2414: cave
Fresnedo 30T 452363 4801070 (Datum: ETRS89. Accuracy code: G) Altitude 263m
Length 73m Depth 14m
Area position : Site entrance in context : Logbook search

Updated 16th April; 10th May; 4th, 21st October 2008; 14th September 2021; 19th May 2022; 23rd September 2023

   A prominent depression against a cliff, well hidden in the jungle but, in the summer 2021, easily accessible from a logging track. At the base of a 5m slither down through brambles and over domestic rubbish an obvious opening to the left leads immediately to a crawl into a larger hand-and-knees crawl to a 3m climb down over collapse to the deepest point. The cave is developed on a fault and the short throw and orbitolina bed is clearly seen at the top of the short climb.
   On the right (northwestern) side of the depression another entrance on the face was enlarged and entry gained to a boulder and mud area. A fridge door is now in the entrance.

   At Easter 2008, due to the large quantities of water around, a stream was heard, apparently falling through the solid rock face 3m to the left of the fridge. This was excavated through a crawl to the awkward head of a pitch - a head first flat-out squeeze out over the pitch before clipping in and swinging out onto the rope. The drop descends 14m into a chamber with 2 waterfalls entering. It was too wet to excavate at the base of the chamber. At Easter 2022, the entrance crawl was dug out with the aim of removing the pool of water halfway along.
   In the summer 2008, two possible digs were investigated but stronger measures are required. The water disappears down a cobble-filled crawl, and there is also another less promising looking (but dry-ish) tube further back in the chamber. The wetter dig with a solid-looking floor has turned to thixotropic mud. The drier dig connects with the cobble-filled wet way on. Both draught strongly. Continuation will be possible although it will require some modification to allow this. Lying flat out in the tight water filled tube allows water to be pushed forward and out of sight around the bend in a bow wave. The water can be heard falling for a short distance (2m?) followed by approx 5 second silence and then a further sound of falling water, this time much further down. (See Eldon PC Newsletter p16).
(There may be errors on the survey of this section as the entrance legs appear to be out of the rock face. The png sketch - again possibly wrong - can be viewed below).
   Over three trips in August 2021, the crawl to the pitch and pitch head were enlarged and the the strongly draughting, wet way on at the base was enlarged and lengthened to where "2 more days of capping" will enable a look around the next corner. However, the "falling water" trick from 2008 could not be replicated. (See 2021 video and pictures below.)
   Further work occured in August and July 2023 when it was found to be draughting in strongly.

Reference: anon., 2006b (Easter logbook); Corrin Juan, 2007; anon., 2008c (Easter logbook); anon., 2008e (summer logbook); Corrin Juan, 2009; anon., 2021c (summer logbook); anon., 2022b (Easter logbook); anon., 2023c (summer logbook)
Entrance picture : top of depression  base of depression
Underground picture(s): yes : summer 2021
Video : 2008 : 2021 (YouTube)
Detailed Survey : 1:500 pre-2008 pdf  2008 survey/sketch (possible errors in new entrance passage?)
Line Survey :
On area survey :
Survex file : before 2008 (possible errors in new entrance passage?) (Coordinates altered to fit ETRS89 datum, April 2014.)