LUSS in Spain: Members and Happenings

The following is a list of expedition members and a brief summary of the work done by LUSS (and others) on the Eastern Massif in the Picos de Europa of Northern Spain. Further infomation can be found in the LUSS journals and in Caves and Caving.

Seventies: 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Eighties: 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 - -
Nineties: - - - - 1994 1995 1996

Expedition 1970

Reconnaissance expedition to the Piscarciano.

Members

  1. Alan Proctor - Leader.
  2. B.J. Skillerne De Bristowe - Driver.
  3. A.J. Coghlan - Tackle Officer/Photographer.
  4. Mel Gascoyne - Driver/Photographer.
  5. Sion Murray - Transport Officer.
  6. Dave Checkley - Treasurer/Medical Officer.

Expedition 1971

Continuing work in Hoz de Arreba and the Cueva del Piscarciano. Visited La Hermida.

Members

  1. A. Coghlan - Leader.
  2. D. Checkley - Medical Officer.
  3. E. Rogerson - Secretary.
  4. J. Murray - Informations Officer.
  5. A. Simmons - Treasurer.
  6. M. Parker - Photographic Officer.
  7. M. Price - Catering Officer.
  8. J. McKenzie - Equipment Officer.
  9. M. Plant
  10. Mrs E.F. Plant

Expedition 1972

The centre of the expeditions work lay near Los Corrales de Buelna, Santander Province, in a small cave, the Hornes de la Pena. mainly studing Paleolithic cave art with members of UCL.

Expedition 1974

Visited the Cares Gorge. Heard about a village Tresviso.

Members

  1. Spike Bagshaw
  2. Chris Baxter
  3. Dave Checkley
  4. Sion Murray
  5. Jack Sheldon
  6. Allen Williams

Expedition 1975

Stayed at Tresviso. Started to explore Cueva del Agua.

Members

  1. Nick Airey
  2. Peter Alexander
  3. Rose Allen
  4. Fran Bagenal
  5. Chris Baxter
  6. Henry Beakbane
  7. Dave Checkley
  8. Rob Davey
  9. Simon Dawson
  10. Tony Harrison
  11. Claire Hickmott
  12. Ian Jones
  13. Rob Jones
  14. Ruth Metcalfe
  15. Kevin Molloy - Leader.
  16. Nigel Newham
  17. Jonah Rushwell
  18. Paul Simm
  19. Allen Williams

Expedition 1976

Continued exploring Cueva del Agua.
First trip to the mountains that drain into Cueva del Agua. The area known as Andara.

Members

  1. Mike Airey
  2. Nick Airey - Leader.
  3. Fran Bagenal
  4. Richard Bartrop
  5. Colin Boothroyd
  6. Anne Carter
  7. Bernard Carter
  8. Carolynn Ginnever
  9. Claire Hickmott
  10. Rosie Hoyle
  11. Phil Johnstone
  12. Ian Jones
  13. Kevin Molloy
  14. Doth Noble
  15. Jes Peterson
  16. Dave Riley
  17. Nick Rogers
  18. Paul Simm
  19. Ralph Sterling
  20. Allen Williams

Expedition 1977

Started camping underground in Agua.
Started a camp high in the mountains(top camp). The Sara, Tere and R.C.A.6 (Boulderosa) mines explored. Sima 55 found and nearby '3 second hole'(sima 56).

Members

  1. Mike Airey
  2. Nick Airey
  3. Mike Avison
  4. Fran Bagenal
  5. Richard Bartrop
  6. Chris Baxter
  7. Colin Boothroyd
  8. Alice Brocklehurst
  9. Anne Carter
  10. Bernard Carter
  11. Howard Carter
  12. Phil Chapman
  13. Dave Checkley - Leader.
  14. Bob Churcher
  15. Jeff Clegg
  16. Martin Cooke
  17. Tony Coyte
  18. Dan Edelstein
  19. Rob Davey
  20. Simon Dawson
  21. Ken Daykin
  22. Isobel Dobie
  23. Dave Elliot
  24. Hugh Firman
  25. John Forder
  26. Carolynn Ginnever
  27. Anne Gough
  28. Tony Hammes
  29. Francis Harvey
  30. Claire Hickmott
  31. Eric Hook
  32. Sheila Hurd
  33. Sue I'Anson
  34. Karen and Ean
  35. Ben Lyon
  36. Kevin Molloy
  37. Jes Peterson
  38. Paul Ramsden
  39. Dave Riley
  40. Jane Rosser
  41. Paul Simm
  42. Martin Walters
  43. Andrew Wells
  44. Allen Williams
  45. Angus Wood

Expedition 1978

Another camp underground in Agua. Colins Climax Explored.
Stayed at the 'Whitehouse' an abandoned miners cottage(Now a refugio) for the first time. Sara explored. Boulderosa found by SEII. Sima 56 entered.

