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<p><center><a href="161.html"><img alt="Overview "
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<h2>161 Kaninchenh&ouml;hle: Mainline to Siberia</h2></center>
<h3>Overview</h3>
<p>From the massive collapse at Knossos/Tower Blocks, the Northerly trending
main trunk of YAPATE and Chicken Flied Nice rise gradually up dip, punctuated
by an abrupt step up at a small fault at Staircase 36. This fossil phreatic
passage seems to stay consistently within the same bed of limestone as
far as the significant change of direction leading to Strange Downfall.
At this point, the cave becomes more maze-like, with passages going north
and northwest to Exhaustion and Siberia, and others going more east and
northeast through Repton towards the most remote parts of the system.
The complex development of the Leadmine area provides links between
Exhaustion and Repton.
<p>As exploration is incomplete, and the big trunk passages seem to have
disappeared, it is difficult to single out a "main way on" to the north.
However, the deep route from Siberia is now the deepest point of the cave,
and this is the "logical" destination of a tourist trip. The other routes are
described in terms of the "normal" or shortest currently known ways to the
remotest points of the cave, with the proviso that further exploration may
reveal more direct or more logical ways.
<p>"Traditionally", the easiest way to Siberia is across the tyrolean at
Strange Acrossfall, and through Leadmine. However, the current pushing
generation feel that Burble crawl is sufficiently short that it is almost
certainly quicker, even carrying gear and assuming that the tyrolean was
already rigged. Since the ropes have been removed, the tyrolean is no longer
considered a "main" route, except when approaching the far north.
<h3><a name="knossos">Knossos</a> and Star Wars (1988)</h3>
<p><a href="l/knoss.htm"><img alt="Knossos photo" src="t/knoss.jpg"
width=181 height=122 align=left hspace=10></a>Whether reached from Right Hand
Route or Triassic Park, <b>Knossos</b> is the key to the deep routes and the
extensive sub-horizontal system to the north. The 30m <a
href="rhr.htm#knossosp">Knossos pitch</a> from the Right Hand Route drops
onto large boulders sloping northwest, at the southwest side of the 60m
diameter chamber. The route from the third pitch along <a
href="triasp.htm#minoan">Minoan Surprise</a> in Triassic Park lands on
boulders at the eastern side of Knossos, from where a route down towards the
lowest point reaches the same place. <a href="kctotp.htm#knossos">Up this
pitch</a> (if rigged) the quickest exit from Knossos is via Triassic Park.
<br clear=all>
<p><center><a href="l/pebble.htm"><img alt="Knossos photo - 26k" width=245
height=170 align=middle vspace=10 src="t/pebble.jpg"></a>
<a name="starwars" href="l/starwr.htm"><img alt="Star Wars photo"
src="t/starwr.jpg" width=169 height=125 align=middle vspace=10></a></center>
<p>Just downslope from the foot of the Knossos pitch,
following around the wall northwards to the lowest point of the boulder
floor, is a walking sized route through a boulder choke, <b>Star Wars</b>. It
is so named as looking up at the stupendous roof boulder is reminiscent of
the huge spaceship at the start of the film. Through this is lots of jumbled
rock and open space. Over to the left, a gap looks over the cliff west into
<a href="#tblocks">Tower Blocks</a> and to the right is a steep, loose climb
down and a small rift passage in the right hand wall. At the foot of the
climb the way on is to go left down a slope SW into Tower Blocks. To the
right is <a href="offkns.htm#thamlets">Tower Hamlets</a>, which is very
obvious on the way back so the junction should be remembered.
<p><center><a href="300dpi/knoss.png"><img alt="Knossos survey: 28k gif"
src="inline/knoss.png" width=600 height=400></a></center>
<h4><a name="tblocks">Tower Blocks</a> (1988/1989)</h4>
<p>The chamber is large, domed, about 20m high in the centre and contains
some really big fallen blocks. From the normal route in, via the 4m slope
from Star Wars, keeping to the right hand wall leads round to the north to
the foot of a sand slope up NE into <a href="offkns.htm#thamlets">Tower
Hamlets</a>. A little left (north) is a col at the start of the 8m wide
passage to <b>Waterfall Chamber</b> and <b>Carrefour</b>.
