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<title>1623:204 -- Rhino Rift area</title>
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<table id="cavepage">
<tr><th id="kat_no">204</th><th id="name">Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle</th><th id="status">4/S x</th></tr>
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<h1>Rhino Rift area</h1>
<!-- Most of this extrapolated by DL from survey and logbook description-->
<div>
<b><a href="rhinorift.jpg">Survey</a></b>&nbsp;--&nbsp;
<b><a href="204.html">204 index</a></b></div>
<hr />
<p>Rhino Rift is an area of mainly rift passages to the west of <a
href="swings.html">Swings and Roundabouts</a>. The main access is from Taking
the Piss, the pitch at the end of <a href="swings.html#dutchbeauty">Dutch
Beauty</a>. Other connections back to the rest of the cave are via a very loose
connection to <a href="nopain.html#insignificantchamber">Insignificant
Chamber</a> or the <a href="swings.html#the21bolttrav">21 Bolt Traverse</a>.</p>
<h3><a id="takingthepiss">Taking the Piss</a></h3>
<p>Descending this 8m pitch is the most direct, although not the original, route
into the series; it lands in a short narrow passage which is followed by a climb
down out of a window in the wall of the passage to the north of Meeting
House.</p>
<h3><a id="rhinorift">Rhino Rift 1</a></h3>
<p>At the top of Taking the Piss, continuing to the left rather than descending
leads to a narrow horizontal rift, the original Rhino Rift. After around
5m this emerges in a wider passage floored with blocks. A passage on
the left leads to a 6m climb down into <a href="#meetinghouse">Meeting
House</a> chamber; alternatively, continuing straight on downslope leads into <a
href="#boltbypass">21 Bolt Bypass</a> and to an alternative 3m climb down into
Meeting House.</p>
<h3><a id="meetinghouse">Meeting House</a></h3>
<p>Meeting House chamber is around 8m long and floored with boulders. At the
north-eastern end a narrow passage leads off on the right [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-49" id="qC2003-204-49">C2003-204-49 C</a>]; continuing
north from here past a too-tight passage on the left reaches a pitch, <b><a
id="wotnobolts">Wot No Bolts?</a></b>, leading into <a href="#onamission">On A
Mission</a>. To the right of the pitch-head are a multiplicity of openings which
connect and lead into <a href="#rhinorift2">Rhino Rift II</a>.</p><!-- There are
two pitches, Deviated and Wot No Bolts. Which is which? It's a bit confusing.
-->
<h3><a id="rhinorift2">Rhino Rift (II)</a></h3>
<p>Rhino Rift 2 continues eastwards for 20m to a right-hand bend with water
dripping. Continuing along the passage southwards leads to a fork. Sharp left
a small passage branches off [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-45"
id="qC2003-204-45">C2003-204-45 C</a>]. <i>Ahead and to the left is down a ramp to
an undescended pitch [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-44"
id="qC2003-204-44">C2003-204-44 A</a>].</i> The right fork continues past a bend
to the left, another corner with oxbows on each side, and a pit in
the floor on the left [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-43" id="qC2003-204-43">C2003-204-43
?</a>]. Finally the passage emerges at a circular chamber. On the left is a slot
in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-42" id="qC2003-204-42">C2003-204-42
B</a>], while at the far end climbing back up leads to the base of a climb into
<a href="nopain.html#insignificantchamber">Insignificant Chamber</a>.</p>
<h3><a id="boltbypass">21 Bolt Bypass</a></h3>
<p>Continuing southwards from Rhino Rift 1 this passage heads southwards,
passing a side passage choked with stalactites and a pit [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-50" id="qC2003-204-50">C2003-204-50 ?</a>] on the left,
to reach an upwards ramp emerging at the top of the boulder choke reached by the
notorious <a href="swings.html#the21bolttrav">21 Bolt Traverse</a> around
Gaffered to the Walls main pitch. At the far side of this is a continuing
passage [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-51" id="qC2003-204-51">C2003-204-51 B</a>].
