Papua New Guinea - Muller 82 Caving Expedition - Mamo 4 Camp Log

1. Mark Laurendet (ML) - running (Toyota) off a straight road into a swamp.

2. Ian Westwood (IW) - getting lost in mainline.

3. Stephen Bunton (SWB)- almost taking cave photos but forgot to load the film.

4. Ev Tulp (ET) - taking a sideways plunge out of the bog.

5. Ian Westwood (IW) - for getting lost pussiking up a rope.

6. Dirk Stoffels (DS) - for getting a leech in his eye.

7. Rauleigh (RW), Ian (IW) and Barry (BW)- went on a search and discover mission to the sinking streams armed without torch or track marking tape.

8. Bunty (SWB) - getting Steve W (SW) to swim around in a plunge pool before the flashgun was recharged and before the film was wound on.

9. Rauleigh (RW) and Roy (RoW) - derigging Hoth's three pitches and returning to camp with two 30cm lengths of rope.

10. Ian Westwood (IW) - dropped his pack off the rope whilst hauling it up Leaptover. It had his descender in it and he couldn't retrieve it.

11. Ian Westwood (IW) - for incinerating his sandshoes.

12. Lloyd - hoping to beat Karen up Leaptover, tied his pack to the bottom of the rope on the last pitch, intending to pull it up after him. The rope unfortunately, is anchored to the top of the second last pitch! Plus his descender was in his pack.

13. Tim (TL) & sidekick at Atea (Dirk (DS)) - for taking half an hour to get through a message (on the radio) about a pair of underpants.

14. Steve W (SW). - admitted having a " kink in his leg " which keeps his gumboots on.

15. Tim (TL) - stood up upstairs and knocked himself out on the roof.

16. Ron Levy (RL) - sending his gear out to Koroka on the chopper, but got stuck at Mamo V due to fog.

17. Steve W (SW). - forgot to backload his stal.

18. Tim (TL) - incinerated Steve's (SWB) undies, put kero in the dinner too.

19. Julia (JJ) - for organising the helicopter priorities, loading schedules and radio communications. ie. Sending all food and people to Mamo V but no gear from Legari, organising no Mamo recce but sending 2 porters to Mamo V. Backloading chocolate to Atea, but making Ron (RL) walk to Mamo V. All this without lifting her finger off the walkie-talkie button.

20. Tim (TL) - for getting the fire going with kero, producing 8ft high flames and incinerating some clothes, and producing kero flavoured cabbage.

21. Steve Bunton (SWB) - for strangling a Darkie on almost every ledge in Leaptover and various other sites in the cave.

22. Roy Winstanley (RoW) - for backing the Toyota off Guala mission road into gutter ditch.

23. Roy (RoW) - for abseiling off the end of the rope on the 5th pitch of Kananda Pugwa (Mamo V) after being told (twice) that the rope was too short.

24. Bunty (SWB) - for not replacing the rope over the rope protector (log) on the first pitch of Kananda Pugwa and leaving four Bods stranded, while going off to strangle a Darkie.

25. Lex (LB) & Brian (BC) - for 1 trip into the cave, during which they discovered they didn't know the cave very well. Total achievement, one broken bolting tool!

26. Bunty (SWB) - for carefully placing Barry's (BW) sleeping bag under a drip. Barry (BW) came out to his wet bag after being trapped in the cave for 54hrs.

27. Roy (RoW) - for keeping his survey gear completely virgin.

28. Brian (BC) & Super Caver (Mike Walker (MiW)) - for going on a trip to Far Away West and surveying 300m of previously surveyed passage.

29. Dirk (DS) - speaks with forked tongue : he announced (from the bottom of Leaptover on the Michie Phone) they'd mapped 1100m, so in camp we started celebrating overtaking the Atea.

30. A nomination for the "Rigger of Mamo 82" to the person who rigged 6 Molar. A fine hang out of the water (in normal flow), but floodwater abraded the bottom end of rope, the traverse line and the knot. By the way, there's a dry oxbow on the left (shown on the 78 survey) which always gives a dry hang.

Rigger's "right of reply" - what a shame it has been known to rain in PNG causing floods!

(The person who wrote this, shouldn't go caving)

31. Luckiest Friday 13th cavers : Dirk (DS), Roy (RoW), Mark (ML), Lex (LB), Susan and Steve W (SW) - who were all in the Rinse Cycle when it flooded (50mm rain in 4hrs) yet all were back in camp for tea.

32. Mark Laurendet (ML) - who after his first trip in the cave, said he reckoned the cave had pretty well been looked at in 78, and there wasn't much more to be found. Eight days latter the cave length had been doubled.

33. Mark Laurendet (ML) - who after abseiling down a muddy pitch in 12C85 doline, coiled up the rope and prusiked out of the cave before realising he had left his rack at the bottom.

34. Jeff Crass (JC) - for putting in a 1/4'' bolt on High and Mighty just below a 2ft diameter natural thread.

35. The author of (27) for not looking at the map to see that, "that 300m" was unsurveyed passage.

36. Bunty (SWB) - started drinking his coffee and failed to notice that all that was in his cup was hot water.

37. Tony White (ToW) - for grabbing a recce flight on the chopper and saying he got talked into it.(ask Mark L (ML) about being elbowed out of the chopper doorway)

38. Steve W (SW) - found a passage off Kit Kanyon and finding footprints, accused a unknown person of poaching. The passage was in fact Cooks Tour, and the footprints were his own. (1978 vintage)

39. Steve Worthington (SW) - for failing to burn Mark Laurendet (ML) on his party night, by throwing kero on both the fire and Mark's (ML) legs but only managing to get the kero on the fire to ignite.

MÜLLER '82' MAMO IV LOG (OR " NOT THE MÜLLER '82' LOG ")

Steve Bunton (SWB), Kirupe Kolami, Akana and dogs went to cut track to Mamo IV. The Nali track was well used and with a little cleaning was easily negotiable. Caught 2 Tree Kangaroos on trip down. The track (?) up the river was easily followed. The waterfall climbs were not too difficult to clean. The track up the hill out of the creek was discernible by Duna eyes. It was a case of follow the overgrown tree stumps and tree blazes. There was hope for a trip to Mamo IV tomorrow all the way cutting track as they go.

Roy (RoW) Winstanley, Mark Laurendet (ML), Newe Beruwe, Yangore and Opa carrying 1/2 loads cut track all the way to the camp cave at Mamo IV. Roy (RoW) and Mark (ML) were stunned by the scenery on the plateau and the large dolines. They investigated a place to locate the helipad.

Roy (RoW) and Boys started clearing the helipad. Mark (ML) marked the track back down the creek. Steve Bunton (SWB) with Kolowi Undape and Aliye carried from Atea in 3 1/2 hours. Had lunch at the camp cave. The Boys went up to help with the helipad and complete its construction but there was still more clearing and cleaning to do. Steve (SWB) and Mark (ML) set up the aerial for the SSB radio. No radio contact that night even at prearranged times.

Sent a note to Atea with Newe that the HELIPAD would be completed by 12 noon. IT WAS!, all the Boys and EXPATS worked like hell till lunchtime to clean the helipad. Returned after lunch. The Boys then constructed seats, rubbish pits and toilet also improved the track to the H2O (water). Starved a bit for dinner.

Slack start to the day. 8:30 the chappies heard the helicopter and ran up to greet the poor first people in. Graeme Smith (GS) first to arrive. No scare !! then Helen Turtan (HT) arrived by helicopter and Barry Were (BW) who started to reorganise the radios battery and SSB radio returned to Koroba, aerial demolished. All spent the day organising the camp to make it more comfortable. Beds were constructed and tables etc. Made contact with Atea by Walkie Talkie and found the rest of the gear and people had arrived at Atea. Patches of cloud covered the airstrip (Helipad) at Mamo IV each time the chopper needed to land. Graeme Smith (GS) got sunburnt waiting for the chopper.

After 3 radio schedules between Mamo IV and Atea Steve Worthington (SW), Eve Tulp (ET), Ian Westwood (IW) and Dirk Stoffels (DS) walked from Atea to Mamo IV with 16 loads of food and gear, with the assistance from almost everybody from the Atea and Mamo IV camps. This double shuffle of the gear enabled the Mamo IV camp to become a viable proposition. All food and equipment was then listed and rationed-out such that the porters rations and the cavers lunches could be accurately determined.

Atea failed to keep up the scheduled radio communication.

Steve W (SW), Roy (RoW) and Helen (HT) tried to do a surface survey from the back entrance to Backdoor (MR268) but got somewhat lost and demoralised in the bush.

Eve (ET), Barry (BW) and Steve W (SW) cut track and surveyed NW from camp in search of MR299, or any other cave willing to show itself, but all the caves were hiding. Found one cave MR008 in doline MR007.

Roy(RoW) and Ian Westwood (IW) (No entry in Log).

Graeme Smith (GS) cut track to Hadia Yaneabogairi MR275 entrance.

Dirk (DS) modified the survey reduction and plotting computer program.

Mark (ML) and Helen (HT) spent 5hrs in Leaptover, rigging work (Mark (ML)) nearly ended his stint in life when a bollard broke off (back tie held).

