Updated 13th May 2007; 10th, 27th October 2007; 6th January 2011; 19th February, 20th October 2016; 1st July 2018; 20th June 2021
A strongly draughting entrance excavated in 2006 when the explorations in
Cueva del Torno (site 2366) were occurring. The entrance could not be located in dense undergrowth in August 2016.
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.
In June 2021, the
Quebraduras windfarm proposals were published with generator positions, access roads and power line to Fuente las Varas. A 10-page Word doc was written outlining possible effects to the caves.
This site (2519) could be affected by pylon foundations being built over the cave.
Link to entry in the Cave Diving Sump Index.
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; Ruiz Cobo J and Muñoz Fernández E, 2013; anon., 2016c (summer logbook)
Entrance pictures : Easter 2006 - Photos around the entrance : 2007 - Before pushing the canal : Distant view of the entrance
Underground pictures :
Easter 2006 - general shots : 2007 - Pushing the canal on an airbed.
Video : slide show (9Mb)
Detailed Survey : pdf file (Easter 2007); pdf file (summer 2007)
Line Survey :
On area survey :
Survex file : stand alone (Amended magnetic declination December 2013 to align with Eur79 grid and coordinates altered to fit ETRS89 datum, April 2014.)
on Fresnedo-centred area 3d file (Amended magnetic declination December 2013 to align with Eur79 grid and coordinates altered to fit ETRS89 datum, April 2014.)
Passage direction rose diagram: 1/7/2018