<p>Across Tower Blocks is <a href="offkns.htm#olympus">Olympus</a>.
<h3><a name="carrefour">Carrefour</a> (1988)</h3>
<p><a href="l/cfour.htm"><img src="t/cfour.jpg" width=200
height=134 align=right hspace=10></a>Over the col and down the
boulder-floored passage north from Tower Blocks, a route leads into a wide
open area, <a name="wfallc"><b>Waterfall Chamber</b></a>. There is a deep
blocked pit to the left with a large wet window through the wall behind,
looking over towards <a href="deepwy.htm#flapjack">Flapjack</a>. A lot of
water is falling from the roof into the pit. Continuing by the right hand
wall leads to a junction with a very big phreatic passage. This junction is
<b>Carrefour</b> (French for Crossroads, and part of the long-term
supermarket series).
<p>Turning left at Carrefour (SSW) leads past the very wet window into
Waterfall Chamber (good water source) to <a href="deepwy.htm#flapjack">
Flapjack</a>, a large pitch, the far side of which can be reached from
<a href="offkns.htm#olympus">Olympus</a>. Straight ahead at Carrefour (NNW)
is <a href="offkns.htm#toiletb">Toilet Block</a>. To the right at Carrefour
(NNE) is the major trunk passage of <b>YAPATE Inlet</b> (Yet Another Pitch
At The End).<br clear=all>
<p><a href="300dpi/yapate.png"><img alt="survey - 20k gif" width=640
height=500 src="inline/yapate.png"></a>
<h3><a name="yapate">YAPATE Inlet</a> (1988/1989)</h3>
<p><a href="l/yapate.htm"><img src="t/yapate.jpg" width=200
height=134 align=left hspace=10></a>
<p>A large phreatic passage, with a deep (about 10m) vadose canyon, is now an
inlet to the Carrefour area, but was originally an up-dip downstream passage.
This goes northwards for 100m with an inlet on the left and a large wet pit
about half way along, bypassed by a 2m down-climb on the right hand side.
25m beyond this pit (c 30m from the end), a sandy slope up on the right to a
straight rift apparently ends quickly but ducking under the right wall leads
to <a href="deepwy.htm#fbs">Flat Battery Series</a>.
<p><a name="gobtrav">At the end</a> of YAPATE is a dodgy traverse
(<a href="../../fixaid.htm#gob">permanently rigged</a>) over a hole in the
floor to a boulder-floored area with a way on up the end wall,
<b>Staircase 36</b>, and a 12m pitch down -
<a href="deepwy.htm#goboy">Gob on You</a> to the left.
<h3><a name="cfn">Chicken Flied Nice</a> (1990)</h3>
<p><a href="300dpi/cfn.png"><img alt="survey - 16k gif" width=550
height=450 src="inline/cfn.png"></a>
<p><a name="sc36" href="l/s36.htm"><img src="t/s36.jpg" width=109
height=207 align=left hspace=10>Above</a> <a href="deepwy.htm#goboy">Gob
on You</a> is a 10m up-pitch, with a <a href="../../fixaid.htm#s36">rope in
place,</a> <b>Staircase 36</b> (named such by its climbers, who spent a lot
of time festering on its namesake in Churchill College).
<p>This climb gives access to another 100m of large up-dip phreatic passage,
<b>Chicken Flied Nice</b>, with only a shallow floor trench. The pitch is
formed where YAPATE is intersected by a small fault, and the roof attains the
same horizon as that followed by the roof of YAPATE itself.<br clear=right>
<p><a href="fullsize/cfngeo.png"><img alt="Geologic cross-section of CFN"
src="inline/cfngeo.png" width=300 height=265 align=right
hspace=10></a><br clear=left>
<b>Visible geology of the CFN/Burble crawl area.</b><br clear=all>
<p>At a 90&deg; right bend 80m on is a narrow inlet,
<a href="#burble">Burble</a>, in the left wall. At this corner, the
passage changes: the floor trench cuts down and widens to a high stream rift
which opens onto a big space, <a href="deepwy.htm#hgs">Hyper Gamma
Spaces</a>.
