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<h1>CUCC Logbook 2013</h1>
<!--fragment for each trip --
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-">2013-07</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u></u></div>
<div class="triptitle"></div>
<p></p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: </div>
<hr>
--end of fragment-->
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-23a">2013-07-23</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>OllyB</u>, Jenny</div>
<div class="triptitle">107 Rigging </div>
<p> After a long (41hr) trip out from NZ, a day setting up basecamp
and a day setting up the bivvy it was time for a caving trip! We did a
carry up in the morning, so didnt have time for a long trip. Set off
down 107 rigging ropeless. We improved the rigging on last year as we
went.</p>
<p>One and a half pitches in ropeless and I suggested we swing
across and look at the lead that leads back towards the old route into
the cave. After swinging across we went down two short pitches much
bigness opens out to the side of the first pitch. At the bottom of the
second short pitch a short section of rift leads off to another
drop. We turned round here. </p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 3hr 40</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-24a">2013-07-24</div>
<div class="trippeople">OllyB, <u>Jenny</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">107 Rigging + connection to old route</div>
<p>Back into 107 with a bit more rope. Olly rigged the next pitch I
am impressed that he got a clean hang here. Landed in an aven chamber
with a big boulder. Evidence of people. We followed the rift on and
concluded that it was the 1970s route. Followed the walking size rift to
the pitch at the end and surveyed out from their hang bolt back into
ropeless, derigging as we went.</p>
<p>Back in ropeless Olly rigged along rigged along the traverse with more
rope and more hangers than last year. Instead of the free climbed
traverse at the end we dropped down to a ledge off to the left. This led
to two short segments of passage each of which ended looking down on the
big boulder in the aven chamber seen earlier. It is increasingly looking
like a lot of cave in a small area! We were cold and didnt want to
miss our call out so headed out leaving the survey for the next trip.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 7hr 20</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-25">2013-07-25</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Jenny</u>, OllyB</div>
<div class="triptitle">Pushing into Rope Free</div>
<p>First we tidied yesterdays survey then went up the short pitch to
the ledge, down the other side and up into the main Ropeless passage.
Headed towards the northern lead. On a sunny day like today there is a very
strong draft from here, cold too.</p>
<p>Got to last years pushing front and followed the draft descending
short climb/pitch to a ledge with two ways on. Took the RH way with the
draft down a rubble slope. Lost the draft part way down but I diligently poked down to
the bottom through the boulders until it got too tight. I reckoned that
we lost the draft to a window part way down the slope. Olly clambered
across, to get into passage the other side. He accidently let the rope
drop back down to me leaving him rope free hence the name. I threw
the rope back and Olly put in a bolt.</p>
<p>We clambered down the other side into a drafty chamber. A too tight hole
in the floor as the source of part if the draft. The rest seems to come
out of a tight rift. We surveyed the chamber and the passage going off
for a bit but we were both very cold. I decided that we were too cold to
survey as thoroughly as I felt the chamber warranted, so we decided to
return tomorrow.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 5hr 45</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-26">2013-07-26</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Jenny</u>, OllyB</div>
<div class="triptitle">Pushing the Envelope and Sleepless </div>
<p>Headed back into the chamber beyond Rope Free to chase the draft and
complete the survey. First I tried in the lower level of the rift I
could squeeze through rift (without SRT kit on) and appeared in a
widening that led to a pitch I couldnt get too close without
gear. I surveyed back out to the chamber and we tried higher up in the
rift. Olly got through a squeeze (above where I had been) and then to
another he pulled some rocks out so we could (just) fit through. We
came out at the top of a rift that we could climb/slither down, leading
on a ledge above a pitch that we carefully traversed around.</p>
<p>We followed the draft into big passage, at first we followed it to a
rift lvel, climbing over big boulders this led to a hole in the
floor, so we went back and followed at the base of the passage, past
some pretty mud, down a climb and some more mud. We eventually got to a
pitch that we had no gear to descend or cross. The draft and passage
appear to continue. Surveyed out.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 5hr 45</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-28a">2013-07-28</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Jenny</u>, OllyB</div>
<div class="triptitle">Sleepless and The Coldest Place in Earth</div>
<p>Took the drill and rigging gear in, Olly removed some more rocks from
the squeezy bit (pushing the envelope) and we realised that we could
bypass the first squeeze by being high up. Olly then put in a rope as
protection on the shorter down, this made me happy because there is
quite a pitch below and we removed quite a few of the footholds last
time (to clatter down the pitch).</p>
<p>Went to the pushing front and rigged over the pitch, following the
draft. Shortly after the passage mad a sharp right hand turn into
passage that was much more phreatic in character ~2m wide. We then hit
another rift was also strongly drafted, doubling the strength of the
draft in the passage heading for ICH it is seriously cold and windy.
This is “The Coldest Place in Earth”.</p>
<p>There is a short drop which I traversed over to see another pitch
(not free climbable) immediately beyond. So we went back to get more
rope and Olly rigged it across the traverse and down the short pitch
to a gloopy muddy pool below. We continued along the rift beyond,
which headed fairly persistently east. We stopped when another pitch
blocked our way on. This looked like a long traverse was needed then
we had rope for. We surveyed out getting colder and colder as we
went.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 7hr 30</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-30a">2013-07-30</div>
<div class="trippeople">OllyB, <u>Jenny</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">Sleepless</div>
<p>Back into Sleepless, re-rigging some ropes along the way to free up
what we needed for later. Got the The Coldest place in Earth, Olly is
going first, and he discoveres what happens if you use a rack, it
isnt locked off and you dont keep hold of the down rope.
Fortunately the pitch is only ~5m high, he was already down 1m and he
landed in soft squelchy mud. Still it was a very scary few moments for
both of us…<p>
<p>Got to yesterdays pushing front and Olly preceeded to bolt down the
pitch into passage beyond. To keep watm I drew the elevation that got
missed yesterday. After traversing over the pitch we followed the
walking size rift on (with the draft), over a short climb and a hole and
to a widening. This time the way on is down a short pitch to some more
squelchy mud pools and sadly another pitch that we dont have rope
for.</p>
<p>Olly comes up with the mad idea that I reassessed the reascend the
previous pitch, throw him the rope so he can see what happens on the
next pitch. I took both slings up with me to aid with me getting the
rope back. Amazingly the mad plan worked. Olly ascertained that the
passage and draft continued below and we both got safely back up.</p>
<p>As ever we surveyed out getting colder and colder.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 9hr 10</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-01b">2013-08-01</div>
<div class="trippeople">OllyB, <u>Jenny</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">Too Bold for This Spit</div>
<p>Yet again back into sleepless and heading ever closer to KH. Took
more rope, and last of our hangers and the last drill battery to the
pushing front. Rigged 2 short pitches with one larger rope and headed
on. The passage is now much riftier and less obvious what level to be
at. We stay at the level of the bottom of the pitch, not the floor
trench and traverse along until we have to drop down a bit. A bit
further on the passage widens and we rig a short rope to get to a lower
level. A pitch drops deeper but we continue a long with the draft. We
stay either at the base of the rift or &lt;4m above mostly and work our way
along. Sadly we then get to another pitch in the way.</p>
<p>Olly rigged round, it took him a while as each time he hammered to dress
the rock, flake fell and boomed down the pitch. I kept telling myself it
was a really short pitch that echoed alot... There was nowhere to wait
out of the draft and I started to wonder why I had used up nearly a
whole years worth of annual leave to sit and shiver in Austria.
