Cantabria '99 Expedition Report 13th September 1999 1. Scope of report It is intended that this report will provide an overview of the South Wales Caving Clubs Cantabria '99 expedition. It is hoped that this report will be augmented by more detailed accounts and observations of those who attended, published either in future editions of the South Wales Caving Club newsletter or by way of a revision to this report. 2. Expedition objectives The objectives of the expedition were as follows: 2.1 Follow up and push to a conclusion all unresolved leads left by the 1998 expedition 2.2 Continue to surface sweep the Pico San Vincente area (SV), namely complete area SVA and continued into areas SVB and SVJ. 2.3 Establish poor weather access to the active resurgence in the Rio Gandara. 2.4 Carry out a survey of possible resurgence sites in the Rio Gandara. 3. Background information Following the South Wales Caving Clubs expedition to Cantabria in August 1997 a working relationship was established with the local caving group Agrupacion Espeleologica Ramalegia (AER). During that expedition a survey method was established which provided accurate recording of shaft location quickly and effectively. The area worked in 1997 was the area "SV", Pico San Vincente. For ease of survey the area itself (SV) was subdivided into nine sub areas SVA to SVJ. These areas are identified graphically on the plan attached to this report. For the most part, the 1997 expedition carried out trials of the survey method in area SVA. Provisional work was also carried out in area SVE. By the close of the 1997 expedition, 42 sites had been located of which only eight were investigated and surveyed to an immediate conclusion. A second expedition was made to the area in a 1998. During this expedition the surface weep was extended to a point where area SVA was 85 per cent completed. Beneath ground most of the original 42 sites were explored and surveyed to a conclusion. SVA34 which had terminated at a false bolder floor at -54 metres in 1997 was extended to a "too tight" slot at -124 metres. SVA30 entered into a large shaft and was explored to an apparent conclusion at -152 metres. On the final day of the 1998 expedition a further 21 surface sites were recorded and logged for a future investigation. It was therefore with a degree of cautious optimism that an expedition was planned for August 99. The deep drafting shaft of SVA30 and SVA34 offered hopes of a passable connection to larger voids within the mountain whilst other promising surface shafts suggested that there was yet ample opportunity for this area to provide a cave system linking to the known resurgence site. Both the 1997 expedition and the 1998 expedition were fortunate in receiving permission from the 'Ayuntamiento de Ramales de la Victoria' to establish a base camp at one of the local parks Gandason – Cubillas. This assistance had proved invaluable. It provided a sheltered and secure area in which the expedition could establish a control tent with all of its associated equipment as well as a camping area for all of the expedition members. The site proved to be safe and quiet and with the added advantage of a toilet block. In 1999 the expedition was again granted permission by the 'Ayuntamiento de Ramales de la Victoria' to use the site. Another contact who had become invaluable over the two preceding years was Rafael Zorilla. Rafael lives in Riba, a small village in the Ason Valley. As well as providing the catalyst which brought the first expedition into existence, his continuing help over the years has made the logistics of running the expedition that much easier. By allowing much of the heavier equipment to be stored at his house much time is saved by not shipping it to and from the UK. Contact with the local caving group, the Agrupacion Espeleologica Ramaliega, has been facilitated by the advent of electronic mail and the World Wide Web. Technology has gone some distance to help remove the language barrier and an established route now allows us to exchange data news and views with our Spanish friends. 4. Fieldwork 4.1 Introduction The expedition ran from the 7th August to the 21st August and involved 16 participants. Base camp was again established at the extreme western end to of the municipal park at the Gandason – Cubillas by kind permission of the 'Ayuntamiento de Ramales de la Victoria'. 4.2 Base camp Base camp consisted of two large frame tents erected in line and covered by one extremely large tarpaulin. The control tent held all computing equipment used for the purpose of day to day processing of survey's and GPS data and also doubled as equipment store and first aid station. The second tent acted as mess tent and comprised of a number of butane gas burners set up on the lightweight trestle tables which had been stored with Rafael. The covered space between the two tents (approx. three metres) acted as a dining, meeting and social area again making use of the lightweight trestle tables. As with previous years, the base station antenna was erected in precisely the same location thus enabling continuity of Co-ordinate control. The toilet facilities were again invaluable and this year boasted electric lighting care of the 'Ayuntamiento de Ramales de la Victoria'. The expedition members continued to refine their techniques for solar heating shower water. The local facilities and services in Ramales de la Victoria continued to provide excellent service by way of food, water, wine and Wellington boots! 