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Area F

Most of the locations for caves in Area F are given by Cartesian coordinates, in round brackets, and polar coordinates, in square brackets, relative to the Top Camp Cairn (longitude 1${}^\circ$ 15' 21''W, 4${}^\circ$ 56' 55.3'' W with respect to Greenwich; latitude 43${}^\circ$ 13' 39.1'' N; GR (of bolt next to cairn): E 41742.57, N 88012.16, A 1913.72).

For example (184W, 81S, -20), [201, 249${}^\circ$] represents that the cave is 184m west, 81m south and 20m below Top Camp Cairn, or 201m away on magnetic bearing 249${}^\circ$.

Most of the locations are based on Gerhard's map (in metres a.s.l. at Alicante all in UTM square 30TUN) and should be accurate to within one meter. Others are based on a survey dating from 1985, and are often out by several tens of meters; such locations are marked with a question mark.

Note that the bearings given in the polar coordinates are calculated from the Cartesian coordinates, using a magnetic variation of 3${}^\circ$. Magnetic North was 3${}^\circ$ 05' west of Grid North in July 1993 (decreasing annually by 9'), i.e. compass bearings are about 3 degrees larger than grid azimuths. (And calibrate your compass!). The bearings are from Top Camp: add or subtract 180${}^\circ$ to get the bearing to Top Camp. The descriptions may also include a bearing measured in the field: this does not necessarily agree with the calculated bearing.

The dates in some descriptions give the logbook entry describing the cave's discovery and exploration.

Particularly good places to look in this area include:

$\oslash$
F1 Cliff Rift Hard
Location: (164W, 491S, +155), [518, 198.5${}^\circ$]. To Top Camp: 18.5${}^\circ$. Located on the flanks of Punta Gregoriana, and easily visible from Pozu Jorcada Blanca (it stands out as a shadow), this is a rift in the side of a cliff.
Description: The 20m entrance pitch lands on a snow plug (23.7.82). Tackle: 22m rope, two long tapes to naturals.
$\otimes$
F2 Pozu Jorcada Blanca
Location: (71W, 263S, +53), [272, 198${}^\circ$]. A large generally snow-filled doline at the edge of a rocky plateau about 600m from La Verdelluenga on a bearing of 280${}^\circ$. ``The cave is best approached from Ario via the Vega de Aliseda.'' (in 1982, before T.C. was invented!!)
Description: See OUCC Proc. 11 for description.
?
F3
Lost and not painted. Rumoured to be a hole of insignificant depth somewhere down `Bog Alley'.
$\otimes$
F4
Location: Exact location not known. `A shaft on the other side of the ridge from F2'. This is thought to mean across the Jorcada Blanca col into the Polish area.
Description: One side is plugged, but a 30m shaft rigged between boulders at the other end drops to a pile of snow and boulders. An unpromising crawl leads painfully to a chamber, with several choked pots in it. No way on. (22.7.83)
$\otimes$
F5
Location: From the col between F38 and F2, head up the gulley to the south. F28 is in the first flat bit; F5 is on the second flat bit, to the left. Bearing 286${}^\circ$ to F2; 337${}^\circ$to Top Camp.
Description: Deep rift (8 by 2m at surface), trending 84${}^\circ$. Large snow plug in entrance, revealing two pitches at either end of the rift (W and E). West descent: 20m pitch to snow plug revealed as 3m block of snow jammed in the top of the pitch. 3m gap to large pile of snow in the bottom of the rift. Pitch ends when narrow rift meets snow (at West end). Shaft appears to continue but is full of snow. East descent: 20m to the top of the snow, where a water drip had made a 1m wide by 20m deep hole down to the floor of the rift. This was explored but did not go. Continuing in towards the East leads down into a rift approximately 20m high and long. This had a solid stony floor and closed, both up and along, with no leads.
$\oslash$
F5b
Location: 6m right (true left) ofmain F5 shaft.
Description: Narrow crack leads into cliff face. Bottom chokes, but top might be hammerable. Very good draft.
$\oslash$
F5c
Location: Between main shaft and F5b.
Description: Bold step across shakehole into small phreatic tube leading into cliff. Tight, but might be passable. Slight draft.
$\otimes$
F6 Pozu Paso Doble
Location: Extending between (358W, 72S, -15), [365, 262${}^\circ$] and (358W, 82S, -10), [367, 260${}^\circ$]. Located approximately 500m west of Pozu Jorcada Blanca (F2), the entrance is an obvious feature at the base of a cliff formed in a distinctive bed of dolomotised limestone. The main pitch seems to be controlled by the same fault as the F20 entrance shafts.
Description: The entrance passages appear to follow the bedding steeply down-dip until the main chamber is reached. Much of the cave is extremely unstable. During the brief period of exploration the collapse was accelerated, and appears to have been progressing since then. From the main chamber there are three routes on. Directly ahead, a short passage leads to an unstable, 22m pitch, choked at the bottom. An interesting ladder climb leads down the boulder pile to the head of a blind 6m shaft. A short traverse around the top of the shaft leads to a narrow meandering passage which can be followed upstream to a pair of active inlets which are too tight. A climb up above the stream leads to the top of the vadose trench, where remnants exist of what appears to be the early, phreatic stage of passage development. Following this upper route brings one out overlooking and high up in the main chamber, with no route on. Survey: Proc. 11, p. 24.
$\otimes$
F7 Pozu las Perdices
(F7C) (184W, 81S, -20), [201, 249${}^\circ$]. On a limestone pavement dipping at about 20${}^\circ$, approximately 210m distant from Top Camp on a bearing of 250${}^\circ$. The pavement is that leading from Pozu Jorcada Blanca down to the large scree-filled depression near Vega Aliseda. Bearings: 113${}^\circ$ to La Verdelluenga; 204${}^\circ$ to Jorcada Blanca. The entrances are described below. F7A-C lead into Pozu les Perdices proper; for the main cave description see Proc. 12.
$\otimes$
F7A
A deep snow-filled gash, some 10m long and 3m wide, leading into a beautiful ice cave. Could do with another look. The Iceflier (see Proc. 11, pp. 26f), which must by now have melted away, might have concealed a shaft, and the F20 rifts pass 200m vertically below.
