons. Wadders
|
||
did traverse - I did really nasty shitty but quite hard pitch - W had final
|
||
traverse out over edge of world ! I spent 40 mins on next pitch going up
|
||
& reversing after getting to hard bit 20m above last crap runner. AERW
|
||
reckoned left - I went right - it looked easier - managed a few more wires
|
||
to shit belay. Eventually W came up & found piton - 2 more nice pitches
|
||
with real attached rock to top via 3 more rope lengths of scrambling/bunde
|
||
bashing. Mega climb - well shitty in places with Fuck All protection - good
|
||
job it's not too hard!
|
||
|
||
<p>Took 8½ hours (9 hrs J & J as they suffered from dark
|
||
& Bunde at end).
|
||
|
||
<p>Back just after 11 via a toad & lots of [???].
|
||
|
||
<p>Radios are fun - Can talk to Top camp, Stogerweg, Bergrestaurant, Base
|
||
Camp & Entrance.<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-27">26/7/90</a> | 161 - Push and Survey Flat Battery | Adam, Mike & <u>Jeremy</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>A nice trip, that rare Austrian beasty, a "short trip". Zoomed
|
||
down to 400m (fine route) dithered around a bit deciding where to push.
|
||
Rigged down into pit & climbed (using human pyramid technique) up into
|
||
phreas other side. Phreatic tube ends at climb (done) & pitch (done)
|
||
which chokes. 3 possible but squalid leads so surveyed out leaving rigged
|
||
& ignored squalid bits - Team push anything can have a go later. Rapid
|
||
exit, everso nice caving out before you're shagged senseless + light at
|
||
surface.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 8½ hrs
|
||
|
||
<p>PS Adams light failed again!! (Carbide this time)
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-20">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-32">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-24">24/7/90</a> | 161 - Dreamtime flapjack photos |William</a> & <u>Damage</u>, MarkD and Adam
|
||
|
||
<p>says Adam
|
||
|
||
<p>Trundled off for an early start quickly into caving gear. No tackle
|
||
<tick><tick>[ascii failure again]!. Above 3rd pitch Mark showed
|
||
us how to play flashes. I posed in my Mac suit above 3rd pitch. We then ran
|
||
down to Dream time to photo leopard skin again the lovely Damage posing.
|
||
Dougherty made Adam hang for ages on Knossus as we photoed him. We then ran
|
||
down to Flapjack. Loadsa lovely pitch. Down bottom I saw Williams head poking
|
||
out of the wall, He thrutched down a pitch on 9mm SRT. Mark tried dodgy
|
||
techniques to make us smile. We ran up pitches, William & I derigging
|
||
Adam & Dougherty left out early. After fettling carbides (grr, grr), one
|
||
left to finish a highly organized, efficient and (hopefully) successful trip
|
||
|
||
<p>T/UG 12<31>hours(W&D)<br>
|
||
11 hours(M&A)
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-17">Previous (rerigging) Dreamtime trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-22">Previous trip</a> in Flapjack II (Too Much Too Soon) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-33">Next (also rerigging) Dreamtime trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>26/7/90 | Hanggliding | Mark S, <u>Julian</u>, Olly, Keith
|
||
|
||
<p>Team Wings: Mark S, <u>Julian.</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Support crew : Olly (photographer), Keith (chauffer), Wook's car.
|
||
|
||
<p>Finally made it at 11am to the Loser hut. I unfolded my wings and flew
|
||
from the ramp. The ground flops down in ripples like a table cloth, stacked
|
||
up with trees; your shadow skates across it and becomes out of focus. Unaware
|
||
of quite how much 800m in height meant distance wise, I hovered the whole
|
||
time above the landing field in Altaussee, the houses and trees refusing to
|
||
get any bigger.
|
||
|
||
<p>When we packed the hang-glider and drove back up, it was Mark's turn as
|
||
pilot. He was watched and photographed by a passing landrover load of cavers.
|
||
Olly stayed in the landing field afterwards and got bored because we delayed
|
||
for two hours and bought lunch in Loserhut as the air was too rough, turning
|
||
umbrellas insideout and blowing other people's food onto my plate. Tried to
|
||
set off again at 3:30, but this was made difficult by a crowd of 50
|
||
spectators all getting in the way, making me nervous and heckling me as I
|
||
tried to carry the glider up the road to the ramp. The air was rough, damn
|
||
rough. Afraid the glider would disintegrate above the forest. The lake is
|
||
simply beautiful to glide across at plus 500m. Mark did the final flight of
|
||
the day and waved at some children on the beach, who waved back. When he
|
||
began packing, he discovered what had gone ping! during the rigging in the
|
||
car park prior to the flight: a rivet had disappeared.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/A 15 minutes each.<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>28/7/90 | Surface - Team plateau explorer | Matt + Francis
|
||
|
||
<p>Went up to Loserhutte with team Hangglider (& William driving just for
|
||
added fun) set off for top camp & found a lot of people thinking about
|
||
going caving. Went with them to 161 & watched while they got changed into
|
||
nice warm caving gear. took some piccys. Then went off up ridge to HinterSmk
|
||
|
||
<p>Found one vaguely promising hole, apparently a bedding plane nearly
|
||
vertical. Went down c.5m could see a good 5m further down & stones thrown
|
||
indicated more.
|
||
|
||
<p>Marked Slab nearby with CUCC 90 & left a cairn. Bearings:
|
||
Bräuning Nase 246° Central Peak of Dachstein 215°. The cave is
|
||
on the far side of the ridge by an isolated patch of Bunde on a slab. It
|
||
starts off as a (N-ish) crack in this slab. On way back found humungous hole
|
||
with snow plug & then a <u>very</u> loose drafting hole. Didn't take
|
||
bearings because while I tried to chuck a rock down into it most of what I
|
||
was standing on fell down it. Then came back to Base Camp.
|
||
|
||
<p>T u/g 10-15 mins.<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-28">28/7/90</a> | 161 - LeftHand Route Expo | Joe+Mike TA
|
||
|
||
<p>First venture into the l/h series. In via Dreamtime for Joe's benefit,
|
||
then Joe up to l/h series while I nip down to Yapate to get Sally, thence
|
||
back to l/h. Arrived to find that Joes driver had broken leaving half the
|
||
threaded bit still in the spit. Found I had left SRT bag back at end of
|
||
Dreamtime. Joe, being frozen, went and fetched it. Had a poke down first l/h
|
||
passage on l/h route - see drawing over.
