Sistema Sima de la Cornisa Torca Magali Picos

Sistema Sima de la Cornisa – Torca Magali Picos de Europa, NW Spain (-1507 m) Jan Masschelein (1), David De Roest (2), David Lagrou (2), Wim Janse (2), Vincent Coessens (2) (1) RCCB, Royal Caving Club de Belgique, Kessel- Lo – Belgium, jan. masschelein@ped. kuleuven. be (2) SPEKUL, Caving club of K. U. Leuven, Leuven – Belgium, david. deroest@gmail. com In the late eighties, a team of French cavers discovered the Sima de la Cornisa in the Picos de Europa, a mountain range in the northwest of Spain. At a depth of 400 m, the exploration was halted on top of an unstable pitch. With no safe way on found, this pitch of over 100 m was not descended. In 2001, a team of Belgian and Spanish cavers re-investigating the cave managed to find a parallel pitch (Pozo Clandestino) and move beyond the unstable part. Throughout the following years, small teams have returned each summer, continuing the exploration. From year to year: 2002: deepest point, “Sala Negra”, was reached at -700 m. Bivouac at -500 m. 2003: 3 weeks of searching between -500 m and -700 m for a continuation. The last day a pitch called “Pozo de la Mierda” showed to be promising. 2004: -1140 m is reached (no continuation). Bivouac is moved to -700 m. Another entrance was connected to the system at -500 m by Spanish cavers from Matallana, exploring the nearby Torca Magali cave. 2005: De-rig up to -750 m, exploration down to -1189 m in second branch. 2006: Installation bivouac 2 at -900 m. -1340 m is reached, but again, dead end. Return to -900 m and explore third branch. 2007: The lowest point so far was reached: a huge master cave ending in a sump at -1507 m. Bivouac 3 was first at -1250 m, but finally installed at -1500 m. 2008: No additional depth, another branch explored down to -1300 m but too narrow. Cave info: The total development of the system is about 6. 5 km, with 3 branches going below -1000 m. The entrance – the highest one known so far in Picos de Europa – is located at +2540 m. Its expected resurgences, Los Molinos and/or Ferfao, are located at +460 and +350 m respectively, resulting in a potential depth of over 2 km. Temperature in the cave is about 2°C. Expedition setup: A typical expedition lasts 3 weeks and takes place during summertime. About 6 to 12 cavers participate, all get the possibility to explore. The camp is situated in the Hoyo Grande, central part of the Picos de Europa, a one day-trip from the nearest villages. All equipment and fresh food is carried on the mountain by man-power, no helicopters are used. Snow is melted and purified in order to have drinking water. Participants: Jan Masschelein Wim Janse David De Roest Koen Mandonx Lieven De Bontridder David Lagrou Vincent Coessens Nele Philips Wim Cuyvers Tom Beyens Manuela Van Baars Pierrot Clemens Kevin Leys Katleen Dethier Jack London Anja Crommelynck Dries Raymaekers Marijke Moysons Will Moffat Myriam Philips Johan Franky Jaak Joris Peter Philips Juan Carlos Cantalejo Garcia Peter Cauwenberghs Antonio Gomez Muñoz Dorien Verboven Silvino Vila Carrio Explo & Topo: RCCB - SPEKUL - CEV – GLM (2001 – 2008)