Ian (IW), Barry (BW) and Steve W (SW) rigged MR275 entrance and the 39m pitch into Siltstone Blues. Surveyed Bloody Him, continuing about 200m beyond the previous limit to an aven. On the way out Steve (SW) looked at the first lead in Siltstone Blues downstream of the pitch and found a promising high level canyon (Roll-a-go-go). In 9 hours.

Graeme (GS), Mark (ML), Dirk (DS) and Helen (HT) dropped the pitch at the eastern end of Synthetic Penicillin, 12m pitch into circular chamber - small active vadose streamway lead off at the bottom - only possible to go along about 8m along this passage. Graeme (GS) climbed most of the way up the other side of the chamber in an effort to gain access to the high level continuation. He got within a couple of metres of the top but needed a shoulder to stand on. A rope was necessary to retreat. This high level lead is still worth checking. 3 Assamid harvestmen were collected in Synthetic Penicillin as well as a tipulid fly. Much swallow guano and nest material is present.

Steve B (SWB), Roy (RoW) and Ev went to the end of Drunken Stal and surveyed beyond the end of the Siltstone Blues pitch. From the 2m climb, the passage turned on itself. It ended in a phreatic aven riddled area or in one part a formation area and a 15m pitch with a 10m climb on the other side. (possibly Leaptover). This pit has a stream in the floor which was found to descend a larger pitch 47m from the surveyed passage. This dropped in upstream Siltstone Blues but wasn't surveyed. Steve (SWB) and Roy (RoW) investigated a side passage on the return, joint controlled muddy rectangular rifts - Worm World. Roy (RoW) and Ev (ET) surveyed the lead between Drunken Stal and the 39m pitch, the passage went up a 2.5m climb to a straight NS passage ending in an aven which Roy (RoW) attempted to climb. Small high level leads could be seen off the passage. Some swallow guano and broken eggs were present.

Roy (RoW) and Steve (SWB) sat in camp until after a good leisurely lunch. They then cut track to the adjacent (MR009) doline looking for the entrance of Lacerated Giggle. 1st doline south yielded 30' shaft (MR010) with possible extensions underground. The bigger doline (MR011) further south was only a joint controlled series of solution features which take seepage. No visible cave passage worth negotiating. They then re-explored Leaptover confirming it joins into Siltstone Blues. This would provide a better entrance to the cave with a bit of bolting and rock removal.

Barry (BW), Helen (HT), Ev (ET) and Steve W (SW) returned to the promising high level canyon (Roll-a-go-go) which Steve W (SW) found last night. Followed the main passage generally to the east until stopped by an aven and pit after about 800m, with the main passage continuing beyond the pit. Mapped some side passages on the way back, one of which seems to be a southerly continuation of Synthetic Penicillin. Exited via the rift passage connecting to and the ledge halfway down the 39m pitch. Mapped 1640m, underground 10 hours.

Mark (ML) and Graeme (GS) went bug-collecting in Siltstone Blues and Tetly Tarns. Many insects were collected as well as two spiders and several Harvestmen. A crab with tenmocephala, staphyimid beetles, collembola and several snails were also collected.

Mark (ML) and Steve B (SWB) renovated the entrance to Leaptover such that the bottomless - tight vertical squeeze entrance was no longer a feature of the cave. They then placed 3 bolts to re-rig the pitches such that they could take high traffic levels as the main entrance / exit of the lower levels of the cave.

Graeme (GS) sorted his bags from the previous days and then went collecting on the surface with Ian Westwood (IW), he collected several spiders and Harvestmen from the Backyard.

Barry (BW) and Steve W (SW) plotting Roll-a-go-go.

Steve B (SWB) and Ian W (IW) descended the Leaptover, placing the bolt for the last pitch and cutting the rope to size and removing the surplus. They surveyed from the Bomb Shelter to the bottom of Leaptover's Big Pitch noting an upstream extension.

Helen (HT), Steve W (SW), Roy (RoW), and Barry (BW) went down Leaptover and up Roll-a-go-go to continue the survey. The Kraftwork passage continued in a West NW direction for (No entry in Log)m. An ox-bow via a waterfall at the extreme of the survey provided access to the stream for a second time. From the first point of access to the stream we surveyed upstream for 100m to a junction. The water was clear despite continuous rain/drizzle during the last 24 hours. About 40 leads plotted in this section of passage half of which are probably oxbows, underground 10 hours.

Dirk (DS), Mark (ML) and Graeme (GS) resurveyed the Sacking of Rome from Mainline to the area previously surveyed to grade 5 from the Iguanadon. Several snails, two apilioids and two spiders (Troglodytes) were collected. Traffic thru this area should be restricted as much as possible due to the potential for damage to formations. The squalid nature of some of the passage is also a good reason to avoid it. Underground 8 1/4 hours.

Steve W (SW) followed the ridge south from T0923 finding the camp fire smoke to be billowing out of holes in 3 dolines. Two look tight, while the third is 1m high and 5m wide, but smoky. Another doline had caves on each side, like MR280 or MR284.

Graeme (GS) collected more bugs from the surface.

Mark Laurendet (ML) and Steve Bunton (SWB) pushed upstream of waterfall in Backyard got through two roof sniffs and surveyed the cave to just more than 200m deep stopped at another 3.5 - 4m waterfall.

Ev (ET), Ian (IW), Steve W (SW) down Leaptover to continue up Roaring Eighties from the first junction. Took the left fork, an easy stream for 200m (Roaring Eighties still) to a junction. Half the water coming from each inlet - went left and followed the narrow inlet Split Enz for about 500m to an aven. On the way back followed the roof tube to a parallel stream (Return Ticket). Upstream became tight, while downstream involved lots of climbing through and over boulders till a large passage (Skyscraper) was reached. Followed the wettest, most immature route downstream to a sump. Gave up mapping, and looked for an easy way out. Fortunately we were able to cross over to the Roaring Eighties, but made a slow exit after Ev (ET) wrenched her arm in a short fall. Underground 11 hours Mapped 1400m +.

Graeme (GS), Helen (HT), Mark (ML) and Dirk (DS) set off downstream in the Roaring Eighties. We surveyed down to an oxbow which connected across to what we believe is the lower end of the Whirling Person streamway. We continued down the Roaring Eighties stream to the top of a pitch (passing one aven inlet and one other inlet coming thru cracks in the rock on the right). The pitch dropped into a large phreatic type passage but was not descended. Good rigging points are available for "Friends" or chocks on the right-hand side. A 15m rope (max) is required. We returned upstream and surveyed up the Whirling Person inlet to a pool that would require swimming for further progress. We then returned to the surface after 8 hours underground. Very few bugs were collected in the streamway. Mayfly larva, Theridiosomatidae spiders and an assamid harvestman were collected. A tick was found in Roll-a-go-go and carabid beetle and crab fragments seen. Underground 8 hours.

Steve B (SWB), Barry (BW) and Roy (RoW) went up Roll-a-go-go to explore the new streamway upstream. The stream became narrow and low in parts. Bifurcating smaller passages were often the go, which shortly ended in rock, rubble and clay chokes. One chamber yielded a skeleton of a surface mammal probably a rat or bandicoot. The stream had upper level oxbows and the survey out investigated these. At one point Steve B (SWB) fell 5m and an abrupt end was called to the trip. This yielded the name Whirling Person.

Graeme (GS) and Mark (ML) surveyed from the cave above MR275 (ie MR283) through to the next doline (MR283 exit) and across through (MR286 - MR288) into the MR287 doline. We then entered MR290 which was followed for about 50m to the top of a 5m then 15m pitch. The belay point is a small stal on the left at the top of the pitch and the back-tie is two jug handles 8m back along the passage. Mark (ML) descended both pitches to the top of a further pitch estimated at 10m. We surveyed out of the cave and joined the survey to the doline traverse. Opiliones were common in the cave but not collected due to a lack of specimen tubes.

Mark (ML), Dirk (DS) and Ian (IW) revisited the passage above the waterfall climbed on Wednesday 14th in the Backyard. This was a Photo exploration with Mark (ML) and Dirk (DS) taking a variety of shots. Total time in cave 2 hours.

Steve W (SW) spent all day running yesterdays 190 stations through the computer in 5 station lots -. Not enough watts in the power; very frustrating.!!!

[ It was caused by using batteries set up as 9V and then connecting them up to the computer via a full-wave bridge to allow cavers to connect batteries up the wrong way, giving 9V- 1.2V = 7.8V, which wasn't enough to charge internal batteries. A silly mistake I made while doing a rush job in Sydney to get the computer case etc finished before the flight out of Sydney. Dirk Stoffels (DS) ]

Barry W (BW) destroyed the program in the computer so Dirk (DS) had to reload and modify it again.

Barry (BW), Beruwe, Steve (SWB) and Steve (SW) on surface exploration. SW descended the first three pitches in MR290 (Bloody Him ?) (4m,15m,14m) the third leading to a very tight crawl. The way on is a 30m walk past the 14m pitch to a spacious wet pitch of 20-25m, which needs 4'-6' diwai (log) for a belay. Back on the surface the other three cut NW to the next doline (MR013) with a dry entrance (MR014) leading to a streamway. Steve W (SW) followed this for 180m down 2m and 3m climbs (combined tactics useful) and down a 4m pitch (on slings) to a dry spacious 10m pitch. The wet way down the pitch was climbable down about 9m it became too tight. Superb threads over both pitches. Just need a 20m+ rope for the two pitches.

