Novosibirsk Diggers Speleoteam

"13Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. " (Matthew, 7; 13-14)

         What's up cavers! You are lucky to find the Novosibirsk Diggers Speleopage. Fasten your seatbelts, open another one and start clicking. We don`t keep any secret Moscow subway maps or beta on KGB treasures, only caving. Besides cool underground pics and personal memories, you can find here the most explicit source on Siberia caves. Navigation is easy: you must be a complete moron if you can`t figure out how to use those buttons on the left! If you have anything to say (do you?) you can leave a message in the guestbook or send us e-mail. But for God`s sake don`t expect more from the webmaster than he is capable of.

17.11.2014
♦	Diggers' trip Kanin '2014 occured in the heart of Julian Alps. Some photographs are available. The team consists of: Yury Schwartz, Tatiana Kahn, Olya Schwartz, Sasha Schwartz, Maxim Pilugin.
♦	English version finaly updated (:

21.04.2014
♦	At the beginning of March the Kek-Tash '2014 trip was organized. Diggers not only had a chill-out at the cave camp, but also visited all the grottos of the deepest cave of Siberia (-350 m) and even managed to survey the system beyond the third sump. The batch of photos is here.
♦	Forthwith the description of Kek-Tash is updated, all the schemes ever been found are now compiled here, including new-made survey of the system beyond the third sump.
♦	Pavel Shubin with great encouragement from responsible persons has recalled the story of Kuldyukskaya '2012. The marvellous ice cave is worth looking at, at least at these nice photos from the trip.

26.02.2014
♦	Diggers decided to return to origin of Diggerizm this January, and visit Tutkush cave. Veterans almost gave up making a report for younger colleagues. Here results (in Russian) and photoes are.
♦	Timur Valinurov keeps on struggling with clayed heaps of history. The battle has brought the fresh win – now the photoes from three-year-old trip to Soantekhnicheskaya '2011 are available.

23.12.2013
♦	January brought back vivacity to old fighters of Diggerism, having visited the British cave Ease Gill '2013 in North Yorkshire (see photoes).
♦	Three of Novosibirsk Diggers (Yury Schwartz, Aleksandr Deryuga, Dmitry Kraev) have participated in international expedition to J2, Mexico, this spring.
♦	A surveyof thesmall cave Kupol (Cupola), recently explored by Velikan somewhere around Tuzuksy cave in Kuznetsk Alatau, is uploaded.

10.04.2013
♦	Few Russian words and a lot of interlanguage photoes of January visit to the beloved Altayskaya cave are now available. The visit comprised excursions through the cave for some cavers and ascending of pitches for others. Ascent to 35 m of a wall in Old River system hadn't yield in new passes. Though a small pitch at the very end of the wall remains virgin, so new attempts will follow.
♦	Finally the story and photoes for 2012 trip to Soantekhnicheskaya cave appear.

11.03.2012
♦	Recent trip to Soantekhnicheskaya cave has successfully ended. Diggers managed to squeeze a generator through all passages intending to dramatically enlarge the final squeeze at −195 m. Also some promising pits were ascended, though with no results. The report and photos are to be published.
♦	To fill out blank places in the Novosibirsk digging history, the story of expedition Kat-Shu '2009 is now told.

30.12.2011
♦	The survey of the Zhiolty bantik (Yellow Bow) cave is updated for it's become considerably bigger owing to powerful hummer drill of even more powerful Velikan and Co. from Novokuznetsk.
♦	Results of local Sugary '2010 and international Sugary '2011 expeditions to the Kadrin karst massif are now summarized in a short manuscript "Cave Search at the Kadrin karst massif" (.pdf, 1.4 Mb, in Russian).

17.12.2010
♦	There was anunfeasible Russian government project called "Repay debts and sleep peacefully". Just in pursuit of sleeping calm, some old duties have now been cleared off.      Niobo '2010 (+ photo) – Winter search of blowing entrances at Niobo plateau, Altay mountains. Two pits with draughts were found.      Niobo '2009 (+ photo) – The first attendance to the mentioned plateau.      Peschanka '2009 (+ photo) – Kids and others exploring the karst at Peschannaya river and beyond.