4.3 Communications Previous expeditions had attempted to link the exploration area SVA to base camp by use of hand-held radios. Trials had proven unsuccessful with clear communication only being possible when line of sight was established between field team and base camp. In the event of emergency it was felt unlikely that communication by this method would be of benefit as much of the area extended out of sight of base camp by a considerable distance. Preliminary trials in 1998 however proved that mobile telephones could provide a reliable (if somewhat expensive) form of emergency communication. Mobile telephones worked well both from the base camp and the exploration area. For the duration of the 1999 expedition a base telephone number was therefore established directly in the control tent whereby the exploratory teams on the hill could ring for assistance in emergency situations. 4.4 Expedition area As with the 1997 and 1998 expedition, the majority of the work focused on area SVA (see attached plan). Approximately 75-80 % of all man-hours was used up in this area. In addition however several excursions were made to the Rio Gandara to further investigate access and to commence surface exploration. One team day was also spent in the area SVB and the surface sweep of area SVJ was also commenced. 4.5 Access As with previous expeditions the main area of SVA was reached by driving to a point about five minutes above the village of Rozas on the new tarmac road which leads to one of the valley co-operative buildings. From here a one-hour walk gave access to most of the sites explored during this expedition. Areas SVB and SVJ were best reached from the village of Manzeneda. Parking within the village one strikes a path marked as "SV1" on the local hiking Guide map which reaches the area of SVB after a moderate walk of one hour and the area of SVJ after a gentle walk off 15 minutes. To establish access to the drafting resurgence site was indeed one of the expedition objectives. Following the failure of the Easter expedition to ford the Gandara on the known access route it was felt that a detailed reconnaissance of the area would be of use. A farm track was followed leaving the village off Incedo which itself joined a footpath almost directly to the resurgence. Although in total the walk from Incedo was only 25-30 minutes it was felt that a suitable vehicle could be taken to within 10 minutes of the resurgence dig subject to the relevant permissions being available. 4.6 G P S As detailed above, the peg marking the position of the base station antenna was successfully located thus enabling the new lightweight antenna to be erected in precisely the same spot as previous years. The base station GPS, a Garmin 45, was run on 9 days out of the 14 and collected a total of 5240 observations. The local grid Datum was arithmetically meaned and refined, its position being adjusted by 0.15m East and 0.36m North. The expedition this year had at its disposal three roving units, two Garmin 45's used in 1997 and 1998 and new for 1999 a Garmin GPS 12XL with a built-in averaging facility. Due to its design the 12XL provided the better coverage in the tree covered and steep sided areas and thus tended to be used by parties working in the Gandara. 4.7 Equipment The expedition was primarily an SRT using expedition based on conventional UK rigging practice. Belays were either natural, hand drilled 13 millimetre spit type rock anchors or drilled eight millimetre expansion type stud anchors. Hand drilled anchors were placed using conventional hand held driver and hammer. Over the duration of the expedition 15 of this type of anchor were placed. Stud anchors were placed using 24 volt Bosch cordless drills of which three had been made available by the kind consent of The South Wales Caving Club committee. Over the duration of the expedition 42 off these anchors were placed. The expedition had at its disposal approximately 800 metres of Edelrid Super Static Longlife Rope, partly donated by South Wales Caving Club, partly remaining unsold from previous expeditions. The expedition also carried an additional stock of 400m of new rope for contingency purposes. In the event however, this rope was returned to the UK unused. Hangers were donated for use by participants on a return or new for lost basis. Adequate Carbide to run the expedition remained in store with Rafael, left over from 1997 and 1998 4.8 Summary of fieldwork activities The following details a brief overview of the activities carried out on a day by day basis Friday 6th