DIAG 1.

Meanwhile, back on the surface, the other three cut to the sink (MR015) for MR014 and continued up the hill to a 20m waterfall and stream sink (MR017). They then headed south west to a big elongated doline (MR018) with a big waterfall crashing to it. The sinking streams at last, after nine years. They then cut track to join with Barry (BW), Ev (ET) and Steve's (SW) track of the 9th. Steve W (SW) ambled along the track, and descended MR018 to the edge of the gorge running along the bottom, with a big walk-in entrance beckoning (MR019). Fame and glory tomorrow ?

DIAG 2.

* MR016 Overlooked small cave 1m diameter tube bearing west down 30-45o getting tighter. Located a point 817 ? on the track. (ie no side sights)

M Laurendet(ML), G Smith(GS), I Westwood(IW), H Turton(HT), D Stoffels(DS) and R Winstanley(RoW) photo and bug collecting trip to Iguanodon. Underground 8 hours.

Ron (RL) and Nick (NH) arrived.

Ian, Mick and Barry (BW) went to 1st stream junction in Split Enz. Took right-hand stream for a few hundred metres until it got low and silty and deep and wet (above waist burrr). Finally it became a total duck and we quit. On way back pushed a couple of side passages for a few hundred metres. Then took the left branch of stream surveyed by Steve on 14th. First lead on right ox-bowed back to stream junction but also went in several upstream directions for several hundred metres. It was low, snow lined collapse and in some places less than 1m wide. Eventually decided it was too low to pursue. On way out in Kraft-work we pushed leads on left -58 went about 50m to 07? and right it soon dropped about 10m. Barry (BW) climbed 3/4 way down to see a pool. Could hear running water. Passage continued at same level on other side but climb needs aids. Then did lead 50. It dropped about 3m then went about 50m in fairly small passage to a 3m drop to ledge with further 3m drop into big passage, Cooks Tour? Barry (BW) climbed down to have a look. Out by 7:30pm. Time down 9hrs Surveyed 900m.

Rauleigh (RW) and Lloyd arrived, making 14 people.

Steve W (SW) and Beruwe flattened the floor in the upper cave, creating enough space to sleep 8 more people.

Steve B (SWB) and Steve W (SW) closed the loop on the surface survey to the Sinking Streams. Quick look down MR019 and then abseiled into MR020, the shaft at the downstream end of the surface canyon. 34m and 14m pitches to a big passage (8m x 6m) Along this for 140m to a big pool, with a 5m waterfall feeding it. Climbed into a flood overflow (for the waterfall passage) and mapped 100m uphill to 4m climb. Then Steve W (SW) had a quick look further and after approx 100m could hear a stream in the distance, so left the passage for a Grade 5 survey. Then we headed downstream across the pool (only waist deep), but reached a 6m pitch after 40m. Needed a peg or Friend to rig, so we left it. Underground about 4hrs mapped (underground) 384m.

Mark (ML), Ron (RL) and Graeme (GS) walked up to the helipad and along a ridge at 40o for about 50-100m then out along a side ridge at 280-300o to its end just above (and to the east of) the MR275 doline. On the right is a steep sided doline (MR021). This doline forms a double doline with MR275 by the virtue of a saddle between the two. We returned along the ridge and picked up the original ridge. We continued out along this ridge for a further 300m passing two dolines on the left. The first should be investigated at a later date (MR022). The next doline (MR023) was investigated by Ron (RL). There is an overhang around about 1/2 the sides (west). The bottom of the doline had no obvious leads. Halfway up on the eastern side is a small cave (MR024). This only had about 4m of passage. On the top of the ridge (about 50m east of the crest) was a small doline (among bamboo/bracken rubbish). This doline (MR025) appeared to have a shaft on the SE corner and a small trickle of water could be heard. The top of this ridge appears to be the highest ridge before the dry valley as 3 valleys (of dolines?) were observed running downhill at 140o. From a point 50m NE of this doline there was a clear view of Legari high ground at 60o (to the nearest edge) although the length of the Legari range visible lay between 50-70o. The 3 valleys at 100o were not investigated. On the return journey we were geographically embarrassed for about 3/4 hour. However the situation was eventually resolved by consulting the compass and relocating some of our track blazing marks.

Dirk (DS) and Helen (HT) went to the doline at 135o to camp. Found two entrance shafts, one 2m across unknown depth, the other 4m across and very deep. Dirk (DS) got a leech in his eye, so we headed back to camp. (You should have seen the strange look on people's faces when they saw it, Dirk (DS)). After removing leech with salt and tweezers, the whole white of the eye had gone bright red. That afternoon Dirk (DS) rigged the CB 27Mhz radio aerial higher up the doline so as to have direct communications with Atea from the Mamo IV camp, without needing to walk up to the helipad. This was only partially successful with radio schedule in poor weather still needing to be made from the helipad. We wouldn't have any of these problems if we had the larger radio sets.

Steve B (SWB) went up the Backyard and out to the surface. Helen (HT) with Opa and Newe located him cutting track from T0935 (S/W). The party continued to MR020 Newe improved the take-off point for the abseil. Opa cut track to the top of the waterfall and we noticed the water coming out a resurgence. Newe led the party up tree-kangaroo trails to the top of the waterfall finding the insurgence (MR026). A net was put in the stream and the geology noted. A more direct track was cut back to the top of the rope in MR020. Steve B (SWB) noticed an old high level cave MR027 above the gorge and the cave discovered the other day Non-Reflective Surface MR019. This had a huge gale going out.

DIAG 3. (Cross Section)

* The cap rock was hand weathered to an orange surface. More angular in its irregularities than the limestone below. A sample was taken. The track to MR020 was improved on the return trip.

Rauleigh (RW), Graeme (GS) and Ron (RL) went to the inlet just past the Lunge Pool. Ron (RL) free-climbed the 3m climb and a hand line was rigged for Rauleigh (RW) and Graeme (GS). The streamway was traversed and surveyed to an end where a 6-8m climb required some aid. We went back and took the first large upper lead past a great piece of formation after which we named the passage Geronimo.

DIAG 4.

This passage ended in a crawl so we headed out and mapped upper passages near the inlet to the Rinse Cycle. One passage connected to the top of the Rinse Cycle 10m above stream level. After mapping Graeme (GS) took us to the top of 6 Molar and then made a quick trip out with Graeme (GS) collecting near Tetley Tarns. Time underground 9 hours, mapped 519m.

Dirk (DS), Mark (ML) and Ev (ET) went up lead where Sacking of Rome comes into the passage from the Iguanodon. Large passage found ending in 3 different waterfalls which we were unable to climb. On return journey found a phreatic maze above main passage about half way back to the Iguanadon. Passage found named Delusions of Grandeur. Total mapped 400m, not including phreatic maze. A number of red coloured stals were noticed in the main passage. Underground 9 hours.

Roy (RoW), Lloyd and Steve W (SW) down to the SE end of Roll-a-go-go. Descended the 3m pitch, which had stretched itself to 12m, through a narrow canyon to the base of a second pit, and climbed 12m (on rope) back up to the big phreatic tube. 30m on was a third pit, most depressing. Managed to free climb across the right wall (left a traverse rope) and continued for 100m to a boulder pile. We excavated a way through, and continued along a larger passage (Ozroom) to an aven. Backtracked to a big wide passage, which seemed to fluoresce, but no, it was a new entrance (MR028). The cicadas were just starting to chirp. No way up the pit so we returned via Roll-a-go-go, leaving two good leads and the tackle in for a through trip tomorrow.

Steve B (SWB), Helen (HT) and Mark (ML) prepared to do the only through trip from Leaptover --> MR028 entrance. First project for the day was re-rigging the Leaptover pitches. During this operation Steve (SWB) and Mark (ML) swapped packs and Mark's (ML) pack got left behind. This left the party short of food, photo-gear and carbide so surveying was aborted. Steve (SWB) photographed in Roll-a-go-go, Ektachrome 400. The party derigged the 12m elephant trap and the tricky traverse then exited at the daylight hole. [ Steve Bunton (SWB) left Mark's (ML) pack behind with lunch, spare carbide, water and pruskiking gear. ML ]

Dirk (DS) and Steve W (SW) surveyed from the camp to the Helipad.

Lloyd, Roy (RoW) and Steve W (SW) surveyed down the Atea track, computer in hand and cut track (or rather the porters did) down to MR028. Found it within 10 minutes of starting to search. Rigged the pitch for Bunty (SWB), Helen (HT) and Mark (ML). Smaller entrance (MR030) found on the way.

