Expedition Name (& Club): Cambridge Austrian Cave Expedition 2008 (CUCC)

Destination country: Austria
Region: Schwarzmooskogel ridge

Lat: 47.7175 Long: 14.0642 Elevation: m
MEF funding: none

Leader: Oliver Stevens

Brief Expedition objectives:

List a short summary of the main Expedition objectives.

Continuing exploration and survey of Schwarzmooskogel ridge caves Stienbruckenhoehle, Tunnockschact, and Hauchhoele. Continuation of the microclimate monitoring program begun on the 2008 expedition. Production of a documentary about the expedition.

Detailed description of objectives:

Give a more detailed account of the purpose of the trip, including any particular known caves you intend to visit, specific areas where you will explore for new cave, and scientific experiments you will attempt.

Promising leads in Tunnockschact will be pushed in hopes of connecting to Stienbruckenhoehle. Hauchhoehle will also be explored further, potentially connecting to the deepest section of Stienbruckenhoehle and paving the way for a connection to Kaninchenhoehle. We will retrieve a year-long dataset recorded by thermistors which were left in the cave at the end of last summer, recording once every hour. This dataset will allow the extension of understanding gained regarding the dynamics of temperature cyclicties in Stienbruckenhöhle to longer periodicities, and observe seasonal effects. The monitoring accomplished on the 07 expedition will be repeated and extended. A documentary exploring the planning and execution of a major expedition will be produced. The broad aim is to paint a picture of expedition life and trials and triumphs of venturing into the unknown. The film will be an accessible introduction to modern cave exploration and techniques, as well as a depiction of the social landscape of a caving expedition, including personal experiences of the expedition members. Above and below ground footage will be obtaining during the expedition.

Previous work in this area:

Give details of any previous work in this area by your own and other teams. Include references to reports and articles published on the area, and the names of any local cavers or academics with whom you have discussed the Expedition.

CUCC has been exploring in the area since 1976: an expedition has been held every year since then except in 1986. The ARGE Grabenstetten group from Germany, with whom we have a good relationship, also work in the same general area and have held many expeditions there.