<p>Any method of crossing this space now involves replacing ropes via a
long round trip, and this makes it much less viable as a way on. However,
this would probably be done if contemplating any further work beyond
<a href="farnth.htm#repton">Repton</a> under which heading it is described.
<h3><a name="burblec">Burble</a> (1990/1991)</h3>
<p>At the 90&deg; corner in <a href="#cfn">Chicken Flied Nice</a>,
where the passage changes into a canyon, a small streamway passage comes in
on the left. A strong draught can be followed up here for 20m to a high aven.
A waterfall comes down on the right (along with most of the draught). There
is a traverse 2m up around the right hand wall leading to a 2m climb into
<b>Burble Crawl</b>, the most obvious way out of the aven. A tape assists the
move up into the passage for shortarses.
<p><a name="shelfi">A</a> difficult 2m climb above the Burble entrance on the
right (one bolt for security) gives access to <b>Shelf Indulgence</b>. There
is only an impassable rift (in back wall) and a small chamber here (on the
left).
<p><a name="burble"><b>Burble Passage</b></a> starts at stooping height, but
rapidly degenerates to crawling, flat out in some bits. 90m of passage leads
to Vom Pitch. A short traverse around to the right leads to 25m of walking
passage to a boulder blockage. The traverse to the left has also been made
(another bolt here for retreat), but it proved to be a dead end.
<p><a href="300dpi/repton.png"><img alt="survey - 16k gif" width=560
height=350 src="inline/repton.png"></a>
<p><a name="vomp"><b>Vom Pitch</b></a> is 37m deep, rigged with a short
traverse line, a rebelay 5m down and a deviation from a small thread below a
rock bridge (at c 20m). Below this is a further deviation tied to a small
rock embedded in the mud/rock wall which continues below this point. At one
point (above this latter deviation ?) is a sort of ledge where the pitch
intersects a hading section, forming a large convoluted chamber. This ledge
can be reached from <b>The Maze</b>. Below the final deviation, a pendule
over an undescended (though possibly blind) hole [<a name="qC1997-161-21"
href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-21">C1997-161-21</a> B] reaches a large boulder to which the rope
can be tied off for a tensioned abseil to this boulder floor of the chamber.
There are ways out in the eastern corner and from a ledge 8m up the northern
side.
<p>The eastern passage is the key to the Leadmine and Maze areas. It comes
almost immediately to a T-junction. Left is the <b>Maze</b> and the main way
on to <a href="#maze">Siberia</a>. (It soon unites with a crawl on the left
coming from the northern side of the chamber below Vom pitch, whilst the main
way right (north) here is bigger).
<p>Right at the first T-junction is the
<a href="farnth.htm#leadminese">Leadmine</a>, leading to Repton and the
<a href="farnth.htm">far north</a>.
<p>Leadmine would be the logical approach to <u>this</u> point from the
surface, if Strange Acrossfall was safely rigged. This route is described
now. For the continuation towards Siberia, see <a href="#maze">below</a>.
<hr />
<h3><a name="leadmine">Repton I to Siberia via Leadmine</a> and Maze</h3>
<p>Up the slope in <a href="farnth.htm#repton1">Repton I</a>, just beyond the
easier climb through boulders, is a wide inclined bedding on the left hand
wall. This descends 10m into the <b>Leadmine</b> first explored from the
other end via <a href="#burblec">Burble crawl</a>. A further 25m of straight
passage heads northwest, until a 4m down climb on the right is reached,
dropping down into three sand-floored chambers.<!-- Leadmine.16 --> Left out
of the first chamber up a 2m climb goes northwest for a few metres to another
junction.<!-- Leadmine.14 --> Straight ahead dead-ends in 5m, whilst sharp
left (south) leads in 15m to a junction.<!-- Leadmine.12 --> Half left is 20m
to <a href="farnth.htm#soilp">Soil Pitch</a>, but sharp right leads northwest
again. Turns left and right and a short step gain a long straight passage
heading northwest. After 25m on the left is the original way in from Burble
(at the foot of Vom Pitch), whilst straight ahead up a short climb is walking
passage - the Maze.