Ian, Rauleigh (RW), Nick (NH) and Barry (BW) went into new passage down 10m climb, found on 18th from Kraftwork survey point 58. The sound of running water was this time none existent. Headed downstream 10m to a 5m pitch. No rope so headed back upstream. It soon got narrow and rifty with several squeezy climbs. These were followed by 2m wide 15-25m high passage which came to a big chamber 20m diam and at least 20m high. At on end a waterfall, probably the sinking stream. We were able to climb down the 6m beside this to the stream and survey down. About 100m later we came to a 7m waterfall which was not climbable. On the way back out Ian found a tube in the side of the big chamber which divided, heading back to drop 10m into the . from whence we had entered. One of these continued on the other side with a passage of good proportion requiring a bit of climbing skills. A good lead. A birds nest or two were noticed on the walls. We found a way to climb into a roof chamber with scree slopes - about 60m by 20m with a window high above the waterfall. We were back in camp by 7:45pm, time down 7 hours, survey 630m.

Ian, Rauleigh (RW), Barry (BW), Barrowei and Kalawei went looking for sinking streams. Tiki Toured to the top of waterfall found on Saturday. Then headed upstream for about 1/2 hour taking right lesser branch at first waterfall. By heading more North East we left this after 1/4 hour and followed around the side of gullies obviously draining into the stream just left. We turned south and after another 1/4 hour to 1/2 hour heard water. Access to this was via 2 step escarpments at least 15m each which we were able to climb down. These banks were on a bearing of 100 deg and at least 100m long. At the foot of these the stream came out of a hole (cave entrance?) in a siltstone bluff, dropped about 10m in a couple of waterfalls and vanished into rubble and wood debris. About 50m SW of the waterfalls the stream reappears flowing into a walk-in cave entrance about 6m in diameter. Oh dear no torch. We surveyed back toward Mamo IV following the porters and almost fell into this huge hole 50x100 and 50m+ deep with a good sized stream at the bottom, only 100m later. Continued the slow job of track cutting and surveying back towards home. At 5:15 we decided it was getting a bit late so abandoned the survey, crossed fingers and raced. Eventually found track of Graeme S (GS) and thence to chopper pad. Several large promising dolines were encountered en-route.

DIAG 5.

Ev (ET), Graeme (GS) and Lloyd walked to Atea leaving Steve B (SWB), Steve W (SW), Helen (HT), Rauleigh (RW), Ron (RL), Roy (RoW), Nick (NH), Mark (ML), Ian, Dirk (DS) and Barry (BW) on Mamo.

Ron (RL), Roy (RoW), Dirk (DS) and Mark (ML) entered MR028 to check Ozroom leads. A handline was rigged down the first lead (2-3m) and followed to a junction. The left hand branch soon petered out in grovel (explored mostly by Dirk (DS)). The right hand branch involved a 4m climb rigged with a handline by Ron (RL) and Roy (RoW). The passage continued north-west, vadose and about 50' high. Over the next 100m the passage remained large with easy walking except in two spots where boulders had collapsed across the passage. About 100m from the junction another boulder collapse was reached and phosphorescent fungi as noticed high in an aven at the beginning of a side passage. This aven proved to be a shaft entrance (MR029) about 150' high. The bottom of the shaft was reached by climbing over or through the boulders, the top boulder was precariously balanced and rocked when Ron (RL) sat on it to survey the passage. The passage continued for another 20 metres through boulder choke to a very high aven. We then surveyed the main passage for another 30m to a pit (about 50'). A belay is needed to pass the pit into the continuing passage. The last survey point has been plotted 30m from Roll-a-go-go, and at the same height. Surveyed 370m. Underground 7 hours.

Steve B (SWB), Steve W (SW) and Helen (HT) descended MR020 to the streamway, and slowly descended 3 pitches (6,11,12m) (slow because it took a while to achieve dry hangs down the waterfalls) to connect with yesterday's Kit Kanyon survey. Dropped the next pitch (4m) and mapped along the streamway for 80m till we were too cold/scared. The streamway below the 4th pitch is a tube rather than a canyon, and obviously fills up when it rains : game over if your there. Its also got lots of swimming. Exited via Kit Kanyon and the nasty pitch Cunt of a Grunt.

Barry (BW) and Rauleigh (RW) returned to the second sinking stream found on the 21st, with 125m of rope and rigging gear. They abseiled (MR1001) the initial 25m pitch then continued on down using the same rope - a 5m pitch - a 10m pitch. Meanwhile Steve W (SW) who was on the surface survey party had found a walkin entrance (MR1003) and appeared at the top of the 5m pitch. Rauleigh (RW) informed him it was basically horizontal streamway after running down 100m and returning. We continued downstream until the stream sank in boulders on into large passageway 10m wide by 12m high. This continued to a large log strewn scree and mud slope. Climbing to the top the way on was found - following a breeze we exited the rockpile into a very large chamber c.f. NULLARBOR with a 20m high walkin entrance. The passage continued 30m+ wide and about 15m high over rock piles to a scree slope which led to the top of a pitch - rocks dropped for 3-4 secs. We then surveyed out. Barry (BW) looked at the doline walkin entrance - it was large (MR1000) and overhung all around. Mapping back to the shaft entrance with lots of 50m legs, we tried to find Steve W's (SW) walkin entrance but couldn't. Barry (BW) prussiked out to find Rauleigh (RW) about 6m from the lip but also about 8m in from the vertical drop of the pitch. He was able to throw him the rope. After Barry (BW) had ascended then Rauleigh (RW) did a Tarzan act swinging out from his perch. The walk back to Mamo IV was great as the track was well cut and defined - necessary as we did it in the dark. Arrived MamoIV after 1 hour 20 Min at about 8:30pm. Time underground about 5 hours. Passage mapped 840m. Main cave entrance number is MR1001.

Trevor (TW) and Cathy (CG) arrived.

Dirk (DS) made up menus for the evenings dinner on the computer.

DIAG 6.

Ian, Mark (ML) and Steve W (SW) followed Rauleigh (RW) and Barry (BW) who followed Berrewe and Kilarwe who cut a new "direct" track to MR1003.

DIAG 7.

We surveyed most of it, but left the survey hanging at both ends. We can tie it in when people go looking in this area for caves. The direct track is very up and down, so won't be used as the main route. After Rauleigh (RW) and Barry (BW) descended the MR1001 entrance pitch, Steve (SW) walked into the stream sink entrance (MR1003) and descended past a narrow daylight shaft (MR1002) to the base of MR1001 entrance pitch, and looked at a smaller inlet to a pitch up. Then all 3 of us completed the surface survey back to the helipad.

DIAG 8.

Steve B (SWB) and Steve W (SW) made plans for (NIGAL ?) August and decided what everyone is going to do. Transferred Mamo Kananda (Mamo IV) and MR1000 to the plastic, and wrote up the day by day lengths of the cave. Barry (BW) calculated the final length of the cave would be 55000m on the 30th August.

Nick (NH) and Ron (RL) left camp at 11 AM for Dumb Toad. Iguanadon was most impressive, two laps of which was required to locate the elusive passage off. 20m on a previously surveyed left branch was followed out of interest, as it was breathing quite heavily to a 20m pitch, in a very large aven. We climbed over this pitch to a lead of 12m length, ending in another 20m (rift) pitch, ??? ! Despite some confusion as to the intent of the '78' survey. Dumb Toad area was finally located, with three major passages running away to "garwd knows". Screaming Frog was touristed to ascertain what the hell was going on, this follows a reappearing riverway. It was decided to survey upstream as this looked promising. A lead 20m from the junction branches left, to a squeezy area and right, back over the upstream passage, via a false floor. A loosened boulder scared shit out of us when it plummeted spontaneously into the upstream passage, near where we were surveying. This made a hollow sound similar to an approaching wall of water! Two leads exist at the high point of our survey that require prusiking and the 20m pitch taking water should result in more passage if descended. Further the north branch from "Dumb Toad" junction needs looking at. Surveyed 280m. Also Ron (RL) looked at a tight passage with a stream near Iguanadon, an other route (approx 20m) through boulders 30' east of Far Away connection to Iguanadon. Both routes are grotty, require excavating, and are marked on the map.

Trevor (TW), Rauleigh (RW), Mark (ML) and Roy (RoW) went to derig the pitch in the sinking stream. Entered via Leaptover and rigged the pitch at the downstream end of Kit Kanyon. Took some photos in the canyon then went to the base of the waterfall. Rauleigh (RW) was derigging and found it impossible to remove a double rope from a tie off that held the rope free of the waterfall - forced to cut the rope - tied the two ends together and then pendulumed into the waterfall and prussiked up. Roy (RoW) had pulled up Rauleigh's (RW) pack but in doing so undid the knot Rauleigh (RW) had tied in the rope. Therefore the main part of the rope was left in the plunge pool. We derigged the remaining rope and went to the lead, near the waterfall inlet further upstream. Trevor (TW) climbed the 3m climb and further on a 5m climb rigging both with a handline. This lead was followed upstream until the inlet stream was reached. After a short distance a deep pool was reached and Trevor (TW) dived in and followed the stream until it sank through a rift in the floor. Continuing upstream we exited via a new entrance (MR026). After climbing out of the doline we found the track and were in camp by 7:30 pm. Time underground 6.5 hours. Passage mapped 309m.

