LABIT, Khaidong (Krem)
25.361300,92.514100
Description
The Krem Labit (bat cave) near Khaidong, is a seasonal sink leads into inlet series that via four pitches intersects huge fossil passage [note 1] and several stream passages that are part of the Liat Prah - Um Im system (Brooks 2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). Bayley (2002.02.24 Mss: Krem Labbit, Khaidong) understood that this cave is a rift canyon passage that somehow, in one way or another, is connected with Krem –>Liat Prah. Brown (2006.02.11 Mss: Krem Labbit Khaidong) understood that Krem Labbit (Khaidong) consists of a large fossil passage with several active stream passages associated and mentions one unspecified crawl connection to Umim 6 / Liat Prah while some shafts link in, e.g. Chuna, Kneewrecker. SITUATION: Not only at an unspecified location somewhere on the north-western side of the Shnongrim Ridge but also in an unspecified spatial relation near (note 2) the village of Khaidong.APPROACH 1 (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss): From Khaidong village head along road040° for minutes [sic!] and take track down the hill heading 300° to canyon / depression on RHS (N25°21'40-: E092°30'51- ±11.5 m) go through to [deleted: right] left and rift leads off to right. APPROACH 2 (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss): From Khaidong church [without GPS position] 250 m along road to North leads to GPS point N25°21'37.8”: E 092°31'01.2 (±5.8 m, WGS84): 1071 m asl, where a track leads off on 300° follow ridge crest down curving left [probably west or south] towards grove of pine trees (2006). Descend into a depression with karst rifts [where one] 6 m climb down R enters 3 m wide canyon (GPS point N25°21'40.5” or 40.9-: E092°30'50.9- ±4.9 m: [deleted: 1067] 1075 m asl, GPS Garmin 12) where the cave entrance lies estimated 20 m in an unidentified direction from the point where the GPS reading was taken. POSITIONS: Two distict GPS positions have been recorded, of which the earlier one N25°21'39.9”: E092°30'51.3” (±9.8 m, WGS84): 1076 m asl (M. Groves 2002.02.25, GS Garmin Etrex), lies at distance of 27.1 m in a direct line approximately north-west from the later GPS position at N25°21'40.5”: E092°30'50.9” (±4.9 m, WGS84): 1075 m asl (M.W. Brown 2006.02.11, GPS Garmin Etrex). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss): Drop down 4 m into rift and traverse overtop of canyon. Muddy crawl to left leads to draughting (out) drop which needs tackle. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (Brooks, S J et al. 2006.03.03 Mss: Overview): Key findings from this year [2006 February 07 to March 01] include … the discovery and exploration of Krem Labbit (Khaidong) in which 6,230.99 m of passage were surveyed and a large chamber (largest found to date in Meghalaya) measuring 50 m by 60 m and over 30 m in height —named -Agoraphobia Chamber- in respect of it's impressive size. CAVE DESCRIPTION 3 (Arbenz, T 2006.05.21 Mss: Abstracts.xls): Length 6009 m; vertical range 125 m. Small leads. CAVE DESCRIPTION 4 (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss): 2 m high, 1.5 m wide, and D shaped entrance rit. 4 m climb down (bamboo in place for aid in 2006 - local bat catchers?) in rift. Warm moist air blowing out today. CAVE DESCRIPTION 5 (Brooks 2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss): From base of climb 20 m walking sized rift passage leads to 9 m 2nd pitch, which is followed by 100 m rift streamway to 30 m 3rd pitch, after which is is a mix of streamway, hands and knees crawls and small chambers for 150 m to 50 m 4th pitch (25 m plus 25 m) that drop into roof of large fossil passage (25 m by 20 m). Downstream good size (8 m by 15 m) passage reduces in size to end in [and to gain one] breakdown chamber after 900 m with substantial (335 m side passages upstream from base of 4th pitch huge fossil passage continues for over 900 m reaching 50 m by 40 m in size (at impressive Agraphobia [note 3] Chamber) to reach large active parallel streamways. 