Matienzo 2006
Cave exploration around Matienzo during 2006
The year began with some worries about the permit - however, it had turned
up at the end of January. By the end of February, the Ghar Parau Foundation
had OK'd UK Sport funding of £450. So on the admin side, the year started
well!
February trip
A small number of people visited for a few days but the weather was too wet
and cold to do much. Digging continued in Boil
in the Bag (site 868) and a couple of sites were documented in Riaño.
Stream levels were too high to carry out a proposed through trip from
Oñite to
Risco through the Sala Carballo Pitch
Bypass, but the survey was finally
drawn up.
The list below shows links to those 5 sites which were extended or newly
discovered during February 2006, or which have had surveys updated, entrance
photos or movie clips added, or entrances repositioned with a GPS.
0027 Oñite,
Cueva; 0868 dig;
1616 dig;
2362 dig;
2363 cave
Easter 2006, Whit and summer
Northwestern corner
Before Easter, much discussion was had over the proposed optical brightener
test from the bottom of the Sumidero de
Cobadal. Most scenarios were considered regarding flooding, time for
the OBA to come through, etc but - with a lot of preparation and a bit of
luck - the test provided a positive and intruiging result. The optical brightener
came through to the Fuente Aguanaz resurgence
(some 4.3km away and 75m lower) in a time of somewhere between 5 and 7 days.
Fuente Aguanaz has an average flow of 951 litres per sec and a known passage
length of only 1.7km - there are no feeder systems known. In comparison,
the Four Valleys System with 43km of cave passage feeds a resurgence of 650
litres per sec. Hopefully, with thorough surface work, we will start to piece
together the system that must lie behind Fuente Aguanaz up to Cobadal and
possibly up to Alisas. (The method used for the test and detailed results
are found in this document).
In the summer, some prospecting over the supposed Cobadal-Aguanaz route
rediscovered Cueva Casillas (site 1163),
a small resurgence cave that was explored for 43m.
There were high hopes of Cueva Collada
at La Gatuna being a feeder to the Cobadal-Aguanaz system - the cave had
been explored in November 05 to a "40ft damp pitch". This turned out to be
20m deep and the stream disappeared into a low bedding that is "not a good
digging prospect". There is a possible passage on the opposite side of the
pitch, but for the moment that's it for downstream Cueva Collada. The phreatic
passages upstream were also looked at again but with no extra sections to
add after the initial 1982 explorations.
The early days of the Easter expedition were partly focused on the depression
at La Gatuna. Sandstone beds are abundant and form the roof or floor of a
number of sites. Holes investigated included
2317,
2367,
2368,
2369 and
2370. One older member of the team thought
he had discovered a new open hole, until the farmer presented him with a
survey obtained off our web site. (Cubio de
la Gatuna). In the summer, a number of holes were opened up one afternoon
in a small area. The holes (sites 2485,
2486,
2487,
2488,
2489 and
2490) included a number of draughting sites
(including one where a goat needs to rot completely away) and possible
digs.
A number of days were spent and a substantial number of shafts and holes
were investigated above Cobadal around the Bosmartín area.
Site 2408 was one of the longer holes at
71m and others are shown below.
Solorzáno and Riaño
The highlight of the Easter trip was Cueva
del Torno (site 2366) - a classic discovery, found in the bar when
locals started talking about a draughting entrance. The following day, at
Fresnedo, the open entrance was eventually found, backing up childhood
reminisences, and exploration started into large walking passage with many
junctions. Further trips were eased by enlarging an
awkward suqeeze and turn, but
essentially the cave was there for the finding! Digging was required downstream
to reach a 50m long chamber
with some fine formations. At present, the lower streamway seem likely
to drain to the resurgence Nacimiento del
Campiazo (site 1102) at the head of the Solorzáno valley. Upper
level passages may head south west to pass under the hill to link with the
4 Valleys System in Cueva Riaño.
There are still a number of leads to explore in the cave, currently measured
at 2801m long and 63m deep.
As well as finding over a kilometer of higher level passage in the cave in
the summer, a human skull was discovered in a passage apparently heading
out to the surface. A hunt on the surface for a possible entrance led to
site 2523 (Pig Nut Cave) being excavated
over a number of days. After a 6m pitch, the site yielded about 100m of passage
with much infill. Another apparently human bone was found in this cave'
The discoveries in Torno precipitated further explorations in
Cueva Riaño. The entrance had to
be dug out (probably the last team entered in August 2001) and an inlet at
the northern edge of the cave was pushed for 245m. The passage is heading
east rather than north to Cueva del Torno, but there are still leads to explore.
Further explorations in the easter extensions yielded another 128m of passage,
unfortunately not heading through to Torno.
