LYMOH CANYON CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Apparently not only a rifty [cave] entrance and/or perpendicular rift [cave entrance] (Audsley, A U 2010.02.15 Mss: Krem Lymoh Canyon 15/2/10), which was interpreted as a rifty entrance, 3 m wide by 1.5 m high. After 5 m narrowing down to 1 m wide by 1.3 m high at a short drop of -1 m (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss), gives access to rift [cave passages] (Audsley, A U 2010.02.15 Mss: Krem Lymoh Canyon 15/2/10) where the canyon goes underground (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: 15th February). Streams flowing off the Kopili shales and entering caves include Krem Shalong, Krem Labit Mynlin, Pala Shaft, Krem Rucha, some side inlets to Krem Khung and and … caves in the Lymmoh Canyon (Tringham, M E in ARBENZ, T 2012: 38). IDENTITY: Compare Krem –>Lymoh (Hapka 2010). ETYMOLOGY: Outsiders mastered to alienate the name of the cave in the Phud Lymoh or Lymoh Canyon and Lymmoh Canyon (note 3) into a mixed Spanish, English and Khasi Krem Lymmoh Canyon ARBENZ, T (2012: 31 map,212 map, 213 map); Anonymous et al. (2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc: 15th February) Krem Lymoh Canyon ARBENZ, T (2012: 222, 226); Audsley, A U (2010.02.15 Mss: Krem Lymoh Canyon 15/2/10) (Krem) Lymoh Canyon Arbenz, T (2012.09.06 Mss: Annie Audsley 15thFeb.2010 (Krem) Lymoh Canyon 15.2.2010); ARBENZ, T (2012: 223). So far (2013.10.11), however, it remains unexplained why the name of this -phud- or gorge called a canyon is sometimes spelled Lymoh (with one -m- only) but at other times Lymmoh (note 1). SITUATION: Above the orographically left (locally south-west) bank of the Kopili River, and at linear distances of about 3 km east of the village of Pala (N25°24'40”: E092°34'10” WGS84) or about 2 km approximately SSE of the village of Kseh (St. Joseph church near 25°25’24.0”N: 92°35’32.9”E: circa 880 m), and at the head of the Lymoh gorge or Lymoh Canyon (Audsley, A U 2010.02.15 Mss: Krem Lymoh Canyon 15/2/10), Lymmoh Canyon (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 010.doc: 15th February). APPROACH 2010: From the road fork (N25°34'35”: E092°34'16” WGS84) in the south-eastern corner of the village of Pala, take the road left (Audsley), which had been in Feruary 2010 a 4WD-track leading east, and try to get to a fork left [sic! qua: east?] again at N25, 24.25.2 E92,35,33.4 (note 4) and try to identify a track [that] heads downhill through [what had been in February 2010] woods. Follow path across a valley into [a] parallel [to what?] canyon at N25 24 34.6 E92 35 52.3 [sic! qua: near ±? N25°24'34.6”: E092°35'52.3” WGS84?]. Follow canyon upstream roughly 50 m to [a] rifty [cave] entrance between boulders (modified after Audsley, A U 2010.02.15 Mss: Krem Lymoh Canyon 15/2/10). APPROACH 2012: Take the road heading SW from Kseh Church. At N25°25’05.7’’ // E92°35’31.7’’ leave the road and take the track on the left. Fork right at N25°25’05.4’’ // E92°35’32.3’’.Take the footpath on the right at N25°24’59.6’’// E92°35’44.5’’. On reaching the paddyfields, cross them heading South. Pass the farmhouse at N25°24’50’’// E92°35’48.6’’. Continue on the path heading South. At N25°24’43.7’’// E92°35’49.7’’ join a track and turn left (downhill). Then almost immediately take the path on the right (through woods). At N25°24’36.7’’// E92°35’51.2’’ the path enters the ravine. Climb down into the canyon (N25°24’34.6’’// E92°35’52.3’’). Follow the canyon upstream for roughly 50m to a rifty entrance between boulders (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Annie Audsley 15thFeb.2010 (Krem) Lymoh Canyon 15.2.2010). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010: [deleted: Main passage is a single rift running at roughly 225°. There is also a side p] Main passage follows parallel rifts, running generally at [a bearing of] 255° [WSW / 075° ENE]. There is a side passage [commencing] near the [above mentioned, first cave] entrance [which, the side passage, is] running into a [cave passage that is not only guided by] bedding plane [but also is] emerging in a perpendicular rift (Audsley, U 2010.02.15 Mss: Krem Lymoh Canyon 15/2/10). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012a: The main passage follows parallel rifts, running generally at 225°, very near the surface. There is a side passage near the entrance running into a bedding plane passage and emerging in perpendicular, narrow, open rift. After 150 m with several open “sky lights” the main passage reaches a bigger opening (ø2.5 m) in the roof, which forms the upstream entrance (E2) of the cave and canyon. Eroded Calcite between Stn. 2.1 and 2.2 and no further decoration. Distinct flow marks. Open karst / limestone pavement above the side passage (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Annie Audsley 15thFeb.2010 (Krem) Lymoh Canyon 15.2.2010). