BIG BIRD CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A kind of large [deleted: hole] rift without specified size or unmistakable characteristics was fully understood to represent either a pothole (note 1) or a series of short pitches connecetd by tight meanders (Hardy & Pacey 2009 Mss: Krem Sim Heh / Cave of the Big Bird). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, original, locally known or communicable name has been identified for this cave entrance and pothole, which initially had been mistaken for –>Mihbnai Cave 2 (Brown 2007) but soon was realised (sic!) to be a new cave (sic!), which of course, was not -new- at all but old and only unknown to outsiders, and hence a Mihbnai Cave 2 (Pacey 2009) or, for a change, a Krem Mihbnai – Big Bird (Brooks, S J et al. 2009.02 Mss -Diary 2009.doc- Sunday 15th). At a more advanced stage of confusion, however, Neil Pacey or Joanne Hardy is said to have re-christened it (note 2) Cave of the Big Bird and then saw to have it alienated into Khasi sounding but locally by that name totally unknown Krem Sim Heh (Hard & Pacey 2009 Mss: Krem Sim Heh / Cave of the Big Bird), which occasionally turned up as a much concocted Krem Sim Heh Big Bird (Brooks, S J et al. 2009.02 Mss -Diary 2009.doc- Monday 16th). SITUATION: According to Hardy & Pacey (2009 Mss: Krem Sim Heh), confirmed by Brooks, S J et al. (2009.02 Mss -Diary 2009.doc- Sunday 15th), the entrance to this cave was fully understood to lie not only at an inexplicable location but also in unidentified spatial relations to all the other cave entrances in the same vicinity. Arbenz, T (2009.06.21 Mss: Re Muhnraiz Tuh) tells me that Big Bird Cave and –>Moonrise Cave 2 are -practically- at the same place (this is believed to explain the identical entrance coordinates) and are -in reality- perhaps 30 m apart from each other (note 3). APPROACH: So far, the two lacklustre attempts to describe how exactly to find the entrance to this cave resulted in a poor array of self-deception aided wishful thinking (note 4). CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: Hardy & Pacey (2009Mss: Krem Sim Heh) noticed nothing of the cave but observed some aspects of a rigging route and its obstacles: The cave entrance is a large [deleted: hole] rift in a gully floor. Entrance pitch 21 m lands in boulder floored rift chamber. Way on is to head of short 2nd pitch approx. 8 m. This lands in a boulder floored chamber with 3rd pitch following immediately approx. 15 m deep. Way on is small stream passage and calcite squeeze followed by awkward band [looks like -berd- bord?] to head of 4th pitch (awkward take off). After an 8 m drop to a big ledge, followed by another drop of approximately 20 m. Way on from bottom of shaft is squeeze under boulders to head of a short 5 m drop followed by a tight rift climb of 5 m. Awkward rift passage leads to head of final pitch (10 m) tight take off. Way on from bottom of pitch ia a complex area of boulder breakdown. By climbing up through the boulders it is possible to see into a large [bottom margin cut off] … aven? CAVE DESCRIPTION (Brooks,S J et al. 2009.02 Mss: Diary 2009.doc): A few pitches (Sunday 15th) including not only a third pitch and a very narrow passage but also the 4th pitch (Monday 16th) and further three pitches which get successively tighter and reached what is believed to be the cave floor at an approximate 100 m beneath the surface. The way on is through a narrow passage, which is too tight to pass without digging (Tuesday 17th). PROSPECTS: Hardy & Pacey (2009 Mss: Krem Sim Heh) noticed how a boulder squeeze leading to possible aven will need hammering to enlarge.SPELEOMETRY: Hardy & Pacey (2009 Mss: Krem Sim Heh) have it 100 m deep cave.Brooks (2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009): Krem Sim Heh (Big Bird Cave) 102 m.Mss: Krem Sim Heh) noticed nothing of the cave but observed some aspects of a rigging route and its obstacles: The cave entrance is a large [deleted: hole] rift in a gully floor. Entrance pitch 21 m lands in boulder floored rift chamber. Way on is to head of short 2nd pitch approx. 8 m. This lands in a boulder floored chamber with 3rd pitch following immediately approx. 15 m deep. Way on is small stream passage and calcite squeeze followed by awkward band [looks like -berd- bord?] to head of 4th pitch (awkward take off). After an 8 m drop to a big ledge, followed by another drop of approximately 20 m. Way on from bottom of shaft is squeeze under boulders to head of a short 5 m drop followed by a tight rift climb of 5 m. Awkward rift passage leads to head of final pitch (10 m) tight take off. Way on from bottom of pitch ia a complex area of boulder breakdown. By climbing up through the boulders it is possible to see into a large [bottom margin cut off] … aven? CAVE DESCRIPTION (Brooks,S J et al. 2009.02 Mss: Diary 2009.doc): A few pitches (Sunday 15th) including not only a third pitch and a very narrow passage but also the 4th pitch (Monday 16th) and further three pitches which get successively tighter and reached what is believed to be the cave floor at an approximate 100 m beneath the surface. The way on is through a narrow passage, which is too tight to pass without digging (Tuesday 17th). PROSPECTS: Hardy & Pacey (2009 Mss: Krem Sim Heh) noticed how a boulder squeeze leading to possible aven will need hammering to enlarge.SPELEOMETRY: Hardy & Pacey (2009 Mss: Krem Sim Heh) have it 100 m deep cave.Brooks (2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009): Krem Sim Heh (Big Bird Cave) 102 m.