The large trunk passages described on this page were originally accessed by descending Mordor pitch from the Country for Old Men level in 2011. In 2012, this area was accessed and explored from Steinbrückenhöhle via the Far from Support traverses from the bottom of Fat Cat. The southern extremity (Runnel Stone area) is very close to Chicken Flied Nice, so in the future it may prove easier to access these passages via an as yet undiscovered connection in this area, thereby bypassing the Tyrolean traverse at Strange Acrossfall.
Mordor is a small, very windy (blowing up) pitch at the northern end of Sudetenland (accessed from Country for Old Men) that is rigged from the roof. After the initial 10m drop, the way on is to climb down a further 10m to a second hang. It is also possible to get off the rope and explore round a corner into windy rifts. The second drop descends from a thread then a roof bolt where the pitch opens out. A deviation ~7m down on a spike avoids a rub at a rebelay (huge thread) to drop nicely in a large space to near the floor. A 60m rope is recommended (this pitch was left rigged in 2011 and 2012).
At the foot of the first 10m drop is a soily climb up 12m to the SW. It doesn't go. In the opposite direction, round a corner a narrow rift passage can be followed upwards for 18m, then back down again to come out near the top of the 2nd drop of Mordor pitch. All of this passage is very windy.
The chamber at the bottom of Mordor is about 15m high. To the west is a north-south trending rift leading to an impassable hole in the floor at the S end, beyond which is The Stables [2011-161-XX C]. There is a hole in the floor at the north end of this rift [2011-161-XX C] and a narrow slot in the wall near the foot of the rope [2011-161-XX C]. East leads to March of the Ents.
The large passage of March of the Ents heads eastwards from the chamber at the base of Mordor pitch 4m higher up, reached via an easy traverse. There is a strong draught from east to west (into the chamber). After 18m, a t-junction is reached with a much less windy passage (the base of the T) to the right (south), which leads to the main route to the south (Rivendell). Straight ahead (east) the main passage continues uphill then turns northeast. 30m beyond the Rivendell junction, climbing up to the left in a complex area reaches the head of No Sign of Sauron pitch. Most of the draught appears to coming from the area around this pitch. Immediately beyond is a passage on the left (bearing on 352°) [C2011-161-XX B]. The phreatic passage zig-zags for another 30m. At the corner is a high (12m) solution area in the roof [C2011-161-XX C]. Ahead the passage becomes a very high hading rift with a short drop. Traversing across the drop leads to Bored of the Rings.
Bored of the Rings can be accessed either by descending a short pitch and climbing up the far side, or (preferred) by traversing along the right-hand wall of the hading rift (bolts placed for a traverse line). [FIXME: (Andrew/Julian) the survey shows two C leads at the bottom of the rift, and a B lead at the top, also a p5 - is this a QM?] At the far end of the traverse is a junction. Ahead leads after 10m to a pitch [C2011-161-XX B]. A passage to the right here connects heads back to overlook the hading rift.
The main way on at the junction is to the left (north). The passage continues for 55m, past a pool (traversed on the left) to a rift in the floor (undescended [C2011-161-XX B]). Left here leads to [FIXME: (Emma/Olly) 2 QMs on survey, B and a C - descriptions? Also, c2 to the east of the passage - is there a QM there?]. Stepping over the rift (traverse line advisable) leads to a breakdown chamber with lots of holes in the floor. [FIXME: (Emma/Olly) extension to west near survey station 'a' leads to 2 B grade QMs - description?] Keeping right passes a small passage on the right [C2011-161-XX C]. Clambering among the boulders leads to a short climb down near the right-hand wall (handline useful) to reach a drippy pitch (undescended). [C2011-161-XX B]. The Far From Support traverses head off along the right-hand wall of this pitch (left rigged in 2012) and is the connection route to Steinbrückenhöhle, emerging in Cirque du Soleil. A tube heading up on the right immediately before the start of the traverse links back to overlook the pitch and also a possible continuation east [C2011-161-XX C].
No Sign of Sauron pitch is accessed by heading north and uphill from March of the Ents into the wind to a rock pillar at the pitch head. The pitch is rigged by traversing along the left hand wall to a rock bridge overlooking a second, connected hole that is the descent route. An aven above the pitch on the left at this point appears to be main source of the draught [C2012-161-XX X]. It would be relatively easy to continue the traverse to an apparent passage on the far side of the pitch [C2012-161-XX B] - it is unclear whether or not this passage continues.