07.12.2010
♦	Some photos on the speedy fastest-evertrip to the small but pretty tight cave Egorievskaya '2010 have been uploaded.

26.11.2010
♦	The large photoalbum is prepared from August diggers' trip Sugary '2010. All of us are sure that this reconnaissance expedition was only the beginning of very perspective karst massif exploration.

22.07.2010
♦	Photoes from Soantehnicheskaya '2010 and Altayskaya '2010 trips are processed and added to the gallery.
♦	New instrument for remote communications is now available for diggers: the mailing list. To be included one should contact site administrator.

05.03.2010
♦	The schemes of several small Altay caves are prepared: Tugurukskaya (45m/−40m), Belaya (90m/−35m), Mekrabaevskaya (70m/−30m), Pesch-4 (92m/−13m), Bolshaya Dalnyaya, Nebo, B.Sibiryachikhinskaya, Sibiryachikhinskaya-3, Tagaltay.

29.09.2009
♦	Photoes of trips J2 '2009 (Mexico), Kat-Shu '2009 (Eastern Altay), Tuguruk '2009 (Central Altay) are available in the gallery.

05.05.2009
♦	During the dates of 13.03-21.03.2009 traditional diggers' expedition Altayskaya '2009 was held. The major efforts were concentrated on pushing through the upper sump in Veselukha system. Unfortunately the sump was not passed through. The expedition photoes are available in the album.
♦	In the last April two diggers moved towards Mexico to take part in the international expedition to the cave with poetic name J2 (−1210 m). Here they are: Sergey Tkachenko è Yury Schwartz.

04.06.2008
♦	Diggers celebrate 50-th trip during May expedition Kuldukskaya '2008.

15.08.2007
♦	More than a year passed without updates of the english version. But it does not mean that diggers hibernate. During this period a series of trips occured: Kokuya dances '2006, Tavda suffers '2006, Germany Valley '2007, Altayskaya '2007, Kat-Shu '2007, Oroktoy '2007, Techno '2007, Techno again '2007. One can see plenty of photographs in the album section.
♦	Some of this trips gave the discoveries. Thus, in the cave Bol'shaya Medveditsa (Eastern Altai) two new passages were opened with help of a club hammer. In Altayskaya cave (Northen Altai) the extension was found after 15m ascent in the Dragon grotto: the longest cave of Altai became 200m longer. In the Kat-Shu cave (Eastern Altai) three galleries were discovered, that lengthen the cave up to 915m of total length. The survey of all new parts was made and schemes available in the caves section.

14.07.2006
♦	Month ago the historic trip occured, Kat-Shu'2006, when the new cave Kat-Shu of −185m depth was explored in the Eastern Altai mountains. The photoes are available. One can also find the schemes of the cave in the corresponding section.

02.05.2006
♦	Photoes of diggers trip Elkhorn '2006 to the Elkhorn Mountain Cave (USA, WVa) are uploaded to the album.
♦	Since last update of the site english version several trips occured: Techno '2005, T.A.G.'2005, Waterproof '2005, Kokuya '2005, X-trip '2005, Altayskaya '2006. The photoes are available, see album.

• Photoes of Barakol '2005 trip are uploaded.

• During 10-13.06.05 the new digger's trip Barakol '2005 was carried out (Altay). Do not try to find this name on the map, try better to find Baragash and Karakol. On the Baragash river the cave shown on the map by the Gennady Maksimov was closed. In the Karakolsky karst area the Muzejnaya, Karakolskaya and memory of A.Tutunik caves were visited. The waterfalls on the nearby Shinok river were wonderful. The following were involved: Sergey and Bazhena Tkachenko, Pavel Shubin (+2), Alexandr Kuharenok, Irina Korotaeva (+2) and Dmitry Shwartz. The photoes coming soon.

• Finally the english version was updated.. One year old story of Mirolda '2004 happily reached these pages. During the comatose period of the english version several another digger's trips ocurred: The Urge of Abyss '2004, N5 '2004, Grotte de Cret de Vaas '2004, Speleoskitour '2004, p.A.s. '2005, Altayskaya '2005, but only photoes do not require the knowledge of Russian and can be seen in album.

• "Poupevelle '2004" photographs and trip description are available now. The most curious ones can view even cave's topo.

