SHNONG MU (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A cave entrance without identified shape or size (in one way about 4 m across) gives access to a pothole, which is not only characterised by a cluster of dry, intersecting rift passages without identified dimensions or orientation, but also is said to contain boulders buried in mud (soil?). At the current stage of cave development, no regularly flowing water seems to enter this cave. EVALUATION 1: Dry system no obvious sign of river going into system (Marshall 2005.02.23 Mss: Krem Shnong Moo). EVALUATION 2: Dry system formed in intersecting rifts with mud cemented boulders no signs of water entering system (Whitaker 2006.02.09 Mss: Krem Shnong Moo). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous cave name has been identified for this pothole. Brooks (2005 undated Mss amendment to Marshall 2005.02.23 Mss: Krem Shnong Moo) explains that Krem Shnong Moo (Stone Village Cave) was named by discoverers [sic! for: visitors] after area name provided by an unacknowledged informant of disputable authority. SITUATIN 1 (Marshall 2005.02.23 Mss: Krem Shnong Moo): On the main path heading downhill from Kya 2 [and] 20 mtrs heading north east [and in a] jungle filled depression with lots of pinnacles. SITUATION 2 (Jarratt 2005.03.06 Mss: Cave Log, vol. XII: 46, 22/2/05): In a cleared doline. SITUATION 4 (Jarratt 2006.03.04 Mss: Cave Log, vol. XIII, 2006.02.08): … on a ridge below Shnongrim hill fort. SITUATION 5 (JARRATT 2006: 6): Somewhere near Krem Kya,1, 2 & 3 and Krem Siat Kriah 1 & 2 in the Lum Manar area. SITUATION 6 (Whitaker 2006.02.09 Mss amendments to Marshall 2005.02.23 Mss -Krem Shnong Moo- 23/2/5): On the main path heading down hill from Kya 2 [and] 20 m heading north-east. In jungle filled karst depression with lots of pinnacles (note 1). SITUATION 7: According to the low quality GPS readings of disputable reliability, Krem Shnong Moo lies at a linear distance of 352.5 m approximately ENE of Krem Kya 2 but vertically 74 m lower down. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (Marshall 2005.02.23 Mss: Krem Shong Moo): 10 mtrs down to a sloping mud floor heading down. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (Whitaker 2006.02.09 Mss): Scramble down in 10 m deep jungly doline to 6 m free-hanging pot and to a chamber about 5 m square. Slide over boulder to a 4 m free climb [down]. Small hole in bouldery floor (Nasty Little Twat) leads to another fift pitch (total 5 m). Straight down is another (6 m?) in a very narrow rift (not pushed). On right a minor fissure with flowstone ribs goes off at right angles. Too tight. The opposite side of the 1.5 m wide rift leads to a 6 m pitch rigged round the corner of the left wall. It is possible to get off onto a large boulder which occupies most of the 4x4 m floor area. On one side of the boulder all fissures choke. On the other side two possible ways down as 9 m pitches. At the bottom are mud choked rifts.ong Moo): 10 mtrs down to a sloping mud floor heading down. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (Whitaker 2006.02.09 Mss): Scramble down in 10 m deep jungly doline to 6 m free-hanging pot and to a chamber about 5 m square. Slide over boulder to a 4 m free climb [down]. Small hole in bouldery floor (Nasty Little Twat) leads to another fift pitch (total 5 m). Straight down is another (6 m?) in a very narrow rift (not pushed). On right a minor fissure with flowstone ribs goes off at right angles. Too tight. The opposite side of the 1.5 m wide rift leads to a 6 m pitch rigged round the corner of the left wall. It is possible to get off onto a large boulder which occupies most of the 4x4 m floor area. On one side of the boulder all fissures choke. On the other side two possible ways down as 9 m pitches. At the bottom are mud choked rifts.