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<title>1995: Logbook</title>
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<h1>Austria 1995</h1>
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<p>The first part of the log is traditionally taken up by the journey
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out.<br />If this is of no interest, here is a link <a href="#start">to the
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caving</a>!
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<hr />
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<p>2/7/95 | Journey - THE FIRST E**C OF EXPO | Nick & <u>Anthony</u>
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<p><a name="trailerepic">2/7 - 4/7/95</a>
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<p>It was on a breezy Sunday morning (2/7/95) that I first set eyes on the
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heap of tin oxide masquerading as a trailer that I was going to have to tow
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half the expo to Austria in. The parlous state of the mudguards, the
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ridiculously small wheels, and the spare tyre (containing no air and even
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less tread) did not inspire confidence, but with a typical caverish
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"it'll be alright" attitude we set off anyway. The first rainstorm
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to hit Cambridge in two months happened while we were packing this trailer
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of the loads, and the beast of burden (my Lada) which was pretending to tow
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it. I suppose that should have been an omen that everything was not going to
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go according to plan.....
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<p>(1) Got to Ramsgate without a hitch in time for the earlier ferry. This
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had been booked solid earlier, but there was now a space for us. "Terrific"
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we thought. "We'll be in Austria by tea time" we thought....
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<p>(2) It's now ~8.30 on Monday morning and we're happily travelling through
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Belgium. Noted that the car was not pulling very well on hills, but think
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nothing of it until a Belgian car overtook us honking his horn and
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gesticulating wildly. Thought he might be pissed off because we'd been
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overtaking slowly but pulled onto the hard shoulder on the next slip road to
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check. Discover that the passenger side tyre on the trailer is looking a bit
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mangled and blown out.
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<p>Now, normally all we would have to do is put the spare on... But the
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spare isn't in much better fettle than the old one. So the next bright idea
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is the National Breakdown. Decide that Nick will stay with the trailer and
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Anthony will go and find a public phone rather than use the emergency phone
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and risk alerting the Belgian police to all the illegal things about our
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trailer.
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<p>(3) Within two minutes of Anthony leaving, two Belgian policemen on
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motorbikes roll up. Neither speak any English, so Nick spins them a yarn in
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halting French about how he isn't towing this trailer down the Autoroute
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with his bare hands and his friend really has gone to fetch help. Maybe they
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believe him, maybe they don't, but they piss off anyway, so that's OK.
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<p>(4) Meanwhile, Anthony finds a phone fairly easily, and rings the
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freephone number in the handbook. Unfortunately, what he hears is a recorded
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message in English which doesn't make any sense, and certainly doesn't sound
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like "Where have you broken down?" Faffs around for ages redialling and
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trying every combination of extra numbers but has no joy.
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<p>Fortunately, there's an alternative number to ring the control centre in
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France directly. Unfortunately, Anthony doesn't have any Belgian money, so
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goes back to Nick who is asleep against the trailer. This has taken an hour.
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<p>(5) Decide to go and get some Belgian money and attempt to ring National
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Breakdown in France, so Anthony goes off to a bigger town, gets some money,
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buys a can of pop with the equivalent of a <20>2 note and thus gets some
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Belgian change. He then spends ½hr trying to get a Belgian phone to
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work, because some NB have kindly told him he needs [illegible] for an extra
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dialling or something. Having realised that this is total crap, he finally
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gets connected. Success !
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<p>...Almost. Having got connected, Anthony spends all his Belgian change
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listening to "You have been connected, please hold the line" in six
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different languages. So its off to another shop to get some more change and
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try again. EVENTUALLY he gets connected properly and manages to tell the
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bloke most of the relevant info (Nature of problem, car make, model, engine
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size, colour, fuel economy, volume of fluid in windscreen washers, owner's
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shoe size...) before his money runs out again. Note that the vehicle
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location is not in the preceding list. AAAARGH! off to another shop to get
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some more change etc. etc... At 11.45 the bloke says a mechanic will appear
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in 45 minutes. Great. Anthony goes back to join Nick.
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<p>(6) Mechanic turns up at 13:10, grins from ear to ear and tells us our
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tyre is broken. He tootles off to get a replacement and takes away our spare
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to fix that also. He returns at 14:50, we pay him (with English money) and
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we're off.
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<p>(7) 5 km down the road, Anthony notices that the car isn't pulling very
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well, somebody overtakes us gesticulating wildly, and a feeling of
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déjà vu overtakes us.
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<p>The same bloody tyre has blown out again, this time there is a 7" gash in
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it where the rusty prominence that passes for a mudguard has gone through
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it. Fortunately, this time we have a serviceable spare, so it only takes an
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hour to change it and beat the crap out of the remnants of the mudguard to
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ensure there is no repeat performance.
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<p>(8) Rest of journey was uneventful. Massive rainstorm in Karlsruhe, and
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we had to stop near Munich to get some kip. So on Tuesday morning, we
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carried on to Austria. The car was doing really well on the Pötschen
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Pass until....
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<p>BANG
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<p>Dear reader, do you think this noise was from<br />
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a) A nearby meteorite impact<br />
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or b) Driving over an unexploded shell<br />
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or c) the third blowout in 24 hours on the same trailer wheel.....
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<p>....At least in Belgium it had been sunny, now it was pissing buckets. We
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toddled off to the Opel dealer who told us the nearest spare tyre emporium
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was in Liezen (40 km). We gave up and went to cry on Hilda's shoulder. She
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arranged for the local garage to collect the trailer, and then provided us
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with a trailer to get all the shit to base camp. The axle has broken, and is
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going to cost ÖS3000 (~£200) to fix, so I think the trailer is on
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its way to the great scrapyard in the sky.
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<p><u>The Moral</u>
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<p>If you want a shit trailer to tow to expo, do <u>NOT</u> ask Wookey for a
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'shit' trailer, just ask for a simple trailer, and maybe you'll get
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something vaguely roadworthy.
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<p>End of rant.
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<p>not quite...
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<p>Things to do on the hard shoulder of a Belgian autobahn by Nick
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<ol>
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<li>Kick the trailer
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<li>Get rained on
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<li>Kick the trailer again
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<li>Talk to the large Belgian policemen on even larger motorbikes and
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persuade them that you are not a vagrant with a pet trailer and that you
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really don't want to be arrested (With hindsight, this may have been the
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better option).
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<li>Examine the bits of tyre, strange lumps of metal, coke cans, used
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condoms, Tory ministers and babies lyt in the gutter
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<li>Attempt to play patience and spend the next ten minutes chasing your
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playing cards across the Autobahn
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<li>Kick the trailer really hard
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<li>Laugh at the Germans in their really big car and even bigger caravan who
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stop on the hard shoulder too. (Unfortunately, they left again in ten
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minutes, rather than 6 hours)
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<li>Fall asleep, then be scared shitless by some bastard Belgian lorry
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driver who steams past at lots of miles an hour tooting his horn
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<li>Grab a random branch from the bushes and pretend to be carving something
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whilst hacking chunks out willy-nilly
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<li>Hope that the policemen don't return. "Yes Ociffer it really has taken 5
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hours for my friend to find a phone. Yes, he is English, like me"
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<li>Kick the trailer .................
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</ol>
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<hr />
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9/7/95? | Journey out | <u>Paul</u>
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<p>On arrival at Bad Aussee, Anthony bet me a beer that my journey was worse
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than his. I lost but see what you think of my 48 hrs of dicing with
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authority.
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<p>(1) My first train was the 14:55 to London. It was direct, cleaner,
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quieter + simpler than the 14:38 so I carefully watched the 14:38 pull out.
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Got on the 14:55. Shortly after Doncaster it was ticket time.
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<p>'Tickets please' I hold up my pass.<br />
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'Oh dear' says Conductor. I look blank.<br />
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'Oh dear, oh dear' says conductor.<br />
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'What ? You're going to tell me this is restricted', says me<br />
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'This train is restricted'. Head falls, heart sinks, no money on me for
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a fine.<br />
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'You know what I'm <u>supposed</u> to do ?' says Conductor.<br />
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'What ?'<br />
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'Take your pass. Report you and you + your family will lose all travel
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benefits for 12 months' said the conductor with a degree of glee which
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gradually increased as he noticed my student i.d. whilst flicking through my
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wallet.
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<p>This was no ordinary fine.
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<p>Luckily the conductor was scottish + believed in self-gratification.
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<p>He let me off all forms of fine. Who knows why ? My nine lives decreased
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by one.
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<p>(2) The boat. London in rush hour was no hassle after this. Boat train
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saw time pass.
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<p>Being a tight-arsed git I'd not bothered to book either reclining seats
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or a cabin for this night journey. A move I reccommend nobody else takes.
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Quick change of pen before continuing.
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<p>After much arsing about, eating, drinking, eyeing up some Irish Girl
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Guides. I decided it was time for sleep. Find chair but failed miserably to
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find noddy. Leave seat (+ kick anthony hard) but mark it with book +
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sweater. Go in search of beer to act as night cap. Return fully beered to
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find my seat taken with book etc. laid on floor. So it was sleeping on the
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floor for me that nihgt = no sleep.
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<p>At around 5 am some Burnley piss head comes along. Sees the guy sleeping
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in the middle of the floor just down from me. Starts to tell me loudly how
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'F***... unnatural' such an action is.
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<p>(3) Amsterdam
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<p>Amsterdam is great ! Everybody either asks you for money or tries to sell
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you drugs. City of porn details of which I'll leave to your imagination !
