expoweb/years/1987/158gd.htm
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<h1 align=center>1991 Expo</h1>
<center><font size=-1>Cambridge Underground 1988 pp 5-6</font>
<h2>Guidebook description and survey of entrance 158,<br>
"Donner und Blitzen H&ouml;hle"</h2>
<p><b>Mike Richardson</b></center>
<p>The entrance is situated approximately 400m NNE of the high point on the
ridge known as "Bunter's Bulge" in previous editions of "Cambridge
Underground", at the base of a wall to the left after passing a sandy
depression, when walking from Bunter's Bulge.
<p>A body-width passage formed by a wall on the left and a large detached
slab on the right descends for about 5m at 45 degrees with occasional
glimpses of daylight above. A cross passage is then encountered. This blocks
off to the right after a few metres, but to the left descends to meet the
base of the wall. To the right a 20-22 cm squeeze is passed laying on one
side. After 2m of further tight progress, the rift opens onto a drop. A steep
tube now descends for about 12m to a small chamber and with care can be
descended free.
<p>From the chamber, the passage curves to the left and opens onto the head
of a 7m pitch, which drops onto a large ledge. A rebelay just over the lip of
the ledge at the left hand side gives a further 18m free hanging pitch to a
landing on boulders several metres across, which appear to be jammed across
the shaft.
<p>A narrow rift around a corner stops at a drip and a small pool. The way on
is through a gap to a hole with a jammed block. Climbing down onto the block
leads to the head of an 18m pitch which rapidly opens into a huge split-level
chamber. The pitch lands on "Big Bertha", a boulder some 4m diameter.
<p>To the north a narrow rift has been followed for about 10m to a tight
vertical drop of at least 5m down the rift, but this has not been pushed.
East from Big Bertha leads to a 5m drop to the lower half of the chamber,
which is floored with loose rock. A doorway to the left leads to a 7m pitch
to a small stream. This disappears down an impassable slot, but is met lower
in the cave.
<p>From the doorway, a climb up behind a boulder propped against the side of
the chamber leads to a saddle. One side rapidly curves up to the roof. The
other ascends over very loose boulders for at least 25m (gaining about 15m in
height) until the roof is met. This area has not been exhaustively pushed,
but seems unlikely to lead anywhere.
<p>Descending the other side of the col gives a series of ledges via 5m, 7m
and 8m pitches, in a canyon some 5m wide and at least 15m high. The stream
enters at the bottom of the 7m pitch. Following the pitches, the rift
continues down a moderate slope and round a corner, with a final short 4m
pitch to a soil and rock floored chamber.
<p>A strong draught can be felt rising around the edges of the chamber. It is
possible to descend in a number of places amongst rocks and soil down a steep
slope, but the area is very loose. The roof slopes down to meet the floor and
no ways on were found which follow the draught.
<p>Near the bottom of the previous pitch, a 5m deep circular pit in the floor
can be descended. This takes a large drip from the stream above. At the
bottom, a tight 22-26cm rift leads on for 3m to a further 3m pitch to a small
chamber. An impassable passage leaves this chamber, and a window from the
chamber gives sight of the passage beyond widening.
<p>Possible further exploration in 158
<p>Although there is no draught at the final chamber, this point is likely to
be below the level of the soil and sand choke, and it is possible that the
draught bypasses this section. Consideration is being given to returning to
this chamber in 1988 and to hammering open the window. The cave is tending in
the direction of the 144 and 143 entrances to the Stellerweg-Schnellzughohlen
system, and seems to be following the line of a fault visible on the surface.
<p>A surface survey is needed to determine the exact altitude of the
entrance, however it is estimated to be at or a little above the 144
entrance, the highest entrance prior to the German-French discoveries of
1987. It has some potential as a stepping stone towards entrances higher
along the ridge, which are needed if significant additions to the depth of
the cave are to be found.
<p><img alt="E-W Elevation, 15k gif" width=500 height=760
src="../../1623/others/158ew.png">
<p><img alt="Plan, 15k gif" width=840 height=400
src="../../1623/others/158p.png">
<hr />
<ul>
<li><a href="../../1623/113.htm">Sonnenstrahlh&ouml;hle</a>
Guidebook page</li>
<li><a href="ent113.htm">Extensions to 113</a></li>
<li><a href="log.htm">Logbook</a></li>
<li><a href="report.htm">Expedition description</a></li>
<li><a href="geolog.htm">Geology of the Totengebirge</a>, Jared West<br>
<!-- <li><a href="bcracc.htm">BCRA Caves &amp; Caving Report</a><br> -->
</ul>
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