1987

Sara, a 600m deep cave explored in 1978 down a sporting streamway to sump well short of its potential. Were there high level routes to take us to greater depths, that existed in caves like 56? Much surface exploration over recent years had revealed little. Although a few mines led to deep systems, like Sara, hundreds didn’t go anywhere. Surface and mine exploration was becoming increasingly harder and more demoralising. Was Sara the only big lead in Andara and if so would she carry us on towards Agua?

Tim Nichols

Abstract

Objectives:

• explore possible high level leads in Sistema Sara,
• explore beyond the -293m limit in Pozo Castillo
• continue exploration of Clockwork Pot, found in 1986
• continue surface prospecting
• carry out various water traces

Summary

Approx. 3km of new cave was found in Sara 2. The system was re-surveyed and found to be -591m deep. The Rio Mancondiu section was explored by the Belgian Verbond van Vlaamse Speleologen (VVS) group, to a sump at -571m, directly above the Sara 2 sump.

Clockwork Pot was explored for -100m, including a large 83m shaft, entering the Pozo Natacha series of the Sistema Castillo.

T145 Pozo Castillo (part of the wider Sistema Castillo) was attempted to be re-explored but progress was blocked by a severe snow collapse

Members

Documents & Links

• Tresviso 1987
• To Sara or Bust? – Caves and Caving No. 39 (Tim Nichols, 1987)

Agua 1987

The aven looks horrendous. It would probably take 2 days hard work. The walls are covered in very liquid mud and there is a consistent stream of water coming down.

Anon

Abstract

The main objective of the SWCC 1987 expedition was to set up a 4 person camp in Consort Hall of Cueva del Nacimiento and push all the known leads in the Teeth of Satan series, discovered in 1986.

Additionally, an attempt to dive the terminal sump in Cowshead Cavern was to be attempted and a dive of the Parting Friends sump in the Road to Wigan Pier section of Cueva del Nacimiento.

Summary

Cueva del Nacimiento

Teeth of Satan was re-rigged to the Wet Aven a further climb above leading to walking canyon passage and chamber, Space the Final Frontier. A further ramp was climbed to further high level canyon. The canyon continued through numerous boulder falls to a small chamber (P-Chamber) before further rift passage led to an enormous chamber, Death Race 2000

A pitch at the far side of Death Race 2000 was dropped down >60m to a small stream

Parting Friends was not dived due to high water levels. An inlet sump near Spangle Junction was dived, but emerged in the downstream end of the Road to Certain Death passage.

Cowshead Cavern

Sump 3 was dived to -31m before ascending to surface. After 5m of dry passage Sump 4 was encountered.

Members

Documents & Links

• SWCC 1986/1987 Newsletter

Systema Sara 1987

Summary

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

Members

Documents & Links

• Sistema Sara – Spelerpes ’87 (Jos Beyens)
• Sistema Sara – 2020 translation of the 1987 article (Jos Beyens, Phil Walker)