This page was translated from Hebrew and has not been reviewed yet. The Hebrew page is the reference. עברית

Balutim Chimney, Pekiin

Location: Mount Pekiin
Elevation: about 866 m above sea level

Description of the cave:

Balutim Chimney is a small (total depth about 25 m), stepped chimney that developed by vadose dissolution processes in limestone of Cenomanian age (Sakhnin Fm.).

The chimney has a small entrance (measuring 0.7X0.5 m) bounded by collapse boulders that blocked its original entrance, which measured about 2.5X4.5 m and whose outline is clearly visible on the surface.

From the entrance, among the collapse boulders that blocked the chimney's original entrance, a vertical, stepped passage (I) extends, which after 4 m connects to the chimney itself (II). The shape of the chimney, at this point, is rounded, its walls are bare and show dissolution marks that created pointed areas in them. In its southern wall the line of the crack along which the chimney developed is clearly visible (the general direction of the cracking is north-south). From the junction between the entrance passage and the chimney, the latter descends about 20 m, and at the middle of its height there is a sloping step covered with mud and rock fragments. Below this step and down to its floor (III) the chimney has a rounded cross-section, from whose walls circumferential ledges extend, and tree roots hang along its length.

The chimney floor looks like a rounded area (1.5X1.5 m) covered with muddy terra rossa soil and a few stones. On the chimney floor, adjacent to the walls, there are wood mouse "nests" built from acorn cups, leaves, and many acorns scattered throughout the chimney and mainly on its floor.

* There are very few speleothems in the chimney. Speleothems that underwent secondary dissolution are found at various points in the chimney and mainly in the walls near the floor.

* No bats or guano were observed in the chimney.

Access:

Entry into the chimney is possible with ropes only - the rappel rope can be anchored to the rocks in the immediate vicinity of the entrance.
The step in the middle of the chimney is comfortable enough to stand on, but there are no convenient natural anchors around it, so at this point it is recommended to use a rope protector.
On the chimney floor there is no spot protected from falling stones for more than one person.

Written by: Boaz Langford, after a visit to the site with Mika Ullman