After spending so much time based out of the caving hut, I figured we should probably fit in some more caving before we took off! With getting Sara back to Christchurch on the 2nd, this would unfortunately be our last adventure of the road trip. I was keen for a quick cave trip into the Simply Sumpless entrance of the Riwaka cave system where I had been once before. This cave system drains a sizable chunk of Takaka Hill including the Middle Earth-Greenlink-Swiss Maid cave system. Despite a hydrologic connection, the link between these two systems remains an important and so far elusive goal for a small group of cavers. If connected, it would become one of New Zealand's most important throughtrips.
So far the Riwaka only has two known entrances. It was first explored by diving the Riwaka Resurgence where the Riwaka River pours fully formed out the base of Takaka Hill. Despite the dive at the entrance, there is well over a kilometer of very nice passage beyond. A local caver plotted up the cave diver's map and scrambled up the hillside to where he reckoned the cave was closest to the surface. Sure enough he found a small hole emitting a strong blast of cool air. Just like that the first couple sumps were bypassed and the cave was open to lesser breeds of cavers.
The Simply Sumpless entrance series itself is not very pleasant- loose rocks, awkward downclimbs, tight squeezes. I let Sara use my cave suit which meant I had to be particularly careful not to scratch or bruise myself. It seems to take ages what is really only about 50m! But then we turned a corner and saw a great dark void with the sound of a river beyond and it is all worth it. This enormous 25 m wide collapse chamber is still just the beginning. We checked out some of the nice flowstone formations before following the main passage up a large boulder scree slope. Beyond the passage forks, both sides forked with rockfall. I did not bring a map on my last trip and so spent a considerable amount of time poking through precarious rockfall squeezes looking for the way one. With map in hand I found the way on after maybe only 10 minutes as Sara snacked. The trip was to go up, not down as I had tried before. The passage opens up again. We followed the red tape paths to a nice grotto of cream-colored formations.
Down a scree slope and back up another we emerged into the largest chamber yet. Here I attempted to take a few photos to show the scale of the place. Very impressive! I briefly headed down the Coffin Slot to scout the continuation of the passage but could tell Sara had enough. Another time, someday.
I put Sara in charge of finding our way out. It might of taken a bit longer and there were a few contemplative pauses, but she managed to navigate us back to the entrance without much trouble.
No comments:
Post a Comment