$\otimes$
F7B
A square 3m $\times$ 3m shaft, intersecting a rift.
$\otimes$
F7C
A tunnel onto a snow pitch.
$\otimes$
F7D
Location: (164W, 65S, -23), [176, 251${}^\circ$]. In the SE trending fracture ascending from F7B.
Description: Open rift 8m long and 1.2m wide, about 10m deep to gravel floor (with little snow left in '89); both ends close off. A line is advisable.
$\oslash$
F7E
Location: (186W, 63S, -25), [196, 254${}^\circ$]. Open shaft in SW trending rift ascending from F7B.
Description: 12m pitch hading southeast lands in narrow, sharp crawl leading SW along the rift, parallel to the vein-controlled F7C entrance 15m away; not pushed past a squeeze. Draughts and continues, expected to connect into Perdices eventually. Likely to be blocked with snow except in all but the lowest snow years.
$\otimes$
F7F
Location: (189W, 56S, -28), [197, 256${}^\circ$]. A few metres downhill and left (N) of F7E; still above F7A.
Description: Archetypal key-hole (revealed by clearing a few boulders), with leg-trapping lower section, is thrutched down to 5m pot (rope essential) still in daylight. At the bottom, a corroded flowstone cascade emerges from a 30cm wide phreatic tube up in the righthand wall; the main way down is choked with gravel after 2m.
There are two unnumbered karst features nearby: a short crawl in shattered rock near the large doline below F7A (199W, 27S, -43), [200, 265${}^\circ$], and a bit of walking-size vadose passage intersected by surface erosion and partly covered by boulders a few metres W along the fault (?) joining F7A to F48 (206W, 44S, -36), [210, 261${}^\circ$].
$\otimes$
F8
Location: (117W, 2S, -38), [117, 272${}^\circ$]
Description: Collapse has rendered the entrance impassable. Previously a crawl through boulders at the bottom of a shakehole went into a small chamber with no way on. (5.8.84)
$\otimes$
F9
Location: Not recorded, but somewhere near F7 and F8.
Description: `An interesting-looking crack in the cliff face with a bouldery depression beneath'. A small chamber exists beneath the boulders; no way on (6.8.83).
$\oslash$
F10
Location: (34W, 53S, +1), [63, 215${}^\circ$]; (37W, 57S, +1), [68, 216${}^\circ$]; (39W, 48S, -1), [62, 222${}^\circ$]. At the the start of the walk from Top Camp to F2. `A huge shaft 20m deep with a snow plug in it'. On escarpment 50m SW from Top Camp.
Description: First (marked) entrance is rift striking SE (not a very common direction!), and is sound connected to second shaft. The third is in the same rift as the first a few metres down (NW), but independent, and is choked with pebbles and four dead mornflake tins.
$\oslash$
F11
Location: Above F57, but below F54, roughly on the same fault line.
Description: A 20m drop, the first 5m freeclimbable. Below this narrow entrance, a drip enters, and the cave develops into a rift, down which `stones rumble for some time'. 20ft climb leads to a pitch, 40m freehang to the bottom, which is choked. A window 20ft up from the base of the shaft is also choked. May be worth checking, because of its proximity to F57.
$\oslash$
F12
Location: 20m away from F11 on bearing 10${}^\circ$.
Description: Descended for 15m on ladder. Three ways on: (a) down, where stones bounce and crash; (b) across into an ascending passage; (c) along a rift. Chokes--at least on route (a). May be worth checking, because of its proximity to F57.
$\otimes$
F13
Location: (351E, 274S, +110), [445, 131${}^\circ$]? To Top Camp: 322${}^\circ$. These readings do not agree with each other. Impressive rift-like entrance at base of cliff above scree slopes to SE of Top Camp, at the base of cliff with cross-shaped cracks.
Description: Cave is 25m long (large walking-size passage) with a 10m climb at the end. Choked, but with a very good draught.
$\otimes$
F14
Location: Originally reported as (230W, 138S, +30) but probably (230E, 138S, +30), [268, 124${}^\circ$]? To Top Camp: 301${}^\circ$. An impressive-looking hole in the hillside surrounded by very chossy shattered rock.
Description: Through the hole is a chamber whose floor is covered in a snow cap 3-5m deep. This slopes down to a vertical slit 1m wide by 2m high, above a handline climb of 3m to another snow-covered chamber. A small passage goes on from the lefthand bottom corner for about 10m, ending in a small blind chamber. `There are probably ways on under the snow' (4.8.84). A visit in '88 revealed no leads, although the other side of the snow-covered breakdown pile forming the floor of the entrance chamber could now also be descended to a blind chamber. Another return in '93 confirmed that there is no way on.
The descriptions of F15 and F16 were partly swapped in Proc. 12.
$\otimes$
F15
Location: (163E, 44S, +0), [169, 108${}^\circ$]. To Top Camp: 301${}^\circ$. A very pronounced rift entrance (pronounced `rift entrance'), underneath la Verdelluenga, visible from Top Camp cairn. Go up dolomite band along grassy ledge towards slit.
Description: Slit is open snow-filled rift about 7m deep. In 1988 the remaining snow was found to rest on the floor. A crawl down the E end chokes after 2.5m; at the W end a boot-sized gap affords a view into a tiny cross-rift.
$\otimes$
F16
Location: F16 northern window: (206E, 103S, +5), [230, 119${}^\circ$]; F16 southern window: (232E, 110S, +4), [257, 118${}^\circ$]. To Top Camp: 289.5${}^\circ$.
Description: Two main entrances to this cave lead to a snow-filled chamber. The righthand side of the chamber leads into a smaller snow-filled chamber. `There is probably a way on under the snow'. (Not found in 1985, when snow levels were very low, though) (4.8.84). It is no longer advisable to walk into F16 since in '88 the remaining 3m of snow sitting on the floor (visible around the edges) of the `chamber' were a good 8m free-hang below the entrance windows (2 bolts from the S window). The side-shaft leading up to the N window is almost free-climbable from below. The cave is in remarkably clean white limestone, apparently in a very large block derived from the Picos limestone strata further south that has come to rest in the middle of the thrust zone.