Fortunately Olly got to the other side with 1 hanger left to rig there.
I followed across the traverse and was very scared - the foot holds kept
falling down the pitch, each bolt was lower than the one before and half
of them needed tightening before I loaded them. Then I got my hand
jammer too far away from me to undo with cold fingers and I got
increasingly unhappy.</p>
<p>I finally made it to the other side where I told Olly this was the worse
thing he had ever rigged and that we might die when we have to retun to
get out the cave. Fortunately he took it as a compliment...</p>
<p>We continued on with the draft (which might be a bit weaker), until we
got to another pitch. It looked like it would be tight to make our call
out but we were keen to survey back before we went down the hill.</p>
<p>As luck would have it we didn't die on the way out but I still whimpered
quite a lot despite trying to be brave. This is called Too Bold for this
Spit as Olly lifted a Hilti out on the way back. We got the Makita drill
and batteries out of the cave, and surveyed back to the previous dat,
Also we made our call out and nearly got to the car park in time, where
Julian was patiently waiting to take us down the hill.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 9hr 50</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-28b">2013-07-28</div>
<div class="trippeople">Chris, Mike<u>, Becka</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Rigging</div>
<p>Becka rigged Caramel Catharsis then showed Chris and Mike the top of
String Theory which Chris made a start om rigging whilst Becka headed
out to help Holly, Anthony + martin with top camp bivvy fettling.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: Becka 5 hours Chris+Mike 7hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-29a">2013-07-29</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Becka</u>, Mike</div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Rigging</div>
<p>Becka re-rigged Tunnocks entrance on the new (+ super slippy) 11mm
100m rope + put extra bolts to protect snow slope section on entrance
(as big drop either side of a snow 'bridge' there now) + on nuisance drop
+ traverse + took a look at the leads in Oompah.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: Becka 7, Mike 5</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-30b">2013-07-30</div>
<div class="trippeople">Chris, <u>Becka</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Rigging</div>
<p>Chris finished Holly's rigging off String Theory from yesterday then
Becka started the rigging of Procrastination Pot. Chris put in an extra
bolt for last drop of String Theory. Continuing the trend of us
re-rigging every sodding rope in Tunnocks we re-rigged the bottom rope
of String Theory to waste less rope then had to re-rig what I'd done in
Procrastination when the rope didn't reach... note to self - sort out
decent rigging guides before Expo next year.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 8hr &frac12;</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-31a">2013-07-31</div>
<div class="trippeople">Chris, <u>Becka</u>, Holly, Mike</div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Rigging and AT LAST some pushing</div>
<p>Chris + Becka headed in early. becka finished rigging
Procrastination which was dead easy to rig, all the bolts first where
Norl's rigging guide said they would be, unlike String Thoery where
bolts were heard to spot. Chris + I then bodged the traverse at the
bottom to a broken chamber + then an ugly expo rig on naturals down
aprrox. 4m. Holly + Mike turned up with the drill + Holly bolted the
pitch down which finished. They surveyed + headed out. Chris + I had
surveyed the upper section then Chris shimmied up a climb then got the
drill when Holly had finished with it + rigged it them added a few
bolts - strong draft coming from a small hole in the ceiling&ellipsis; draft
good but passage dimensions not great. Chris then bolted a proper pitch
to avoid the expo rig then headed up whilst Becka re-rigged with bolts
the traveerese at the bottom of Procrastination. We got 11 holes out of
one battery - surprisingly good&ellipsis; soft rock.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: Chris + Becka 11 hours, Holy + Mike 10 hours</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-01a">2013-08-01</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Becka</u>,Mike, Anthony</div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Upper level Tunnock - Oompah, Just for a
Laugh, Naughty, Naughty and 08-19 Alead </div>
<p>Becka + Mike down to Oompah + rigged the pitch on the left, down
~15m + looked blind but then Mike spotted a short climb up to
another pitch with a good draft which just needs a crowbar to shift a
teetering boulder so we left that as a good high level lead. Matt +
Anthony caught up + we looked at the snow + pine needle aven which
was very full of snow this year so no way up. Then took Mike + Matt to
Just for a Laugh + they dropped the 25m pitch at 07-56A which was
blind whilst I went with anthony to Naughty Naughty. Unfortunately
Anthony couldn't turn to get around the Z bend so Becka went alone to
check the leads at the end. Frustratingly failed to find where the
strong draft was going to but it was still there at ceiling level in
final chamber.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 7hr</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-02a">2013-08-02</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Becka</u>,Matt, Mike</div>
<div class="triptitle">Prospecting N + W of Tunnocks</div>
<p>Mike's last day + it was hot. Walked to Tunnocks entrance then
hacked N then W in a big loop with Mike + Martin's GPS. Found a
couple of areas pepppered with pits + another area with 3 drafting
holes which needs looking at carefully as very promising. 6 hours
walking.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 6hrs walking, TU 5 min</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-29b">2013-07-29</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Holly</u>,Anthony</div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Rigging String Theory</div>
<p>Changed rope at top of pitch from 80m to 40m then carried on using
80m at large Y-hang at ledge. Hung about on rope for 3 hrs whilst
locating spits. was very disappointed in self for not getting to floor
and leaving Anthonu to get very cold at top of pitch. However first
pitch of this size that I've ever attempted to rig, so happy with self
for the attempt at least.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: ~9hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-31b">2013-07-31</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Holly</u>,Mike</div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Pushing at bottom of Procrastination - Surfer
Girl</div>
<p>Just to add our part to Becka's report two sides back - took our time
on way in to give Becka + Chris time to finish rigging
procrastination. All going well until climbing up bouldery slope between
usual Susspects + String Theory, when two large boulders slid down
slope with a Holly holding on thinking of imminent squishish. Thankfully
they stopped slidding with only a swollen and grazed hand to show for [smiley].
Mike kicked boulders down to prevent future issues and we carried on to
meet a very impatient Becka! [smiley] We were sent down to rig a '10m' ish pitch
with an exciting amount of medium to giant boudlers hanging over pitch
held in by mud. (Not a happy place for Holly after String theory
excitment). But I 'wo-maned' up + rigged down. After 4 bolts I
abandoned the drill for Becka to collect and finally reached the floor
with only a couple of rub points to deal with on the way out.</p>
<p>10m pitch turned out to be much biger - probably about 30m so this took
a little longer than expected to rig. Floor of pitch was again bouldery
hall angled down held together by soil. There was a small hole at bottom
which I declared there was no way I was entering this. (I have decided
that in Noel's absence Tunnocks is targeting me). Mike heroically
climbed in, declared it scary and choked. We surveyed quickly and headed
out. Later when writing ip survey notes I dsicovered Mike had called
this 'Surfer girl' after my early boulder surfing! Also up to this date
this is the deepest part of Tunnocks at -397! Woo hoo! [smiley]</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 10hr</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-30c">2013-07-30</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Holly</u>,Mike</div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Pushing pitch at end of Flap - Determination</div>
<p>With 3 bags between us, 1 with a drill + two for rope we headed to
the far north of Tunnocks for pushing my infamous lead. Mike chose to
come with me as he was blissfully ignorant of my lead! [smiley]</p>
<p>Rigged Hoorah for Boobies + cut end of rope for small pitch in the
Flap - which turned out to be perfect (this rope was orginally a 39m).
