VEL'KY TRAVERZ

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It's only short hot message about results of Vel'ky traverz.

We preliminary present some technical data of Vel'ky traverz (the Great Traverse).

• Parameters of Vel'ky traverz:

  lenght of free rope in air	847.67 m
  horizontal projection of free rope	846.76 m
  elevation of the anchorage points	39.23 m
  height of lower anchorage above gorge bottom	342 m
  weight of air part of rope	about 80 kg
  tension of unloaded rope	6.2 kN
  sag of unloaded rope	7 m
  tension of loaded rope	upto 7 kN
  sag of loaded rope	about 30 m

  The tension and the sag of loaded rope depends on a creeper weight. We took care for the tension of loaded rope didn't reach up 7 kN.

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• Parameters of the rope for Vel'ky traverz

  diameter	12 mm
  lenght	909 m
  material	Polyamid
  weight	100 kg/km
  strengh	30 kN
  elongation	10 % for 10kN
  producer	LANEX Bolatice

  The rope was developed by LANEX Bolatice (Czech Republic) and Technical Board of Slovak Speleological Society especially for Velky traverz and produced in one piece.

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• Time Table of Vel'ky traverz in August 1997:

  19. 8.	19:00	the rigging started
  21. 8.	14:00	the rigging finished
  22. 8.	10:30	the traverse was inaugurated
  22. 8.	12:00	the first creeper passed
  22. 8.	13:00	the official creeper passed
  23. 8.	15:00	the rescue was simulated
  23. 8.	19:30	the parachutist jumped
  25. 8.	12:00	the passing ended
  25. 8.	16:00	the derigging finished
  25. 8.	20:00	the champagne was drunk

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• Description of some interesting moments on Vel'ky traverz:
  1. The anchorage system on both sides was arranged from five anchors. Four from five anchors were fixed to natural points (stone holes, trees) and one to 10 mm anchor bolts. Central point was connected with anchors by gliding steel ropes for the equable distribution of powers on the anchors. The rope was fastened to the central point by a tensionless connection on the eastern side and by an yacht winch on the western side where a dynamometer for tension measurements was inserted. An output pulley hung free on each side of gorge was installed for the elimination of transversal forces (due a wing, for example).
  2. Three cords were used by us to drawing of traverse over the gorge. First thread with 0.5 mm diameter broke when it was brought over gorge by the copter. The second cord with diameter of 1.3 mm, weight of 1.2 kg/km and strenght of 750 N was brought succesfully. We connected the thin cord to third cord with diameter of 5 mm, weight of 12.5 kg/km and strenght of 5 kN and drew thick cord over gorge. Main rope was overdrawn by 5 mm cord similarly.
  3. The inauguration of Vel'ky traverz was opened by Gustav Stibranyi who summarized a history of the Vel'ky traverz preparation. Dr. Pavel Bosak, General Secretary of UIS, pointed out the Vel'ky traverz as postcongress event of 12-th Speleological Congress. Ing. Jan Tulis, Prezident of Slovak Speleological Society, recapitulated past successful activities of Technical Board of SSS. Ing. M. Repovska, Director of Regional Enviromental State Office in Kosice, opened the Vel'ky Traverz in 11:30.
  4. The caver Zoltan Agh from Slovakia passed Vel'ky traverz over gorge as first creeper. In 13:00 a public notary came at western anchor point. An official measurement of Vel'ky traverz parameters was made by Intelligence Total Station with laser distance meter SET4C (produced by Sokkisha, Japan), accurace of distance measurements was 5 mm on 1 km. Gustav Stibranyi passed Vel'ky traverz as offifial creeper in time of 30 minutes and 40 seconds what was audited by public notary as well as parameters of Vel'ky traverz.
  5. Altogether 44 creepers passed the superlong tyrolean traverse Vel'ky travez in days 22-25. 8. Two women passed too. Best time of passing was 8 minutes 37 seconds but mostly a folk passed it in 13 (light creepers) upto 30 (weighty) minutes when peoples delighted in shocked sceneries from high rope. Creepers come on Vel'ky traverz from:

     Slovakia	Czechia	Hungary	Germany	Great Britain	Russia
     31	9	4	1	1	1

  6. In the Saturday the rescue event was simulated on the rope. First creeper passed in center of rope and simulated the immobility. A rescuer passed from the opposite side of gorge to immobile creeper where one fixed 300 m long static rope to traverse rope. He hung in the bobbin on rescuing rope and switched the immobile creeper to self and both climbed on the bottom of gorge. The rescuing rope was cleared by fellow creeper. The Saturday programm was ended by drastical viewing when the parachutist passed in the center of rope and jumped in the depth. He penetrated by the parachute about the kilometer out from tihgty close gorge.
  7. The Organizing Committee prepared more attractions for over 15000 lookers:
     * small (only 180 m long) traverse rigged three meters above heads of lookers
     * a big screen (2x3m) with actual videoreports from high rope
     * kiosks with foods, souvenirs as well as with a Slovak beer
     * more, over more beer.
     The sky was high and sunny, temperature about 30 C.
  8. The Organizing Committee:
     • Eduard Kladiva (Speleoclub CASSOVIA),
     • Arpi Petrik (J.Majko's Group, Turna nad Bodvou),
     • Gustav Stibranyi (Technical Board of SSS)
     • Jozef Thuroczy (Speleoclub CASSOVIA)
     and all operating team counted over 110 volunteers (mainly for watching of the reservation conditions) are heart indebted to sponsors and persons countenanced us.
  9. The all technical information, results of measurements, computer simulations, conditions of passing, history and details about Velky traverz as well as papers of American, French, Czech cavers on other great tyroleans will be collected in Proceedings of workshop Tyrolean traverses (holded in August 21, 1997). Some results are very surprising (for Organizating Committee too). The Proceedings will be issued in this fall as well as the documentary video picture. You can send preliminary orders of Proceedings on addresses of Organizing Committtee (preliminary cost is 20 DEM + shipping and posting).
  10. Next information and photos will be accessible on this pages in the second week of September.