(GSAB) Spéalp 3 (Oct. 1978) pp 44-45
Situation : Totes Gebirge
West - Feuertal
Depth : -607m
Altitude : 1890m ; Frigoschacht 1875m
History : see Spéalp number 1
The GSAB expedition was organised from 5th to 29th August, 1977
Several individuals from different clubs joined up, and in parallel with the exploration of the Gouffre Ovni (-565m), the GSAB expedition deepened Ahnenschacht and cleared up some unknowns.
From the entrance, after 70m down the Josef schacht, climb down 7m over a large block and descend about 12m in the bottom of a meander. Progress is then in the meander, with a short climb in a fault on the left and a 120m pitch, in sections of 22m and 100m. Beyond is a tight canyon with a 20m pitch to a sump at -607m (the last part of the 100m pitch is wet).
The possibility of a connection with Epagédure prompted a number of individual Belgian cavers to organise a mini-expedition.
We didn't make the connection, since a bed of dolomite eliminated all hope. However, the trip did allow several Belgian cavers to discover a new Austrian cave.
Le Bilan : -500m at first, several different endings and a new theory for the pursuit of caves.
-150m in the upstream system from the Josef schacht : stopped by something and fissure (a high and tight canyon).
A new look at some areas: Enigmatic, KGB, Gruyère and Schnaps.
A visit and more exploration in the Belgica series.
After the Bivouac : a 10m pitch, then turn left into a small passage, ignore three pitches to the side, then descend pitches of 8 and 13m to arrive at some easy squeezes on the left. After this, a climb of 5m and a 42m pitch. Stops in a sand blockage at -410m.
Over the 13m pitch a small passage goes to several climbs in a fossil series. There is a 25m pitch and two 10m pitches ending in several very tight chimneys.
We noted the visit of six members of CARSS who had left their bag of bolts in the valley.
Jean Pierre Braun.