Then came the Flap! here Mike releasised he'd been sold a dud! But he
carried on relentlessly with his uber-bag + by following survey
stations we eventually found ourselves at the top of the pitch. Feeling
guilty for dragging Mike here I encouraged him to rig the pitch. We
carefully passed rigging items back and forth to each other in order to
not drop them down the ptich (we were nicely wedged above the pitch, but
smaller items would fall all the way to the floor). Mike beautifully
rigged the pitch as follows <img alt="riging topo of pitch beyond the
flap" src="./logbkimg01.png">.</p>
<p>A 39m rope was used, however Mike had to 'elastic band' the rope between
the Y-hang + the rebelay in order to reach the floor. At the bottom
Mike landed on a ledge with another pitch (estimated as 25m). Having run
out of rope and time we headed out with Mike declaring it as a good
lead.... MuWhahaha! Muwhahahahahahaha!! Determination pays off!
Although I'm not sure anyone else is going to be pleased. More
Determination is required for further trips and so it's name is born ->
'The Determiniation Series'.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 10hr</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-02b">2013-08-02</div>
<div class="trippeople">Holly, Chris, <u>Anthony</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Pushing Determination</div>
<p>Lured by tales of an ongoing spacious pitch series, I found myself heading off to Hollys
favourite lead at the far north of Tunnocks. After the usual tedium of the entrance series,
a long sweaty uphill stromp through Flying High etc, we found ourselves staring at the start
of The Flap after ~2&frac12; hours. Having been this far last year I had a rough
idea what to expect. I was informed that there was a double bend that Mike had not
appreciated due to long legs but was assured that it would be alright. The double bend did
indeed prove to be quite entertaining: it took me three attempts with much wibbling and
encouragement from Chris and Holly to coax my ample frame through. Im not used to proper
caving at the best of times especially within Austria!</p>
<p>However the pitch at the far end is most fine a nice rift pitch that would not look out
of place in Yorkshire. Chris bolted the next pitch which is ~35m split by a small
ledge about halfway down. The continuing rift at the bottom (thankfully much larger than the
rift at the top) continues down, quickly reaching a further pitch with a drop of ~3
seconds. We had no more rope, so Chris put some bolts in in readiness for a future descent
whilst Holly and I surveyed out. By the time we got to the bottom of the first pitch (pushed
by Holly and Mike) the clock was ticking so the survey was left hanging. With a bit of
guesswork concerning the length of this pitch and the undescended pitch it appears that the
Determination Series is getting close to the level of the horizontal development at the
bottom of String Theory.</p>
<img alt="riging topo - 2nd pitch of Determination"
src="./logbkimg02.png">
<p>With that, it was time to do battle with The Flap/ again. This time, Holly had to
perform an overtaking manoeuvre in the rift in order to show me how it should be done. With
that obstacle overcame we slogged back to the entrance and staggered back to Top Camp
running on empty.</p>
<p>Overall a most satisfying and productive day. Thanks to Holly and Chris for coaxing me
through the small bits.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 11hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-23b">2013-07-23</div>
<div class="trippeople">Joe B, <u>Stuart W</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunncoks</div>
<p>Took five ropes into cave and rigged entrance series to bottom of third pitch. Left rope
on final bolt in tackle sacks. Not much snow. Both warm during rift. A lead may have
appeared at final slope on entrance pitch due to melt.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-07-24b">2013-07-24</div>
<div class="trippeople">Joe B, <u>Stuart W</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks</div>
<p>Decended already rigged rope. Carried on rigging. Y hang followed by deviation was
difficult to rig. Got up to section before Caramel Catharsis before running out of
rope. Both rather warm during trip. Exit uneventful.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-07a">2013-08-07</div>
<div class="trippeople">Matt, <u>Becka</u>, Cameron</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tour of upper level Tunnocks + gear haul</div>
<p>Fetched the gear wed dumped yesterday just beyond the boulder choke + tottered down
Flying High to dump them at Starfish Junction. Left a tacklesack arrow for the others then
up to the snow + leaves aven. I climbed up as far as the window in the main aven but way
on blocked with snow cool draft coming out though. Then to the end of the passage where
Matt thought 07-60x looked worth returning to. Back at Starfish discovered the others had
missed our arrow but taken our bags to Caramel Catharsis so we went via the Just For a Laugh
route to the top of String Theory to meet them packing the gear that Chris and Anthony had
derigged Caramel Catharsis so we went via the Just For a Laugh route to the top of String
Theory to meet them packing the gear that Chris and Anthony had derigged yesterday. They
headed out whilst we gave them a long head start and dumped our tacklesacks at Dubious
Pleasure and checked out the pitch 08-40A in Hedonism Highway which seemed to be drafting
out and looked a very promising lead to me. Finally Crossword Passage which was drafting
strongly this needs updating on the survey. Out first in time to see the last of the other
group leaving the entrance and slogged out with fat tacklesacks.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 9 hours Becka 10hrs Cameron + Matt</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-04a">2013-08-04</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Chris</u>, Becka, Matt</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks Procrastination bolting the climb Bring on the Clowns</div>
<p>Becka started bolting across the traverse from 31/7 to reach aven, then Chris took over
while Matt froze in the gale. After some time I reached the top:</br>
<img alt="Elevation and riging topo for Bring on the Clowns"
src="./logbkimg03.png"></p>
<p>Stepping across the top to the passage at the top of the aven,
initially all I could see was a body sized tube at the top of another
2m climb. But surely all that air could not come from such a small
hole? Indeed, another cross passage materialised. Becka came up the
now ridiculous rig to look while Matt valiantly volunteered to being
prussicking out as time was getting on. The cross passage zig-zagged
back after back after a few meters, but a too exposed climb at the end
soon saw Becka back thritching up to the body sized tube it all
reconnected up with the zig zag at the head if a big pitch: </br>
<img alt="Plan Sketch"
src="./logbkimg04.png"></p>
<p>At ca. 6:30pm as Becka was prussicking up lower Procrastination pitch there was a sudden
roar and a waterfall appeared. Chris looked down in horror from pitch above and a little
later Becka appeared looking rather wide-eyed but extremely clean.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 13hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-06b">2013-08-06</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Chris</u>, Anthony</div>
<div class="triptitle">258 Tunnocks The Number of the Beast</div>
<p>Dour + Chris took in over 100m rope to see what they could do with the pitch at the top
of Bring on the Clowns. On the way in Chris put in a bolt to shift the Procrastination part
II Y-hang one bolt over in an attempt to hand the rope out to dry after Beckas exit on
previous trip. Any further would unfortunately have reached another trickle/torrent in
rain.</p>
<p>While Chris spent a while converting the messy crochet into something resembling a
reasonable rig up Bring on the Clowns. Anthony begin rigging the pitch down at the top, into
the wind. Some 30m down he met the wall of the shaft. So came nack up and Chris went down
with the drill and thrubolts (having run out of Hiltis 2 days ago).</br>
<img alt="elv/rigging guide of The Number of the Beast"
src="./logbkimg05.png"></p>
<p>* Dour: "Can you remember those numbers while I get my bok out?"</br>
Chris: "Maybe. Distance 6.66, Clino +66, Ooer!"</p>
<p>At the bottom was a 3s drop down a dribbly shaft, but we eschewed this is favour of a
shorter, rubblier, older &amp; windier short drops (2 bolts). At the bottom was another drop
with the wind issuing out of a steep rift cutting down steeply. A couple of spits saw us
down this (having run out of thrubolts) to the top of a few metre pitch, which another bolt
saw us down to big rift passage with a 4 to 4 second drop and the wind in our faces.</p>
