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Area 10

Area 10 is the region between the green ridge running down from Jultayu and the gorge and includes the Valle Extremero from the lip of the bowl containing 53/5 to the gorge (i.e. everything to the east of the Leon-Asturias border). Initially, it was thought that this area, and 1/10 in particular, might provide a lower entrance to 2/7. This is still possible, but the surface survey showed that 1/10 is not near the line of 2/7.

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1/10
Location: The cave is located about 300m down the Valle Extremero. Just below the ``prow'' of rock that divides the upper part of the valley, leave the eroded path and strike off on a contour, rightwards (facing downslope). Two small valleys must be crossed before a climb down can be made to a small stream bed (normally dry). Ascent on the other side leads to a vertically descending hole, about 2m by 4m.
Description: The shaft is about 60m deep, in approximately 20m, 20m, 15m and 5m stages, with only standing-sized ledges between pitches. The landing is in a slightly sloping boulder floored rift about 50m long and 2-5m wide. Upslope the roof is about 25m high with water coming in from roof level. The water disappears into a grovel at the downslope end, and possibly resurges at Trea.

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2/10
Location: Located on a bearing 9${}^\circ$ to the dolomite boss on the ridge of Cabeza Llambria, 49${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Llambria and 98${}^\circ$ to the obvious entrance in the central Massif. Further down the Valle Extremero from 53/5, walk down the valley with the 53/5 ridge going up from left to right. Follow this ridge up at an angle of about 30${}^\circ$; the lie of the ground forces you to the left. Eventually you see a line of entrances in the ridge in front of you. 58/5 is the left-most of these, a fine 4m high triangular entrance with a hidden eye-hole above it. This cave was surveyed and renumbered 10/10 in 1991.
Description: From the entrance a 30${}^\circ$ mud slope leads after 10m to a small chamber. A climb down to the left leads to 15m of passage ending in a flow-stone blockage. A passage ascends to the left. A narrow slot in the floor is the head of a 5m blind pitch. After 15m, the passage leads to a small chamber, where a tight climb or a 10m pitch unite in a chamber. A crawl down a loose boulder slope leads to a three way split, with each way choked.

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3/10
Location: Walk up the green ridge towards Jultayu until you are at a height just below the top of Cabeza el Verde. To the left is a large bowl; one end opens out to look down on the Trea path. Walk about 2/3 of the way around the cliff face that forms the back wall of the bowl. The entrance is a 4m high slit in the cliff face.
Description: The lower half of the entrance is too small to permit entry of a person, but a climb up into the top of the entrance reveals a series of dry cascades descending at 45${}^\circ$ -- unexplored. This cave was originally found in 1989. Many unsuccessful attempts were made to relocate it, until finally in 1991 it was found to be an impenetrable crack.

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4/10
Location: Located near to the woods in the Valle Extremero, in the right hand cliff, a 1m by 1/2m entrance.
Description: A 5m horizontal rift leads to a 7m pitch which lands in a chamber with a pool. No way on. It is possible that a 15m climb above the entrance may lead to another entrance into the same rift.

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5/10
Location: Located on the green ridge of Jultayu, 50m on a bearing of 10${}^\circ$ from the point where the Trea path opens out above the gorge.
Description: A small hole is the top of a 7m ladder pitch into a boulder floored chamber. At the base of a short boulder slope, a crawl over a small hole in the floor leads through a 5m long, 10m high chamber to a draughting choke. This was dug into a crawl, passing a narrow pot to a small chamber. A hole under boulders to the right leads to a choice of routes. A 10m pot connects with the narrow pot and is choked at the bottom. Opposite the hole, a small tube above a dangerously poised boulder leads down to a choke. The main route leads to the left into a chamber extending to a sloping boulder floor. Downslope leads to a choked rift. At the top of the slope, a crawl left leads to a surface connection (currently too tight) situated at the bottom of a deep shakehole; this is the source of the draught.

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6/10
Location: Located in the large depression, Huerta del Rey, near the top of the Trea Valley, which is believed to have been formed by the collapse of Choke Egbert in 2/7.
Description: A large rift in the south west corner can be abseiled into. Four separate passages were explored and all choked.

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7/10
Location: 53${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Llambria, 214${}^\circ$ to Jultayu. Just before the Trea path starts to descend steeply, it splits in two, passing either side of a grassy patch, containing a small cave.
Description: A short drop into a tight rift.

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8/10
Location: 56${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Llambria, 357${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Verde, in the middle of the ridge leading to Cueto la Requexada, in a most unlikely position.
Description: A 3m deep pit, with a 50cm diameter entrance. Described as very silly.

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9/10
Location: 45${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Llambria, 344${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Verde. On the left hand side of the ridge leading to Cueto le Requexada. Invisible from the path.
Description: Entrance squeeze leads immediately to a 6m drop to a bouldery ledge. A further pitch of 10m in 3m wide pot, with slimy walls of mud and moonmilk, to floor with a 1m high body sized rift, partially blocked by stal and mud.

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10/10 Cave of the Old Men's Dream
Location: 44${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Llambria, 347${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Verde, altitude about 1510m. Directly below 9/10.
Description: This cave was discovered amid much excitement, and described as being as large as the 2/7 stream passage. It was explored and surveyed. The next day it was identified as 2/10, explored the previous year. It is much smaller than described, being a fairly typical phreatic passage.

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11/10
Location: 58${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Llambria, 3${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Verde, altitude about 1555m, in shattered ridge running towards the Valle Extremero.
Description: A shaft with a wedged boulder at the top. A ledge 2m below surface leads to 8m pitch, and further 4m boulder slope down to choke. Climb up to right leads to choked inlet.

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12/10
Location: 47${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Llambria, 357${}^\circ$ to Cabeza Verde. 15m from 8/10.
Description: `S' shaped rift chokes after 2m

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13/10
Location: The cave is reached from a point on the green ridge of Jultayu, overlooking the Trea Valley, about 50m above the Trea path and 10m below a prominent lump of rock with a tree in the Trea side. Bearings: Cueto la Requexada 92${}^\circ$; first bunch of trees in the Trea valley 120${}^\circ$. An exciting 50m abseil (two spike belays, bolt 8m down, bolt just above lip) with fine views of the gorge, lands on a vegetated ledge. The cave is at the top the ledge, and visible from the prow in the Trea valley.
Description: Chokes immediately.

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14/10
Location: Trea Area. Cabeza Llambria 052${}^\circ$, Cueto-La-Requexada 126${}^\circ$, 170${}^\circ$to spur between CLR and Jultayu. Walk down Trea path until junction between CLR and route down to Huerta del Rey. Entrance is found by heading up grassy slope towards local peak. Entrance below peak, under small sloping overhang.
Description: Body sized rift drops into body sized tube. This heads down for 3m to top of 3m pitch in rift. Rig using laddrer from flake. This drops to a sloping, bouldery floor to diggable, clacited, drafting dig in rift. Digging revealed a continuation of the passage but more digging is necessary before it can be entered by cavers.

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