UM SOHTUNG (Brown 2006) (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The Krem Um Sohtung, which was reported in 2006 from the village of Lelad, is possibly identical with the Krem Um Sohtung, which had been reported in 2000 from the same village of Lelad, in spite of noteworthy differences: name length depth location exploration statusUm Sohtung 2000 67 m 37 m 121.5 m SE of Um Sohtung 2006 choked at both endsUm Sohtung 2006 2555 m 139 m 121.5 m NW of Um Sohtung 2000 ongoing By February 2009, the nearby Krem –>Niakrong was found to connect with this cave. EVALUATION 2006a: Stream sink into series of short pitches (12). Walking passage intersects several inlets into master cave passage choked at both ends (Brown, M W 2006.02.10 Mss). EVALUATION 2006b: Partially explored. Seasonal stream sink enters an inlet series of 12 pitches that descends to intersect several walking size inlets whit the downstream inlet entering a large master cave passage [note 1] that is choked at both ends (Brooks, S J 2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown 2006.02.10 Mss). EVALUATIO 2009: Krem Niakrong added 210 m to the now 3,048 m long Krem Umsohtung (Brooks, S J 2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009). SITUATION 2006a: At an estimated distance of 40 m from GPS point [N25°18'34.1”: E092°29'41.8” ±4 m WGS84, corrected N25°18'34.1”: E092°29'41.8”] GPS @ [deleted: head of] streambed, where [deleted: breakes out of] trees, which leads to cave. [line break] enters (Brown 2006.02.10 Mss). SITUATION 2006b: In the middle of the village (JARRATT 2006) of Lelad N25°18'37”: E092°29'45”: 1079 m asl. SITUATION 2006c: According to the recorded GPS positions, Krem Um Sohtung (Brown 2006) lies 121.5 m in a direct line approximately north-west of Krem Um Sohtung (Brown 2000). Judging from the elevation (1075 m asl) the cave entrance is geologically situated just below the edge of the caprock (Kopili Shales) in the underlying Miocene Kopili Limestone that transgredes deeper down into Eocene Umlatdoh and Lakadong Limestones. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2006a: Entrance rift (0.8 m wide b 4 m long) is free climbable for 4 m to reach pleasant rift passage (1.5 m by 4 m). High level traverse avoids squeeze and/or crawl under blockage to give 7 m alternative Wellie Pot pitch (pitch 2 to head of pitch 3 as already described). Pitch 3 is 15 m deep and followed by 161 m narrow rift stream way / inlet passage (1 m by 8 m) that reaches a canyon passage. Nine further pitches of between 4 and 25 m in depth quickly follow one another to reach muddy horizontal inlets. Upstream inlet can be followed for 400 m to a 7 m wet climb above which is a further 80 m passage ending in a calcite blockage. Downstream from the base of the pitches, the small vadose (1 m by 1.5 m) inlet can be followed for 200 m to enter the side of a large (8 m by 12 m) trunk passage. Downstream the trunk passage runs for 380 m to reach a choke & upstream for 660 m to a choke. Several hundred meters (more than 400) of inlet passages off main upstream / downstream inlet are ongoing (Brooks, S J2006 undated Mss aendment to Brown 2006.02.10 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2006b: Not only a main downstream passage to a choke (JARRATT 2006: 15) but also 228 m of Yorkshire style pitches … intersecting a small streamway and a drop through the ceiling of a huge, active trunk passage at 100 m depth (JARRATT 2006: 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) . CAVE CONTENTS: Apart from speleothems (Brooks 2006 undated Mss mentions a calcite choke), Brown (2006.02.10 Mss) failed to notice any cave contents. Brooks (2006 undated Mss) added mud, rock and huge boulders in main trunk passage. TACKLE (Brooks 2006 undated Mss): Numerous hangers and 20 m + 30 m + six or eight 10 to 25 m ropes. PROSPECTS 2006a: 1st) a cross rift somewhere in the 2.5 km long cave off a crab passage and 2nd) an upstream lead at another unspecified place in addition to 3rd) a passage at base of pitches (Brown, M W 2006.02.10 Mss). PROSPECTS 2006b: Several leads with the cave are ongoing (Brooks, S J 2006 undated Mss amendment to Brown, M W 2006.02.10 Mss) PROSPECTS 2006c: Open leads (Arbenz, T 2006.05.21 Mss: Abstracts.xls) with unspecified character at unspecified locations. PROSPECTS 2006d: A least three ongoing leads (JARRATT 2006: 16) with unspecified character at unspecified locations. . SPELEOMETRY 2009: Arbenz, T (2009.06.01 Mss: total 2009.xls) lists: Krem Niakrong (Umsohtung add.), survey length 210 m (20.02.2009) + Krem Umsohtung 2838.36 m (pre-2009 survey length) = 3048.36 m (2009 survey length). CAVE CLIMATE: At an unidentified hour of the day Brown (2006.02.10 Mss) noticed on 10th February 2006 a strong warm air current coming out of the cave today. Compare: Krem –>Um Sohtung (Brown 2000). ANONYMOUS (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2006) confirms that M.W. Brown noticed that Krem Umsohtung was found [10th Februry 2006] to have a strong outward moist warm draught, as did Moonrise cave (Krem Mihbnai). CAVE LIFE: Brooks (2006 undated Mss) observed smal bats (Chiroptera), cave crickets, spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) and pale woodlice (Iopoda var.).opoda var.).