$\otimes$
F17
Location: (1E, 113S, +26), [113, 182${}^\circ$]. 100m due south from Top Camp (and uphill). To Top Camp: 1${}^\circ$. A long fluted rift, 10m deep, in depression between cairns C1 and C2.
Description: Open rift (leading nowhere in particular) on strike 150${}^\circ$-160${}^\circ$:the continuation of the F10 fracture, it seems. Just below, 14m north, a narrow 5m pot is blind except for a tiny crack opening into the next doline; near the end of the 1985 expedition, an injured sheep was rescued from this.
$\otimes$
F18
Location: (90E, 179S, +47), [201, 156${}^\circ$]. East and down from survey point T2, or NW and up from F38--the locations of F18 and F19 are reversed in Proceedings 12 p.61.
Description: 8m deep open pothole in long shallow surface rift striking 36${}^\circ$, with connection to a second pothole SW. Chokes; re-checked in 1997.
$\otimes$
F19
Location: (114E, 172S, +36), [207, 149${}^\circ$]. East of F18, at edge of top level of pavement overlooking the depression below F38, in a fracture system on a 30${}^\circ$ strike. Bearing 152${}^\circ$to F38.
Description: Open rift 1m wide and more than 10m long, hading 70${}^\circ$ NW, with a snowplug some 10m down (in '89). Rechecked in 1997--no way on.
$\otimes$
Unnumbered shaft
Location: In continuation of F19 rift, a few metres SW.
Description: Hand-lined climb of about 10m. Rocks rattle down a 10cm wide slot for a few seconds.
$\oslash$
Unmarked entrance
Location: Bearing 150${}^\circ$ from camp, about 200m away, overlooking the route to F38.
Description: An awkward scramble down a gulley to a snowplug (not fully checked out) and a small draughting hole on the right, passable, possibly with a little digging.
$\oslash$
Unmarked shaft
Location: Roughly below F19, bearing 180${}^\circ$ to F38.
Description: An open rift with snow at the bottom--may be passable.


Caves F20-27 were discovered on 6/8/84 by Andy Riley, and are situated on the flanks of the Ridge between the `F20 Gully' and the `Brown Gully' (except F25-26 which lie beyond the latter). Until '89, several of these had not been visited (or found again) since then, and some still await exploration.

$\oslash$
Unmarked entrance
(498W, 172S, +116), [527, 254${}^\circ$]. High up in the F20 gully (Argayo Cortado), in the lefthand wall (looking downhill), an entrance leads into a chamber with some remarkable fossil stal and possible continuations.
$\otimes$
F20
Location: (452W, 123S, +56), [469, 258${}^\circ$]. To Top Camp: 80${}^\circ$. The entrance is not easy to find. Early in the exploration the standard route was to climb down to the bottom of Bog Alley and then to ascend to the left up a steep bouldery gulley. Later it was found easier to traverse at a higher level, crossing the scree slope on the way to F6, and to scramble up the steep rocks to the left. F20 is at the top of a moderate-sized scree patch, about 80% of the distance to the top of the ridge. The entrance is a small cleft in the rock.
Description: See Proc. 12.
$\otimes$
F21
Location: Entrance: (497W, 63S, +77), [501, 266${}^\circ$]; Skylight: (503W, 55S, +84), [506, 267${}^\circ$]; Balcony: (519W, 40S, +75), [520, 269${}^\circ$]. Just below F20, look for a folded, reddish, thinly banked limestone bed on the true lefthand verge of the gully and follow this diagonally upward until some 10m below the crest of the ridge. Climb down a fluted rock face and walk into the obvious entrance.
Description: Shafts enter from above, through which blue sky can be seen (unless it's cloudy, or night-time). Eventually a huge rift is met which can be walked along (approx. 1.5m wide, 10m high, with daylight at the top (again, unless it's night-time). Ends after 20m. Climb through a hole to a balcony looking NW along the ridge onto the hill containing 2/6. (Proc. 12 incorrectly reported that the balcony looked into the next valley.)
$\oslash$
F22
Location: In tributary gully downhill from F20 and to the left off the main gully. Erroneously relabelled ``F23'' from 1985 to 1989, and referred to under that number in Proc. 12, p. 57 (but not on p. 61). To Top Camp: 83${}^\circ$. Entrance is a large shaft near the bottom of a gully (R.H. side), a little higher than Top Camp.
Description: The shaft is 10m deep. There may be a way on under the snow, but it's a bit near F20 to be very useful.
$\oslash$
F23A-C
Location: F23A: (432W, 56S, +19), [435, 266${}^\circ$]; F23B: (431W, 66S, +23), [436, 264${}^\circ$]; F23C: (439W, 66S, +24), [444, 264${}^\circ$]. In platform on lefthand verge of the Argayo Cortado below F20, just above F36. To Top Camp: 85${}^\circ$. Near F22, but lower down on the right.
Description: 25 foot shaft. F23A was reported blind in 1984 but all three openings seem to be sound-connected (certainly the latter two are). F23B is an inpenetrable fisure with a 6 second rattle. F23C might go after shifting some large boulders, or there might be a horizontal link from F23A into the `audible chasm'. NB F20 is not underneath but some 60m off sideways so this one might well go deep independently. Well worth checking out.
$\O$
F24
Location: (453W, 22S, +19), [453, 270${}^\circ$]. On limestone pavement NW from F23; visible from Top Camp but difficult to access. To Top Camp: 93${}^\circ$.
Description: Large shaft about 10-15m deep. No way on at bottom of pitch.
$\otimes$
F25
Location: (515W, 12S, +45), [516, 272${}^\circ$]. On lefthand (true left: looking down) verge of the `Brown Gully' (Argayo Pardo) just below where it crosses the Ridge. [631W, 44N, +46]. To Top Camp: 94${}^\circ$.
Description: Meander with skylights ending after 15m in a choked little rift. Thought at one time to belong to the 2/6 shaft system nearby, but it rather seems it once was part of a cave system underneath the fault-controlled Brown Gully itself.