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<p>Anyway, I arrive somewhat exhausted and walk around for 6 hours whilst
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failing to find either a park or reasonable bench to lie down on/in.
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Obviously the Dutch believe in neither of these.
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<p>So its the station. Find an alcove + lie down. Suddenly wake up with some
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random dutch being shouted at me by an Amsterdam policeman. Obviously
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sleeping is not allowed in Amsterdam. So I lean up against the wall. Bolt
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upright with a deadly engrossing book. 'Wake up' shouts same policeman in
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English. Right. I move away a bit. Connect a caffeine filter to my nose +
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hope. 'Night in jail ?' shouts same policeman. After considering this,
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thinking that I'd certainly win a beer with this tale, I decided that a
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night in jail ain't so good. Proceed to McDonalds where I spend many
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guilders before catching train.
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<p>(4) The Night train
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<p>Fairly nice time apart from random German youth who wanted to play
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footsie all night.
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<p>(5) Train from Salzburg to Attnang P****
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<p>It was a kind German conductor who'd clipped my Austria ticket. This, no
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doubt, took some explaining to the Austrian conductor.
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<p>Arrive in Bad Aussee much later (ie. 15 mins) than expected. But got
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bored so couldn't be arsed to tell you about this bit. . . . !
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<p>We should point out at this juncture that Paul lost a beer to Anthony
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over this journey, on account of it being less ep*c than ours. So there.
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<hr />
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9/7/95 | Journey | <u>hugh</u>, Duncan, Mike</p>
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<p>Journey of Hugh, Duncan and Mike. It all went according to plan, got
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bored, arrived at campsite at expected time and got pissed. So nerr !
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<p>ner, ner; ner ner ner ! [scribble]
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<p>Duncan was 'ere<br />
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after some beer !
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<hr />
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1995-07-08| Plateau - Prospecting trips | <u>Nick</u> and Paul
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<p>Due to the lack of knowledge about Main Entrance and the lack of France
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(entrance under much snow) some prospecting was done. Behind the Hinter,
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about 50m further the slope from France there is a prominent limestone
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ridge. This develops into a shallow gulley with a slanting rift at the
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bottom. This was followed and several blind shafts & slots (too tight)
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were found. Descended holes have been marked with a scratched cross (no
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paint). There is a possible rift system here - lots of the slots draught
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(sounds like a jet engine) but it all seems too tight. Most promising is
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hole intoslanting rift with snow alope. Marked with cairn and scratched
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cross. 235° to Vord 305° to col & 350° to end of next lump
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along (Its obvious when you're there !). Ended in large snow plug - possible
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way on under it too tight. May be worth second look if bored & its very
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warm.
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<p>TU nick ½hr Paul 10 mins<hr />
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8/7/95 | Plateau - <u>Prospecting trip</u>| James & <u>Anthony</u>
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<p>Setting off from the snowbound France entrance, we headed round the back
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of the Hinter. Apart from one blind shaft ~100m N of 161c entrance, and a
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shaft near the col between Hinter and Nd Augst Eck which we failed to locate
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on the 9th, we found fuck all. Someone has been here before us. Found
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1990/10 and lots of stuff marked +.
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<p>The day after we tried our luck on the W side of the Hinter. Apart from
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one blind shaft (I think), we found fuck all. Strange eh ?
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<hr />
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<a id="id1995-161-1">10/7/95 | 161 - Main Entrance</a> | <u>Nick</u>, Mike & Hugh
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<p>Proper caving at last !!! Team knowledge (ie. Mike) had arrived the day
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before and was deemed to be keen. Went down to Dreaming of Limo with its
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myriad of leads, so rigged main entrance, snot, pitch below squeeze, put a
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handline on vestibule and then thrutched through Stomping (Don' you just
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hate cavers with a sense of humour ?) Stomping it is not. Shite is closer to
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the mark, especially with a tackle sack. Arrived at the pushing front - nice
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trusty rift leading to a pitch. Hugh put in a bolt, then I had a go. Bang,
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bang, flake, bang, bang, crumble. Hmm, that'll be shit rock then. All bored
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and cold so headed out slowly. Emerged to daylight and more hot sunshine.
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Good stuff.
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<p>TU 7 hours
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<p><a href="#id1995-161-2">Next Pushing trip</a>
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<hr />
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<a id="id1995-161-2">11/7/95</a> | 161 - Pushing Dreaming of Limo | Nick, Hugh + <u>James</u>
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<p>Got down to Dreaming of Limo pretty quickly - 1½ hrs + then
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started pushing. Hugh put in a second bolt at the head of the 1st pitch -
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Dental Floss. Slightly tight take off followed by approx 10m drop to a large
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ledge. 5m drop rigged off natural drops to floor. From here, found another
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obvious way on which leads to the right to a sloping rift (Tonsils) through
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a small hole. Pos. way on up to left from here. Rift drops down about 15m to
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another floor with 3 holes in it. Hole on left leads to really awful way on
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(Teeth) down rift dropping about 10m through tight chossy rock before
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opening out + dropping another 15m to floor. The pitch head was rigged off
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some really dodgy naturals which creaked + moved a lot while Nick was
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hanging off swearing. After a bit of re-rigging + a rebelay before the rift
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opened out, the pitch was rigged sort of satisfactorily. By the time we all
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reached the bottom of this pitch, everyone was knackered so we lobbed a load
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of rocks down the next pitch, went ooh - this is god + started back up - not
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as easy as it sounds - it took one hell of a lot of squirming, swearing and
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carbide relighting to get up Teeth. When we reached the top of our lead we
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caught up with Paul, Duncan, Mike + Anthony on the way up to the entrance so
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had to sit around a lot waiting + getting bloody cold. Called the series of
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pitches we discovered the Oral series.
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TU 10½ hrs
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<p><a href="#id1995-161-1">Previous trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1995-161-4">Next Pushing trip</a> /
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<a href="#id1995-161-3">Other DoL trip</a> (same day)
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<hr /><a id="id1995-161-3">11/7/95</a> | 161 - To Dreaming of Limo | Anthony, Mike, Duncan, <u>Paul</u>
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<p>This was supposed to be a short pushing trip but due to a small amount of
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faffing by yours truly this never happened. KH main entrance is a tad airy.
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This was my observation + my problem.... Having done only 3 not nice SRT
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trips before it took some faffing to pass the freehanging re-belay. This
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||
took the form of:- 'how do I get me short cow's tail off?' Lots of
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||
faffing and help eventually taught me how to pass such a thing + the
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bottom was reached. Off we all traipsed down snot + stomping to just
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before Dreaming of Limo. Mike went down some passage he rigged. This he
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said didn't look too promising. I went to sleep. We then all met the
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others and decided to come out. This was done with out much pace but without hiccup.
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||
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<p>TU 8½ hours
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||
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<p><a href="#id1995-161-1">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-6">Next Pushing trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-2">Other DoL trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
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||
12/7/95 | Journey - Hitching | Kate
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</p>
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||
|
||
A note from your leader...
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||
<p>How to travel to expo <u>EASY</u> and <u>free</u>:-
|
||
<p>What you need is<br />
|
||
<blockquote>1) 3 days with fuck all to do except go to expo<br />
|
||
2) be in the Alps already (although you could get here as quick from England)<br />
|
||
3) a thumb<br />
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||
4) less than 100 litres of shit per person (tricky, but your
|
||
friends can take the expo shit in the nice trailer Wookey found.<br />
|
||
<u>Ex</u> friends)
|
||
</blockquote>
|
||
|
||
<p>Simply stand by the roadside in no hurry to go anywhere (if you're going
|
||
to expo, this is easy) with your thumb out, glance at the occasional
|
||
<i>HEDGEHOGS</i> in the undergrowth, and get taken to Hilda's (in 21
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||
lifts as Kate 'super keen hitching superstar Jannossy {<u>How</u> many
|
||
N's - RANT! [inserted here - Ed]} has just counted).
|
||
<br />Note that campsite is fulll of normal people.
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||
<br />Whoops.
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||
<br />Note that beer tally only . . .
|
||
<p>(pause to turn Floyd tape over)
|
||
<p>. . . note that beer tally only goes up to a hundred.
|
||
<br />Whoops.
|
||
<br />Note that potato hut contains <u>no</u> cavers (must be caving, ho ho!)
|
||
<p>And then, and then it happened. A fridge. I couldn't believe it. Was
|
||
is possible? Cold Gösser in the potato hut? I tentatively opened
|
||
the door, hoping, praying, and YES! the light came on and I was
|
||
confronted with row upon row of bottles.
|
||
|
||
<p>So here I sit, with the 'Shine On' intro in the background, a cold
|
||
Gösser in front of me to aid my assault on Anthony & Nick's lead in
|
||
the beer tally, bullshitting merrily into the book before me.
|
||
|
||
<p>It's expo
|
||
|
||
<p>Kate's Handy Hitching Hints:
|
||
|
||
<p>1) In Italy standing on the side of a motorway by a toll in front of
|
||
an Italian Mamma + her daughter in a nice clean car, it's OK to have a
|
||
random snog because there's <u>no way</u> they would give you smeggy
|
||
gits a lift anyway....until they give you a 200km lift!! (with only
|
||
slight ranting for not speaking Italian - they speak perfect English).
|
||
:. Italians are romantics really.
|
||
<br />Later, when hitching got crap we considered demonstrative shagging
|
||
on the hard shoulder but suspected this might not work in Austria.
|
||
|
||
<p>2) Don't wear Steve's utterly foul T shirt (specially in Austria).
|
||
Continuous stream of lifts after he took it off.<br />
|
||
(It seems to be OK when I wear it though)
|
||
|
||
<p>3) Look at the map before refusing lifts to towns you think are the
|
||
wrong way (whoops)
|
||
|
||
<p>4) If you really hate long squidgy slimey things don't go hitching
|
||
with Steve. (I am referring to the side of an Italian Motorway infested
|
||
with millions of nasty orange huge slimey slugs. I refused to sleep on
|
||
the grass + bivvied on a nice comfortable (honest) not at all slopey bit
|
||
of road - like concrete in front of a padlocked gate, in fear of being
|
||
run over in the middle of the night). I hate slugs.
