This is my personal account of this summer’s expedition, attended by four BRCC members.
Thursday 30th of July
Langdales, via the Cave of the Stag, down to Torca la Vaca
With Alex Ritchie and Alasdair Neill
We made the first connection between the Cave of the Stag and Torca la Vaca, making the first all-weather entrance into the far reaches of la Vaca and bringing the total length of the system up to nearly 20km. We named this connection, “Aardwolf Country”.
Friday 31st of July
Fresnedo
With Alex Ritchie and James Carlisle
We dug through the Howling duck and briefly explored beyond. This duck had previously been an unpleasant muddy wallow, but I am informed by those who went in several days later that after our dig it was very straightforward.
Saturday 1st of August
415
With Carolina Smith de la Fuente, Pete Smith, Steve Martin
The first of the re-sre-surveying trips into 415 of the summer. We re-surveyed from the entrance to the third chamber.
Sunday 2nd of August
Renada
With Alex Ritchie and Alasdair Neill
A re-surveying trip with several question marks on the old survey to explore.
Pushed a short crawl in the entrance series, which ended after about 20m and was not draughting.
Pushed a squeeze and found continuing passage down a pitch that we were unable to descend without ladder or rope. We surveyed as much as we could of this part, which was unsurveyed.
Re-surveyed part of the main passage and pushed a small streamway to an aven, at least 30m high, again never previously surveyed.
Monday 3rd of August
A day off caving.
I cycled up the hill to Fuente las Varas and down to Arroyo Llueba and back in the morning, then with a large group of cavers went to Tregandin Beach in the afternoon.
Tuesday 4th of August
Rio Cueva
With Alex Ritchie and Sahil
Explored downstream in thiscave. We descended an undescended pitch and found a small chamber, which we of course named Blind Date Chamber in honour of the late, great Cilla Black. After caving we drove to the airport to collect Chris Sharman.
Wednesday 5th of August
Renada
With Alex Ritchie, Chris Sharman, Alasdair Neill
Surveyed 150m of unsurveyed passage, down the pitch we had found on Sunday.
We dug through a tight section, which only the narrow-shouldered Mr Ritchie could fit through, and he explored about another 20m without surveying.
The Expedition meal was that night: a sombre affair, the silence broken only by Mr Sharman clumsily falling off his chair.
Thursday 6th of August
Waking up very hungover, I joined MUSC for a day off by the river.
Friday 7th of August
With Carolina Smith de la Fuente
Visited Santillana del Mar and Santander
Saturday 8th of August
With Carolina Smith de la Fuente
Visited Lierganes
Sunday 9th of August
415
With Carolina Smith de la Fuente, Pete Smith, Lloyd Cawthorne and Chris Sharman
Continuing the re-surveying of this cave, we dropped down the wire pitch and climbed up a few short new sections.
.
We’ll have to go back to survey those 20 m.
