SYNGKRANG (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A blind valley draining discordantly north-east (note 1) leads to a sinkhole, which is obstructed by driftwood but gave in February 2012 access to a joint-guided cave passage, which descends along a winding route and past a -sump- for 200 m generally WNW to a point where the air-filled part of the cave continues low, tight and with not enough airspace (Arbenz, T 2013.11.14 cave plan: Synkrangplan.pdf).ETYMOLOGY: The origin and meaning of both the initially recorded cave name Krem Synkrang and the somehow modified cave name Krem Syngkrang (note 2) has not yet been discovered (note 3). SETTING: About halfway between the villages of Larket and Khahnar but on the other hand above the orographically right (northern) bank of the Um Pyoit, and some 280 m in a direct line approximately south-east from the cave entrance to Krem –>Khung (N25°23'21.9”: E092°34'48.8”: 879 m asl) but 20 m lower down. SITUATION: At a certain the cliff base and at the “end” of Umthymmai Gully (Arbenz, T 2013.11.6 Mss: Krem Syngkrang).APPROACH: A footpath from the 2012 camp (N25°23’27.9”: E092°35’24.8”: 1018 m asl) near Pung Umthymmai (N25°23’32”: E092°35’22”: 1008 m asl) … south … follows the S-flank of a gully. Stay on this footpath to reach a farm and later a creek which flows down towards the gully. When path and river reach the valley level, proceed along the river, which turns sharply towards east. Following the river for about 100 m brings you to a distinct sink area, with lots of flood debris stuck against the northern cliff base. The [cave] entrance is a crack in the wall behind the debris (Arbenz, T 2013.11.16 Mss: Krem Syngkrang). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012: Sit down and relax, secure fragile items, avoid awkward positions and bear being told that this Inlet goes out to valley (anonymous Brooks, S J 2012.06.23 undated Mss: Meghalaya 2012 Survey Summary Kopli.xls). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2013: A rectangular cave entrance (2.2 m high, 1 m wide) in a south facing cliff entrance, which is partly bstructed by flood debris, gives access to a partly tectonic cave that drains water from a so-called the Umthymmai Gully towards the plain below Larket which is the pynthor above the banks of the Um Pyoit. The initial 10 m of the cave is a rift with flood debris. The dimensions of the passage remain in the range of 2 m high by 1 m wide until, after some steps and 3 m climb, a bigger chamber (6 m high by 15 m wide) is reached. This first part is of tectonic character. From the chamber a 6 m pitch, which requires a ladder, leads to 20 m of rift passage and arrives at water level. The dimensions are now lower and the way on is chest-deep in water. The passage shape is here is rounded, eroded by water. After a good 50 m along a mostly wet and … 2 m to 3 m high gallery, a 15 m long by 4 m wide lake chamber is reached. On its north side there is a deep sump but there is a continuation on the far (west) corner of the chamber. Again the cave gets narrow but stays about 2 m high for another 50metres. Then the passage abruptly gets low, 1 m high by 8 cm wide. The roof lowers down towards the water level. The passage goes on … but only a span of airspace while moving forwards on hands and knees seens quite impossible (modified after Arbenz, T 2013.11.16 Mss: Krem Syngkrang). CAVE CLIMATE: There is some draught (Arbenz, T 2013.11.16 Mss: Krem Syngkrang). CAVE LIFE: Unpigmented fish (loach) and unpigmented shrimps (Arbenz, T 2013.11.16 Mss: Krem Syngkrang).bstructed by flood debris, gives access to a partly tectonic cave that drains water from a so-called the Umthymmai Gully towards the plain below Larket which is the pynthor above the banks of the Um Pyoit. The initial 10 m of the cave is a rift with flood debris. The dimensions of the passage remain in the range of 2 m high by 1 m wide until, after some steps and 3 m climb, a bigger chamber (6 m high by 15 m wide) is reached. This first part is of tectonic character. From the chamber a 6 m pitch, which requires a ladder, leads to 20 m of rift passage and arrives at water level. The dimensions are now lower and the way on is chest-deep in water. The passage shape is here is rounded, eroded by water. After a good 50 m along a mostly wet and … 2 m to 3 m high gallery, a 15 m long by 4 m wide lake chamber is reached. On its north side there is a deep sump but there is a continuation on the far (west) corner of the chamber. Again the cave gets narrow but stays about 2 m high for another 50bstructed by flood debris, gives access to a partly tectonic cave that drains water from a so-called the Umthymmai Gully towards the plain below Larket which is the pynthor above the banks of the Um Pyoit. The initial 10 m of the cave is a rift with flood debris. The dimensions of the passage remain in the range of 2 m high by 1 m wide until, after some steps and 3 m climb, a bigger chamber (6 m high by 15 m wide) is reached. This first part is of tectonic character. From the chamber a 6 m pitch, which requires a ladder, leads to 20 m of rift passage and arrives at water level. The dimensions are now lower and the way on is chest-deep in water. The passage shape is here is rounded, eroded by water. After a good 50 m along a mostly wet and … 2 m to 3 m high gallery, a 15 m long by 4 m wide lake chamber is reached. On its north side there is a deep sump but there is a continuation on the far (west) corner of the chamber. Again the cave gets narrow but stays about 2 m high for another 50bstructed by flood debris, gives access to a partly tectonic cave that drains water from a so-called the Umthymmai Gully towards the plain below Larket which is the pynthor above the banks of the Um Pyoit. The initial 10 m of the cave is a rift with flood debris. The dimensions of the passage remain in the range of 2 m high by 1 m wide until, after some steps and 3 m climb, a bigger chamber (6 m high by 15 m wide) is reached. This first part is of tectonic character. From the chamber a 6 m pitch, which requires a ladder, leads to 20 m of rift passage and arrives at water level. The dimensions are now lower and the way on is chest-deep in water. The passage shape is here is rounded, eroded by water. After a good 50 m along a mostly wet and … 2 m to 3 m high gallery, a 15 m long by 4 m wide lake chamber is reached. On its north side there is a deep sump but there is a continuation on the far (west) corner of the chamber. Again the cave gets narrow but stays about 2 m high for another 50metres. Then the passage abruptly gets low, 1 m high by 8 cm wide. The roof lowers down towards the water level. The passage goes on … but only a span of airspace while moving forwards on hands and knees seens quite impossible (modified after Arbenz, T 2013.11.16 Mss: Krem Syngkrang). CAVE CLIMATE: There is some draught (Arbenz, T 2013.11.16 Mss: Krem Syngkrang). CAVE LIFE: Unpigmented fish (loach) and unpigmented shrimps (Arbenz, T 2013.11.16 Mss: Krem Syngkrang).