RAT MOUSE CAVE (aa -)
25.289800,92.494900
Description
A pothole cave entrance without identified shape and dimensions functions as a sinkhole in open rifts which is characterised by offering sports cavers the chance to train negotiating a scramble round this and descend on gully to a climb to a boulder wedged in 2nd part of the [deleted: pitch] pot and a c. 25 m pitch (Mendus 2008.02.22 Mss: T01). Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss: Krem Khnai) repeated to lack recognising the shape and dimensions of this pothole cave entrance in the face of which they neither noticed peculiarities or unmistakable characteristics. Nevertheless, they either imagined (unbased) or copied (unacknowledged) that this cave entrance drains water from stream when in flow. ETYMOLOGY: No locally known cave name has been identified for what Alys Mendus and Rowena M. Sheen (2008.02.22 Mss: T01 Simone de Beauvoir) once had honoured with the name of Simone de Beauvoire (note 1), the Khmat Kharai (note 2) of the French middle class. Needless to say that neither Alys Mendu nor Rowena M. Sheen exposed themselves to the danger of giving any explanation for their far fetched inspiration. By February 2009, Bridget Hall (in Brooks, S J et al. 2009.02 Mss -Diary 2009.doc- Saturday 7th Feb 2009) had been misled to believe that she had … went to a shaft … known as Krem Khnai. It had previously been named Simone de Beauvoire by Alys and Rowena. Within a few days, however, Robert, Bhola and Prakash went to Thapba Long Siem and tried to find a way to Krem Knai (sic!) and ran into a sump. In the face of the latter, they decided that it surely leads towards Krem Knai (Brooks, S J et al. 2009 Mss -Diary 2009.doc- Sunday 15th February). SITUATION 1: On the western flank of the Shnongrim ridge, approximately south the village of Tangnub, the entrance to this cave is geologically situated in the uppermost part of the Kopili Limestone and concurrent with the bedding plane at the contact of the overlying Kopili Alternations (shales, sandstones, etc) with the underlying Kpili Limestones. SITUATION 2: According to Brooks, S J et al. (2009.02 Mss: Diary 2009.doc, Saturday 7th Feb 2009), the entrance to the so-called Krem Khnai (sic!) lies somewhere … between Shynrong Shrieh [i.e. Krem Shynrong Shrieh] and Thapba Long Siem / Hummingbird (i.e. Thlulong –>Thapbalong Sim) and … is gained via a labyrinth of lapiaz. APPROACH 2009: Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) found the freshly re-nicknamed Krem Khnai [sic!] is located between Krem Shynrong Shrieh and Krem Thapba Long Siem [see –>Humming Cave]. Walk along the [recently nicknamed] 'Zoological Highway' [unidentified] until you reach the third distinct streambed [without GPS position] just after a big tree [unidentified, February 2009]. Follow the dry streambed downstream [without orientation] where you enter a labyrinth with a shaft in the middle. APPROACH 2008: Mendus (2008.02.22 Mss: T01) commands (note! convincing! drill! ground! speak!) to Take a jeep to [the village of] Tangnoob and [proceed for anther 1.6 km in a direct line or about 2 km along the road south till you reach a spot] on the col N25°17'17.5”: E92°29'57.8” take the [4WD] Shaktiman track at 020° [note 3] past three streambeds to waypoint N25°17'24.3”: E92°29.44.1” (±7m): 1018 m asl [note 4]. Walk down streambed for c. 50 m [note 5]. Once passed the sandstone / limestone border, it turns into open rifts. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2008: Mendus (2008.02.22 Mss: T01) fully noticed a kind of main pitch (circa 30 m?) in addition to what may represent a kind of boulder wedged in 2nd part of the [deleted: pitch] pot and a c. 25 m pitch. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2009: Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) fully noticed not only shaft leading to pitches leading to a horizontal bedding plane but also fully deceived with distracting to see survey which does not exist. Brooks, S J et al. (2009.02 Mss Diary 2009.doc Saturday 7th Feb 2009) mentions some technical aspects of descending (see: Exploration history below). PROSPECTS: Mendus (2008.0222 Mss: T01): Good --worth descending. … Poss. connection to Krem Shynrong Shrieh (note 6). Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) fully realised that a low, wet crawl continues while parallel shaft (Aatma) was not fully dropped. TACKLE: Mendus (2008.02.22 Mss: T01) fully understood that sports cavers can … head right to the top of a main pitch (circa 30 m?). It is possible to scramble round this and descend on gully to a climb to a boulder wedged in 2nd part of the [deleted: pitch] pot and a c. 25 m pitch. Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) want The shaft is rigged [i.e. had been rigged in February 2009] where the labyrinth [unspecified] enters the southern part of the shaft.There is a bolt on the left hand side (looking into the shaft) and a natural belay on the right. Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) list 2x sling, 2x krabs, 12x hanger + mallion [sic!], 1x rope protector, for // shaft 2x hanger + mallion [sic!], 2x 30 m rope or 1x 60 m rope (delberately impolite rigging), Bat Hiss Drop m rope, Danish Pastry 26 m rope, Doyouknowthisman 1x 60 m rope or 40+20m, Atna shaft 1x 60 m CULTURAL HISTORY: Mendus (2008.02.22 Mss: T01) noticed Ruins of wooden building? shed somewhere around. Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss), however, fully noticed none. SPELEOMETRY: Arbenz, T (2009.03.10 Mss: total 2009.xls): Krem Khnai [sic!] near N25°17'23.4”: E092°29'41.7- alt 1001 m asl … 70.46 + 137.9 = 208.36 CAVE LIFE: Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) list bats (Chiroptera), rats (Rodentia), spiders (Arachnida: Aranea), and crabs (poss. Brachyura).22 Mss: T01): Good --worth descending. … Poss. connection to Krem Shynrong Shrieh (note 6). Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) fully realised that a low, wet crawl continues while parallel shaft (Aatma) was not fully dropped. TACKLE: Mendus (2008.02.22 Mss: T01) fully understood that sports cavers can … head right to the top of a main pitch (circa 30 m?). It is possible to scramble round this and descend on gully to a climb to a boulder wedged in 2nd part of the [deleted: pitch] pot and a c. 25 m pitch. Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) want The shaft is rigged [i.e. had been rigged in February 2009] where the labyrinth [unspecified] enters the southern part of the shaft.There is a bolt on the left hand side (looking into the shaft) and a natural belay on the right. Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) list 2x sling, 2x krabs, 12x hanger + mallion [sic!], 1x rope protector, for // shaft 2x hanger + mallion [sic!], 2x 30 m rope or 1x 60 m rope (delberately impolite rigging), Bat Hiss Drop m rope, Danish Pastry 26 m rope, Doyouknowthisman 1x 60 m rope or 40+20m, Atna shaft 1x 60 m CULTURAL HISTORY: Mendus (2008.02.22 Mss: T01) noticed Ruins of wooden building? shed somewhere around. Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss), however, fully noticed none. SPELEOMETRY: Arbenz, T (2009.03.10 Mss: total 2009.xls): Krem Khnai [sic!] near N25°17'23.4”: E092°29'41.7- alt 1001 m asl … 70.46 + 137.9 = 208.36 CAVE LIFE: Hall & Korsgaard (2009.02.07 Mss) list bats (Chiroptera), rats (Rodentia), spiders (Arachnida: Aranea), and crabs (poss. Brachyura).