August Advance party arrives on site. Establish base camp. Collect gear stored with Rafael. Prepare equipment ready for the fieldwork. Saturday 7th August Establishing equipment in area SVA. Ropes, hangars, water etc. One team commenced rigging SVA30 as far as the slot. Sunday 8th August Continuing to transport equipment up the hill. More rope to area SVA. SVA30 rigged to 1998 limit. Narrow slot examined but not pushed. Second team rigged and surveyed SVA51 (blocked at -35 metres). Third team rigged and surveyed SVA52. Monday 9th August Multiple teams working in the area SVA. First team rigged and surveyed SVA60, SVA62 and SVA55. Second team rigged and surveyed SVA66 and SVA68. Third team rigged and surveyed SVA61 and SVA53 with the latter left ongoing. Forth team was sent to resurgence site to establish a dry route of access from Incedo for purpose of winter digging access. Continued to make a cursory investigation of the area SVD. Tuesday 10th August. More rope transported to area SVA. One team continued to rig and survey SVA53 to its conclusion at -80 metres. A second team started to rig and survey SVA71. Standing water detected in tight rift in SVA71. A third team rigged and surveyed SVA54-56, SVA63. Wednesday11th August. One team continuing at the bottom of SVA71 but with little success. A second team rigged and surveyed SVA72 to its conclusion at -40 metres. A third team rigged and surveyed SVA57, SVA64 and SVA65. Thursday12th August. One team continuing at the bottom of SVA71. A second team examined bottom of SVA30 and pushed slot to a small chamber with continuing tight rift. A third team rigged and surveyed SVA58, SVA59 and SVA73. Friday 13th August. One team continued at bottom of SVA71. Second team rigged and surveyed SVA69. Saturday14th August. One team carrying out surface sweep of the remainder of SVA and then across to SVJ. A second team continued to survey SVA69. A third team continued at the bottom of SVA71. Link established between SVA71 and SVA69. A forth team rigged and surveyed SVA70 to a conclusion. Sunday 15th August. One team continuing with a surface sweep of SVJ. A second team rigged and surveyed SVA67 and SVA48. Third team rigged and surveyed SVA50, SVA82-84. Monday 16th August. One team de-rigging SVA30. A second team working at bottom of SVA50. Third team extending reconnaissance in SVC. Surveyed SVC3. Tuesday 17th August. One team carrying out a surface sweep of SVB. A second team continued to sweep SVJ. A third team continued to sweep SVC. Wednesday 18 for August. One team removing gear from area SVA. A second team rigged and surveyed SVJ7 and SVJ9. A third team continuing at bottom of SVA50. Thursday19th August. One team continued to push SVA50 to a conclusion. Friday 20th August. Strike expedition base camp for the return to UK. Litter collection etc. 5.0 Conclusion Initial reflections upon the results of the expedition may be disappointing. Despite the large number of sites visited, the size and depth of one or two of the more promising leads, the detection of draughts at quite a few locations and last but not least the enormous effort put in by all of the participants, area 'SV' has failed to provide a significant breakthrough. My personal concern is that enthusiasm will dwindle for work in the area. Without the spark of open leads in front of next year's expedition, there may be a reluctance to return to the hard slog of yet more of surface reconnaissance and provisional shaft dropping. This is compounded by the fact that SVA and SVB are now substantially complete leaving only areas which are mostly low lying farmland to sweep. Although the sweep of these areas can be affected swiftly as the terrain is much more forgiving, my initial perception is that the number of sites found per day which require further exploration will drop significantly thus leading to a crisis in manpower utilisation. In all probability the remainder of the area SV will be completed before the end of next year's expedition. On a more positive note, I am encouraged at the level of enthusiasm, which exists for further exploration in sites such as SVA30 and SVA71. In addition, the vastly improved access route to the resurgence must now lead to a determined assault on this excellent digging site, which I feel certain, will yield access to a major section of cave streamway. Despite the lack of surveyed cave passage the expedition did achieve a lot of hard won conclusions. As I hope will become evident from the final results, every conceivable shaft has been pushed to the best of our ability and to each immediate end. Although I believe there is potential for a major void to exist beneath the areas covered, I feel confident that the intensity of the search has been such that we can conclude there to be no open direct access to a major or significant cave system. If such a system is to be accessed it will be by continued pushing of the existing deeper sites or by discovery of a lower access point elsewhere in the exploratory area. Gary Vaughan Expedition leader.