|
||
|
||
<p>[piccy showing passage off to left at first corner of left hand route with
|
||
c5 up to aven and c6 beyond above almost blocked passage - this has been
|
||
superceded by Wook sketch 1991]
|
||
|
||
<p>Rebolted top of Candlestick(?), Joe set off down to put in rebelay about
|
||
10' down. I went for poke from Arrow Chamber, and came out about 10' below
|
||
Joe!!
|
||
|
||
<p><center><img src="arrow1.png" width=634 height=271
|
||
alt="pic showing connection from chamber beyond head of
|
||
Butcher pitch connecting back into powerstation series"></center>
|
||
|
||
<p>Joe, Having bolted, came up for rest, I went down 15m(maybe) to FOULNESS
|
||
LEDGE. Put in next bolt, then Joe's turn - down 20-25m to freehanging
|
||
rebelay. Half did bolt, then dead legs so up, and I finished it. Abbed on
|
||
down, got to bottom of rope about 10' above ledge. Rats. Prussiked out.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 9hours
|
||
|
||
<p><center>PS. Another hole (2m x ½m x 2 sec drop) in carrefour:<br>
|
||
<img alt="[piccy of hole]" src="sokb.png" width=530 height=233><br>
|
||
Bloody well go look at it!!!</center>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="../1989/log.htm#id1989-161-42">Previous LHR trip</a> (last year)
|
||
/ <a href="#id1990-161-30">Next LHR trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-40">Trip to look</a> at Carrefour hole
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-30">29/7/90</a> | 161 - Left Hand Route again | Joe + Olly
|
||
|
||
<p> (Candlestick area)
|
||
|
||
<p>Re-rigged yesterdays pitch with 30m marlow, down to Foulness Ledge, then
|
||
Sally down to bottom. Trench in floor (AFWAT) goes down another 6-7m. to
|
||
another floor with a trench too (AFWATIT) This trench leads to a floor at 10m
|
||
(undescended) with a humoungous hole about 5m horizontally with a 4-5 sec
|
||
from from AFWAT. This might be an aven into Niflheim but it looks to be 20m
|
||
or so too far west. This huge hole, if not Niflheim should be called DOUNREAY
|
||
|
||
<p><center><a href="pstne.png">
|
||
<img alt="[elevation showing Foulness, Candlestick, and Afwatt's - since
|
||
shown that big pitch is not Candlestick, it is Dinorwig]" src="pstne2.png">
|
||
</a></center>
|
||
|
||
<p>Off behind you when descending from AFwat is a small rift/tube with a 10m
|
||
pitch into a rift. Sandy bottom with two small [und] tubes off at floor
|
||
level. One goes north, is passable as a small crawl and goes dead straight
|
||
(you have to reverse out), the other goes south round a tight corner, looks
|
||
as if it comes out below Afwatit. This area is Dungeoness.
|
||
|
||
<p><center><a href="pstnp.png">
|
||
<img alt="[elevation and plan showing dungeness coming from below afwat
|
||
and connection back to afwatit - later shown to be a visual connection only
|
||
(wook & damage)]" src="pstnp2.png"></a></center>
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 11 Hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-28">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
Next trip<a href="#id1990-161-38"></a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-29">28/7/90</a> | 161 - Dreamtime, Knossos, Yapate Foto trip | Mark D, Mark F, Tony & <u>Paul S</u>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p>Well, got farther than the end of Big Sainsbury's this time. A gentle
|
||
amble down Dreamtime with the two Mark's snapping away - ably assisted by
|
||
their pouting models. Few diversions, Mark F. dropping camera cases and
|
||
general alarm at the rigging on a potential trade route. Mark F. & Tony
|
||
trogged around Knossos while Mark D. & I went off to examine Yapate Inlet
|
||
and photograph it. On the way out, much time was spent dangling in the dark
|
||
on the Knossos pitch. Certainly adds to the splendour, if splendour is brown
|
||
coloured and vaguely liquid. Hope the foties come out
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 9hrs<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>29/7/90 | Surface | Paul S, Del, Juliette
|
||
|
||
<p>Juliette: <u>TANTALUS</u> (<u>the Paul investigation</u>)<p>
|
||
A prospecting trip - Wandering accross the plauteux from the cave, down the
|
||
side of the ridge, casualing looking for lower entrances.
|
||
|
||
<p>CAVE 1 -> Nice passage, past snow plug 20m down -> choke. (juliette
|
||
mortally wounded)<br>
|
||
|
||
CAVE 2 -> It was an enormous hole said Dougherty. So we sent Del down, to
|
||
Cool beer in the snow, Paul and I lazed in the Sun, Del reemerging with tails
|
||
of ice formations having got to end of 50m rope<br>
|
||
|
||
TANTALUS So named because of the water at the bottom - as the prospecters sat
|
||
parched at the top. Del and Paul bolted in the Sunshine - I watched the
|
||
musculatures at work. Then lady muck rigged (Very worried about an enormous
|
||
natural) Anyway - Very pretty pitch - Shame it stopped.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U ½ hr<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-25">24/7/90</a> | 161 - Big Sainsbury's | Matt and <u>Peter</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Explored and surveyed a climb spotted by <strike>Damage</strike> Del.
|
||
Climbed up Big Sainsbury's, crawled into the chamber containing Dungeon
|
||
['Dungeon' crossed out by Del - replaced by 'No', this in turn crossed out by
|
||
Wookey and 'Yes, it does' inserted]. After a spectacular climb by Pete up
|
||
about 12' into a passage which ends in a small pitch. This was descended and
|
||
found to tighten and tighten until it was quite tight, in fact too tight. The
|
||
passage seems to continue on the opposite side of the pitch but we could see
|
||
no way to get across. Spot of bad bolting, followed by bad rigging, Resulted
|
||
in a bad rub. Very scary.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 7hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-24">Photo/bottoming trip</a> the same day<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161c-3">31/7/90</a> | 161 - French Connection | Francis, MarkS, and <u>Peter</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>French Connection<br>
|
||
|
||
After getting lost 20' from entrance pitch we discovered that Francis had
|
||
lost all the spits. He spent 20mins looking for them while we tried to find
|
||
the way on. Eventually did (both of us). Got down to the French cave without
|
||
mishap. Unfortunately, it had been derigged. Bollocks. Tried rigging another
|
||
route which seemed to go but the rope didn't. Came out through 161b.
