CUCC Expeditions to Austria: 1976 - 2023

The plan was to do some prospecting in the relatively uncovered area around Garlic cave. We met up with Philip at Garlic cave and had some noodles for lunch. Philip had already done some looking around the area and suggested we go look at 2018-DM-04 and 2018-DM-05.

We had one caving helmet between us (the rest of my kit was at top camp). We only got round to looking at 2018-DM-04, following a slightly up and down plateau route to get there. The tag was found underneath a rock.

Got Ely to practice bolting and place the first back up bolt. Then I started down the cave -an open shaft approx. 4x5m. A big flake made a suitable hang point, with with a further deviation put in allowed a good hang down to a large snow plug. This mountain of snow could be carefully passed down one side between the cave wall. A re-belay was necessary with the cave dropping down and to the side. A further re-belay and past the snow now led down to a rocky floor. Unfortunately, there was no further continuation.

Headed back out and then we surveyed before derigging. Named cave Bunderstruck, and is approx. 50m, mostly vertical. Then back to garlic cave to drop off rope (and Philip) before walking across to Top Camp.