SONGBIRD CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A comparatively large open pothole (Pacey 2009.02.10 Mss: Songbird) without comparison for scale is unmistakably characterised by a cave entrance without specified shape (about 10 by 10 m wide), which lies in one of the ubiquitous gullies, and gives access to a pothole, shaft, pit, or pitch, which, eventually drops an estimated 80 m down to an initial floor and so on. ETYMOLOGY: No original, locally known name has been identified for this pothole cave entrance, which Neil Pacey nicknamed Songbird Cave (note 1) but also cared to see it alienated into an apparently foreignish sounding (note 2) Cave called Sim Rwai (Songbird) Brooks, S J et al. (2009.02 Mss -Diary 2009.doc- Tuesday 10th), Sim Rwai (Songbird) Brooks, S J et al. (2009.02 Mss -Diary 2009.doc- Wednesday 11th), Krem Sim Rwai Brooks, S J et al. (2009.02 Mss -Diary 2009.doc- Sunday 15th); Pacey (2009.02.10 Mss), Krem Sim Rwai (Song Bird Cave) Brooks (2009.03.10 Mss: Overview 2009), Songbird Cave Pacey (2009.02.10 Mss). SITUATIO: Not known (Brooks, S J et al. 2009.02 Mss: Diary 2009.doc; Pacey 2009.02.10 Mss). APPROACH 1: Pacey (2009.02.10 Mss: Songbird / Krem Sim Rwai): Follow 4wheel drive track for approx. 250 m north-west from turning off to Krem Thapa Long Siem (i.e. –>Humming Cave). APPROACH 2: Pacey (2009.02.10 allegedly completed 2009.02.12 Mss: Krem Sim Rwai / Songbird Cave): From the drop-off point on the N-end of Col Umthe (between Tangnub and Mupat) at N25°17’17’’ / E092°30’57.5’’ follow the 4WD-track to NW for a good 600 m. Pass the gully and entrance of Krem Thapba Long Sim (Hummingbird). After about 250 m a next gully is reached and the entrance lies about 150 m downstream. CULTURAL HISTORY - cave art & rock design: Brooks, S J et al. (2009.02 Mss: Diary 2009.doc: Wednesday 11th February) draw attention to a strongly drafting rift cave passage. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: Brooks, S J et al. (2009.02 Mss: Diary 2009.doc: Wednesday 11th February) narrate a tale according to which a pothole with a droppabe drop drops an approximately 80 m down into a shaft, pit, or pitch which yielded not only experiencing an initial floor far below the surface but also gives access to a constricted and apparently robust but artistic or strongly drafting (sic!) rift cave passage, which descends to another but somehow excavated pitch (Tuesday 10th February) descending to approximately 110 m. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: Pacey (2009.02.10 Mss: Songbird / Krem Sim Rwai) fully noticed a kind of Large open pothole approx. 10 m by 10 m and that's it. CAVE DESCRIPTION 3: Brooks (undated 2009 June Mss amendment to Pacey 2009.02.10 Mss: Songbird / Krem Sim Rwai) reconstructed a kind of large open pothole (10 m x 10 m) descends approx. 100 m (several rebelays) to reach a passage leading to head of second pitch. This descends for 25 or 30 m to reach a too tight 3rd pitch. CAVE DESCRIPTION 4: Pacey (2009.02.10 allegedly completed 2009.02.12 Mss: Krem Sim Rwai / Songbird Cave: Evaluation) Large open pothole giving accessto a series of pitches, the last leading to a too tight, draughting pitch. CAVE DESCRIPTION 5: Pacey (2009.02.10 allegedly completed 2009.02.12 Mss: Krem Sim Rwai / Songbird Cave: Description) The large open pothole descends to a depth of approx. 100 m ( several re-belays) to reach a short section of passage leading to the head of a second pitch. This descends for about 30 m to reach a too tight 3rd pitch with strong onward air current.. TACKLE: Pacey (2009.02.10 Mss: Songbird …) discovered not only how a gully / rift on west side of shaft gives access to belay at head of pitch but also lists 35 m rope, 70 m rope, 30 m rope, 10 m rope. PROSPECTS: Most likely ignoring lateral leads successfully, Neil Pacey (2009.02.10 Mss: Songbird / Krem Sim Rwai) and Hugh Penney dropped the shaft as effectively as possible and decided that further exploration would require a very small committed caver. CAVE CLIMATE: At the base of an estimated 80 m deep entrance shaft, Neil Pacey (2009.02.10 Mss: Sonbird / Krem Sim Rwai) and Hugh Penney found on 11th February 2009 at the level of an initial floor a rift passage with an air current (no time mentioned) without specified direction. As the draughting rift passage was constricted (no size mentioned), the air flow gave the impression of being strong (without comparison for scale) but neither velocity nor the volume / time was understood. Later on in the year, Pacey (2009.02.10 allegedly completed 2009.02.12 Mss: Krem Sim Rwai / Songbird Cave) was bettered into having noticed a somehow strong onward air current without comparison for scale. CAVE LIFE: Both Pacey (2009.02.10 [deleted] Songbird …) and Pacey (2009.02.12 Mss: Krem Sim Rwai …) noticed bats, slug, spiders.bird / Krem Sim Rwai) and Hugh Penney found on 11th February 2009 at the level of an initial floor a rift passage with an air current (no time mentioned) without specified direction. As the draughting rift passage was constricted (no size mentioned), the air flow gave the impression of being strong (without comparison for scale) but neither velocity nor the volume / time was understood. Later on in the year, Pacey (2009.02.10 allegedly completed 2009.02.12 Mss: Krem Sim Rwai / Songbird Cave) was bettered into having noticed a somehow strong onward air current without comparison for scale. CAVE LIFE: Both Pacey (2009.02.10 [deleted] Songbird …) and Pacey (2009.02.12 Mss: Krem Sim Rwai …) noticed bats, slug, spiders.