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-4">13/7/95</a> | 161 - Pushing Oral Series | <u>Nick</u>, Duncan, Anthony
|
||
|
||
<p>The Prince of Darkness Strikes Again! Except this time I scuppered
|
||
myself. Decided to be keen and went down whilst the others were
|
||
calibrating and faffing. Charged down to Vestabule where my electric
|
||
light decided to fail with a carbide messily poissing water out of the
|
||
rivet hole I turned round and charghed back out. Got to the bottom of
|
||
the entrance pitch to find Duncan getting changed Prussiked back out,
|
||
pinched Paul's zoom and Hugh's generator. Take Two. Battle down to
|
||
D.O.L. with tackle sack (about which I shall not rant). Anthony declared
|
||
the naturals at the top of Teeth to be sound, so I descended and started
|
||
putting a back-up bolt in for the next pitch. (The much bullshitted
|
||
about bypass for Teeth had not appeared suprisingly). Duncan and Anthony
|
||
enjoyed Teeth, then with 3 shit spits "Don't worry Anthony, the back-up
|
||
is sound". Chortle. We descended into the next chamber. Lots of
|
||
scrotting around, rift too small. More quality expo rigging followed,
|
||
then I went down Arsehole, which ended after 15m. End of Oral Series.
|
||
Team Survey had caught us up by then, so we kindly let them survey our
|
||
finds and we went out (slowly) Actually found some clean white stals
|
||
down there, so if anyone fancies a return trip ......
|
||
|
||
<p>TU Dunc, Anthony 9½
|
||
<br /> Nick 10½
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-2">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-5">Next trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-5">13/7/95</a> | 161 - Survey & Derig Oral Series | <u>Mike</u>, James, Paul
|
||
|
||
<p>Went down; surveyed; met pushers; finished survey; derigged back to
|
||
DOL; shagged; came out. OK, so it took a bit longer 'cos Paul took quite
|
||
a long time to come out. This trip was an EPIC (note: <u>E</u>xtended
|
||
<u>P</u>eriod <u>I</u>n <u>C</u>ave). If you want a better write up then
|
||
browbeat someone else
|
||
|
||
<p> TU Paul, James 14
|
||
<br /> Mike 12½
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-4">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-6">Next DoL Pushing trip</a>
|
||
|
||
[Display Advert]
|
||
<h2>EXPO '96</h2>
|
||
On account that Wookey now has a fuck-off big trailer we suggest that
|
||
Expo 95 has an
|
||
<pre>
|
||
<br /> * * *
|
||
<br /> EXPO TUMBLE DRIER
|
||
<br /> * * *
|
||
</pre><br />Almost certainly ace gear, yeh?! :-)
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-6">16/7/95</a> | 161 - Pushing Dreaming of Limo | Nick, <u>James</u>, Dave C
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p>Went down to d-o-l with no problems where Nick proceeded to bolt the wet
|
||
pitch - Splattery. Dave decided at this point that he was too tired to be
|
||
caving + started going out. I came across him wandering around the south end
|
||
of D-O-L totally lost. I .·. had to show him all the way to Vestabule
|
||
- bloody endless scrotting through Stomping. Nick + I proceeded to push the
|
||
rift below Stomping which proved to be dead - just a loop ending back at the
|
||
top of Splattery. We then started surveying but a huge rush of water misted
|
||
the compass. We .·. pushed a really tight passage off Stomping + went
|
||
out.
|
||
|
||
<p>TU Nick + James 8h Dave: 4½h
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-3">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-7">Next trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-7">17/7/95</a> | 161 - DOL (Again) | <u>Nick</u>, James, Dave C
|
||
|
||
<p>This time DOL would be finished, surveyed and derigged, no messing, no
|
||
problems. Plan was to survey Splattery and Limo's Revenge, (James' tight
|
||
passage off Stomping), push and survey the last hole in the south of DOL and
|
||
be out before bedtime. I whizzed down and decided to look down Mike's hole,
|
||
Gnasher, we he had declared "unlikely to go anywhere". Needless to say it
|
||
did, after some appalling rigging, into the rift with at least 2 more
|
||
pitches. DOL refuses to die. Then we went to Splattery, after Dave had
|
||
finally arrived, swearing blind he had got into DOL without doing the climb
|
||
up (?!). Some faff, and Splattery was finished. Quick look at the hole in the
|
||
S of DOL confirmed it needed a bolt or 12 rope-tectors. Off to Limo's
|
||
Revenge. Devotion to duty or sheer stupidity - lets survey a grim, scrotty
|
||
tight & twisty rift passage which goes nowhere !? This we did. Scout
|
||
provided a lengthy diversion by getting stuck for 20 minutes. Eventually
|
||
freed, James & I finished surveying and we left, to the sound of DOL
|
||
laughing.
|
||
|
||
<p>TU 10 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-6">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-11">Next trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-8">France trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-9">18/7/95</a> | 161 - Rigging to Gob | <u>Nick</u>, James & Mike
|
||
|
||
<p>Mike had arrived the night before and was prepared to guide me down to the
|
||
end of YAPATE, where hopefully I would recognise the scene of my joyous
|
||
experience of 2 years ago. Surprisingly enough, this was exactly what we did.
|
||
After some faff leaving the bolts at Over the Rainbow, and finding that some
|
||
of the boulder slope down to Knossos had disappeared, we arrived at the top
|
||
of Gob on You, with attendant shit spit. Here Mike generously let me go
|
||
first. Faffed for ages trying to work out how Adam had rigged Wish You Were
|
||
Here - In the end Mike put in a bolt, and I went down. Then through the slot
|
||
at the top of Final Cut. Here Mike took Old Man's Perogative and went back up
|
||
to put another bolt in. James was stupid enough to follow me. Found the
|
||
pushing front, which looks quite promising. Then we buggered off out, with
|
||
dying lights & flooded leaking carbides. Two hours from bottom of
|
||
Knossos. We're not hard. (Just wanted to get back to Base Camp)
|
||
|
||
<p>TU Nick 7½<br />James & Mike 8
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="../1993/log.htm#id1993-161-5">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-24">Next trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-10">France trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-8">17/7/95</a> | 161 - Rigging (?) France | Julian H, Steve, Kate, Dave J, <u>Paul</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Having eventually found France, Julian was keen to rig it + take half of
|
||
expo down it. The aim was that Julian + Steve would rig to Sultans of Swing +
|
||
then do some pushing. Kate + myself would explore holes in the floor of
|
||
Algeria whilst Dave would attach himself to whichever parts he felt like.
|
||
After much surface faffing in which 4 tackle sacks of rope were packed it was
|
||
down into France. Carbide failure, Dave getting caught on a tight hanging
|
||
rebelay, Julian leaving hangers at the bottom of Roll of the Dice whilst
|
||
trying to rig Toothless made this into a fairly crap trip. As we'd chosen an
|
||
early call out time, Dave, Kate + myself came out with Steve + Julian trying
|
||
to go to Algeria. Rope didn't reach ! The only good things about this trip
|
||
was that Julian found several leads* near the surface + it was still daylight
|
||
when we got out.
|
||
|
||
<p>TU Kate, Dave, Paul 5½ hrs<br />
|
||
Steve, Julian 7 hrs (?)
|
||
|
||
<p>* Part way down "toothless" there is a hole in the wall leading to two
|
||
pitches. One of these has a 5 second (1 bounce) drop !! Both are undescended
|
||
(currently) and are definitely worth pushing. <u>Julian</u>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-6">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-10">Next trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-7">Dreaming of Limo trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-11">20/7/95</a> | 161 - DOL (Yet Again) | <u>Nick</u> & Paul
|
||
|
||
<p>In a pre-dinner burst of enthusiasm, we got up at 5.00 am to go caving. We
|
||
were underground at 8.30 (it would have been 8.00 if Paul hadn't deliberately
|
||
strung himself up on the entrance pitch forcing me to take the tackle bastard
|
||
off him). Pottered down to Stomping & the hole leading into the chamber
|
||
off Gnasher. Did some gardening & produced a fine free hang (25-30m ?)
|
||
Then bolted the small pitch below and thrutched into the rift. Another pitch,
|
||
with jammed boulders in the rift. Having started to rig off these, one of
|
||
them moved. Gibber. Rapid change of plan. Lets put a bolt in the wall then.
|
||
This done, a 10m pitch was descended, with yet another one leading from it.
|
||
DOL lives on. We shall return.
|
||
|
||
<p>TU Nick 6½<br />
|
||
Paul 7
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-7">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-14">Next trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-12">France trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-10">18/7/95</a> | 161 - More rigging in France | Steve, Julian H, <u>Kate</u>, Dave C, Dave J
|
||
|
||
<p>Actually managed to rig into Algeria ! Steve + Julian (well Steve mostly)
|
||
hung for ages on rope in wetness putting in bolts down to the ledge in
|
||
Sultans of Swing. I started putting in bolts to go down a hole in Algeria
|
||
then Dave + Dave arrived so I cunningly taught them to put in bolts (with my
|
||
vast experience) + we rigged short pitch into a chamber with a big wet pitch
|
||
+ a small rifty thing (which probably floods lots) with a pitch at the end. I
|
||
started thinking about rigging this while Dave + Dave went out but Julian
|
||
thought it was too scary so I didn't bother. Might rig possible alternative
|
||
way into the bottom of the same rift soon. Maybe.<br />
|
||
|
||
P.S. Dave t'other got strung up again on the way in.
|
||
|
||
<p>TU ~9h
|
||
|
||
<p>Steve rigged to first ledge of Sultans and then dropped bolt driver onto
|
||
the ledge. Having retrieved this he then didn't feel like prussiking back up
|
||
to finish putting in the spit, so I put in two in the wetness. It was crap.
|
||
After hammering in the second, I was still cold and so was Steve. So we
|
||
jacked !