$\otimes$
F26
Location: (503W, 24N, +26), [503, 276${}^\circ$]. To Top Camp: 99${}^\circ$ In the bottom of an amazing surface rift (rift is 20-25' deep) (6.8.84). At intersection of rifts downhill and northeast from F25 (well north of the Brown Gully).
Description: Hole about 8m deep.
$\O$
F27
Location: (449W, 8N, -6), [449, 274${}^\circ$]. Halfway up the Argayo Pardo (Brown Gulley), in lefthand verge (looking down), below the rift containing F26, and just above a car sized boulder. To Top Camp: 100${}^\circ$. (6.8.84).
Description: 10m entrance pitch; no way on at bottom.
$\oslash$
F28 (formerly `F6', `F20')
Location: (103E, 318S, +102), [334, 165${}^\circ$]? To Top Camp: 342${}^\circ$; to `Spike': 252${}^\circ$. Below F5.
Description: 10m deep entrance shaft (opening out to 3x4m) leading to a snow plug. Rift trends into mountain and closes off after 5m. Graham-sized passage leads off to the left and then round a corner: `couldn't get in it, Guv' says Jan (6.8.84).
$\otimes$
F29
Location: (387W, 55N, -29), [391, 85${}^\circ$]? At base of depression at the bottom of the F20 gully. (Not found in '89 from this description; probably near F33.
Description: 15m entrance pitch to chossy floor with small snow pile. Daylight entering from West through unlocated entrance (possibly a depression with some snow at the bottom). Numerous narrow rifts enter, but pitch disappointingly closes off to a 1mm cleft in the rock. No way on (6.8.84).
$\otimes$
F30
(506W, 103N, +3), [516, 285${}^\circ$]. To Top Camp: 107${}^\circ$. This is another name for 1/6. See `Ridge Cave', Proc. 12.
$\O$
F31
Location: (348W, 93N, -59), [360, 288${}^\circ$]. At S verge of grass field where the Verdelluenga thrust and the path to Ridge Cave re-emerge from the large boulder-filled Jou W of Top Camp and start to rise towards the Ridge.
Description: A 1m diameter shaft. 11m pitch or awkward climb. Way on is obstructed by a large but removable boulder. Beyond is a boulder pile descending for 2.5m until it meets the roof. It is difficult to say whether a continuation to either side exists, though this seems unlikely.
$\otimes$
Unmarked rift
Location: 25m SW from F31 (uphill).
Description: 3m climb and 3m pitch in south-trending rift lands on cobbles and snow. Tiny hole in south end gives view of floor 4m down. Alternatively climb back up 2m above hole, and thrutch forward in tight rift to look down an oval 80cm by 30cm shaft, ending at a similar level.
$\O$
F32 (formerly `F21', `F29')
Location: (217E, 226S, +10), [313, 139${}^\circ$]? Beneath F5.
Description: A 1m $\times$ 4m shaft with a 3 second rattle. A snow plug is visible, but the shaft seems to continue.
$\otimes$
F33
Location: (360W, 21N, -47), [360, 276${}^\circ$]. Walk up Brown Gully from the very bottom end and leave it early, just past a blind oblique `doorway' on the left, going left and up. Entrance is tiny manhole (`dwarfhole' would be more appropriate) on a limestone clint, just above the gulley. To Top Camp: 97${}^\circ$.
Description: Originally described as a 5m tight pitch. The squeeze is less than 15cm wide, and completely ridiculous.
$\oslash$
F34
Location: (431W, 26N, -15), [431, 276${}^\circ$]. From Brown Gully, climb up NW verge into what looks like a big wiggly meander when seen from Top Camp. The first wiggle turns out to end at a rock wall but climbing up to the pavement and back down into the continuation leads to the entrance in a rift on 30${}^\circ$ hading 50-60${}^\circ$ E intersecting the meander. To Top Camp: 97${}^\circ$; to La Verdelluenga: 113${}^\circ$.
Description: Pitch 6m to boulders. From here, another 3.5 metres down to snow plug and boulder floor. Possible way on through boulders upslope; slight draught (28.7.85). Looks interesting and is well worth checking.
$\oslash$
Unmarked crawl
On the left of the F20 gulley, very near the top, near where the gulley narrows. This was previously found by Paul Brennan in 1986, and is marked on Gerhard's map.
$\otimes$
F35
Location: (418W, 30S, -3), [419, 269${}^\circ$]. At N edge of large sloping karren field traversed by the '85 route to F20 below its entry point to the F20 gully. To Top Camp: 90${}^\circ$; to La Verdelluenga: 109${}^\circ$.
Description: 15m pitch, chokes, no way on (28.7.85).
$\otimes$
F36
Location: (414W, 67S, +13), [419, 264${}^\circ$]. In F20 gully on lefthand verge (looking down), 30m before bottom end of gully (this being taken to be where the 1985 route turned left and the gully degenerates into an overhanging precipice). To Top Camp: 84${}^\circ$; to La Verdelluenga: 106${}^\circ$.
Description: Open shaft 10-15m deep, 10m long x 1.5m wide, choked at the bottom (28.7.85).
?
Arch Caves
Unmarked entrance upslope from F2 towards the Jorcada Blanca col.
$\otimes$
F37
Location: On the right side of a gully ascending from the `Arch Caves'.
Description: A small hole descends down a steep rubble slope with two squeezes to a small aven. No way on (29.7.85).
$\otimes$
F38
Location: (250E, 250S, +6), [350, 140${}^\circ$] to nearest 50m. Downhill and east from F19. Follow path east from Top Camp for about 200m and then up and to the right into a large boulder-strewn cirque overlooked by an arched alcove, usually above a snow field, in its southern wall. F38 is that alcove.
Description: Enter past snowfield to large chamber with fine ice column (in 1985, at least!). Pool at back of cave is covered in a thin layer of ice. This was the Top Camp water supply at the end of '85 (3.8.85) and throughout the '86 expedition. The pool was gone in '87 and never seen since.
$\otimes$
F39
Location: (200E, 200S, +1), [300, 140${}^\circ$] to nearest 50m. Turn right about 50m before reaching F38. A small pothole under a rock wall.
Description: 5m drop past snow to a choke. No way on (3.8.85).
