Hidden Earth 2019

Medusa's Maze - CUCC unravels the mysteries of Austria's second longest system

30 minute Lecture|Tom Crossley and Becka Lawson

Abstract

Cambridge University Caving Club returned to Austrian's Dead Mountains (the Totes Gebirge) in 2019 to be greeted by the biggest snow dump for years. This blocked our top camp bivvy to almost the roof, buried 3m deep the entrance to one of our main caving objectives and, combined with relentless rain, it hammered moral. Plans were laid then re-laid until we hit pay-dirt, deep under the northernmost extent of our main, Schwartzmooskogel system. Here, we extended Balkonhoehle into a whole new horizontal level. Meanwhile, far out in the wilds of the Plateau, our new cave, Homecoming, romped off into empty space with no end in sight. Come to hear about what we found and our truly grand plans for extending this incredible system!