DELUSION CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A semicircular, south-facing, and relatively massive cave entrance which is not only up to 8.4 m and 6.8 m high (Hudson, R 2012.02.08 Delusion_02.Text survey data) but also 5 m high by 8 m wide (Arbenz, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012), gives access to a partly daylight-lit and, perhaps, inhabitable entrance chamber (10 m to 15 m wide, some 30 m long and up to 10 m high) where a 2 m climb down northwest gains some 200 m of accessible cave passage (aligned SW-NE) with impressible mud formations and cracked mud floors and cave pearls (Arbenz, T 2013.10.25 Delusionplan.pdf). The known part of the cave system descends north-west and was not only interpreted as one passage with no side passages except a relatively very small rift [5 m] down to a lower level but also was found to lead to a relatively large chamber (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2013.08.07 Diary 2012) and contains comparatively dry mud and cave pearls in addition to unspecified calcite formatins (Arbenz, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012). CONNOTATION: A relic cave of prominent dimensions. It is possibly a former swallet, now dry and blocked by boulders, dry mud and calcite formations (Arbenz, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified but outsiders, apparently mesmerized by Ka Longkhuinruid (note 1), fabricated the nickname Delusion Cave (note 2) or, in this place, a cave -kaba pynthame- (note 3). Military workers will be pleased upon being brushed away with a retarded Cave name made up by field team looking for the Dait Krong entrance of Krem Man Krem, finding this “promising” entrance instead (Arbenz, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012). POSITION 2012.06.23: Near (unspecified precision error ±2500 m) N25°26.082': E092°35.067': 790 m equalling N25°26'04.9”: E092°35'04.0”: 790 m asl / N 25.4347: E 92.58445°: 790 m asl (unspecified geodetic datum possibly WGS84, anonymous recorder either Bayley N, Davidson R, Hudson R, Tringham M E or Weissmair R 2012.02.08 in: Hudson, Richard 2012.02.08 Delusion_02.Text survey data).POSITION 2013.10.27: WGS84 (±28 m) N25°26'04.9”: E092°35'04.0” / N25.434694°: E92.584444°: 790 m asl (Arbenz, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012 after Tringham, M E 2012.02.08). SETTING: In an unidentified location at a spot which lies in unspecified spatial relations to the village of Umkyrpong (25°26'04”N: 92°34'48”E: 782 m) and the cave entrances to Krem –>Mankrem. SITUATION: In a short, low valley leading from Umkyrpong east along [what had been in February 2012] the 4WD track up to Kseh. Near the base of the northern flank (Arbenz, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012). APPROACH 2012: Arrange for getting dropped off at the top of an unidentified the hill without any recorded GPS position nd walk in an unspecified direction down to (or, perhaps, from) the village of Umkyrpong, following the GPS. Get to a junction and decide to have a go at making a shortcut to a cave entrance of Krem –>Mankrem. An hour later, after following cow trails, then porcupine trails, then small rodent tracks, thrash around crawling through brambles, cursing. Take a breather to decide which direction to take next and stumble by chance across a massive cave entrance (note 4). APPROACH 2013: From the N-side of the football field (South-Field, near Camp 2010) at 25°26’01.7”: 92°34’53.0, take the small track heading east to reach the Shaktiman track leading to Kseh village. Follow the track for about 300 m to 25°26’11.0”: 92°35’04 and head due south for 200 m to reach the foot of the hill. The entrance is very obscured and is found after a scramble over karst, clints and grikes (Arbenz, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012a: A relatively little rop down from a relatively massive cave entrance down into a relatively big passage with crystalised floors allows to take away pictures and to leave impressive footprints on lots of decorated floors with mud formations and cracked mud floors which lead not only past a relatively very small rift that appeared to sink down to a lower level but also towards a relatively large chamber from which there was no exit and resulted in perceiving that it was not possible to progress any further (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2013.08.07 Diary 2012). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012b: Completed (anonymous Brooks, S J 2012.06.23 undated Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Survey Summary Kopli.xls). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2013: A 5 m high by 8 m wide, half circular-shaped opening under the cliff line, facing SW. A single, large and well decorated passage leads downwards at a gentle angle to a stooping section. The obvious way on is soon blocked by a boulder choke but a squeeze and small drop down to the left gives access to further pssage, which enlarges to a big end-chamber (about 25 m wide, 30 m long and 10 m high). All ways on are blocked by dry mud and calcite. The omnipresent mud floor is covered with a thin, fragile calcite layer. Dry “pools” along the passage contain nice cave pearls. Sparkling formations on the walls and in the alcoves, as well as on the terminal boulder choke make the cave a perfect photo spot (Arbenz, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012). PROSPECTS: The cave continues unexplored as a very small rift (no size mentioned), which appeared to sink down to a lower level into which it was not possible to progress any further (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2013.08.07 Diary 2012). CAVE LIFE: Huntsman spiders (Heteropoda), woodlicecrickets. The huntsman spiders were described as “blue-legged” (M.Tringham) and photos seem to proof this but Christian Fisher (11.10.2012) pointed out, that the phenomenon is known and only an optical impression caused by the LED light (Arbez, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012). The interesting woodlicecrickets created by Thomas Arbenz may refer to woodlice (Isopoda) apart from crickets (Orthoptera).ssage, which enlarges to a big end-chamber (about 25 m wide, 30 m long and 10 m high). All ways on are blocked by dry mud and calcite. The omnipresent mud floor is covered with a thin, fragile calcite layer. Dry “pools” along the passage contain nice cave pearls. Sparkling formations on the walls and in the alcoves, as well as on the terminal boulder choke make the cave a perfect photo spot (Arbenz, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012). PROSPECTS: The cave continues unexplored as a very small rift (no size mentioned), which appeared to sink down to a lower level into which it was not possible to progress any further (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2013.08.07 Diary 2012). CAVE LIFE: Huntsman spiders (Heteropoda), woodlicecrickets. The huntsman spiders were described as “blue-legged” (M.Tringham) and photos seem to proof this but Christian Fisher (11.10.2012) pointed out, that the phenomenon is known and only an optical impression caused by the LED light (Arbez, T 2013.10.27 Mss: Mark Tringham 2012.02.08 Delusion Cave 08.2.2012). The interesting woodlicecrickets created by Thomas Arbenz may refer to woodlice (Isopoda) apart from crickets (Orthoptera).