mirror of
https://expo.survex.com/repositories/expoweb/.git/
synced 2024-11-22 15:21:55 +00:00
492 lines
26 KiB
HTML
492 lines
26 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN">
|
|
<html>
|
|
<head>
|
|
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf8" />
|
|
<title>Kaninchenhöhle: Chile</title>
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" />
|
|
</head>
|
|
<body>
|
|
|
|
<p><center><a href="top.htm"><img alt="Overview "
|
|
src="ovview.png" width=40 height=40></a>
|
|
<a href="pixrh.htm"><img alt=" Photos "
|
|
src="vtour.png" width=40 height=40></a>
|
|
<img alt="Rigging" src="rigbut.png" width=40 height=40>
|
|
<a href="names.htm"><img alt=" Glossary "
|
|
src="idx161.png" width=40 height=40></a>
|
|
<a href="../index.html#id161"><img alt=" Desc "
|
|
src="desc.png" width=40 height=40></a>
|
|
<a href="../../index.htm"><img alt=" Expo "
|
|
src="ausbut.png" width=40 height=40></a>
|
|
<a href="../../infodx.htm"><img alt=" Topics "
|
|
src="index.png" width=40 height=40></a>
|
|
<a href="../../indxal.htm"><img alt=" Index "
|
|
src="indxal.png" width=40 height=40></a>
|
|
<a href="../../../index.htm"><img alt=" CUCC"
|
|
src="cucc.png" width=40 height=40></a></center>
|
|
|
|
<p>This is a work-in-progress, as yet incomplete.
|
|
Last updated: <? echo Date("Y.m.d", getLastMod()) > <br><b>Here's what there is:</b>
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="136.htm#footlight">Footlights, & Exit stage left
|
|
alterations</a> by Julian H, Wadders and Wookey
|
|
|
|
<li><a href="#oatso">Oatso Simple</a> by Julian H and Wookey
|
|
|
|
<LI><a href="#oshoot">Overshoot</a> (pt II) by Wookey and Becka:<br>
|
|
Brian, AndyA to check
|
|
|
|
<LI><a href="#ushoot">Undershoot</a> by Wookey:<br>
|
|
Brian, to check
|
|
|
|
<LI><a href="#breezeb">Breeze Block</a> by Wookey:<br>
|
|
AndyA to check
|
|
|
|
<LI><a href="#lost1">Lost in Space I</a> and <a href="#lost2">II</a> by Wookey and Becka<br>
|
|
To check: Julian, Brian, Earl,
|
|
Andy, Jon, Andy
|
|
|
|
<LI><a href="#lost2left">Left Route</a> by Becka<br>
|
|
To check: Brian, Earl, Jon
|
|
|
|
<LI><a href="#lost3">Lost in Space III</a> down to Totality by Becka<br>
|
|
To check: Brian, Jon, Andy
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<b><a name="breezet">Also known</a> to exist but not yet uploaded:</b>
|
|
<ul>
|
|
<LI>Pit of Damnation by JulianH
|
|
<LI>Breeze Through by JulianH
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
<h2><a name="start">Entry</a> from Steinschlagschacht</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>At the rock bridge 18m down <a href="136.htm#plughole">Plughole Pitch</a>
|
|
in Steinschlagschacht, ignore further descents and cross the rock bridge.
|
|
Over a few boulders and through a smallish slot, is a short (5m) pitch.
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="oatso">Oatso Simple</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>At the foot of the 5m pitch is a fair sized chamber with a large
|
|
selection of holes in the floor, all of which have audible (and falling
|
|
rock) connections with the chamber at the bottom of the final Footlights
|
|
pitch or the adjacent aven. None has been descended - it is conceivable,
|
|
although perhaps not very likely, that other interesting routes may
|
|
connect part way down these holes. A muddy slope/climb down leads from
|
|
the nearest corner of the chamber, which after about 10m or so intersects
|
|
a rift. Unfortunately the rift itself is too tight to the left and full
|
|
of mud to the right. Just back from the connection to the rift, high up
|
|
on the right hand wall of the climb down, is a steep upward mud slope to
|
|
a small unexplored tube with no draught [C1999-136-xx C].
