For the last two days, I've had the opportunity to be trained for techniques that are needed to traverse vertical cave shafts.
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June 2018, Myllypuron Urheiluhalli, Helsinki, Finland
Caving (Man-Made); Climbing (Mountain)
While in France, I happened to get a number of brochures for tourist caves. One of these brochures was about the Chauvet Cave, the cave with earliest known paintings from 30 000+ years ago. But, that cave is off limits to visitors, so they built a replica of the cave nearby!
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May 2018, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None); Travel
More after-work bunker scouting. I thought I had already explored all the underground structures in the northern Korvlinjen, but apparently not. This "batteri" as they called it is a set of defence structures for guns, with small tunnels going from one structure to the next.
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May 2018, Karby batteri 1, Täby, Sweden; Karby batteri 2, Täby, Sweden; Karby batteri 3, Täby, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
I was on my way to Marseille for a conference. And on the way observing other interesting things... like caves.
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(TGR version)
May 2018, Baume Obscure Cave, Cote d'Azur, France
Caving (Rock, Rock-Limestone, Morphology-Karst, Basic, Showtour)
Wow, that was a nice tour. Another brief cave visit while driving to my conference, but this time with a specialist guide, Eric, who has been exploring the depths of this cave.
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(TGR version)
May 2018, Grotte de Saint Cézaire, Cote d'Azur, France
Caving (Rock, Rock-Limestone, Morphology-Karst, Basic, Showtour)
Well, that was dangerous. We're very careful when we visit blown-up bunkers. But, we did not expect intentional traps, at least not recent ones. Next to a bunker in Siuntio, Jarmo almost fell into a 5-meter deep well that was covered with fresh tree branches. Would he have hurt himself if he fell in, or even if not, would he have been able to get out if he was alone? Who does this sort of thing?!
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(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2018, Ansabunkkeri, Siuntio, Finland; Kallionreunan bunkkeri, Siuntio, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made); Hiking
Olli and I went to Sepänkylä to visit more bunkers, and to fly our drones. We found a standard Soviet Porkkala bunker model, relatively intact except for the room under the gun hole. But what wonderful flowstone!
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(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2018, Sepänkylän metsäbunkkeri, Sepänkylä, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers)
I had a long day at my Kista office today, but on the way back to the airport I managed to scout ruins of fortifications and bunkers at Tivoliberget in Bergshamra, Solna, near Stockholm.
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April 2018, Bunker, Bergshamra, Solna, Sweden; Ruins, Bergshamra, Solna, Sweden; Fortifications, Bergshamra, Solna, Sweden
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers, Ruins)
I'm feeling a bit alone here. The tunnel ends are too far to see even that pinhole of light. I'm in a long railway tunnel on the Petite Ceinture, the "little belt", an abandoned (I think) rail system under Paris.
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(Suomenkielinen versio)
April 2018, Old Charonne Station, Paris, France
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
Cave of Munits is a wonderful cave and a sacred site on Simi Hills in San Fernando Valley, half an hour from Los Angeles downtown.
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(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
March 2018, Cave of Munits, Los Angeles, California, USA; Bronson Caves, Los Angeles, California, USA
Caving (Rock, Rock-Sandstone, Morphology-Other, Basic); Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Tunnels, Quarries)
Kiven kivi? Today's trip to look for cave underneath the large boulder in Nurmijärvi that may have inspired Aleksis Kivi in the writing of a the first significant Finnish language novel, "Seitsemän veljestä" (seven brothers). And there was a nice, 10m meter cave under the rock.
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(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2018, Hiidenkiven luola, Nurmijärvi, Finland
Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Boulders, Basic, Surveying); History
I wonder what happens to human-made underground structures, when enough time passes by? Will they turn into caves. or cave-like environments, eventually?
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(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
February 2018, Solbackan bunkkeri, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Hiking in the woods of Kirkkonummi, thinking about life, universe, and everything. And keeping an eye open for that rumored cave somewhere.
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January 2018, Peuramaan luola-hiidenkirnu, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Erosion)
For sale: cosy apartment with flower decorations, strongly built, safe and in the middle of nature. In good condition. Also largely underground and abandoned 100 years ago.
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(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
January 2018, Lugnetfortet trenches, Arninge, Stockholm, Sweden; Lugnetfortet, Arninge, Stockholm, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
Jarmo and I have been looking for a lost cave. The Finnish Caves book notes a rumour of the "Skevabackgrotta" cave in Kirkkonummi, but does not give exact location. And notes that the cave entrance has collapsed.
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(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
January 2018, Peuramaan pieni vaakahalkeama, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Peuramaan pieni pystyhalkeama, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Peuramaan pikku halkeama ja juuttuneet kivet, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Peuramaan luola-hiidenkirnu, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Peuramaan iso vaakahalkeama, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Crack, Basic); Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Erosion, Basic)
After some prodding from friends in the Finnish Caving Society, I finally decided that I should travel to my first caving conference, the EuroSpeleo!
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January 2018, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None)