The pitch is a fine circular shaft, 5m round and 32m deep, and is descended via a deviation 4m down and a y-hang rebelay approximately halfway down. At the base of the pitch, a rift passage heads south, accessed by climbing down through boulders. The passage was followed for 15m, via a 2m down climb, and continues to the south, tight but passable [C2012-161-XX B]. There is little discernible draught.
A 3m diameter phreatic passage heading south from March of the Ents for 25m leads to a chamber Rivendell. A hole in the floor is approximately 10m deep with a pool at the bottom [C2011-161-XX A]. There is possible passage uphill to the northeast [C2011-161-XX B]. The way on is downhill to the southwest, quickly arriving at a large T-junction with a horizontal passage. This is very windy again (blowing from southeast to northwest). Left is the large passage of The Shires. Right is the main way on.
After 17m, the passage opens out at a small streamway with a junction, and splits. The two passages soon reunite at The Stables. Left continues downhill for 17m to where the stream sinks in a too tight rift with an aven on the right [C2011-161-XX-X]. The main way on is ahead (west).
In The Stables the passage continues past a stagnant pool and quickly reaches a 3m drop at a junction. Right connects to the north-south trending rift accessed from the base of Mordor pitch, (but is not passable). To the left, a traverse round the 3m drop (left rigged) is the main way on. Large passage continues, under a rock bridge and up a 2m climb, reaching a junction 35m from the traverse. The main way on is to the left into Southern Gallop. Right leads via wide passage to a hole on the right and Soilothon on the left.:.
Turning left (southeast) at the large T-junction by Rivendell enters a huge phreatic passage 5m across trending gently downhill, The Shires. This reaches a pitch edge after 50m looking out into large chamber/area [C2011-161-XX A]. The drop is about 10m, then another 10m in a further hole. A small passage continues ahead for ~7m to look out over another drop, probably the same space [C2011-161-XX B]. Halfway along the Shires a small rift passage goes off [C2011-161-XX C] [FIXME: (Wookey/Cat/Adam) not explicitly labelled on survey].
A short climb up gains access to a large passage heading southeast. After 10m a hole is reached that can be traversed on the right (rope useful) to gain access to the continuing passage. [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) have I correctly identified this obstacle? Is the hole a QM].
After a further 10m, a 4m climb down into a rift is reached (becoming progressively more awkward on the return as ever more mud becomes smeared on the footholds). The rift passage heads south for 20m to a junction where the left hand branch quickly closes down [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) does it close down? survey is unclear] and the main way on is to the right.
The passage continues in fine style for 100m to a breakdown chamber. [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew) Are there really no QMs on this entire stretch?]. Clambering up and under the biggest boulder leads to a continuation in a tall rift. The passage continues for a further 50m to a local widening with an undescended pitch to the west [C2011-161-XX A]. Ahead the rift closes down, but a 5m climb up (rope left rigged) leads to Mad Dogs.
From the top of the 5m climb from Southern Gallop, Mad Dogs continues south, with a draught heading from north to south, for 30m before turning west. After a further 80m, a 3m pitch down is reached. An immediate 4m climb up from the base of the pitch arrives at Holey Cow, an area with many holes to avoid falling down (bolts placed for a traverse line). A pitch estimated at 20m deep at the top of the climb is undescended [C2011-161-XX A], as is an estimated 5m pitch in a side passage a little further on [C2011-161-XX B]. Traversing round the right hand (western) wall gains a mud floored passage heading south, with an unexplored passage heading east immediately after the holes [C2011-161-XX B]. 10m south from here a side passage to the west has been explored for 15m [FIXME: (Julian/Andrew/Cat) to a pitch??] with a draught heading to the west [C2011-161-XX B]. The main route continues for 15m to a junction opposite an undescended 8m pitch on the left [C2011-161-XX B]. Right at the junction leads to Blown Away. Straight ahead is the continuation towards the Runnel Stone. At this point the draught changes direction, with the combined airflow from the point of entry and continuation heading down Blown Away.
The continuing passage turns northeast and heads uphill past a side passage on the right after 15m [C2011-161-XX B]. The passage develops a floor trench and turns each. The next four passages on the right all connect to Lärchenrepublik, with the main route to this area being the easternmost and largest of these. Immediately beyond this junction, a passage to the right rejoins the main passage some 15m further on. The main route continues southeast, past the junction with Polka Dot Passage on the left after 20m. 15m further on the passage briefly divides in two before turning east. 15m beyond this corner, a low sandy passage to the right opens out at the head of a soil chute down to the head of a pitch near the Runnel Stone. Ahead is the main route, which opens out at the top of the Runnel Stone chamber 10m further on.