|
|
|
|
<p>Back in the chamber, the way on is a lined traverse across large and
|
|
loose boulders to the opposite corner, where there is a large horizontal
|
|
tube with a mud floor.
|
|
|
|
<!-- Wookey -->
|
|
<p>This passage is very cold due to the sizeable gale blowing down it, (which
|
|
seems to come out the last hole in the floor (end of the traverse), as there
|
|
is much less wind in the earlier passage). Easy walking for 20m soon
|
|
degenerates into hading rift with a very irregular floor. The awkward parts
|
|
are lined. The annoying 3m hole in the floor is rigged as a pitch with a
|
|
pendulum on and a pendulum off! At this point the floor drops away steeply to
|
|
the left down ~25m (only partially descended) to the northern tip of
|
|
<a href="#oshoot">the Overshoot.</a> Oatso Simple continues with an easy
|
|
lined traverse along the right hand wall for 20m then a 30 degree mud/boulder
|
|
slope beyond to the top of a 7m inclined face. The obvious way on down this
|
|
7m pitch reaches <b>Windy Bottom.</b> However the main way on is a climb down
|
|
on the left (somewhat unobvious) for 3m, then ducking under a low roof to
|
|
emerge in <b>The OverShoot</b> - the huge passage visible from the traverse
|
|
above.
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="windyb">Windy Bottom</a></h3>
|
|
<!-- JulianH -->
|
|
<p>The 7m pitch to the right lands in a fairly large and pretty chamber with
|
|
mostly clean walls and a smooth mud floor. Continuing around to the right
|
|
leads to a 3m pitch into the bottom of a very wet (when raining) aven,
|
|
<b>Windy Bottom.</b> Above the head of this pitch are cauliflower-like
|
|
formations. It's also very cold! This aven is enormous - a 10W light is
|
|
insufficient to see the top. The foot of the aven is around 8m in
|
|
diameter with the walls rising approximately vertically, clean washed.
|
|
There are no ways out at the bottom, except for the all too familiar
|
|
small too-tight slot through which an unfeasible amount of water
|
|
disappears.
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="oshoot">The Overshoot</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<P>High ~8-10m wide hading fault/joint-controlled passage going directly SW.
|
|
There is a taped route along here making much of this description
|
|
superfluous 'follow the tape to an eyehole into Lost in Space' would
|
|
suffice for most trips :-)
|
|
|
|
<p>From the duckunder at the end of Oatso Simple, a large hading rift is
|
|
entered, with a couple of massive boulders in the middle. NE the passage
|
|
goes back to the foot of the pitch down from Oatso Simple, but the main
|
|
way lies to the SW, starting with a 4m 'slippery slope'. 35m on (just
|
|
before the passage opens out) is a 10m climb up to the left [C1999-136-xx B
|
|
overshoot.1.9], which also seems to connect (lights shone through) with a
|
|
similar 8m climb after it opens out, [overshoot.1.11].
|
|
|
|
<!-- Overshoot pt II, Wookey + Becka -->
|
|
|
|
<P>The passage widens to about 15m for a bit to create a large, high, open
|
|
area with a rising pile of boulders ahead. The route on is up by the left
|
|
hand wall. Behind the biggest rocks on the right hand side at the foot of the
|
|
boulder pile wall is a B grade question mark [C1999-136-xx, overshoot.2.5] that is
|
|
likely to just go through interstices in the boulders - but someone needs to
|
|
check. High on the right wall is an inaccessible passage [C1999-136-xx C (or maybe
|
|
aven?), overshoot.2.5]
|
|
|
|
<P>Over the boulder pile, the descent is on the right hand side. The obvious
|
|
way on ahead on the right hand side dead-ends at the foot of a 4m wall in the
|
|
passage. To avoid this, climb up a sandy slope left immediately and climb the
|
|
wall at a cleft by the left hand wall. Just here on the left is the entry to
|
|
<b>Breeze Through.</b> Easy progress for 20m reaches a 2m climb where a large
|
|
block interrupts the passage. Going down below it (on the right) leads into
|
|
<a href="#ushoot">Undershoot.</a> About 10m beyond on the left is the climb
|
|
into <b>Breeze Block.</b> At this point you can also climb down under the big
|
|
slab that is the passage floor to reach Undershoot again.