During the summer, a new cave to the northwest of the Fresnedo 1 and 2 caves
was opened up and explored to a going canal. Cueva de Huerto Rey
(site 2519) has some walking passage but
also has a generous supply of sediment. The high level runs to the northwest
and ends at a dig with passage visible beyond. The lower level is reached
down a 12m pitch: to the northwest the passage ends at a low, draughting
duck and in the opposite direction, a 4m pitch reaches the unexplored canal.
This water is probably at the same level as a possible resurgence (Nacimiento
del Campiazo, site 1106) over 1km away.
In Carcass Cave, site 2476, a hands and
knees crawl ended at a dig after 20m. This was passed to another draughting
dig after 2m.
Numerous other sites were found around Torno and Cueva Riaño, for
example, Trackside Cave in Riaño
- a draughting hole with 86m of passages including a 9m pitch and
site 2414 on a fault above Torno where
39m were surveyed to a gravel floor at the deepest point. Others are listed
below.
South Vega and Arredondo
Cueva Vallina keeps providing passage to
explore - this time over 650m were surveyed at Easter. Bird's World Upper
Levels had probably been entered previously but were not on the Catalan
survey. In the summer 4 trips into the system took place. The Rio Rioja was
re-investigated and nothing ne wfound. The Man Trap (probably previously
explored by the Catalans) was surveyed. The passage parallels the strong
east-west trends in the higher level passages and over 800m was surveyed.
In a trip beyond the boulders into Vallina 2, a disto was used to find the
height of the Tocadome Aven (75m) and Kingsdale Passage was extended by 120m.
The new, adjusted length of Cueva Vallina is 31050m.
In Papá Noel, Shafted Oyster
passage was surveyed off Snowbat Bypass and the deepest point in the
system was reached when holes off Floorless Chamber were pushed down
p17, 9 and 22m followed by a couple of short climbs and a p10. The tiny
draughting streamway continues flowing on at about the same altitude (168m)
as the resurgence, 600m away. On the same trip as the extensions were made,
Bjarne Buchardt tumbled 5 or 6m down boulders in the Paper Plane area.
By the time the first rescue team reached the top of the Coterón entrance
pitch with a long rope, he had been assisted to the base. He was then hauled
up the 45m to the surface. By then, a large number of Spanish cavers had
arrived and they were turned away with thanks. An excellent and speedy turn
out! Bjarne was taken to Loredo hospital where he was a broken rib was strapped
up - very lucky!
In the summer, one trip in Papá Noel pushed beyond Hole in the
Wall to discover Hanging Death Chamber, with a slope down to
undescended 30m pitches and a long "diving board" rock with another possible
30m pitch. The survey showed this area to be close to Anastomoses Hall in
Cubio de la Reñada some 50m below.
A search through the card index showed that avens beyond Anastomoses hall
had been looked at in the past, and partially bolted.
A number of days was spent bolting up one of these and exploring the passages
at the top. Fine helictites and other formations were found including one
slanting 180cm long straw that appears to have attached itself to a vertical
stalagmite. 358m of passages were surveyed and they were linked to Papá
Noel, not near Hanging Death Chamber but near Floorless Chamber,
further east.
Site 2563 was found near a stream sink
and explored through low passage for 104m to a small but diggable end. The
cave is on dipping sandstone similar to site 574 with a shaft entrance which
is nearby. And some people spent Wednesday afternoons in
Cueva de los Tablons, digging down in the
hading rift. Over Whit, the site "went" into a small chamber with further
draughting digs in the floor which should be stabilised. In the summer, a
couple of other nearby draughting sites were opened up to tiny draughting
holes and filled in again. (Sites 2491,
2492,
2493).
In Juan Lombrero, some extension work was
carried out in a draughting passage very close to the entrance.
A number of shafts and caves were explored and partly explored on South Vega
/ Ozana over the year. Site 2290, the
resurgence above Tablons was pushed for about 70m and can be pushed.
Site 2424 was dropped for 17m in an enlarged
clint. At site 2437, a 25m pitch remains to
be explored. Other sites are listed below.
Alisas
The current highlight of the Alisas area is the vertical descents in
site 2264. The site appears to have reached
a partial conclusion in the summer with the base at about -140m. To the northwest
of Alisas, the hills and valleys around Moncobe were looked at. This area
is at the extreme southwest of our permit and could provide some feeders
to Fuente Aguanaz. A number of days were spent prospecting without any major
find, although the area still seems to have good potential. The sites discovered
are listed below.
Mullir / Ozana
Some digging was carried out in site 12, Cueva
Concebo and site 0029, Cueva
Subterránea, both large passages which irritatingly close down.
Surface prospecting in the summer revealed a couple of interesting sites
to return to - sites 2570 and
2572 appear to be more than 15 and
20m deep respectively.
