2011

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

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

Documents & Links

Tresviso 2011 4.6 MB 35 downloads

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Tresviso 2011 1.2 MB 10 downloads

SWCC Newsheet 3/2011 – Phil Walker, Duncan Hornby ...

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Tresviso 2011 964 KB 11 downloads

summary in SWCC Newsletter 128_2012 – Phil Walker ...

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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

Documents & Links

Memorias 2011 5.4 MB 32 downloads

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Abstract

Exploration in Vaho de Los Lobos

Summary

• Over 70 sites identified on Vaho de Los Lobos

Members

Documents & Links

Bejes 2011 2.1 MB 32 downloads

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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

Documents & Links

Sotres – La Caballar 2011 650 KB 30 downloads

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