Members

  1. Nick Airey
  2. Nigel Anderton
  3. Mike Avison
  4. Chris Baxter
  5. Elaine Bletcher
  6. John Boardman
  7. Colin Boothroyd
  8. Lyndon Bracewell
  9. Bernard Carter
  10. Paul Castleton
  11. Dave Checkley
  12. Martin Cook
  13. Tony Coyte
  14. Rob Davey
  15. Ken Daykin
  16. Hugh Firman
  17. Carolynn Ginnever
  18. Terry Godley
  19. Andy Gordon
  20. Anne Gough
  21. Tony Hammes
  22. Sheila Hurd
  23. Phil Huxley
  24. Sue I'Anson
  25. Colin Jackson
  26. Howard Jones
  27. Brian Mahoney
  28. Max McDuff
  29. Marcus McHugh
  30. Howard Mc Kee
  31. Steve Parry
  32. Jes Peterson
  33. Dave Riley - Expedition Leader.
  34. Nick Rogers
  35. Jonah Rothwell
  36. Gordon Sanders
  37. Mark Sefton
  38. Paul Sharples
  39. Lubes Smart
  40. Pete Smart
  41. Helen Stephenson
  42. Paul Strange
  43. John Wallwork
  44. Martin Walters
  45. Irene White
  46. Mark Williams
  47. Angus Wood
  48. Peter Wood
  49. Mike Wright

Expedition 1979

In Cueva del Agua the Grand Circle was explored. Total surveyed length 11km
Boulderosa explored to a duck at -313m deep.
Tere explored to a impenetrable crack at -487m deep.
Sima 56 passes the Slasher and into the Far Canal, ending at a sump at -494m deep.
Marniosa gets longer by 1.3km to a total of 3.5km.
Sara reaches a terminal sump at -635m or 701m deep from higher entrance.
Won the Mick Burke Award. The video is in the Main Library of Lancaster University.
  • Caves and Caving No. 9

    Members

    1. N Airey
    2. M Avison
    3. F Bagenall
    4. C Baxter
    5. J Boardman
    6. C Bootroyd
    7. I Brindle
    8. B Carter
    9. P Chapman
    10. D Checkley
    11. J Crosset
    12. J Cunningham
    13. R Davies
    14. K Daykin
    15. N Dean
    16. L Dodd
    17. A Eavis
    18. H Firman
    19. H Friederich
    20. T Godley
    21. A Gough
    22. T Hammes
    23. S Hurd
    24. S I'Anson
    25. C Jackson
    26. H Jones - Leader.
    27. R Matthews
    28. H McKee
    29. Mary
    30. R Munro
    31. L Napolean
    32. P Owens
    33. R Phillips
    34. D Pocock
    35. B Richardson
    36. D Riley
    37. D Rolph
    38. H Rothwell
    39. P Seed
    40. M Sefton
    41. P Sharples
    42. P Smart
    43. D Stoddard
    44. S Stoddard
    45. G Trim
    46. J Wallwork
    47. I White
    48. A Williams
    49. D Willis
    50. M Wright
    51. A Wood
    52. C Young

    Expedition 1980

    Tere, Flower Pot and Dossers Delight explored. Sima 56 to Death Wish Pitch

    Members

    1. J. Peterson
    2. K. Daykin
    3. L. Napolean
    4. M. Walters
    5. H. Jones
    6. M. Sefton
    7. J. Wallwork
    8. J. Kerry
    9. I. Edmundson
    10. N. Stewart
    11. D. Peterson
    12. B. Riley
    13. S. Wilson
    14. P. Hartley
    15. F. Hartley
    16. D. Wood
    17. K. Clurie
    18. N. Smith
    19. L. Howard

    Expedition 1981

    Tere explored to a flooded shaft at -792m deep.
    Flower Pot explored by SEII to -350m until they ran out of rope and time, then LUSS continued exploration to a sump at -720m deep.
    Dossers Delight(T173) stops at a draughting fissure at -294m deep.
    Sima 56 looked at. Pozo Natacha Explored. Pozo Castillo entered.
  • Caves and Caving No. 15

    Members

    1. Nick Airey
    2. Isobel Bishop
    3. Colin Boothroyd
    4. Dave Bryant
    5. M Busby
    6. Paul Castleton
    7. Dave Checkley
    8. D Churcher
    9. Mike Coley
    10. Jim Cunningham
    11. Joanna Davinson
    12. Ken Daykin
    13. Neil Dean
    14. K Downing
    15. M Edwards
    16. C Evans
    17. Tony Hammes
    18. Pete Hartley
    19. Chris Harvey
    20. Jim Hussey
    21. Colin Jackson
    22. Alan Laucht
    23. Howard McKee
    24. Jeanne Mortimer
    25. Richard Morton
    26. M Mullins
    27. Linda Napolean
    28. Pete Owens
    29. Mark Sefton
    30. Helen Stephenson
    31. Jeremy Storry
    32. Dave Thresh
    33. John Wallwork
    34. Martin Walters