|
|
|
|
<P><a name="bullseye">Ahead, the</a> route climbs steeply up a large boulder
|
|
pile/run-in (there is a possible QM at he top of an exposed 5m climb on the
|
|
left), until the roof is reached as it levels off. 15m of stooping progress
|
|
leads to the stunning eyehole view into <a href="#lost1">Lost in Space.</a>
|
|
The eyehole is called <b>Bull's Eye.</b> You can climb through boulders up to
|
|
the left here, which leads to a bridge dropping into a small chamber with a
|
|
further small chamber immediately connected. In this area, there are several
|
|
airy avens above, but no obvious way on at floor level.
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="ushoot">The Undershoot</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<!-- by Wookey -->
|
|
|
|
<p>Climbing under one of the boulders in The Overshoot reaches an awkward,
|
|
sloping 10m pitch, reminiscent of <a href="rhr.htm#poxyp">Bungalow</a> (2
|
|
bolts on right, one rebelay bolt on boulder on left at -4m). At the foot is a
|
|
largely flat area with rocks sloping up to the left wall. There are some nice
|
|
mud formations here. To the right (across the mud) is a crack in the wall
|
|
(from which a tiny dribble issues) and a slope up to a window into an active
|
|
wet inlet. The water falls from the usual tight streamway above and goes down
|
|
a crack in the floor.
|
|
|
|
<P>Ahead, (SW) there is a deep hole through boulders hidden behind a block on
|
|
the right hand side [C1999-136-W2 B]. At the end, the passage is choked
|
|
although 5m more progress can be made via a slot in the floor below. This is
|
|
probably all part of the same huge run-in you climb over above in the
|
|
Overshoot to reach the top of Lost in Space.
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="breezeb">Breeze Block</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<!-- by Wookey -->
|
|
|
|
<p>A 7m climb up the left hand wall of The Overshoot just opposite the start
|
|
of the Undershoot leads into a narrow crossrift with a strong breeze coming
|
|
out of it. Some of the draught appears to come out of a narrow, largely
|
|
inaccessible, slot in the roof. 12m along the crossrift another rift parallel
|
|
to The Overshoot is reached. A 13m pitch descends here. (Huge thread back in
|
|
cross-rift, Bolt right hand side). Climbing up steeply to the left (NE)
|
|
reaches apparently continuing passage totally blocked by glacial infill.
|
|
Downwards the passage narrows and continues through a 'point crawl' to where
|
|
the rift goes straight down, now only 0.5m wide. The first few metres are
|
|
easily freeclimbable, but in fact this is the top of a 32m pitch, which jigs
|
|
back under the way you came 10m down (bolt rebelay) for a nice 22m hang in
|
|
wide rift. Breeze Through comes out 10m off the floor at the NE end of of
|
|
this rift, although no-one has actually passed from one to the other - it
|
|
probably needs a pitch rigging from the Breeze Through end.
|
|
|
|
<P>At the bottom you can go about 10m Northish over a sand-pile to where an
|
|
occasional (maybe now defunct?) stream disappears down a crack. The rest of
|
|
Breeze Through is the other way. A c3 leads through a narrow point to the
|
|
next 'section' of rift, also connected by a window 10m above. A very small
|
|
inlet (too tight after 5m) comes in on the NW wall here. Next is a difficult
|
|
c4 up onto a large boulder (the nose of a pile). The rift widens considerably
|
|
into a sizeable chamber, <b>Breeze Block Central</b>, with a pair of very
|
|
high avens going off (30m+, one main, wide, one and a parallel narrow one
|
|
(~2m)). The floor is boulders sloping up to the SW, with a 'sand bar'
|
|
dividing it into 2 halves. There are 3 ways out. A narrow rift in the top
|
|
left hand corner, another rift at the top of the sand bar, and a window lower
|
|
in the right hand corner, behind the sand bar. The second two of these lead
|
|
to the same place. The narrow aven can also only be seen from near the middle
|
|
'sandbar' exit.
|
|
|
|
<P>The narrow rift exit is a tricky 6m climb down (stick near the roof for
|
|
the lower half) to look out into the foot of another large, wet aven with
|
|
a very flat floor (silty pool and some rocks). The draught comes from here.