<h4><a name="maze">Maze</a> (1991)</h4>
<p>Left at the T-junction below Vom pitch if coming via Burble, or
straight ahead if coming from Leadmine, is the <b>Maze</b>.
<!-- 1991 desc. merged with William + Duncan, ref. KH 1997 p 8 -->
This passage continues north from the junction, walking
uphill for 15m to a small chamber with a sandy ledge 2m up on the right, and
a crawl from the top of it connecting back to the roof of the passage just
traversed. The obvious way out of the chamber is left in a very high, pointy
rift, which is awkward to traverse along over the holes / rock bridges,
especially coming back. 15m of this comes to an awkward bridge down to
another T-junction. The crawl to the left winds back to ledge 8m up
<a href="#vomp">Vom pitch</a>, and thus to a climb back down into the chamber
below it. Right in larger passage (a mixture of hands &amp; knees crawl and
hading rift) leads north to a widening and a muddy 3m climb down with a
musical flake at its head, dropping into 2m wide passage. To the right, a
crawl back towards the last junction is quickly blocked by sand.
<p><a name="duckp">To the left</a>, a stooping passage through a shallow
pool, <b>Duckpond</b>, and lots of gloopy slime leads northwest into the face
of a strong draught. In about 20-30m, <a name="exhaustp"><b>Exhaustion
Pitch</b></a> is reached. This is a 22m deep hading pitch with a deviation on
the opposite wall 10m down. At the foot is a small window leading to a roped 9m climb down through flakes. The main passage here is tight and may bend
round to the same spot. The foot of the climb was the 1991 limit [<a
href="qmdone.htm#C1991-161-02">C1991-161-02</a>].
<h3><a name="siberia">Siberia</a> (1994-8)</h3>
<!-- ref. William + Duncan 97.08.01, KH 1997 p 8 -->
<p><a name="notthisjn">The passage</a> from base of climb beyond Exhaustion
Pitch starts as an awkward thrutch along a rift, then continues as stooping
passage with a sandy floor. After 50m of gently descending passage, fairly
consistently southwest is a T-junction, <b>Not This Junction</b> (end of 1994
survey <!-- 161.siberia.1 --> at a depth of -304m from 161a (Alt. 1482m)).
The floor of the passage entered here is about 3m below the passage from
which you enter. A draught goes from right to left, as well as out towards
the Maze. To the left is <a href="#fuzzy">Fuzzy Logic</a>, and to the right
is larger passage taken to be the way on.
<p>The right hand passage continues as a mixture of walking passage and
thrutchy rift over a small pit in the floor [<a name="qC1997-161-22"
href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-22">C1997-161-22</a> C]. Ahead, a small chamber where water
enters from above to the right and disappears down a smaller hole. Several
passages lead off at this point.
<p><a name="ggables">Right leads</a> into a small chamber,
<b>Greengables</b>, with initially easily climbable rift off to left
[<a name="qC1997-161-23" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-23">C1997-161-23</a>], and small passage to
right (not pushed) [<a name="qC1997-161-24" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-24">C1997-161-24</a>].
Half-right leads to rift junction where high left hand passage returns to
main way, as does straight ahead. Right leads into oval shaped rift with ~6m
aven [<a name="qC1997-161-25" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-25">C1997-161-25</a>]. Ahead is main way,
passing two small passages off to left opposite returning loops mentioned
above. These two unite in easy crawl in muddy phreatic passage which does not
appear to close down. This latter passage does not seem to have a lead
number.