400 m long hands & knees crawls off main upstream fossil passage connects this cave to the Liat Prah / Um Im system. CAVE CONTENTS (rooks 2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss): Mud, rocks, large boulders, large banks of [fluvial low energy physioclastic] sediments, [secondary] calcite deposits, formations [i.e. speleothems], small rounded gravels in streamway (bed) areas. SPELEOMETRY: According to Arbenz, T (2007.11.26 cave plan -Krem Labit Khaidong- undated), Krem Labit (Khaidong), Krem Chuna and Kneewrecker IIcontribute a survey length of 6'673.29 m (vertical range +0 m / –125.34 m) to the cave system of Krem –>Liat Prah. According to Arbenz, T (2008.01.20 Mss), Krem Labit (Khaidong) contributed by March 2007 a survey length of 6,260.24 m to the cave system of Krem –>Liat Prah. The Limelight survey data file Labit Khaidong_02.Text yields a length of 6732.93 m at a vertical range of 125.34 (+0.0/-125.34) m. In 2006, the Krem Liat Prah/Um Im cave system was further linked with a newly explored Krem Labbit (Khaidong) to create a single cave system of 22,202.65m in length and at that point Krem Liat rah became longest known cave at that time in the Indian Sub-continent (BROOKS, S J 2014: 52). TACKLE (Brooks 2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss): Many hangers; Entrance: 4 m ladder and 6 m rope; Pitch 2: 20 m rope; Pitch 3: 40 m rope; pitch 4: 30 m + 30 m (60 m) rope. CAVE POTENTIAL: Brown (2006.02.11 Mss) carries away with details listing precisely some digs, some ducks in combination with imaginating other shafts may link in (Krem Shrieh?) while Brooks (2006 undated Mss: Amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss) felt that prospects are modest / good. CAVE CLIMATE: Brown (2006.02.11 Mss) noticed at an unknown time on 11th February 2006 relatively warm moist air blowing out today. CAVE LIFE: The cave name Krem Labit (Bat Cave) suggests the presence bats (Chiroptera) and Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt indeed collected on about 23rd February 2007 a dead bat (note 4), which Dr. Paul Bates (note 5) thinks will be the leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros larvatus) - the population in Meghaaya is very interesting - since a cyptic species was recently named from there - so it is a very valuable specimen to have. According to ANONYMOUS (Brown et al. 2006), Imogen -Imo- Furlong, Torben Redder and Henry Rockcliff observed on Monday 13th February … many bats. There were also lots of fish [conf. pisces] of various sizes, including white fish (up to 20 cm).rah became longest known cave at that time in the Indian Sub-continent (BROOKS, S J 2014: 52). TACKLE (Brooks 2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss): Many hangers; Entrance: 4 m ladder and 6 m rope; Pitch 2: 20 m rope; Pitch 3: 40 m rope; pitch 4: 30 m + 30 m (60 m) rope. CAVE POTENTIAL: Brown (2006.02.11 Mss) carries away with details listing precisely some digs, some ducks in combination with imaginating other shafts may link in (Krem Shrieh?) while Brooks (2006 undated Mss: Amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss) felt that prospects are modest / good. CAVE CLIMATE: Brown (2006.02.11 Mss) noticed at an unknown time on 11th February 2006 relatively warm moist air blowing out today. CAVE LIFE: The cave name Krem Labit (Bat Cave) suggests the presence bats (Chiroptera) and Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt indeed collected on about 23rd February 2007 a dead bat (note 4), which Dr. Paul Bates (note 5) thinks will be the leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros larvatus) - the population in Megharah became longest known cave at that time in the Indian Sub-continent (BROOKS, S J 2014: 52). TACKLE (Brooks 2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss): Many