WAH U KSAN (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An about 4 m wide, relatively steeply inclined streambed with an unidentified gradient in a north-east-draining, blind valley (note 1) terminates at seasonal insurgence (sink) where a square shaped cave entrance (4 m wide, 2 m high), identified as facing West (Arbenz, T. 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011; 2011.04.05 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011), gives access to a system of two cave passages which drain part of the eastern flank of an unspecified the Kseh spur (2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011; 2011.04.05 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). ETYMOLOGY: The cave is probably called after a seasonal stream which may be locally known as Wah U Ksan (note 2). SITUATION: On the eastern flank of the [unspecified] Kseh spur (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc), which seems to have been christened after the village of Kseh (St. Joseph church near 25°25’24.0”N: 92°35’32.9”E: circa 880 m) above the orographically left (locally west) banks of te Kopili River (26°15'N: 92°10'E). POSITION: According to Arbenz, T (2011.04.05 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011), the GPS position N25°25'10.7”: E092°35'54.5”: 780 m asl (WGS84, horizontal precision error allegedly ±8 m, allegedly recorded by T. Arbenz on 18.2.2011 with the help of a Garmin e-trex Vista GPS receiver) indicates a spot falling on the Survey of India sheet 83-C/11 grid square 405 Kseh. According to Arbenz, T (2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011), however, the GPS position N25°25'10.7”: E092°34'54.5”: 780 m asl (WGS84, horizontal precision error allegedly ±8 m, allegedly recorded by T. Arbenz on 18.2.2009 (sic!) with the help of a Garmin e-trex Vista GPS receiver) indicates a spot falling on the Survey of India sheet 83-C/11 grid square 405 Kseh. This is not the case. APPROACH: To reach the cave entrance to Krem Wah U Ksan, Arbenz, T (2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc) suggests to walk from the jetty (25°25'49.1”N: 92°36'15.1”E: 717 m)on the orographically left (locally west) bank of the Kopili River (26°15'N: 92°10'E) uphill and generally west along an unspecified the track (footpath? motorable 4WD track?) leading uphill towards the village of Kseh (St. Joseph church near 25°25’24.0”N: 92°35’32.9”E: circa 880 m). Partway uphill is an unidentified the first bend at an unspecified GPS position from where a footpath leads for an unspecified distance west to a pine forest at an unspecified GPS position. Where it (perhaps the pine forest but possibly the footpath) stops at the edge of the slope at [a GPS based elevation of] 800 m asl. Follow [or, perhaps, contour in a south-westerly direction along] the ledge [or, perhaps, a shelf] past Krem Shyngktat [N25°25'21.9”: E092°36'03.0”: 787 m asl WGS84] till you reach [at an unspecified GPS position] the distinct footpath coming down from the Pala road. Follow this footpath [in an unidentified direction] for 150 m down to [what had been in February 2011] an extensivegarden area and banana plantation in a depression. In the western corner [at an unspecified GPS position] you find the access to a (dry in February 2011) 4 m wide streambed which disappears into Krem Wah U Ksan (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011; Arbenz, T 2011.04.05 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). CAVE DESCRIPTION: The [known cave] entrance is facing west and sink is a w4m x h2m square opening to an impressive cauldron, which takes in wet conditions the whole stream or, perhaps, the entire flow of the Wah U Ksan down a 10 m pitch (note 3) where a 7 m climb down (with maypole) intersects a meander or meandering and apparently horizontal cave passage, that leads to a relatively high but narrow rift which is leading down trough a vertical squeeze into a stream [cave] passage. This is again a meandering [cave] passage of walking size, which ends in [sic! qua: leads to] sumps [note 4] on both ends (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011. In other words is … Krem Wah U Ksan a seasonal sink in a 4 m wide streambed. A short climb down into a meander led into a rift and down into a meandering streamcave passage, which led to sumps on both ends. 150 metres were surveyed (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Friday 18th Feb 2011). CAVE CONTENTS: Apart from unspecified secondary çalcite formations (speleothems) in the roof or, more likely, on the ceiling of the rift passage the cave contains along the stream passage not only quantities of flood debris (also thick branches) but also some sand and gravel in the corners (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). TACKLE: 7 m ladder or a maypole improvised from nearby bamboo grove. A knotted hand line for the squeeze would be helpful (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). PROSPECTS: Good insofar as the cave contains not only one possible diving spot but gives access to sumps on both ends (anonymous Arbenz, et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Friday 18th Feb 2011) or sumps on both ends (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011) and sumps on both ends (Arbenz, T 2011.04.05 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). CULTURAL HISTORY: The remains of a fire place (February 2011) in a rock (note 5) shelter under a protruding overhang inside the entrance cauldron has been interpreted to suggest that the abris-like ledge … is occasionally [read: once had been] used as camp (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). CAVE LIFE: Both Arbenz, T. (2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011) and Arbenz, T. (2011.04.05 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011) recorded to have noticed during the daytime on 18th February 2011 not only the presence of sort of spiders, woodlice, crickets (Arachnida: conf. Aranea, Isopoda, Orthoptera) but also a comparatively large kind of Hypposideros bat (Chiroptera: conf. Hipposideros).. In other words is … Krem Wah U Ksan a seasonal sink in a 4 m wide streambed. A short climb down into a meander led into a rift and down into a meandering streamcave passage, which led to sumps on both ends. 150 metres were surveyed (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Friday 18th Feb 2011). CAVE CONTENTS: Apart from unspecified secondary çalcite formations (speleothems) in the roof or, more likely, on the ceiling of the rift passage the cave contains along the stream passage not only quantities of flood debris (also thick branches) but also some sand and gravel in the corners (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). TACKLE: 7 m ladder or a maypole improvised from nearby bamboo grove. A knotted hand line for the squeeze would be helpful (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). PROSPECTS: Good insofar as the cave contains not only one possible diving spot but gives access to sumps on both ends (anonymous Arbenz, et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Friday 18th Feb 2011) or sumps on both ends (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011) and sumps on both ends (Arbenz, T 2011.04.05 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). CULTURAL HISTORY: The remains of a fire place (February 2011) in a rock (note 5) shelter under a protruding overhang inside the entrance cauldron has been interpreted to suggest that the abris-like ledge … is occasionally [read: once had been] used as camp (Arbenz, T 2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011). CAVE LIFE: Both Arbenz, T. (2011.03.11 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011) and Arbenz, T. (2011.04.05 Mss: Krem Wah U Ksan.doc 18thFeb.2011) recorded to have noticed during the daytime on 18th February 2011 not only the presence of sort of spiders, woodlice, crickets (Arachnida: conf. Aranea, Isopoda, Orthoptera) but also a comparatively large kind of Hypposideros bat (Chiroptera: conf. Hipposideros).