RTurnbull
New member
All is set for the 2017 Dachstein expedition. Cars are being decluttered, karabiners are on order and the vertical rescue training course in July is all set to pull the individuals together into something resembling a team.
The current end of the 800m deep/5km long Wot-U-Got Pot (or Schmeltzwasserh?hle) is closer than ever to the western limits of the mighty Hirlatz H?hle & the 2016 limit of exploration is a 25m wide tunnel with a 15m high wall at the upper end which has only been partially climbed.
Base at the Wiesberghaus for survey compiling and exped blogging - 1884m. Credit: Axel Hack
The connection is currently stumped at a draughting up- pitch, littered with loose scree & boulders the size of cars. It has left the exped vets puzzled how to get a person up safely as the danger of rockfall is more significant than usual. The expedition leaders aren't sure they're light enough anymore to aid climb without bringing the wall down and the shortage of rope could not have come at a worse time!
Therefore the current plan is launch a caver up the 15m pitch with the use of a trebuchet. Logistically this brings some challenges: the transportation of quality South Wales timber down the 600m of shafts, through the spacious meander at -420m, down the huge phreatic boreholes & gigantic passages at -600m, past the tents at camp at -700m, to finally reach the Reborn Hope that bypasses the sheer brutality of the Forlorn Hope series. The lightest and most disposable expedition members have been identified and briefed.
Follow the Ascent Adventures and race for the Hirlatz connection on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dachstein_caving_expeditions/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dachsteincaving/
and of course, UK Caving.
All photo credits to Axel Hack
The current end of the 800m deep/5km long Wot-U-Got Pot (or Schmeltzwasserh?hle) is closer than ever to the western limits of the mighty Hirlatz H?hle & the 2016 limit of exploration is a 25m wide tunnel with a 15m high wall at the upper end which has only been partially climbed.
Base at the Wiesberghaus for survey compiling and exped blogging - 1884m. Credit: Axel Hack
The connection is currently stumped at a draughting up- pitch, littered with loose scree & boulders the size of cars. It has left the exped vets puzzled how to get a person up safely as the danger of rockfall is more significant than usual. The expedition leaders aren't sure they're light enough anymore to aid climb without bringing the wall down and the shortage of rope could not have come at a worse time!
Therefore the current plan is launch a caver up the 15m pitch with the use of a trebuchet. Logistically this brings some challenges: the transportation of quality South Wales timber down the 600m of shafts, through the spacious meander at -420m, down the huge phreatic boreholes & gigantic passages at -600m, past the tents at camp at -700m, to finally reach the Reborn Hope that bypasses the sheer brutality of the Forlorn Hope series. The lightest and most disposable expedition members have been identified and briefed.
Rachel (f, 21, lightweight): I'm not so sure about this anymore.
Alex (m, 24, more intelligent): Look, we've done a lot of calculations & you're going where no one has been before. And it's a lot easier than prusiking. Not only are you the first person to be trebuchet-ed in a cave, but you?re 500m away from discovering the finest through trip in world.
Rachel: But we?ve been caving on ropes for years. This seems sub-optimal.
Alex: Needs must, Rachel, needs must. We spent last year re-rigging the main traffic routes for safety and the entire rope supply has been used up.
[size=10pt]
Credit: Axel Hack
Rachel: But what's actually up there?
Alex: Good question. What we?re hoping for up there is a fine section of cave passage leading to the connection with the Hirlatz Hole. This has been the aim of the exped for the last 40 years, and this is the most promising lead that Grandpa Joel has seen in two decades. If we make the connection we will have discovered one of the deepest and longest in Europe. Also, we?re hoping for a thick mud deposit at the top of the pitch to provide a soft landing. And because of the phreatic nature of the cave it?s a good bet that all the boulders will be rounded & a bit softer than the usual hard limestone...
Rachel: It?s so draughty down there
Alex: Yes, and that?s a good thing, as the strong draught indicates a decent amount of cave beyond: hopefully a potential massive Austrian show cave (pretty sure it?s going to be a show cave). And, don?t worry, we have included the wind speed into our trajectory calculations so you?ll be fine.
[size=10pt]Trajectory calculations drawn up in the expo-war room/curry house. Link to further 'calculations' i.imgur.com/E406YlI.jpg
[size=10pt]Rachel: But surely someone with more experience should be doing this?
Alex: Perhaps, but the Dachstein family is open to everyone and a great first expedition to learn from since there?s so many experienced cavers from all over the world attending. This year alone there will be Brits, French, German, Austrian & New Zealanders. The Dachstein was my introduction to cave expeditions two years ago, and many people over the last few decades have learnt the ropes here. It?s one of the longest-running (4o years) international expeditions leaving from the UK that is still going. Although this is the first year any keen members have the opportunity to try out this innovative ascent technique and you?re fortunate enough to be the chosen one.
Rachel: Yeah, you?re right, I have learnt a huge amount about rigging, rescue techniques, first aid, packing exped essentials and so forth and I haven?t even left the country yet.
Alex: Remember the three ?C?s? for a successful expedition: coffee, codeine and couscous.
Rachel: What happened to sun, sea, and sand?
Alex: That?s the 2018 trip after we?ve made the connection
Rachel: Alright then, this seems like a good opportunity and Matt St Clair said he?d buy me a pint
Alex: Well to be fair, that beer is about all the expedition can stretch to. As many of the participants are students and broke contractors the exped fees aren?t that high, and the 2 km of rope already used in WUG doesn?t come cheap.
Follow the Ascent Adventures and race for the Hirlatz connection on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dachstein_caving_expeditions/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dachsteincaving/
and of course, UK Caving.
All photo credits to Axel Hack