Eislufthöhle - derigging the bottom
Wed 16 Aug 1978
Andy Waddington
We initially thought that getting up was the worst bit - at 4.30 am, but we were to learn otherwise later. Underground by 7.40 am, a literal alpine start. The familiar abseil descent took just over one hour to Hall of the Greene King, and then we slowed down, carrying gear from the overhanging boulder pitch to rig the freeclimb that was alleged to follow.
Abseiling the next pitch left large clods of mud on the descendeur and below, traversing started immediately, but ended at an inlet on the left. Andy tried for a long way at stream level, but eventually jacked and climbed up to a ledge where Doug had a stinky gonk. Soon arrived at the really shitty pitch which made a horrible mess on a rack. Not far to go now chaps - a final undescended pitch was reached and Andy went down to a ledge with almost no rope left.
Lobbed rocks down the pitch - sounded like 10-15m to a muddy ledge, but further out seemed a lot deeper; 30-50m ? Doug repeated the exercise and then we set off out, derigging.
Carrying vast piles of muddy rope over the traversing section takes quite a while and derigging each pitch was a serious delay. Doug's ascenders were slipping (nasty Petzls !) but we were soon back up the rift and got the rope, including the spare 75m length, into tackle bags and up to Hall of the Greene King. From here it was just an incredible slog out. Prusiking with a large tackle bag is really strenuous and Doug tackle-hauled his gear up the big pitch.
Andy reached the Taproom well ahead of Doug and waited halfway up the next pitch, which, if we don't find a name for it soon will cause write-ups to be far too long, until Doug appeared below. As time was getting late, Doug dropped his gear and the pace increased, and so we reached the entrance by about 6.25 pm - Much relief. We were acutely aware of the effort of raising a Mega-bag 300m against its will : ie. knackered. Doug brought the remaining bag down to the car park.
Andy. 10¾ hours
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Andy Waddington
id1978-76-13
,
We initially thought that getting up was the worst bit - at 4.30 am, but we were to learn otherwise later. Underground by 7.40 am, a literal alpine start. The familiar abseil descent took just over one hour to Hall of the Greene King, and then we slowed down, carrying gear from the overhanging boulder pitch to rig the freeclimb that was alleged to follow.
Abseiling the next pitch left large clods of mud on the descendeur and below, traversing started immediately, but ended at an inlet on the left. Andy tried for a long way at stream level, but eventually jacked and climbed up to a ledge where Doug had a stinky gonk. Soon arrived at the really shitty pitch which made a horrible mess on a rack. Not far to go now chaps - a final undescended pitch was reached and Andy went down to a ledge with almost no rope left.
Lobbed rocks down the pitch - sounded like 10-15m to a muddy ledge, but further out seemed a lot deeper; 30-50m ? Doug repeated the exercise and then we set off out, derigging.
Carrying vast piles of muddy rope over the traversing section takes quite a while and derigging each pitch was a serious delay. Doug's ascenders were slipping (nasty Petzls !) but we were soon back up the rift and got the rope, including the spare 75m length, into tackle bags and up to Hall of the Greene King. From here it was just an incredible slog out. Prusiking with a large tackle bag is really strenuous and Doug tackle-hauled his gear up the big pitch.
Andy reached the Taproom well ahead of Doug and waited halfway up the next pitch, which, if we don't find a name for it soon will cause write-ups to be far too long, until Doug appeared below. As time was getting late, Doug dropped his gear and the pace increased, and so we reached the entrance by about 6.25 pm - Much relief. We were acutely aware of the effort of raising a Mega-bag 300m against its will : ie. knackered. Doug brought the remaining bag down to the car park.
Andy. 10¾ hours
T/U 10.75 hours
.
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