Steve B (SWB) and Dirk (DS) spent a most productive day working on the next easy thoroughfare in the cave. Two leads were intended to be surveyed. The first :- upstream Siltstone Blues right of the Leaptover pitch. The second :- down the pressure tube and Friend pitch at point O2 at the start of Kit Kanyon. [With Dirk (DS) looking under all the low bits, and Steve (SWB) negotiating climbs with the help of Dirk's (DS) shoulders] these proved to be the same passage linked by a beautiful pressure tube well decorated with stals and good crystal pools. Called Supertramp it gives excellent access to the Sinking Stream - Hoth. A good waterfall and stream passage was located below the pitch at 02. The best news was it bypasses the Cunt of a Grunt. Underground 7 hours.

Ian, Trevor (TW), Cathy (CG) went to Return Ticket to explore an upstream route found before. The upstream route was explored and all leads on this trip were all ended in avens approx 30m high. These routes were all on old streamways with silt floors. A strong draft was detected and followed to a slit in the wall. The other passage explored was a high level passage. This lead was explored for several hundred metres along and found to end in a breakdown chamber where at the far end was silted up . There was a large chamber where a side passage was explored thru highly decorated parts (mainly straws) there was a sound of a river to which we went to and found to be Split Enz some 50m past where we started. A high level passage between Return Ticket and Split Enz was surveyed. Time underground 9hrs, 523m mapped.

Barry (BW) and Steve W (SW) to Atea.

Nick (NH) left Mamo IV for Atea 9:15 am.

Steve B (SWB) and Ian went via Supergloo and Supertramp to Kit Kanyon to retrieve the rope Rauleigh (RW) dropped but couldn't find it. We returned and dropped into Yoda's Lair. This they surveyed beyond the 10m inlet waterfall through several deep wading pools to a 12m ? waterfall. Thinking they were in Cooks Tour they continued the survey but it didn't fit Cooks Tour. The river they followed doubled back on itself at Station 18 *. Upstream from here an entrance could be seen. The downstream lead was left and the survey continued upstream beyond the entrance and a reasonable flow of H2O was followed down to a T-intersection, the main flow was again South-West. Stopped at 27.

* The first stream is from the survey, downstream Roaring Eighties. We now have 2 rivers same size going SW.

Steve B (SWB) exited via MR275 entrance derigging the 39m pitch from Drunken Stal to Siltstone Blues yielding 3 crabs, 1 Friend, 2 tapes, 1 trace and a long lost rope pack.

EVENTUATION : WHERE THE HELL IS COOK'S TOUR !

Rauleigh (RW) and Trev (TW) say that you dickhead Bunton (SWB) you've spent the last two days in it surveying it and didn't even know NOR did finish it, Stiff Shit.

Dirk (DS), Mark (ML) and Roy (RoW) went down Roll-a-go-go as a photography trip. Under 8 hours, 120 plus photo's taken. Underground 8 hours.

[ By Steve W (SW) ]And they raided 99% of the leads, 'RECORDED NOTHING' and failed to pass on any information !!

[ By Dirk (DS) ] Rubbish, we told them but they didn't listen.

In search of greater depth (sic) Ron (RL), Rauleigh (RW), Trevor (TW) and Cathy (CG) headed for the undescended 15m pitch near Far Away - the strong draught noted by Nick (NH) and Ron (RL) (23rd July) giving faint hopes of glory. Rauleigh (RW) and Cathy (CG) descended the pitch (18m) which was rigged from the northern branch around the obvious hole in roof, with a Friend as a backup in a floor crack. They then proceeded to grovel around before discovering the local grot-hole, 'Collapsed Scroggin'. The rift-pitch noted by Nick (NH) and Ron (RL) (23rd July) connects by a short northern rift. Collapsed Scroggin is a narrow vadose canyon containing a stream and can reached by descending through boulders directly from the pitch chamber, or alternatively by climbing south for 10m from the pitch-chamber and grovelling about. The latter route is longer and was first discovered, and leads via another aven before dropping into the stream (this involved excavation). The stream itself leads under the Iguanadon and is largely chocked with collapsed boulders, the stream eventually sinks and a high level lead was surveyed at the end of which a stream could be heard. There are two points where excavation will lead to further passage in this section. The greatest depth surveyed was 175m, and Trevor (TW) excavated down another 5m before encountering a loose rock blocking the squeeze. Trevor (TW) was left by the rest of the party at this point and he is probably still there in a state of ecstatic frenzy. The party exited (derigging) reaching the surface around midnight. The only other point of note was a fall by Ron (RL) which almost wiped out his back. Also Ron (RL) lost an orange foot-loop at the bottom of Leaptover.

NB. Collapsed Scroggin was forcibly used as a sewer by two of the party and is unlikely to be safe to drink at present.

Survey length approx 230m, Time underground 11 - 12 hrs.

Roy (RoW), Ian (IW), Dirk (DS), Mark (ML) and Steve B (SWB) down to Atea for a little holiday. (4 pela- 5pela le samting). [Track up to Atea is getting quite muddy]

Trevor (TW) collected some bone breccia from the entrance - Leaptover area while the rest of us, Rauleigh (RW), Cathy (CG) and Ron (RL) had a working day about camp.

Lloyd, Peter (PP), Mick, Karen, Suzan (SL) and Tony (ToW) arrived.

Peter Pasmore (PP), Trevor (TW) and Cathy (CG), descended Leaptover and went thru Supergloo to Cooks Tour out the other side to the narrow rift leading to point 50 in Kraftwork. Along Kraftwork and stayed in the upper levels went south along passage of loop towards Whirling Person but missed the connection so completed the loop then backtracked. This time got down into Whirling Person. On the way collected and photographed a bird skeleton. Although the feathers had disappeared the impressions were still present in the clay. It was a Swift. One has a nest in Kraftwork and we actually saw it fly by. From Whirling Person we surveyed downstream and reached Roaring Eighties. We then proceeded downstream and descended the "10m" pitch. It was actually 6m down to the RF then another 3m down to the chamber floor. We then got confused in Cooks Tour but eventually got out into Tetly Tarns. Noticed an increase in water on the way out. The pitch from Drunken Stal was really pissing down and the Leaptover pitches were the wettest yet.

Exited after 7 1/2 hours, 104m of new passage.

As our survey overlapped the previous one, a drawing error was found, in that the previous drawer mis-located their end point by 10m to the north - so I have redrawn it.

Ron (RL), Mick and Karen entered cave via Leaptover at 11am and proceeded through Iguanodon to Dumb Toad, to survey the northern tributary stream of Screaming Frog (F26). The lower 100m of this stream are vadose, about 6m high and 1-2m wide. Numerous phreatic wormholes connected with the stream passage, and when followed seemed to go on forever. At point 6 a junction was followed to the east and this passage was surveyed to a 25m aven with waterfall. A low branch of this passage was not pushed but observed to be breathing. The stream passage, Elusive Cockroach was surveyed for a further 150m. The passage became 2m in height and almost 1m wide - point 28 was drawn by carbide on the wall. Point 28 is also completes the streams northerly direction with a sharp turn to the south-west. A feeder inlet enters at this point and this was followed for 14m to a 3m waterfall. Elusive Cockroach was surveyed further to point 37 where a pool and low roof completed a decision to return. Ron (RL) followed the stream for a further 40m, the low roof involved getting waist deep after which the passage immediately opened up into a 6m high, 2m wide passage with water entering from the roof. After another 20m the passage became circular in shape with a 2m diameter. Point 37 was not marked but is easily located by the following diagram (x marks point 37).

DIAG 9.

It is located at the junction immediately before the low pool. The other branch of the junction was followed for 15m by Ron (RL) and Mick in the hope that it would lead to the stream, however it appears to be an endless phreatic continuation. The potential for this area for further passage is great. As well as the main passage the phreatic connections are easily traversed and seemingly endless. The stream passage is not well-washed (with much mud on the walls) compared to the upstream Screaming Frog which is well washed. Therefore Septic Lizard probably floods less easily than Screaming Frog. Exit at 7pm, after a pileup at Leaptover, surveyed 360m.

This morning a bad mistake was made in that the porters were forgotten to be fed. When Ahawa came and asked "When is the time?" Rauleigh (RW) replied 10 o'clock - it was you see. And all hell broke loose. After 3/4hr heated debate, during which they all threatened to go to Atea, the matter was finally settled. Rauleigh (RW) had to step down as 'leader' and then all was happy. On 28th Ahawa and Rauleigh (RW) settled differences and everybody is happy again. All from a simple misunderstanding and forgetfulness. Lesson - there is no 'sorry' in Duna ! - Trevor (TW).

Tony (ToW), Rauleigh (RW) and Lloyd went to the deep shaft found by Dirk (DS) when he got a leech in his eye. We thought this was the shaft into Cooks Tour. While rigging the pitch Tony (ToW) got a leech in his eye !! Rauleigh (RW) could not get it out but Lloyd succeeded with his fingernails. Tony (ToW) carried on down the shaft which we called Uli Kendi (leech pot)(MR031), it was 46m deep. From the bottom of the shaft rifts ran off in both directions. It was obviously not Cooks Tour so we mapped in one direction, while Tony (ToW) rigged a pitch he had found in the other direction. Lloyd and Rauleigh (RW) mapped along the upper level rift. They stopped when it became tight but Rauleigh (RW) went on and it opened up into an old phreatic tube downcut for about 20m to the present stream level. He eventually came to a shaft carrying water. Returning we headed back to Tony (ToW) - mapped to the top of his pitch (20m) and dropped down the pitch to find ourselves in Roll-a-go-go. Surveyed to station T1105. Headed out via Leaptover noting that the water was up - Leaptover was wet. Time underground 5 1/2 hrs, passage mapped 151.4m.

