Spekul has a long history of exploring caves on the Untersberg in Austria. In the past 15 years, several 900km long weekend trips a year were made from Leuven, Belgium to Salsburg, Austria in order to explore the gruyere cheese-like Unterbergs mountain.
Several caves with a depth ranging from 200m to 300m were explored. Our last objective has been the exploration of the Sulzenkar cave and finding the underground river which emerges in Fürstenbrunn. The Sulzenkar cave was explored by Austrian cavers in the ‘70ties until they ended on a too-narrow passage at a depth of -250m. In was a short passage (1m long and 15cm wide) after which the cave definitely continued. Due to the way we explore in Austria (short trips over the weekend) and some bad luck with the weather it took us more than 2 years to widen the passage and continue the exploration. Behind the squeeze, the cave continues through a very sportive and narrow meander (Massoschisten Meander). After these 50m from hell, the meander becomes active and widens to 1-2 m. It consists of an endless series of little pitches (5-15m) which continue till 530m (most recent exploration to date).
Explorations in Austria
From 1992 until now, during wintertime we explored the Gross Wasserfalltal of the Untersberg area, south-west of Salzburg. These explorations are coordinated by Kristian Höhne (Landesverein für Höhlenkunde Salzburg). The caves in this area have an alpine character and are composed of meanders and pitches. All the caves in this area are part of one hydrological system. The resurgence of this system is the Quelhöhle Fürstenbrun.
Overview of the most important explorations:
- Supernova
The exploration of this cave has been continued. This cave has two times been connected to the Windlöcher-Klingertalschacht by two pitches (P 115m and P 145m). An important horizontal conintuation has been discovered at – 250m. - Stützingerschacht
This cave has been connected to the fossil network of Supernova. Now the cave has become the highest entrance to the Windlöcher-Klingertalschacht system. - Stein-im-schuh-schacht
The exploration has been continued to a depth of – 120m. The explo goes on. - Abrüstungshöhle
The exploration has been continued, and this cave is connected to the end point of the fossil part of the Super Nova. - Hubschrauberschacht
Exploration to a depth of -100m. It goes on.
List of the participants
Wim Cuyvers, Lieven De Bontridder, Jan Diels, Johan Franky, Frank Iterbeke, Jaak Joris, David Lagrou, Koen Mandonx, Jan Masschelein, Bart Simons, Steve Smeyers, Filiep Tacq.