The access route from Holey Cow emerges at the top of a large chamber sloping down to the right. A passage heading uphill and to the north opposite the point of entry leads to Runnel North. Descending into the chamber, another passage on the left also leads to Runnel North. Immediately beyond is a massive boulder (the Runnel Stone). An undescended pitch on the right (west) here can also be accessed from the soil chute [C2012-161-XX A]. Continuing beyond the Runnel Stone, the chamber narrows to become rift passage, at which point a passage on the right (south) is Welly Popper. The rift passage continues east for 35m, past undescended pitches of 20m [C2011-161-XX B] and 5m [C2011-161-XX B] to a further pitch [C2011-161-XX B]. This point is very close to Chicken Flied Nice, and it is thought likely that this passage may be accessible by rigging a non-trivial bolt traverse over this pitch. Right immediately beyond the pitch head also leads to Welly Popper.
[FIXME: (Holly/Noel) description needed]
[FIXME: (Becka/Julian) description needed]
Polka Dot Passage heads uphill and east from the main route to the Runnel Stone with a breeze blowing from east to west. The passage develops a small floor trench, and after 20m a junction is reached. Most of the breeze eminates from the right-hand branch, which can be followed for 15m to reach two holes in the floor. These are very close to the northern end of Runnel Stone chamber and are presumed to connect. There is a possible continuation that could be reached by traversing over these holes, but it is highly likely to connect to either the chamber or Runnel North [C2012-161-XX C].
Left (north) at the junction, a much less windy walking passage (breeze from north to south) continues past a roof tube on the right [C2012-161-XX C] and a too-tight rift on the left, beyond which the passage narrows and becomes more rift-like. Some specks of mud on the right hand wall at this point give the passage its name. 50m from the junction a pitch is reached, which is located directly above the northern extremity of Runnel North. A climb up to the right immediately before the pitch head leads only to a further hole with a visual connection to this pitch.
[FIXME: (Becka/Julian/Andrew) description needed]
Lärchenrepublik starts as a substantial walking passage heading south from the trunk passage between Holey Cow and Runnel Stone with a significant breeze blowing from north to south. A 3m climb down is quickly reached, beyond which the passage turns right reaching a junction at which left is the main way on.
Right at the junction leads to a series of passages that all ultimately connect back to the main trunk passage. The first of these is a tube on the right reached after 10m that joins the main passage at the junction with the main route into Lärchenrepublik. 5m beyond, a 2m climb down is reached on the left. Ahead at this point is a tube reached by a short climb up that goes through a puddle to join the trunk passage 10m back from the main junction towards Holey Cow. Descending the climb leads to a narrow winding passage that joins the trunk passage af further 10m back.
Turning left at the junction, the passage continues downhill in fine style with a northerly breeze past some nice crystals (gypsum?) - care required to avoid damage. After 50m, the roof lowers briefly, then opens up at a tall rift. The rift passage continues south and has not been followed, but does not appear to carry a significant draught [C2012-161-XX B]. A 6m climb up at this point leads only to a drop that is presumed to connect to the rift at a lower level.
The main way on is found by turning right then immediately left and crawling under a boulder to emerge in a parallel rift passage. A roof tube doubling back over the point of entry is presumed to connect back to the main passage near the point where the roof lowers. The continuing rift at floor level does not appear to be draughting [C2012-161-XX B].
The way on is found by via an easy 6m diagonal climb up into the rift on the right to enter the Spiral Staircase area, so called because the route to the continuing passage is somewhat convoluted. At the top of the climb, a narrow, draughting, phreatic rift passage heads off. After 10m, a climb on the right is the way on. Straight ahead at floor level leads, after 15m, to a pitch estimated at 12m deep [C2012-161-XX B]. There may be a possible continuation beyond at floor level.
Heading up the climb on the right enters another phreatic rift passage. After 5m, a roof tube doubling back over the point of entry can be accessed by climbing up into the rift. Continuing at floor level for a further 10m, the same pitch as reached from the lower rift is reached. There is a solid roof at this level. There is also a more obvious continuing passage at the opposite side of the pitch; access will be difficult [C2012-161-XX B].
The roof tube reaches a further level overlooking the lower rifts from which access was gained. A short climb doubling back over the point of entry gains access to Bundestrasse.