<p>We were out of rope and were down to our last 2 clowns. Sadly we realised there were not
going to be enough people left on expo to take this further so we surveyed and derigged out
to the top of String Theory, out at 6am.</p>
<p>P.S.: Left Bring on the Clowns rigged but removed deviations (2 slings + krabs needed).</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 20hrs</div>
<h2>Literary effort for Bad Aussee newspaper</h2>
<p>Many people may wonder who the muddy group are who have camped opposite Gasthof Staud'n'wirt over the last 30 years, and what has drawn them
<ul>
<li>Nearly 100km &amp; over 1km deep - 3rd in Austria so far</li>
<li>24 entrances</li>
<li>30 years of expeditions</li>
<li>this year - from Normway and NZ</li>
<li>5 joint members of Verein für Hölenkunde in Obersteir (VfHO)</li>
<li>This year - saved 2 sheep from 3 holes </li>
<li>Project + bunch of intellectuals -> world leading cave surveying software.</li>
<li>Support (hospitality) of family Wilpernig over 30 years here </li>
</ul>
</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-05a">2013-08-05</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Holly</u>, Becka, Matt, Cameron</div>
<div class="triptitle">Antsinpantsschacht</div>
<p>In the hunt for a new entrance to Tunnocks we headed to the area of plateau above the
snow + leaves bit of Tunnocks (near Starfish Junction). A days prospecting 2 days before
had identified a number of holes in the area of which Matt had already dropped a couple. Of
these it was deemed Antsinpantsschacht was the most promising lead.</p>
<p>The first pitch had previously been dropped by Matt > a lovely y-hang off two naturals
straight down to a snow and ice bridge 30m down. Becka &amp; I had headed off to AinP ahead of
the others to rerig the entrance (the rope had been removed after the prospecting but the
slings had been left in place) I re-rigged this pitch feeling a little precarious as I
wasnt wearing my oversuit or helmet! (It was a fine hot day so less clothes was needed
here).</p>
<p>Becka then headed down to the ice bridge with crowbar in hand (or stuffed down the side
of her harness). The ice bridge was a very large but thin block of ice which we had to climb
under in order to proceed further into the cave. We werent sure how stable this was and it
would definitely hurt if it collapsed on you! So Becka spent a good 15 mins giving it a bash
with the crowbar. It didnt break so we hoped that meant it was OK as we swapped places and
I headed under the snow bridge with drill, rope and all the other bits and pieces for
vertical cave exploration.</p>
<p>The way on was through a hole in the ice in a corner of the cave. This was tube like with
one half made of ice and the other half being the cave wall. Unfortunately this is where I
realised that perhaps this wasnt going to be a great entrance alternative the hole in the
ice was the consequence of water running down the wall of the pitch and therefore I suspect
that during a thunderstorm this tube becomes impassable. But as we were already here we
carried on regardless (plus it was lovely + sunny with no fear of rain). So I set up a
Y-hang + headed on down through the tube. This was rather chilly as I was basically now
inside the ice with a constant stream of water flowing down into my wellies! A rebelay was
needed a few metres down + then the pitch widened out. About halfway down a horizontal
snow tube appeared on the left(?) which appears to provide a parallel pitch through the ice. As
this was the drier option I chose to continue with the route through here. As I was putting
in the Y-hang to drop the pitch becka arrived to hang out on the snow. By this point my feet
were very cold and I was very happy when I got to move my feet from the ice to rock. I then
headed down to the floor which ended on a bouldery floor with no further way on. We were
blocked in by the ice. By this point I was pretty cold and so was Becka from sitting on
snow. We had a quick discussion regarding surveying as Matt had come down to join us
too. Due to logistics Becka + I surveyed out + sent Matt out with our bags. This has to
be the coldest survey ever! By the time I was heading up the entrance pitch my feet were so
numb I couldnt concentrate on anything other than the burning sunshine awaiting us
outside. Once we were out + the survey was complete we lay in the sunshine drying out and
reflecting on what a shame it was that there is still no way through.</br>
<img alt="Rigging Guide"
src="./logbkimg06.png"></p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 4hrs?</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-03a">2013-08-03</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Holly</u>, Becka, Fleur</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks - Determination</div>
<p>The last trip down Determination saw us dropping two more pitches deeper down in this
part of the system. No major comments for the journey in except that Ill quote Becka who
said the following about the Flap (rift): “this is lovely” Yes thats right my rift is
lovely! Ha! Youre all wimps!<img alt="Smiley"
src="./logbkimg07.png"></p>
[Ed: One para crossed out] (Sorry this didn't make sense! It's too early after expo dinner)
<p>Previously Anthony + I hadnt managed to finish surveying out so whilst Becka + Fleur
finished this I headed to the pushing front.(That's better!) Chris D had already placed 3 bolts so I
commenced rigging. But before heading down I noticed that large parts of the wall had long
cracks. After taking a hammer to these some fairly large boulders fell down the pitch + I
carried on. About 10m down I landed on a ledge + needed to put a rebelay in. But this
would cause a rub point further up the pitch and there I prussicked back up the pitch a few
meters to place a deviation. This took me ages as I kept swinging off around the pitch where
my sky hook kept falling off. Eventually after drilling 2.5 holes (oh dear) I had my
deviation + headed down to place my rebelay, It would actually be much better (+ easier)
to place a deviation much higher up.</p>
<p>Eventually I headed down + landed in on another ledge with a rift in the right hand
corneer which opens out onto a second ledge, 3(ish)m down. After placing a couple of
bolts I landed on this ledge and discovered a couple of horizontal tubes which led off from
here. Whilst I paced a Y-hang + dropped the next Becka + Fleur had a look in here. One
is a QMA (though quite small) with strong draft heading into cave + very squelchy mud
lining the bottom.</p>
<p>At the bottom of the pitch I landed in a small chamber with another rift on the left. I
quickly placed a last bolt whilst Becka + Fleur came down to join me and I abseiled the
last mini-pitch (down this rift) of about 3m landing in a puddle. Here is a QMC with a
slight draft heading up the pitches. It is another rift which starts with a pinch point that
requires SRT kit removal. With time passing by + fear of thunderstorms (this would not be
a good section of cave to be in during a thunderstorm) we headed out, derigging along the
way. By the time we exited the rift we were knackered. We had 4 uber tacklesacks filled
with 6 bags worth of rope (calculated from the number of bags that brought it into the
cave). Becka had done the rift 3 times lugging the bags through!</p>
<p>The three of us managed to drag the bafs to March of the Penguins where we then dumped
some weight to collect another day &amp; also make our call out!</br>
<img alt="rigging diagram"
src="./logbkimg08.png"></p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 13hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-05b">2013-08-05</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Jenny</u>,Olly</div>
<div class="triptitle">107 Wonderland</div>
<p>By the time we had dried our gear and got sorted it was way too late for a long trip
into sleepless, so we decided to look at some of the other leads in ropeless and to tie
together some survey loops. Headed into the end of the traverse that leads into
ropeless. Dropped straight down here and did some loopy bits to connect stuff.</p>
<p>Headed to the passage directly above the 1970s rift and dropped down to tie the surveys
together. There are now no leads here.</p>
<p>Went back along ropeless towards the passage heading to 76. I spotted a roof tube which I
climbed up into. It reconnected a few meters on, nut then continued. We followed the passage
up until it rejoined where the rope comes in. Surveyed back.</p>
<p>Went to the lead towards 76. Clambered down and then traversed along at a widening above floor
level. It was tight at first then became more keyhole like. The floor/rift trench turned off
to the right and the phreas (which was getting bigger) went stragiht on. Followed the big
phreas called Wonderland. We got to a couple of junctions turned right each time (towards