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012b: … streams flowing off the Kopili Shales and entering caves include Krem Shalong, Krem Labit Mynlin [Krem –>Labet, Kseh], Pala Shaft [i.e. –>Pala Pot Boycott 2008], Krem Rucha, some side inlets to Krem Khung and … caves in the Lymmoh Canyon [i.e. –>Lymoh Canyon Cave] (Tringham, M E in RBENZ, T 2012: 38). CAVE LIFE: Big green frog (3’’/ see photo A. Arbenz), bats, crickets, spiders, harvestmen (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Annie Audsley 15thFeb.2010 (Krem) Lymoh Canyon 15.2.2010). Vulgo: Arachnida: Aranea; A. Opiliones. Orthoptera. Amphibia: Salientia = Anures: conf. Bufonida aut conf. Ranida. U 2010.02.15 Mss: Krem Lymoh Canyon 15/2/10). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012a: The main passage follows parallel rifts, running generally at 225°, very near the surface. There is a side passage near the entrance running into a bedding plane passage and emerging in perpendicular, narrow, open rift. After 150 m with several open “sky lights” the main passage reaches a bigger opening (ø2.5 m) in the roof, which forms the upstream entrance (E2) of the cave and canyon. Eroded Calcite between Stn. 2.1 and 2.2 and no further decoration. Distinct flow marks. Open karst / limestone pavement above the side passage (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Annie Audsley 15thFeb.2010 (Krem) Lymoh Canyon 15.2.2010). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012b: … streams flowing off the Kopili Shales and entering caves include Krem Shalong, Krem Labit Mynlin [Krem –>Labet, Kseh], Pala Shaft [i.e. –>Pala Pot Boycott 2008], Krem Rucha, some side inlets to Krem Khung and … caves in the Lymmoh Canyon [i.e. –>Lymoh Canyon Cave] (Tringham, M E in U 2010.02.15 Mss: Krem Lymoh Canyon 15/2/10). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012a: The main passage follows parallel rifts, running generally at 225°, very near the surface. There is a side passage near the entrance running into a bedding plane passage and emerging in perpendicular, narrow, open rift. After 150 m with several open “sky lights” the main passage reaches a bigger opening (ø2.5 m) in the roof, which forms the upstream entrance (E2) of the cave and canyon. Eroded Calcite between Stn. 2.1 and 2.2 and no further decoration. Distinct flow marks. Open karst / limestone pavement above the side passage (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Annie Audsley 15thFeb.2010 (Krem) Lymoh Canyon 15.2.2010). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012b: … streams flowing off the Kopili Shales and entering caves include Krem Shalong, Krem Labit Mynlin [Krem –>Labet, Kseh], Pala Shaft [i.e. –>Pala Pot Boycott 2008], Krem Rucha, some side inlets to Krem Khung and … caves in the Lymmoh Canyon [i.e. –>Lymoh Canyon Cave] (Tringham, M E in U 2010.02.15 Mss: Krem Lymoh Canyon 15/2/10). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012a: The main passage follows parallel rifts, running generally at 225°, very near the surface. There is a side passage near the entrance running into a bedding plane passage and emerging in perpendicular, narrow, open rift. After 150 m with several open “sky lights” the main passage reaches a bigger opening (ø2.5 m) in the roof, which forms the upstream entrance (E2) of the cave and canyon. Eroded Calcite between Stn. 2.1 and 2.2 and no further decoration. Distinct flow marks. Open karst / limestone pavement above the side passage (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Annie Audsley 15thFeb.2010 (Krem) Lymoh Canyon 15.2.2010). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012b: … streams flowing off the Kopili Shales and entering caves include Krem Shalong, Krem Labit Mynlin [Krem –>Labet, Kseh], Pala Shaft [i.e. –>Pala Pot Boycott 2008], Krem Rucha, some side inlets to Krem Khung and … caves in the Lymmoh Canyon [i.e. –>Lymoh Canyon Cave] (Tringham, M E in RBENZ, T 2012: 38). CAVE LIFE: Big green frog (3’’/ see photo A. Arbenz), bats, crickets, spiders, harvestmen (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Annie Audsley 15thFeb.2010 (Krem) Lymoh Canyon 15.2.2010). Vulgo: Arachnida: Aranea; A. Opiliones. Orthoptera. Amphibia: Salientia = Anures: conf. Bufonida aut conf. Ranida.