2519 Cueva de Huerto Rey
Fresnedo 30T 0453104 4801583 Altitude 125m Length 633m Depth 33m

Updated 13th May 2007; 10th, 27th October 2007; 6th January 2011

A strongly draughting entrance excavated in 2006 when the explorations in Cueva del Torno (site 2366) were occurring.
A low slope leads to the top of a 5.5m pitch and the landing is on a debris cone bridged over a further 10m drop. (At Easter 2007, pits around the entrance pitch were investigated and found to choke). To each side of the cone is open passage - to the northwest is a 6m wide route that requires digging to where it disappears out of sight; in the opposite direction a strong draught through a tight, excavated section leads to a further dig which was opened up. There are several unexplored passages on the left in this mainly hands-and-knees crawling section (Whippet's Way) and a passage sets off on the right after some 50m - Glory Grabber's Gallery. A squeeze past a decorated section enters a slightly larger section with choked inlets. About 80m after the stal squeeze the route become a walking size (dry) streamway - Wild Cat Alley. Pumpkin Chamber is reached on the right (3 x 5 x 4m high). This has various digs including the continuation of the way in - a very low, draughting bedding plane over mud and calcite, apparently pushed for 20m.
In Cascade Chamber, a low dig on the right was excavated at Easter 2007 to a 4m drop that requires tackle. There is possible passage at the base.

Continuing to the southeast in Whippet's Way, the passage (again with unexplored side passages) lowers to a flatout crawl with a very strong draught and slopes down to meet a 12m pitch. To the northwest Pleb's Passage continues for over 100m to a pool and then another 40m unsurveyed to a low draughting duck. This point is lower than 97m altitude - about level with the sumped resurgence Nacimiento del Campiazo (site 1106) approximately 1km away. To the southeast from the base of the pitch, the passage is a winding crawl for about 50m to the top of a 4.7m free-climbable pitch. From the base, the passage continues through a very tight tube for 3m which would become impassable with any water. Beyond the route continues in typical "Yorkshire streamway" to a large canal which apparently ends at blank walls. (This was explored in August 2007 when the water level in this area of the cave was a metre up on that seen in the previous year). An inlet has been pushed through a wet bedding and up into the large Dolmen Chamber with dangerous rocks.

Reference: anon., 2006d (summer logbook); Corrin Juan, 2007 (survey and photo); anon., 2007b (Easter logbook); anon., 2007d (summer logbook); Corrin Juan and Smith Peter, 2007; Corrin Juan, 2007a
Entrance pictures :
2007: Before pushing the canal
Distant view of the entrance

Digital photos, Easter 2006. A1 - A3 by Harry Long; B1 - C1 by Peter Eagan with John Clarke & Chris Smith (e.g. A3) and Alasdair Neill (e.g. B2)
	1	2	3
A
B
C

Underground pictures :
2007: Pushing the canal on an airbed.

Digital photos, Easter 2006. by Peter Eagan with Alasdair Neill
	1	2	3
A
B
C
D
E

Video : slide show (9Mb)
Detailed Survey : pdf file (Easter 2007); pdf file (summer 2007)
Line Survey :
On area survey :
Survex file : stand alone   on Fresnedo-centred area 3d file
Passage direction rose diagram (Patrick Warren): yes