SNGAD 1 (Krem)
25.269400,92.517900
Description
NOTE 1: The track leaves the village of Tangnub road either near 25°18'15”N: 92°30'07”E (unidentified precision error. Unidentified geodetic datum possibly Everest 1830, Peter N. F. Dowswell 2000.02.18) or near 25°18'17.0”N: 92°29'56.8”E (unidentified precision error, WGS84 modified from Everest 1830, modified after P.N.F. Dowswell 2000.02.18). NOTE 2: Dowswell's fork or a junction 300 m further on is found either near (unidentified precision error) 25°17'18”N: 92°31'05”E (unspecified geodetic datum probably Everest 1830, Dowswell 2000.02.18) or near (unspecified horizontal precision error) 25°17'20.0”N: 92°30'54.8”E (WGS84 modified from Everest 1830, Dowswell 2000.02.18). NOTE 3: 25°16'07”N: 92°31'16”E (unidentified precision error. Unidentified geodetic datum possibly Everest 1830, Peter N. F. Dowswell 2000.02.18, Garmin 12); 25°16'09.0”N: 92°31'05.8”E – " – (WGS84 modified from Everest 1830); 25°16'09.9”N: 92°31'04.6”E (±14 m, WGS84, H. Kirsamer 2001.02.23, Garmin 12).
A seasonal stream cave approximately aligned north-south consists of a downstream active section and a dry upstream section with penetrable cave passages at several levels: »Krem um Sngad consists of a complex jointed rift entrance series that intersects a sizeable streamway that runs southwards to end in [sic! qua: to give acces to] a large sump while to the north the cave extends along a complex multi-level series of dry rifts« (BROWN & DOWSWELL 2000: 24). SITUATION: None noticed (Brooks & Dowswell 2000.02.18 Mss; BROOKS 2005a, BROOKS 2000b; BROWN & DOWSWELL 2000a, 2000b)APPROACH (Peter Dowswell 2001 February): Join track off main Lelad - Tangnub road (note 1) and proceed downhill. Track continues down to rice paddies in the valley and to a small thatched bamboo hut. Take one of the two possible choices of the fork at junction after about 300 m (note 2) and continue in any direction towards limestone spur / valley. After reaching an obvious dry streambed, continue upstream following smaller track past banana groves to right. After passing some smaller rice paddies adjacent to stream, join streambed and continue upstream for about 200 m to a small limestone cliff on right. Upstream are pools and a small stream sinks into the gravel and hence into the cave. The cave entrance (note 3) is at foot of cliff to the left side. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (after Brooks, S J): Entrance on west side of streambed below cliff. Care needed in cave entrance boulder ruckle due to some loose rock. An 8 m climb into cave entrance rift / fissure is followed by route through boulders to gain an inlet rift passage, carrying a relatively small stream. 40 m into cave is a junction. The cave passage on the right (north) leads via crawl to dry rifts and a series of cave chambers with rifts down to lower cave passages. Going left (south) from 40 m Junction, the way on lies down rift climbs to reach a cave passage with a stream of water. 150 m into cave, a certain main stream passage is met. At a 90° bend and deep (swim) pool, the cave passage turns south and continues for over 400 m as a fine elliptical mainstream passage (up to 20 by 20 m) in stunning dark limestone and eventually leads to a not only relatively large but also comparatively deep downstream sump of unknown domensions. Somewhere, there are various relatively obvious and comparatively short side passages off, some of which may be pushed. Going right (north) from the 150 m pool, a 7 m climb leads to a northwards trending rift passage with various side passages cutting off to east (left hand side). First master passage east leads to deep water and the audible sound of a stream. Something "Second" leads to series of rifts and dry chambers and a second rift (pot) entrance from -- believe it or not -- above (sky-light window, +15 m) but the cave passage trends to N–NNE, passes under a relatively large cave chamber to reach boulder choke near the northern extremity of the known part of the cave. Here runs a cave passage WNW for over 100 m to the commencement of an unexplored and hence seemingly narrow (0.8 m wide, 2 m high) flaky rift carrying a good airflow -- roof and wall very loose, worth pushing. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: BROOKS (2000) draws the attention of the cave watching world to better count »Krem Um Sngad (length 2.4 km's)« among the »typical type of caves found in Meghalaya« as one of its aspects was identified as a »fine river cave«. CAVE DESCRIPTION 3 (Dowswell 2000a): »2.5 km of stream passage and very complex joint controlled side passages, often of large dimension.« CAVE CONTENTS (Brooks): Large sand and mud banks in seasonally dry upstream section, especially in large chambers. Large cobble beds in main passage and major passages in upstream section. Dry flowstone (speleothem) present in secondary dry upstream passages. TACKLE (Brooks): None required. All shafts from upper to lower levels can be avoided or bypassed. PROSPECTS (Brooks): Good potential for more passage. Side passages and a possible sump bypass in active downstream section are unexplored . At northern extremity of cave an easterly (ENE) running rift passage needs pushing. A wet side passage off (to the west) the upstream (dry) series needs deep water crossing and pushing: Good air draught and sound of stream could be heard. CAVE LIFE (Dowswell): »Heteropoda« (read: large spiders), harvestmen (Opiliones), frog, centipede, and 15 cm long pale cave fish.
Documents
Bibliography 03/07/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1999.01.05 to 1999.03.18: George Lyngdoh, Kyrmen 'Hope' C Hiwot Passah and other members of the Jaintia Adventurers' Association paid a visit and guided Mr. R.G. Lyngdoh, Youth Affairs Minister (JAA Explores Caves… 1999). 2000.02.18: Larsing Sukhlain and others guided Neil Sootinck, George Nongkhlaw, Peter N. F. Dowswell (GPS reader), Amanda Edgeworth (notebook), and Fraser E. Simpson (snaps) to the entrance of Krem Sngad, where they fully visited and entered not only part of an entrance series and some large chambers but also part of a downstream series up to a streamway. 2000.02.23: Mark W. Brown, Katharina "Kate" Janossy, A. Edgeworth and F. E. Simpson surveyed 675 m to the downstream sump. Simon J. Brooks, Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Peter N. F. Dowswell and Kirsten McCullough surveyed 523 m of fossil passage near an entrance. 2000.02.24: Simon J. Brooks, Roger Galloway, Tom Chapman and B. D. Kharpran Daly surveyed 572 m of upstream dry passage. 2000.02.25: Simon J. Brooks, Peter N. F. Dowswell, Roger Galoway and K. McCullough surveyed 684 m in a dry fossil upstream passage and find a second (shaft) entrance (total: 2433.5 m). 2001.02.06: Tom Chapman, interpreted by Allard Harris Diengdoh, understood Nokin Dkhar of »Shongpnar« (sic! for: Shnongpnar) village to report a »Krem Snag« (sic!). 2001.02.23: Simon J. Brooks, Brian D. Kharpran Daly and Harald Kirsamer (later Scherzer) mapped 132.6 m (total: 2566.1 m).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | SNGAD 2 (Krem) | ||
| 1.1 | UM SNGAD SINK | ||
| 1.4 | WAH UM BLOH (Krem) | ||
| 2.0 | SHRIEH, Tangnub (Krem) | ||
| 2.2 | PARROT SINK | ||
| 2.3 | BAM BRIEW (Thlu) | ||
| 2.3 | UMTE, Pynthor (Krem) | ||
| 2.4 | KDAIT (Krem) | ||
| 2.4 | QUIET BIRD CAVE (aa -) |