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Area E

This area consists (roughly) of the region between La Verdelluenga, El Regallón and Pico Gustuteru and bounded on one side by Area F and Top Camp and on the other by the Vega Aliseda and Areas 8 and 9. This area is not often visited because it is all at high altitude and a bugger of a walk from any of our camps. Descriptions of E1-4 appear in OUCC Proc. 11 and both E1 and E2 may be worth another visit as both were blocked with snow when visited in 1982.

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E1
Location: 43${}^\circ$ 13' 33'' N, 1${}^\circ$ 15' 15'' W. At an altitude of around 1960m on a direct line between Pico Gustuteru and La Verdelluenga.
Description: 10m pitch to snow plug. May be worth another look.

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E2
Location: 43${}^\circ$ 13' 29'' N, 1${}^\circ$ 15' 15'' W. Around 100m to the south of E1; an obvious entrance.
Description: Degenerates into a tight 15m rift pitch, which opens out into a very loose chamber. The only way on is blocked by snow. May be worth another look.

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E3
43${}^\circ$ 13' 27'' N, 1${}^\circ$ 15' 17'' W. A small hole hole in a dolomitised area below the summit of La Verdelluenga.

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E4
Location: 43${}^\circ$ 14' 00'' N, 1${}^\circ$ 14' 35'' W. Just to one side of the red-marked path to the Vega Seca.
Description: A 12m pitch down to a crawl, to two loose climbs. The way on rapidly becomes too tight.

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E5
To the South (left when walking from Area 9 to E) of the path (to Top Camp?), a shaft marked Polifemo 1982 Sima Estrecha. It consists of a 3m deep by 2m long rift entered via a 1m diameter entrance. The rift is choked with boulders though there is a slight draught from under the phreatic roof. Bearing 134${}^\circ$ to El Regallón and 260${}^\circ$ to what the discoverers thought was probably Cabeza del Burro.

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E6
Location: Located on a bearing of 350${}^\circ$ to La Rasa, 195${}^\circ$ to La Verdelluenga and 110${}^\circ$ to El Regallón.
Description: A 10m drop down a rift pointing towards La Verdelluenga enters a 3m diameter chamber with two avens. Clambering on down leads to a climb into a vadose rift choked with earth and small stones.

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E7
Location: On a bearing of 90${}^\circ$ to El Regallón and 180${}^\circ$ to La Verdelluenga.
Description: A body sized entrance in a dolomite/grassy area, descends for two body lengths before closing down.

The most promising area is located up the Southern edge of the grassy/dolomite band ascending towards La Verdelluenga, past the numerous holes marked Polifimo 17.8.82 on the right and SIE O opposite in the direction of a yellowish nobble. The SIE cave may be worth a visit as it ends after a few metres in a body sized crawl draughting slightly with a mud floor. The following caves were found in this area.

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E8
Location: Just before the nobble and to the right. Bearing 297${}^\circ$ to Pico Conjurtau, 165${}^\circ$ to La Verdelluenga.
Description: A 9m long by 3m wide rocky floored phreatic tube remnant, no prospects.

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E9
Location: Traversing to the right and ascending slightly for approximately 50m leads, via a long narrow rift filled with snow approximately 20m down to two imposing entrances below a subsidiary summit to the west of La Verdelluenga. The first is a shaft 10-15m deep to snow with a possible way on at the back and a connection to the next entrance marked E9.
Description: From the base of a boulder slope E9 has a 10m drop to a steeply descending snow slope down an imposing 3m wide by 10m high passage. Both caves are still continuing, although are normally snow plugged.

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E10
Location: Another shaft about 30m below E9 dropping 15m to snow
Description: Undescended.

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A Dig
Has been renumbered D5

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E11
Location: Situated behind the dolomite peak in area E, on opposite side of large shakehole from peak. Entrance is a small rift in wall above shakehole.
Description: A 10m ladder climb leads down to a ledge. After a ten metre traverse above snow plug the rift closes down.

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E12
Location: Originally numbered F85. On N slope of La Verdelluenga, bearings La Rasa 346, El Regallon 82. From snow pole head directly for El Regallon. Cave lies at about same height as snow pole across two low ridges (keep high). Above bowl shaped corrie with roches moutonnees. Horizontal passage at base of small crag. Now cairned above entrance.
Description: The horizontal passage leads to a 20m pitch. A small window 4m above floor leads to a muddy slope. Climbing down slope breaks into the roof of a rift. A rope is needed to descend into rift. Down a few short drops, the rift goes round a tight corner, blocked by rocks which had fallen down the climb. A large chunk of wall was dislodged and now bars the apparent way on.

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E13
Number not allocated.

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E14
Location: On N flank of Verdelluenga, immediately above F71 in an outcrop overlooking the valley below Top Camp, and directly to the W of The Green Tongue. 10m long rift with faded Polifermo markings.
Description: Pot at N end is 15m deep but blind. Tight entrance at S end through a squeeze (The Mink) leads to a 45-50m pitch (Tubular Bells) rigged from natural belays with one bolt rebelay. Window through to parallel shaft 30m down, before landing on a small snow cone. Obvious hammered continuation on shelf just above snow cone is blocked by a ``ship's prow'' of rock, beyond which is running water, and a pitch. A good prospect, although probably related to F64.

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E15
Location: In area of bare limestone, down the ridge E of El Regallon. 200m on 255${}^\circ$ from El Regallon. 43.13.7N, 004.56.3W.
Description: Steeply sloping narrow streamway enters too-tight crossrift at -10m. No draft.

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E16
Location: Near E15. Obvious large double shaft at top of bare rock area.
Description: 10m diameter witha snow plug and boulder floor. No draft.

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