20
OCTOBER
2006
OCTOBER
2006
|
20 OCTOBER 2006 |
Xiangshui Dong Tiankeng
Harvey did not feel
very well with a dose of the trots so took a day off. Ged and Bruce travelled
to the Xiangshui Dong Tiankeng found by Tony and Harvey on
the 18th. The film crew with Du Jiao and her friend from the hotel also came
with us. Ged followed a local man down a delicate and precarious path to a lower
terrace beneath the rim to look for a rope placement. The film crew followed
him down and the sound of drilling soon echoed around the walls. Bruce in the
meantime GPS'd around the rim knowing that a volume would later be sought for
the tiankeng. Two GPS fixes were made from which bearings and clinometer readings
were taken to the dripline and right hand flank of one cave entrance seen below.
Although the fixes would be of dubious accuracy, at least an approximation of
the depth could be calculated. By the time he had finished, he was hot and bothered
but scurried down to catch up with Ged who was struggling with the heavy rope
bag and drill. There was a fair bit of rope rub and a rebelay from a tree, but
the descent was not otherwise problematic although a little loose with soil
and overgrown with vegetation.
A fair river flows out at the bottom of the Tiankeng
Some food and water were shared before the pair checked their surroundings.
On the west side, a small stream trickled from around a mud/shingle bank out
of the smaller entrance that had been observed from above. Sadly, the ceiling
lowered to meet the entrance pond after only a few metres. A number of medical
vials and other debris were found floating in the water. They returned across
the tiankeng floor along the mud streambed to the rope where another very minor
runnel joined and the water flowed into a pool up against the walls. From the
opposite side a much larger flow entered the pool over riffles from a more impressive
entrance in the south wall. The outside pool was obviously a sump and we imagined
it would back up and fill the surrounding thin woodland with muddy water during
wet weather despite the high sided mud river banks. A possible small entrance
over a muddy arette looked insignificant and was not fully investigated. The
pair were drawn to the more interesting large entrance and waded across the
flooded entrance to a shingle beach within. Two muddy inlets on the right hand
side had similar charcteristics, namely steep slippery muddy banks along one
wall that created a narrow channel up against the other. These were followed
for a short distance but did not seem overly promising. The entrance waters
formed a canal and Bruce volunteered to swim it, kicking off his wellingtons
and removing his gloves so as not to sink. After about 70m, the canal ended
with a climb several metres high that might possibly access a higher level onward
passage above the water.
Ged stands on river bank in Tiankeng entrance
After ascending the pitches and hauling the bags they were glad to be offered
a large bowl of hot noodles kindly prepared by the local farmer.
Ged prussiks up to a tree on way out of the Tiankeng
Tony P, Harvey, Niu and Deng went on a recce trip to a fossil cave called Papa
Dong.
That evening, we were treated to a long session in a massage parlour, one of
four owned by a member of the Lichuan Travelling & Adventure Association.
They specialised mainly in foot massage and before long our feet were being
soaked in a hot solution of fragrant salts contained in a wooded tub. After
towelling, they were manicured and massaged. Our hands were also worked on,
and this included having finger joints 'popped' from their sockets. Heads were
twisted and 'snapped' to the side and backs and legs were pummeled. Afterwards
our socks were bagged up and a fresh pair issued! The whole experience was very
worthwhile and we promised ourselves a return visit.
A foot and back massage are welcomed after a long day's caving
Team 2 catch the 3am flight from Dubai to Beijing and
catch the 2.45pm onward flight to Wuhan where they stay in the hotel near the
railway station.