|
|
Another tricky c4 round a column and down to the right gains the floor. The
|
|
stream here disappears down typical person-sized immature streamway (explored
|
|
for half a body length :-) ) The water and draught comes in ~30m above.
|
|
|
|
<P>Back in Breeze Block Central the eyehole exit looks out on a 15m pitch
|
|
(bolt in roof and another on far side of flake opposite). The middle Breeze
|
|
Block Central rift comes in 4m higher on the left and the rift continues up
|
|
to the right - possibly climbable. This may then become the narrow rift
|
|
visible from Breeze Block Central, but it's hard to tell. At the foot of the
|
|
pitch it is choked.
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="lost1">Lost in Space I</a>: The main chamber</h3>
|
|
|
|
<!-- by Wookey and Becka -->
|
|
|
|
<h4>Summary</h4>
|
|
|
|
<p>A very large chamber developed on the same fault/joint as the Overshoot.
|
|
At the top it is possible to see the 4m or so of choss still in the
|
|
'gap'. It contains 3 huge holes in the floor, several smaller pitches and
|
|
the main way on is over the top of the boulder pile which forms its
|
|
southern end.
|
|
|
|
<h4>Trade route</h4>
|
|
|
|
<p>From the eyehole entry, Bull's Eye, descend steeply, keeping near the
|
|
RH wall by following the taped path heading down and to the right of the
|
|
eyehole. This avoids the shit slope leading ~30m into a deep hole
|
|
directly ahead of the eyehole. Towards the foot of this slope you can get
|
|
near the edge of the pair of large oval (6m x 10m) holes on the L [C1999-136-xx
|
|
B,lostinspace.1.3; C1999-136-xx B, lostinspace.1.4]. The first hole has a small
|
|
stream falling from the roof some 20m above. The holes are surrounded by
|
|
sloping choss so it is difficult to see what is at the bottom.
|
|
|
|
<P>The way on following the taped path heads downslope through boulders
|
|
and reaches a 'soil col'. To the left are large blocks with a hole
|
|
between them, descending 10-20m, possibly just into the bottom of the
|
|
boulders. [C1999-136-xx B, lostinspace.1.5]. Beyond that, in the far wall of the
|
|
chamber, is a funnelling rectangular pitch, 3m x 2m of maybe 15m [C1999-136-xx
|
|
B, lostinspace.1.6].
|
|
|
|
<P>Beyond the soil col, the floor and roof both descend with the hade at
|
|
about 30 degrees to the bottom of the chamber. Ahead to the SW is a huge
|
|
complex boulder pile.
|
|
|
|
<P>The best way on (to avoid traipsing to the bottom where the taped route
|
|
ends, then climbing back up out again), is to cross the chamber to the
|
|
far wall by walking along the top of a soil ridge which leads off left
|
|
from a boulder on the taped route with the slope down to the base of the
|
|
chamber on the right (the taped route goes down this slope) and a pitch
|
|
on the left. At the end of the soil ridge, traverse mainly along and a
|
|
little up around some large boulders to go between two large boulders
|
|
along the wall of the chamber (about the third pair of boulders you come
|
|
to as you traverse) to reach a small 'chamber' entirely made up of large
|
|
wedged boulders. [If you start going between tight or loose boulders or
|
|
you are high off the floor you are wrong! There is a straightforward,
|
|
stable and quite roomy route through, with no need for climbing]. Now see
|
|
<a href="#lost2">Lost in Space II.</a>
|
|
|
|
<h4>Lower half/Original route</h4>
|
|
|
|
<p>The original route descended the soil slope (taped) as far as the toe of
|
|
one of the largest boulders, then climbed upslope to the left behind
|
|
this, then over some more rocks (passing the Pit of Damnation below to
|
|
the right) to a point where another 14m long block forms a 4m high wall ahead
|
|
with an obvious walk-in hole underneath. From here the way on is upslope
|
|
and through this hole into the 'chamber' of wedged boulders described
|
|
above. You can also climb steeply down to the right to reach the lower
|
|
'lobe' of Lost in Space heading 30m on to the SW.
