mulucaves.org

Interim Report

Introduction

The Benarat 2005 expedition took place between September 8 th and October 7 th 2005. The expedition was the latest in a series of Anglo-Sarawak cooperative activities which commenced in 1977. 16 UK based cavers were in the field for varying periods of time, together with a number of officers from the Gunung Mulu National Park.

This document represents a field summary of the achievements of the expedition. A full report, including cave surveys etc will be published in due course with copies to be provided to the Sarawak Authorities and the Gunung Mulu National Park Management.

Objectives

The expedition follows-on from the recent series of explorations in Gunung Benarat and the northern end of Gunung Api. At the end of the 2003 expedition, a series of promising underground leads remained outstanding in Benarat caves and the discovery of Whitrock Cave (Gua Batu Putih), close to Blackrock, offered new hopes of major extensions in Api.

Primary objectives were therefore:

Gunung Benarat

The connection of Blue Moonlight Bay and the Terikan Cave systems through the sumps which separated the components of this system.

Connection of Cobweb Cave to adjacent systems

Accessing the remaining high level entrance to the right of Tiger Cave, via a climb up the Benarat Cliffs.

Further exploration of Sakai's Cave (last explored in 1984).

Gunung Api

    Exploration of Whiterock Cave

    Location and examination of Canopy Cave

    Location of new entrances in the northern slopes of Gunung Api.

Outcomes

Gunung Benarat

Blue Moonlight Bay – Terikan Connections.

    The sumps separating Terikan East/Terikan West and Terikan East/Terikan Rising were dived successfully, creating a single system of 32.573km.

    The upstream sump in Blue Moonlight Bay was dived to -53m. The sump is a vertical shaft which was circled at -6m and -20m depth with no obvious leads off at these levels. The sump continues vertically downward.

Cobweb Cave connections

Due to other activities, this objective was not pursued.

High level entrance / Moon Cave

The climb to the high level entrance was started but abandoned after approximately 80m. At 60m the climbers found a new draughting cave entrance and this immediately became the focus of attention.

This system, Moon Cave, Gua Bulan, consists of a main passage heading straight along the strike. It was explored over a number of visits to a total length of 6.635 km to a concluding boulder ramp with no draught. All exploration was carried out on the single level and a number of outstanding leads remain in the form of upward and downward trending ramps.

Sakai's Cave

Due to other activities, this objective was not pursued.

Gunung Api

Exploration of Whiterock Cave

Substantial extensions were made to Whiterock Cave. A further 17.261km of passage was explored, bringing the total to 20.968km.

Whiterock is a multi-level system, providing a key to the cave formation at the northern end of Gunung Api. Its upper levels consist of large passages, partially blocked with sediment, including extensive deposits of rotted cobbles reminiscent of similar deposits in Clearwater and indicative of great age.

The cave includes a significant chamber, approximately 300x200m in dimension with a surveyed circumference of 900m.

Two connections were established to Blackrock Cave, via the Eagle Ramp and Firecracker. The inclusion of Whiterock brings the total length of the Clearwater System to over 130k (precise details to be confirmed).

The Racer Entrance to Blackrock was relocated and a GPS position was fixed.

Whiterock is by no means fully explored and a number of leads remain outstanding.

Location and examination of Canopy Cave

Canopy Cave was relocated and it was confirmed that there was no open passage.

Location of new entrances in the northern slopes of Gunung Api.

A number of small entrances were located. None of these was considered promising and they were not pushed. GPS coordinates were fixed for future reference.

Surveying

All explored passage was surveyed to the accepted standards. Data was entered into the Survex programme and processed to produce field surveys. Copies of these surveys and the data-sets will be provided to the Gunung Mulu Park Management before departure. Full, annotated surveys will be produced in due course and copies will be provided to the Sarawak Authorities and Park Management.

Logistics

The expedition was based at Camp 5 by agreement with the Park Management.

A temporary camp was established in the structure at Lubang China on an ad hoc basis. This was used as the base for activities at the north end of Gunung Benarat, particularly for the diving activities in Blue Moonlight Bay and Terikan. The permanent structure was extended through the use of a camp sheet. Expedition staff cleared the site when the team pulled out.

Underground camps were established in Whiterock. This was necessary because the cave entrance is approximately 2 hours from Camp 5 and exploration can be at a substantial distance into the cave. All waste was removed from the camp sites. Cooking was carried out on portable gas stoves.

In contrast to previous expeditions, all underground lighting was electric. Advances in lighting technology now make this the preferred, as well as the most environmentally acceptable technology.

Staff and field logistics were provided by Tropical Adventure Sdn Bhd.

Acknowledgements

Members of the expedition are grateful for the support of the following:

  • The Sarawak State Secretary
  • The Chief Minister of Sarawak
  • The Director of Forests.
  • Gunung Mulu National Park Management

Dick Willis Leader, Benarat 2005, 6 th October 2005