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>Julian H
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-8">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-12">Next trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-9">Gob rigging trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-12">20/7/95</a> | 161 - inadvertantly go caving. (Down France) | Mike TA, <u>Anthony</u> & Duncan
|
||
|
||
<p>This is a story of unfortunate mishaps.
|
||
|
||
<p>After accidentally setting their alarm clock for 5am, the aforementioned
|
||
found themselves going caving at 8am. A series of unforseen mishaps saw them
|
||
arrive at a question mark in Rich T chamber. This consisted of a chossy 12'
|
||
climb, which was erroneously interpreted as a chance for Duncan to practice
|
||
his bolting skills, and thus a spit became placed. Duncan & Mike then
|
||
endured ½hr each of shitting their pants on a 35° bank of choss,
|
||
only to find that it didn't go anywhere. This at least reduced the
|
||
possibility of the grave error of them returning to survey this bit of cave
|
||
occurring. The possé then exit, trying to avoid the obvious pitfalls
|
||
of inadvertantly becoming drunk that evening at the expo dinner.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 7 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-10">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-13">Next trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-11">Dreaming of Limo trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-15a">21/7/95?</a> | 161 - Hobnob passage - Pushing 94-65 | <u>Duncan</u>, Kate
|
||
|
||
<p>After small amount of faffing over bolting kit (which we had left at
|
||
surface, and so we had to get one of from down Sultan's.) we thwacked a
|
||
couple of bolts in to make a reasonable Y- hang down the rift. Kate went down
|
||
first - from above the pitch looked pretty good, and reports from below were
|
||
favourable too, so I followed. The rift led into a train tunnel-sort of
|
||
passage. This initially appeared to be a good lead, but exploration proved
|
||
this not to be the case - to the west, the passage went for perhaps 30 metres
|
||
before closing down, but had a small, water washed vadose lead on the right
|
||
(with sound of water), - to the east, the passage was filled almost to the
|
||
roof with a large mud bank, being followable for perhaps 30 metres.
|
||
|
||
<p>The lead to the west is worth a second look for small people since it
|
||
sounds as if it goes somewhere significant.
|
||
|
||
<p>TU Kate 7<br />Dunk 8 hours
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-13">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-19">Next trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-15b">Second write-up</a> (this trip) /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-16">Sultans of Swing trip</a> (same day) /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-14">Dreaming of Limo trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-14">22/7/95</a> | Main entrance, pushing hole off Stomping | Nick & <u>Anthony</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Plan was to push pitch found by Nick & Paul on dinner day which Nick
|
||
thought was probably not a goer, and then survey out... Except by the time I
|
||
arrived, Nick had found another ~20m pitch. This quickly led (via some
|
||
typical expo rigging) to another ~20m pitch rigged off a stonking natural.
|
||
This in turn led to an eyehole onto a 20m pitch into a largish chamber. A
|
||
narrow rift off joins a rift at right angles to it with a stream in the
|
||
bottom. Upstream leads to a small chamber with a desperate looking 8m climb
|
||
up a waterfall, downstream leads to a genuinely pretty bit beyond which the
|
||
rift gets too tight. There is another tube which doubles back on the original
|
||
entrance rift and continues for some distance (30m ?) until became too tight
|
||
for us to push today. If there are any remaining leads down here, they're all
|
||
pretty grim, and this is definitely not the place to be in a thunderstorm.
|
||
|
||
<p>Happy with our day's work, we pissed off out. On the second pitch on the
|
||
way out, there was a serious case of BELOW. Twice. Yours truly only got hit
|
||
once though, as he cowered at the bottom. Shortly after, there was a
|
||
reassuring call of "It's OK now.... Part of the natural we rigged the pitch
|
||
off fell off." Apparently Nick got to within 5m of the pitch head when bits
|
||
of it started raining on him. By the time I made it to the top of the pitch
|
||
(prussiking very carefully), Nick was hanging onto the natural apparently
|
||
holding it in place. Next time we intend to twat it with a hammer until we're
|
||
sure it's safe & put another bolt in.
|
||
|
||
<p>Thereafter, we exited without incident, apart from me having a miserable
|
||
time at three of the tight bits. I suppose we'll have to survey it now
|
||
(hooray...)
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 10 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-11">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-20">Next trip</a> /
|
||
France trips (same day): <a href="#id1995-161-15a">Piss Pot</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-16">Sultans of Swing</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-13">21/7/95</a> | 161 - France | Dave C + <u>Dave J</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>The primary intention of this trip was that Julian & Steve would
|
||
continue Sultans of Swing with the stonking bolt driller & battery pack -
|
||
unfortunately minus drill bit. Julian in caving gear for 1/2 hour in searing
|
||
heat before this was discovered. Ha Ha! So me & Scout went on our own,
|
||
with another fine intention of bolting and rigging Kate's new pitch. This
|
||
objective was soon turned on its head after the f*****g screw of the f*****g
|
||
bolt driver dropped off down the pitch with only managing 3/4 of the first
|
||
spit! So we then had a small look round, found an interesting looking
|
||
streamway beyond the boulders to the left of the pitch we didn't bolt. That's
|
||
about it, so we buggered off out, tedious prussik out with my harness rubbing
|
||
in an uncomfortable place. Wot a waste of a trip!
|
||
|
||
<p><center>T/U 6 hrs</center>
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-12">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
Next trips: <a href="#id1995-161-15a">Piss Pot</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-16">Sultans of Swing</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
1995-07-23 | Journey to Austria | <u>Wook</u> & Andrew
|
||
|
||
<p>Pretty straightforward journey. Got 6pm ferry on Saturday ie not 4.30 in
|
||
the morning as usual. This means you get empty roads all the way till next
|
||
morning around about Stuttgart.
|
||
|
||
<p>Went to visit the Grabstatten cavers in their hut near Ulm. They gave us a
|
||
map of Schwabenschacht, and Thilo Mu:ller said that the guy from the Nurnberg
|
||
cavers had sent Mike Martin stuff about Stellerweg & Eishohle about 7
|
||
years ago (when it was all finished). Did this ever arrive? If so where did
|
||
it go?
|
||
|
||
<p>After brekky & 2 cups strong coffee drove rest of way to Hilda's with
|
||
little incident.
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-20">24/7/95</a> | Main Entrance, Pushing 'Doubting Thomas' Series & Surveying | <u>Nick</u> & Anthony
|
||
|
||
<p>Managed to drag Anthony back down to Stomping, with the intention to
|
||
survey in (& derig) to the bottom of the bits we had pushed 2 days
|
||
before. I dashed down & derigged a rope I'd thrown down another hole in
|
||
Dreaming of Limo, then we set off. Usual surveying - ie a pile of shite in
|
||
lovely tight rifts & sloping pitches, with some wonderful 'plumbs'.
|
||
Anthony attempted to jack by having a shit carbide & throwing the pencil
|
||
away; unfortunately he had a spare (pencil, not carbide). Got down to the
|
||
scene of much entertainment last trip - the 'stonking' natural. Couldn't be
|
||
arsed to put another bolt in, so we hit the natural a bit. Crunble. Found
|
||
another natural. Hit that one. Shatter. Eventually decided that the first one
|
||
was now sound, so off we went. Got down to the bottom. Surveyed some more
|
||
shitty rift & then the pencil ran out of lead. Grade 1 survey here we
|
||
come. Pottered out & derigged. 2 tacklesacks through Stomping is shit. In
|
||
a fit of keenness we derigged the climb up into Stomping & the handline
|
||
into Vestabule, so no-one need go there ever again. Anthony's light died at
|
||
the top of Snot, but that's another rant...
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>TU 12 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-14">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-17">Trips in France</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
1995-07-25 | Journey out| AndyW
|
||
|
||
<p>AndyW arrives after an incident-free 1138 mile solo drive
|
||
taking 24 hours and 2 minutes. Had enough of big trucks on Bavarian hills
|
||
and tick done the back roads of Dachau so decided to miss out Munich &
|
||
Salzburg entirely. Hence did Mannheim-Heilbronn-Nürnberg-Passau and into
|
||
Austria from north. Some thrutchy driving Reid-Vöklabruck-Gmunden-Bad
|
||
Ischl and back onto auto-pilot to Hilde's. T/U a couple of minutes in
|
||
tunnels...
