People: M Gala (instructor), K Biernacka, M&M Trybulec, J Pawlak
Place: West Tatra Mts.
This was a course trip (winter leg) of the Warsaw Speleoclub.
Students: Martha and Jedrek (and this was the last part of the course for them);
instructor: Marcin; visitors (who bravely supported the others): Kasia and me.
The trip was not certain to the last moment - we closely followed the avalanche warnings
that oscillated between 3 and 4 (5 being the highest, most dangerous level).
Fortunately, just before the weekend, it fell to 3 and we decided to go.
It was a bit below freezing in the Tatras (in the day);
there was a warm, southerly wind, visibility wasn't that great.
The trip, however, was very nice; the course program was completed (including snow training).
The only minus was that in Lower Kasprowa the water didn't let us trough,
so we couldn't visit Zapalki (Matches) nor Syfon Dankana (Dankan's Sump)...
Trips:
Details:
This was may first trip to this cave - I'll remember Rura (the Tube) for a long time yet!
The first squeeze (Kuczynski's) I pushed on the third try
and it turned out not that tight at all (Mrs. Wife didn't even notice it).
Sala Bez Stropu (Roofless Chamber) very nice, Kaskady (Cascades) - especially will illuminated - also.
Unfortunately, we weren't the only team in the cave, there was also a 10-person one.
So this halted us for a while. So did the photo session with Jedrek.
So at the end, we canceled going down to Wielkie Kominy (Great Chimneys).
The return trip through the Tube was very difficult (at least for me) -
I need to do a bit more training in chimneying.
And on the way home, we had some heavy snow with a strong wind...
This was may first trip to this cave - I'll remember Rura (the Tube) for a long time yet!
The first squeeze (Kuczynski's) I pushed on the third try
and it turned out not that tight at all (Mrs. Wife didn't even notice it).
Sala Bez Stropu (Roofless Chamber) very nice, Kaskady (Cascades) - especially will illuminated - also.
Unfortunately, we weren't the only team in the cave, there was also a 10-person one.
So this halted us for a while. So did the photo session with Jedrek.
So at the end, we canceled going down to Wielkie Kominy (Great Chimneys).
The return trip through the Tube was very difficult (at least for me) -
I need to do a bit more training in chimneying.
And on the way home, we had some heavy snow with a strong wind...
Jaskinia Mietusia (Mietusia Cave, 2004-02-21)
See also the cave's description on Epimenides (in Polish).
[MJT] On the way to the cave
[MJT] On the way to the cave
[MJT] Students learning their topography
[MJT] Students learning their topography
[MJT] Orographically the right side of Mietusia Valley
[MJT] Orographically the right side of Mietusia Valley
[MJT] Upper parts of Mietusia Valley
[MJT] Upper parts of Mietusia Valley
[MJT] The Tube - not that difficult at the start
[MJT] The Tube - not that difficult at the start
[MJT] At the bottom of the Tube
[MJT] At the bottom of the Tube
[MG] Let the student do all the work!
[MG] Let the student do all the work!
[MJT] The joys of rope coiling
[MJT] The joys of rope coiling
[MG] Ok, ok, I can help some
[MG] Ok, ok, I can help some
[MJT] The start of Jedrek's photo session (near Blotne Zamki (Mud Castles) at the top of Wielkie Kominy (Great Chimneys))
[MJT] The start of Jedrek's photo session (near Blotne Zamki (Mud Castles) at the top of Wielkie Kominy (Great Chimneys))
[MJT] On the way back - the Cascades
[MJT] On the way back - the Cascades
[MJT] At the base after the trip - a well deserved supper
[MJT] At the base after the trip - a well deserved supper
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Three people went to Cold Cave (M Gala with students).
Martha: at the start of the trail we met some guys who told us that Ponor (Sinkhole) is flooded.
So we left our ropes and went into the cave, where it turned out that they didn't know what they were talking about.
Our Brave Instructor went back for our gear, we waited on him over tea below the Blotny Prog (Mud Pitch).
Next, we continued on our way - we went all the way to Chatka (the Hut).
Here we ate some soup while listening to stories told by Marcin.
Beczka (the Barrel) left me with unforgettable memories - somehow when you're over deep water,
the simplest operations get a lot more complicated!
On our way back we met the group from Mietusia - only 9 cavers this time around
(they claimed that they didn't lose nobody in no Mietusia, the guy just went home).
My husband asked us to shoot some pictures, so we did, especially the ice formations
encouraged various experiments with lighting. And Jedrek was becoming our favorite model.
Three people went to Cold Cave (M Gala with students).
Martha: at the start of the trail we met some guys who told us that Ponor (Sinkhole) is flooded.
So we left our ropes and went into the cave, where it turned out that they didn't know what they were talking about.
Our Brave Instructor went back for our gear, we waited on him over tea below the Blotny Prog (Mud Pitch).
Next, we continued on our way - we went all the way to Chatka (the Hut).
Here we ate some soup while listening to stories told by Marcin.
