Hidden Earth 2023
The Ario Reality and other Draughting Rifts
45 minute Lecture|Fleur Loveridge
Abstract
Perseverance through small rifts and plenty of draught chasing in recent years set up the 2023 expedition to the Ario area of the Western Massif of the Pico de Europa to be an absolute cracker. Over three weeks in June and July the team extended four main caves. The Cave of the Singing Pasteur finally yielding easy shafts and at 450m depth, the much-postulated connection to upstream Cave of the Witches Eye. This will give easier (but not easy) access to a very remote section of a classic cave for subsequent years. Further exploration in Torca del Regallon (-650m) led to a new upstream sump. Resurvey and bog roll spliff draught testing revealed upstream extensions and a potential new way on in Cueva de la Rana (-85m). This small (and for the Picos unusually horizontal) cave is tantalising poised in blank space above key missing links and establishment of the source of the howling gale blowing through the entrance is an important piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Finally, we took advantage of climate change to make progress beyond past snow plugs in Black Feather (-50m) and uncover yet another draughting tight right in an interesting area. In total the team mapped about 1.5km of new cave and have exciting leads remaining for next year.
More from 2023
Lecture|Bernard Lips, Jean-Philippe Dégletagne & Michael Laumanns
A new African Master Cave in the Kongo Central?
Lecture|Christine Grosart
Wild World: Izvor Licanke - all in the planning.
Lecture|Peter Dennis
Cavers Rescue Cavers - the role of BCRC
Lecture|Rostam Namaghi
Thoughts on the future of 2D Cave Surveying
Lecture|Paul Taylor
Forest of Dean Round Up
Lecture|Jonathan Lester
Advancing Archaeological Speleothem Research & Its Future Role In Cave Digs
Lecture|Rob Watson, Wookey
Should the GPF mandate cave expedition carbon offsetting?
Workshop|Peter Glanvill
Cavers' Just a Minute
Lecture|Pete Allwright
Nicola Cave Radio developments
Lecture|Peter Glanvill
England's smallest caving area?