76!). Eventually the passage got smaller and full of soil.</p>
<p>Surveyed out until we realised we
were tight for our callout, so left the last bit for later. As we went out we noticed a lot
of insects. I think they were dead. It was a bit spooky. Left the drill ready to carry in
further tomorrow.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 5&frac12hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-06c">2013-08-06</div>
<div class="trippeople">Olly, <u>Jenny</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">107 Land of Confusion</div>
<p>We hoped that this trip would lead us to KH, we set an 8am callout so that we wouldnt be
hindered by time. It took 3 hours to get to the pushing front carrying in the drill, battery,
hangers etc didnt help. Olly improved the rig on Too Bold for this Spit. At the pushing
front Olly spotted that he could ab down to a ledge and climb up the other side, saving
precious hiltis and drill battery. The passage continues beyond, but the draft seemed weaker
(or it was higher). A few ups and downs and the passage continued, but for the first time there
were some small side passages. Past a narrower rift and on to get another pitch intersecting
the passage. This was wider (20m disto across) and didnt look inspiring to bolt round no
ledges and over hanging walls. It would have taken more hiltis than we had and we werent
sure if it was heading too far north anyway, and the draft was weaker. We explored some of
the side passages chasing the draft. Most of them either drafted the wrong way or not at
all.</p>
<p>An exception was a rift on the left that led (via a couple of climbs) to a slightly
drafting pitch. Olly failed to throw rocks down it as there was a ledge 6m down. I
remembered we had a disto and after a few goes managed to get a 46m diagonal leg
down. Surveyed back from here and concluded that the larger portion of the draft came from
the big pitch at the end of the passage. Went down a chossy ramp, which got us a bit closer
to the other side and close enough to see that the passage did not continue the other side
but was quite rifty looking.</p>
<p>A small rift led of NW from this ledge which we followed up a climb. This led to another
climb down that we didnt take as it was coated with mud and above a pitch. Surveyed our way
out and slowly caved back to outside.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 14hrs</div>
<hr>
Estimated lengths by CD. Please amend on derig! Chris
</br>
<img alt="String Theory Rigging Guide"
src="./logbkimg09.png">
<hr>
<h2>For the Bad Aussee rag:</h2>
Some poeple may wonder who the muddy group are who camp opposite the
Gasthof Staud'n'wirt every summer, and what it is that has drawn them
back over the last 30 years. The group is the Cambridge University
Caving Club, and they have been exploring caves that lie beneath the
Loser plateau. The local sheperds will be aware of the many holes on
the plateau that can swallow their sheep, -
<hr>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-07b">2013-08-07</div>
<div class="trippeople">Holly, <u>Fleur</u>, Pete, Chris B</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks</div>
<p>A gear shifting, route familiarisation + lead identification trip.</p>
<p> Staggered with Becka,
Matt and Cameron we went to retrieve the previous days derig bags from March of the
Penguins and the “paella” pile from top of String Theory. Learnt some new routes and
identified undescended pitches in Dubious Pleasure. Starting to get a better feel for the
system now + ideas for pushing next week.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 5-6hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-07c">2013-08-07</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Jenny</u>, Olly</div>
<div class="triptitle">107 Wonderland</div>
<p>We were a bit tired from yesterdays longish trip, so planned a short trip into Wonderland
hoping to (a) tie up the hanging survey and (b) explore as many of the leads as we had the time
and energy for. Surveyed in for once. Only took 1 hour of surveying to tie it in. Started
to look at leads, starting in the aven chamber. Sadly the passage reconnected back near the
bottom end of wonderland.</p>
<p>Back at the aven chamber we spotted a roof tube in the ceiling but it isnt quite free
climbable.</p>
<p>Surveyed another side thing that ended. The only 2 leads left in Wonderland are the roof
tube and the floor trench early on I had a poke in this and it does continue and get
wider.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 5hrs 45</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="2013-08-03b">2013-08-03</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Becka</u>, Matt, Chris, Holly</div>
<div class="triptitle">Ants In Pants</div>
<p>After a hot, heavy carry in the morning I rehydrated than headed off to 2012-NS-01 and
surrounding holes with Chris + Matt. Chris watched Matt descend the furthest of four holes
(#1) which led to a window into hole #2. </br>
<img alt="Plan of holes layout"
src="./logbkimg10.png"></br>Meanwhile Holly + I found hole #4 which turned
out to have been tagged by Noel last year [[see image above]]. Holly dropped her sunglasses down onto the snow
bank in it so I climbed down a bit to fetch them + there was definitely a cool cave breeze
coming out quite strongly. Matt then rigged #4 + he + I went down but this just led to a
window into #3. Finally Matt rigged #2 off a fine pair of naturals + he + I descended a
lovely 30m pitch with a gorgeous ice column beside it (when Holly + I returned 2 days
later it had unfortunately crashed down after the rain storm the previous day). This pitch
landed under a thin but large bridge of very compact snow/ice with a further small pitch
below with a weak draft out. Im sure one of these four holes connects to Tunnocks but
whether there is a safe way that isnt blocked by snow or ice is another matter.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: Matt + Becka 1hr</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-06a">2013-08-06</div>
<div class="trippeople">Chris Burnley. Matt, Cameron, <u>Pete</u></div>
<div class="triptitle">Prospecting Snow Pole and Dead Tree area to w-NW of Tunnocks</div>
<p>We headed back to area looked at a few days before by Matt +
Becka. Refining the bunda-avoidance on route from Tunnocks-entrance
down slabs, then along pitted dry valley, to main low point, then up
again to the snow pole area via a dead tree that is visible (when
you know where) from Tunnocks.</p>
<p>Cameron went feet first then stood up in first small hole on way downhill that was
choked.</p>
<p><u>Very drafty but choked hole</u>. <div>Pete GPS CAM2 (WGS84 UTM) 1782m 33T 0411202 UTM 5283393</div> On
the way up towards snow pole, but only half way from valley bottom we felt cold draft. This
was located from ~1m diameter tube entrance. This dropped down easy 2m climb and a 2m crawl
to slab that blocked hole. VERY strong cold draft came from below slab, but choked, it would
be a long term dig needing capping perhaps.</p>
<p>We searched area to find an Austrian tagged hole with snow slope down.</p>
<p>Nearby is a ~15m pitch that would be hard to rig. But neither drafted. <span>Pete GPS CAMPIT (WGS84 UTM) 1767m. 33T 0410986 UTM 5283404<span></p>
<p>
<img alt="Matts hand-bolted hole"
src="./logbkimg11.png"></p>
<p>The team was being toasted by hot sun, and beginning to wander in small circles. This was
in area in line between a prominent dead tree and of a snow pole. Matts pit was somewhat
deeper than the other 15-20 pits (all c. 20m deep) seen on the pavement. Although Matts pit
did not draft, it did seem to be inclined under hill to get away from falling debris. With
an initial sling Matt put in 3 hand bolts to go to end of 29m rope. There is a jammed block,
then a further ~20-25m(??) to bottom. Hard to judge but 60m rope needed.</p>
<p>Path back to Tunnocks recairned on way home.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="2013-07-27">2013-07-27</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Alex</u>, Matt</div>
<div class="triptitle">Alex and Matt driving to Austria</div>
<p>So I foolishly booked tunnel tickets for 5:30am which required a 2:45 start in order to
collect Matt at 3… this was a silly idea! I awoke at 2:30, turned off my alarm and went back
to sleep. (Un)Fortunately Jess had also woken up and I was turfed out of bed and sent to
expo.</p>
<p>Things went smoothly until I lost the tunnel tickets somewhere outside Matts
house. Thankfully everything is automated and an actual ticket doesnt seem to be
required.</p>
<p>Things progressed smoothly as we set off following signs for Brussels. Unfortunately we
followed them for a bit too long and ended up in the city centre. After passing through many
tunnels we appeared on the NE side of the city, not quite where we intended.</p>