|
|
|
|
<P>From the foot of the soil slope, the huge Pit of Damnation (surrounded by
|
|
hanging death on soil) opens up on the left. You can walk round to the right
|
|
of it to reach a 4m climb up clean-washed boulders towards the sound of
|
|
water. There is a small damp pitch on the R here [C1999-136-xx B,
|
|
lostinspace.1.8], and just beyond you realise you are now on jammed
|
|
boulders over a big wet rift - almost certainly the same rift reached via
|
|
Pit of Damnation.
|
|
|
|
<P>The lower lobe parallels 'Lost in Space II' above, for ~30m until it
|
|
apparently chokes. In fact, a horrible 4m chossy climb behind you leads
|
|
into the middle of the Lost in Space boulder pile, overlooking the huge
|
|
pitch/space inside the pile. Traversing to the right and more climbing
|
|
comes out at the top of the pile in Lost In Space II.
|
|
|
|
<h4><a name="lostbp">The Lost in Space boulder pile</a></h4>
|
|
|
|
<p>The routes through the 'boulder pile' to Lost in Space II are many and
|
|
varied - the original explorers spent hours shouting "where are you?" and
|
|
"how did you get there?" at each other from various points within and
|
|
around it. There is the one easy walking route that comes out on the top,
|
|
described above (via two different approaches) and in 'Lost in Space II',
|
|
below, and another that involves a bit of a squeeze. There are several
|
|
that involve traversing past horrible sloping drops. Some of the
|
|
'boulders' jammed in the passage are so huge that roomy chambers and deep
|
|
pitches are formed beneath and between them, the most obvious being a
|
|
pitch about 20m deep and 10m wide, accessible from several points in the
|
|
pile, leading to a boulder-walled chamber with no draft and no obvious
|
|
way on. It is possible to reach the far end of Lost in Space II avoiding
|
|
the upclimb altogether by dint of devious and chossy climbs, both at this
|
|
top level, and from below.
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="lost2">Lost in Space II:</a> The continuation</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>Go down and up to the far side of the small 'chamber' entirely made up of
|
|
large wedged boulders reached by whatever means from Lost in Space I. Duck
|
|
under the boulder roof, and you emerge into a large passageway (almost as
|
|
large as the Overshoot) with a solid roof and walls but a wedged boulder
|
|
floor. This is the SW end of Lost in Space. The way on to the deeper areas of
|
|
Chile is up a short (around 4m) and awkward sloping climb over a large,
|
|
steeply inclined boulder (a short rope with two slings was left rigged;
|
|
various attempts at improving this rig failed). Before the 3m up-climb, at
|
|
the NE end of the top of the rock pile is a damp-sounding pitch in LH wall
|
|
[C1999-136-xx B]. After the up-climb, climb down between two boulders (care the
|
|
undescended drop on the left; [C1999-136-xx C, lostinspace.2.6] and follow the
|
|
large passage until it abruptly ends, around 25m after the up-climb.
|
|
There are two ways on from this point.
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="lost2left">The Left Route</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<!-- by Becka -->
|
|
|
|
<p>From the end of the large passage, a small drop of around 4m in the far
|
|
left corner (rigged off a spit on the end wall of the main passage and a
|
|
deviation off the left wall) leads to a 3m wide walking passage which
|
|
turns left (the hole high in the left wall just before the corner rejoins
|
|
the passage around the corner, though there is a possibility of a further
|
|
passage leading off from it. [C1999-136-xx C] and shortly reaches a large,
|
|
draughting, steeply sloping aven. A further short drop (around 4m, with a
|
|
natural backup and at least 2 pitch-head spits) lands on a wedged
|
|
boulder. It is possible to descend further here by squeezing between
|
|
these boulders but it is easier and safer to follow the route described
|
|
here, which goes to the same point. The rope from the pitch can be used
|
|
to rig a traverse line (not essential) for the horizontal traverse ahead
|
|
on the right for about 5m (use the natural on the right wall).
|
|
|
|
<p>The best route is then to use the left hole above waist height to
|
|
descend. This is more constricted but less exposed than the route down
|
|
the ramp straight ahead. Again, a handline is nice but not necessary.
|
|
More naturals are available at the 'bridge' at the bottom of the left
|
|
ramp (around 5m down). Straight ahead of the bridge and at the same
|
|
level, a small and very muddy inlet comes in from around 4m up the wall.