• Whereas diggerizm citadel - the Novosibirsk city - is still covered with snow, swiss outpost reports about new successes. 03.04.04 repeatedly postponed diggers trip to the cave Reseau Pourpevelle (France) finally came true. The team of four heroes Martin Kuser, Martin Brateller(ND), Moritz Lechner (ND) and Yury Schwartz (ND) visited the Reseau Sud (Southern System). The "mass of cool pics (thanks to Moritz)" and some comments are expected.

• In view of digger's intention to wash the boots in the world deepest cave Reseau Mirolda (-1733m) seems to be quite serious the <Plans> section was renewed.
• Four new topoes were added to corresponding <Caves>.

• Altayskaya '2004 photoes were added into <Album> folder.
• Due to annoying question about team name genesis, in a <Diggers> section the appropriated legend was clearly typed.
• Several Altay, Sayan, Kuznetsky Alatau and Gornaya Shoriya mountain regions caves topoes are added.

• The expedition "Altayskaya '2004" has finished. The perspective 20m rising chimney unfortunately stopped with nice helictite grotto "Yuzhny poljus" (South Pole).

• New digger's trip "Reseau du Poteux '2003" finished and borned two new diggers Natalia Kahn and Alexey Grudiev.
• First digger's trip in USA Scott Hollow '200 photoes are added to the Album.
• Some new pics are added to album Diggers in Swiss '2003 illustrating digger's participation in speleoclub of Geneva expedition into ice cave on the Gorner Gletcher.

• 21.09.03 one more digger's trip to Grand Baume du Pre d'Aubonne cave was fulfiled.
• Photoes Grand Baume du Pre d'Aubonne '2003 and Diggers in Swiss '2003 are added.
• Near-diggers photoes added to Album / Miscellanea / Das Experiment '2003. The story about one digger and two more good fellows visited caves of the Baschelaksky ridge (Altay) in Jul'2003.
• Caves folder widened with Ailagushskaya cave schemes.

• Summer fun is over, it is time to work again. What did the Diggers achieve during their summer vacations? Unprecedented Digger's activity could be seen during last summer in the Swiss karst! In July a couple of short trips were done (Grand Baume du Pre d'Aubonne cave and another one, name is currently unavailable). Comments to follow.
• 17-27.08.03 Digger's caving festival was held in Switzerland. Swiss and Russia based diggers participated. Here is a citation from the guestbook: "Diggers caving in Swiss successfully ended. 6 caves in 10 days! The deepest one Nedlenloch(-400m); the most exotic one-ice cave in the Gornergletscher glacier (-100m), impressive entrance pit, with the Matterhorn as a background; the most acrobatic one - Gouffre de la Plein Lune; the muddiest one - Gouffre de Natalia (very like Veseluha in Altaiskaja cave) and finally the prettiest one - Grotte de Vallorbe. Descriptions coming soon."
• 03-06.09 Finally the long awaited step in the Digger's history happened - the first Diggers trip in US. Father Konstantin and Digger John went to the Scott Hollow cave (WV) along with the group of Dmitry Kaganovich. Again, exiting comments are expected soon.

• We can assure you, Diggers don`t sleep! For example, at the end of June Father Yu together with Gerald (president of the Geneva caving club) went to the cave "Gouffre de Natalia" with the aim to fine-tune rap lines. Next week, he and his girlfriend Tanja tried something rad: glaciocaving. They visited a small cave melted inside the Gross Aletschgletscher glacier, Swiss Alps.
• At the same time the oldest diggers son, along with two other guys, who were hooked up on diggerism, traveled to the Bashelaksky ridge caves (Altay). They visited caves: Karakol'skaya, Razboynich'ya, Tutunika. The trip's main goal was to leave one guy inside the cave for a LONG period of time, then take him out and ask what he felt. Guess what? - he felt nothing but cold. For ethical reasons we had to stop the experiment, no animals were harmed.
• Thanks to the help from Novosibirsk's caving guru - Gennady Maksimov we got some additions in our archive. Added topos: cave memory of A.Tutunik (vertical and horizontal projection), way more better topo for Soantechnicheskaja cave (vertical and horizontal projection).
• Some pics from Tutkushskaya cave, May '2003 added to album.
• Thanks to the diggers Father the English version is now in full power. We admit, there may be some issues with stylistics and some incorrect use of adjectives. Hold on, Oxford graduates!

