Tham Mi - CM0125
19.620934,99.026866
Location
The entrance is located in an outcrop in the side of a modest-sized karst tower, 3.2km south west of Ban Nong Khaem, adjacent to the seasonal Huai Pao river and near the hamlet of Ban Pa Bong Ngam.
Description
A short section of stooping passage opens out into a large and well decorated phreatic passage up to 10 m wide which ends at a stalagmite and boulder choke and a small second entrance after 35 m. However, several side passages exist, most of which close down after a few metres. The main way on is a small side passage near the end of the main passage which leads, via a small chamber, to the head of a 5 m deep rift. This can be bypassed on the right to a ledge on the far side. From here there are three ways on: the Lower Series, the Boulder Chamber and a passage to the right that eventually leads into the Boulder Chamber after 50 m. The Lower Series: the rift can be easily entered by climbing down from the ledge. A series of interconnecting parallel rifts can be accessed in two separate places via holes in the floor. The nearest of these enters the roof of the second rift. The furthest, located at the foot of a 4m ladder pitch, enters the first rift. A gap at the far end of the first rift leads to the second and the third can be accessed via a squeeze part of the way along this. The third rift was climbed for 5 m before becoming too difficult. It can be seen to ascend for at least 6 m. The Boulder Chamber: this is entered by a short scramble to the right from the ledge which leads up a scree slope to a vast chamber, 14 m by 25 m by 25-40 m high. There are five routes out of here which will be described in order of approach along the left-hand wall. The first is found at the lowest point of the chamber. It consists of a 40 m long passage, mainly crawling, to a 2 m climb down into a chamber and a third entrance. The entrance is in a rift and is difficult to see from the road. The second route is located in an alcove. It leads to a 6 m climb down into a chamber. Here there is a 5 m diameter exit to the surface, about 10 m away from the third. It is also difficult to see from the road. The third route is immediately adjacent to the second, in the same alcove. A passage leads into a large scalloped passage broken up by localised chambers with supporting columns. It is 60 m in length, with a number of side passages which close down. Tree routes at the far end suggest proximity to the surface. The fourth route, 15 m further round, also leads into this passage. The fifth passage, adjacent to the fourth, loops back to the bypass. A 4-5 m wide passage runs for 60 m to reach a well decorated chamber strewn with boulders. A 4 m climb to the right leads to another well decorated chamber with no way on, whilst straight on leads back into the passage that bypasses the drop into the Lower Series.
Topographie
FARRANT, ANDREW; FLOWER, SIMON; LEE, SIMON (2001) - Grade UISv2 3-3-F
Hydrology and Geology
The large passage near the main entrance appears to be part of a major strike oriented phreatic passage passing straight throug the hill. The limestone here is dipping at 45¦ on a bearing of 035¦. The rest of the system appears to be a floodwater maze developed on several levels. The cave is probably similar to other maze caves developed at the base of towers elsewhere in the tropics and is probably formed by the stream which drains the alluvial plain outside occasionally flowing through the hill.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Huai Pao Sink - CM0130 | ||
| 2.9 | Cave BSS 2000-9 - CM0131 | 3 | 0 |
| 3.1 | Tham Pham Boa - CM0038 | 150 | 20 |
| 3.2 | Tham Ling - CM0110 | 76 | 40 |
| 3.2 | Sink BSS 2000-7 - CM0129 | ||
| 3.3 | Coffin Cave CM0126 - CM0126 | 55 | 0 |
| 4.2 | Tham Ngu - CM0109 | 119 | 0 |
| 5.1 | Sinks BSS 2000-10 - CM0134 | ||
| 5.2 | Porcupine Cave - CM0108 | 133 | 0 |