|
||
|
||
<p>BLOODY ENORMOUS THUNDERSTORM ! ! ! ! !
|
||
|
||
<p>Waited at entrance for an hour in oversuits. Bloody rain didn't stop.
|
||
Bloody rucksack leaked. Bloody waterproof wasn't. Bloody great trip.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 6hrs
|
||
|
||
<p>Previous trip apparently an unwritten up derig :-) /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161b-5">Last write up</a> /
|
||
Final <a href="#id1990-161-43">derig from Adrian's/FCII</a> /
|
||
Survey <a href="#id1990-161c-4">161b to c</a> trip /
|
||
<a href="../1991/log.htm#id1991-161c-1">Next trip</a> rigging in 1991
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-26">25/7/90</a> | 161 - Endless (rift and trip) | Damage, Matt and <u>Peter</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Zoomed down to the pitch at the end of Endless (alright, contradiction).
|
||
Did some cold waiting while Damage did some slick rigging. Descended first
|
||
pitch and found small phreatic both to hide in and explore. Just really hid
|
||
in it. Second pitch was again impressively riggid by Dave and ended in large
|
||
chamber with 2 ways on.
|
||
|
||
<p>Matt had first epic on rebelay. Managed to have 5 pts. of contact. Took
|
||
along time to decrease it to two. He arrived at the bottom of the pitch,
|
||
panting and horizontal!
|
||
|
||
<p>Anyway, straight ahead is a sandy passage which ends in an inlet. The
|
||
floor shows obvious signs of water. The other way is down a small climb to a
|
||
spot of rifty passage. This ends in a tight crawl in water and mud. Both
|
||
Damage and Matt went down and found a small chamber which it was too
|
||
difficult to enter. This is where Matt had his second epic. He got quite
|
||
badly trapped and had to do some vigorous thrashing. Couldn't face surveying
|
||
and started out.
|
||
|
||
<p>In Endless Matt had his third epic. Yawn! Slipped and fell 6', twisting
|
||
his ankle. This forced us to a very, very, very slow pace. Came up through
|
||
Dreamtime. Damage went ahead to contact top camp and Matt and I plodded on.
|
||
Matt eventually emerged 5 mins before 10am call out. Long, long trip.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U <u>20hrs</u>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-19">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-35">Next (survey/derig) trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-33">30/7/90 | 161 - Dreamtime | Matt &</a> <u>Tim</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Matt decided to sacrifice himself & take me caving for the first time.
|
||
After complaining that I walked too slowly he complained even more down the
|
||
cave. We knocked five bolts in & rerigged the top 3 pitches. Went out
|
||
& walked down slowly.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 8½ hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-24">Previous Dreamtime (photo) trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-34">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-34">31/7/90 | 161 - Dreamtime II the sequel | Matt &</a> <u>Tim</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>We went back to finish off the rest of rerigging Dreamtime. It is now very
|
||
pleasant. Got all the way to the Chunnel to pich up some more rope. Rigged
|
||
the bottom few short pitches plus a traverse & knocked in more bolts
|
||
(yuck!). Came out to a thunderstorm with an incredibly wet first pitch. The
|
||
walk down was awful with it getting dark & Matt falling down a shakehole,
|
||
while it pissed down.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 9½ hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-33">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-42">Next (derigging) trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-32">30/7/90</a> | 161 - Flat Battery | Del, Juliette, MarkD & <u>Wookey</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Set off to photo Flat Battery, push the 'leads' & prob de-rig when
|
||
they didn't go.
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161c-2">MarkD only</a> made it to 3rd pitch traverse after
|
||
making a hole in himself with a lump hammer trying to break carbide. His
|
||
hangover was just too mega so he went back via adrians & 'discovered' (ie
|
||
dug) 161C
|
||
|
||
<p>We declined to take camera gear & boogied on down - did grade 1 survey
|
||
of stuff off OTR then Del found rift climb at top of bungalow while me &
|
||
Juliette surveyed between bolts - leads into high phreatic tube which comes
|
||
out above top of boulder alley. Also looked at climb up BA. - looks feasible.
|
||
|
||
<p>Finally got on down to T.Block & had a brew & noodles before going
|
||
down FB. Zoomed down lots of pitches to poke squalid holes at bottom.
|
||
Connected a couple of Question Marks & pushed 'phreatic Maze' through
|
||
awful duck to hard c3 climb.
|
||
|
||
<p>Decided to forget it & de-rigged - efficient job so 250m of rope out
|
||
by 1.30am. Staggered out of cave by 5.45 - shagged again after shifting rope
|
||
to bottom of dreamtime.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 16 hrs (except markD - 2hrs)
|
||
|
||
<p>Ace trip - why can't they all be as good? Del
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-27">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-42">rest of derig</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161c-3">Next Adrian's/161c trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
28/7/90 | Surface - Down 163 and other 'oles | Wookey and <u>Damage</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>We trundled I complained, I got in my oversuit squeezed down some 'oles.
|
||
We then surveyed 163 and surface surveyed to VD1
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 2 hours<hr />
|
||
|
||
29/7/90 | 162 - The Dynamic Duo Rig, survey and Derig 162 | Wookey & <u>Damage</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>We went to 162 surveyed top bit rigged ladder. I lost toss, derigged
|
||
entrance ladder 161, nicked 55m beal. Surveyed this too. Nice ice. Nice cave.
