HOSTAGE CAVE (aa -)
25.422900,92.584900
Description
The cave entrance (unidentified shape) between boulders faces south-west and consists of a relatively small squeeze with unidentified dimensions, which lies not only at the beginning [sic! more likely: at the head] of a (dry) river bed but also at the bottom of a karst rift which functions as the seasonal exsurgence [karst spring] of a stream cave that is probably an overflow outlet from an active vadose system situated on a lower level (-27 m) (Furlong 2011.02.25 Mss: Hostage Cave_Rec.doc). On the other hand, this cave entrance is peculiar insofar as it is a hole (sic!) that gives access to a cave passage of stooping height which contains secondary calcite deposits (speleothems) and leads after an estimated 40 m to a low window into a canal -- ongoing (Audsley, A U 2010.02.10 Mss: Krem Hostage). EVALUATION: Seasonal exsurgence and stream cave that is probably an overflow outlet from an active vadose system situated on a lower level ( - 27 m) (Arbenz, T 2011.03.27 Mss, Arbenz, T 2012.8.15 Mss). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for this cave in the face of which Annie U Audsley (2010.02.22 Meghalaya Cave Record) fabricated the halfbreed interim name Krem Hostage (note 1), which Imogen Furlong, Annie U. Audsley and David Cooke, who enjoyed the company of a short Prakesh (i.e. Prakash C Bishnoi, Leading Seaman, Indian Navy) and an even shorter Sumi (Vinklo Sumi, seaman, Indian Navy), christened Hostage Cave in sweet memory of an entertaining game in the course of which navy sailors performed there a [show simulating] a hostage liberation with Imogen Furlong as hostage (Arbenz, T 2011.03.27 Mss; Arbenz, T 2012.08.15 Mss). SITUATION: According to Audsley (2010.02.10 Mss: Krem Hostage), the entrance to the Hostage Cave lies not only in an unspecified setting and at an unidentified location (note 2) but also in numerous unidentified spatial relations to all the nearby cave entrances in the close vicinity, which include Kre Blang, Krem Khung, Scan Cave, Fifth Time Lucky Cave, Spider Ball Cave, Low Bridge Cave, etc. APPROACH 2010: From the dam [note 3] downstream of the 2010 camp [note 4] take a path heading SE. Continue along the valley heading generally south. After roughly 500 m the valley forks [note 5]. At N25,25,22.5 E92,35,04.8 turn North towards the karst valley wall. In around 10 m there is a very large boulder and a low entrance full of water cunimiting! [note 6]. Skirt around the boulder on its west side [and in case you're at the right place, you'll see that the] Cave entrance is in front of you. Stoop under rock to gain rift (Audsley, A U 2010.02.10 Mss: Krem Hostage). APPROACH 2011: From the dam downstream of the 2010 camp take the path heading SE. Continue along the valley heading henerally South. After roughly 500m the valley forks. Take the branch heading East. At N25°25’22.5-: E092°35’04.8” turn North towards the karst valley wall. In around 10 m there is a very large boulder and a ow cave entrance full of water (continuing). Skirt around the boulder on its West side. The cave entrance is in front of you (stoop under the rock to gain the rift) (Arbenz, T 2011.03.27 Mss Imogen Furlong 2011.02.35 Hostage Cave 22.2.2010 = Hostage Cave_Rec.doc). APPROACH 2012: From the concrete dam downstream of the 2010 camp in Ukyrpong take the path heading SE. Continue along the valley generally heading South. After roughly 500 m the valley forks. Take the branch heading East. At N25°25’22.5”: E092°35’04.8” turn North towards the karst valley wall and follow the dry river bed. In around 10 m there is a very large boulder and a low cave entrance full of water (continuing). Skirt around the boulder on its West side. The cave entrance is in front of you (stoop under the rock to gain the rift) (Arbenz, T 2012.08.15 Mss Imogen Furlong 25thFeb.2011 Hostage Cave 22.2.2010 = Hostage Cave_Rec.doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010: A fissure in a rock (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current 2010.doc: 22nd February) can be interpreted as a … draughting hole at the bottom of a karst rift. At first the passage is stooping height and well decorated for around 40 m. There is then a low window into a canal [note 7] (Audsley, A U 2010.02.10 Mss: Krem Hostage). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2011: The entrance is between boulders at the bottom of a karst rift. At first the passage is of stooping hight and well decorated for around 40 m. There is then a low window into a stream passage, which is again well decorated. After about 200 m several side passages are encountered. These are of low, mostly crawling character and form an aquatic, sometimes muddy maze -- the passages eventually becoming too tight. The main passage comes to a step and pitch, which are together about 20m deep. After the pitch the passage continues in a high rift but closes down in a sump after about 30 m (Arbenz, T 2011.03.27 Mss Imogen Furlong 2011.02.35 Hostage Cave 22.2.2010). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012: The entrance is beteen boulders at the bottom of a karst rift. At first the passage is of stooping hight and well decorated for around 40 m. There is then a low window into a stream passage, which is again well decorated. The water level in the stream way varies between knee- and waist deep. After about 200 m several side passages are encountered. These are of low, mostly crawling character and form an aquatic, sometimes muddy maze -- some passages looping back to the stream way, others eventually becoming too tight. Following the stream way one walks and wades guite comfortably auntil a sequel of cascades is met wich requires a bit of careful bridging. After the cascades the main passage comes to a step and pitch, which are together 13 metres deep. The first part of this is a climb and scramble which can be negotiated by installing a hand line. The adjacent pitch is best rigged with a 10 metre ladder.After the pitch the passage continues in the now 14 m high rift. Unfortunately the roof comes graduallydown to water level and the cave closes down in [continues flooded at] a sump after about 30 m (Arbenz, T 2012.08.15 Mss Imogen Furlong 25thFeb.2011 Hostage Cave 22.2.2010). CULTURAL HISTORY: None known to Imogen Furlong (2011.02.25 Mss: Hostage Cave_Rec.doc). TACKLE: To ease visiting the know parts of the cave, Imogen Furlong (2011.02.25 Mss: Hostage Cave_Rec.doc) suggested to bring 20 m rope, 2 bolts and hangers or 10 m rope and 10 m ladder. CAVE POTENTIAL 2010: Audsley (2010.02.10 Mss: Krem Hostage) draws the attention of the speleological world to a canal -- ongoing and it is when we come to Anonymous et al. (2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc) that we are allowed to learn that not sober but a full recci is recommended for next year. CAVE POTENTIAL 2011: Already on 11th Febuary 2011, a Friday, it was probably Imogen Furlong accompanied by Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Phrang Kupar -Teddy- Mawlong, Melquire Laitphlang and Dr. Manuel Ruedi, who felt that the cave is looking very proising (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Friday, 11th Febuary 2011). At a later stage of preliminary investigation, the cave visitors noticed that their visits finished whilst unexplored parts of this cave continue flooded beyond a presumably terminal sump (Arbenz, T 2011.03.27 Mss, 2012.08.15 Mss). Additionally, there are five knowingly unexplored leads indicated on the drawn up cave plan versions (undated 2011.07.26; 2011.08.05 dated 2011.07.26): 1) mud choke (February 2011, without question mark) 2) low ? (unidentified dimensions) 3) crawl ? (unidentified dimensions) 4) small ? (unidentified dimensions) 5) small duck ? (unidentified dimensions). SPELEOMETRY 2011: Little doubt remains that most of the recorded survey lengths and ertical ranges are distinct but versions of one and the same: survey length vertical range 745.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.57) Arbenz, T (2011.03.27 Mss Imogen Furlong 2011.02.35 Hostage Cave 22.2.2010) 745.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 /-27.57) Arbenz, T (2011.04.25 Krem Hostage_03.Text) 1754.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.75) Arbenz, T (2011.07.26 Hostageplan.pdf undated) 754.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.75) Arbenz, T (2011.08.05 Hostageplan.pdf 26.7.2011) 745.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.57) Arbenz, T (2012.08.15 Mss Imogen Furlong 25thFeb.2011 Hostage Cave 22.2.2010). CAVE CLIMATE: Noticed in February 2010 had been a strong cold draught (air current) issuing from the cave entrance and interpreted as being felt from the path (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc). On 11th Febuary 2011 it was probably Imogen Furlong accompanied by Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Phrang Kupar -Teddy- Mawlong, Melquire Laitphlang and Dr. Manuel Ruedi, who had noticed at an unspecified time on a Friday to feel no detectable draught (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Friday, 11th Febuary 2011).CAVE LIFE: Arbenz, T (2011.03.27 Mss, 2012.08.15 Mss) was told to list from the so-called Hostage Cave not only hrvestmen [Arthropoda: Chelicerata: Arachnida: Opiliones], spiders [Arachnida: Aranea], slugs, crickets [Orthoptera] but also the unexpected presence of green [coloured bird's] feathers near the entrance (inside) (note 8) which may have been left there by an unidentified predator some time ago.