La Secada
There were a number of days out, as usual trying to find a connection between
Carcavueso-Bollón system and caves
to the west. Pants was dug a number of
times and the connection between Hole in the
Road and Bollón was finally surveyed. The Apprentice Cave
(site 2108) was pushed and surveyed, giving
a length of about 40m.
Conclusion
A classic year with nearly 7km of new cave surveyed. Significant caves are
still being discovered from nothing (Torno) and known caves are still providing
significant extensions to those who want to push, e.g. in Vallina and Papá
Noel / Reñada. There is plenty of cave to be explored and dug into:
new cavers and teams are very welcome to come and join in!
There were many other finds and explorations; in total the passage length
surveyed at Easter was 3.3km, in the summer, 3.5km. A full list follows -
divided into areas and showing links to those 177 sites which were extended
or newly discovered over Easter and Whit, and 156 over the summer or which
have had surveys updated, entrance photos or movie clips added, or entrances
repositioned with a GPS.
Alisas 2264 shaft;
2392 shaft;
Arredondo 733 Vallina, Cueva;
Arronte 2364 resurgence;
Bosmartín 2393 shaft;
2396 shaft;
2397 shaft;
2398 hole;
2402 shaft;
2411 Nesting Chough Pot;
2412 shaft;
2413 shaft;
Camposdelante 2433 shaft;
2434 dig;
2435 cave;
2441 cave;
Cobadal 613 Torcida, Torca de;
923 shaft;
1163 cave;
1874 Snottite Cave;
1930 Cobadal, Sumidero de;
2066 dig;
2073 shaft;
2074 shaft;
2075 shaft;
2183 Woodcutter's Cave;
2394 shaft;
2395 shaft;
2399 shaft;
2400 cave;
2403 depression;
2406 shaft;
2407 shaft;
2408 cave;
2409 shafts;
2410 caves;
2443 digs;
2565 cave;
2566 sink;
2567 sink;
2568 cave;
2573 dig;
2574 dig;
Cubija 2167 Frank's Cave;
El Naso 140 shaft;
138 Coberruyo, Cueva de;
2324 shaft;
2335 shaft;
2375 shaft;
2376 cave;
2377 shaft;
2378 shaft;
2379 shaft;
2380 shaft;
2483 cave;
2484 cave;
Entrambasaguas 1072 Famous Five
Cave; 2383 cave;
Fresnedo 126 Fresnedo 1, Cueva;
841 Fresnedo 2, Cueva;
983 cave;
984 cave;
994 cave;
2366 Torno, Cueva del;
2477 shaft;
2478 sink;
2519 Huerto Rey, Cueva de;
2521 cave;
2522 dig;
2523 Pig Nut Pot;
2524 depression;
2525 depression;
2539 cave;
2540 dig;
2543 shaft;
2544 hole;
Hornedo 713 Aguanaz, Fuente;
Ideopuerta 1972 shaft;
1973 shaft;
1975 Mortiro, Torca de;
2502 cave;
2503 dig;
2504 cave;
La Colina 2572 shaft;
La Gatuna 394 Collada, Cueva de;
2317 cave;
2367 cave;
2368 cave;
2369 cave;
2370 cave;
2485 cave;
2486 shaft;
2487 cave;
2488 cave;
2489 cave;
2490 dig;
La Mina 2381 shaft;
2382 cave;
La Secada 93 Seta, Cueva;
98 Bollón, Cueva de;
715 shaft;
868 dig;
1452 cave;
1655 dig;
2108 Apprentice Cave;
La Vega 312 Mazo, Cueva del;
Las Calzadillas 2401 shaft;
Llueva 1053 Tesoro, Cueva del;
2416 cave;
Moncobe 2494 collapse;
2495 shaft;
2496 shaft;
2497 cave;
2498 shaft;
2499 shaft;
2500 shaft;
2505 dig;
2506 shaft;
2507 shaft;
2508 dig;
2509 dig;
2510 shaft;
2511 shaft;
2512 shaft;
2513 shaft;
2514 shaft;
2515 cave;
2516 shaft;
2517 shaft;
2518 resurgence;
2530 cave;
2531 shaft;
2532 dig;
2533 shaft;
2534 shaft;
2535 cave;
2536 cave;
2537 cave;
2538 cave;
2542 shaft;
2545 dig;
Muela 129 Muela, Torca de la;
135 shaft;
183 shaft & collapse;
