2018

Abstract

The 2018 expedition was undertaken with collaboration between a number of UK based caving clubs and the Spanish AD KAMI club, under the name of the Tresviso Caves Project.

As per previous years the majority of work was concentrated on the resurgence cave of Cueva del Nacimiento, a 13km+ cave system with a height gain of over +535m from the entrance.  The catchment of this cave totals 37 km² and, if linked with known cave systems high in the Eastern Massif, would create a potential 1500m+ deep underground traverse.

The main effort in 2018 was to continue work in the furthest reaches of the cave, around the areas known as Death Race 2000, Die Hard and Jurassic World.  A series of steep ramps lead to the highest known points in the cave and a number of leads were investigated at these highest points.  In addition, a re-investigation of some of the caves on the higher Andara range was continued.

Summary

The 2018 expedition has continued to build on the successes of previous trips discovering over 2.5km of new cave and a number of new leads.  Over 3km of existing cave was also resurveyed to improve accuracy of old data and provide a better picture of the interconnected systems.

Cueva del Nacimiento

Exploration in Cueva del Nacimiento still remains a challenge. The distance and nature of the cave has prevented numerous cavers from reaching the end and thunderstorms during the expedition produced some unexpected reactions at the far end.  

The large Pina Colada sump was crossed to give access to an ascending rift / climb that led to another 150m of passage, and an aven at the end remains unclimbed.  Given the ramp like nature of the system this area is of particular interest, not only has it dropped back down to stream-level, it is now heading back up and in large fossil phreatic passage.

Terror Firma, at +534m the highest point in the cave, was climbed once more but the lead closed down with no further progress.

Although it did not produce new passage, the re-rigging of the Death Race traverse and other climbs opens up the possibility of increased success over future expeditions as the time to the end of the cave from the Death Race camp has been reduced from 3-4 hours to a mere hour.

Cueva de la Marniosa

Sump 2 was dived again to the previous limit of exploration.  Another 150m of cave was explored over a 3-hour trip beyond sump 2 by 2 cavers and was stopped after encountering a 6m pitch into the continuing streamway.  Logistics for diving at such a remote site (with full SRT and rigging equipment requirements) prevented further exploration.

T20A Cueva de la Silvestre

An unexpected discovery was a surface sink in the Sobra Valley. Sites have been known in this area since the early 70’s exploration but with no real systematic exploration occurring.   One site in particular provided a series of pitches into an active stream.  The location and direction of the cave pointed to an obvious connection to Cueva de la Marniosa.

The cave was explored over 4 trips reaching over -230m depth and 780m long. Finally, on the last trip a connection with Cueva de la Marniosa was achieved. This has created a through trip and increased the length and depth of the system to 5.5km long and -463m deep, the 7th deepest cave in the Andara range.

T169 Flowerpot (Torca del Picu Boru)

The BEN series was re-bolted and resurveyed to a depth of -304m, of the -723m total known depth.  Neither Boulder Bluff or Aerial Antics were found to be ongoing, but there remain several unclimbed avens throughout the BEN series.  The alternative route onwards from Pozo del Lago led to around 100m of new fossil passage with two pitches (Bottom of the Barrel – 10m and Tequila Sunrise – 8m).  There remains an undescended pitch with the sound of water suggesting this re-joins the active streamway and possibly the known route.

In the BILL series an alternative route around the previously abandoned constriction at around -150m led to over 100m of pitches and a new maximum depth of -260m. There remains an unexplored continuation above Elephants Trunk pitch, as well as a inlet part way down the final Invasive Species pitch which was unexplored.  It is thought that the chamber closes down at the bottom of the final pitch however this is worth investigation. 

Additionally, the higher-level Deflowered Chamber was discovered and pushed upwards where it appears to head towards the surface, although this eventully closed down.

Sistema Castillo

The snow plug that has prevented access to the main cave for the last 30 years had receded over the hot summer in Spain.  A 5m pitch was dropped to tight rifts against the remaining snow.  Unexpectedly the passage popped out to connect to the lower section of FT16 (explored in 2017). This now suggests that the snow plug is the centre of a very large entrance chamber / shaft, at least 60m deep, with the snow plug almost 30-40m high. The way on into Pozo del Castillo ‘proper’ remains elusive and is probably still beneath the centre of the snow plug. Further work in the chamber next year may be successful.

The undescended 20m pitch at the bottom of Pozo Natacha was also passed, to a further 5m pitch and another impassable rift

T516 Cowshead Cavern (Cueva de la Cabeza de Vaca)

Sump 1 was dived and an unclimbed ramp, just after the sump, was scaled leading to 159m of new passage.  The passage heads back downstream.

T190 Torca Septrin
The 2010 and 2014 ‘too tight’ leads were explored and found to be still too tight for further exploration.  There is the potential for the constriction at the bottom of the Backshot pitch to be capped for a way on, but it is likely to close down quickly.  

There remain two higher level leads, one at the bottom of the 3rd true pitch where the known way on leads down to the left. The passage also appears to lead to the right and down which does not lead into known cave.  This would require a constricted traverse and potentially capping to widen the pitch head.

Additionally, there is a lead into a small active streamway at the bottom of the furthest of two unclimbed avens accessed from the small chamber above Pussy Attack.  This was hammered for a time to widen the opening with no success.  The stream drops 1m and then disappears around a corner, which could close down immediately.

Members

Documents & Links

BPC Bulletin Vol 7 No 7 21 MB 35 downloads

Summary of Tresviso 2017-2019 ...

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Tresviso 2018 12 MB 37 downloads

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SUSS 60th Journal 25 MB 16 downloads

summary of SUSS involvement in 2018 expedition ...

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Tresviso 2018 Ghar Parau Summary Report 269 KB 10 downloads

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Abstract

As per Tresviso Caves Project

Summary

As per Tresviso Caves Project

Members

As per Tresviso Caves Project

Documents & Links

Memorias 2018 2.5 MB 27 downloads

...

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Abstract

A continuation of exploration on the northern end of Samelar and re-investigation of caves in the El Dobrillo area

Summary

• SN-6 Torca de Concha Valera explored to -300m
• SN-2 Torca del Topinoria explored to -250m

Members

Documents & Links

Bejes 2018 6.1 MB 19 downloads

CDE Tracalet & GE Flash ...

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Abstract

Since 2016 Club d’Espeleologia l’Avern de Ontinyent (Valencia) have been exploring the area of Portudera in the Eastern Massif. The project aims to catalogue and explore the caves in this area

Summary

Numerous sites on the Portudera range identified and explored

Members

Documents & Links

Memorias Portudera 2018 28.00 KB 1 downloads

blog post (https://exploracionesenportudera.blogspot.com) ...

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