PRIANG, Mawkhlain (Krem U)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A north facing, about 5 m by 2 m either wide and high or high and wide cave entrance gives access to the largest known coherent section of the disconnected complex of cave passages and cave entrances (note 1) to Krem U Priang, Krem –>Lyngar, and the so-called –>Monument Pot. The known part of Krem U Priang is said to consist of comparatively large rift cave passages in an advanced state of karstification (abandoned by flowing water), which are combined with relatively younger and active stream cave passages in the vadose zone. ETYMOLOGY: The meaning of the cave name -Krem U Priang- has not yet been discovered. It is not impossible that the cave is named a) in honour of an unidentified Mr. (note 2) Priang b) due to the cracked landscape (note 3) c) or, perhaps, -[ka] Bri Ang- or [the] bush, coppice, copse, grove, holt,, hurst , plantation, orchard, stand, thicket, wood, woodlot, woods [of the] chasm / crack / gap (note 4). SITUATION: The cave entrance lies about 500 to 600 m south-eastof Mawkhlain village, or about 1.5 km south-east of the village of Mawlong. POSITION: N25°12'07.0”: E091°41'36.1”: 267 m asl (Harper 2001.02.31 Mss) indicates a spot which lies about 109.6 m in a direct line approximately ESE (-58.8 m north, 92.5m east) from N25°12'08.9”: E091°41'32.8”: 258 m asl (McManus 2001 cave plan) but at a 9 m higher elevation APPROACH: Rob Harper advises to … follow path from Krem Lyngar II [i.e. Krem –>Lyngar] along base of cliff to right (as face cliff) for 200 m past small choked rift to obvious cave entrance in base of cliff. CAVE DESCRIPTION (after Harper, undated February 2001 Mss -Lyngar Longer- and Harper 2002.04.31 Mss -megahlay.doc- entry 10): From the entrance, which is 5 m by 2 m either wide and high or high and wide (note 3), a 10 m long loose boulder slope descends to a 2 m climb down to a ledge overlooking a 20 m high and 5 m wide canyon with strong draught / air current from where an 8 m ladder pitch drops to the floor with two ways on.To an unidentified left (note 4) in an unspecified direction, a rubble slope in a rift (4 to 6 m by 4 to 15 m, unspecified length and direction) ascends at an angle of +15° to boulder choke. On the other, so-called right (sic!), an 80 m long canyon passage (10 m to 15 m by 15 m to perhaps 20 m) meanders to a 3WJ (three way junction). To yet one more unidentified left (sic!) in an unspecified direction, a short and steep rift (3 by 6 to 10 m, +30°) leads to boulder choke. About two cave passages, of which one leads straight ahead in an unidentified direction and the other right (sic!) in an unspecified direction, unite in a comparatively short active streamway which sinks after 10 m on one or another left-hand side in an unspecified direction at foot of a boulder choke emitting an air current. This collapse is very close to Krem –>Lyngar. Back at the foot of the boulder slope (at the entrance pitch base), there is a 750 m long, winding, and vadose canyon (1.5 m to 3 m wide by 1.5 m to 2 m high) that leads to a stream rising in a relatively small chamber from a too tight to penetrate bedding plane passage. CAVE CONTENTS: Coal, gypsum -crusts-. TACKLE: An 8 m long ladder in addition to a more than 20 m long rope to allow a long belay backup as the belay at the head of the pitch is for heroes and not for the fainthearted. CAVE POTENTIAL - Prospects: Allegedly little chance of further extension. Boulder choke at end draughts strongly but is very loose (British standards) and therefore labelled too tight. CAVE LIFE: Occasional and comparatively small-sized bats (Chiroptera), spiders (Arachnidae: Aranea: Sparassidae: conf. Heteropoda sp.), one dead rat (or so), and creatures resembling crickets.To an unidentified left (note 4) in an unspecified direction, a rubble slope in a rift (4 to 6 m by 4 to 15 m, unspecified length and direction) ascends at an angle of +15° to boulder choke. On the other, so-called right (sic!), an 80 m long canyon passage (10 m to 15 m by 15 m to perhaps 20 m) meanders to a 3WJ (three way junction). To yet one more unidentified left (sic!) in an unspecified direction, a short and steep rift (3 by 6 to 10 m, +30°) leads to boulder choke. About two cave passages, of which one leads straight ahead in an unidentified direction and the other right (sic!) in an unspecified direction, unite in a comparatively short active streamway which sinks after 10 m on one or another left-hand side in an unspecified direction at foot of a boulder choke emitting an air current. This collapse is very close to Krem –>Lyngar. Back at the foot of the boulder slope (at the entrance pitch base), there is a 750 m long, winding, and vadose canyon (1.5 m to 3 m wide by 1.5 m to 2 m high) that leads to a stream rising in a relatively small chamber from a too tight to penetrate bedding plane passage. CAVE CONTENTS: Coal, gypsum -crusts-. TACKLE: An 8 m long ladder in addition to a more than 20 m long rope to allow a long belay backup as the belay at the head of the pitch is for heroes and not for the fainthearted. CAVE POTENTIAL - Prospects: Allegedly little chance of further extension. Boulder choke at end draughts strongly but is very loose (British standards) and therefore labelled too tight. CAVE LIFE: Occasional and comparatively small-sized bats (Chiroptera), spiders (Arachnidae: Aranea: Sparassidae: conf. Heteropoda sp.), one dead rat (or so), and creatures resembling crickets.