<p>After several dubious U-turns and passing through the same motorway junction about 5
times we eventually got back on track.</p>
<p>At this point we hit the biggest thunderstorm I have ever seen ~3cm of standing water on
the motorway and large chunks of tree were flying everywhere.</p>
<p>Things wen't smoothly for about 8 hours as we passed through Luxembourg and germany</p>
<p>Things went a little awry at the Austrian border. Turns out my sav nav cant join up maps
of several countries and doesnt do international travel very well. We dutifully turned off
the motorway before entering Austria and got hopelessly lost. Eventually we found our way
across the border and the sat nav locked in. Eventually arrived at base camp around 21:30,
~19 hours after setting off.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-02c">2013-08-02</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Alex C</u>, martin G</div>
<div class="triptitle">bullet 2nd Hohle</div>
<p>Early in the morning (CUCC time) myself and Martin set out for Bullet 2nd Hohle with 150m
of rope and all the paraphernalia required to bolt and survey a promising hole in the
ground.</p>
<p>After 200m we decided that we were really rather hot and Martin had already fallen over
twice. After a bit of extrapolation we decide this would cause us to arrive in no fit state
to do any caving so we ditched half the gear on the plateau. After much staggering around
the plateau in the heat we eventually got to the cave and Martin set about rigging the
entrance whilst trying to avoid the ominous green slimy patches.</p>
<p>After about 40m of progress we jacked for the day. Following much blundering through
bunde we made it back to top camp just before our callout.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-03c">2013-08-03</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Alex C</u>, Martin</div>
<div class="triptitle">Bullet 2nd Hohle</div>
<p>Having re bolted the entrance we decided it was about time we did some surveying. The
upper part of the cave is formed along an obvious fault with 4 ~ 8m deep surface shafts.</p>
<p>The most northerly shaft is a fairly straight forward climb which leads to a sloping
keyhole passage. The top of the rift is bridged by small boulders. Bolts are placed for a
traverse line on the left hand wall leading to a Y-hang. A flake on the right hand wall
below the Y-hang is useful for a deviation and a Y-hang rebelay is rigged on the wide
sloping ledge on the opposite wall. Note! One of these spits is far too shallow and
generally shit. A short descent from this rebelay (~10m) leads to a small chamber.</p>
<p>This cave sucks in a lot of air so this point is stil quite comfortable In shorts and
t-shirt! Much nicer than your usual Austrian cave. We cairned a path on the return
journey.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-04b">2013-08-04</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Alex C</u>, Martin</div>
<div class="triptitle">Bullet 2nd Hohle</div>
<p>Woke up with a case of mild enthusiasm! At the bottom of the small chamber a traverse
along a minimalist ledge leads to a Y-hang which drops around 25m to a big ledge a single
spit is placed on the ledge for a very long (3m sling) deviation. Around 5m below the ledge
a Y-hang rebelay descends the remaining 35m of what has become a rather impressive
shaft.</p>
<p>At its base the floor is around 30mx10m with three ways on. The first of these is a
window ~20m off the floor at the northern end of the chamber. This climb was all a bit
exciting so we ignored it.</p>
<p>A small crawl at the SW end of the chamber leads to a narrow upward sloping passage full
of scary boulders which chokes after ~15m. A smaller hole (OK with SRT kit but not with all
your bolting and surveying gear as well) at the western side of the chamber leads to a low
sloping bedding plane heading southwest which is full of cobbles and boulders. A hole in the
ceiling leads to a short tight vertical rift which becomes too tight.</p>
<p>Prussicking out of the cave the sound of trickling water indicated that Martin and I were
about to experience our first Austrian food pulse. This was apparently a really quite large
storm and rather a lot of choss was washed down the shaft including some decent sized
cobbles. I had planned to sit the chaos out on the nice big ledge but that eventually turns
into a waterfall as well. Happily we both made it out unscathed although Martins helmet has
some new marks.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-05c">2013-08-05</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Alex C</u>, Martin</div>
<div class="triptitle">Bullet 2nd Hohle</div>
<p>Finished survey shaft and derigged.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-11a">2013-08-11</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Fleur</u>, Pete, Cameron</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks Hedonism Highway/ Rocky Road Area</div>
<p>We went to check out the draughting pitch (08-40A) off Hedonism Highway/ Rocky
Road. Becka had recommended this one and it was a good call. A dodgy natural thread and bolt
in dodgy rocky-hang saw Pete descend a p13 via a rebelay. The pitch landed in a typical
hading paddage of crawling/stooping height. The passage had a rift in the floor, possibly
passable initiall (QMC) but probably to connect with what happened later. Soon we
encountered a larger pitch with a continuation visible over the top. Pete set off around
some ledges to bolt a traverse to this, but a rift entering at the corner made this
difficult. So instead we went down, reaching a boulder/ledge where it was possible to 1) go
down further or 2) go up the inlet rift. We did the latter but ran out of rope.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 10hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-12a">2013-08-12</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Fleur</u>, Pete and Cameron</div>
<div class="triptitle">Hedonism Highway/ Rocky Road area</div>
<p>Returned 12th Aug, same team:</p>
<p>Cameron dropped a small pitch in the inlet rift, but only led on to an aven. So I dropped
the rest of the main shaft in a nice 20m free hang. Overall this made a p30, now called
Downgrade as from 3A leads the day before we now had only 2. The pitch landed at a
confluence of inlets one we had been in the previous day and the other beneath the
original hading passage (“Champagne a lie”). The outlet was a small rift leading almost
immediately to another pitch. A partial descent was made but no more drill batteries.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 9hrs</div>
Pete &amp; Cameron returned 13th August, but made little more progress
having forgotten the drill bit...... But it remains ongiong + great
draught. <br><img alt="Rigging diagram of DOWN GRADE"
src="./logbkimg12.png"></br>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-13a">2013-08-13</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Fleur</u>, Tom Clayton</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks, West Side Story "Claytons Cock-up"</div>
<p>After a day of research following the expo dinner I had spotted a QMA at the end of West
Side Story at String Theory/Fellows level. The survey notes reported an undescended p20 with
a passage visible beyond. My plan was to take Tom down there and get him bolting.</p>
<p>First task was to find the way. Initially we searched above the climb up from the
balcony, but eventually I realised we needed to go back down. This led to the correct little
hole and some sporting climbing and thrutching before we reached the lead. It looked
good. And bloody drafty. Tom set off bolting but dropped the hiltis part way across…
traverse immediately called Claytons Cock-up. We would need to return.</p>
<p>On the way out checked out 07-38C and 07-39C in Dubious Pleasure. In 38 I squeezed
between blocks to small chamberette. All ways on choked except a blind aven. 39 was a small
rift which I thrutched down for several body lengths before it closed down.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 7hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-14a">2013-08-14</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Fleur</u>, Tom, Pete</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks, West Side Story Bacm Bccm Afridi</div>
<p>This time hiltis were stashed in multiple locations and Claytons Cock-up was
conquered. However the other side just led to a brief rocky bridge and more holes in a
massive drafty hading rift. So instead we went down the first hole (Thus avoiding the nasty
traverse). This proved to be p30 landing in a small chamber where a connection from another
hoel from the rift also entered. Another shorter pitch followed where we landed on a ledge
in the big hading rift. We had no more rope, but the rift and the cave continued. It takes