<p>Left after Greengables is a small lead [<a name="qC1997-161-30"
href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-30">C1997-161-30</a>].
<p><a name="seproblem">Beyond Greengables, following</a> the draught leads to
a stooping passage turning into rift which leads to the end of 1994
exploration at -302m from the 161a entrance (alt. 1484m) at the head of a
3&frac12; second drop <b>Somebody Else's Problem</b> [<a name="qC1994-161-58"
href="qmdone.htm#C1994-161-58">C1994-161-58</a>].
<p>20m before Somebody Else's Problem are two leads in the right hand wall,
[<a name="qC1997-161-31" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-31">C1997-161-31</a>] and
[<a name="qC1997-161-32" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-32">C1997-161-32</a>].
<h3>Somebody Else's Problem
(<a href="/years/1997/index.htm">1997</a>)</h3>
<!-- starts at 161.sep.part2.1 -->
<p>Four bolts, moving round to the right and to a rebelay down from the
pitch-head, lead to an almost-free hang in this fine 7m diameter shaft. A
number of windows can be seen leading off this. After 42m, the rope is
rebelayed to a spike and the descent continues for a further 27m, for a
total depth of 75m.
<p><a name="apuff">At the foot</a> is a chamber 5m across with a 3m climb
down to the right. This is immediately followed by a 10m pitch in two steps
to a small chamber where the water sinks and reappears. The passage now
corkscrews round to the left and leads to a very short but awkward rift and a
4m drop. Beyond is another small chamber and an 18m drop. Across this pitch
head, small crawls can be seen leading off left
[<a name="qC1997-161-28" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-28">C1997-161-28</a>] and right
[<a name="qC1997-161-29" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-29">C1997-161-29</a>]. At the base of the pitch
is another chamber and the passage continues as a traverse in rift about 5m
above the water, ending at a sharp left turn at the next pitch head. This
lands in yet another small chamber with horizontal passage going off to the
right to some further climbs down. The passage, <b>Auspuff</b>, continues in
fine form, still draughting towards the main cave at the limit of exploration
in 1997 [<a name="qC1997-161-26" href="qmtodo.htm#C1997-161-26">C1997-161-26</a> A]. This is at a
depth of 421m from the 161a entrance (alt. 1365m).
<h3><a name="moscow">Midnight in Moscow</a>
(<a href="/years/1998/index.htm">1998</a>)</h3>
<!-- ref: 1998 KH p 63, Duncan -->
<p>From the small chamber below the final 1997 pitch, the passage leads off
right, traversing over a slot in the floor for about 8m to reach a position
overlooking a further small chamber, this one containing a rock bridge.
At this point, the slot in the floor widens and can be descended to the
head of a further climb (tricky, best roped using a good thread belay).
Emerging into the chamber seen from above, the way on is a short descending
passage to a small pitch, rigged as a Y-hang from a bolt on each wall.
<p>Following almost immediately is the large black space of <b>Midnight in
Moscow</b>. Two bolts at the head of this pitch are backed up to the
preceding pitch rope. The lower bolt needs two maillons to avoid a rub,
and the first 23m of the descent are against the wall. A small knobble on
the right then provides a deviation, and five metres lower, a thread on
the left provides another. Below this, the pitch hangs free as the descent
continues down the centre of a significant widening of the shaft - apparently
where it intersects a (choked) large phreatic level. Continuing free, the
rope drops below this level to reach a boulder floor 55m from the takeoff.
<p>At the foot is a further pitch with a loose pitchhead, and a small hole on
the opposite side of the shaft, which provides a much better shelter from
drizzling damp and debris dislodged from the lower deviation. The pitch is
10m, rigged from a single spit as a continuation of the rope from above. At
its foot are three ways on. To the left is a climb up to an aven, which seems
likely to connect with the black space 10m above the foot of Midnight in
Moscow. To the right is a climb down, following the water through sharp,
brittle flakes, which becomes too tight. Opposite the rope is the main way
on, which leads via a crawl and past an aven, to a rift passage. This ends at
a short (5m) pitch. Doubling back under this is a crawl to an aven.