    Expedition 1982

    Sima 56 camped at Humbug Hall, bottom now -820m
  • Caves and Caving No. 19

    Members

    1. Mike Avison
    2. Isobel Bishop
    3. Colin Boothroyd
    4. Nigel Briggs
    5. Dave Bryant
    6. Alan Burke
    7. Dave Checkley
    8. Mike Coley
    9. David Crellin
    10. Ken Daykin - Leader.
    11. Neil Dean
    12. Tony Hammes
    13. Pete Hartley
    14. Fay Hartley
    15. Pete Iles
    16. Colin Jackson
    17. Martin James
    18. Cedric Marsh
    19. Howard McKee
    20. Jes Peterson
    21. Mandy Pinches
    22. Bob Riley
    23. Paul Saville
    24. Mark Sefton
    25. Bob Steven

    Expedition 1983

    Sima 56, camped at Humbug Hall and Dripping Blood Passage. Bottom now at -1169m deep. Sima 56 is the deepest cave in the Picos for a few years.
  • Tresviso '83

    Members

    1. H. Jones
    2. S. Foster
    3. D. Checkley
    4. Chicha
    5. Juanjo
      17 total members

    Expedition 1984

    Sima 56, Frogstar B explored.
    Dossers Delight now -500m with going passage and no spare rope.
    Cueva del Rio Chico is dived to a second sump.
    In Agua the Road to Certain Death sump is dived but not passed.
  • Caves and Caving No. 28

    Members

    1. Rich Barker
    2. Mark Bentley
    3. Colin Boothroyd
    4. Jane Bower
    5. Dave Bryant
    6. Eddie Daw
    7. Steve Foster
    8. Ian Goude
    9. Fran Hampton
    10. Pete Hartley
    11. Clair Hutson
    12. Paul Ibberson
    13. Pete Iles
    14. Howard Jones - Leader.
    15. Roddy McLauchlan
    16. Nick Mansfield
    17. Pete Smart
    18. Chris Turner
    19. Alex Wade
    20. John Wallwork
    21. Paul Walton
    22. Tony White
    23. Simon Wilson
    24. Andrea Wynne

    Expedition 1985

    Sima 56 exploration concluded, depth is still -1169m.
    Sima 55 permits cavers to pass its snow plug, but chokes at 250m depth.
    Dossers Delight sumps at -831m deep.
  • Caves and Caving No. 31

    Members

    1. Carey Barlow
    2. Dave Barlow.
    3. Mark Bentley
    4. Mark Brown
    5. Rich Broughton
    6. Steve Bunton
    7. Karen Goodman-Jones
    8. Ian Goude
    9. Tony Hammes
    10. Fran Hampton
    11. Vicky Harris
    12. Paul Ibberson - Leader.
    13. Fiona MacKay
    14. Nick Mansfield
    15. Marco Paganuzzi
    16. Rob Parker
    17. Jes Peterson
    18. Mike Plimmer
    19. Clive Owen
    20. Dave Savage
    21. Chris Senior
    22. Jeremy Storry
    23. Alex Wade
    24. Julian Walker
    25. John Wallwork
    26. Paul Walton
    27. Martin Warren
    28. Simon Willis
    29. Mark Wilson

    Expedition 1986

    Dossers Delight leads checked out, still stops at -831m deep.
    Found Clockwork Pot. After a rusty spit was found at -150m deep it is thought to be a French discovery made in 1979?
  • Caves and Caving No. 37

    Work on Cueva del Agua(not LUSS) Road to Certain Death dived to -64m. An ascending shaft was found but not followed due to decompression concerns. The Teeth of Satan found.

  • Caves and Caving No. 36

    Members

    1. Rich Broughton
    2. Deniol Davies
    3. Tony Hammes
    4. David Hetherington
    5. Duncan Hetherington - Leader.
    6. Howard McKee
    7. Mark Mortimer
    8. Tim Nichols
    9. Paul Oldham
    10. Steve Toons
    11. Dave Warrington

    Expedition 1987

    Continuing exploration of Sara to a second sump 10m vertically above the first.
    Clockwork pot drops into Pozo Natacha.
    Pozo del Castillo explored to -400m deep when it is blocked with snow.
  • LUSS Journal 4, 1987: Tresviso.
  • Caves and Caving No. 39

    Members

    1. Colin Dent
    2. Sarah Fagents
    3. Dave Hetherington
    4. Martin Johnson
    5. Tim Nichols - Leader
    6. Paul Oldham
    7. Brian Thompson
    8. Neil Turton
    9. Dave Warrington
    10. Jez Peterson

    Expedition 1994

    Looking for a 'Middle' entrance. The Cheese cave explored to -90m to a constriction, with a chamber on the far side.

    Members

    1. Sean Butler
    2. Sean Collins
    3. Mike Dollenger
    4. Neil Turton
    5. Wally ?

    Expedition 1995

    The area becomes a National Park.
  • Tresviso '95

    Members

    1. Andrew Brooks
    2. Sean Butler - Leader
    3. Derek Cousins
    4. Rebecca Lowes
    5. Mike Dollenger
    6. Geoffrey Beaumont
    7. Tony Chandler.

    Expedition 1996

    Visit to the Cheese cave and Cueva del Agua.
  • Tresviso '96

    Members

    1. Sean Collins - Leader
    2. Derek Cousins
    3. Helen Hamilton
    4. Joena Peuleve
    5. Neil Turton
    6. Phil Walker
    LUSS@lancaster.ac.uk