hangers; Entrance: 4 m ladder and 6 m rope; Pitch 2: 20 m rope; Pitch 3: 40 m rope; pitch 4: 30 m + 30 m (60 m) rope. CAVE POTENTIAL: Brown (2006.02.11 Mss) carries away with details listing precisely some digs, some ducks in combination with imaginating other shafts may link in (Krem Shrieh?) while Brooks (2006 undated Mss: Amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss) felt that prospects are modest / good. CAVE CLIMATE: Brown (2006.02.11 Mss) noticed at an unknown time on 11th February 2006 relatively warm moist air blowing out today. CAVE LIFE: The cave name Krem Labit (Bat Cave) suggests the presence bats (Chiroptera) and Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt indeed collected on about 23rd February 2007 a dead bat (note 4), which Dr. Paul Bates (note 5) thinks will be the leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros larvatus) - the population in Megharah became longest known cave at that time in the Indian Sub-continent (BROOKS, S J 2014: 52). TACKLE (Brooks 2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss): Many hangers; Entrance: 4 m ladder and 6 m rope; Pitch 2: 20 m rope; Pitch 3: 40 m rope; pitch 4: 30 m + 30 m (60 m) rope. CAVE POTENTIAL: Brown (2006.02.11 Mss) carries away with details listing precisely some digs, some ducks in combination with imaginating other shafts may link in (Krem Shrieh?) while Brooks (2006 undated Mss: Amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss) felt that prospects are modest / good. CAVE CLIMATE: Brown (2006.02.11 Mss) noticed at an unknown time on 11th February 2006 relatively warm moist air blowing out today. CAVE LIFE: The cave name Krem Labit (Bat Cave) suggests the presence bats (Chiroptera) and Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt indeed collected on about 23rd February 2007 a dead bat (note 4), which Dr. Paul Bates (note 5) thinks will be the leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros larvatus) - the population in Meghaaya is very interesting - since a cyptic species was recently named from there - so it is a very valuable specimen to have. According to ANONYMOUS (Brown et al. 2006), Imogen -Imo- Furlong, Torben Redder and Henry Rockcliff observed on Monday 13th February … many bats. There were also lots of fish [conf. pisces] of various sizes, including white fish (up to 20 cm).
Documents
Bibliography 06/01/2018History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 2002.02.17: Larsing Sukhlain indicated the approximate position of a Krem Labbit (Krem Labit) to Brian D. Kharpran Daly and H. D. Gebauer. 2002.02.24: Guided by Karmel Lyngdoh, Samson Lyngdoh, Wing Pajuh, Batskhem Rupon, Hanli Sukhlain, Skhem Sukhlain and Lynnad Sutnga, it was Nicola 'Nicky' Bayley and Martin 'The Lump' Groves with Babha Kupar 'Dale' Mawlong as interpreter who visited the entrance of Krem Labbit (Khaidong) (Krem Labit, Khaidong). 2004.02.21: An unidentified local boy without identified name, Imogen Furlong arrived at understanding to have been told of what she understood to be a big cave called Krem Hmbaht (sic!). 2006.02.11, trip 1: Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt (2006: 7) directed Mark W. Brown, Imogen Furlong and Peter Ludwig to Krem Labbit (Khaidong) but M.W. Brown (2006.02.11 Mss) happily claims MB, IF, PL locate entrance, begin rigging. 2006.02.12, trip 2: Imo returned with Henry and the pair dropped the pitch to a large chamber frm which they surveyed 253 m of ongoing streamway. They were followed by the surveying team of Mark, Des and Annie who followed a large fossil tunnel from the chamber and surveyed 279 m in all (JARRATT 2006: 8). Mark W. Brown [2006.02.11 Mss], AA, DM survey 279 m to base of Entrance Series (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). According to ANONYMOUS (Brown, M.W. et al. 2006): Sunday 12th February … Mark, Des and Annie surveyed Krem Labbit (Kaidong) from the entrance to the chamber at the bottom. Des found a large fossil passage leading out of the chamber. Passage ongoing. 