Under the Hollow Mountain

Exploring Slovenia's longest cave system - an overview of the logistics and typical mountain life on expedition. Delivered at CHECC 2017

Transcript

1. UNDER THE HOLLOW MOUNTAIN EXPLORING SLOVENIA’S LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM CHECC 2017 Imperial College Caving Club ic.caving@gmail.com https://www.union.ic.ac.uk/rcc/caving/slovenia/
2. Under the Hollow Mountain 1.  Location info 2.  Life on the mountain 3.  Recap
3. LOCATION Keywords: Tolminski Migovec, Tolmin area, Triglav National Park, NW Slovenia, Soča valley
4. Slovenia Borders Italy, Croatia, Hungary and Austria 2m population (2016) Triglav National Park Triglavski Narodni Park
5. Tolmin Small town in large glacial valley Touristic in the summer (metal, reggae festivals) Limestone ranges in the the background Bus+train access from Lujbljana (capital) Bus access from Trieste (Italy) airport Can also interrail across Europe
6. Minibus journey Transport kit+ UK bought food+9 people 24h in most expendable vehicle of the Union fleet. Pit stop in Tolmin Then 900m ascent to Tolminske Ravne – base camp
7. Tolminske Ravne Base camp at 924m als Storage of crates Couple of days of ‘carries’. Equipment portered on foot for the remaining 1km ascent Good physical training before actual exploration Take in the scenery!
8. Tolminski Migovec 1862m als ‘Plateau’ at 1850m asl on average Ridge of 2000m peaks to the north (Kuk, Vhr na Skrbino) About 1.1 – 1.4km thick massive limestones Drainage divide
9. Geology Slovenian National Grid (EPSG 3794) Red-pink are Triassic limestones --- time equivalent of the Dachstein platform Blue and Green not so good for cave formation – too much impervious mudstone layers Massive thrust complex – faults provide pathways for water flow
10. The Julian Alps Scenery – criss-crossed with hiking trails in the Triglav National Park Hut to hut hikes (membership of the alpine club for discounts and booking well in advance) Historical heritage Geology Fauna-flora
11. The Julian Alps Scenery – criss-crossed with hiking trails in the Triglav National Park Hut to hut hikes (membership of the alpine club for discounts and booking well in advance) Historical heritage Geology Fauna-flora
12. Good recent photo coverage Geopedia.si
13. Good recent photo coverage Geopedia.si
14. Caves we know of so far QGIS generated Colour coded by section of cave 39km connected in one system 41km total under the mountain Slovenian National Grid (EPSG 3794)
15. MOUNTAIN LIFE Keywords: the ‘bivi’, cooking, pushing, bolting, the ‘Plateau’, water collection
16. A ‘Plateau’ Riddled with shakeholes Some deep (30m) others not so much Snowplug height varies from year to year Camping on grassy spots
17. The bivi A shakehole in the ground Cooking – washing area Storage of food – equipment over winter Water collection –storage Communal space where caving plans are made Evenings of revelry
19. Mountain life is a good life
20. Prepare for pushing Find a partner Decide where to go Choose pushing gear Pack food – photo kit Get changed Say when you’ll be back Go find the entrance
21. Push Drop pitches Find and survey new passage.
22. Our current objectives Exploration of Primadona Accessed via a cliff abseil
23. Our current objectives Exploration of Primadona Accessed via a cliff abseil Complex high level horizontal galleries Revisiting the deep lead with an underground camp
24. Primadona – the abseil 120m elevation lost. Half is a steep scree slope Other half is sub-vertical, dropping to the cave entrance Many other potential entrances on the cliff side
25. What’s the cave like? Rigging completely renewed over 2 years – easy entrance series access Some drips, and many, many loose rocks Occasional streamways Some big chambers still to be discovered Boulders best left alone
26. What’s the cave like? Rigging completely renewed over 2 years – easy entrance series access Some drips, and many, many loose rocks Occasional streamways Some big chambers and pitches still to be discovered Boulders best left alone
27. What’s the cave like? Rigging completely renewed over 2 years – easy entrance series access Some drips, and many, many loose rocks Occasional streamways Some big chambers and pitches still to be discovered Boulders best left alone
28. What’s the cave like? Rigging completely renewed over 2 years – easy entrance series access Some drips, and many, many loose rocks Occasional streamways Some big chambers and pitches still to be discovered Boulders best left alone
29. What’s the cave like? Rigging completely renewed over 2 years – easy entrance series access Some drips, and many, many loose rocks Occasional streamways Some big chambers and pitches still to be discovered Boulders best left alone
30. What’s the cave like? Rigging completely renewed over 2 years – easy entrance series access Some drips, and many, many loose rocks Occasional streamways Some big chambers still to be discovered Boulders best left alone
31. RECAP Visit https://www.union.ic.ac.uk/rcc/caving/wiki/ ExpeditionInformationForNovices
32. Interested? Get in touch with us! Contact ic.caving@gmail.com ~20 member strong expedition ~4 weeks long, can come for fewer (2 min recommended) ~early July to early August -underground camp at -400m
33. THANKS ! Photographs by Jarvist Frost, Rhys Tyers, Jack Hare, Cecilia Kan, Tanguy Racine