mirror of
https://expo.survex.com/repositories/expoweb/.git/
synced 2024-11-22 15:21:55 +00:00
157 lines
11 KiB
HTML
157 lines
11 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
|
|
<html>
|
|
<head>
|
|
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../css/main2.css" />
|
|
<title>1623/204 -- Subway Series</title>
|
|
</head>
|
|
|
|
<body>
|
|
|
|
<table id="cavepage">
|
|
<tr><th id="kat_no">204</th><th id="name">Steinbrückenhöhle</th><th id="status">5/S x</th></tr>
|
|
</table>
|
|
|
|
<h1>Subway Series</h1>
|
|
|
|
<div>
|
|
<b><a href="#survey">Survey</a></b> --
|
|
<b><a href="204.html">204 index</a></b></div>
|
|
<hr />
|
|
|
|
<p>The Subway series is the deepest level presently known in
|
|
Steinbrückenhöhle. It is in a steeply sloping bedding plane at an
|
|
average altitude of around 1400m. Access is from the <a
|
|
href="subsoil.html">Subsoil level</a> via the Four Pitches of the
|
|
Apocalypse.</p>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a id="apocalypse">The Four Pitches of the Apocalypse</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p> <a href="l/four_pitches.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/Four Pitches of the Apocalypse 1.jpg"
|
|
alt="Four Pitches of the Apocalypse" /> </a>
|
|
This pitch series starts at a chamberette in a
|
|
side passage in the <a href="subsoil.html#fatworm">Fat Worm Blows a Sparky</a>
|
|
area of the Subsoil level. A wide Y-hang across the passage protects a short
|
|
muddy ramp, which is followed by a traverse to the left across a wide ledge to
|
|
the first main pitch. I can't remember anything about this pitch, but the next
|
|
pitch is somewhat damp, and lands at a traverse along the left-hand side of a
|
|
slot until it opens out wide enough to descend. This third pitch is 21m long
|
|
and lands at a small round ledge. Here the water disappears down a narrow round
|
|
hole to one side <i>[XXX Is this not a QM? i can't remember. Perhaps it would
|
|
be too small to get a body through. Certainly a C-- grade lead.]</i>
|
|
while the main shaft continues straight ahead from a Y-hang on the right-hand
|
|
wall (needing 2 maillons to avoid a marginal rub) and an immediate deviation.
|
|
The next pitch is a spacious 34m, with a deviation part-way down. Shortly
|
|
beneath this a swing through a window leads to the main Subway series, while
|
|
continuing down the pitch leads to <a href="#mornington">Mornington
|
|
Crescent</a>. It should be noted that in wet weather the lower pitches become very drippy and the deviations are essential to keep you out of the water.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3><a id="mornington">Mornington Crescent</a></h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>The final Pitch of the Apocalypse lands in a chamber floored with boulders,
|
|
with one huge block in the centre. Around 5m off the ground, it is possible to
|
|
swing off onto a ledge, where a hole in the wall reveals a sporting passage
|
|
which spirals down steeply in a corkscrew pattern, passing several short climbs
|
|
and a tight bend (requiring SRT kit removal, at least if you're as fat as
|
|
Dave). Beyond this the passage appears to close down, although there are one or
|
|
two unexplored side branches [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-59" id="qC2005-204-59">C2005-204-59 C</a>], and the passage has not been
|
|
surveyed.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p>The continuation of the pitch series is <b>Mornington Crescent</b> [NIAL]
|
|
[<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-60" id="qC2005-204-60">C2005-204-60 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-61" id="qC2005-204-61">C2005-204-61 X</a>], which ends at a too-tight pitch-head 60m further down. It appears that in wet weather this pitch head sumps and that the water partially fills the shaft.</p>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a id="thetube">The Tube</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p><a href="l/the_tube.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/the_tube.jpg"
|
|
alt="The Tube" /></a>Swinging through the window from the Fourth Pitch of the Apocalypse, a short
|
|
drop belayed off a spike lands on a wide ledge. <i>Traversing to the right
|
|
leads to a steep upward slope, at the top of which a passage leads
|
|
right and left; to the left is [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-50" id="qC2005-204-50">C2005-204-50 C</a>] and to the right is [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-49" id="qC2005-204-49">C2005-204-49 B</a>] (the
|
|
latter has an 11-second rattle).</i> Traversing leftwards reaches a
|
|
short pitch into the spacious, boulder-floored <b><a id="turnstile">Turnstile
|
|
Chamber</a></b>. An aven enters to one side [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-51" id="qC2005-204-51">C2005-204-51 X</a>] while
