Oxford University Cave Club

The Picos de Europa is a magnificent range of limestone mountains, situated in the north of Spain. It is an area containing a dense population of deep caves. This we know because of the vast amount of effort that has been put into exploration by cavers from all over the globe.

For example, Oxford University Cave Club has been conducting research there for over twenty consecutive years now, and we have a lot to show for our hard work.

Last year, the Ario 2000 expedition surveyed some 1700m of newly discovered passage in cave number 2/7, also known as Pozu Jultayu. These finds included a sump which is believed to connect to the downstream end of the Verdelluenga System. However, enthusiasm to return to that cave was dwindling, and the leads were drying up. This left us with no obvious choice for a main aim for 2001. Soon however, it was decided to return to the Pozu del Xitu system.

The first entrance to Xitu was discovered by our club in the summer of 1979. Before long the cave was found to sump at -1135m, and a further two entrances (12/5 and 3/5) were explored. In discussion, stories of unexplored leads soon arose. The region where 12/5 connects with 1/5, and the upstream limit of the system were identified as being worthy of attention.

In all, 532m of new passage has been surveyed within the Xitu system. The fossil levels which were postulated to lie around -500m remain elusive. However, the success of the expedition also lies with work done in other areas. In particular, the newly discovered cave 54/4 has already dropped to -90m in only a handful of trips. It has already become the focus for next year.

Richard Doyle