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Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Nov 27, 2013 3:09 pm
by Extremeophile
Does anyone have a list of highest dome climbs? I'd be especially interested in climbs over 300'. The few I'm aware of include:
Flying Dutchman - 303
Batman Dome - 307
Topless Dome - 396
Kansas Twister - 410
After talking to a reputable source I don't believe there have been any climbs over 300' in Mexico, so these may be the highest dome climbs in the western hemisphere, but I have virtually no knowledge of significant climbs in Europe or Asia.
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Nov 27, 2013 5:03 pm
by Phil Winkler
You might contact the AGH of Holloch. During the 1977-78 expedition Chuck Pease and I were on the team that discovered Niagara Fall Hall. It was later climbed by members of the Swiss Alpine Club due to its height. I think we put a 30m climbing pole up and the top was still a long distance away. AGH=Arbeits Gemeinschaft Holloch or something like that.
The Austrians have done a lot of high climbs, too.
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Nov 27, 2013 9:45 pm
by nathanroser
Based on the info I can find it sounds like the 464 foot Titan shaft in Britain was climbed from the bottom up initially.
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Nov 28, 2013 7:20 am
by paul
muddyface wrote:Based on the info I can find it sounds like the 464 foot Titan shaft in Britain was climbed from the bottom up initially.
That's correct. Titan was initally climbed from the bottom up.
There's a Wikipedia page about it if you want more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_(cave)
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Nov 29, 2013 3:31 am
by cavedoc
Not sure of the details but the recent Mulu expedition claims to have done a 100 meter climb in Gunung Benarat. Not a record but in the same ballpark as some of your other climbs mentioned.
http://www.mulucaves.org/wordpress/news ... expedition
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Nov 29, 2013 4:30 pm
by Extremeophile
I'm curious what the record is. Titan is the tallest yet mentioned at 464'. Someone mentioned that Lamprechtsofen in Austria was explored to a depth of over 1,000 meters from the bottom prior to other upper entrances being tied into the system. I saw a profile map on the web that shows a steady series of smaller shafts, but perhaps there are some 100+ meter climbs that have been done there. Europe seems to be the most likely place for a record climb.
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Nov 29, 2013 10:26 pm
by Duncan Collis
The highest I know of is "Dark Star" in Hirlatzhöhle (Austria) by 'Madphil' Rowsell, Richard Hudson, Tom Clayton and others.
Survey (and story in German):
http://www.land-oberoesterreich.gv.at/files/naturschutz_db/zeitschrift%202011-72dpi-maximal.pdfThe highest point reached (in 2011) was 346m / 1135' above the base of the climb, where the way on was blocked by boulders.
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Nov 30, 2013 9:46 am
by Extremeophile
That's incredible, and seems to be the record by a good margin.
I found a similar thread in the UK caving forum
http://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=5585.0So a dome climb of >150m in the US would be significant, but nowhere near a record. It figures our geography isn't likely to enable such a record.
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Apr 14, 2014 12:29 pm
by Tim White
Pete Johnson and Derek Bristol have finished climbing Perseverance Dome in Germany Valley, WV at 535 feet!
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Apr 14, 2014 2:41 pm
by Carl Amundson
Tim White wrote:Pete Johnson and Derek Bristol have finished climbing Perseverance Dome in Germany Valley, WV at 535 feet!
Congratulations to Derek and Pete for an amazing bolt climb!!
Germany Valley is the land of big domes!
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Apr 14, 2014 2:55 pm
by tncaver
Tim White wrote:Pete Johnson and Derek Bristol have finished climbing Perseverance Dome in Germany Valley, WV at 535 feet!
Now, if only they could find an upper entrance to that dome....
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Apr 14, 2014 2:58 pm
by Extremeophile
I believe these are the top 5 dome climbs in the US.
Perseverance Dome (531') - Hellhole Cave, WV - 2014 - Derek Bristol, Pete Johnson, Aaron Moses
Kansas Twister (410') - Lechuguilla Cave, NM - 2012 - Derek Bristol, James Hunter
Topless Dome (396') - Tumbling Rock Cave, AL - 1979 - Don Davison, Cheryl Jones
Batman Dome (306') - Hellhole Cave, WV - 2006 - Bill Stone, Vickie Siegel, Yvonne Droms
Flying Dutchman (303') - Memorial Day Cave, WV - 2010 - Aaron Moses, Pete Johnson, Pete Penczer
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Apr 14, 2014 3:14 pm
by Scott McCrea
What's at the top of Perseverance?
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Apr 14, 2014 4:23 pm
by Extremeophile
Scott McCrea wrote:What's at the top of Perseverance?
There's no telling
Re: Highest Dome Climbs
Posted:
Apr 14, 2014 8:46 pm
by Chads93GT
Kudos Derek. I had no idea of the potential in West Virginia. Here all this time I thought all they had there was a really cool bridge.