Lloyd removed the rope on the 3rd pitch of Leaptover due to a bad wear spot.

Trevor (TW), Tony (ToW) and Rauleigh (RW) set out to remove a few of the question marks on Roll-a-go-go. Entered by Uli Kendi (MR031) into Roll-a-go-go. Tony (ToW) checked the small lead at the base of the pitch. It went down a 3m climb to a 5m pitch followed by a 2m climb down to where the water disappeared into a small hole but from the base of the pitch climbing up 2m gave access to passage going two directions. Tony (ToW) went one way about 30m to a pitch (about 6m). Meanwhile Rauleigh (RW) had been locating a known point in Roll-a-go-go. While doing this he went up a good lead for 50m. So after Trevor (TW) had sorted out a few ox-bows we set off up this lead. We mapped for about 300m following a single set of footprints. These footprints stopped and we carried on marking several good side leads until we came to an awkward climb which we called "Pillock of a Thing". Just on from there Tony (ToW) found a nest on the floor with an egg fallen out of it. A few stations on we intersected a huge shaft. We dropped the tape down at least 17m - probably to a ledge. (Probably the new shaft into Cooks Tour) We decided to name the new passage 'Raiders of the Lost Egg'. Returning to a good lead we mapped along a fairly small phreatic tube carrying a draught. This tube eventually dropped into a streamway. We mapped up and downstream to where this passage became small or stopped. We then chose a lead which Rauleigh (RW) had climbed up into this passage - continued mapping until we entered a active streamway which Trevor (TW) thought was Whirling Person. Mapping downstream we connected into a known point, then headed out via Leaptover. (Thanks to Lloyd for rerigging the pitch he had derigged the day before) Time underground 11hrs Passage mapped 1270m.

* The Raider was Roy Winstanley (RoW) - needs a kick in the butt *

Karen and Mick checked out two leads near the avens in the Backyard. One petered out into a muddy grovel and the other, a waterfall lead also ended quickly in a choke.

Lloyd, Suzan (SL) and Peter (PP) surface surveyed to Leech Pot (Uli Kendi) (MR031) (Lloyd got a leech up his nose). During Suzan's (SL) descent into Leech Pot (Uli Kendi) (MR031), the rope was badly damaged despite protection. The rope was rerigged and Suzan (SL), risking life and limb, prusiked out after derigging the second pitch. The offending rope was removed.

Lloyd replaced the rope on the 3rd pitch of Leaptover, so Trevor (TW), Tony (ToW) and Rauleigh (RW) could get out.

Peter (PP), Lloyd and Karen dropped down Leech Pot (Uli Kendi) (MR031) hoping to find a connection with Cooks Tour. Passage was surveyed from the bottom of the Pot, thru "Persian Tart", a well decorated phreatic canyon to a large double aven with a waterfall, which was rigged and descended, rope left. We then continued thru a mud chamber/maze into a large passage and stopped surveying at station 22 marked in carbide. This turned out to be 'Raiders of the Lost Egg'. However, we thought we were in Cooks Tour and proceeded to look for a way out. After 4 hours of checking ever direction and generally walking around in circles, we finally recognised Roll-a-go-go (thanks Lloyd) and exited via Leaptover. Time underground 9hrs

Steve (SWB), Barry (BW), Steve (SW) and Tim (TL) walked up from Atea in 3-5 hours.

Trevor (TW), Cathy (CG) and Rauleigh (RW) went with the porters to MR1000, where a helicopter pad was selected and work commenced upon cutting it. 4hrs work on it today. Meanwhile Trevor (TW), Cathy (CG) and Rauleigh (RW) took photos in the cave. Trevor (TW) went out to a huge doline visible to the North of the pad. It is a huge doline 100m across at least 200' deep, 2 caves are visible in the bottom from a vantage point on the South side.

Steve (SWB), Tim (TL) and Steve (SW) surface surveyed from Leech Pot (Uli Kendi) (MR031) to the Cooks Tour/'Raiders of the Lost Egg' 100m shaft entrance (MR032 Wonkabater), cutting a roundabout route. Cut a direct route back to camp and then rigged the entrance drop. Piked at -50m as it was pissing down (rain), the pitch was sloping where we rigged it on the east side and difficult to protect, our 100m+ rope was too short, and lastly because the two underground parties didn't make the 5pm rendezvous (as they hadn't made the midday rendezvous). Seven hours of slogging in the bush for little return. The pitch would be better rigged on the west side, where it might offer a free hang.

Rauleigh (RW) and Trevor (TW) went back to 'Raiders of the Lost Egg' and started exploring a lead out to the south from station 24. After an initial confusion of ox-bows the main way on was located and 1.5m wide walking passage was entered. A swift skeleton was found on the floor here. 50m on the passage sloped into a small hole-clay floor nearly reaching the roof. Trevor (TW) went through this exiting after 5m and found himself in bigger passage, however several were near mud blocks (a bat skeleton was found in this section) came next then entry into a large well decorated passage 4m wide 5m high was made. This terminated in a pitch 8m to the floor (which from the survey was shown to be that entered from 'Raiders of the Lost Egg' the day before). Leads were then pushed to the south the south but this terminated after 60m in a formation choke then a lead to the north was entered. This dropped into a large 5m wide mud floored passage, in this place good red formation. It went both east and west so we went east towards home - following a draft. It continued went for at least 50m entering a zone of good formation. So to the east we followed the passage easily for 60m then a rockfall and mud block formed a difficult ramp to a even more difficult hole leading on. This then opened out and on few metres it dropped into 'Raiders of the Lost Egg'. By this time it was figured the above party would have finished surveying Cooks Tour and as we hadn't made the rendezvous came home. Just as well we hadn't stopped our survey as the above hadn't been able to bottom the shaft, hence we couldn't have exited this way anyhow. We then went back down 'Raiders of the Lost Egg' doing a few of the leads. Having surveyed most leads back to station 9. Trevor (TW) thought he would passage a north trending 'fossil' downstream lead "to an inlet at point 6". However after 50m it became a crawl and got increasing muddy. Just a few more metres I thought but it just got worse. Then in the middle of a tight bit the mud grabbed all my paraphernalia and I became stuck for a while. Time to give up. Don't know where this lead goes but its a lead 80m long. Some good heligmites at one point. This and the one off station 4 are the two major leads left. Exited meeting Barry (BW) and Tony (ToW) en route, at 9pm after 9 hours from Leaptover. Enter via Uli Kendi, not a good way. 772.1 surveyed. Total up 'Raiders of the Lost Egg' now 2042.1. We named this new southern section Rockworms Lair.

Tony (ToW) and Barry (BW) decided to the up some of the loose ends in Roll-a-go-go. Got there the long way by turning right out of the bottom of Leaptover and eventually finding the way to Cooks Tour via Siltstone Blues - lost? - Never. Went upstream Cooks Tour and thence into Kraftwork at 50. Started picking off leads. Some B....... had been up the 1st, 2nd, 3rd ..... but we found one in a virgin state. This was 10m beyond the pit which is bypassed via an ox-bow and heads almost due north - a bit of a grovel through a rockpile then a 11m pitch. 10m east underneath this to a further 11m pitch. Only one 11m rope and two pitches - tricky. From the foot of this second drop Barry (BW) ventured north again with another circular (3m diameter) pitch on his immediate left. 

Forward about 20m another pitch into a stream - probably Rinse Cycle. A lead from 34 heading SW also produced virgin passage of about 90m. This was not easy work as the max roof height was only about 4 ft. The passage was snow lined and in some places the sharp rocks made crawling quite painful. Exploration was terminated when it was felt that progress was becoming unnecessarily difficult. The survey indicated that we had stopped less than 20m from 'Raiders of the Lost Egg'. Total passage surveyed during 9hrs was 366m.

After studying aerial photos and map including trying to use spectacles upside down as a stereo viewer (unsuccessfully) Barry (BW) made a tentative stab at our location. Went for a solo wander during afternoon to try to confirm the theory and find more dolines. Went first to head of waterfall then due west for 200 - 300m. Returned to ridge track from waterfall and headed south. Encountered a sinking stream which was a walk-in entrance and became a crawl after about 10m, continuing and draughting inwards. South of this again was another large doline which could have water in the bottom. Turned east at this point towards track from MR282 to MR026. Found the hole from Backyard which Bunty came out on Monday 19th (MR276). Returned to camp at 5.30pm.

DIAG 10.

Lloyd, Suzan (SL), Peter (PP), Mick and Karen walked to Mamo V. (Kananda Pugwa) And Back.

Ron (RL) went to Atea.

