2011

Eastern Massif caving expeditions

In 2011 there were three main expeditions to the area; Tresviso 2011, by SWCC, was the start of exploring old leads in Cueva del Nacimiento. Campana Bejes was continued by the Spanish ‘Interclub’ and S.E.B.Escar continued exploration work in Invernales de Caballar (Asturias).

Tresviso 2011 (SWCC)

Abstract

Building on some small scale expeditions over the past couple of years the 2011 trip re-explored the major resurgence cave of the Eastern Massif area, resurveying and re-rigging with a long-term goal of enabling continued exploration of the cave and the area over the next few years.

A number of other sites were visited, all part of the wider work being undertaken and a number of successes were achieved.

Summary

The main objective of the 2011 expedition was to reach the Teeth of Satan climbs at the back end of Cueva del Nacimiento and investigate the leads left by the earlier expeditions.

The re-rigging of Nacimiento took much longer than expecting, largely down to reduced manpower and it took 4 trips to rig the cave and set up an underground camp to support the climbs.

The first objective of the climbs was the Wet Aven, approximately 50m up the first ramp. Although this was reached easily, the amount of water and the technical difficulty of bolting the aven up, meant it was deferred as the first objective and the team continued up the ramps, following the draft.

The climbs proved difficult in places (a testament to the previous explorers) and it took a lot longer than expected to climb the more tricky ones. It soon became obvious that the 1986/87 surveys were not entirely accurate. Although a lot of in-situ rope and other signs were encountered, indicating the correct route was being followed; the route and descriptions did not match what was being discovered. For this reason a re-survey was undertaken

As time began to run short, it was agreed to continue to follow the draft and investigate the avens in the Death Race 2000 chamber. This was the furthest and highest point of the known cave. On the last planned day in Nacimiento, the chamber was reached. It was as impressive as described, being approx. 40m across, full of huge boulders and 2 avens entering over the deepest part. It appears that the draft may come down one of these avens and the consensus was that the avens were scalable.

The cave has been left rigged, with the exception of 3 down pitches, so that next year the team can reach the backend in a day and start immediately on the Death Race 2000 avens.

In addition a new line survey to the backend was completed and around 100m of new passage discovered near the entrance series.

On the Sierra del Corta and Valdelafuente regions a number of old and new caves were pushed and explored with a number of locations ideal for a potential quick route into the end of Nacimiento.

Work also continued on logging old and new sites for inclusion in a new database of the various sites in the area.

Members

NameClubNationalityYearExpedName
Adam TomlinsonHarper Adams UniversityUK2011Tresviso 2011
Alan BraybrookeSouth Wales Caving ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
Alex SlaterNottingham University Caving ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
Colin BoothroydLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK2011Tresviso 2011
Derek CousinsLancaster University Speleological SocietyUK2011Tresviso 2011
Dickon MorrisBristol Exploration ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
Duncan HornbySouth Wales Caving ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
James CollingsWessex Cave ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
Martin TreriseNottingham University Caving ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
Maxine BatemanWessex Cave ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
Peter LewisHarper Adams UniversityUK2011Tresviso 2011
Phil RowsellBristol Exploration ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
Phil StringfellowNottingham University Caving ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
Phil WalkerSouth Wales Caving ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011
Simon WoolheadNottingham University Caving ClubUK2011Tresviso 2011

Thanks also due to Dave Checkley, Carolyn Ginnevar, Howard Jones, Roddy McLaughlin, Jim Thomson and Julian Walker

Documents & Links

Campana Bejes 2011 (Interclub)

Abstract

A continuation of the exploration of CS9 Torca Jou Sin Tierre

Summary

  • Continued exploration of CS-9 Torca Jou Sin Tierre to -1000m

Members

NameClubNationalityYearExpedName
Alfredo Moreno RiojaAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Antonio Cordero GarcíaAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Belén Pérez PérezAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Daniel García GarcíaAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Fernando de la Fuente MorenoAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Francisco Bueno DominguexAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Francisco Torrejón LeónAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Guillermo Posada AlbarránAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Gustavo Recio IsasiAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Jairo Salvador Reina QuintanaAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Javier Gutierrez NevadoAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
José Alberto Castellanos AlavedraGE FlashESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
José Fernando Asins MartínAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Jose Miguel Martinez LafuenteAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Luis Diez BlancoAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Luis Millana CuevasAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Raul Castilla VelaAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Unai Bernaloa GutierrezAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011
Urtzi Artiagorita RuizAsociación Deportiva KAMIESP2011Campana Bejes 2011

Documents & Links

La Caballar 2011 (SEB Escar)

Abstract

Continued re-exploration of Torca La Barga and other caves in the Invernales de Caballar region, to try and understand the hydrological relationship to either the Duje Valley or Cueva del Nacimiento.

Summary

  • Torca La Barga continued to be re-rigged

Members

NameClubNationalityYearExpedName
Carlos Santos SánchezSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
Darío Alaiz RodríguezSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
Ernesto Carrera CallejaSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
Gonzalo Sánchez HerreroSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
Israel (Isi) Sánchez SáncheSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
Javier Gil TerrónSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
Juan Carlos (Río) Riobello AmadorSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
María Herrera MuñozoSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
Nacho Montero García-San MiguelSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
Pablo Solares VillarSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011
Victor SánchezSociedad Espeleológica y Barranquista ESCARESP2011Caballar 2011

Documents & Links