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<title>1623/161 Kaninchenh&ouml;hle - Mordor and passages beyond</title>
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<h2>161 Kaninchenh&ouml;hle: Mordor and passages beyond</h2></center>
<h3>Overview</h3>
<p>The large trunk passages described on this page were originally
accessed by descending Mordor pitch from the <a href="oldmen.htm">
Country for Old Men</a> level in 2011. In 2012, this area was accessed
and explored from Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle via the Far from Support
traverses from the bottom of Fat Cat. The southern extremity (Runnel
Stone area) is very close to Chicken Flied Nice, so in the future it
may prove easier to access these passages via an as yet undiscovered
connection in this area, thereby bypassing the Tyrolean traverse at
<a href="farnth.htm#viasa">Strange Acrossfall</a>.</p>
<hr />
<h3><a name="mordor">Mordor</a> (2011)</h3>
<p>Mordor is a small, very windy (blowing up) pitch at the northern
end of <a href="oldmen.htm#sudetenland">Sudetenland</a> (accessed from
<a href="oldmen.htm#country">Country for Old Men</a>) that is rigged
from the roof. After the initial 10m drop, it
is possible to climb a further 10m down to a second hang from a
thread then a roof bolt where pitch opens out. A deviation ~7m down
on a spike avoids a rub at a rebelay (huge thread) to drop nicely to
near floor. A 60m rope is recommended (this pitch was left rigged in
2011). At the bottom is a chamber is about 15m high. To the west is a
north-south trending rift leading to large pitch at S end. [FIXME:
where is this pitch on the survey? Presumably the pitch is a QM -
what grade? There are two candidates. Also 3 C-grade QMs marked on
survey]. East leads to <a href="#entmarch">March of the Ents</a>.</p>
<h3><a name="entmarch">March of the Ents</a> (2011)</h3>
<p>The large passage of March of the Ents heads eastwards from the
chamber at the base of <a href="#mordor">Mordor</a> pitch 4m
higher up, reached via an easy traverse. There is a strong
draught from east to west (into the chamber). After 18m, a t-junction
is reached with a much less windy passage to the right (south),
<a href="#rivendell">Rivendell</a>, that is the main route to the
south. Straight ahead (east) the main passage continues uphill then
turns northeast. 30m beyond the Rivendell junction, climbing up to
the left in a complex area reaches the head of <a href="#sauron">No
Sign of Sauron</a> pitch. Most of the draught appears to coming from
the area around this pitch. Immediately beyond is a passage on the
left (bearing on 252&deg;) [C2011-161-XX B] [FIXME: is this the C
lead on the survey? Bearing doesn't fit- 352 better]. The phreatic
passage zig-zags for another 30m. At the corner is a high (12m)
solution area in the roof [C2011-161-XX C] [FIXME: where is this
on the survey?]. Ahead the passage becomes a very high hading rift
with a short drop. Traversing across the rift leads to
<a href="#bored">Bored of the Rings</a>.</p>
<h3><a name="bored">Bored of the Rings</a> (2011)</h3>
<p>Bored of the Rings can be accessed either by descending a short
pitch and climbing up the far side, or (preferred) by traversing along
the right-hand wall of the hading rift (bolts placed for a traverse line).
[FIXME: the survey shows two C leads at the bottom of the rift, and a
B lead at the top, also a p5 - is this a QM?] At the far end of the
traverse is a junction. Ahead leads after 10m to a pitch [C2011-161-XX B].
