Tresviso Caves Project

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T21: Torca de Brana Espina

(HT-1, Cueva C29)
Area:Invernales de la Caballar
East, North:360040, 4788354 (nearby)
Coordinate Quality:Google Earth
Long, Lat:-4.7236910166451, 43.234972317211 (map)
Elevation (m):1270
Length (m):1000
Depth (m):-450
System:
Active Lead:
Survey Available:

Approach
From the Jitu de Escarandi carpark follow the road towards Sotres. Shortly more level ground is encountered and the road passes through a shallow grassy depression. To the right and left of the track are large steep sided do lines. HT-1 is marked on the small cliff above the entrance to the cave, just to the left of the road. The entrance was excavated (1975) and is a small hole between boulders in the rock face.

Entrance
The entrance was excavated and is a small hole between boulders in the rock face.

Description
Once through the entrance squeeze, there is a 3m climb down (rope needed) into a small chamber. A low passage leads off and the mud floor had to be dug out to enable further progress (1975). Muddy crawling leads to a high narrow trench passage and the top of the first pitch. (This and the rest of the cave are now bolted with 8mm through bolts - 2023). At 5m down there is a narrow ledge and a further 11m pitch in a large shaft. A climb and 7m pitch over a jammed boulder lead via a stooping passage to a junction. Left and then a climb down to the right leads to a hading fault formed rift, leads to a massive shaft.

A P35 down a clean wall, lands on a spacious ledge. The shaft continues to an awkward take off to a fine free hanging abseil of 42m. A further 50m leads to a 7m pitch with awkward take off follows. The passage, now roomier, continues through various dry pools to a climb and a further 12m pitch with an awkward take off. The continuation becomes wet and low, soon sumping.

This sump was successfully siphoned in 2023. It was siphoned back to a drain hole just before the sump, though this has since backed up with mud and may need rodding in future. A free diving line has also been installed in case which would make an approx. 4m free dive.

Beyond the sump is a slight squeeze followed by a 5m pitch. Beyond typical meander passage heads downstream (low/minimal flow 2023 but pools) via a number of climbs (one requiring a handline) to a 4m pitch, again further meanders, and climbs (once more requiring a handline) followed by 2 slight squeezes to the head of an 80m pitch (120m rope at least). This is a broken descent requiring lots of rebelays. Rock quality is generally good but some loose rock is present to top.

Beyond this pitch the cave returns back to meanders, with further small pitches in the streamway. One wet section of crawl is also encountered before a tight 10m rift (SRT kit off) is passed to the head of another small pitch.

From here a couple of small pitches (including one with a very tight head – possibly by-passable above but would need bolting) bring you to the head of another large pitch system. This starts innocuously but soon enlarges to make a fine pitch series which is split into a variety of hangs for ease and to avoid dripping water from the roof. (Possible lead coming in halfway down the pitch series) (again 120m rope needed)

Below this the cave again returns to meander for a while with a series of climbs (handline on bolts 10m rope) before hitting a more horizontal level. Initially this begins as a tight high rift but soon opens up to very large proportions (5-7m wide x 15-25m high) with possible ways on in the roof (bolt climb).

Continuing along the rift at low level various loose boulders must be passed until floor level becomes too tight and a 5m climb up leads to some very sketchy boulders and loose (detached) rift walls. Careful progress here eventually leads to the end of the rift, where at floor level again it is possible to squeeze between boulders and re-enter a small meandering streamway passage.

The streamway is based on a hading rift and must be followed at various levels in order to progress with many false floors noted, though the actually stream height is basically horizontal in this section. After approx. 80m a slight junction is met at some flow stone with a hole through boulders noted on the right (unexplored) as well as an obvious continuation above stream level (unexplored). The last survey station is a large stal at this flowstone. Also, note that the hading rift is high and there may be potential for ways off at roof level.

Reference
L.U.S.S. (1974-1977)
T.C.P. (2019, 2023)

Images
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