$\oslash$
F40
Location: (566W, 145N, +23), [584, 287${}^\circ$]. Walk up the grassy slope from Ridge Cave. On the ridge turn right and walk down the ridge for about 100m to a large depression in very metamorphosed limestone. To the left of the depression is F40, a vertical crack about 4m by 1m. This cave may be worth another look as the draught was lost by the original explorers.
Description: The first pitch lands on a small ledge. Two short climbs, with a blind pot to the left, lead to the second pitch. This lands on a large rock bridge with pitches to the left and right; the best hang is down the left hand shaft. This pitch lands in a small chamber. The pitch continues below, but the way on is through a slot above and to the left of the continuation. This leads to a 2m climb with a pitch to the left and a blind pot to the right, at the bottom of the shaft to the right of the rock bridge. A traverse above the pitch leads to a good natural belay, for a 10m pitch to a ledge, from where a short pendule to a rock bridge leads to a 19m pitch. This lands in a boulder-floored chamber, with the way on a short rift 1m wide, ending in a tight vertical squeeze to the left: The Salamander. This drops into a small chamber with a sloping boulder floor, leading straight to the next pitch. As the top was loose, this was rigged from a very rounded flake with nothing much stoppong the tape rolling off. The pitch, though small at the top, opens out after a few metres and is very impressive. It lands in another large boulder-strewn chamber. An ascending scree slope finishes at one end. The opposite direction soon closes down to a narrow rift half-filled with boulders. After four meters this pops out into a small chamber, where the draught present in the rest of the cave disappears up an aven. The only way on is down through boulders. The passage then closes down, ending in a sandy choke into which you can stick a welly for about a foot. (3.8.86, 17.8.86). Survey: Proc. 12, p. 64.
Pitch Rope Rigging
Entrance shaft (P15, C15, P10) 50m Large natural on right and flake; 2 natural rebelays.
Left-hand shaft (P9) 20m Natural belays.
P10, P19 45m Traverse to natural belay; rebelay from small flake above rock bridge.
Disappointment Pot (P20) 30m Rounded boulder.
$\oslash$
F41
Location: The cave is located in the karst between the scree slope running up to F13, and the Verdelluenga thrust. At about the same height as F13, bearing 204${}^\circ$. In a very large shakehole.
Description: See 1997 report for details. This cave is normally full of snow; different routes are possible, depending upon the snow levels. Not a nice place.
$\otimes$
F42
Location: 100m downhill from F57, bearing to Top Camp 66${}^\circ$. When walking downhill from F57, in the second hillock on the right hand side.
Description: Open shaft (P7) lands in choked cobble-floored chamber; all ways on lead back up to the surface.
$\otimes$
F43
Location: (71E, 154S, +40), [170, 158${}^\circ$]. In pavement just E of a shallow depression in N flank of the hills SE of Top Camp. Bearing 155${}^\circ$ from Top Camp.
Description: 2.5m by 1.6m shaft visible only from close quarters. 15m pitch, choked at the bottom.
$\oslash$
F44
Location: (106W, 41S, -33), [113, 252${}^\circ$]. In pavement W and down from Top Camp, 50m S of F8.
Description: Square-ish doline 8m wide and 6m deep with an arched entrance in the E corner. The doline was laddered from the N corner giving a 1m climb and 4m pitch onto snow (2m above floor of doline). Rock arch in E wall of doline leads to chamber in iron ore vein with daylight seeping in through roof boulders; all possible routes lead upward and choke. Rift in SE corner of doline on S by E trend passes underneath skylight aven and leads to a drop after a few metres. A 2m pitch lands on top of second snow pile in 5m by 8m chamber with bedding plane roof. The gap between snow and wall was sounded to at least 4m on the left side; this may or may not be a plugged shaft. Descending the snow pile to the right gains a depth of 10m below lip of doline with two ways on: a crawl to the right past fossil aragonite `popcorn' and some stal ascends back to daylight under snow in the SW corner of the doline, while straight ahead, a narrow, draughting, descending rift with a snow floor remains unentered due to lack of oversuits.
$\otimes$
Unnumbered shaft
Location: (104W, 46S, -28), [113, 249${}^\circ$]. Upslope of the F44 doline, on the S side.
Description: A small rifty shaft immediately breaks into F44.
$\otimes$
Unnumbered shaft
Location: (103W, 51S, -23), [115, 246${}^\circ$]. Follow the same fracture further uphill.
Description: A 4m deep blind open rift.
$\oslash$
Coffin-Lid
(101W, 50S, -24), [112, 246${}^\circ$]. Two steps further north a slab the size and shape of a coffin lid conceals a body-sized rattling opening, possibly connecting to the chamber beyond the rock arch in F44.
$\oslash$
F45A-B
Location: F45A: (91W, 75S, -14), [118, 233${}^\circ$]; F45B: (146W, 56S, -24), [156, 252${}^\circ$]. A group of entrances located upslope (SE) from F44, just below the first of the large karren-riddled `shoulders' on the way from Top Camp to Perdices and F20; F45B is the fluted, hading crack at the uphill verge of the shoulder.
Description: F45A must have been looked down many times by passers-by who thought they saw a solid floor 10m down. The entrance is at a junction of two deeply incised vadose inlets spanned by a rock bridge and a large wedged boulder, a 15m SRT pitch (best rigged from the bridge) passes some ice flow ('89) at -10m and lands on the col of an extensive snowplug in a (2-4m wide) SE-NW rift. Descending the snow in the NW corner leads to a strongly draughting snow chute 5m further down, which was not descended. On the SE side, scrambling down leads to a point at which a possible way on past the snow is seen. Light entering above via F45B can be seen at this point.-- Blocked with snow at -10m in 1992.
$\oslash$
F46
Location: Some 30m NE of F7D in obvious fracture trending 15${}^\circ$ and hading NW. Take care, surface rock is VERY loose.
Description: Rift in floor of surface meander. Rig rope from natural at top of gully, then another natural at top of entrance pitch (P8). Pitch lands on snow, from where continuation on NW wall (P6) lands on snow-covered false floor in intersection of four rifts, two coming down from entrance, while the other two carry on downwards but are very narrow. Pebbles hit more snow after 3-4m. A chisel would be needed to make this passable; a short pitch would follow immediately.