A passage to the right here connects heads back to overlook the hading
rift.</p>
<p>The main way on at the junction is to the left (north). The passage
continues for 55m, past a pool (traversed on the left) to a rift in the
floor (undescended [C2011-161-XX B]). Left here leads to
[FIXME: 2 QMs on survey, B and a C - descriptions? Also, c2 to the east
of the passage - is there a QM there?]. Stepping over the rift (traverse
line advisable) leads to a breakdown chamber with lots of holes in the
floor. [FIXME: extension to west near survey station 'a' leads to 2 B
grade QMs - description?] Keeping right passes a small passage
on the right [C2011-161-XX C]. Clambering among the boulders leads to
a short climb down near the right-hand wall (handline useful) to
reach a drippy pitch (undescended). [C2011-161-XX B]. The Far From
Support traverses head off along the right-hand wall of this pitch
(left rigged in 2012) and is the connection route to
Steinbr&uuml;ckenh&ouml;hle, emerging in Cirque du Soleil. A tube
heading up on the right immediately before the start of the traverse
links back to overlook the pitch and also a possible continuation
east [C2011-161-XX C].</p>
<h3><a name="sauron">No Sign of Sauron</a> (2012)</h3>
<p>No Sign of Sauron pitch is accessed by heading north and uphill from
<a href="#entmarch">March of the Ents</a> into the wind to a
rock pillar at the pitch head. The pitch is rigged by traversing
along the left hand wall to a rock bridge overlooking a second,
connected hole that is the descent route. An aven above the pitch on
the left at this point appears to be main source of the draught
[C2012-161-XX X]. It would be relatively easy to continue the
traverse to an apparent passage on the far side of the pitch
[C2012-161-XX B] - it is unclear whether or not this passage
continues.</p>
<p>The pitch is a fine circular shaft, 5m round and 32m deep, and is
descended via a deviation 4m down and a y-hang rebelay approximately
halfway down. At the base of the pitch, a rift passage heads south,
accessed by climbing down through boulders. The passage was followed
for 15m, via a 2m down climb, and continues to the south, tight but
passable [C2012-161-XX B]. There is little discernible draught.</p>
<h3><a name="rivendell">Rivendell</a> and The Stables (2011)</h3>
<p>Rivendell is a large phreatic passage heading south from
<a href="#entmarch">March of the Ents</a> for 25m to a chamber.
A hole in the floor is approximately 10m deep with a pool at the
bottom [C2011-161-XX A]. There is possible passage uphill to
the northeast [C2011-161-XX B]. The way on is downhill to the
southwest, quickly arriving at a large T-junction with a horizontal
passage. This is very windy again (blowing from southeast to northwest).
Left is the large passage of <a href="#shires">The Shires</a>. Right
is the main way on - <a name="stables">The Stables</a></p>
<p>After 17m, the passage opens out at a small streamway with a junction.
The two passages soon reunite at a further junction. Left continues
downhill for 17m to where the stream sinks in a too tight rift with an
aven on the right [C2011-161-XX-X]. The main way on is ahead (west).</p>
<p>The passage continues past a stagnant pool and quickly reaches
a 3m drop at a junction. Right connects to the north-south trending
rift accessed from the base of <a href="#mordor">Mordor</a> pitch.
To the left, a traverse round the 3m drop (left rigged) is the main
way on. Large passage continues, under a rock bridge and up a 2m climb,
reaching a junction 35m from the traverse. The main way on is to the
left into <a href="#gallop">Southern Gallop</a>. <i>Right
leads to [FIXME (Julian/Andrew): about 50m of passage culminating
in a p6 with two B leads - better description?].</i></p>
<h3><a name="shires">The Shires</a> (2011)</h3>
<p>Turning left (southeast) at the large T-junction in
<a href="#rivendell">Rivendell</a> enters a huge phreatic passage
5m across trending gently downhill, <b>The Shires</b>. This reaches a
pitch edge after 50m looking out into large chamber/area
[C2011-161-XX A]. The drop is about 10m, then another 10m in further
hole. A small passage continues ahead for ~7m to look out over another
drop, probably the same space [C2011-161-XX B]. Halfway along the Shires
a small rift passage goes off [C2011-161-XX C]
[FIXME: not explicitly labelled on survey].</p>
<h3><a name="gallop">Southern Gallop</a> (2011)</h3>
<p>A short climb up gains access to a large passage heading southeast.
After 10m a hole is reached that can be traversed to the right (rope
useful) to gain access to the continuing passage. [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew)
have I correctly identified this obstacle? Is the hole a QM].</p>
<p>After a further 10m, a 4m climb down into a rift is reached (becoming
progressively more awkward on the return as ever more mud becomes smeared
on the footholds). The rift passage heads south for 20m to a junction
where the left hand branch quickly closes down [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) does
it close down? survey is unclear] and the main way on is to the right.</p>
<p>The passage continues in fine style for 100m to a breakdown chamber.
[FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) Are there really no QMs on this entire stretch?].
Clambering up and under the biggest boulder leads to a continuation in a
tall rift. The passage continues for a further 50m to a local widening
with an undescended pitch to the west [C2011-161-XX A]. Ahead the rift
closes down, but a 5m climb up (rope left rigged) leads to
<a href="#maddogs">Mad Dogs</a>.
<h3><a name="maddogs">Mad Dogs</a> (2011)</h3>
<hr />
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