<p><a name="rasputin">Forwards</a>, opposite the rope, the way on leads to an
awkward climb down through an eyehole to a series of dried-out cascades in an
old streamway, <b>Rasputin</b>. The last drop needs a rope, dropping 4m from
naturals to a sandy mud floor. A faint draught issues from a mud choke, with
no way on. This point is at 1269m altitude, 527m below the 161a entrance -
the deepest point of the system at the time of exploration.
<p>Ten metres above the foot of Midnight in Moscow, the widening blackness
resolves into a sloping mud and boulder floored chamber. This can be
entered by a swing on the rope, but all ways at this level choke. It appears
to be a remnant of phreatic passage c 15m wide, heading on 320-140&deg;.
Only a 25m length is clear of choking sediment, presumably eroded away
by the stream responsible for Midnight in Moscow. To the SE of the rope,
reached by traversing the slope, is another parallel pitch, presumed to
connect to the aven seen from below.
<h3><a name="fuzzy">Fuzzy Logic</a>
(<a href="/years/1997/index.htm">1997</a> /
<a href="/years/1998/index.htm">1998</a>)</h3>
<p>Coming from <a href="#duckp">Exhaustion Pitch,</a> a passage is met at <a
href="#siberia">Not This Junction</a>, with a 3m slot in the floor and a
draught blowing from right (SEP) to left (Fuzzy Logic) and outwards back
towards the Maze. The left route was not pursued for any distance when first
seen in 1994 [<a href="qmdone.htm#C1994-161-59" name="qC1994-161-59">C1994-161-59</a> A].
<!-- source: email from Duncan 1998.06.22 -->
<p>Turning left, an easy traverse down leads to an area of some complexity,
but following the largest passage at each turning leads through it (other
routes either link up or end quickly). An awkward step across a small pit is
followed by a climb up and then a traverse along the right hand wall above an
undescended pitch [<a name="qC1998-161-01" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-01">C1998-161-01</a> A].
Beyond is a slope down to a pitch, undescended in 1997 [<a name="qC1997-161-27"
href="qmdone.htm#C1997-161-27">C1997-161-27</a> A], <b>Paradox Rift</b>.
<h4><a name="paradox">Fuzzy Logic Pitches</a></h4>
<p>The head of Paradox Rift is in a slot in the floor of a large, dripping
aven [<a name="qC1998-161-02" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-02">C1998-161-02</a> X], which soars out of
sight overhead. The rigging is backed up to a handline which protects the
approach to the pitch down a ramp. A Y-hang gives a pitch of about 4 metres
to a small chamber, from which the second pitch follows almost immediately.
<p>A short constriction separates the chamber below the first pitch from the
second pitch, although this poses no difficulties. A safety line through the
approach to the pitch head serves as a backup to a Y-hang, which provides a
descent against the wall for about 40 metres, passing a deviation and later
a rebelay below a large ledge.
<p>The third pitch is reached from the foot of the second pitch by swinging
to the right while still attached to the rope from the last rebelay. There is
a rebelay about halfway down. Approaching the bottom of the pitch, swing
across the chamber to reach the head of the fourth pitch. Ignoring this swing
across, the apparent way on quickly becomes too tight.
<p>The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Pitches follow on immediately from each other
and are short, scrappy descents against the wall, except for the Sixth and
final pitch which hangs free of the wall for about 15m.
<h4><a name="psycho">Psycho Street</a></h4>
<p>The final pitch in Fuzzy Logic ends in a chamber with three ways on. Two
of these, opposite the rope, are climbs up of about 2.5 metres. The left-hand
climb is up a boulder pile, and is much harder than the right hand choice!
Both ways re-join immediately and lead to <b>Psycho Street</b>. To the right
of these climbs, following a small flow of water, the other way on leads to
<b>Clear as Mud</b>. To the left of the climbs is a possible low, wet way on,
which was not pushed [<a name="qC1998-161-03" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-03">C1998-161-03</a> C].