|
||
Shame so cold
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 6 hours<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-35">30/7/90 | 161 - Endless | Jeremy</a> and <u>Damage</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(Date guessed)
|
||
|
||
<p>Grr. Grr. Isn't it boring f***ing RH route. Trogged down. Endless. Ignored
|
||
Jeremy wimpers but was taken in by his surveying bullshit. We surveyed and
|
||
(I) derigged up. Gross errors were spread amongst the survey papers and were
|
||
then washed off. We then made up some new figures. (Laugh). Epic struggle
|
||
with tackle bags. lots of shitty rope. Thank G*d for H**ti spits. And thanks
|
||
for all those who helped in this production. What's more, my pet piece of
|
||
cave, Endless, is really irritating
|
||
|
||
<p>T/UG 10 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-26">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-42">rest of derigging</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>1/8/90 | Surface | Joe, Adam + <u>Francis</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>General Plan: Push Joe's holes then Francis' then Adam's.
|
||
|
||
<p>Kitting up was the usual wander to cave entrance + faff trying to find
|
||
bolts etc, nearly forgetting SRT gear finding more spits in Matts gear etc.
|
||
Finally set off to Joe's hole. Joe disappears down a nasty bedding plan. Adam
|
||
provides helpful boulders, Francis fails to find Joe's other hole. Francis
|
||
comes back & is told to bring loadsa Bolting gear etc. Joe has 2 pitches
|
||
adjacent in a bedding plane. Both very loose at top because the roof is
|
||
trying to fall down. Joe spends ages putting a bolt in this roof while Adam
|
||
& Francis look down the other hole & shout from various nearby holes
|
||
& establish vocal connexions (thru impenetrable stuff) Joe has finished
|
||
Francis has the only SRT gear so its his turn to rig the clear bolt for the
|
||
free hang (gibber). First attempt in roof gives neck ache, head ache arm ache
|
||
back ache + 2 or 3 rocks of roof down the pitch. Next attempt (on the wall)
|
||
gives a bolt shattering the rock when the cone is banged in. Final attempt
|
||
OK. Francis + Joe rig this & F goes down c.15m. Finds ledge thinks about
|
||
putting bolt in. Finds possibility of pendulum + wire rebelay Then pretty ice
|
||
+ 5m more of going under ice (dead pretty) Flow goes down a little hole then
|
||
a rift (a la Flapjack2). Mean while Adam + Joe look at Joe's other hole &
|
||
Adam leaves to rescue his pit. F comes up. Joe goes down F paints 'CUCC
|
||
90/10' near hole Joe comes up & all head for Vesta.
|
||
|
||
<p>T u/g 3 hrs (F+J), 0.5 (Adam)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>2/8/90. | Hanggliding | <u>Julian</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Team Wings : <u>Julian</u>, assisted by Jeremy, not assisted at
|
||
all by half the caving club, distracting, telling me to get on with it,
|
||
admiring its aches and strains and cracks. Couple other pilots in carpark
|
||
keeping well away and mumbling things about parachutes. On account of it all,
|
||
had a shit take off and the glider started to disintegrate: battens springing
|
||
out, left wing flapping noisily as a helicopter.
|
||
|
||
<p>So decided to land as I was so awfully high. Jeremy kindly let me have
|
||
another go. Picked up another hang-glider pilot and gave him a lift to his
|
||
car whereupon he placed 40 shillings in payment on Rover's front bumper.
|
||
|
||
<p>This time the audience was smaller. A couple of young men with gliders on
|
||
their car drove up as I was rigging, thought that the wind was shit, the
|
||
glider was shit and they didn't want to see any more of it. A couple of
|
||
paragliderists were also walking all the way back down Loser, not flying,
|
||
muttering something about kamakazees.
|
||
|
||
<p>Which all goes to show it's bullshit because I had a great takeoff, great
|
||
flight (little rough the air though), got scared to go any higher when I
|
||
looked for an instant down at the nose of Loser, so followed Rover along the
|
||
road for some way. Some little muscles in my shoulders suffered in agony to
|
||
make flying possible after a while, so I slipped off and landed. On my feet.
|
||
Ground zero.
|
||
|
||
<p>T o/g ½ hour<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-182-1">30/7/90</a> | Surface - plateau-wander |Jeremy & <u>Adam</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>We wandered found a hole, descended it. this was not far from the camp
|
||
fault (goes thro nr water hole) & is a rift. Numbered 90/9 but not
|
||
written as no paint. This cave is close to the large bedding cave (which if
|
||
you know where it is is a good locator). See survey book for a sketch survey
|
||
& bearings (ha).
|
||
|
||
<p>Struggled thro more Bunde, via various un-noteworthy pits, moving more
|
||
"out" on the plateau (ie away from 161). Eventually popped out at
|
||
an umpromising large breakdown entrance with a low, wide horiz bit just
|
||
inside. Quickly became 45 degree bouldery slope then canyon. Traversed along
|
||
top for a while til reached harder bit (woz in T shirt & shorts). Took
|
||
bearing with view to return (see <a href="#id1990-182-2">2/8/90 trip</a>).
|
||
This cave called 90/12. Too hot so went to camp. Thundered later.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/u Jez 15 mins, Adam 35mins
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-182-2">Next trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>29/7/90 | Surface - solos 90/5 | <u>Adam</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>This hole found several days previously by a Juliette, Paul, MarkF, Claire
|
||
& I wander trip. Paul numbered entrance later. As an alternative to total
|
||
fester I went with rope & Paul's gear to do 90/5. Rock very brittle &
|
||
no naturals so took 5 attempts to start bolts. Finally got 2 OK ones in to
|
||
find MSD's rope had a big bad cut in!!
|
||
|
||
<p>got down found not choked so out again to get bolt kit & put furry on.