$\oslash$
F47
Location: Shaft: (191W, 2N, -50), [191, 274${}^\circ$]. 20m N and down from large doline N of F7A.
Description: Small doline climbable to entrance into chamber in its N side, with a 1.5m wide shaft breaking the roof of the chamber. Chamber has a dubious snow floor. From the roof bedding plane (strike 95${}^\circ$ dip 55${}^\circ$ N) a meandering passage has cut down on the NW side of the chamber. This was entered by rigging a 7m pitch through the skylight shaft, and left by ascending a tricky 2m climb to floor of doline and 1m and 3m climbs up out of same. Snow is resting on either ledges or floor 1.5m lower and remains a dubious affair. Descending 2 badly supported snow `tongues' and a large chockstone in obvious rift down dip (N) leads to 30cm high bedding plane descending further to an estimated 10m drop but obstructed by large floor flake and roof stal. Impassable without hammering.
$\oslash$
F48
Location: 30m W along fault (trending 73${}^\circ$ hading 85${}^\circ$ S) from F7A.
Description: Shelf broken by three shafts into underlying chamber, The Vestibule, 15m by 5m wide. Rig down largest skylight from naturals, then rebelay from another natural to drop past the snow into a rift (35m rope needed). Looking back offers interesting views of VW sized holes supporting much of the snow in the Vestibule, while walking forward eventually gains a decent floor in a tall 2-3m wide by 5m chamber. Ascend boulder slope to the left to enter continuation of rift 50-80 cm wide after right hand bend, with chockstones at various levels. This was followed at floor level to where a well-developed pair of ramps betrayed the original flow direction (inward). Ahead, it is possible to drop down a couple of feet into the bottom of the rift, but this route becomes too tight. Traversing above the drop, the rift continues to a 10m pitch. Two short climbs are followed by a 6m pitch into a small chamber. A tight rift needs hammering, but may continue.
$\oslash$
F49
Location: (242W, 53S, -32), [247, 261${}^\circ$]. Just a few metres further W along the F7A-F48 fault, in floor of 2m wide niche at the head of a shallow surface meander.
Description: Wedged boulders with enticing and draughting black holes between them. Requires extensive engineering to force an entrance as the boulders are rather large. May only provide another entrance to F48.
$\oslash$
Unmarked entrance
Location: (253W, 32S, -49), [255, 266${}^\circ$]. Some 25m downhill (N) from F49, the F20 fault passes through a little doline (unmarked) on 68${}^\circ$ strike, before crossing a bouldery grass field.
Description: Through gaps in the boulder floor of the doline, snow is seen and a draught emerges. Looks diggable.
$\otimes$
F50
Location: Located behind F20, not far from F14 on a bearing of 296${}^\circ$ to Top Camp and 138${}^\circ$ to the spike on the ridge.
Description: A slope down to a snow plug, choked.
$\otimes$
F51
Location: Located near to F50 on bearing of 141${}^\circ$ to the spike on the ridge, 227${}^\circ$ to the right of the Jorcada Blanca pass.
Description: An 8m climb down to a choke, no way on.
$\otimes$
F52
Location: Located high on the steep slope to the left (as you walk towards Top Camp) of the sandy/dolomity valley. The entrance is on a bearing of 144${}^\circ$ to Verdeluenga and is marked with a cairn visible from the sandy valley (or was in 1988). An impressive shaft belling out from a small unobvious entrance located part way up the steep rock slope to the left and above the path to Top Camp. The entrance is only visible from above.
Description: The first pitch (25m) is easiest rigged with a ladder, the rest of the shaft can be rigged with rope in three hangs (10m, 20m, 15m). All ways on from the bottom were choked. Penduling to the right reaches a rift leading to a 15m pitch, choked at the bottom.
$\otimes$
F53
Location: Lower down the slope and to the left of F52.
Description: A 2m climb followed by 30${}^\circ$ descending rift which becomes too tight.
$\otimes$
F54
Location: On the same fault as F57, about 30m left (true right) of the dolomite band, at the highest comfortable traverse level. A large shakehole, only visible from above, with a scree slope running into it from above. Bearing 68${}^\circ$ to Top Camp.
Description: The entrance shaft can be rigged from the eastern side (spike belay). This lands on the snow slope, but a small tube can be penduled into (bolt at entrance of tube). At the end of the tube are three ways on: to the right, a climb down soon becomes too tight; traversing forward, a tube continues before dropping back into the cave further down: this may provide an easier route. The original route was to rig a pitch at the end of the tube (spike belay) back down to the snow slope. The rope can be deviated from a spike through a hole in the snow, down into passage below. A snow slope (bolt belay) continues down to the start of a rift. The rift leads into a large chamber (where the alternative route enters from above). Here a climb over some boulders enters a continuation of the rift. The rift can be followed for some way; several chokes are encountered, but these can be climber over. At the final choke, a slot in the roof leads into a large chamber with an inlet coming in, and the continuation choked.
$\oslash$
F55
Location: In F20 Gulley, 20m below F36, on true right, in a shakehole with snow, 10m south of survey station T7.
Description: Walk into chamber with two tight crawls continuing. Top one draughts well, but may just connect with rift on surface above.
$\oslash$
F56
Location: Just below the Verdelluenga-Cabrones ridge, to the west of the Verdelluenga Thrust (``The Green Tongue''), in a small depression in an area of karst, near the base of a cliff.
Description: This has been renumbered F88.
$\oslash$
F57, Cueva del Arco
Location: The cave is located on a bearing of 248${}^\circ$ from Top Camp. An obvious shakehole on the hillside is visible from camp; this is choked with snow. Twenty meters higher is a large rock arch at the mouth of a large tunnel heading into the hillside. A strong draught blows from the entrance; in some conditions this can be seen as steam from Top Camp.