|
|
This is likely to be choked but the steep and slippy mud banks meant that
|
|
it was not checked [C1999-136-xx C]. To the right of the bridge, a window
|
|
looks into a deep shaft. This is the same shaft as is bottomed by
|
|
continuing down the ramp, by descending to the left from the bridge
|
|
(using a rope rigged off naturals) and then taking the left tube (steeply
|
|
sloping, a rope is very useful). [The right drop at the base of the ramp
|
|
leads down to a small chamber which is choked]. The left tube goes to the
|
|
base of a large shaft which is roomy, clean-washed, sharp and wet. Some
|
|
tight and unpromising rifts lead off right at the bottom [C1999-136-xx C].
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="lost3">Lost in Space III:</a> Andy's pitch to Steady Aim pitch</h3>
|
|
|
|
<!-- by Becka -->
|
|
|
|
<p>From the right wall of Lost in Space II, around 3m before it ends, a
|
|
short, 10m pitch is rigged from two pitch-head spits followed by a
|
|
rebelay spit and then a deviation spit
|
|
[<a href="../../years/1999/log.htm#log6img">logbook sketch</a> shows two
|
|
pitch-head spits, then a 5m drop to a rebelay, passing an unused bolt
|
|
partway. Comments suggest using the bolt partway, then using the next bolt as
|
|
a deviation. A further drop is guesstimated at 20m]. This lands on a steeply
|
|
sloping, bouldered floor in a reasonably large chamber. Head down the slope
|
|
of the chamber. [About halfway down, a traverse up and to the left leads to a
|
|
small, short section of walking passage on the left and then a pitch. This
|
|
was not descended but was Grade 1 surveyed and almost certainly links in to
|
|
the shafts at the bottom of the Left Route]. Towards the bottom of the
|
|
chamber is a large boulder (survey station on top). Go to the left of it and
|
|
to the bottom of the chamber. Here, a 30m pitch, <b>Steady Aim,</b> is rigged
|
|
off a boulder natural and two pitch-head spits followed by a drilled
|
|
deviation [bolted deviation shown in log sketch] around 5m down. This lands
|
|
in a high passage heading left. This is narrower than the preceding Lost in
|
|
Space passage - around 5m.
|
|
|
|
<p>Ahead, on the far wall, water drops down between the boulders with a
|
|
possible way on. Heading left down the passage, which has a wedged
|
|
boulder floor, the passage drops quite steeply and soon comes to a large
|
|
boulder wedged around 4m above the passage floor. Climb down to the floor
|
|
by bridging down by the left wall, just back from the edge of this final
|
|
wedged boulder (carbide arrow on the wall) then doubling back under
|
|
yourself (care, loose rocks) to emerge by another carbide arrow pointing
|
|
the way back up. The climb is not tight but the upper part is awkward and
|
|
airy with tackle and the lower part is loose. The passage continues,
|
|
dropping down, then the main way follows down around the left corner.
|
|
|
|
<p>Ahead, the passage rises up steeply. The hole in the left wall is a
|
|
shallow alcove and the passage high and to the right ends in a mud choke.
|
|
The way on is an awkward clamber either on the left or ahead, then
|
|
traverse left (more exposed but more solid than the direct left route).
|
|
This leads to the bottom of a very steep rift. The lower section is
|
|
easily free-climbable. There is a spit protecting the crux section and a
|
|
fixed rope left rigged from a point around 25m up the rift, rigged off
|
|
two spits. The rift continues up as two roof tubes (probably
|
|
interconnected), with a strong draught blowing out of the tubes and some
|
|
lovely white helictites on the left wall. This needs a drill and dynamic
|
|
rope to push, but is an interesting site [C1999-136-xx B].
|
|
|
|
<p>The main way on follows the passage down around the left turn as it
|
|
continues to drop down steeply for a further 20m. At the base of this
|
|
ramp, the passage closes down considerably, but narrow rift passage can
|
|
be seen continuing at the base of the ramp. To reach this rift passage,
|
|
go to the right of the ramp then double back to the left - it is tight,
|
|
awkward and loose to go straight ahead. It is fairly tight and loose to
|
|
the right! (An unascended ramp leads off and up to the right from the
|
|
base of the ramp, with loose boulders perched in it [C1999-136-xx C]). The
|
|
rift passage is fairly narrow and sharp with loose rocks in it. Initially
|
|
it continues to drop down. A muddy tube leads off to the left, rapidly
|
|
becoming very muddy and ends in a squeeze through to a mud sump,
|
|
difficult to reverse! The main passage soon comes to a T-junction with a
|
|
largely horizontal passage running to the left and right. There is a
|
|
strong draught throughout these lower passages.