• Diggers don't give up the hope to visit all the caves around the world. Well…they can`t do it together due to known circumstances but: 24-25.05.03 Geneva diggers along with the local cavers stormed "Grotte de Hugenote" (France). They had to dry up the siphon, and they did it successfully, of course! Over the long Russian Independence Day Holyday 12-15.06.03, Sergo, accompanied by the local fighters, took a cold shower in the Kek-Tash cave (Altay).
• News in archive:
  • New topo for Duet cave provided by Gennady Maksimov
  • Topos for two big caves in Khakasia: Ryabinovaya (Ashberry Cave) by Sergey Tkachenko and Fantaziya (Fantasy Cave) by Sergey Velichko
  • Topo for Nidlenloch Cave (Switzerland) by Father Yu
• The description of Nidlenloch cave (in English) was laid out into archive section.
• Comments to "Nidlenloch '2002" and "Nidlenloch '2003" digger's trips are available now.
• Page design changed a bit

22.05.2003

• Despite the fact that there were no official Digger outings during the past two months, it's not like we did nothing. Actually, Father Yu & Co did some cool caving in the "Grotte de la cabane de saint paul des fonts" in the South France. (How do those French guys remember names like that?) Another Diggers Father shacked himself up in the Clover Hollow cave (USA, VA), and here is the proof. Author of these lines traveled one more time to Tutkush cave (Altay) along with Biysk cavers. Finally, Sergo, who recently joined Diggers order, tried to reach the bottom of Geophysics cave (Altay), accompanied by his own team. They weren't successful though: lots of cold water chilled the hot guys down.
• Topo of Nidlenloch Cave added to the archive along with the region map.
• More topos of Altay caves: Tutkushskaya, Geofizicheskaya (Geophysics Cave), Muzeynaya (Museum Cave), Bolshaya Chuyskaya, Tigirek-2, Jaschur (Pangolin), Kamyshlinskaya, Dezertirnaya (Deserter's Cave) provided by Gennady Maksimov and Karakol'skaya, Verhnekarakol'skaya, Razboynich'ya (Robber's Cave), Yagodnaya (Berry Cave) provided by Sergey Tkachenko added to archive
• A few more surface pics added to Altaiskaja '2003 album plus some one year old pics from Syja '2002 added to "Miscellanea".

26.03.2003

• Finally comments and photographs of January trip to Altayskaya cave put on this page ready.
• A couple of mistakes in the cave topo were corrected. SRT scheme (with comments in Russian) for the line Entrance-"Veseluha" ("Merry River" system) put into the archive.
• As a result of our recent endeavors, we added new members to our tribe. Public does not know Moritz Lechner, Martin Brateller, Rony Muller and Sergey Tkachenko yet, but soon they will prove one more time, that there are no more heroic people than diggers! The only person who decided to remain faithful to his original club "Kaskad" is Denis Krotov. We don't blame him: one must join Diggers only when he is ready. Whenever you are ready, Denis!

04.02.2003

• Trip to Altaiskaja cave ended successfully. The main goal achieved - each of us came back in one piece! We are happy and can make future plans. Comments and photographs coming soon.

04.10.2002

• English version of Novosibirsk Diggers Speleopage started!

23.09.2002

• The date of the pilgrimage to Altayskaya cave clarified, approximately 20.01.2003 - 30.01.2003. The program proposed is here.
• In light of the approaching expedition an attempt to understand smth in "Kaskade's" scheme of Altayskaya cave was done. New schemes, wich were put into archives, look at least coloured.

30.08.2002

• In consequence of small reshuffle the new section "Plans" has appeared where the plan of expedition to Altayskaya cave, proposed by K.Stoletov, was laid out. The discussion takes place in the guestbook.
• Many different near-diggers photoes from Nevada, Argentina, Switzerland, France, Altay and Khakassia added into album of stuff.

30.01.2002

• At last photoes from diggers trip Akkord'2000 were laid out.

13.11.2001

• Our page at http://nskdiggers.h1.ru!
• Photoes from Kek-Tash'2001 added.