|
We didn't stop at two caves - the valley and the mountain above the
camp (La Gobia) were scoured for holes. The following are the small
selection which we photographed.
|
| T71 was a large open shaft, with no way on at the bottom. We didn't
realise it had already been explored years before, by LUSS, until we
came out, and saw the markings on the rock. The bottom of the shaft
was filled with animal bones and, bizarrely, a small mine wagon.
| 
|
| We thought this huge shakehole, with a small cave at the bottom, was
above the large Sword Pitch aven in
Cueva del Cuesos
(Cheese Cave) - in fact it isn't above the explored part of the
cave at all.
|
| Becky and I spotted this hole from near
Cueva del
Cuesos. Then forgot about it. Ah, well, someone must have
looked.....
|
| Tony found this shaft near the top of La Gobia, just above the camp.....
|
| .....it wasn't necessary to descend it though, as there was a walk-in
entrance hidden just nearby.
|
| Inside the cave on La Gobia there was a huge, cathedral sized chamber,
with a floor of ominous, house-sized boulders. We rigged this
promising hole in one corner, but could find no way on at the bottom.
|
| A promising looking hole in the rocks. Well, actually, it wasn't so
promising when you looked closely. There were lots of these.
|
Caves aren't the only things the Picos de Europa have going for them -
the scenery is fantastic by day or night.
| La Gobia from the camp, with Pica del Macondiu in the distance.....
|
| .....and the view West from Macondiu at dusk.
|
| From Macondiu it was possible to see the Urdon Gorge, where Cueva del Agua
resurges, approximately on the left hand side of the photo. The
village half way up on the left is Tresviso, from which the LUSS
expiditions to the area take their name.
|
| There was also an excellent view to the North from Macondiu. Clouds
could sometimes be seen pouring over these ridges like giant
waterfalls.
|
| It wasn't necessary to walk up Macondiu to see fine scenery, though,
as these views down "our" valley show.
| 
|
| Looking NW from La Gobia, the track to Sotres can be seen in the
middle distance.
|
| This bare limestone pavement is typical of the Picos. Other features
are imported from England - Sorry!
|
| The road builders in the Picos do a nice line in hairpin bends - as
displayed by this, one of the roads out of Sotres.
|
| Sotres was the nearest village to our camp, and therefore the most
convenient for.....provisions.
| 
|
| There are thousands of these small green lizards in the Picos.....
|
| .....and also plenty of sheep and goats. No fresh milk, though, as it
is all used to produce the (excellent) local cheeses.
| 
| |