Description: The entrance pitch (P6) lands on a snow slope, descending at an angle of 40${}^\circ$, down a tunnel about 5m wide and 10m high. The snow slope can be followed for about 70m, to a 10m pitch. The snow slope continues for a further 20m, to the top of a 7m pitch, which is followed almost immediately by a steep descent down boulders. A large hole is visible in the roof at this point, which might be reachable by traversing, or possibly via one of the entrances F11 and F12 which are roughly above this point. Ten metres ahead, the snow slope flattens out to a junction. Straight ahead, a small slide down over snow leads to a choke and aven. Following the main passage round a bend to the right, leads past a beautiful frozen waterfall to the base of a vertical wall. It is conjectured that a pitch may lie under the snow at this point (don't unclip!).
Two climbs of 6m and 5m lead up onto a ledge, from where a 10m pitch can be rigged down the other side. Alternatively, a further climb leads to a possible traverse to a ledge, but this does not look very hopeful. The pitch lands on a ledge from where two short climbs lead to a cobble floor. Round the corner, a solid wall suddenly appears, blocking the way on. The floor draughts noticeably, but the prospects for digging do not look good. From the ledge, a climb up the opposite wall leads to a balcony, from where a tube descends into a too-tight rift.
Rigging:
Pitch Rope Rigging
Entrance pitch (P6) 200m Y-hang from two spikes; spike deviation (would be best rigged with a ladder).
First snow slope (70m) " Two spike rebelays.
Second pitch (P10) " Bolt backup and bolt belay on left hand wall.
Second snow slope (20m) " Rebelay from huge boulder.
Third pitch (P7) " Spike and bolt belays on right hand wall; spike deviation.
Descent down boulders (C10) " Natural belay.
Final snow slope (20m) " Natural rebelay.
Climbs up (C6, C5) " Bolt and natural; two bolts.
Final pitch (P10, C6) 20m Y-hang from bolts for climbs; bolt rebelay.
$\oslash$
F58
Location: In the sloping karren above the F7 entrances.
Description: A diggable slot.
$\otimes$
F59
Location: On left-hand side of outcrop of limestone, halfway up green valley from Top Camp to La Verdelluenga, level with overhanging bluff. Bearing 302${}^\circ$ to Top Camp.
Description: Two entrances. Entrance A is a 7m deep shaft leading to bouldery floor with no way on. B is an immediately adjacent 5m deep shaft with a bouldery floor. A hole at the bootom gives a visual connection between the two shafts.
$\otimes$
F60
Location: To the right (true left) of the Verdelluenga track, about 50m below the level of F41.
Description: A 2m by 4m hole surrounded by jagged, loose rock. A snow slope descends about 30m to a snow and rock floor. No way on. Not a nice place.
$\otimes$
F61
Location: Three entrances on the opposite side of Brown Gulley from F25, but higher up.
Description: The left-hand entrance is a rift closing down to 3-4 inches at all levels. The middle entrance ends 5m down on a pebble floor. The right-hand entrance is a choked manhole just big enough to insert your legs.
$\otimes$
F62
Location: Behind and to the left (true right) of climb over cliff, east of camp. Bearings: Verdelluenga 111${}^\circ$, Sphinx 129${}^\circ$.
Description: Obvious surface rift choked in places. 8m climb down, sharp in places, to choked floor.
$\oslash$
F63
Location: Near the ridge, just south of F20 Gulley. Scramble down west side of ridge, and walk into a small shake hole. Originally numbered F58, but unmarked.
Description: To the right is a shaft 5-10m deep. Ahead are two passages which seem to choke, but need checking with a light.
$\O$
F64
Location: Hidden, impressive entrance, high up on Verdelluenga on steep slope. Just up and west a bit from E9. Bearings: 298${}^\circ$ to Conjurtao; 343${}^\circ$ to snow pole. Altitude approx. 1985m.
Description: See 1994 expedition report.
$\otimes$
F65
Location: Snow Pole 326${}^\circ$. Top left of La Verdelluenga, approx 10 m below the ridge.
Description: 30m shaft past a snow plug. A sloping 13m pitch beyond ends in boulders.
$\otimes$
F66
Location: Snow Pole 008${}^\circ$, altitude approx 1895m. A rift in a complex of rifts on the west edge of a large shattered bowl. On the large ridge heading WNW of F64.
Description: An 8m climb down followed by a squeeze through boulders and a 10m climb down into chamber. A passage at the far side has a skylight opening but way on is blocked by boulders.
$\otimes$
F67
Location: Snow Pole 018${}^\circ$, Old Top Camp 256${}^\circ$, altitude approx. 1895m. A lozenge shaped shaft 30m west of F66.
Description: Drops 15-18m to a choke.
$\oslash$
F68
Location: F13 190${}^\circ$, Old Top Camp 277${}^\circ$, altitude approx. 1930m. Dry Shaft in top of a scree filled shallow hoyo to the right of the shoulder of La Verdelluenga.
Description: A 5m loose climb leads into a tube at the head of a 10m pitch into a chamber. Right leads past an awkward corner to a low chamber and down to two large boulder chokes. Boulders draught strongly.
$\otimes$
F69
An 8m climb in a 1m wide rift to a bouldery floor.
?
F70
Location: 150m from the Snow Pole on a bearing of 200${}^\circ$.
Description: A 25m shaft. A second shaft in the NW corner is blocked with snow.
$\oslash$
F71
Location: Snow Pole 310+10${}^\circ$, La Verdelluenga 155+10${}^\circ$. SJP? A small entrance close to the grass-limestone boundry on the NW flank of La Verdelluenga.
Description: A spiky 6m climb leads to free-climbable 6m and 5m pitches. A draughting tube at the bottom leads into a phreatic tube. The tube leads to a 3m pot with the ways on being too tight. Alternatively, squeeze down into 5m high rift; way on is too tight, but draughting.
$\otimes$
F72
An 8m climb in a rift followed by a further 8m drop in the rift becomes too tight.
$\otimes$
F73
Location: Heading away from the snow pole camp to the south leads into a shallow valley. About 50m up this valley a series of rifts can be seen about 30m south of the valley. F73 and 74 are located here (entrances are tagged).
Description: A 25m deep narrow slot; no way on.
$\oslash$
F74
Location: Near F73.
Description: A 10m shaft drops down onto a snow plug.
$\otimes$
F75
Location: Snow Pole 081.5${}^\circ$, La Verdelluenga 135${}^\circ$.
Description: Major landscape gardening exercise revealed a 7m shaft blocked with boulders. No draught.