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="runnyb">Runny Bottom</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>The passage on the right continues to drop down, but now rather gently,
|
|
with a very strong draught. Small pools of water appear in the floor. After
|
|
around 30m a small waterfall comes in from an aven on the right, which has
|
|
been ascended part way (about 6m - nothing obviously of interest). The narrow
|
|
rift passage continues straight until it becomes blocked by rocks. The
|
|
blockage is tightly packed sand and gravel. The passage appears to continue
|
|
over the top of this, say 4m up. At this point a low crawl with 10cm of water
|
|
in the bottom leads off at the base of the left wall. The crawl goes on quite
|
|
a distance, gradually becoming less pleasant [C1999-136-xx C]. However, shortly
|
|
after the crawl starts you can climb up and out to the right, to get back
|
|
into the rift passage which you have just left, but now on the other side of
|
|
the infill. This is possibly a traverse which probably needs a rope. There is
|
|
some draught at this point [C1999-136-xx B].
|
|
|
|
<h3><a name="carpet">Carpetworld</a> leading to Totality</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>The passage on the left is a beautifully shaped phreatic tube, which
|
|
heads upwards gently. It is easy walking with mud and pebble banks in the
|
|
floor and a clear draught, though not as strong as in Runny Bottom. The
|
|
roof fossils are particularly large, protruding and well-formed, hence
|
|
Carpetworld.
|
|
|
|
<p><a name="pdash">After 30m,</a> the tube opens on a lovely, solid, spacious
|
|
30m pitch, <b>Pebble Dash,</b> rigged via a traverse line to a ledge on the
|
|
far side of the pitch (several bolts) and then two pitch head bolts. This is
|
|
the last large pitch, and is followed by a series of short, dry pitches which
|
|
drop down a dry canyon at the base of a high, fairly narrow rift. The first
|
|
pitch, <b>Utterly Butterly,</b> is around 5m and is rigged off the right wall
|
|
(only around 3m to the floor down the slot on the left side). Three further
|
|
pitches follow, first 7m, the second, <b>Shakedown Street,</b> being 5m,
|
|
tight and awkward, with an unavoidable rope rub. these are rigged on spits
|
|
backed up to the previous rope. The last of these pitches, of 10m, rigged
|
|
from a spit and a sling, lands in a medium-sized spray-filled chamber.
|
|
|
|
<p><a name="natborns">A quite tight</a> and sharp rift leads off from the
|
|
opposite side of the chamber. This is straightforward if negotiated at the
|
|
right height (not on the floor). The floor eventually drops down and the last
|
|
pitch, <b>Natural Born Slingers,</b> was rigged from a boulder back-up and a
|
|
dodgy natural, over a boulder jammed in the rift. This drops a final 5m, to
|
|
land in attractive walking passage with a stream (small, but definitely a
|
|
proper, flowing stream - something like Simpsons?) entering from the roof
|
|
after 10m. The stream passage continues for a further 30m and ends in a dark
|
|
and sinister sump pool. This was a flooded shaft around 3m diameter, with no
|
|
obvious passage continuing above the surface. The sump is <b>Totality</b>, at
|
|
-435m.
|
|
|
|
<hr />
|
|
<!-- LINKS -->
|
|
<div id="menu">
|
|
<ul id="links">
|
|
<li><a href="names.htm">Glossary of passage names</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="top.htm">Kaninchenhöhle</a> Cave Description - Overview</li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expedition Intro page</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../infodx.htm">Index to info/topic pages</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../areas.htm">Area/subarea descriptions</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../indxal.htm">Full Index to 1623 caves</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../../index.htm">Back to CUCC Home page</a></li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|