some water, so a dry day is needed but definitely QMA. Going down!!</p>
<p>Derigged everything and String Theory on the way out as not many cavers left. String
Theory bolts were all greased and reflectors placed on all but one (where 2 bolt y-hang very
close together).</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 10hrs</div>
<br><img alt="Rigging topo for Clayton's Cock-up"
src="./logbkimg13.png" width="75%" height="50%"></br>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-13b">2013-08-13</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Pete Talling</u>, Cameron Bullen</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks, Hedonism Highway/ Rocky Road Area (Downgrade) A* lead</div>
<p>The team returned to the bottom of the pitch rigged by Fleur, but discovered they had
everything but a drill bit. Unable to fashion one from Mars bars or limestone they did
manage to drop an extra pitch on a natural. This involved getting wet in spray from small
stream so only Pete descended. He landed in pretty wide rift. An easy 2m climb led to a
further 10-15m pitch which is undescended. <br><img alt="Rigging guide/elevation"
src="./logbkimg14.png"></br>
The team then derigged. </p>
<hr>
<p>Dear Expo,<br> Thanks very much for having us! See you again another year.<br> Fleur &amp; Pete</p>
<p>PS - We have taken the old stretcher, some rope + Stu + Chris and all
their shit. Will return CUCC kit at Hidden Earth.</p>
<hr>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-10">2013-08-10</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Jenny</u>, Olly, Stuart</div>
<div class="triptitle">107</div>
<p>It thunderstormed all night and was still raining in the morning so we altered our
planned trip to land of confusion and decided to look at leads in Ropeless and
Sleepless. The drill was at the pushing front so we were a bit limited. Headed to the end of
Ropeless and went down the pitch the other side of Ropefree. After a nice pitch we landed in
a drippy chamber with a small rift heading off. Sadly this got too small within a few
meters. Stuart and I surveyed out.</p>
<p>Headed through Pushing the Envelope into Sleepless. Olly looked down the short pitch
under the 5m rope traverse. It was a couple of little pitches and an exciting climb by
Olly. Olly could here water noise down a hole on the right (possibly connects to the
parallel rift) and another climb/pitch heading north. Decided to leave that until we had
more gear.</p>
<p>While Olly derigged Stuart looked at a roof tube above which looks promising but needs a
drill. Moved on to the Coldest place in Earth to take the rope to the start of the traverse. On the way out we had a
look at getting into the roof tubes level with the top of the short pitch. Stuart traversed
across from the pitch and I climbed from the bottom further along. The climb up was easy and
I got to a similar level to Stuart. I knocked off a few loose holds and climbed up
further. Suddenly I was falling down the rift, briefly I had a calm sense of inevitability,
I knew I would end up hurt at the bottom of the rift. Fortunately the feeling passed and it
was replaced by the idea that I wedge myself in as soon as possible. I managed this at the
last possible point and finally remembered to stop screaming.</p>
<p>Fortunately I wasnt too hurt and Olly came and helped me extract myself. My hip hurt a
bit where I wedged myself in and I didnt want to be underground anymore. I left Olly and
Stuart to survey the roof tube while I caved out feeling very lucky and very stupid.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: Jenny 6&frac12;hrs, Olly+Stuart 7&frac12;hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-11b">2013-08-11</div>
<div class="trippeople">Olly, <u>Jenny</u>, Stuart</div>
<div class="triptitle">Surface Prospecting</div>
<p>My hip and neck were quite sore after a yesterdays fall and Olly was also feeling tired,
so we decided on a surface day. We started at laser5 and headed ~ parallel to the 204
path but west of it.</p>
<p>After not long Stuart found a slightly drafty hole 2012-SW-01. He climbed down into it
and therutched into a rift. It didnt go. I photographed the entrance while he did a sketch survey
and got a GPS reading. Carried on north. It is very bunde-y I think the best prospecting
is either close to the 204 path or near the plateau/ridge fault. Stuart ended up at the
latter and found another climbable entrance that looked promising 2012-SW-02, sadly it got
too small. Again Stuart drew a survey while we photoed + GPS-ed.</p>
<p>Walked back to camped, Stuart walked up to 209 to borrow a hand bolting kit so I could
2012-SW-01. Went and tagged 2007-70 and 2007-71 and took photos.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-12b">2013-08-12</div>
<div class="trippeople">Olly, <u>Jenny</u>, Stuart</div>
<div class="triptitle">107 China</div>
<p> Set off to Land of Confusion hoping to find ourselves in KH by the end of the trip. Got
to Land of Confusion fairly efficiently, Olly set off to rig the pitch at the end while
Stuart and I surveyed leads on the west of the passage. The first went along a little rift
with a thin coating of soft dry soil on the walls. We wriggled under a low dry muddy crawl
and it got bigger again. The walls and roof were in places coated (or made of?) mud and
gravel. The horizontal passage ended up choked in mud, but we could climb down a series of
vertical oxbows. Once it stopped being free climbable a lead went down and east, and another
down and west of this pitch. Looked like a window into a big passage 34m down.</p>
<p>Surveyed back to the main passage hearing Olly drill as we went. Olly was low on hiltis
so we gave him some more and looked at the next lead back. This ended in 2 different small
pitches. We surveyed this and followed Olly down the pitch. The pitch looked to have
multiple windows into it and was just under 50m deep to a big rocky floor. Olly went west
through breakdown shafts and wriggled over a rock, he said “weve not found KH, but I think
we might have found China!!”</p>
<p>China was up to 20m high, 15m wide and a bit over 100m long breakdown chamber. We walked
south (the direction of the draft) until it narrowed (a few meters wide still) and became
more rift like. We stopped at a pitch down. The passage continues rift like beyond and I
think there is a second pitch down. We surveyed back north, with Stuarts light showing that
there were a lot of avens coming in. The survey data suggests that the pitch Stuart and I
started surveying at is one. The 46m disto leg of the 6th August another, and probably the
harder traverse (Too Bold for This Spit) yet another which may well provide a shorter +
quicker route in for future trips.</p>
<p>China continued beyond where we entered, but not for long. At the north end is a wall of
choss. Stuart climbed part way up + it looks like there is a continuation higher up. There
is a passage/window on the East wall, but this just connects back to the bottom of the
pitch. While we finished the survey to the pitch we set Stuart off to chase the draft and
find us a continuation.</p>
<p>He duly obliged and found a pitch through rocks north of the pitch down. We were
optimistic that is might become the poxy aven at the end of Blown Out, but after some
rigging through boulders it opened up and continued too deep. Once we were properly deeper
then the connection could be we called it a day for this year.</p>
<p>We surveyed out and took turns at derigging. We de-rigged to the south side of Too Bold
for this Spit and got 5 bags most of the way along the rift before we decided we were too
tired. We all made our way slowly and wearily out the cave. I think this doubled the length
of Stuarts previous longest trip!</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 17hrs 10</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-13c">2013-08-13</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Jenny</u>, Olly</div>
<div class="triptitle">Surface</div>
<p>Surfaced surveyed from 107 tag bolt to bottom end of Doppel Gemse so that 107 was tied to
Laser5 directly, incase that changed the apparent position of Land of Confusion and 161. There
appears to be at least one poor surface survey in this region.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-14b">2013-08-14</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Jenny</u>, Olly</div>
<div class="triptitle">107 - derig</div>
<p>Back to 107 to derig and look at a few leads. Collected bags and slowly brought them out
derigging and drawing elevations as we went. At the bottom of the rift pitch I clambered and
wriggled down the rift which got increasingly echoy. I got to a pitch down that looked like
it belled out a lot. I didnt have survey kit but estimate pitches 20-25m deeps and very
interesting in its location relative to China. There is a lot of cave still to find here!