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-16">22/7/95</a> | 161 - France | Steve, <u>JulianH</u>, Duncan, Kate
|
||
|
||
<p>Plan was to push, survey, derig Sultan's of Swing (on the assumption that
|
||
we'd get to the bottom) [me and Steve] whilst Kate and Duncan pushed hole in
|
||
Hob Nob which Scout and Dave had comprehensively failed to do the previous
|
||
day. No fuck-ups this time - Steve and I descended with drill, big battery
|
||
and drill bit that I'd returned to base camp for the previous day.
|
||
|
||
<p>For those who are not aware, drill bolting is the dogs bollocks. I placed
|
||
6 bolts (including an awkward ledge traverse over an awful lot of not alot)
|
||
in around 3 hours. Then the shaft ran out. Why is it that a shaft of 50m+
|
||
depth and about 6-7m diameter just stops in a pile of rubble with two poxy
|
||
sumps about 1/2m in diameter? So as predicted we surveyed and derigged.
|
||
|
||
<p>Met Duncan in Algeria who said Kate had already left because we were an
|
||
hour or so overdue. Not sure what Kate + Duncan actually did, but Duncan's
|
||
light was by now pathetic, so it seemed like a good time for a hasty exit.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>T/U 8 hours (Julian & Steve)
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-13">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-17">Next trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-15a">Piss Pot trip</a> (same day. also see below) /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-14">Dreaming of Limo trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-15b"> 22/7/95 | 161 - Hole in floor in Hob Nob Passage (Piss Pot) | <u>Kate</u></a> & Duncan
|
||
|
||
<p>Put 2 bolts in - tedium, then went down rift which is a bit tight at the
|
||
top. Dropped into a train tunnel - hoorah! But unfortunately goes like
|
||
British Rail on a strike day ie not (well about 50m each way) Only lead is
|
||
a small light water washed rift with the sound of rushing water at the end
|
||
but it was too small for me. Back out again with comedy 'tector
|
||
placements, deviation off lumps of mud, random lumps of mud trying to hit
|
||
Dunc & eventually ignoring rubs altogether - quality rigging.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>TU 7h
|
||
|
||
<p>* Dunc has already written this up. Whoops. *
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-13">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-19">Next trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-15a">Duncan's write-up</a> (this trip) /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-16">Sultans of Swing trip</a> (same day) /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-14">Dreaming of Limo trip</a> (same day)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-17">23/7/95</a> | 161 - France - Black Suspender | <u>JulianH</u>, Dave C, Andrew Atkinson
|
||
|
||
<p>Holes in floor of Algeria Dave (other), Kate<br />
|
||
Rift in floor nr Hobnob passage AndyA, Steve<br />
|
||
(Piss Pot)
|
||
|
||
<p>I only know what I did and a bit about other things, so other people will
|
||
have to fill in the gaps. I left the surface and headed for Black Suspender.
|
||
On arrival at the ledge part way down Sultans of Swing it occurred to me to
|
||
have a proper look at the hole in the wall. After traversing over the top of
|
||
the lower bits of Sultans and climbing over a pile of choss I eventually
|
||
found a hole through to what appear to be a ledge surrounding a pitch. Since
|
||
this was a bit awkward and I was on my own, I noted this and decided to look
|
||
again next time - it was probably only a higher bit of Sultans anyway.
|
||
|
||
<p>After collecting rope, drill, battery, hangers and all the other shit I
|
||
headed for Black Suspender. Where the hell is Dave [Scout], I thought? So I
|
||
put in some bolts [easy bolting with drill] and some more bolts and
|
||
eventually Dave arrived. Eventually got along the left hand wall of the
|
||
pitch, out to a flake from which there appeared to be a good hang.
|
||
Weeeeee.... all the way to the bottom. Oh what a surprise this one doesn't go
|
||
either. At that point AndyA turned up, so Scout headed off to fins Kate &
|
||
co., with the drill shit, whilst Andy and I surveyed and derigged Black
|
||
Suspender.
|
||
|
||
<p>Having done that it was time to go and have another look at the most
|
||
southerly point of KH, just below Rocky Horror. It appeared from the survey
|
||
that there ought to be a continuation of Mississippi running through the
|
||
boulder choke. So Andy and I went to have a look again at this bit which had
|
||
previously been declared "finished."
|
||
|
||
<p>Within 2 minutes of arrival a further 10m or so of upward sloping boulder
|
||
slope had been found the other side of a mud bank. This definitely didn't go
|
||
but should have been on the survey. A quick dig in the mud at floor level
|
||
found a passagette which again appeared impenetrable due to a large boulder.
|
||
Then a smallish hole was found near to the "ceiling" of the choke from which
|
||
an appreciable draught was eminating, so Andy and I dug some of the
|
||
mud/gravel/rocks out for about 10 minutes, until it was large enough for Andy
|
||
to fit through. It looked promising, so a bit more digging followed until I
|
||
fitted through.
|
||
|
||
<p>The other side of the hole was fucking grim. Hanging death all around. We
|
||
were basically at the bottom of an enormous pile of choss. Choss for ceiling.
|
||
Choss for wall. Choss for floor. After climbing up in the choke for a bit, it
|
||
was clearly crap and very unstable, so the deal was that I would exit and
|
||
wait for 10 minutes, whilst Andy explored further to hopefully find the end,
|
||
after which I'd get the rescue if he hadn't appeared.
|
||
|
||
<p>30 seconds later, after I'd re-emerged from the hole... BOOM! Oh bollocks
|
||
I thought! "Andy... Andy!" No reply. Oh well, I'm buggered if I'm going back
|
||
for a look, I thought. So I sat around for the full 10 minutes before Andy
|
||
re-appeared. Oh jolly good, now we can go away I thought. "It goes," said
|
||
Andy. "Oh shit", I said. We both agreed we should quit while we were up and
|
||
so made a less than hasty exit, now covered from head to foot in thick brown
|
||
gluppy KH mud. Hole to be named "Death's Door II", climb inside choke
|
||
"Stairway to Hell."
|
||
|
||
<p>Previous France Trips: <a href="#id1995-161-16">Sultans</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-15a">Piss Pot</a><br />
|
||
Next trips: <a href="#id1995-161-23">Regurgitation</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-22">Stairway to Hell & Triassic Park</a>
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1995-161-18">23/7/95</a> | 161 - France | Dave J, <u>Kate's</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>Waited ages for Dave (he was having a shit on the surface.) Got bored, +
|
||
went down hole in floor. Went down rift off chamber + found rope which Dave +
|
||
Dave had randomly left down there (rant) + brought it out since the larger
|
||
pitch looked more promising. Went out again to Algeria. Eventually Dave
|
||
arrived. I faffed lots trying to get a decent hang, then started bolting.
|
||
Dave finished the bolt while I went to find Steve + Andy to get some survey
|
||
gear. No survey gear but I found a useful Steve who agreed that it would be
|
||
ok to rig off 1 bolt, a big boulder & a 'tector. Found a spit near bottom
|
||
of pitch which is probably twin tubs. Also found a ?previously unknown
|
||
scrotty connection to an adjacent wettish shaft bottom.
|
||
|
||
<p>Previous France Trips: <a href="#id1995-161-16">Sultans</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-15a">Piss Pot</a><br />
|
||
Next trips: <a href="#id1995-161-23">Regurgitation</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-22">Stairway to Hell & Triassic Park</a>
|
||
|
||
<p><a id="id1995-161-19">23/7/96</a> | 161 - France | Andrew Atkinson, <u>Steve</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>We surveyed the passage which Kate & Dunc found earlier. A nice
|
||
passage which looks like it ought to go a long way but unfortunately doesn't.
|
||
I pushed the tight rift at the end a short way (but further than the puddle)
|
||
then decided it was too tight, but someone keen and with no string kit could
|
||
go and have another look some time.
|
||
|
||
<table><tr><td>TU</td><td>Julian 10 hours</td></tr>
|
||
<tr><td></td><td>Scout 9</td></tr>
|
||
<tr><td></td><td>Dave 8</td></tr>
|
||
<tr><td></td><td>Kate 8</td></tr>
|
||
<tr><td></td><td>Andrew Atkinson 10 1/2</td></tr>
|
||
<tr><td></td><td>Steve 9</td></tr>
|
||
</table>
|
||
|
||
<p>Previous France Trips: <a href="#id1995-161-16">Sultans</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-15a">Piss Pot</a><br />
|
||
Next trips: <a href="#id1995-161-23">Regurgitation</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-22">Stairway to Hell & Triassic Park</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-22">26/7/95</a> | 161 - France | Andrew Atkinson, <u>JulianH</u>, Wookey
|
||
|
||
<p>2 days after the first trip to Death's Door II / Stairway to Hell it was
|
||
clear that we were imagining the appalling level of squalor that lay beyond
|
||
and so it was time for a second attempt. This time the intention was to
|
||
push/survey the new lead.
|
||
|
||
<p>Several diversions occurred on the way down. Firstly I returned to have a
|
||
look at the hole on the ledge at the start of the traverse into Mississippi.