279 m surveyed. 2006.02.12, trip 3: Imogen Furlong (IF) and Henry Rockcliff (HR) … do first rigging and survey 253 m downstream (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). According to ANONYMOUS (Brown, M.W. et al. 2006): Sunday 12th February …Imogen and Henry completed rigging Krem Labbit (Khaidong) and dropped into a chamber [unidentified] at the bottom. They surveyed along the main stream passage at the bottom. Stream passage ongoing. 253 m surveye. 2006.02.13, trip 4: Labbit (Khaidong) had by now become the place to be seen. Imo, Henry and newly landed Viking, Torben [Redder] continued the downstream survey, being somewhat intimidated by great multitudes of surprised labbits (bats). Another 648 m was added to the length of this rapidly expanding cave [JARRATT 2006: 8] and the following day … Mark W. Brown [2006.02.11 Mss], TR [Torben Redder], IF [Imogen Furlong] survey 648 m downstream. According to ANONYMOUS (Brown, M.W. et al. 2006): Monday 13th February … Imogen, Torben and Henry returned to Krem Labbit (Khaidong) and continued surveying downstream in a NE direction. Many bats were observed. There were also lots of fish of various sizes, including white fish (up to 20 cm). The lead was ongoing. 648 m surveyed. 2006.02.14, trip 5: Simon J. Brooks, Imogen Furlong, RG, LD survey 105 m (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). According to ANONYMOUS (Brown, M.W. et al. 2006), Imogen, Simon, Roger, Torben, Dave, Annie and Lyndsay went to Krem Labit (Khaidong). Imogen, Simon, Roger and Lyndsay [Lindsay Diengdog] continued to push and survey downstream to a boulder choke. They found two ongoing leads; a fossil [sic!] passage leading off at the top of the choke and the stream passage at the bottom going small but strongly draughting. The team also took photographs going in and out. 105 m surveyed. 2006.02.14, trip 6: TR [Torben Redder], DH, AA [Annie U. Audsley] survey 890.5 m Fossel (sic!; Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). According to ANONYMOUS (Brown, M.W. et al. 2006), Torben, Dave and Annie … surveyed the fossil series from the bottom of 'Down with the Thloo'. This was a good size passage continuing with one side passage lead. The main passage intersected a streamway via a steep mud bank. There were three main ways on. A large colony of bats was observed.890 m surveyed. JARRATT (2006: 8) understood … another 995 m was mapped in this enormous, mud-floored, fossil phreatic tunnels which became even bigger as the teams progressed —stnned by what was being revealed. 2006.02.15, trip 7: Torben Redder, Terence 'Terry' Whitaker] and Louise Korsgaard survey 790 m to Fossel choke / upstream Inlet (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). 2006.02.15, trip 8: Imogen Furlong, Roger Galloway, and Desmond 'Des'McNally survey 292.6 m downstream (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). 2006.02.15, trip 9: Lindsay B. Diengdoh, Derek Pettiglio, and Annie U. Audsley survey 335.9 m downstream of Fossel (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). JARRATT (2006: 10) learned that on 15th Ferbuary 2006 … the 'Labbiters' clocked up another 627 m of streamways and 790 m of fossil tunnels. 2006.02.16: A rainy day (JARRATT 2006: 11). 2006.02.17: A drying day (JARRATT 2006: 11). 2006.02.18, trip 10: Torben Redder, Louise Korsgaard, Hugh Penney, and Katharina 'Kate' Janossy surveyed 352 m umstream inlet off Fossel (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). 