Beczka (the Barrel) left me with unforgettable memories - somehow when you're over deep water,
the simplest operations get a lot more complicated!
On our way back we met the group from Mietusia - only 9 cavers this time around
(they claimed that they didn't lose nobody in no Mietusia, the guy just went home).
My husband asked us to shoot some pictures, so we did, especially the ice formations
encouraged various experiments with lighting. And Jedrek was becoming our favorite model.
Jaskinia Zimna (Cold Cave, 2004-02-22)
See also the cave's description on Epimenides (in Polish).
[MG] A small snack in the Hut
[MG] A small snack in the Hut
[MG] Our beautiful model (from the session in Mietusia)
[MG] Our beautiful model (from the session in Mietusia)
[MG] Finally, the picture came out ok after 3 tries
[MG] Finally, the picture came out ok after 3 tries
[MG] All I need is a pillow...
[MG] All I need is a pillow...
[MG] Hey reporter, get out of my way!
[MG] Hey reporter, get out of my way!
[MG] Some climbing on the way
[MG] Some climbing on the way
[MG] Again a small traverse - before the Barrel
[MG] Again a small traverse - before the Barrel
[MG] Descending Czarny Komin (the Black Chimney)
[MG] Descending Czarny Komin (the Black Chimney)
[MG] Icicles near the exit
[MG] Icicles near the exit
[MG] So many shots to get a good picture!
[MG] So many shots to get a good picture!
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Four of us went to visit the cave (all except for Kasia).
The plan was to visit Dankan's Sump and the Matches.
It's hard to imagine that when the snow starts to melt or after heavier showers,
the whole cave is filled with water and there's a 1.5 meter fountain gushing out of the entrance.
It looks so innocent in the winter...
The trip was going pretty smoothly, until we got to Gniazdo Zlotej Kaczki (Gold Duck's Nest) that turned out to be flooded.
We almost resigned, but Jedrek decided on some mining work and after a couple of hours with a mess tin
(while being cheered on by the rest of the crew) managed to take most of the water out.
We remained skeptical as to the whole idea, however Jedrek went through the duck to the other side.
Dlugi Chodnik (the Long Sidewalk) turned out to be flooded too, so we had to resign from the original plans -
so we decided to visit Gabka (the Sponge) instead. I don't know about the others,
but I really enjoyed this part of the cave - indeed a sponge, with corridors wondering in all directions,
some of them with small, clear lakes. I have to get back there and explore these parts in greater detail.
At the start of the Sponge we fixed ourselves a small lunch... And that was that - after a quick exit, the course was over.
Time to get back to the loud and smoggy Warsaw...
Four of us went to visit the cave (all except for Kasia).
The plan was to visit Dankan's Sump and the Matches.
It's hard to imagine that when the snow starts to melt or after heavier showers,
the whole cave is filled with water and there's a 1.5 meter fountain gushing out of the entrance.
It looks so innocent in the winter...
The trip was going pretty smoothly, until we got to Gniazdo Zlotej Kaczki (Gold Duck's Nest) that turned out to be flooded.
We almost resigned, but Jedrek decided on some mining work and after a couple of hours with a mess tin
(while being cheered on by the rest of the crew) managed to take most of the water out.
We remained skeptical as to the whole idea, however Jedrek went through the duck to the other side.
Dlugi Chodnik (the Long Sidewalk) turned out to be flooded too, so we had to resign from the original plans -
so we decided to visit Gabka (the Sponge) instead. I don't know about the others,
but I really enjoyed this part of the cave - indeed a sponge, with corridors wondering in all directions,
some of them with small, clear lakes. I have to get back there and explore these parts in greater detail.
At the start of the Sponge we fixed ourselves a small lunch... And that was that - after a quick exit, the course was over.
Time to get back to the loud and smoggy Warsaw...
Jaskinia Kasprowa Niznia (Lower Kasprowa Cave, 2004-02-23)
See also the cave's description on Epimenides (in Polish).
[MJT] Do I really have to?
[MJT] Do I really have to?
[MJT] A shot for the road
[MJT] A shot for the road
[MJT] The snow-covered entrance to the first chamber
[MJT] The snow-covered entrance to the first chamber
[MG] Icicles just inside the cave
[MG] Icicles just inside the cave
[MJT] Teaching the students
[MJT] Teaching the students
[MJT] Gold Duck's Nest is flooded!
But Jedrek is keeping at it - he built a dam, took out the water and the mud...
[MJT] Gold Duck's Nest is flooded!
But Jedrek is keeping at it - he built a dam, took out the water and the mud...
[MG] A shovel made of a mess tin
[MG] A shovel made of a mess tin
[MUT] The rest cheered Jedrek along
[MUT] The rest cheered Jedrek along
[MJT] I guess it will let me through now...
[MJT] I guess it will let me through now...
[MJT] Above the Nest
[MJT] Above the Nest
[MJT] In the Sponge Parts
[MJT] In the Sponge Parts
[MJT] Some relaxing soup
[MJT] Some relaxing soup
[MG] Some time off for the fat may settle
[MG] Some time off for the fat may settle
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