A large party of cavers from various clubs returned, yet again, to continue
exploring the caves in and around the Matienzo depression. The total of new passage
discovered was nearly 6km, mainly in one system.
With the discovery of the 2.2km long Trident Series in Uzueka (site 107) at the end of
last years expedition, hopes were raised for a ”back door" to the system to
eliminate the 16km round trip involved in pushing the end. Radio location showed the final
choke to be only 30m from emerging into the Matienzo depression. This would have connected
two of the valleys in the Four Valley System. A surface dig was started but had to be
abandoned due to its instability.
Another party poking around in Uzueka discovered Green Van Series (about 2.5km from the
entrance) consisting of about 200m of passage ending in several unclimbed avens. This
heads back towards the Riaņo depression and, if a surface connection is made would bypass
a section of passage which often sumps.
The 15.5km long South Vega System did not receive the attention it deserved due to
Coteron (site 264) not being tackled up, although many leads were left over from last
year. In the lower levels, steady work in Reņada revealed about 800m of passage although
no outstanding tunnels were found. Further up the hill, Azpilicueta (site 333) was looked
at with the objective of connecting it to Reņada, not more than 80m away. This
predominantly vertical system saw the discovery of 0.5km of passage leading over Reņada,
but the connection remained elusive. Another route into the South Vega System may come
from Codisera (39). A bolt route started this year leads towards a roof tunnel with
sizeable passage in view. Next year should see the completion of this.
On Muela, an unexpected development happened when Cave of the Wild Horses (sites 509 and
647) was found. Instead of the usual choked shaft, some horizontal passage was discovered.
Although not extensive by Matienzo standards (consisting mainly of two boulder chambers
and a dead horse) it does imply that horizontal development has taken place.
This years major discoveries took place in last years extension to Mostajo (site 71) which
heads under Enaso (Caves & Caving 22 p16). Previously 1.3km long, the cave now boasts
some 6km of surveyed passage. About 700m into the cave a hole 5m up the left hand is a
window into the "Golden Void", a free- hanging, 34m pitch. From its base a
clamber up boulders leads to a junction where the Cayenne Series starts. This was
originally thought to be a large hading rift some 60m wide; subsequent surveying showed it
to be a 60 x 7Om chamber with gaping holes in the floor and walls, none of which have yet
been pushed. Further in, a 5m diameter, clean-washed shaft is passed (descended for 1Om to
the top of an estimated 20m pitch). Shortly afterwards the "Going Everywhere" starts, with over 500m surveyed and numerous leads left for next time.
After a short, convoluted section a return is made to 10 x 10m (standard Matienzo) passage
where a large junction is met. Straight on leads to a pit. This has been seen from the
other side via "Going Everywhere" series. Unfortunately the route has been lost
and awaits re-discovery. Continuing along the main drag, numerous side passages are
passed, many of which are still unexplored. This includes the maze which contains over 1km
of passage with several undescended pitches. On an attempt to bottom one of these the
ladder ran out 5Om down.
After the maze, the cave changes character and becomes extremely well decorated, with
chambers interconnected with stooping passage. From the final chamber, numerous ways lead
off, the main one being the strongly draughting, aptly named Hedgehog Crawl - 235m of
hands and knees crawling on 3cm long crystals. This terminates in a series of small
chambers, not fully explored, but with big potential as a streamway was found cascading
down an undescended 15m pitch with other leads still to be pushed.
Back at the start of the decorated chambers, two more sections were entered - the Going
Home series and Wonderland. The latter consists of approximately 700m of varying passage, extremely well decorated
with a profusion of 50cm helicites, ending at boulders around which passage is visible - a
days work should clear this choke. Going Home has a low beginning but ends in a
Yorkshire-type streamway explored downstream past cascades to the head of an undescended
pitch.
Due to the expansion of Mostajo, more questions than ever remain to be answered in the
Matienzo caving area, ensuring plentiful opportunities for equally major discoveries next
year. |