<p>Above the climbs, Psycho Street starts as a traverse in the roof of a
narrow rift. After 6 metres, a right-angled turn to the right is followed by
a slight constriction leading into roomier passage which turns leftwards, and
immediately overlooks a pit some 3 to 4 metres deep, which it is possible to
traverse around to the left. A climb down into the pit can be made most
easily towards its far end. At the bottom of the pit is the way into
<a href="#bearbum">Bearbum Passage.</a>
<p>Psycho Street continues beyond the pit as a small passage of highly
elliptical cross-section, with the major-axis of the cross-section inclined
at some 40 degrees to the vertical. After a few metres, a rock bridge spans
the passage. The way past is a relatively easy thrutch above the bridge,
although the return is more difficult. A final section of crawling leads into
an enlargement of the passage to form a spacious rift chamber some 15 metres
long. The continuation of the crawl at the far end of the chamber is choked
with mud and rock, and is probably too small anyway. A climb up on the
left-hand wall of the chamber leads via a short crawl to the foot of an aven
about 15m high [<a name="qC1998-161-04" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-04">C1998-161-04</a> B]. There is
an obvious passage leading off at the top of this aven, and a booming echo. A
cleft in the aven wall may make scaling this a relatively easy task.
<p>Just before the constriction at the start of Psycho Street, it is possible
to climb down back underneath the traverse in two steps each of about 1.5
metres, to reach a point looking down a short pitch into 'Bearbum Passage'.
This pitch has never been descended, since the route described above requires
no tackle.
<p>Halfway along the traverse round the pit just after the constriction, is a
small hole in the roof. Climbing up into this leads into an ascending
passage, which ends in a calcite blockage after about 20 metres.
<h4><a name="bearbum">Bearbum Passage</a></h4>
<p>Having climbed down into the pit in Psycho Street, the way doubles back to
head under the constriction at the end of the initial rift. Here a small
chamber is entered, from which the way on is a narrow rift. The obvious way
to enter this rift is a squeeze at floor level, best tackled feet-first,
which leads to some moderately acrobatic passage before opening out somewhat.
A better option is to climb up to the top of the rift, where the going is
much easier, and then drop down into the wider section beyond. Soon a point
is reached where the route splits.
<p>Straight ahead is a short climb down into a chamber (containing an
attractive overhanging bed of cemented pebbles, immediately to the left of
the climb down). To the right is a crawl, from which windows give glimpses of
the chamber. After a short distance in this crawl, a double bend leads to a
junction, where the left fork is a narrow, steeply ascending tube
[<a name="qC1998-161-05" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-05">C1998-161-05</a> C] containing calcited
pools (one of which has a dead spider trapped in it).
<p>The right fork enlarges, and splits again. Straight ahead here the passage
continues as an easy rift, before suddenly turning, after about 15 metres,
into an awkward squeeze to the right into a parallel, very tight rift
[<a name="qC1998-161-06" href="qmtodo.htm#C1998-161-06">C1998-161-06</a> C]. This was pushed, with
the enticement of a booming echo, but was abandoned after a dodgy moment with
a detached carbide pipe. The left hand turn at the start of the easy rift
leads to an exposed climb down into the chamber with the cemented pebbles.
From this chamber, the only way on is a climb down through boulders in the
floor, which doesn't go. The deepest point of this series is at -415m from
161a (-424m from 136).
<h4><a name="casmud">Clear as Mud</a></h4>
<p>From the foot of the final pitch in Fuzzy Logic, facing away from the
rope, there is a pool to the right. Water from the pitch above flows out of
this pool to run down a walking-size passage, before disappearing down a tiny
hole in the floor after about 15 metres. Beyond this the passage continues
dry, and rises steadily. An aven is encountered, which has been climbed for
about 10 metres until it closes down. Various mud constrictions are passed
before the passage finally ends at a mud choke some 70 metres from the foot
of the last pitch.
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