|
||
Last (2nd) pitch led to climb into choked bit. Sketch survey in survey
|
||
book.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 1¼hr (spent at least 2hrs within the actual strict defn of the cave
|
||
putting top two bolts in but this bit could be climbed to so doesn't really
|
||
count)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-182-2">2/8/90</a> | Puffball | Joe & Adam
|
||
|
||
<p>go to do 90/12 (see 30/7/90 write up)
|
||
|
||
<p>Had vague idea of area of 90/12 but spent 2 hrs Bunde-bashing to fail to
|
||
find it. Got VERY Bunde bitten & hot & fucked. Found another cave
|
||
90/11 (numbered in red, see survey book for a sketch). Sunbathed, eventually
|
||
found 90/12 & marked entrance, see survey book for location &
|
||
details. 90/12 is a cracker and is <u>still going</u>. There is several
|
||
hundred metres of vadose canyon, traverse high until until a large pocket on
|
||
right, then drop down to the bottom. Eventually (via formations and white
|
||
powder on walls) get to 20' pitch (1 bolt for ladder) shortly (follow joint
|
||
in floor) get to a 20m pitch (unbolted & undesc'd) where we turned back
|
||
as rope at surface & we were lazy (besides which I had already come out
|
||
once for the ladder !) 90/12 is called Puffball & Icing Sugar Cave. THIS
|
||
CAVE DRAFTS & IS A GOER
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-182-1">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="../1991/log.htm#id1991-182-1">Next Trip</a> (in 1991)
|
||
|
||
<p>While I was down, Joe went wandering & found 90/13 & 90/14 - see
|
||
survey book for details & locations. Joe squirmed down 90/13 over loose
|
||
shizen to find a small non-free-climbable pitch. 90/13 drafts.
|
||
|
||
<p>Wandered further & Joe "suggested" I go down 90/14 while he went down
|
||
a nearby rift which didn't go. 90/14 is a canyon which starts on the surface
|
||
& is a bastard sharp & narrow canyon bastard shite..... Hence called
|
||
SHIRUKEN (the spiky things ninjas throw!) Didn't go that far as really
|
||
desperate & my oversuit got ripped in 50 feet of thrutch !
|
||
|
||
<p>TU Adam 2 hr + ½ maybe<br>
|
||
Joe 1 hr
|
||
|
||
<p>See survey book to locate 90/14
|
||
|
||
<p>V.G. but write in pen next time<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-36">3/8/90</a> | 161 - go play bolt dot-dot | <u>Wookey</u> & Tim
|
||
|
||
<p>Went to join assorted bolt-bolt surveys and misclosures - old 2nd pitch -
|
||
new, re-survey dodgy Sainsbury's leg - join both ends of dreamtime to survey
|
||
& join new & adrian surveys - achieved all but last - after talking
|
||
to Paul & Tony at bungalow - took 2 bags of rope & checked out
|
||
Vestabule - last 20m pitch didn't go so detackled & left. Put 100m of
|
||
rope by LH route & took rest out - hard work.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 9 hrs ?!?
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-15">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
Vestabule - <a href="../1994/log.htm#id1994-161-8">next significant visit</a> (1994)
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-37">4/8/90</a> | 161 - Yapate - Team technical assistants | Damage and <u>Julian</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Shoogled down to squeeze, hunked through, shaked into Knossus and shouted
|
||
at Tower Blocks. Damage got the drill and drilled a bit and a bolt and I went
|
||
for a grovel into the tight shite canyon in the dirt floor of Yapate Inlet.
|
||
There's a freeclimb down at a 3 way junction of trickles which travels a bit,
|
||
then goes narrow as a trash compactor - one can just about get into it,
|
||
sideways, horizontal, feet first ten metres, but it doesn't get any better.
|
||
Meanwhile Damage had dogged the pitch and was mumbling around in it. I
|
||
followed, egged him on and made him sag the next pitch. One freeclimb later -
|
||
oh not another pitch, here, Julian, you rig it. No! I do not rig pitches
|
||
whatsoever. Damage was having a crisis of confidence, what with no great
|
||
pillar of caving prowess such as Wookey or Jeremy on hand as a trustable
|
||
expert system. No offense, he said, but I wish I was with someone who could
|
||
do the rigging or say if it's OK when I'm pissed off with it, I really don't
|
||
know what I'm doing.
|
||
|
||
<p>Damage discharged the drill, the clino jammed, so we left it all and went
|
||
for a brew, then a poke up a man-sized phreatic tube off left side of
|
||
Chicken Flied Nice which goes for miles, well 80m.
|
||
|
||
<p>Guess what, It ends in a pitch. Damage had left his descender at the
|
||
bottom of Staircase 36 and I had a sharp stone in the back of my shreddies.
|
||
Both dealt with out we went for a lovely meal with Big Paul still mourning
|
||
the litre bottle of schnapps exploded all over his tent for no apparent
|
||
reason.
|
||
|
||
<p>8 hrs U/G
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-29">Previous Yapate trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="../1991/log.htm#id1991-161-3">Next trip to Burble</a>
|
||
(next year)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-38">5/8/90</a>| 161 - down LH Route | Wookey & <u>Damage</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>& <u>NO</u> Olly
|
||
|
||
<p>So anyway, in the beginning there were three festering louts. Time passed.
|
||
Two of these differentiated from the norm thus changing the norm and started
|
||
to go caving. The third, the 'Olly' stayed put. The 'Wookey' and the
|
||
'Damage' proceeded to travel without haste accross the karst to the cave. On
|
||
arrival a radio from Philips started talking to us. The 'Olly' was
|
||
communicating (or at least trying). The 'Wookey' shouted loudly at a black
|
||
box because of the lack of the 'Olly'. There was then discussion of suitable
|
||
punishments to 'Olly'. The 'Wookey' was considering various forms of
|
||
physical abuse. It was eventually decided that drop testing him was too
|
||
severe and we went caving. What a nice bit of cave said I, being so close to
|
||
the top of the 1623/161 thingy. We zoomed down the Joe rigging, faffed, put
|
||
in a bolt and descended to the head of a pitch and started gardening. We
|
||
concluded it were a big pitch. Forty five metres we timed it to, and 52m it
|
||
was - so go climb a toadstool all you automatic pitch length halfers, we get
|
||
it right, or at least quite close even if we are so fit that it only seems
|
||
like 35m up. Got to bottom and found a big passage to the bottom but another
|
||
thr metre pitch grr, grr. Did some more rigging, found bottom, I then
|
||
suggested Wookey went down some small holes. We then left.
|
||
|
||
<p>Tm U/G 10 hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-30">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-41">Next trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-40">6/8/90</a> | 161 - shear the driver | Del & <u>Damage</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>We got changed and it rained. We went down dreamtime, down Boulder alley
|
||
into Carefour eventually. If you think this is boring so is the RH route.
|
||
How am I supposed to write anything interesting about an uneventful passing
|
||
through a piece of cave which I know every stable boulder personally.