|
|
continuing on leads to a funnel-shaped hole in the floor. This is rigged with a
|
|
Y-hang from a pillar and a spit, and a deviation to the other wall, but this
|
|
requires some athletic manouvres to pass. The pitch is only 5m deep and lands
|
|
in another large chamber. (The pitch can be bypassed by a climb down through
|
|
the boulders, but this is not recommended, as the boulders are not especially
|
|
stable.). <i>[XXX This is as far as I ever went and everything else here is
|
|
solely based on the survey! XXX]</i></p>
|
|
|
|
<p>In this next chamber <i>which I propose be called The Platform</i>, a climb-up the right-hand wall leads to an unpushed crawl [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-52" id="qC2005-204-52">C2005-204-52 A</a>], while straight on leads down a couple of minor pitches past another passage on the right [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-53" id="qC2005-204-53">C2005-204-53 B</a>] to a 9m pitch. This lands in a wide passage, <b><a id="thetube">The Tube</a></b>. There is a hole in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-54" id="qC2005-204-54">C2005-204-54 C</a>] while the passage continues both north and south.</p>
|
|
|
|
<h3><a id="northernline">Northern Line</a></h3>
|
|
<a href="l/mind_the_gap.html"><img class="onright" src="t/mind_the_gap.jpg"
|
|
alt="Mind The Gap traverse" /></a>
|
|
The northwards branch of The Tube soon reaches a downward slope and 5m pitch.
|
|
At the bottom of this is a narrow muddy tube which might be diggable [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-39" id="qC2005-204-39">C2005-204-39 D</a>].
|
|
The way on is a traverse, <b><a id="mindgap">Mind The Gap</a></b>, along a
|
|
shale band on the left-hand wall. Beyond this is a blind pit and an aven
|
|
[<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-40" id="qC2005-204-40">C2005-204-40 X</a>]. Shortly afterwards the passage emerges from the floor of a wide
|
|
bedding-plane ramp. Uphill is [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-47" id="qC2005-204-47">C2005-204-47 C</a>]. Downhill chokes, but there is a passage
|
|
on the left, <b><a id="tooting">Tooting Bec</a></b>.
|
|
This leads on past several
|
|
holes in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-37" id="qC2005-204-37">C2005-204-37 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-38" id="qC2005-204-38">C2005-204-38 C</a>], with the sound of running water emerging.
|
|
<a href="l/morden.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/morden.jpg"
|
|
alt="Pitch into Morden" /> </a><a href="l/morden_pitch.html"><img class="onleft" src="t/morden_pitch.jpg"
|
|
alt="Pitch into Morden" /> </a>
|
|
|
|
<i>The largest of these holes was descended for 25m through a wide chamber
|
|
(<b><a id="morden">Morden</a></b>) to a narrow twisty passage. After a
|
|
further drop of 16m this narrows somewhat, but more rift is visible
|
|
beyond [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-46" id="qC2005-204-46">C2005-204-46 C</a>].</i>. Continuing along Tooting Bec leads past yet more
|
|
holes in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-35" id="qC2005-204-35">C2005-204-35 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-36" id="qC2005-204-36">C2005-204-36 B</a>] to a steep upwards ramp [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-34" id="qC2005-204-34">C2005-204-34 B</a>]. There is a
|
|
passage on the left; continuing straight along this ends, but turning right
|
|
partway along leads to another steep upwards ramp, with a slimy muddy floor. At
|
|
the top of this is a fork; the right branch is [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-33" id="qC2005-204-33">C2005-204-33 B</a>] which probably links to
|
|
05-34, while the left branch continues, sloping steeply up; a handline is
|
|
required [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-32" id="qC2005-204-32">C2005-204-32 A</a>].</p>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Picadilly Line</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>Heading southwards from the pitch into The Tube, the passage passes under an aven [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-55" id="qC2005-204-55">C2005-204-55 X</a>] soon reaches a complex junction, <b><a id="stpancras">St. Pancras</a></b>. The main passage loops round on itself, passing various small passages [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-56" id="qC2005-204-56">C2005-204-56 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-57" id="qC2005-204-57">C2005-204-57 C</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-58" id="qC2005-204-58">C2005-204-58 C</a>]. To the left is a pitch, <b><a id="pigsear">Pig's Ear Pitch</a></b>, which can be either descended or traversed round.