Steve (SWB), Steve (SW) and Tim Lyons (TL) went to Far Away Area. From Far Away West they surveyed a high level lead (not marked on 1978 survey) which headed east to Far Away East at the junction with two question marks at H97. From here they descended to stream level and surveyed downstream to Elusive Cockroach surveying several ox-bows. This eliminated 5 of Ron's (RL) question marks 27th July. One upstream lead was followed for a far way. A second very nearby looked as promising but didn't join in as expected to. Still a good lead. All exited via Screaming Frog where Steve W (SW) sorted out the Screaming Frog / Elusive Cockroach controversy. Elusive Cockroach is a tributary of Screaming Frog which is itself a good upstream lead. The party returned to Six Molar (now in high water) and decided to go home via Sacking of Rome. This was achieved only after visits to a false Sacking of Rome and Delusions of Grandeur. Steve B (SWB) took some photos of Sacking of Rome's pretties.

Tony (ToW) and Cathy (CG) went for a quick trip to descend the 30m pitch in Minstrel Circus. On way to it decided to go up a 3m climb to a lead (A65) [found out later that the 30m pitch had already been done earlier in this expedition] The lead began as a very low flat out crawl - wriggle, so it needed a bit of digging. Passage got bigger and bigger rapidly with some nice formations. We surveyed to 3 large holes in floor but no rope so couldn't descend them - sound of streams in them. Passage needs a handline in one spot. Surveyed 350m Underground 9 hours.

At about 2-30pm, Trevor (TW) and Tony (ToW) went up to the two dry entrances by the sinking stream and explored first the upper "Windy Cave". Although only 30m through to the next entrance it was revealed that both Steve B (SWB) and Barry (BW) Were had discovered it independently from opposite entrances on different days. A recently occupied 'Owl's roost' with pellets explained the source of the deposits in the Backyard. Next we entered the lower cave, Non Reflective Surface. After 150m we came to a 4m pitch. Descending this we followed a nice canyon 150m upstream and crawled out over the only boulder pile to find ourselves at the bottom of the 37m pitch. We then surveyed downstream from the 4m climb to come out on top of a 45m pitch. Subsequently found to be into the RF room at the junction of the Kit Kanyon and Sinking Stream. Opposite the entrance another passage was surveyed down to a 6-8m pitch, still going. Surveyed 450m underground 3hrs.

Steve B (SWB) and Barry (BW) went over to MR1000 entrance to check the work on the Helipad. Progress after 3 days work was very little. This was partly accountable to the fact we had only 4 chappies and 2 axes. By example we managed to initiate a great deal of work and the Helipad was almost completed during the one afternoon. A short trip to the sinking stream didn't achieve its objective, which was ?

Mick and Karen set out to check the waterfall leads in Delusions of Grandeur, but got lost in the Rinse Cycle due to high water levels. Karen exited in frustration and Mick joined Lloyd and Peter (PP) in Roll-a-go-go.

Suzan (SL) and Rauleigh (RW) went to MR013 - MR014 to survey the cave found by Steve B (SWB) and Steve W (SW) on the 17th July. Entered the cave about 12 noon mapping as we went. The survey legs were very short as the streamway was very serpentine. We mapped 63 stations to the top of the pitch (4m) descended by Steve W (SW). Carrying on we dropped the 10m pitch to find the water was lost and the way on was a "dry" serpentine route. This was mapped to a climbable 4m pit where the serpentine canyon became too tight to be passable. Went back to a high level crawl above the pit and Rauleigh (RW) crawled down to find himself at the top of another pit. We thought at first it was the same pit but Suzan (SL) could not see any light in the first pit. Rauleigh (RW) rigged the pitch and somersaulted out of the squeeze onto the rope. From the bottom of the (no entry in log)m pitch the passage continued down more dry serpentine for 30m before it went into a rift that was too tight!! After prusiking up the pitch Rauleigh (RW) had fun getting back into the squeeze and even more fun derigging the pitch facing the other direction!! Finishing the survey we headed out arriving in camp about 11pm. We decided to name the passage "Urviles Haven" as it was so yucky! Time underground 10 1/2 hours passage mapped 370m.

Lloyd, Peter (PP) and Mick mapped 300m of small and intricate passage of 'Raiders of the Lost Egg'.

The Cloisters. Tony White (ToW), Cathy Giles (CG), Tim Lyons (TL) and Trevor Worthy (TW) entered via MR275 at about 11-30 am. We proceeded along to the 3m climb up into the passage surveyed by Tony (ToW) and Cathy (CG) previously and while Tim (TL) and Trevor (TW) took 25 photos the others went ahead. Tony (ToW) descended the pit at the right of previous exploration and found a choke at 36m down. Trevor (TW) then entered the passage on the other side of the pit and found an aven with no visible passage leading off. Tony (ToW) descended the next pitch back down the passage and it choked. Meanwhile Tim (TL) dug out a hole back a couple of metres which opened into the same shaft as the next are down the passage which had boulders all around it. So we descended via the new hole, 1st a 18m pitch then successive pitches of 14, 12 and 8 metres. At this level we entered a horizontal passage with a stream (unentered) coming from a 4m waterfall on the right. Downstream we went and after 30m and a couple of climbs the passage forked - the highway entering a room 8m above the floor (A). The low way went down a couple of steps to a 5m climb with a crawl going off at each direction at the bottom. In are a chock stone blocked entry to the passage and in the other a further 3m pitch effectively stopped exploration. We exited after 12 hrs underground. On the way out Tony (ToW) had a quick look at upstream Mainline by Steve W (SW). Had ??? by 6hrs.

Steve W (SW) down MR275 to collect some stal. Had a look at Mainline upstream : it goes but my compass didn't, so I just looked at the first 150m. Collected stal from Mainline, Drunken Stal, Siltstone Blues and Roll-a-go-go. Rigged the Drunken Stal / Siltstone Blues pitch (39m) down to the Roll-a-go-go connection at -20m. Bashed rock at the top of the third pitch to prevent rope abrasion, and prussiked up the 4th on the back-up belay, as the rope had been unclipped from the bolt. Down 7hrs. Mapped a few oxbows.

DIAG 11.

Weather poor so no chopper.

Steve W (SW) and Tony (ToW) down MR275 to map Mainline upstream, which both had found independently yesterday. Got to an aven after 350m, which a good lead at +8m, which needs a climbing rope. Next looked at the side lead off Mainline east of MR275. This went up steeply (rope useful) for 30m, before splitting. We then crawled for approx 100m to emerge above a 6m pitch into Drunken Stal. Then to Lacerated Giggle to remap its 330m, but Steve's (SW) 78 mapping wasn't perfect. We followed a side lead, 'blows against the empire' to a big elephant trap (probably the same one as reached from Ozroom, and continued up an inlet canyon, Power Circuit, till we ran out of steam. Mapped 1419m in all Underground 11hrs.

Half dressed unfit RANCA bodies and others raced up to the Helipad for an all too early Air Drop. 1st load cargo - didn't backload RANCA's (chopper didn't want to wait for them all to get up the hill). Dirk (DS) arrived on helicopter. The second load was backloaded with RANCA's to Koroba. 3rd chopper to arrive was used to do a 6 minute Mamo Recce from Mamo IV camp the itinerary was to head NW.

* Sinking Streams were not very visible.

* Located the Mamo IV camp as being we thought it was in the two parallel "sinking stream" valleys. ie. aligned doline series.

* Tried to locate feature on plateau in relation to large mountains to the north but cloud obscured part of the NE corner of the plateau.

* Cloud blows up the Dry Valley from the Nali. ie same as the mist at Atea.

* Located the Big Hole in the Cheese as being very close to the NW of Mamo V. Flew into the large Collapse doline and noticed :

 shaft ‚ sinking stream ƒ open cave

DIAG 12.

* Couldn't see the helipad from the air very easily

* Located the Hole in the Cheese on the Mamo Map page 50 of the Atea Report.

* Returning from there to Mamo IV passed over a very large arch shaped entrance in a doline within 20 secs of leaving the Hole in the Cheese.

Trev Worthy went to MR027 to photograph skeletons.

Steve B (SWB), Stefan (SE) and Trev (TW) then descended into MR026 and dropped the 10m pitch (32nd). This led to another horrible 10m pitch which required Rock Technology. The party was halted by a 30m ? pitch (and lack of gear). Trev returned to continue photography. Steve (SWB) and Stefan (SE) travelled via Escargot Way to the bottom of MR020 pitch. They then derigged the handlines in the flood overflow near the sinking streams naming it Run Like Hell. They then went down to the 6m pitch in Hoth and then derigged the entrance pitches of MR020. There is no handline in Escargot Way. THERE IS NO GEAR IN MR020. Trevor (TW) was photographing a recent owl roost complete with pellets etc. Collected samples from the top and from 18" below the surface.

Dirk (DS) and Ian (IW) rigged the land (Michie phone) line between Mamo IV and Mamo V. Communications between the two camps is excellent and the line will be left open 24 hours a day. (later it was decided to switch off at night) Later that afternoon Dirk (DS) rigged a branch line to the helipad for use with radio schedules.

Mike W (MiW), Lex Brown (LB) and Brian Carter (BC) arrived by foot from Atea after being choppered from Koroba to Geloro where the chopper was unloaded and went back for the last load from Koroba. The chopper got into Atea with the last load and returned to Geloro picked up the three above and made it into Atea with visibility down to 200m. The chopper vanished into the Atea doline ( cloud/mist).