|
||
|
||
<p>Now then, now then, the pitches, the drivers and other laugh. After much
|
||
faffing of gear, [???] really are a pain. Then I snapped the driver, laugh.
|
||
We [???] and [???] and surveyed out and were then dead 'ard and derigged to
|
||
top of Bungalow. Last trip.
|
||
|
||
<p>T U/G 10 hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-28">Trip where lead was found</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-42">Final derig</a> / Next trip
|
||
(<a href="../../1623/161/qmtodo.htm#C1990-161-06">see QM list</a> !)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-41">6/8/90</a> | 161 - survey Power Station Series (& derig!) | Francis, Olly & <u>Tim</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Fluttered down pitches 1,2,3,4 + squeeze into LH Route. Then walked to
|
||
hole in floor off rift & abseiled down pitch after pitch to the bottom
|
||
including lovely 50m free hanging pitch off crap rigging (Damage with wire
|
||
belay through maillons). Got to the bottom in 2½ hours then had to
|
||
start out & survey. This took ages & ages. Olly did the pretty (?)
|
||
piccies, Tim did the readings (with muddy glasses & instruments) &
|
||
Francis did the derigging (& got cold). Eventually surveyed to the top
|
||
& had to carry lots of gear up the squeeze - which tired Olly out
|
||
slightly. Made it out after our call-out time.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 12 hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-38">Previous trip</a>
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161b-5">28/7/90</a> | 161 - go to see Adrian's bottom | Juliette, Del, <u>Olly</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(Better late than never)
|
||
|
||
<p>My first real caving trip (Heyman!!!) Del vanished to do some bolting
|
||
whilst me 'n' Joules do some surveying. Stop after some, & go and join
|
||
Del. Survey more, derig a bit & leave via 161B. I have a sudden keenness
|
||
attack & dive back in towards where MarkD is to discover 161C. Not
|
||
hungover, so chicken out.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U Del & Ju : 7¾ hrs<br>
|
||
Olly : 8 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161b-4">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
Mark's <a href="#id1990-161c-2">161c connection</a> /
|
||
Next trip (derig) not written up<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-42">7/8/90</a> | 161 - Uncle Tom Cobbly & all go derigging | <u>Wookey</u>, Jeremy, Paul S, Juliette, Julian, Peter & Wadders
|
||
|
||
<p>All change in rain - Jez & Julian & Wadders down squeeze, Paul,
|
||
Juliette & Pete down dreamtime. Wookey follows to squeeze doing radio
|
||
tests with Julian - dist from cable is critical - unreliable more than a
|
||
couple of metres (over 200m of cable).
|
||
|
||
<p>Comms from: basement to head of 4th (can get 2m away towards Adrians Route
|
||
- constriction seems to block signal)<br> Big Sainsbury's to Squeeze (up to
|
||
4-5m away)<br> Chunnel Pitch to OTR (anywhere in passage)<br> Comms seem to
|
||
be better at top end (can move farther away than at bottom end)
|
||
|
||
<p>Without cable:- from top of 3rd to 1st D.time pitch.
|
||
|
||
<p>Jez & deserted with a T.sack each & left Paul & Ju to derig
|
||
d.time - Wookey did chunnel pitch, squeeze, 3rd & 4th, becoming utterly
|
||
festooned as zero T.Sacks present. P & J had similar probs &
|
||
requested help via radio. Julian came amidst incredible abuse :- the
|
||
airwaves positively crackled !
|
||
|
||
<p>All staggered out under mounds of gear & went home.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U Jez 3 hrs (& Wadders)<br>
|
||
Pete & Wook 4.5 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-42b">Longer and more colourful</a> write up of this
|
||
trip / <a href="#id1990-161-last">Derigging entrance</a> /
|
||
<a href="../1991/log.htm#id1991-161-1">Rigging in</a> (1991)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-43">8/8/90</a> | 161 - Derig Adrians' | Matt + <u>Francis</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(date guessed)
|
||
|
||
<p>Francis & Matt are cold in top camp. It is the day for derigging.
|
||
Francis sez "whoz gonna help me derig Adrians" Matt sez "yer". Off we go.
|
||
Francis the pitch he wanted to push & the rest of 130m rope. God it's
|
||
heavy. Matt forgot a tackle sack. Matt derigs the traverse & the pitch
|
||
anyway. F tosses a tackle sack down Ntrance pitch. It hits a hitherto
|
||
undiscovered flake. F***. Matt is happy, so is F.
|
||
|
||
<p>Francis T/ug 3.5 hrs, Matt T/ug 6 hrs<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161c-4">8/8/90 | Surface - 161c | Paul S & Juliette
|
||
|
||
<p>(Date guessed)
|
||
|
||
<p>And the rain came tumbling down -<br>
|
||
The aim<ol>
|
||
<li>To paint 161c on French entrance and gloat
|
||
<li>To derig Docharty's Crawl. And remove Paul barriers with a lump hammer.
|
||
<li>To survey 161B->161c</ol>
|
||
I think we destroyed the Docharty bullshit about the crawl, as Paul fitted
|
||
through.
|
||
|
||
<p>3½ hrs.
|
||
|
||
<p>Docherty's 161b-c <a href="#id1990-161c-2">discovery trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="../1991/log.htm#id1991-161c-1">Next 161c trip</a> (next year)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-42a">7/8/90</a> | 161 - Dreamtime derig | Paul S + Juliette
|
||
|
||
<p>(same trip as 1990-161-42 on 90.08.07 PaulS guessed)
|
||
|
||
<p>Well, yes, that about says it all. God, isn't rope heavy.
|
||
|
||
<p>Juliette useless at remembering things; head of first Dreamtime pitch
|
||
totally collapsed just as Paul derigged and stepped off it. - Ju.