$\otimes$
F76
Location: Snow Pole 081${}^\circ$, 5m E of F75.
Description: A 6m open shaft with no way on.
$\otimes$
F77
Location: 5m N of F76.
Description: A 4m shaft with a further 4m deep rift on the S corner. Blocked.
$\oslash$
F78
Location: Snow Pole 080${}^\circ$, La Verdelluenga 128${}^\circ$, ``Thrift Rift''.
Description: A 10m deep fissure, 1-1.5m wide. At the NW end a small inaccessible chamber can be seen.
$\otimes$
F79
Location: Vega Aliseda (orange rocks) 025${}^\circ$, La Verdelluenga 126${}^\circ$, Snow Pole  065${}^\circ$.
Description: "The Great System of Nothing". A dug out hole amongst boulders leads down into a rift open to numerous skylights.
$\oslash$
F80
Location: Alt. approx 2150m. From the summit of Punta Gregoriana head along the NE ridge for 400m. The very large entrance is just below the ridge.
Description: A 25m entrance pitch drops onto snow and boulders. The rift to the SW was only given a cursory examination. To the NW an 80m pitch was descended for 75m. the way on at the bottom looks wide open.
$\otimes$
F81
Location: On the Asturias side of the watershed, very close to the summit of Punta Gregoriana.
Description: 25m shaft to a rocky snow plugged floor.
Note: the locations of F80 and F81 may be transposed.
$\oslash$
F82
Location: 343${}^\circ$ from the Snow Pole. Head down the shallow valley from the Snow Pole and bear left toward the orange rocks in Vega Aliseda. A massive collapse area with a pale orange back wall.
Description: A possible way exists down in the bottom of the large boulders.
$\otimes$
F83
Location: 10m on the true right and above the Brown Gully, opposite F34 rift. 350${}^\circ$ to lump en route to Ridge Cave.
Description: 8m Shaft and a 4m climb down into rift with fossils.
$\oslash$
F84
Location: On the way from the snow pole towards Old Top Camp, in a block of limestone to the right, down rift from F74.
Description: Drop onto snow plug; there may be a way past the snow.
?
F85
Has been renumbered E12.
$\O$
F86
Location: At the base of the green tongue proper, 19m from F59 on a bearing of 199.
Description: An undescended shaft down side of snow plug in large shakehole.
$\otimes$
F87
Location: Walk up towards dolomite peak in area E from new Top Camp. On the right of ridge above F71 is a large depression. F87 is a metre wide rift in right hand wall of depression.
Description: Climbing down the rift leads under an arch to floor level. Doubling back through a crawl at floor level leads into a boulder choke.
$\otimes$
F88
Location: Just below the Verdelluenga-Cabrones ridge, to the west of the Verdelluenga Thrust (``The Green Tongue''), in a small depression in an area of karst, near the base of a cliff.
Description: Originally explored in 1993, when it was numbered F56, to the base of the first pitch, where it was blocked with snow. Explored further in 1997, to a depth of about 100m. See 1997 expedition report for full description.
$\otimes$
F89
Location: On the flank of Cabrones, above F5. Bearings 3-${}^\circ$ to F2; 244${}^\circ$ to right hand end (cliff) of Punta Gregoriana.
Description: A small crawl into chamber chokes.
$\otimes$
F90
Location: About two levels higher than F89. Snow pole 8${}^\circ$ top of F13 rock 56${}^\circ$ (about 200m). Cave is slightly higher than F13 rock.
Description: Impressive rift with snow plug heads into hillside. 25m pitch onto snowplug. All ways on choked with snow (1997).
$\oslash$
F91
Location: From west end of Vega Aliseda, follow valley to left uphill, following cairns for about 150m into area of shakeholes. Cave is in right (true left) hand side, overlooking obvious shakehole. Verdelluenga 128${}^\circ$, Cabrones 172${}^\circ$, climb out of Vega Aliseda on direct route to Los Lagos 84${}^\circ$.
Description: Cave descends at 45${}^\circ$ for 5m to choke. but on left just inside entrance is hole through boulders looking into chamber. Well-aimed rocks rattle for a few seconds. Drafts. Needs a crowbar.
$\oslash$
F92
Location: Further up valley from F91, scramble up to the left along fault on bearing 138${}^\circ$, hading at 40${}^\circ$ down to NE. 126${}^\circ$ to Pico Aliseda.
Description: Awkward 10m climb down into rift. A few metres ahead is a drop of maybe 20m (undescended).
$\O$
Unmarked entrance
Next shaft up from F92. Might go with digging.
$\oslash$
F93
Location: Overlooking F92.
Description: Phreatic tube at base of cliff. Goes 5m and then gets low. Needs oversuit.
$\O$
F94
Location: In middle of scree-filled valley running along the base of Cabrones towards the pass. Cve is about 100m from col leading to F38. Bearings: left hand peak of Cabrones 104${}^\circ$, right hand peak 214${}^\circ$.
Description: Undescended. In a fairly naff place. It's surprising it's not already full of rocks; this might mean that it opens out below (or not).
$\O$
F95
Location: Near F94, at base of cliff jutting out from Cabrones.
Description: 10m shaft, might continue past snow.
$\O$
F96
Location: Two-thirds of the way up the valley running along the base of Cabrones towards the pass is a snow field at the base of a cliff. F96 is at the top left (true right) of this.
Description: A rift heading into the mountain. Not tagged. Looks promising.
$\O$
F97
Location: To the SW of the F96 snowfield is a 25m x 20m ledge, a short awkward climb above the scree slope. Bearings F2 12${}^\circ$, pass 292${}^\circ$. The easiest route to the ledge might be to continue up the main valley, climb up a scree runnel, and then traverse up to the ledge. F97 is near the N end of the ledge.
Description: Several parallel shafts to snow. Undescended.
$\O$
F98
Location: SE corner of ledge containing F97.
Description: Shaft to snow. Skylight above, possibly with parallel shaft. Looks promising.
$\oslash$
F99
Location: SW corner of ledge containing F97.
Description: Walk into 8m x 8m chamber. Appears to be blind, but needs checking with a light.

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Gavin Lowe