|
Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle e.V. |
| Association Profile |
History
The name "Arbeitskreis Kluterthöhle (AKKH)" dates from the year
of foundation 1976, when the club-activities were restricted to the
"Kluterthöhle" in Ennepetal. Today we take care of more than 200 caves, most of
them can be found in the western "Sauerland" and in the
"Bergische Land". We are officially authorized to explore and
take care of the karst areas and caves from the German federal state
"Nordrhein-Westfalen" (Geological state office - GLA), the
"Ennepe-Ruhr" district, the "Oberbergische" district,
as well as the cities Ennepetal, Hagen, Schwelm, Wuppertal and
Engelskirchen. In addition to this, we have signed many contracts with
companies and private persons.
Functions
The functions of our non-profit making organization are set from scientific
examinations to active contributions for our environment and to keep our
caves clean and in their original state. To prevent the caves from
pollution and destruction and to secure unexperienced visitors from
accidents, we've locked more than 70 caves using heavy steel doors.
Several restorations of heavily polluted or damaged objects took much time
since 1983. With the help of heavy machinery and logistic support from
local companies we are able to manage even the biggest project. Scientific
institutes and authorities are participated in many of our projects. Apart
from caves we have also done several cleaning and planting actions in
dolines, ponors and karst landscapes. The conservation of bats is done
intensively, too. In "Nordrhein Westfalen" we entered upon the
scientific exploration of three show caves ("Kluterthöhle",
"Wiehler Tropfsteinhöhle", "Aggertalhöhle").
Expeditions
With the permission of the National Park Berchtesgaden the AKKH carries out
annual expeditions to the Alps since 1984. We have found and documented
more than a hundred caves there. Several of these exceed an overall length
of one kilometer.
Further expeditions led us to the gypsum karst of the middle Euphrat-valley
in Syria. Here we found and explored the pretty big "Cater
Magara" a cave with a total length of more than 7 kilometers. National
offices helped us even there.
With the invitation of the local government, early 1996 members of our club
shared a five-week expedition to Cambodia. There we discovered, explored
and documented 11.5 kilometers of cave corridors.
1998 led us to a karst-area of Romania.
Because not everybody wants to share such big expeditions, our club offers
yearly organized Whitsun-weekend-camps or visits to other
caving clubs in Germany beeing on friendly terms with us.
Futhermore several of our members participate in the annual meetings of the
German Speleological Federation of Cavers (VDHK).
Exploration
An important and especially interesting part of our work certainly is the
discovery of unknown caves or new passages. Since 1981 members of the AKKH
discovered and explored 51,488 meters of underground passages! Worth
mentioning are the "Heilenbecker Höhle" (3965m) and the
"Hardthöhlensystem" (4037m). In the last five years only, we
discovered and explored more than 20 kilometers. The discovery of so far
unknown subterranean cavities is diffcult and often combined with a high
expenditure. New passages are surveyed precisely and documented with a
countless number of photos. In the further process of exploration we
continue our work with detailed examinations and documentation in
scientific fields as speleogenesis, hydrology, ecology, biology or geology.
Other activities
In good co-operation with other local caving associations we are publishing
the "Antiberg"-magazine. Meanwhile there are more than 70 issues. The
"Antiberg" appears about three times a year with about 35 pages
each. Three special editions with a total of 270 pages describe some
specific subjects in detail. Besides some magazines on the history of the
"Kluterthöhle" we also helped to release the 316 page
"Klutert-Buch", published by Lutz Koch.
Dangers
Exploring caves requires interaction of science and sport. Against the
general opinion our work is not more risky than many kinds of sport, as
long as you follow the basic rules of caving: always use proper equipment,
never visit a cave if you are alone or inexperienced.
Beginners
Beginners will be introduced to all the caving tasks and techniques step by
step (surveying, ...). No previous experience is necessary. They will get
all the required knowledge during the work in our group or by visiting
seminars or conventions. A good physical fitness is useful for some
activities, but not required at all.
Meetings
Every second and last Wednesday we meet at the "Kluterthöhle" in
Ennepetal at 7:30pm. Until about 10pm we do some work or hold a seminar.
The real work in fact is done every Saturday. We meet at 10am at Stefan
Voigt's home. From there we start our trip for that day. In the evening,
after all the work has been done, we go to a restaurant and talk and eat
and drink.
Contact
Interested? Then please get in touch with one of our contact persons.
There is no problem at all to participate in our work several times,
without having to be a club member. In general, you have to be 16 years old
to become a member.
The annual membership dues of only € 16,- for pupils,
students and sponsoring-members and € 26,- for adults should
not stop anybody.
January 2002