|
||
|
||
<p>6 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-42">Main write up of this trip</a><hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-40-1b">8/8/90</a> | Eishöhle | Wook & Matt & Peter & <u>Olly</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(Date guessed)
|
||
|
||
<p>Long walk - do cave - nasty crawl - nice formations - fun sliding, nasty
|
||
walk out up ice slope with one jammer - Matt twists other ankle on walk
|
||
down. Getting dark - arrive late at Top camp - eat Vestas.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U : 4 hours<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-last">8/8/90</a> | 161 - Entrance derigged | Wook, Damage, <u>Olly</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Entrance pitch derigged & Geraldine photoed.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U: W: ¾ hr<br>
|
||
D: 1/3 hr<br>
|
||
Ol: 0 hr
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="../1991/log.htm#id1991-161-1">Next trip</a> (in 1991)<hr />
|
||
|
||
8/8/90 | Surface - Winded hole | Paul S and Mike
|
||
|
||
<p>8th day of the month of August, Year of our Lord MCMXC
|
||
|
||
<p>Paul and Mike go poke down a hole "WINDED HOLE"
|
||
|
||
<p>Stepping over several turd filled holes with Andy, we examined a hole near
|
||
top camp, with a newish bolt but no number. Rattly shaft with various
|
||
entrances. Paul winded himself by falling about 10cm [might be 10m, Ed.]<br>
|
||
(159, I think)
|
||
|
||
<p>[small sketch]
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 10 mins<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-42b">7/8/90</a> | 161 - Down Squeeze Up Dreamtime Sherpa |Jeremy, <u>Andy</u>, Julian, Peter
|
||
|
||
<p>Second Account
|
||
|
||
<p>This write up is going to suffer from a lack of definition of the
|
||
boundaries of the domains of one or several simultaneous and vaguely
|
||
coordinated trips. If you think what you did sounds enough like what we did
|
||
at about the same time, you could try adding your name to the list.
|
||
|
||
<p>Well, it all started with the novel experience for AW of walking up to
|
||
161, with caving gear and by the proper path. Once he had worked out what all
|
||
this funny shiny SRT was supposed to do (roughly), AW set out to follow
|
||
Jeremy down the entrance pitch. Ignoring the crowds taking the piss just
|
||
because he had both Claude loops and a cow's tail clipped in at the top he
|
||
plunged on into the depths apace. Ah, well, not very apace actually. Come on
|
||
you stupid bastard, FEED ! Well, that sums it up, really, lots and lots of
|
||
wingeing 'cos the rack won't feed, and Waddington has basically forgotten
|
||
what to do in the dark.
|
||
|
||
<p>By the time we reached the squeeze, AW was almost back to being a smoothly
|
||
functioning entity - at least he got through the squeeze faster than Jeremy.
|
||
Then a guided tour of the phreatic level until we found an enormous mound of
|
||
tackle bags. Oh, shit, I remember now ! But by this time there is no escape.
|
||
Paul and Juliette arrived from Dreamtime, and Jeremy set off up.
|
||
|
||
<p>Why does it always happen ? Just about this time, the little Austrian
|
||
bastard in the local Geo-control centre turned the gravity right up to
|
||
maximum and switched the rock into its most greedy tackle-bag snagging mode,
|
||
having first ensured that mud was nice and evenly spread over everything.
|
||
Ahead, Jeremy is grunting and muttering, but Waddington becomes obscured in
|
||
a small pulsating blue cloud. Only the occasional arm or leg emerges from
|
||
the sphere of high-density profanity. It just happens that swearing at
|
||
inanimate objects is Andy's favourite way of passing the time in a cave.
|
||
|
||
<p>Of course, even with gravity turned up full and the cave echoing to novel
|
||
new combinations of insults to tackle's parentage we get to the top of
|
||
Dreamtime where Waddington staggers across a loose, avalanching boulder
|
||
slope, wondering "I wonder where that traverse line goes ?". Its Jeremy's
|
||
turn to shout and winge and enquire whether Waddington isn't slightly put
|
||
off by the 30m drop just to his right. "nah, seems alright to me...",
|
||
stagger, crunch, BOOM!, teeter, etc. Up the second pitch surrounded by
|
||
people with radios in all directions, mainly trying to account for missing
|
||
cavers before they get entombed for a year....
|
||
|
||
<p>This is where the personnel/trip distinction gets really fuzzy...
|
||
|
||
<p>A brief episode to retrieve a tackle bag from a place it can't possibly
|
||
have got to punctuates the bottom of the entrance pitch, then up to the
|
||
surface (very slowly) to find Jeremy's face leering happily over the edge.
|
||
Jeremy has a radio and is expressing his great desire to come down and drag
|
||
some more tackle, but this is tinged with his immense regret that the first
|
||
pitch is occupied by ascending bodies and he can't get down, so tragically he
|
||
is obliged to get changed... Much swearing from below... Much giggling from
|
||
above... Much milling around on the surface... Much wittering from emerging
|
||
knackered cavers on the first pitch.
|
||
|
||
<p>Jeremy sets off to walk down carrying a load the size of Rover's trailer,
|
||
while Matt sets off carrying the drill, which is an error, so he has to go
|
||
back. Eventually back to the car park and down in still vaguely working
|
||
Waddo-wreck so Jeremy can take Rover up for everyone else. Everyone at base
|
||
camp seems to be tremendously pissed. Wasters !
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U good god, I've no idea, Jeremy says 2 hours but I think more like 4
|
||
hours. Andy
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1990-161-42">Main write up</a> of this trip /
|
||
<a href="#id1990-161-last">Derigging entrance</a> /
|
||
<a href="../1991/log.htm#id1991-161-1">Rigging in</a> (1991)<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1990-161-39">5/8/90</a> | 161 - Climbing above Boulder Alley | Mark F, Tanya, Tony, <u>Paul S</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>(Date guessed) has to be before 08.06 when derigged to Bungalow, probably after 07.28
|
||
when similar personnel did a photo trip
|
||
|
||
<p>A relatively quick trip down to Bungalow with Mark F. taking a few photos
|
||
of Tony perched above the Third pitch pretending to use a radio. At Bugalow
|
||
the party split, Mark F and Tanya going down to Knossos for a tourist trip
|
||
whilst Tony and Paul climbed into the small tubes across from the head of the
|
||
pitch. These emerge into a fine 3m diameter phreas which pops out around
|
||
15-20m above Boulder Alley. From there Paul traversed high along the side of
|
||
BA heading for a large black hole which promised to be a continuation of the
|
||
tube. The traverse was fairly hairy over gravel and very loose pinnacles. The
|
||
black hole turned out to be a window between the two shafts off Boulder Alley
|
||
and not a passage. The two shafts are directly adjacent - contra the survey -
|
||
although they appear to be separate due to the steep angle of Boulder Alley.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 9 hrs<hr />
|
||
|
||
9/8/90 | Tourist - Mammuthöhle & Dachstein Eishöhle | Julian, Tanya, Tony & Paul S
|
||
|
||
<p>(Date guessed)
|
||
|
||
<p>A suitable wind-down before returning to the caveless wastes of Denmark.