-27.57) Arbenz, T (2011.04.25 Krem Hostage_03.Text) 1754.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.75) Arbenz, T (2011.07.26 Hostageplan.pdf undated) 754.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.75) Arbenz, T (2011.08.05 Hostageplan.pdf 26.7.2011) 745.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.57) Arbenz, T (2012.08.15 Mss Imogen Furlong 25thFeb.2011 Hostage Cave 22.2.2010). CAVE CLIMATE: Noticed in February 2010 had been a strong cold draught (air current) issuing from the cave entrance and interpreted as being felt from the path (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc). On 11th Febuary 2011 it was probably Imogen Furlong accompanied by Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Phrang Kupar -Teddy- Mawlong, Melquire Laitphlang and Dr. Manuel Ruedi, who had noticed at an unspecified time on a Friday to feel no detectable draught (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Friday, 11th Febuary 2011).CAVE LIFE: Arbenz, T (2011.03.27 Mss, 2012.08.15 Mss) was told to list from the so-called Hostage Cave not only h-27.57) Arbenz, T (2011.04.25 Krem Hostage_03.Text) 1754.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.75) Arbenz, T (2011.07.26 Hostageplan.pdf undated) 754.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.75) Arbenz, T (2011.08.05 Hostageplan.pdf 26.7.2011) 745.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.57) Arbenz, T (2012.08.15 Mss Imogen Furlong 25thFeb.2011 Hostage Cave 22.2.2010). CAVE CLIMATE: Noticed in February 2010 had been a strong cold draught (air current) issuing from the cave entrance and interpreted as being felt from the path (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc). On 11th Febuary 2011 it was probably Imogen Furlong accompanied by Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Phrang Kupar -Teddy- Mawlong, Melquire Laitphlang and Dr. Manuel Ruedi, who had noticed at an unspecified time on a Friday to feel no detectable draught (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Friday, 11th Febuary 2011).CAVE LIFE: Arbenz, T (2011.03.27 Mss, 2012.08.15 Mss) was told to list from the so-called Hostage Cave not only h-27.57) Arbenz, T (2011.04.25 Krem Hostage_03.Text) 1754.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.75) Arbenz, T (2011.07.26 Hostageplan.pdf undated) 754.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.75) Arbenz, T (2011.08.05 Hostageplan.pdf 26.7.2011) 745.82 m ±27.57 m (+0 / -27.57) Arbenz, T (2012.08.15 Mss Imogen Furlong 25thFeb.2011 Hostage Cave 22.2.2010). CAVE CLIMATE: Noticed in February 2010 had been a strong cold draught (air current) issuing from the cave entrance and interpreted as being felt from the path (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc). On 11th Febuary 2011 it was probably Imogen Furlong accompanied by Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Phrang Kupar -Teddy- Mawlong, Melquire Laitphlang and Dr. Manuel Ruedi, who had noticed at an unspecified time on a Friday to feel no detectable draught (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Friday, 11th Febuary 2011).CAVE LIFE: Arbenz, T (2011.03.27 Mss, 2012.08.15 Mss) was told to list from the so-called Hostage Cave not only hrvestmen [Arthropoda: Chelicerata: Arachnida: Opiliones], spiders [Arachnida: Aranea], slugs, crickets [Orthoptera] but also the unexpected presence of green [coloured bird's] feathers near the entrance (inside) (note 8) which may have been left there by an unidentified predator some time ago.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 2010.02.22, trip 1: Imogen Furlong, Annie U. Audsley, David Cooke, Prakesh (Prakash C Bishnoi) and Sumi (Vinklo Sumi) … found another cave interim name Krem Hostage … The dry river bed in this valley was also GPS’d … (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc). 2011.02.08, trip 2: Imogen Furlong, David Cooke and Oliver Kube went … in the afternoon … to relocate Krem Hostage. They tried to find a direct way from Kseh down to the cave, but the jungle was too dense for most of the way. They did eventually find a reasonable route down, but it was over an hour’s walk from 2011 camp. Imogen hurt her ankle on a spiky tree and walking was increasingly painful on the way back, not helped by the discovery of another “man-trap” which clamped down on the end of Imo’s shoe (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc). 