BIR (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A kind of cave entrance or monsoon stream entrance (Cowper 2004.02.17 Mss) without identified shape or size gives access to a large open pothole (Jarratt 2003.03.11 Mss), which is not only characterised by an outward air draught causing condensation which turns the soil around the entrance into mud (note 1) but also by water vapour blowing up the shaft makes the immediate surface area muddy but the cave itself is also well endowed with mud (Cowper 2004.02.17 Mss). ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi -bir- (note 2) and Bengali -bhil- translates into a marsh, a lake (SINGH, N 1906: 12) and relates to the moisture laden ground in the vicinity of the entrance. The Khasi adjective -jabáiñ- means dirty, especially about the mouth (SINGH, N 1906: 95). SITUATION: At an unknown distance downhill from the –>Ryngko rift pots (Jarratt 2003.03.11 Mss; Cowper 2004.02.17 Mss) in a Wah Shikar direction and in a fenced, sloping chilli plantation (property of Heipormi Pajuh's father) in a doline characterised by a uge, many trunked tree [note 3] in front of the entrance (according to Jarratt 2003.03.11 Mss). APPROACH: To reach the cave, go downhill from Shnongrim and walk south-east for about 15 to 20 minutes, and you will see what looks like a bamboo and leaf roofed house -- this is the doline (Cowper 2004.02.17 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2004.1: Some of the passage inside, below the main boulder choke, manages to reach 20 by 20 m dimensions, draughting through boulders, there is a side passage with calcited mud floor [speleothem] and many gypsum crystal formations (Cowper 2004.02.17 Mss). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2004.2: Krem Bir is characterised by 372 m. 20 m pot, massive boulder choke, large chamber and inlet (Jarratt 2004.02.17 Mss -Logbook- vol. 12: 15). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2004.3: … we dropped the impressive 20 m pot of Krem Bir (mud cave) in the hope of entering the continuation of the ongoing Krem Synrang Ngap… Krem Bir unfortunately dropped into an enormous, unstable boulder choke - part of which ws pushed into a short section of ancient tunnels ending in more awesome chokes which were left alone. A strong, misty draught indicated big cave below but there was no safe way to reach it. This was a muddy, gloomy, uninspiring and quite frightening cave we were glad to leave. One of its few redeeming features is a mini gypsum chandelier (JARRATT 2004a: 28, 2004b). TACKLE (Cowper 2004.02.17 Mss): It is a 20 m pitch so a 25 m rope will do. You will need one sling, and there is one bolt to deviate the rope where it rubs about 5 m down. CAVE CONTENTS: Much mud, very few washed pebbles, gypsum. Formations [speleothems] seem to get less below the boulder choke. Very fine fossils (Cowper 2004.02.17 Mss). PROSPECTS 2004: The … many big passages … [which are] definitely to be had … [require, in the eyes of a non-alpine caver] a bold and care-free caver who loves hairy convoluted boulder chokes (Cowper 2004.02.17 Mss). PROSPECTS 2003: In the same area [where the entrance to Krem –>Synrang Ngaplies] the equally magnificent Krem Synrang Labbit (bat shelter cave) was … also left wide open. It is possible that this is the upstream feeder to Ngap, itself a contender for connecting with the superb river cave / resurgence of Krem Wah Shikar (Shikar stream cave), also a couple of kms in length. This would give a combined system of at least 6 kms and probably very much more, especially if the Krang Moo system can be tied in. An extremely promising 30 m+ pothole, Krem Bir (no, not beer cave - mud cave) may also be part of this hypothetical system and blows out condensation which turns the otherwise dry soil around the entrance to mud (JARRATT 2003). PROSPECTS 2007: There is a good chance of connecting [Krem –>Syngrang Ngap] with Krem Tyrtong Ryngkoo and / or Krem Bir 1 or even of bypassing these altogether and heading for Krem Iawe (JARRATT & DAWSON 2007). CAVE LIFE: Bats [Chiroptera], spiders, (thats all) many shells found.lies] the equally magnificent Krem Synrang Labbit (bat shelter cave) was … also left wide open. It is possible that this is the upstream feeder to Ngap, itself a contender for connecting with the superb river cave / resurgence of Krem Wah Shikar (Shikar stream cave), also a couple of kms in length. This would give a combined system of at least 6 kms and probably very much more, especially if the Krang Moo system can be tied in. An extremely promising 30 m+ pothole, Krem Bir (no, not beer cave - mud cave) may also be part of this hypothetical system and blows out condensation which turns the otherwise dry soil around the entrance to mud (JARRATT 2003). PROSPECTS 2007: There is a good chance of connecting [Krem –>Syngrang Ngap] with Krem Tyrtong Ryngkoo and / or Krem Bir 1 or even of bypassing these altogether and heading for Krem Iawe (JARRATT & DAWSON 2007). CAVE LIFE: Bats [Chiroptera], spiders, (thats all) many shells found.