LYMOH, upper (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A cave entrance through tight boulder choke in gryke (Audsley, A U 2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymoh), which was interpreted as a cave entrance through a thight [sic!] boulder choke in the gryke (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss Alys Mendus 22ndFeb.2010 Krem Lymoh), is characterised by a dry watercourse going into it and gives access to a predominately horizontal, generally SW-NE draining cave passage with side passages. Accessible parts of this cave contain speleothems (gypsum crystals, secondary calcite deposits), a canal and a channel (Audsley, A U 2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymoh), and runs parallel south-east to the Phud Lymoh gorge at a both topographical and hydrological situation between –>Lymoh Pots Cave (upstream, south-west) and the lower Krem –>Lymoh (downstream, north-east). Brooks, S J et al. (2010 Mss: Overview 2010.doc version 2010.03.08, v. 2010.03.12) conceived not only the longer one of the two caves called Krem Lymoh (620 m) but also Krem Lymoh Pot (874 m) as a new cave of unknown age ecause outsiders had achieved to have not known it. ETYMOLOGY: The origin and meaning of -Lymoh- or -Lymmoh- has not yet been discovered but no autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for this one of all the caves in the Phud Lymoh. Obviously picked from thick clouds is a so-called Lymmoh Canyon area (Anonymous et al. 2010.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc). If I am not mistaken, the upper Lymoh Cave is the same as Krem Lymoh 25°24'30.2” N: 92°35'59.2” E (Arbenz, T 2010.04.15 Mss: Pala Positions.xlsx)Krem Lymoh 620.16 total (Brooks, S J et al 2010.03.29 Mss: Survey summary.xls) Krem Lymoh Audsley 2010 761 m (Arbenz, T 2010.03.31 cave distribution map: Pala_Ridge_4-10.pdf) Krem Lymoh one 'M' only (Audsley, A U 2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymoh (one 'M' only) 17/2/10)Krem Lymoh spelling: one “m” only (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Alys Mendus 22ndFeb.2010 Krem Lymoh (spelling: one -m- only) 17.2.2010). SETTING: The known cave passages run parallel south-eat to the Phud Lymoh and both topographically and hydrologically between the –>Lymoh Pots Cave (upstream, south-west) and the lower Krem –>Lymoh (downstream, north-east)SITUATION: The entrance to lies on the south side [or south-east and orographically right side] of the Lymmoh Canyon at N25 24 30.2 E92 35 59.2 on slope of the hill [note 1] is grykes with a dry watercourse going into it (Audsley, A U 2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymoh (one 'M' only) 17/2/10). APPROACH 2010: Our guide [M. Sarti, Kseh village] took us to this cave after Krem Moolier N25 24 36.5 E92 36 23.7 (Audsley, A U 2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymoh (one 'M' only) 17/2/10). APPROACH 2012: From the Village of Kseh take the track to SE just opposite the Church (N25°25’24.2”: E92°35’32.7”). Follow the track through the village down to the new reservoir, where the track ends. Here a good footpath heads to S and crosses woodland and rice fields and traverses the slope in a SSE direction. After ca. 20 min/ 1 km the path hits the WD track that comes down from the Kseh-Pala road (alternative route by Jeep, Pala Road Junction at N25°25’5.9”: E92°35’31.5”). Cross the track and take the opposite footpath which leads down into Lymmoh Canyon. Cross the ford and follow the path up to the edge of the canyon. The cave lies here on the South side of Lymmoh Canyon at N25°24’30.2”: E092°35’59.2” on a slope of the hill in grykes with a dry watercourse going into it [note 2] (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Alys Mendus 22ndFeb.2010 Krem Lymoh (spelling: one -m- only) 17.2.2010). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2010: Entrance is through tight boulder choke in gryke. Cave runs generally N.E. Mostly it is walking-sized passage (dimensions [deleted: varying between] generally 4 m to 7 m wide, with narrower channel cutting down from bedding plane, and 7 m to 10 m high. One stretch of narrow canal (channel of 0.3 m wide) links 2 [two] of these walking passages. There are two side passages: [the first] One (series 6) has dimensions of 1 m wide by 2 m igh and runs for 30 m. The second (series 7) is high level passage, well-decorated with gypsum crystals. Dimensions: 2 m to 3 m wide and varying in height. Runs for 73 m to a choke. The main passage culminates in a calcite blockage. This can be climbed under to reach the stream continuing below for 50 m until it becomes too tight (Audsley, A U 2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymoh (one 'M' only) 17/2/10). SPORTS DEVICE DESCRIPTION: The cave runs generally NE, it is mostly walking-size passage (generally 4-7m wide and 7-10m high) with a narrower channel cutting down from the bedding plane. One streck of the narrow channel (0.3m wide) links two of these walking-size passages. There are two side passages. One (series 6) has dimensions of w1m x h2m) and runs for 30m. The second (series7) is a high level relic passage, well decorated with gypsum crystals. Dimensions of w2.5m x varying hight. It runs for 73m to a choke. The main Passage culminates in a calcite blockage. This can be climbed under t reach the stream continuing below for 50m until the assage becomes too tight (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Alys Mendus 22ndFeb.2010 Krem Lymoh (spelling: one -m- only) 17.2.2010). PROSPECTS: The unexplored parts of the cave continue where on-going passage is too tight but the known part was at the closure of the survey (20th February 2010) surveyed to conclusion (Arbenz, T 2012.09.06 Mss: Alys Mendus 22ndFeb.2010 Krem Lymoh (spelling: one -m- only) 17.2.2010). SPELEOMETRY: The lengthwise measured distances vary between 0 m Arbenz, T (2010.04.15 Mss: Pala Positions.xlsx) >150 m Audsley, A U (2010.02.17 Mss: Krem Lymoh (one 'M' only) 17/2/10) 620.16 m anonymous Brooks, S J et al (2010.03.29 Mss: Survey summary.xls) 621.60 m Arbenz, T (2012.09.06 Mss: Alys Mendus 22ndFeb.2010 Krem Lymoh (spelling: one “m” only) 17.2.2010); ARBENZ, T (2012: 216, 218 cave plan). CAVE LIFE: On 19th February 2010 Roger Galloway spoke to some cave rats in a side passage of Krem Lymoh (Anonymous et al. 210.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc).10.03.29 Mss: Diary (current) 2010.doc).