2006.02.18, trip 11: Roger Galloway, Imogen Furlong and Derek Pettiglio rig Kneewrecker 2 connected to donstream 163.5 m (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss. JARRATT (2006: 11): Saturday 18th February saw four 'Labbiters' pushing some 30 m into the 'Mother and Father of All Boulder Chokes' and taking photographs. … Hugh, Kate and the Danes [Louise Korsgaard, Torben Redder] bagged another 352 m of upstream inlet. According to Jarratt (2006.03.04 Mss: Cave Log, vol. XIII: 18/2/06): One of the other teams connected Kneewrecker Pot 2 to the downstream end of the ongoing Krem Labbit (Khaidong) to provide one more way in and an easier entrance for pushing the system further. 2006.02.19, trip 12: Imogen Furlong, Roger Galloway, and Henry Rockcliff 101 m choke below big pitch (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). 2006.02.19, trip 13: Torben Redder, Louise Korsgaard and Derek Pettiglio 277 m side passages off fossil (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). According to JARRATT (2006: 12), … the persistent Labbit enthusiasts added 101 m of fossil passage and 256 m of crawling side passage to the score. The latter was to prove … crawling is essential to push Meghalayan cawls and squeezes, even in huge cave systems . 2006.02.20, trip 14: Torben Redder, Louise Korsgaard and Peter Ludwig 265 m crawl off fossil passage (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). According to JARRATT (2006: 12), Torben, Louise (practising her newly acquired English obscenities) and Peter [Ludwig] were back in the Labbit crawl on the 20th, surveying another 250 m (JARRATT 2006: 12). 2006.02.20, trip 15: Roger Galloway, Imogen Furlong and Henry Rockcliff 178.43 m Kneewrecker daylight shaft (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). 2006.02.21, trip 16: Annie U. Audsley, Henry Rockcliff and Katharina 'Kate' Janossy surveyed 210 m and connected to Um Im 6 via crawl [Brown 2006.02.11 Mss]. According to JARRATT (2006: 14), Kate, Annie and Henry [Janossy, Audsley & Rockcliff] got what they thought to be the short straw by continuing the survey of the long crawl, the Khaidong Metro. After 30 m they were suddenly amazed to find '23' tippexed on a rock lip. Soon after they were romping down an immense breakdown unnel (The Great Trunk Road) but didn't have a clue which cave they had connected with [note 6]. Back at camp the jubilant trio were informed by your scribe that it was he who had written '23' above a hole dug out from above in 2004 in the Shnongrim Subway of Krem Um Im 6 [note 7], itself being one of the most westerly arms of the Krem Liat Prah system. 2006.02.22, trip 17: Imogen Furlong, Annie U. Audsley and Louise Korsgaard surveyed 156.43 m inlets in entrance pitches [Brown 2006.02.11 Mss]. JARRATT (2006: 13) agrees: Another 156 m were added by Imo, Annie and Louise on a 'girly' trip where they gobsmacked on reaching the remore entrance to find themselves reluctant TV stars. 2006.02.22, trip 18: Simon J. Brooks, Desmond 'Des' Marshall and a certain TB [Antony Boycott, Antony 'Tony'?] surveyed 425.3 m leads off fossil passage (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). According to JARRATT (2006: 13), Another 513 m were added by Simon, Dave and Torben, including a new streamway. 200602.23, trip 19: Imogen Furlong, Annie U. Audsley and Derek Pettiglio survey 107.61 m upstream leads towards Shienkly (sic! probably for: Krem Shyien Khlieh; Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). 2006.02.23, trip 20: Torben Redder, Louise Korsgaard and a certain LD [Lindsay B. Diengdoh] survey 86 m pushed upstream leads towards Krem Chun (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). According to JARRATT (2006: 14), digging failed to yield a link with the adjacent Krem Shrieh but 74 m was found elsewhere and a strongly draughting crawl found heading towards Krem Chuni (i.e. Krem –>Chuna, Khaidong). 2006.02.24, trip 21: Imogen Furlong and Derek Pettiglio 120 m [difficult to read: blat?] choke at top of Henry Bolt Climb / pushed lead to choke (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). According to JARRATT (2006: 15), Imo and Derek got another 120 m, mainly in small stuff leading off the immense mud-floored gallery Disto Inferno. 