|
||
After a bit of thrutching it was obvious that I wasn't about to emerge in
|
||
Sultans of Swing, confirmed by the rope hanging above my head. "Oh bloody
|
||
hell it's Algeria again". And so I'd found the "walking" route from Algeria
|
||
to the Mississippi series. Then we continued along Mississippi Mud Pie, to
|
||
beyond Hob-Nob passage, up a 2m climb to an alternative route into the rift
|
||
that eventually forms Rich Tea. There is a ledge on the right hand wall, not
|
||
quite wide enough to stand comfortably on, which it appears may well lead to
|
||
at least a small-ish chamber with potential ways on. We didn't rig it, but it
|
||
would be an easy job with the drill - about 1/2 hour.
|
||
|
||
<p>Next job, Death's Door! All 3 of us carefully climbed up through the
|
||
boulder choke, carefully avoiding the small perched rock which held up a wall
|
||
of choss, to emerge unscathed in a largish chamber (approx 8m x 5m x 4m
|
||
high). This had a muddy climb up about 45deg heading roughly NW at one end.
|
||
Just as Andy + Wookey had started to explore at the top end of this, there
|
||
was a rumble from below. A short debate followed as to whether to get out
|
||
quick before the whole bloody lot fell in, or to explore anyway since we'd
|
||
now done the worst bit. The latter won and so a short while later Andy and
|
||
Wookey reappeared having found a few hundred metres of hading rift running
|
||
roughly NE-SW.
|
||
|
||
<p>That was considered enough, and all three of us agreed that we weren't
|
||
going back again. Wookey exited first, to find the crawl part blocked by a
|
||
largish rock which had fallen whilst we were above. Once shifted exiting was
|
||
relatively easy. All were very pleased to be back on the right side of the
|
||
hole. DON'T GO TO DEATH'S DOOR II / STAIRWAY TO HELL. IT IS BLOODY LOOSE AND
|
||
MAY WELL COLLAPSE. WE'RE NOT GOING BACK - IT IS RUBBISH!
|
||
|
||
<p>Grade I survey sketch follows.
|
||
|
||
<p>[Sketch plan & elevation of Stairway to Hell & Forbidden Land]
|
||
|
||
<p>Since there was all this hading rift above the boulder choke, it seemed
|
||
likely that it would cross Rocky Horror, since this was only slightly lower
|
||
and in the right direction. So, we started looked around in the walls. Part
|
||
way back, at the junction with Fudge Brownie where there is a complex
|
||
arrangement of shafts/choss/pillars/chamber we found not only an undescended
|
||
pitch (p15?) but also several small side passages. One of these had what was
|
||
for me a tight squeeze at the end, but then opened into moderate sized
|
||
passage.
|
||
|
||
<p>After a bit more caving Wookey found a short climb up (c.3m) into much
|
||
larger passage. Following this eventually led to a virtually straight passage
|
||
with mostly sand/mud floor of width around 10m and height up to 6/7m. After
|
||
walking along this for about 200m (ish) we came to a wet shaft. Lights filled
|
||
promptly went out, so it was time to exit. Enormous amount of cave found. No
|
||
idea how many leads. Guessed roughly E-W direction of main passage on way
|
||
out. Well worth many more trips.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>T/U 8 hours.
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-17">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-26">Next trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
1995-07-27 | Plateau | AndyW
|
||
|
||
<p>AndyW carried gear up to Top Camp then moseyed around a
|
||
little. Repainted numbers on 100 and B8 before paint ran out, drat! Both
|
||
these numbers were last "refreshed" in 1993. Moral:- Ford 'Signal Orange'
|
||
retouch paint is crap and fades or chips in c3 years. The original (1976)
|
||
B8 number is still visible - but obscure. Chatted to Kate and Balazs at
|
||
Top Camp, then had yet another search for B6, B5, B3... No luck. Cycled
|
||
down in 11:28 - slow owing to new road surface being greasy and bumpy at
|
||
the bottom. Rain started just on last bit. Pissing down by Base Camp. T/U
|
||
nil.
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-24">26/7/95</a> | 161 - Gob, pushing lead over Alexander Technique | <u>Nick</u> & Duncan
|
||
|
||
<p>Whilst everyone else was enjoying themselves down France, I managed to
|
||
persuade Duncan that he wanted to come with me to Gob. Pottered down,
|
||
collecting gear from Over the Rainbow. Duncan was suitably impressed by
|
||
Knossos & YAPATE. Wish You Were Here was grim (and wet) as usual, then to
|
||
Final Cut. Bash the tackle sack through & follow it. Then Duncan says
|
||
'Nick... I don't think I'll fit through' After 15 minutes of grunting &
|
||
panting, this is proved to be true. Sigh. Dump the gear and head out. I
|
||
manage to set fire to my carbide tube getting off Final Cut. Then we
|
||
gently wandered out.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>TU 6 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-9">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-25">Next trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-25">27/7/95</a> | 161 - Gob (again) | <u>Nick</u> & Dave C
|
||
|
||
<p>Found a thinner mug to accompany me on my last trip for this Expo.
|
||
Intention was to push, survey & derig as much of the cave as possible.
|
||
Whizzed down in under 2 hours. Whopped a bolt in at the top of the next
|
||
pitch. Down we go. Shit, in the water. Go down further - still in the
|
||
water. Shit. Get to the bottom (20m and a bit of a climb). Follow the
|
||
water around a rib & find a narrow pitch head. Chuck a rock down. Wait.
|
||
Bang, wait, wait, BOOM. Hmm, that'll go then. By this time I'm soaked &
|
||
very cold, so head back up to Dave. Time to get out & get warm. (This
|
||
pitch can be rigged out of the water, but a traverse is required. Probably a
|
||
job for the drill). Back to Final Cut. Dave goes first. Skinny cavers win.
|
||
Then the tackle sack, with Dave hauling. Of course it gets stuck. 'Let it
|
||
back down again Dave, & I'll come up and have a go' says I. Dave has by
|
||
this time taken the tackle sack off the rope, so lets go. Gravity rears its
|
||
ugly head again & the tackle sack ends up at the bottom of the pitch,
|
||
some 10m below me. How nice, some extra prussiking to warm me up. Through the
|
||
slot & its my turn at tackle sack hauling. Some brute force &
|
||
ignorance later we have success & off we go again, derigging merrily.
|
||
Slog up to the bottom of Poxy, with 3 tacklesacks and no energy. Carry on
|
||
out with no tacklesacks and no energy (one made it as far as Snot!) No more
|
||
caving. Hooray!
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>TU 8 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-24">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
Next trip - in 1999 ?
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-23">26/7/95</a> | 161 - France, surveying Regurgitation (Goulash) | <u>Dave C</u>, Anthony
|
||
|
||
<p>Kate was slack <u>again!</u> She farmed off some of her surveying to the
|
||
"mugs" prepared to do it for her. Abseiled to Mississippi, Anthony forgot the
|
||
rope for the pitch into regurgitation & so prussiked to Algeria. Spent
|
||
ages waiting for Anthony to fettle carbide & fix rope. Eventually surveyed
|
||
"Regurgitation". Well at least part of it until the compass & clino
|
||
fogged. Pulled rope out of Mohr im Hemd - went the wrong way for a bit. On
|
||
the surface got changed & saw Julian + co & heard tales of "motorway"
|
||
cave.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>TU 7
|
||
|
||
<p>Previous France Trips: <a href="#id1995-161-17">Black Suspender</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-18">Algeria</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-19">Piss Pot</a><br />
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-22">Discovery of Triassic Park</a> (same day) /
|
||
<a href="../1996/log.htm#id1996-161-24">Next Regurgitation trip</a> (1996)
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-21">1995-07-25</a> | 161 - Entrance a | <u>Wook</u> & Andrew Atkinson
|
||
|
||
<p>Trundled down, intending to go to check out QM above Bungalow. Got
|
||
sidetracked:
|
||
|
||
<p>1) Checked holes in floor where dewdrop meets Left Hand route. Hole
|
||
closest to dewdrop can be descended 4m to 10-12m pitch. Nearby (larger)
|
||
hole joins to same spot but connection is nastily[???] small. Probably
|
||
goes into complicated area of garden party.
|
||
|
||
<p>2) Walked round corner to rift beyond G.P. traverse. Andy shinned up RH
|
||
wall into passage above which looks out over squeeze pitch & then goes
|
||
right (along rift). 5m gets to a pitch - looks choked but not yet checked.
|
||
|
||
<p>Wook went & chopped spare off end of S'not rope for use on downclimb.
|
||
This was instead used to protect climb up over pitch into rift continuation.
|
||
Beyond was a few more metres of passage, choke at accessible level, but with
|
||
pitch into section below. This passage at 90deg to rift.
|
||
|
||
<p>[Grade I survey sketch (plan) of section described above - "Cowboy Caver"]
|
||
|
||
<p>3) Finally got to objective (after chopping rope some more to get out of
|
||
new bit)
|
||
|
||
<p>Looked out at huge space above Boulder Alley. Then popped down passage
|
||
& Wook did traverse across big drop. Very windy. Pretties beyond! Care
|
||
required to avoid. 10m beyond is climb through window to 18m pitch, at bottom
|
||
is crap rifty bit to totally huge rift pitch - at least 60m - probably 80,
|
||
but hard to get a clean rock throw.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>T/U 6 ½ hrs
|
||
|
||
<p>[Grade I survey sketch (plan) of section described above - "Semidetached"]
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-28">Next Trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-26">1995-07-27</a> | 161 - Surveying Triassic Park & Photos | <u>Wookey</u>, Anthony, Duncan,<br />Andrew Atkinson, Scout, Steve
|
||
|
||
<p>Trundled down to survey all the new stuff & photo it. Andy, Scout
|
||
& Steve did photos, the rest surveyed. Tedious but effective. Just did
|
||
main route through. Swapped bodies in Staud'nwirt Palace. Andy, Wook &
|
||
Scout continued, surveying up huge passages with QMs everywhere.