2011.02.11, trip 3: Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Phrang Kupar 'Teddy' Mawlong, Melquire Laitphlang, Dr. Manuel Ruedi and Imgen Furlong visited (Furlong 2011.02.25 Mss: Hostage Cave_Rec.doc). Brian, Thomas, Imo, Manuel, Teddy and Mel took the Jeep to Umkyrpong. The felled tree was already dismembered firewood and they offered to cart the remains to the village in the Jeep’s trailer, an attempt at good relations. The headman was most welcoming and agreed to allow us to set up a satellite camp in the 2010 location. The team then proceeded to Krem Hostage. Thomas’ health started to deteriorate and so he decided not to enter the cave. As they only had PDA and no paper book, no surveying could be done. Mel shot some footage in the entrance passages, and they explored 200 m along 2 m wide 2 m high phreatic stream passage a junction. Although there is no detectable draught, the cave is looking very promising. Thomas had lent his equipment to Manuel who was very exited to be on his first trip underground ever (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc). 2011.02.12, trip 4: Imogen Furlong, Agela Arbenz and Helen Brooke surveyed in the stream passage and low maze (534 m) (Furlong 2011.02.25 Mss: Hostage Cave_Rec.doc). Angela, Imo and Hellie went to Krem Hostage to finally start surveying. They started to survey through the spidery entrance, and into perfect phreatic stream passage (Cloud Garden). They followed the passage which was well decorated [probably with secondary calcite formations]. Soon they came across lots of side passages (Welcome to the Junctions). This turned out to be a maze. Angela, the only one of the team without knee pads, had to crawl up loads of side passages. The main bulk of the maze to that point has now been done and they clocked up 534 m. They also found a shorter route back to the main campsite. The return journey took one hour (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Saturday, 12th Febuary 2011).2011.02.13, trip 5: Imogen Furlong, Angela Arbenz, Helen Brooke and Ksan Kupar 'Ronnie' Mawlong surveyed in main passag and side leads (Furlong 2011.02.25 Mss: Hostage Cave_Rec.doc). Imo, Hellie, Angela and Ronnie … continued along the main passage. After 100 m of surveying, they were halted by a 14 m pitch. Ronnie, climbed 4 m down to a shelf, but the next drop was too tricky to continue without tackle. The team retreated by completing and surveying on the way out the series 2 and 3, two main side leads. They walked back to camp and did a little prospecting along the way finding two possibilities (Marriage Cave and Gryke Pit). On return to the camp, Imo started to pack some tackle in preparation for the satellite camp at the 2010 campsite, and Hellie played local skipping with children (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: Sunday, 13th February 2011). 2011.02.14, trip 6: Imogen Furlong, Helen Brooke, David Cooke, Ksan Kupar 'Ronnie' Mawlong and Sawdamut Kharbuki rigged and surveyed the pitch an onwards to the terminal sump (Furlong 2011.02.25 Mss: Hostage Cave_Rec.do). On this occasion, Imo, Cookie, Hellie, Ronnie and Saw made preparations to move to a satellite camp before heading off to Krem Hostage. Once there, they went to drop the 14 m-pitch found on 13th Feb. The drill turned out to be not very good, but they managed to place enough bolts to have a 6 m hand line climb followed by an 8 m laddered pitch. The passage was initially very high, but soon closed down into a sump some 30 m later. Ronnie and Hellie had a good go at pushing the sump before the team admitted defeat. Ronnie and Saw did some videography and the team exited the cave and set off towards the 2010 camp. [An unidentified] Vinod [perhaps Ba Vinod Sunar] had set up a rudimentary camp [note 9] and rice was served. Manuel and Biswas visited around 7pm on their way back to the main camp (anonymous Arbenz, T et al. 2011.03.27 undated Mss: 2011 Diary.doc: 14th February 2011, Monday).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | BLANG, Kseh (Krem) | ||
| 0.3 | AA CAVE (Furlong 2010), 2nd | ||
| 0.3 | AA CAVE (Kube 2011) | ||
| 0.4 | KHUNG, Umkyrpong (Krem) | ||
| 0.4 | LABET, Kseh (Krem) | ||
| 0.5 | SCAN CAVE | ||
| 0.5 | FIFTH TIME LUCKY CAVE, 2nd (aa -) | ||
| 0.6 | FIFTH TIME LUCKY CAVE, 3rd (aa -) | ||
| 0.6 | FIFTH TIME LUCKY CAVE, 1st (aa -) |