|
|
<i>Traversing across leads to an upward-sloping passage, <b><a id="dlr">Docklands Light Railway</a></b>. At the top of this is a pitch [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-26" id="qC2005-204-26">C2005-204-26 A</a>], with a passage visible across the pitch-head [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-27" id="qC2005-204-27">C2005-204-27 B</a>]. The main passage continues ahead; exploration was halted by a pool of water, which could be traversed over [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-28" id="qC2005-204-28">C2005-204-28 A</a>].</i></p>
|
|
|
|
<p>Descending Pig's Ear Pitch from St. Pancras leads to the Picadilly Line, a
|
|
very wide, boulder-floored passage. This slopes downward, passing an aven
|
|
[<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-25" id="qC2005-204-25">C2005-204-25 X</a>]. Beyond this is a junction, with another aven [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-24" id="qC2005-204-24">C2005-204-24 X</a>] above it. On the
|
|
left is a narrower passage leading to <a href="#greenpark">Green Park</a>,
|
|
while ahead Picadilly Line continues, still sloping downwards. After around 50m
|
|
it narrows and swings to the left, passing a passage [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-23" id="qC2005-204-23">C2005-204-23 B</a>] on the left. This
|
|
final section carries a trickle of water in a trench in the floor. At the end
|
|
of the passage this disappears down a hole in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-22" id="qC2005-204-22">C2005-204-22 B</a>], beyond which
|
|
is a 10m pitch, <b><a id="dogsdinner">Dog's Dinner</a></b>, with very poor
|
|
quality rock. This lands in a large chamber, <b><a
|
|
id="hounslow">Hounslow</a></b>, with a boulder floor. Above is an aven [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-20" id="qC2005-204-20">C2005-204-20 X</a>].
|
|
In the floor are two more holes. The smaller is [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-21" id="qC2005-204-21">C2005-204-21 B</a>], while the larger leads
|
|
to a 24m pitch, <b><a id="dogsbollocks">Dog's Bollocks</a></b>. The water
|
|
rejoins part-way down, and at the bottom is a sump, at a depth of 490m from
|
|
204e.</p>
|
|
|
|
<h3>Green Park and the Jubilee Line Extension</h3>
|
|
|
|
<p>From the junction in Picadilly Line, an upward-sloping side passage leads
|
|
off. This passes a 2m climb to a juction, <b><a id="greenpark">Green
|
|
Park</a></b>. Straight ahead the passage continues for a few metres between
|
|
large mud banks, but the main route doubles back over itself and emerges in
|
|
another passage, <b><a id="jubilee">Jubilee Line Extension</a></b>, which runs
|
|
for around 50m parallel to and more or less directly above the Picadilly Line.
|
|
Holes in the floor [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-31" id="qC2005-204-31">C2005-204-31 B</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-83" id="qC2005-204-83">C2005-204-83 C</a>] presumably connect. At the end, the passage forks, with walking-size
|
|
passage continuing in both directions [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-29" id="qC2005-204-29">C2005-204-29 A</a>] [<a href="qm.html#C2005-204-30" id="qC2005-204-30">C2005-204-30 B</a>].</p>
|
|
|
|
<hr style="clear: both" />
|
|
|
|
<a id="survey"><img src="smallsurveys/subway.png" /></a>
|
|
|
|
<ul id="links">
|
|
<li><a href="204.html">Back to 204 index page</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../index.html#id204">Schwarzmooskogel ridge area index and description</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../indxal.htm#id204">Full Index</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../areas.htm">Other Areas</a></li>
|
|
<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expedition Intro page</a></li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|
|
|