1795 shaft;
1796 shaft;
1797 shaft;
2058 shaft;
2059 shaft;
2526 shaft;
2527 shaft;
2528 cave;
2529 shaft;
2562 shaft;
2569 shaft;
2570 shaft;
2571 shaft;
Mullir 806 cave & 2 shafts;
2464 shaft;
2465 cave;
North Vega 423 Barandas, Cueva de;
2575 cave;
2576 cave;
2577 cave;
2578 hole;
2579 cave;
Ozana 12 Concebo, Cueva del;
25 Risco, Sima-Cueva del;
27 Oñite, Cueva;
29 Subterránea, Cueva;
39 Coquisera, Cueva de;
242 Tablons, Cueva de los;
246 cave;
574 shaft;
1729 cave;
2427 collapse;
2428 Slip Rift Cave;
2429 Side Shaft Cave;
2436 cave;
2442 cave;
2444 cave;
2445 dig;
2446 cave;
2447 shaft;
2448 shaft;
2449 dig;
2450 cave;
2455 shaft;
Riaño 105 Riaño, Cueva
de; 107 Hoyuca, Cueva;
581 cave;
643 shaft;
644 cave;
935 Dormouse Cave;
1428 shaft;
1630 cave;
1799 shaft;
1992 cave;
2362 dig;
2417 Letterbox Cave;
2418 Trackside Cave;
2456 hole;
2457 hole;
2458 sink;
2459 hole;
2460 cave;
2467 resurgence;
2468 sink;
2469 sink;
2470 hole;
2471 hole;
2472 shaft;
2473 cave;
2479 shaft;
2480 dig;
2481 cave;
S Vega 48 Reñada,
Cueva-Cubío de la; 264 Coterón,
Torca del; 333 Azpilicueta, Torca de;
0464 cave;
0669 shaft;
0825 cave;
1332 Juan Lombrero, Cueva de;
1391 Volcano Cave;
1392 cave;
1471 Papá Noel, Torca de;
1624 shaft;
1924 shaft;
2082 shaft;
2290 resurgence;
2419 cave;
2420 shaft;
2421 shaft;
2422 shaft;
2423 cave;
2424 shaft;
2425 shaft;
2426 shaft;
2437 shaft;
2438 shaft;
2439 shaft;
2440 dig;
2451 cave;
2452 cave;
2453 cave;
2454 cave;
2466 dig;
2482 shaft;
2491 Tablons 2;
2492 Tablons 3;
2493 Tablons 4;
2541 shaft;
2546 dig;
2547 shaft;
2548 dig;
2549 shaft;
2550 shaft;
2551 hole;
2552 dig;
2553 hole;
2554 shaft;
2555 shaft;
2556 hole;
2557 shaft;
2558 cave;
2559 shaft;
2560 shaft;
2561 dig;
2563 cave;
2564 shaft;
San Antonio 2359 shaft;
2371 cave;
2372 cave;
2373 cave;
2374 cave;
2384 shaft;
San Miguel 115 Nacimiento del Rio
Clarin; 239 Peter Plummet;
2461 cave;
2462 cave;
2463 cave;
Secadura 117 Boyonnes, Los;
122 Suviejo, Cueva de;
154 77A, Cueva;
649 cave;
2014 cave;
2025 The Fox Hat;
2365 cave;
2385 cave;
2386 cave;
2387 resurgence;
2388 cave;
2389 cave;
2390 cave;
2391 cave;
2404 depression;
2405 cave;
2501 dig;
2520 cave;
Seldesuto 484 Zorro, Torca del;
Solórzano 1106 Campiazo,
Nacimiento del; 2414 cave;
2415 dig;
2430 shaft;
2431 dig;
2432 dig;
2474 cave;
2475 sink;
2476 Carcass Cave;
The list below shows links to those 44 sites which were extended or newly discovered over the Autumn visits (to mid December) or which have had surveys or descriptions updated, entrance photos or movie clips added, or entrances repositioned with a GPS.
El Naso 59 Molino, Cueva
del;
Fresnedo2366 Torno, Cueva del;
La Colina 271 cave;
272 Cubillones, Abrigo de los;
273 cave;
274 cave;
635 shaft;
1585 shaft;
2572 shaft;
Llueva 717 shaft;
943 Hoyo Verde, Cueva del;
2580 cave;
Muela 2570 shaft;
2588 dig;
Riaño 105 Riaño, Cueva
de; 1142 sink;
2401 sinks;
2469 sink;
2595 Prize Cock Pot;
2596 Petirrojo, Cueva de;
2612 dig;
2613 dig;
2614 dig;
2615 sink;
2616 dig;
2617 dig;
S Vega 2353 cave;
2582 dig;
2583 dig;
2584 dig;
2585 dig;
2586 dig;
2587 dig;
2589 shaft;
2590 White Chamber Cave;
2591 shaft;
2592 dig;
2593 dig;
2594 dig;
Seldesuto 483 shaft;
879 dig;
1120 shaft;
2581 cave;
Trillos 1177 shaft;
