LYMBIAT, Lakadong (Krang)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The 2.5 m wide and 2 m high square-ish entrance at the base of the cliff gives access to a boulder-floored interstratal cave cave chamber (with two known continuations) which expedition cavers interpreted as a more or less large rifty relic contact cave with sandstone roof and limestone walls (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc). ETYMOLOGY: An unacknowledged caving instructor (no name mentioned) told a probably Lakadong Khasi cave name which an anonymous expedition caver (no name mentioned) turned into a standard (Sohra) Khasi -krem- and recorded in 2014 as a mixed Krem Labiat (Lakadong) (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 undated Mss: Cave record overwiev 2_2014.xlsx) in distinction to Krang –>Labiat, Lakadong (Gebauer 2001). So far recorded have been the following cave names: Krem Labiat anonymous Brooks, S J et al. (2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 22th February, Saturday); Arbenz, T (2014.04.29 undated Mss: Cave record overwiev 2_2014xlsx) Krem Lymbiat Arbenz, T (2014.12.30 Mss: A.Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Kyndiaw.doc); Arbenz, T (2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc). SITUATION: The GPS position (±20 m) N25°11'27.2”; E92°16'07.4”: 741 m asl recorded for the cave entrance to Krem Labiat (Lakadong) (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 undated Mss) indicates a spot that lies about 700 m in a direct line due north from the church in Ummat (±5.9 m N25°11'06.2”: E092°16'07”: 759 m GPS Brown M W 2002). SITUATION 2014.12.30: At the base of a low cliff close to Lakdong village (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc). APPROACH 2014.12.26: In case of preferring a detour over a more direct route from Lakadong - Ummat (N25°11'06.2”: E092°16'07”), one is well advised to Take the track heading north from lakadong past the school. [Fork right or turn yourself around till you face back south again before you] Fork left by Krem Busti (N25°11'23.4”: E092°15'59.”) and follow the path [now eastwards] to N25°11'27.9”: E92°16'04.2”: 750 m. Walk into [what had been in February 2014] the jungly, rocky area and climb down over rocks, then turn to SE (right) and follow the sandstone over limestone cliff [in the east or, in case you are facing south] on your right (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc). SPORTS DEVICE DESCRIPTION, literally quoted: Enter the large boulder-floored passage. Initially climb down over boulders, the ascend. The passage turns to the right and to the lefta again and descends steepy. Large continuations to the left and right (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.29: Large chamber, unexplored, ongoing (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 undated Mss: Cave record overwiev [sic!] 2_2014.xlsx). CAVE CONTENTS: Expedition cavers visited in February 2014 the entrance area of this cave which contained boulders, guano [probably bat guao] (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc). TACKLE: Slope below the bat colony is undescended. It looks possible to scramble down with no tackle but it's worthwhile to take some rope just in case (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc). CAVE POTENTIAL 2014.04.29: Unexplored, 2 ways on (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 undated Mss: Cave record overwiev [sic!] 2_2014.xlsx). CAVE POTENTIAL 2014.12.30: Large ongoing leads. Unexplored due to importance and fragility of the bat colony (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc). CULTURAL HISTORY -- expedition caving: Manuel Ruedi recommends it should not be explored further (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc) and we can safely assume that it refers rather to the cave than to the bat roost (note 1).One way to avoid harming neither the cave nor the bats is simply to pass the large obvious enrance to Krem Lymbiat at N25°11'27.2”: E092°16'07.4” and continue … (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: A.Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Kyndiaw.doc). CAVE LIFE - Chiroptera: This bat cave is the home of a relatively large colony of bats (Miniopterus magnater), large longfingered bat (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: A.Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Kyndiaw.doc), which is a Vespertilliond species known as the western bent-winged bat (Miniopterus magnater Sanborn 1931). Due to importance and fragility of the bat colony. Manuel Ruedi recommends it should not be explored further (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc).rance to Krem Lymbiat at N25°11'27.2”: E092°16'07.4” and continue … (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: A.Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Kyndiaw.doc). CAVE LIFE - Chiroptera: This bat cave is the home of a relatively large colony of bats (Miniopterus magnater), large longfingered bat (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: A.Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Kyndiaw.doc), which is a Vespertilliond species known as the western bent-winged bat (Miniopterus magnater Sanborn 1931). Due to importance and fragility of the bat colony. Manuel Ruedi recommends it should not be explored further (Arbenz, T 2014.12.30 Mss: Annie Audsley 26-02-2014 Krem Lymbiat (Lakadong).doc).