1986

Eastern Massif caving expeditions

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

  • Tresviso ’86 (no specific report, but included as part of LUSS 4)
  • LUSS 4 (BCRA archives 78mb version)
  • Tresviso ’86 – Caves and Caving No 37 (Howard McKee & Tim Nichols, 1986)

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

  • Agua 86 – SWCC Newsletter 1986/1987
  • Agua 86Caves and Caving No. 36 (Gavin Newman and Julian Walker, 1986)
  • Agua ’86 – log extracts, SWCC Newsletter 104, 40th Anniversary

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 SpeleologenBEL1986Sara 86
Frank De ClerckVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBEL1986Sara 86
Jan MasscheleinVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBEL1986Sara 86
Jos BeyensVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBEL1986Sara 86
Koen MandonxVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBEL1986Sara 86
Patrick BlommaertVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBEL1986Sara 86
Rik KuenenVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBEL1986Sara 86
Wim CuyversVerbond van Vlaamse SpeleologenBEL1986Sara 86

Documents & Links