October 13-20: Santi (ADES), Torben, Louise, Karen (Denmark) Dave, Peter (UK)
Santi, Peter, Dave, Torben, Louise and Karen carried out a number of
caving trips between the 13th and 20th of October in the
Matienzo area, mainly following up on work previous carried out in October 2025.
On the 13th of October we
entered Espada (#0103) by the new top entrance. The previous year we had put in
a lot of effort to dig out at a high level, due to the flood risk the cave can
pose in heavy rain. The top entrance was finally opened at Easter 2025, and we
were now going to check out possible leads. First of all, we spent a lot of
time taking photos of this very well decorated area of the cave. Secondly, we
checked out an interesting area, identified by us many years previously and shown
on the survey as “complex area, drawing needs checking.” However, with time
running out we decided a return visit would be needed to survey what turned out
to be much more than we expected. This would have to wait until after we visited
Vallina on October 14th.
Vallina (#0733): just beyond Windy Corner
we turned our attentions to the maze area and a passage leading off known as
Shopping Trip. After passing a few short but tight dug out sections, we decided
that the original explorers had been very determined and we unlikely to get any
further, so we concentrated on checking the survey of the maze. This turned out
to be very accurate with only a climb noted that may not have been seen. We
continued further into the cave to see the Dragon and check out the Who Knows chamber. We decided to re-survey a
section of the chamber using our new high tech kit - a Pony and an old Samsung
phone. The chamber climbs steadily and reaches a level only 50m below new
passages found in the higher level of Vallina, which still need pushing. One of
the pitches may well connect to the Who Knows chamber eventually. The surveying
went well, and we learnt a lot about using technology underground. More
practice will definitely be needed. On the way out a few more interesting areas
were noted and will be visited later.On the 15th of October we
decided to visit a number of small caves in the Cubija valley, starting with
Cuvia del Campo #0076. This is short, but a large section of well-decorated passage
heads straight into the hill. We took a short section of ladder to check out an
Aven, but it only went about 3m before closing down. We exited the cave via Cueva
del Porton #1403 after checking out a very small hole between stal. On the
opposite side of the valley and only a short walk away is #0525: we saw a wild
cat at the entrance, so renamed it Cave of the Wild Cat. Just inside the
entrance we removed rubble and a few boulders improving access to the 11m pitch
previously seen (Easter 2025) but still not descended as more work needs to be
done to make it safe. We then surveyed the cave and proved that a second,
shorter pitch was very close to the top of the 11m pitch but not a viable
alternative.
On the 16th of October we
returned to Vallina, firstly bolting up the pitch found in the maze area, but
part way up evidence of it previously being climbed was found, so we left it to
carry out more research before a possible revisit. We then headed for the
corkscrew climb which has only been done twice before (in 1989, both times by
Peter and friends), but proved to be far more difficult in old age and would
require rigging and treating like a pitch (18m). After rigging a short traverse
above the pitch, we found and surveyed approximately 60m of un-surveyed cave
with the possibility of more in the future. On the way out of the cave we took
a few photos of fossils found by Santi and put them in a safe place in case
they needed closer examination.
Dave Bell in Espada cave. Photo: Peter Eagan
On the 18th we returned to
Espada #0733 to push on in the complex area, and descend the pitch found on the
14th of October. Peter and
Santi managed to free climb the pitch which entered a section of passage over
3m wide and high and sloped down to a choke after 8m. A short section of tube
quickly choked opposite the point of entry. A future visit is planned to dig
the choke. Between us we managed with a little difficulty to survey in this new
area and carry on through more short sections to a passage 130m in total,
mostly leading to avens (one around 7m high). This was tied into the main cave
at the base of a bolted climb. On the way out we decided to check out one more lead
which required a bit of acrobatics to enter via a chimney then a low crawl to a
dig. We dug through quite quickly to another well-decorated section of cave and
a further dig which we will visit in the future.
During the week we spent with Santi we
managed to push, survey (over 180m of new cave) and photograph some very nice formations,
as well as advancing our knowledge in the use of technology underground. As
usual we plan on returning in 2026 to finish what we started, but we all know there
are more questions than answers.
Peter T Eagan