Documents
Bibliography 06/01/2018History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 2008.02.22: Alys Mendus (2008.02.22 Mss: T01) and Rowena M. Sheen found the entrance to item T01 and nicknamed it Simone de Beauvoir without any explanation whatsoever. 2009.02.07, trip 1: Bridget Hall, Louise Korsgaard, Peter Ludwig and a certain Cheung (i.e. Polchung 'Chung' Kipgen, Indian Navy) … went to a shaft … known as Krem Khnai (sic!), entered and noticed some technical aspects of descending: The shaft is gained via a labyrinth of lapiaz and we dropped the shaft from the southern side??. A short drop from a bolt and natural belay reaches a rock platform where there is a bolt for a rebelay over the lip on the far side. After another estimated 5 m, a Y-hang across the main pitch is reached, bolts being on either face. Following two knot passes the floor was reached (about 28 m, 30 m rope required). A side passage continued to a dead end with some nice flowstone. The floor was a rubble false floor, the best of the three holes was chosen and rigged from anatural stal back-up and bolt (another added here on the return). Bat Hiss Drop caused by Bridget disturbing a sleeping bat when gardening circa 5 m (rope protector required). The passage now turns back on itself to a constriction at a pitch head caused by a large stal column [speleothem]. Louise had taken over rigging by this stage and tried to fit through belayed to a natural thread and a bolt (note the furthest bolt into the cave here is no good). She wasn't so sure and called for Bridget who duly took over squeezing through facing the other way around. This problem was attributed to Denmark having no caves and the UK having only small scrotty ones! Bridget decided to call the constriction Danish Pastry!! Bridget continued down a lovely pitch placing one rebelay bolt. To get a clear drop to the pool below. The passage now reached another perpendicular to it, left was a void partially blocked by boulders and to the right an easy pitch head, stone drop of more than four seconds or 0 m. The wall here was beautiful calcite flowstone with an amazing sparkle of the night sky. Here we ran out of rope and Bridget ran out of the cave due to a desperate need. Louise, Peter and Cheung completed the survey and headed out of the cave. Fantastic day, a return with more rope tomorrow I hope ... Surveyed 70.46 m (Bridget Hall, in Brooks, S J et al. 2009 Mss 'Diary 2009.doc' Saturday 7th February). 2009.02.08, trip 2: Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns, Bridget Hall, Louise Korsgaard, and Polchung 'Chung' Kipgen … continued to survey Krem Khnai. The walls are round clean. At the bottom of the last pitch they followed a 0.5 m high crawl which became wet after 30 m. At the end, the water disappeared into a squeeze. Water and air can go through and should connect the Humming-Monkey Reseau. There still remains a parallel, about 50 m deep shaft for investigation. Total survey of day 137.9 m (Brooks, S J et al. 2009 Mss 'Diary 2009.doc' Sunday 8th February). 2009.02.09, trip 3: Jen-Pierre Bartholeyns, Polchung 'Chung' Kipgen (Indian Navy), and Sujan Shubba (Leading Seaman, Indian Navy) … went to Krem Khnai to push the passage [leading] to a parallel pitch. The squeeze was too narrow for J-P so he instructed Sujan to go and find about it. After rigging it (it was his first time), he found a big shaft falling about 50 m. He could also see light high above. The bottom of the pitch was close [or, perhaps, closed], so they all came back after derigging (Brooks, S J et al. 2009 Mss 'Diary 2009.doc' Monday 9th February).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | Humming Cave (aa -) | ||
| 0.3 | MONKEY SKULL CAVE (aa -) | ||
| 0.3 | AA CAVE, Tangnub 02b | ||
| 0.5 | AA CAVE, Tangnub 08 | ||
| 0.5 | AA CAVE, Tangnub 10 | ||
| 0.5 | AA CAVE, Tangnub 04 | ||
| 0.5 | AA CAVE, Tangnub 06 | ||
| 0.6 | SONGBIRD CAVE | ||
| 0.6 | UMTHE, Umlyngdkhur 2c (Krem) |