|
||
Mammuthöhle is well worth the entrance fee. <u>Enormous</u> phreatic
|
||
passages the diameter of Knossos which charge through the hill made us
|
||
realise that 161 isn't quite in the Austrian big time. Yet. Eishöhle
|
||
also good value, but much more breakdown. And the ice covers up all the
|
||
rock. Grrr. Pretty though.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 2 hrs<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>11/8/90 | Surface - "Positively the last chance to paint a number on 100" trip | Andy
|
||
|
||
<p>Having finally fixed the brakes on the Green Death Machine <u>and</u>
|
||
found some paint, Waddington burned up to the car park, then up to Top Camp
|
||
in 24mins 28sec (is this a record?). Finally, after 13 years (!) got a number
|
||
painted on 100. Also painted 159, then searched for B10 and B9 again, failed
|
||
again. Sauntered over to 80 and refreshed its number. Searched for 84 for
|
||
ages, gave up - gave 100 a second coat ! Searched for B6 and B5
|
||
unsuccessfully, then found a BIG entrance with no number visible. Descended
|
||
the entrance, found various ways on, one DRAUGHTING shaft looks interesting.
|
||
No footprints (probably means nothing at this depth). Only 5 mins from Top
|
||
Camp - worth a look next year ?
|
||
|
||
<p>Sauntered along the west rim of Kratzer looking for A1, B1-3 etc., but
|
||
found nothing except a very impressive choked shaft with an apparent phreatic
|
||
tube leading off. Climbed in, then scrambled down a snow slope to find a lack
|
||
of ways on, except a narrow way down a snow-choked rift.
|
||
|
||
<p>Eventually sauntered down towards Bräuning Alm where the number on 96
|
||
looked a bit faded, so I refreshed it. Trogged across to Bräuning
|
||
Kunntal and up Sommersitz planning to saunter down to the Bergrestaurant,
|
||
but things went horribly wrong.
|
||
|
||
<p>This path pops out at Augstsee by which time (it was downhill) I was
|
||
running. Unfortunately, I got carried away, and ran up the path to Loser. By
|
||
the top of Hochanger, sanity prevailed (and so did aerobic wipe-out and
|
||
general sugar deficiency) so I sat around and took piccies and decided to
|
||
forego the final stage to Loser. Sauntered along the ridge until it was
|
||
mainly downhill again, pausing for photos at Loser Fenster, then ran all the
|
||
way to the car park. Drove down to road test the brakes - no problem
|
||
overtaking ouigees.... Give me a beer...
|
||
|
||
<p>Andy. T/U 10 mins<hr />
|
||
|
||
<p>28/7/90 | Tourist - Stupid Bastards on the Dachstein | Adam & Jeremy
|
||
|
||
<p>Plan:<ol>
|
||
<li>Get up early
|
||
<li>Set off from Halstatt
|
||
<li>Walk in to Simony Hütte
|
||
<li>Sleep
|
||
<li>Get up early
|
||
<li>Walk to top & back down again
|
||
</ol>
|
||
Gear: full ice gear and food for 2 days<p>
|
||
Results:<ol>
|
||
<li>Got up early
|
||
<li> left Halstatt (-us one radio battery) at 9-30 am
|
||
<li>Walked ridiculously fast for 4½ hrs & found [?]
|
||
at Simony Hütte
|
||
<li>Rested for ½ hr while letching at local talent & decided to
|
||
go for the top hut despite Jeremy feeling a bit squiffy in the 'far too
|
||
much' heat.
|
||
<li>Went for it & only took ¾ of hr to reach hut, so went for top
|
||
(without using any of our nice ice gear) - Jeremy really f***ed.
|
||
<li>Got to Hütte & found it was full (6.00pm). "Oh, dear"! - "Oh
|
||
well, lets go for it" - "but isn't that a bit silly?" - "Yes" -
|
||
"Just checking"
|
||
<li>Run across bit of glacier & bloody hill in way (another 100-200
|
||
metres !!) - Jeremy really completely fuck*d.
|
||
<li>Stopped at top of hill, ate dinner, realised had no bloody water
|
||
(oh god!) & radioed down to paralytic Julian at base camp - praise
|
||
Philips in the high (whatever that means?).
|
||
<li>Walked/ran down to the next hütte hallucinating about water, got
|
||
some strange looks when we got there.
|
||
<li>Ran down next bit until it got dark
|
||
<li>Jeremy forgotten zoom (yet another light failure for the intrepid duo!)
|
||
& we got lost.
|
||
<li>Found road at bottom & managed to meet others thanks to radios
|
||
<li>Shagged
|
||
</ol>
|
||
|
||
<p>Summary: 20 miles, 8000 feet of ascent & 8000 descent, T/o/f: 13 hrs
|
||
<hr />
|
||
<!-- LINKS -->
|
||
<ul id="links">
|
||
<li>1990 Expedition info:
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="index.htm">Index</a> (more detail than in this list)</li>
|
||
<li><a href="report.htm">Expo Report</a> (Diary)</li>
|
||
<li><a href="cavegd.htm">161 Description</a> to date (ie. 1990)</li>
|
||
<li><a href="162163.htm">Entrances 162 and 163</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="newent.htm">New Entrances</a></li>
|
||
<li>Surveying Report:
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="svy1.htm"> 1: Calibration</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="svy2.htm"> 2: Survey Production</a></li>
|
||
</ul></li>
|
||
<li>Bosch Cordless Rotary Hammer <a href="drill.htm">Drill Report</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="sponsr.htm">Sponsors</a></li>
|
||
</ul></li>
|
||
<li><a href="../../pubs.htm#pubs1990">Index</a> to all publications</li>
|
||
<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expeditions intro page</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="../../../index.htm">CUCC Home Page</a>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</body>
|
||
</html>
|