Plateau - scoping out a route from col to Garlic Cave

Thu 06 Jul 2023
Janis Huns



We set out to improve the direct route from the start of the plateau to Homecoming. The way down the wall after the second pole was suprisingly nice. This was followed by an easy flat section until the bunde and tiny cliffs obscured all the alternative paths we tried. Most of the way was already cairned, but we did find some nice fresh transitions through the bunde walls separating the easy-to-walk-on slabs. At Homecoming, we met Harry, Christian, Alice, Merryn getting ready to rig the cave. Then we visited Garlic cave - a massive above ground hole that leads to a bridge below which are the entrances to the cave itself. There was loads of snow - just as in every entrance - but there was a nice campable bit , plenty of water dripping. I sensed some garlic smell, remembering the story that this smell gave the name of the cave, but was still mysterious. Then Maddie realised we were surrounded by chives! Mystery solved.

On the way back we met Jono, Evelyn, and Oakem who were on the way to Garlic. At Homecoming, Honorata and Radost told us they had found 3 intriguing holes while prospecting. We found a baloon with a sweet note on it and read it to them.

Just after, we found a loose wellie which now acts as another cairn [reflectoring trip on 11th noticed that this is "size 9", so therefore a UK wellie]. The final pathwe made is quite nice except for one climb over a ravine tha t seems to be unavoidable without drastic changes to the route. It was a nice day. On the way back, we saw the Dachstein for the first time , complemented by all the numerous kinds of mountain flowers.

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Survex files on this date:
    caves-1623/290/bubble_baby_benign_bypass_bypass
    caves-1623/290/fivemoose
    caves-1623/321/321
    caves-1623/322/322
    caves-1623/305/305
    caves-1623/304/304
Wallets on this date:
    2023#01 ["1623/305 Adidas Lederhosen Schacht 2023-MG-01", "1623/304 Doppellochhöhle 2023-MG-02"] ['notes']
    2023#03 Small Drain and Medium Drain ['2023-hbrw-01-drawing_cave_1', '2023-hbrw-01', '2023-hbrw-02-drawing_cave_1', …
    2023#04 bubble_baby_benign_bypass_bypass|Bottom of Blitzen Boulevard ['bubble_baby_benign_bypass_bypass_elevation', 'bubble_baby_benign_bypass_bypas…
    2023#06 LiquidLuck ['Fishface 5 mooseP-Model', 'Fishface 5 moose', 'Fishface 5 moose therion_p', '…
    2023#35 prospecting ['No uploaded scans or incorrect path to wallet contents']
Logbook trips on this date:
    Plateau - scoping out a route from col to Garlic Cave
    Fishface - Rigging and pitch-measuring trip
    Fishface - Surveying around Benign Bubble Baby Bypass
    Prospecting
    Fishface - Surveying the top of liquid luck
    Homecoming - Rig faff