<h3><a id="onamission">On A Mission</a></h3>
<p>Wot No Bolts pitch is 9m deep and lands in a chamber (which doesn't seem to
have its own name). <i>South from the foot of the pitch leads to a small passage
at the southern end [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-46"
id="qC2003-204-46">C2003-204-46 C</a>], and also a pit in the floor [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-47" id="qC2003-204-47">C2003-204-47 ?</a>].</i>
Northwards leads to a crossroads. <i>To the right is too tight. Straight ahead
leads over boulders to a small hole in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-53"
id="qC2003-204-53">C2003-204-53 C</a>] and beyond this a larger pitch [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-54" id="qC2003-204-54">C2003-204-54 B</a>], both
undescended.</i> On the left is a substantial passage, <b>On A Mission</b>, with
a T-shaped cross-section. This continues essentially straight westwards for
100m, but there are a number of important side branches where it intersects
cross-rifts.</p>
<ul>
<li>The first side passage is a 3m pitch down to the right, leading into <a
href="#swallowhard">Swallow Hard</a>. Shortly beyond this is a crossroads; the
right branch provides an easier route into Swallow Hard, while the left is too
tight.</li>
<li>The second main crossroads leads to <a href="#belief">Belief</a> on the
left, while to the right leads to two small unexplored passages [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-59" id="qC2003-204-59">C2003-204-59 C</a>] [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-60" id="qC2003-204-60">C2003-204-60 ?</a>].</li>
<li>Beyond this is <b><a id="picadilly">Picadilly Circus</a></b> junction, where
there are several loops of interconnecting passage. At various points in here
are a pit in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-66"
id="qC2003-204-66">C2003-204-66 B</a>], an unexplored passage northwards [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-71" id="qC2003-204-71">C2003-204-71 B</a>], and the
entrances to <a href="#ratbiscuit">Rat Biscuit</a> heading north and <a
href="#crimper">Crimper</a> heading south.</li>
<li>Next there is a right-hand bend, with a hole in the floor to the left [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-72" id="qC2003-204-72">C2003-204-72 C</a>].</li>
<li>Another 15m further on is a lead on the right at the next bend [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-73" id="qC2003-204-73">C2003-204-73 C</a>].</li>
</ul>
<p>Finally the passage reaches a chamber with a loose boulderous hole in the
floor [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-74" id="qC2003-204-74">C2003-204-74 C</a>] and
side passages to the right and left. <i>Right leads to a sizeable pitch [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-75" id="qC2003-204-75">C2003-204-75 A</a>] with a
possible continuation of the passage beyond the pitch-head [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-76" id="qC2003-204-76">C2003-204-76 B</a>].</i> Straight
on leads to a few metres of passage and a 4m pitch into <a
href="#anonymous">Anonymous Chamber</a>. <i>Left is a narrower passage which
drops down a 3m pitch into the southern end of the same chamber.</i> </p>
<h3><a id="anonymous">Anonymous Chamber</a></h3>
<p><i>[This doesn't appear to have a name, but needs one -- DL]</i> This is a
large breakdown chamber floored with boulders. Straight across from the landing
is a passage high on the opposite wall; this can be reached by climbing up a
convenient chimney somewhat further to the right, then traversing along a ledge
to the passage (a handline is useful, and there are numerous naturals). This
passage is <a href="#nobutcombe">Wot No Butcombe</a>. Back in the chamber, there
is a loose pitch at the northern end [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-77"
id="qC2003-204-77">C2003-204-77 C</a>] and two small passages lead back under
the east wall [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-78" id="qC2003-204-78">C2003-204-78
C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-79" id="qC2003-204-79">C2003-204-79 C</a>].
<h3><a id="nobutcombe">Wot no Butcombe</a></h3>
<p>The passage slopes upwards gradually at first, passing a passage on the right
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-81" id="qC2003-204-81">C2003-204-81 A</a>] and a
hole in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-82"
id="qC2003-204-82">C2003-204-82 B</a>], until it reaches a steep
clamber up choss to a junction. Up the slope straight ahead is blind. <i>On the
left, <a id="roundtrip"><b>Round Trip</b></a> passage leads back directly above
Wot No Butcombe to emerge in the ceiling of Anonoymous Chamber. A hole in the
floor communicates with Wot No Butcombe, and there is a crawl to the left [<a
href="qm.html#C2003-204-80" id="qC2003-204-80">C2003-204-80 ?</a>].</i> To the
right is a too-tight slot in the floor and another fork; left here leads to a
mud-floored chamber, whereas right leads to <a href="#noconnection">Wot No
Connection</a>.</p>
<h3><a id="noconnection">Wot no connection</a></h3>
<p>Crawling over the large fallen block down to the right leads to a cross rift
chamber; the north wall and roof are composed of fault breccia. The draught
disappears at this point into the roof and walls. The rift continues right and
up through shattered boulders into a number of small chambers with no solid
walls; one of these connects back into the first fault chamber. Climbing 5m up
to the right leads back to the top of What No Butcombe chamber; stepping over
this chamber continues into main passage in area at high level 5-8m up.</p>
<h3><a id="swallowhard">Swallow Hard</a></h3>
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-55" id="qC2003-204-55">C2003-204-55 B</a>]
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-56" id="qC2003-204-56">C2003-204-56 X</a>]
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-57" id="qC2003-204-57">C2003-204-57 C</a>]
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-58" id="qC2003-204-58">C2003-204-58 C</a>]
<h3><a id="unconformity">Unconformity</a></h3>
<p><b><a id="catsclaw">Cat's Claw</a></b>, <b><a id="limescale">Limescale
Cistern</a></b>...</p>
<h3><a id="belief">Belief</a></h3>
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-61" id="qC2003-204-61">C2003-204-61 X</a>]
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-70" id="qC2003-204-70">C2003-204-70 A</a>]
<h3><a id="faith">Faith</a></h3>
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-62" id="qC2003-204-62">C2003-204-62 A</a>]
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-63" id="qC2003-204-63">C2003-204-63 C</a>]
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-64" id="qC2003-204-64">C2003-204-64 C</a>]
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-65" id="qC2003-204-65">C2003-204-65 A</a>]
<h3><a id="crimper">Crimper</a></h3>
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-67" id="qC2003-204-67">C2003-204-67 A</a>]
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-68" id="qC2003-204-68">C2003-204-68 B</a>]
[<a href="qm.html#C2003-204-69" id="qC2003-204-69">C2003-204-69 B</a>]
<h3><a id="grater">Grater</a></h3>
<h3><a id="uncrimped">Uncrimped</a></h3>
<h3><a id="ratbiscuit">Rat Biscuit</a></h3>
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