Another year and another belief that we could find the missing middle entrance between Sima 56 and Cueva del Aqua. Efforts this year were to be concentrated on the Cheese Cave.
1. Further digging of the Cheese Cave (see '95 report), discovered by John and Colin in the 1980's. The '95 expedition had pushed the previous limit through a flat out crawl into a small chamber. Progress was halted by a thick flake buttress. The '96 expedition hoped to break past this, "will only take 4 hours" says Derek.
2. Further prospecting of middle camp area looking for middle entrance between Agua and Sima 56.
Location:
Description.
Promise of new cave with a howling gale inspired us to follow John Wallwork up a steep valley near Arenas. Steep climb above valley led to impressive resurgence.
Above resurgence is dry route into cave that soon connects with main streamway. Water is crystal clear and can be followed for a good few hundred metres into dangerous boulder choke. This was the limit of our exploration, but a quick look by Sean and Helen above the choke found a way on but also French topofil survey equipment.
Later talk with local Spanish cavers revealed that the cave is currently the scene of much activity, especially higher up in search of top entrance. The Spanish cavers said they were happy for help digging but only after a letter was sent in advance.
Derek, Joena and Phil went on a tourist trip with Jim Thompson (ex-SWCC) into Agua. Very impressive cave, still with a large amount of potential. However, much of the farthest reaches are still rigged with dubious ropes and belays from LUSS expeditions in the 80's.
N.B. Although apparently labelled T78, it is not the cave description
of T78 that can be found in the journals.
Location:
018 degrees from Mancondiu Peak. 256 degrees from Beges Road,
level with bend in track.
Entrance:
At base of 40ft escarpment of limestone. Entrance through boulder
roof collapse.
Description:
One Bolt at entrance, rebolted half way down ('96).
Approx 50m pitch split by large ledge. From ledge
upwards leads to apparent digging and down
rejoins pitch, but on the other side of the pitch
the chamber appears to continue.
At base of pitch continues on to cairn, either limit of previous exploration or the way on.
Large entrance near to camp, filled with rubbish and dead goats. Horrible crawl narrows down over bones.
There are a couple of entrances on the Sotres-Tresviso road, that have only been revealed with the road construction.
T1996.1
Located on road as you walk from Tresviso on left hand side.
8ft above road. 2m passage splits, left hand closes down immediately with lots of loose stone, right hand narrow and requires removal of rock after 1m.
T1996.2
1/3 mile further along from 1996.1 there is a cydrincal shaft, adjacent to the first cabanas, upstream from dam in valley.
The entrance is piled up with domestic refuge, however the rubbish appears to sit on diggable floor. Only for people with extremely bored disposition.
T1996.3
On the Invs de la Espinas, situated near 'knoll' where road cuts through limestone next to pylon. Head for the valley.
Entrance is 15ft down loosed scree slopes into a chamber running along a rift. Continuing
straight on leads to awkward squeeze around boulder and 8ft drop. Lots of bat droppings in small chamber, crawl under boulder immediately. No other way on. (N.B. This cave made me violently ill four hours later, either that or the tuna!)
T1996.4
From ridge of 'knoll' go right parallel to valley then over slightly. Entrance above bracken filled shallow doline patch.
Directly into large chamber decorated with very old stals, covered in shite.
Skylight to left but before and left again is crawl and connection into another large chamber, split into two levels by hand built wall. Another entrance leads out through a hornets nest.
An expedition is tentatively planned for 1998 and there is the 2000 reunion. A 1998 could concentrate on the following objectives.
1. Further pushing of the Cheese cave. Better equipment (drills) could easily see the flake passed.
2. Exploring the Sierra de la Corta. This is a major project in itself. Although most of the shafts have been explored by LUSS the information has been lost. (Unless ex-members have it?) This area is almost directly above the far reaches of Agua and the right shaft would probably drop straight into Agua.
3. Cueva del Agua. Another major project. Pushing the far reaches would mean long camping trips, a large number of expedition memebers and a lot more equipment. However, there are also numerous potential digging sites within the first part of the cave.
Ideas 1 and 2 could be done with a smallish expediton however, number three would require a lot more interest to be a viable project. With a large enough number 2 and 3 could be done simultaneously.
If anyone is interested in being part of such an expedition, not even cavers for exploring the Sierra de la Corta they can get in touch with us at
LUSS, c/o 34 Williamson Road, Freehold, LANCASTER.
The whole of the Eastern Massiff has recently become a National Park, meaning camping is now forbidden without prior arrangement.
Access to caves poses no problem, although around Tresviso it is wise to stick to paths so avoiding walking across peoples land. (However this only happens if you let Neil take you to Agua, where you end up going down a near vertical slope and arrive 2 miles downstream from Agua.)
