2015

Abstract

The 2015 expedition was undertaken with collaboration between a number of UK based caving clubs and the Spanish AD KAMI club.

As per previous years the majority of work was concentrated on the resurgence cave of Cueva del Nacimiento, a 12 km cave system with a height gain of over 495m from the entrance.  The catchment of this cave totals 37 km² and, if linked with known entrances high in the Eastern Massif, would create a potential 1500m+ deep underground traverse.

The main effort in 2015 was to continue work in the furthest reaches of the cave, around the areas known as the Teeth of Satan and Death Race 2000.  A series of steep ramps lead to the highest known points in the cave and a number of leads were investigated.

Summary

The 2015 expedition has continued to build on the successes of previous trips advancing exploration in line with the expedition objectives and discovering a number of new leads and 2km of cave was surveyed.

Cueva del Nacimiento

Nearly 1km of new passage was discovered and surveyed in Cueva del Nacimiento and a number of new leads identified. The continued exploration of Cueva del Nacimiento has been very successful, with the discovery of the main way on deeper into the mountain, via the Die Hard – Jurassic World extensions above Death Race 2000.  The strong draught in the cave has been rediscovered in these extensions and continued exploration in this area will be the main focus of future expeditions.

The highest point in Cueva del Nacimiento is now 177m higher than the lowest point in Sima 56, albeit nearly 4km away horizontally.  This would suggest that the new extensions in the Death Race 2000 area are heading towards a possible ‘middle entrance’ between the two systems.

The following provides a list of the main leads outstanding in Cueva del Nacimiento:

• Die Hard – 5 unclimbed avens / climbs.
• Jurassic World – 4 unclimbed avens / climbs and sandy passage dig.
• Death Race Pina Colada Sump – possible dive and high level rift.
• Death Race 2000 – main aven climb remains unfinished.
• Teeth of Satan – Wet Aven – climb remains unfinished.
• Teeth of Satan – Hellsmouth – further passages unexplored
• Consort Hall – I Love Horses – ramp continues up.
• Parting Friends Sump
• Far Upstream Sump

Andara Region

Work in the higher caves of Andara remains a challenge due to manpower and equipment committed to Cueva del Nacimiento and the necessity to repeat a lot of exploration and rigging from the early LUSS expeditions.  T105 Italianos and T91A Torca Boulderosa were successfully revisited and re-rigged and despite not producing any new cave the work has been invaluable in updating and clarifying the ‘picture’ of the higher cave systems and their relation to Cueva del Nacimiento.

Future expeditions will continue to revisit the higher caves in conjunction with the work at the foot of the mountain in an effort to produce a more comprehensive view of the Eastern Massif cave systems.

Members

Thanks also due to Derek Cousins, Howard Jones, Colin Boothroyd, Dave Checkley, Carolyn Ginnevar and the people of Tresviso.

Documents & Links

• Tresviso 2015 (main report)

Abstract

As part of the Tresviso Caves Project

Summary

As part of the Tresviso Caves Project

Members

As part of the Tresviso Caves Project

Documents & Links

• Memorias 2015

Abstract

Exploration and surveying of VL-52, located in the Vao de los Lobos area, and HO-9, located in the Hoyo Oscuro area (Vegas de Ándara).

Summary

• Exploration of VL-52 to a sump
• T87 (ed. not same as T87 Torca Mazarrasa) explored and connects to mine levels

Members

Documents & Links

• Bejes 2015