2006.02.25: … eleven of the team left to attend Shelley's engagement ceremony in Shillong leaving the stragglers t derig Krem Labbit (Khaidong), wash ropes and pack up (JARRATT 2006: 15). 2006.02.26, trip 22: Annie U. Audsley, Derek Pettiglio and Peter Ludwig 131.21 m surveyed Krem Chuna (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). 2006.02.26, trip 23: Annie U. Audsley, Derek Pettiglio and Roger Galloway Krem Chuna, 66 m, finished surveying Krem Chuna (Brown 2006.02.11 Mss). Simon J. Brooks (2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown 2006.02.11 Mss) explains: … linking it [probably Krem Chuna] to Krem Labbit Khiadong (sic! probably for: Krem Labit, Khaidong). 2007.02.17, trip 24: Brian Cullen and Henry Rockcliff rigged Krem Labit Kaidong [sic!] and looked at leads (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc). JARRATT & DAWSON (2007) confirm: At last, on the 17th, the spectacular Krem Labbit (Khaidong) system (the upstream part of Liat Prah) was revisited by Brian C. and Henry R. who examined several outstanding possible leads. 2007.02.18, trip 25: Robin Sheen, Henry Rockcliff, and this time a so-called Phillippa (i.e.Philippa Glanvill) … went into Krem Labbit Khaidong to push the boulder choke at the end of the Disto in the passage. They bolted up the wall at the side of the choke to enter a continuing large fossil passage (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc). According to JARRATT & DAWSON (2007), Sunday the18th saw Robin, Henry R. and Phillippa bolting up a wall at the side of the boulder choke at the end of Disto in Krem Labbit (Khaidong) and entering a continuing, large fossil passage. 2007.02.19, trip 26: Ian McKenzie and Brian Cullen surveyed and pushed … the fossil passage found above the choke at the end of 'The Disto”. After surveying over 200 m the passage choked. The bolt climb was left rigged and no other leads were looked at (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc). According to JARRATT & DAWSON (2007), Ian and Brian C. surveyed the new fossil passage in Krem Labbit (Khaidong) for over 200 m to a choke. 2007.02.23, trip 27: Henry Boswell Dawson and Henry Rockciff looked at a couple of bolt climbs, which were blind (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc). 2007.02.23, trip 28: Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt (collecting a dead bat), Brian Cullen and Katharina 'Kate' Janossy checked all the question marks in the Krem Chune area and the cave was declared finished. The cave was derigged (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc). 2008.02.12, trip 29: Torben and Peter L. rigged Krem Labbit (Khaidong) (KLK) to the top of the last pitch. They looked for Imo’s passage but did not find it (Brown et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Wednesday 13th February). 2008.02.14, trip 30: Torben, Imo, Terry and Louise went into Krem Labbit (Khaidong) (KLK) and surveyed a small inlet just above pitch 4; which choked and they then derigged the cave (Brown et al. 2008 Mss: Meghalaya 2008 diary.doc Thursday 14th February). 2008.02.20, no trip: Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt in company with Joel, Ross, Imogen … dropped fluorescein in the steam way in an attempt to make a connection to Krem Labbit Khaidong … (Brown et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Wednesday 20th February).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | JINGTEP 3 (Krem poh) | ||
| 0.2 | JINGTEP 1 (Krem poh) | ||
| 0.2 | NO NAME CAVE, Khaidong (Groves 2002), 1st (aa -) | ||
| 0.2 | NO NAME CAVE, Khaidong (Groves 2002), 2nd (aa -) | ||
| 0.2 | CHUNA, Khaidong (Krem) | ||
| 0.2 | SOH LEWE (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | SHRIEH, Khaidong (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | SHRIEH, Khaidong 1 (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | SHRIEH, Khaidong 2 (Krem) |