Hidden Earth 2017

The exploration of Sistem Migovec (2016-2017): finding the longest cave in Slovenia

30 minute Lecture|Mr Tanguy Racine

Abstract

For over 23 years Imperial College Caving Club have joined the JSPDT in the exploration of caves under Tolminksi Migovec, NW Slovenia. The fruit of this effort -a mixture of surface exploration and deep underground camping- is a 39km long, and 972m deep cave system traversing the entire mountain, with 8 different entrances, including 3 on the western cliff edge.
The last two years saw a renewed interest in Primadona cave, in the western sector, which is accessed by a 120m surface abseil and was newly connected to the rest of system in 2015. We added 3.5km of new passage over two expeditions, finding numerous, interconnected side branches at a shallow level, a series of large breakdown chambers in the westernmost part of the cave, and a collection of related perched sumps at -350m.
The re-exploration of Primadona was only possible due to a vast rigging and bolting project, which aimed to replace the 2000's era anchors with more durable stainless steel bolts.