Grade 1 surveyed back and continued to de-rig to the end of Sleepless. I bolted up into the
roof tube. A couple of short climbs lead to a taller aven, which might be free climbable. Surveyed
this and continued to derig and bag carry. We got all five bafs of gear, plus survey kit
through Pushing the Envelope. Too one bag out each to the entrance chamber.</p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 10hrs 30</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-15a">2013-08-15</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Jenny</u>, Olly, Stuart</div>
<div class="triptitle">107 final derig Wonderland survey</div>
<p>Stuart rejoined us for the final derig. Got the gear to ropeless junction and had a quick
side trip to show Stuart Wonderland and look at the roof tube there. Frustratingly after
getting all the gear in, the fully charged, unused drill battery did half a hole. I
suggested that Olly tried to lasso a spike as a belay which he dilgently did after several
attempts. Sadly the spike then came down the pitch, so the lead is still going… Finished
derigging + hauled the 6 bags up the entrance pitch and carted them back to camp. There
are a lot of great leads in 107 and possible connections with 101 and 76 still to be
found. If only expo lasted longer.<p>Below is the rigging guide found in the logbook, but a beautiful PDF version can now be found <a href="http://survex.com/~olly/107rigging2013.pdf">here</a>.</p><br><img alt="2013 rigging guide for 107"
src="./logbkimg15.png"></br></p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 6hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-14c">2013-08-14</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u> Tom Clayton </u>, Cameron Bullen, Matt Watson</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks, Downgrade Window</div>
<p>Went to check out what was described as an acrobatic traverse by Pete at the end of
Downgrade just off Hedonism Highway. The traverse was actually a large gap to a window the
other side of a cross-rift, but clearly a continuation of the same passage. The gap was too
large to step across and the window was too high to swing into so access was achieved by
bolting up and round the wall from the ledge, then using a deviation in the opposite wall
the rope was able to hang nearer the window allowing a swing across to it. Time had run out
by then so exploring the continuing passage was left for the next day. </p>
<br><div style="text-align: center"><img alt="Rigging Guide"
src="./logbkimg16.png"></div></br>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-15b">2013-08-15</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Tom Clayton</u>, Alex Crow, Matt Watson</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks, Downgraded window</div>
<p>This trip had two objectives, to explore the passage found the day before and to
investigate the area of the cave under Ants in your Pants surface shaft. A few places
where a shaft could come in were looked at but nothing likely was found.</p>
<p>The passage found the day before was explored/ It continued as a descending tube as the
previous passage before the gap had, then popped up into a larger drafting horizontal
passage and then up a climb into another passage, larger still with multiple ways
on. Excitement of this new discovery was soon dashed when footprints were seen and a quick
explore revealed that we had just climbed back into Hedonism Highway.</p>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-20">2013-08-20</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Tom Clayton</u>, Becka Lawson</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks, Crossword Double Barrel Passage</div>
<p>A trip to finish bolting a pitch in crossword Passage, which was attempted on a previous
expedition. The first pitch of 12m was descended to a window onto the head of a second. This
was descended for approximately 25m via a deviation and a free hanging rebelay to a
narrowing shaft. Lack of drill power meant this shaft couldnt be bottomed, but another 10m
depth to the floor is estimated by stones thrown.</p>
<p>On the way up a window at about 15m down from the pitch head was noticed and swung
into. Horizontal passage was found to head off across a small traverse over a pitch
(est. 8m).</p>
<p>The explored passage then continued past a squeeze through which water could be heard and
could be easily enlarged with a hammer to intersect a steep (~30 degree) phreatic tube. This
was first followed up-dip past several cross rifts with possible climbs to eventually finish
in a choke. The largest of the cross rifts gave access to a second descending phreatic tube,
parallel to the first, almost identical to the first. Progress down was halted by a short
traverse. Back at the entrance to the first tube the passage was followed down-dip to a
small chamber where another uphill tube was found. This was suspected to be same on with the
traverse and was confirmed as such when the traverse was found from the other direction.</p>
<p>Both of the tubes (Double barrel passage) had a small rift in the floor which is believed
to drop to a lower level, the best place to drop this would probably be the traverse in the
second tube mentioned above.<div style="text-align: center"><br><img alt="Rigging guide"
src="./logbkimg17.png"></br></div></p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 12hrs</div>
<div class="tripdate" id="t2013-08-21">2013-08-21</div>
<div class="trippeople"><u>Tom Clayton</u>, Becka Lawson</div>
<div class="triptitle">Tunnocks, Oompah push and derig</div>
<p>We decided to add a bit of exploration to the derigging trip by looking at a lead in
Oompah. A 16m pitch was descended at the limit of previous exploration. The pitch was
pretty, landing in a rift but neither way at the bottom went. Upstream ending in a nice
clean washed aven and downstream a series of boulder climbs. A possible lead was noticed
halfway up the wall in the chamber above the pitch. This would require a traverse or a climb
or possibly a tube on the left of the passage above this chamber might give slightly easier
access. Then derigged Tunnocks entrance and caramel Catharsis.<br><img alt="Rigging guide"
src="./logbkimg18.png"></br></p>
<div class="timeug">T/U: 6hrs 30</div>
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