|
||
|
||
<p>Finished just past watering hole.
|
||
|
||
<p>Tight bit is Brownie's Cunt, windy bit is Zombie Slime, big chamber:
|
||
Staud'nwirt Palace, White passage is Salt Lake City, then the guillotine
|
||
& finally Triassic Park.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>TU 8 ½ (Anthony, Steve, Dunc)<br />
|
||
11 ½ (Wook, Andy, Scout)
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-22">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-27">Next trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />26/7/95 | Plateau - Prospecting nr France | <u>Kate</u>
|
||
|
||
<p>After a very nice day sitting around not caving (highly recommended), I
|
||
decided to do something useful (???). Went to France + found the others
|
||
just emerging. (Balazs was cold but impressed + Andy ranted loudly at
|
||
Scout). After some time I found the totally unobvious hole James + I had
|
||
found previously + chucked a ladder down. Then found a fairly rusty spit
|
||
near the top. I went down the ladder which didn't reach the bottom (bum),
|
||
swung around lots. Decided it probably doesn't go but I can't be sure.
|
||
Climbing long ladders clipping cows tails in for safety is tedious + shit.
|
||
Ropes are much better. Failed to find the cave with a - on which James + I
|
||
found before. Instead found a draughting horizontal entrance a bit below
|
||
France which has snow in leading to a pitch in a big rift. Didn't go in -
|
||
too scary. Didn't draw any pictures either because it was about to get
|
||
dark.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>TU ½
|
||
|
||
<hr />27/7/95 | Plateau - Prospecting on big white patch of limestone below Hinter | <u>Kate</u>, Balazs<br />
|
||
|
||
|
||
<p>Balazs wanted to go prospecting & taking photos. Oh dear what a shame
|
||
- another excuse not to go caving. It is far away + v. hot. We found some big
|
||
holes. After putting a ladder down into a shallow rift, we decided to free
|
||
climb it instead and put the ladder down a grim tight rift where water goes
|
||
which was shit on a ladder in shorts & doesn't go. Then a huge boulder
|
||
fell off when Balazs stood on it & they fell ~6 foot into snow. He was
|
||
just bruised & v lucky. Unsurprisingly he didn't then feel like going
|
||
into the other hole in that rift. This looked promising so I borrowed his
|
||
harness rigged the pitch off naturals + went down. Found a spit near the top
|
||
(again). The rope didn't reach the bottom AGAIN! rant! Looks like it doesn't
|
||
go though. Interesting moment when my dodgy deviation went PING & a bit
|
||
of cack came flying down 1 foot from my totally unprotected head. Fortunately
|
||
the deviation stayed put. After that we found another <u>big</u> hole with a
|
||
really shit spit in the top. Didn't go down due to lack of decent naturals,
|
||
bolting gear or bolts. Then we found a draughting horizontal entrance!
|
||
Unfortunately this also stopped (the draught was due to the fact that it was
|
||
next to a snow plug). More chucking rocks down holes, then we went back to
|
||
top camp via France which was hot, shit + took too long. We don't appear to
|
||
have found another way into the Far End yet, strangely enough.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>TU ¾ Kate
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-27">28/07/1995</a> | 161 - Surveying/Pushing Triassic Park etc | <u>Duncan</u>, Steve, Kate
|
||
|
||
<p>Continued surveying from where the previous day's team left off. Found a
|
||
dead moth (this is the second dead moth to be found in this part of the
|
||
cave). Surveyed up to the pushing front, and then pushed and surveyed some
|
||
more. Cave just keeps going! We eventually called it a day, and left, taking
|
||
out the drill battery and some rope from the bottom of Algeria.
|
||
|
||
<p align=right>TU 10 ½
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-26">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-29">Next trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />29/07/1995? | Plateau | AndyW
|
||
|
||
<p>AndyW draws the short straw (Ta, Wooks) and has to be ready at 06:30 hrs
|
||
to show Sepp & Robert a wide variety of entrances which he has never seen
|
||
before and which they could therefore have found just as easily themselves...
|
||
|
||
<p>Remarkably (given 00:30 crash) we are off by 06:45 and at Top Camp
|
||
disturbing Wooks & Andy before eight. Tried to sidle off looking for
|
||
entrances on my own, but Wook soon despatches Sepp & Robert with his
|
||
line: "Waddington! Want any Austrians? We seem to have a couple spare over
|
||
here..." So we start at 164, attaching bolt on metal numbers using Hilti
|
||
drill Sepp has about his person. Next 189, then 190, 171, 172.... 176, 175
|
||
(had to go back a bit to find this one). Photos and video also taken. Found
|
||
Dropped Rucksack Schacht (lost in 1993) and took appropriate bearings. Then
|
||
tried to find 177, which is unmarked and has no bolts. Might have found it -
|
||
but how do you tell? There was a "might be a cairn". So painted "177?" in
|
||
blue on a loose rock, and left. Repainted number on laser point 0/6 at 76
|
||
entrance. Back to Top Camp where we decided to jack for the day - 9 hours in
|
||
the sun was enough! No-one at Top Camp, trailed back to Hildes.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 5min (in 171 - and I've video to prove it!)
|
||
|
||
<p>P.S. 190 involved some very dodgy SRT when first explored. Robert TWC took
|
||
one look, free climbed in, ticked it off, and climbed nonchalantly out
|
||
again. T/U 90 secs.
|
||
|
||
<p><i>[Editor's note: it wasn't the entrance pitch that involved the dodgy
|
||
SRT, and upon reflection, the author realises that he freeclimbed in and out
|
||
of the entrance himself in 1977, when the cave had the 1976 number "B9"!]</i>
|
||
|
||
|
||
<hr /><a id="id1995-161-28">1995-07-30</a> | 161 - RH route de-rig + semi-detached survey | <u>Wook</u> & AndyW
|
||
|
||
<p><center><h3>Logbook Supplement</h3></center>
|
||
|
||
<p>After we had told 'them students' that they were worrying about de-rigging
|
||
too much & it would be easy, we felt obliged to go and knock of said
|
||
de-rigging as a side-dish on surveying our new bits down 'main entrance' (as
|
||
161a seems now to be referred to).
|
||
|
||
<p>Underground by twelve (from base camp). Footled down to semi-detached (bit
|
||
above bungalow found on our last 161a trip). 1st derigged poxy &
|
||
bungalow, then spent about 4 hours surveying from top of bungalow, up climb
|
||
into 'The viewport' & thence down passages of semi-detached to head of
|
||
huge pitch (later checking on 'puter, suggests that this rift pitch drops in
|
||
a gap in survey between Olympus & Tower blocks.
|
||
|
||
<p>Is this really a whole new pitch or just another way down to R.H. route?)
|
||
That done we derigged back to bungalow. The semi-detached + bungalow + poxy
|
||
ropes + 2 tacklesacks from gob (one of which was 'fucking heavy') made 3
|
||
sacks. 1 more from over the rainbow + chunnel, and another from the rope up
|
||
to cowboy caver. Having carted
|
||
|
||
<p>[Interrupted by page of names]<br />
|
||
Some names:<br />
|
||
<blockquote>1) Climb above L H route at G. party/squeeze = cowboy caver.<br />
|
||
2) Left turn where guillotine joins Triassic park = shortage of walls<br />
|
||
3) Junction after dark bit in t.p. = Trifurcation<br />
|
||
4) chamber between triassic park pt2 & pt3 = locophobia<br />
|
||
5) LH at junction near end of triassic pt 3 = minoan surprise
|
||
</blockquote>
|
||
|
||
<p>[back to the story]<br />
|
||
all this up to the bottom of snot we find <u>another</u> baggy there - Hmmmm
|
||
- that makes 6, which is about 4 too many. Wookey also got a bit keen and
|
||
decided to tidy up the co-ax which has been lying around since 1989. The
|
||
cable drum was a lot the worse for its 6-year sojourn (it was very soggy).
|
||
|
||
<p>So all this shit was duly hauled up the pitches - 2 of the bags were
|
||
fucking heavy, and the co-ax exploded all over the place. Many hours later we
|
||
emerge, just in time for our call-out (10.30pm), reasonably shagged from our
|
||
exertions.
|
||
|
||
<p>[side note] Note: we didn't have enough time to survey 'cowboy caver'.
|
||
Grade 1 in logbook will have to do for now!
