1986

Eastern Massif, Picos de Europa, Northern Spain

In 1986 there was three main expeditions to the area. Tresviso 1986 by Lancaster University Speleological Society (LUSS) continued exploration in the Pico Moro and Minas de Mazarrasa areas. South Wales Caving Club (SWCC) undertook diving exploration in Cueva del Nacimiento, as part of the Agua 86 expeditions, and the Belgian Verbond van Vlaamse Speleologen group explored Sistema Sara.

Tresviso 1986 (LUSS)

Summary

  • Dossers Delight leads checked out, still stops at -831m deep.
  • Found Clockwork Pot and connected to Natacha (Pozo Castillo)

Members

NameClubNationalityYearExpedName
Colin BoothroydLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Daniel DaviesLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Dave WarringtonLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
David HetheringtonLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Duncan HetheringtonLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Howard JonesLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Howard McKeeLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
John WallworkLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Mark MortimerLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Nick AireyLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Paul OldhamLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Rich BroughtonLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Steve JonesLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Steve ToonsLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Tim NicholsLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986
Tony HammesLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK1986Tresviso 1986

Documents & Links

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Tresviso 1986 5 MB 2 downloads

extract from LUSS 4 (1987) ...
    Agua 1986 (SWCC)

    Agua 1986

    ..tight and sharp and particularly unconducive to bottle carrying..

    Anon.

    Abstract

    Objectives

    • Dive the Certain Death, Colin’s Climax (the Far Upstream Sump) and Wigan Pier sumps of Cueva del Nacimiento
    • Re-examine leads at the ‘back-end’ of Cueva del Nacimiento
    • Dive the Terminal Sump in Cueva de la Marniosa
    • Prospect for new entrance in the Sobra Valley and the Sierra del a Corta

    Summary

    Cueva de la Marniosa

    The Terminal Sump was passed after 35m to >1.5 km of stream passage and a second sump

    Cueva del Nacimiento

    The Certain Death sump, previously dived in 1985 for 120m, was extended down to -64m and 240m from base. At the limit of exploration an ascending shaft was encountered (ed. disputed, see later reports).

    In the ‘back-end’ the main stream was pushed downstream for 300m to a 20m gour pool ramp above a sump (Far Downstream Sump).

    The Far Upstream Sump was dived to 167m from base at a depth of -27m.

    In the Hall of the Green Domino, above the Bloody Lake, a steep wall was scaled to a series of steep ramps and climbs, totaling over 200m and reaching +192m above the Bloody Lake. The area was dubbed the Teeth of Satan.

    Just inside the Nacimiento entrance series the main upstream sump was dived for 45m to resurface in known stream passage.

    The Road to Wigan Pier sump was passed after 18m, at -16m depth, to further stream passage. This was followed to another sump, Parting Friends)

    Cueva del Rio Chico

    In Chico, sump 2 was dived to -62m (ed. later dives reported line tied off at circa -37m).

    Cowshead Cavern

    A cheese cave in the Sobra Valley was explored for 250m to a sump. The sump was passed after 100m to further stream passage and Sump 2. Sump 2 was only 4m long, leading to >500m of passage and Sump 3.

    Members

    NameClubNationalityYearExpedName
    Andrea DyerSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Andrea SawyerSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Clive GardnerSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Debbie StevensSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Fran HamptonSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Ian RollandSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Jane BlanchardSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Jo EllisSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Julian WalkerSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Mags ThomsonSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Rob ParkerSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86
    Roddy McLauchlanSouth Wales Caving ClubUK1986Agua 86

    Documents & Links

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    Agua '86 - '87 3.5 MB 1 downloads

    ...
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    Agua 86 Feedback Report 4 MB 2 downloads

    ...
      Sara 1986 (Verbond van Vlaamse Speleologen)

      Systema Sara 1986

      Summary

      • Exploration of Sara (discovery of the Belgian Connection / Rio Mancondiu)

      Members

      NameClubNationalityYearExpedName
      Andre SleursVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBE1986Sara 86
      Frank De ClerckVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBE1986Sara 86
      Jan MasscheleinVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBE1986Sara 86
      Jos BeyensVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBE1986Sara 86
      Koen MandonxVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBE1986Sara 86
      Patrick BlommaertVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBE1986Sara 86
      Rik KuenenVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBE1986Sara 86
      Wim CuyversVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBE1986Sara 86

      Documents & Links

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      Systema Sara 8 MB 3 downloads

      1987 Belgian Journal? ...
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      Systema Sara 44 MB 2 downloads

      Spelerpes 1987 (Jos Beyens) ...
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      Systema Sara 229 kb 2 downloads

      2020 translation of the 1987 article (Jos Beyens, Phil Walker) ...