KDONG THLOO, Rya (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Survey : R.Williams, M.Edgeworth. Ph Glanvill B.K.Daly, T.Arbenz,B.Cullen Drawing : H.Dawson, Ph.Glanvill,M.Brown, T.Arbenz, Rovena Sheen Few has become known of an almost 1.2 km (Arbenz, T 2008 Mss -Fieldbook- 32) or 1.6 km (Brown et al. 2008 Mss: Survey Summary) long, nearly horizontal stream cave, which, at one stage of accumulating lengthwise measured distances, got confused with a cave that had been nicknamed Krem Son Pow 2 (Arbenz, T 2007.08.05 Mss: Mixed up caves of Meghalaya). At least we were told that some thirty expedition cavers had invaded in February 2007 a certain Maison des Nuages (House of Rains) and discovered (sic!) locally known caves, among which Deux cavités … sont la depression de Krem Umsngad et le résurgence Kdong Thloo (BROOKS & BROWN 2007: 10). IDENTITY: Disputed (note 1).ETYMOLOGY: The origin, history and meaning of the Synteng Khasi (Pnar) cave name Krem Kdong Thloo has not yet been identified but seems to refer to a -krem- or cave called after its locaton in a -kdong- (note 2) or -corner- (a part, region, or area) which features -thloo- or [pot-] holes (note 3). The area name Rya is added to distinguish this Krem Kdong Thloo not only from Krem –>Kdong Mooliar (25°19'41”N: 92°29'33”E) but also from Krem –>Kdong Samasi (25°25'26.6”N: 92°33'08.1”E). So far, I saw this expedition caving object referred to as No Name Quentin -Cooper- Cowper (2007.02.24 Mss: No Name No people around). Kdong Thloo Brown, M W (2007.02.24 Mss: Kdong Thloo 24/02/07). Kdong Thloo Rya Arbenz, T (2015.10.26 dated 15.10.2015 Kdongthlooplan_1000.pdf). Kdong Thlu Rya (note 4) Arbenz, T (2008.03.12 Mss: Vocabulary). Krem Kdong Thloo Brown, M W et al. (2008 Mss: Meghalaya 2008 diary); Arbenz, T (2008.08.05 Mss -mixed up caves of Meghalaya- personal correspondence)SITUATION: The cave entrance, which expedition cavers became aware of first, was understood to lie in an inexplicable spatial relation near (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc) what hadbeen in February 2007 the Litein tea shop (i.e. dukan sha, Litang, 25°21'37”N: 92°33'13”E: 855 m). POSITION 2007: The recorded GPS reading for Kdong Thloo (bogus? ±5 m 25°21'51.5”N: 92°33'19.0”E Brown, M W 2007.02.24) indicates a spot which lies 58 m in a direct line approximately ENE from the GPS position for the cave entrance of Krem –>Lumbloh (note 5). POSITION 2015: Precision error allegedly ±8 m 25°21'47.50”N: 92°33'05.20”E: 849 m (unidentified recorder, undated, unidentified GPS receiver, source: Arbenz, T 2015.10.26 dated 15.10.2015 Kdongthlooplan_1000.pdf) indicates a spot which lies 406 m in a direct line approximately WSW (-386.6 m east and -123.7 m north) from the 2007 position (note 6). APPROACH 2008: From the well known Litang Valley tea shop [25°21'37”N: E92°33'13”E], take the footpath in a northerly direction towards the Lumthari spur. Arriving at the base of the spur [without GPS position], bear NNW (left) to reach (very near) an open riverbed in a quaried area at the entrance of a small valley [without GPS position]. The riverbed is in fact a crumbled bit of cave passage (about 30 m long), which gives access to the two entrances (tight squeezes opposite each other) leading to the Northbound Branch and the Eastbound Branch. An alternative, easier approach to the N-Branch is via a free climbable 6 m pitch and crawl about 60 m up the valley (Arbenz, T 2008 Mss -Fieldbook- 32). APPROACH 2007: The middle entrance of Krem Kdong Thloo (Arbenz, T 2008.08.05 personal correspondence) from the tea shop (N25°21'37”: E92°33'13” WGS84), where one is best advised to head on a 030° bearing [NNW] till the path runs right beside the river. After this, a lower level field is encountered. This has [on 24th February 2007] a dry river bed in it that, [if] followed up towards the ridge, leads to serious breakdown boulders. Its evident water comes pissing out of this (Quentin -Cooper- Cowper 2007.02.24 Mss: No Name No people around). CAVE DESCRIPTION 007a: Quentin -Cooper- Cowper would bite my own wek off if three or four people would not find a decent resurgence here (Quentin -Cooper- Cowper 2007.02.24 Mss: No Name No people around). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2007b: Mark M. Brown plays the bullshit card and blinds with promising more info on another sheet (Brown, M W 2007.02.24 Mss: Kdong Thloo) which, of course, never ever existed. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2007c: Simon J Brooks was led to believe that this item is a more money / drunken goldfish cave … entered by a tight squeeze at the side of a small doline, a series of spider infested small passages lead to a larger [relic] passage [note 7], then a knee deep stream way, which was followed to a calcite squeeze into ongoing canal passage (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2008a: Mark W. Brown and Simon J. Brooks joined forced to proudly claim that Krem Kdong Thloo (sic) has been extended from 1.18 m to 1.58 m (BROWN & BROOKS 2008) as if this additional bit had nt existed before sportsmen visited it and took lengthwise measurements. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2008b: A cave entrance gives access to an entrance squeeze which leads upstream a certain Northbound Branch (note 8) to a sand floored and, at least in February, a dry seasonal stream passage, which gives access to a streamway controlled bedding planes and sometimes parallel joints. Having some breakdown chambers and calcite squeezes, the least known bit of cave leads to a maze of clean washed, -aquatic- and too tight to follow rift passages (Arbenz, T 2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 33). SPELEOMETRY 2007: 1183.64 m, ±17.84 m (+9.38 / -8.46) (Arbenz, T & Dawson, H B 2007.07.29, 2007.10.27, 2007.11.26 cave plan). SPELEOMETRY 2008a: Pre 2008 length 1184.00 [sic! for: 1183.46 m]; Survey 2008: 56.94, 75.4, 21.03, 250.77; Total 1587.60 (Brown, M W et al. 2008 Mss: Survey Summary.xls). SPELEOMETRY 2008b: Length: 1183 m. Vertical range: ±18 m (+9.4 / -8.5) (Arbenz, T (2008 Mss -Fieldbook- 32). SPELEOMETRY 2015 Lgth. 1587.60 m, VR (21.72 m) +12.6 / -9,12 (Arbenz, T 2015.10.24 dated 26.10.2015 Kdongthlooplan_1000.pdf). CAVE LIFE: The statement spider infested small passages (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc) seems to hint to the presence of spiders beyond one's comprehension (Arachnidae conf. Araneae).t existed before sportsmen visited it and took lengthwise measurements. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2008b: A cave entrance gives access to an entrance squeeze which leads upstream a certain Northbound Branch (note 8) to a sand floored and, at least in February, a dry seasonal stream passage, which gives access to a streamway controlled bedding planes and sometimes parallel joints. Having some breakdown chambers and calcite squeezes, the least known bit of cave leads to a maze of clean washed, -aquatic- and too tight to follow rift passages (Arbenz, T 2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 33). SPELEOMETRY 2007: 1183.64 m, ±17.84 m (+9.38 / -8.46) (Arbenz, T & Dawson, H B 2007.07.29, 2007.10.27, 2007.11.26 cave plan). SPELEOMETRY 2008a: Pre 2008 length 1184.00 [sic! for: 1183.46 m]; Survey 2008: 56.94, 75.4, 21.03, 250.77; Total 1587.60 (Brown, M W et al. 2008 Mss: Survey Summary.xls). SPELEOMETRY 2008b: Length: 1183 m. Vertical range: ±18 m (+9.4 / -8.5) (Arbenz, T (2008 Mss -Fieldbook- 32). SPELEOMETRY 2015t existed before sportsmen visited it and took lengthwise measurements. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2008b: A cave entrance gives access to an entrance squeeze which leads upstream a certain Northbound Branch (note 8) to a sand floored and, at least in February, a dry seasonal stream passage, which gives access to a streamway controlled bedding planes and sometimes parallel joints. Having some breakdown chambers and calcite squeezes, the least known bit of cave leads to a maze of clean washed, -aquatic- and too tight to follow rift passages (Arbenz, T 2008 Mss -Fieldbook- page 33). SPELEOMETRY 2007: 1183.64 m, ±17.84 m (+9.38 / -8.46) (Arbenz, T & Dawson, H B 2007.07.29, 2007.10.27, 2007.11.26 cave plan). SPELEOMETRY 2008a: Pre 2008 length 1184.00 [sic! for: 1183.46 m]; Survey 2008: 56.94, 75.4, 21.03, 250.77; Total 1587.60 (Brown, M W et al. 2008 Mss: Survey Summary.xls). SPELEOMETRY 2008b: Length: 1183 m. Vertical range: ±18 m (+9.4 / -8.5) (Arbenz, T (2008 Mss -Fieldbook- 32). SPELEOMETRY 2015 Lgth. 1587.60 m, VR (21.72 m) +12.6 / -9,12 (Arbenz, T 2015.10.24 dated 26.10.2015 Kdongthlooplan_1000.pdf). CAVE LIFE: The statement spider infested small passages (Brooks, S J et al. 2007.03.01 Mss: Diary2007.doc) seems to hint to the presence of spiders beyond one's comprehension (Arachnidae conf. Araneae).