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 10.5hrs<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-29">1995-07-31</a> | 161 - Go to find new entrance | <u>Wook</u> & Andrew Atkinson
|
||
|
||
<p>The plan was to prod a few of the QMs down T.P, especially on the R.H
|
||
side, to see if any popped out of the hill.
|
||
|
||
<p>In our optimism we even told the austrians (sepp & robert, who were up
|
||
checking entrances with wads) that we were going to find 161d today.
|
||
|
||
<p>Despite this outrageous cockiness we were surprisingly successful.
|
||
|
||
<p>Wizzed down to Algeria (underground at 10.30) and left SRT gear. Decided
|
||
that sultans bypass (found on 'forbidden land' trip) really needs a traverse
|
||
line as pitch head is very dodgy. Gear should only be left after this when
|
||
coming in this direction. Stomped up to staudnwirt palace, only finding
|
||
obscure QM on RH, just above climb out of zombie Slime (QM 95-19).
|
||
|
||
<p>In staudnwirt we climbed up boulder pile to right. There is a scrotty
|
||
canyon accessible through very dodgy rocks (does not look terribly promising
|
||
(95-20), and the climb could be continued upslope with a bit of gear (95-21).
|
||
Seems likely to access aven in roof.
|
||
|
||
<p>Big passage off behind 'pt28' boulder chokes disappointingly after about
|
||
12m with no draught. The next passage on R, at exit of staudnwirt P. leads
|
||
about 12m to a good carbide pool (10" deep) but no way on other than up the
|
||
pitch above the pool (where draught must go). Not an inspiring start, - 2 QMs
|
||
ticked off! Short climb on LHS in Salt Lake City leads for about 5m to look
|
||
out over big space - at least 30m long & 10 wide. This p9 is worth doing.
|
||
(95-23)
|
||
|
||
<p>Next we followed S.L.C. streamway (and strong draught to R, opposite the
|
||
guillotine. This leads quickly up to choked dead end 'critters end'. Here we
|
||
found 3 dead bats (old) & a number of moths - which looked relatively
|
||
recent. Also a quite large skull (3.5cm long) which may have been a bird. All
|
||
this suggested surface close by. The draught was strong down a tube above the
|
||
choke but this was blocked by a rock that would need crowbarring. Andy looked
|
||
in LH side of choke & found that it went (just). He found a lot of crap,
|
||
tiny passage, & bit big passage 90% full of rocks. The draught was v.
|
||
strong & thus easy to follow. We pushed on through this, noting a bigger
|
||
passage on Left at one point, but it seemed draughtless.
|
||
|
||
<p>Eventually we ended up at a tiny hole above the passage level which was
|
||
howling with the wind going through it. (30 mph?). Andy pushed this (nutter -
|
||
it was tiny) and popped through into more crawling. We ran along bigger
|
||
passage and a minute later popped out of the hill on a very steep section of
|
||
mountain, distinguished by the recent rockfall which left a very obvious scar
|
||
& shortage of Bunde! Hooray! Jubilation!
|
||
|
||
<p>We took bearings on various spots to allow finding from outside (see
|
||
survey book). Then went back in to survey. Checking out the bigger passage
|
||
noted earlier we both found another (easier) route to critters end. This
|
||
whole complex area was called perseverance after a lot of that produced the
|
||
goods.
|
||
|
||
<p>We surveyed out, noting that the rocks either side of dead-ends near
|
||
'Battle of the bulge' (the <u>very</u> small & awkward wind tunnel, with
|
||
a bulge in just the wrong place) looked very similar. A dig there would mean
|
||
that anyone could fit - was it 1m or 10?
|
||
|
||
<p>We were finished by 6.30 & decided to 'walk' back to France. The big
|
||
cliff band above 161d (aka 'scarface') made this pretty exciting. About 20m
|
||
of this cliff is extremely steep & bunde ridden.
|
||
|
||
<p>It will be hard to find a safe route. Andy (who crossed into a gully
|
||
earlier and thus avoided a lot of bunde) got back up (to 161c) in half an
|
||
hour, thus getting to T.C. just before dark.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/U 8.5 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-27">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-30">Next trip</a>
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-30">1995-08-01 | 161 - More 161d</a> & triassic | Andrew Atkinson, <u>wook</u>, Steve
|
||
|
||
<p>Took Steve in to show him route/entrance & intending to survey another
|
||
km on end of t.p. [Arranged that team Algeria derig (Anthony, Kate, Duncan)
|
||
would drop off our SRT gear - still in Algeria - at guillotine].
|
||
|
||
<p>Tromped down hill from france taking photos for pictorial record. Main
|
||
gully has many short cliffs & climbs - tedious. When we got to cliff band
|
||
Andy & steve battled bunde to reverse previous day's ascent route
|
||
(approx.). Wook tried going to right instead. Wook thrashed through bunde at
|
||
top of cliff for prob. 100m to right before finally being able to descend via
|
||
tricky & exposed climb. <u>Not</u> recommended - it was fucking scary
|
||
& uncomfortable. Andy & steve got onto rising traverses with relative
|
||
ease but still very dodgy - not what you would call a 'route'.
|
||
|
||
<p>Big grassy traverse below cliffs is very easy. The gully itself looks OK
|
||
(?) from bottom but Andy reckons is impossible 15m higher.
|
||
|
||
<p>On return Andy tried to get into gully as soon as possible on difficult
|
||
bit - i.e. avoiding climbing cliff direct, but found it extremely difficult
|
||
with very exposed traverses.
|
||
|
||
<p>Wookey tried descending to Augstwies see & thus to stogerweg. This was
|
||
safe but still hard going in various places with short cliffs and an awful
|
||
lot of thick bunde. The descent took about an hour & was exhausting with
|
||
pack full of caving gear.
|
||
|
||
<p>The gully which descends to NE is generally quite passable but it is a
|
||
long way round and any deviation results in serious bunde grief.
|
||
|
||
<p>After ascending stogerweg past junction with Altausee path a clear grassy
|
||
(if steep) route up the hill became visible. It _looks_ as if this gets to
|
||
the same level as the wide grassy traverse below cliff on the Altaussee side
|
||
of the col. This looks like very promising route, with 1000m less height
|
||
gain & very little bunde & hopefully no objective danger - Needs
|
||
checking out, as otherwise access to 161d could prove very problematic.
|
||
Surface camp water supplies could still be problematic....
|
||
|
||
<p>Back to the caving:<br />
|
||
We went in, and photo'd the bear(?) skull near the entrance. Then Andy stayed
|
||
one side of choke whilst steve & I battled the bulge & went to other
|
||
(steve was suitably impressed by the awfulness). Voices were clear &
|
||
light could just be seen showing the choke to be short. As the downslope side
|
||
was at critical angle is was very easy to slide it down. Turns were taken
|
||
& bigger rocks undermined until they slid downslope. About 1.5 hours
|
||
quite exciting (and jolly good fun) work here produced a traversable entrance
|
||
(hurrah!). It will need some traffic to make it pleasant but it's a fuck of
|
||
an improvement.
|
||
|
||
<p>Tromped off to far end & started survey from chamber at end of
|
||
triassic pt2 (locophobia).
|
||
|
||
<p>Came to t-junc and went right. Only a couple of hundred metres of cave
|
||
along we came to 'the end' TP obviously continued, but only 15m up in the
|
||
roof. The climb up is not too hard, but does need gear - 'bugger'.
|
||
|
||
<p>Went back the other way at the junction and only got about 15m before
|
||
stopping at 2 deep pitches & a shorter pitch - bugger again. Subsequent
|
||
computing shows this to be right next to Knossos, so this is called 'Minoan
|
||
Surprise'.
|
||
|
||
<p>Back at locophobia we met the others & steve went off to help de-rig.
|
||
Wook & Andy surveyed down big passage out of locophobia, heading back
|
||
along T.p. this is children's railway' & probably accounts for 4 or 5 QMs
|
||
in T.p.
|
||
|
||
<p>By 6pm we were shagged & zoomed out to play 'find the route' games.
|
||
(20 mins to surface from here!) 161d entrance was marked.
|
||
|
||
<p>T/u (Wook & Andy) 6.5hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-29">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="#id1995-161-31">Next trip</a> (derig France)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
|
||
<a id="id1995-161-31">1/8/95 | 161 - Derigging France</a> | Duncan, Kate, <u>Anthony</u>, Steve
|
||
|
||
<p>Duncan, Kate & Anthony went down France & first surveyed the bit
|
||
that Kate and various Daves had pushed in Algeria, connecting the top of
|
||
Sultans into Algeria in the process. This leads into the bottom of Twin Tubs
|
||
and has been christened "Daz Automatic". Since Duncan's backup had failed at
|
||
the surface, he left at this point with a tacklesack full of steel whilst K
|
||
& A went and fetched Steve. Kate took a tacklesack out, the others
|
||
derigged. Derigging is shit. Tacklesacks are shit. Pulleys are good gear.
|
||
|
||
<p>TU Duncan 7.5 hrs, Steve 10.5 hrs, Kate 10 hrs, Anthony 11 hrs
|
||
|
||
<p><a href="#id1995-161-30">Previous trip</a> /
|
||
<a href="../1996/log.htm#id1996-161-1">Next trip</a> (1996)
|
||
|
||
<hr />
|
||
<!-- LINKS -->
|
||
<ul id="links">
|
||
<li>1995 Expedition info:
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="index.htm">Index</a> (more detail than in this list)</li>
|
||
<li><a href="excsrp.htm">Preliminary report</a> (exCS newsletter)</li>
|
||
<li><a href="report.htm">Cambridge Underground report</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="bcracc.htm">BCRA Caves and Caving</a> Report</li>
|
||
<li>This year's <a href="sponsr.htm">Sponsors</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="exponl.htm">From Expo Novice to Expo Leader</a>:
|
||
The tale of my Decline</li>
|
||
</ul></li>
|
||
<li><a href="../../pubs.htm#pubs1995">Published accounts</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expedition intro page</a></li>
|
||
<li><A href="../../../index.htm">CUCC Home page</a>
|
||
|
||
</ul>
|
||
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|
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