Alpine Start Day.

Steve B (SWB), Mark W (MW) and Stefan (SE) went up Kit Kanyon to the sinking Stream. Noticed the rope Rauleigh (RW) lost hanging down the 11m pitch but couldn't free it is was caught at the top. Surveyed down Hoth not so many swims below point 09. Got to the top of the 10m pitch and descended into Cooks Tour at Yoda's Lair. Went down Cooks Tour to find the other survey party and lent a hand to sort out the oxbows. These people couldn't be found. Continued down Rinse Cycle to check out the upstream Six Molar lead. No lead at all. This was the 3rd ? finished. Back to Tetley Tarns and out Siltstone Blues. Surveyed the pitches in Leaptover. 3m handline, 5m, 6m, 9m, 16m, 9m, and 34m. Delayed by Telecom.

Rockworms Lair / 'Raiders of the Lost Egg'.

Suzan Laidlow (SL), Mike Walker (MiW), Brian Carter (BC), Lex Brown (LB) and Trevor Worthy (TW) went down Leaptover and out to 'Raiders of the Lost Egg' to do a lead at Pt62 from the previous survey. Two leads were noted so we split into 2 parties and surveyed down each one and met after 50m, 100m in total. So we checked a couple of leads finding nothing and decided the area was finished. So we headed back to Roll-a-go-go where Mike (MiW) headed out. Enroute Trevor (TW) went up to the pitch from Uli Kendi ascended it and got protectors then descended and pulled the rope down. Now only the entrance shaft has to be derigged. The rest of us then went up the Roll-a-go-go passage and eventually got to the 12m pitch where we back-tracked and went up the climb on the north side and went up to the northern end (and) found the two leads. Trevor (TW) descended the pit on a tape finding it blind however the lead on the other side looks good. Next we pushed the tight rift off to the right but 10m after the Pt87 it got too tight. Exited after 7 1/2 hrs.

Steve W (SW) down MR275 to do the side leads off Lacerated Giggle and Blows Against the Empire. These were quickly done - all these being only short. Next to Power in the Darkness. The aven at the end was an 8m climb to a chamber and a passage which dropped back in to the main passage. These other leads bombed out, but the last 2 connected and led back to the Blows Against the Empire / Ozroom elephant trap. Under 10hrs

Ian, Mark L (ML), Tim (TL) and Dirk (DS) went on a re-surveying trip part of Cooks Tour. 8am start, were out early before lunch.

Roy (RoW) and Mark L (ML) went on a desperate attempt to get some passage after lunch. They looked at a side passage off Kraft Work and a lead off Siltstone Blues. Alas the lead off Siltstone Blues was already surveyed to Grade 1, but at last it has been properly surveyed.

Dirk (DS) and Cathy (CG) went down Leaptover to rig the phone line to the bottom of the 34m pitch. Under 3hrs.

A slow start to the day due to a visit by Barry (BW) and the then porters returning from Atea and not carrying to Mamo V. Originally one party was off to Kraftwork but with enough people for a 2nd party emerged destined for Whirling Person. Well Steve W (SW), Tim (TL), Suzan (SL) and Ian W (IW) didn't make it to Whirling Person. Tim (TL) and Steve (SW) began taking photos of the supreme excellence of form of Kraftwork. The party then looked at a few leads in Kraftwork finding High and Mighty a beautiful gypsum though tight gypsum passage through to a pit 30m towards Cooks Tour with a going traverse lead across the top. This results in a demarcation dispute. Irrespective the party continued to find another lead Back of the Pack the upstream passage continuation of Roll-a-go-go at roof level. A very neat tube the original Roll-a-go-go streamway.

Dirk (DS) , Mark W (MW) and Mark L (ML) went to bomb doline off Mamo IV- Mamo V track near survey point L2C95. By rigging off knife-edge ridge between two dolines gives a hang for 80m. About 30m from the bottom is a long rub point which is got around by rebelaying off a large flake. About 20m from the top is a large hole through which one sees into the next doline. There are a couple of passages leading off the opposite wall. At the bottom down a scree slope leads to a pitch ending in a rubble choke, up and over the scree slope leads to an other pitch ending in a tight rift. The entrance shaft and the other two shafts form Saturn Five. Under 5 1/2 hours.

Trevor (TW), Cathy (CG) and Stefan (SE) headed for Far Away West via Leaptover and Rinse Cycle. From station G83 in the Bus Stop chamber a stream emerges and flows into the chamber via a 4m waterfall. A human pyramid enabled Cathy (CG) to get up and a handline was rigged. Two streams converge at this point. The right hand branch was surveyed up to a dry high-level rift. The original stream was left and the rift followed (a small steam in the bottom) to a bifurcation another stream. Continuing on downstream we eventually reached a cairn (H8), marking the end of the explored section of Splintered Perspex. Making our way back upstream we continued an on up the narrow rift past the high-level bi junction. The passage eventually ended in an aven with the stream falling from 12m above. Tracking on back to the beginning of Splintered Perspex Trevor (TW) climbed up into the passage leading into Elusive Cockroach. Opposite this passage another lead was explored but found to lead straight back into the Bus Stop Chamber. Continuing on up the original Bus Stop passage to a small chamber marking the end of the survey, Trevor (TW) climbed on down into a large collapse chamber containing an inlet to the Screaming Frog stream (?) No Go. However a 3m climb up into a dry gypsum encrusted passage lead to 200m of mixed grovelling and squeezing to a drop into a swift flowing stream passage, presumably the unexplored upstream sections of Screaming Frog. The last survey station was marked # 127. Heading back out to the Iguanadon only to find Six Molar in torrential flood. A retreat was made to Sacking of Rome and eventually out via Mistral Circus and the 30m pitch after a rip-snorter of a 16 hour trip. We will return! Total surveyed length = 760.1m (Grd 4) + paced 70m.

Lex (LB), Brian (BC), Ian and Steve W (SW) checked out leads in Roll-a-go-go and Kraftwork, mapping one good lead off Kraftwork which bypassed the 13m inlet waterfall. The passage connected back to Kraftwork and to the avens in Whirling Person.

Steve W (SW) down to Far Away East to check the streamway at the lowest point in the cave (-173.8m) continued downstream for .. 10m to a choke of boulders at -175m. On to Screaming Frog upstream via Bus Stop. Mapped one inlet and started to map the main stream, but decided I'd rather sit by the fire and get drunk, so I did. Except there was no fire and no meal as all the other Euros were at Mamo V.

Mark Laurendet (ML) and Mark Wilson (MW) tried to climb a waterfall in the Backyard.

Lex Brown (LB) and Brian Carter (BC) traversed the track between Mamo IV and Mamo V and sketched the divides between the dolines adjacent to the track using compass and pacing. Survey points on the track from the compass/clino traverse were recorded on the sketch. They dropped into the doline to the east of L2C39. The doline swings north with small surface canyons merging at the base. Small horizontal entrance at the doline low point with a small stream in it. Not entered as we were on the way to Julia's (JJ) party (at Mamo V) and no gear. There are possibly shafts in the flows of the canyon as running water could be heard at various points (we were on the ridge between the canyons)

Ian and Stefan (SE) went down to Delusions of Grandeur with Mark Laurendet (ML) and Dirk (DS). Stefan (SE) and Ian climbed a short waterfall lead and surveyed upstream some 300m to a large aven with a waterfall. Large logs at the bottom testify to the existence of an upper entrance above. Several side leads were also surveyed, one of these terminating in a spectacular aven with daylight visible at least 50m (possibly much more) above. A waterfall also enters this new entrance. Returning to the main stream the water flow increased considerably within a few minutes. It was concluded that Rinse Cycle etc would be in flood and so the party exited via Sacking of Rome, Mistral Circus and MR275. 26mm of rain had fallen during the afternoon.

Roy (RoW) and Steve (SWB) left the camp on a pleasant afternoon to head to the Big Shaft into Cooks Tour. Steve (SWB) rigged but the pitch was atrocious to re-belay and protect (not a good way in or out). The decision was made to exit via Cooks Tour. By the time Roy (RoW) came down the uncomfortable drizzle had become a thunderstorm. The pitch began to fill with spray from the waterfalls. A quick survey to Cooks Tour and a hurried exit via Cooks Tour -> Leaptover.

Brian (BC) and Steve (SWB) went back to the surface and pulled up the rope. The dribble into the entrance was now a raging torrent. Pitch length 88m from lip so called it the Wonkabater.

Mark Laurendet (ML), Dirk Stoffels (DS) and Mark Wilson (MW) surveyed a lead off Delusions of Grandeur and ended up at the top of Kit Kanyon just below the waterfalls. The passage contained a good stream passage, active at the Delusions end and a big abandoned streamway (similar to Kraftwork) at the Kit Kanyon end. The passage contained a large amount of Gypsum and required Alpine techniques to climb through the snow like powder. The passage was named The Eiger Connection. Under 12 1/4 hours.

Brian Carter (BC) and Mike Walker (MiW) went underground on the premise to push a lead over a 2 second drop of Kraftwork - bolting places were nonexistent and the mangy stals didn't look too secure. They then set off down Kraftwork to locate another lead which couldn't be found.

In morning our camp was placed on alert as two par