The Western Massif (Picos de Cornion)

Vega Bano (the YUCPC base camp) looking up towards Vega Huerta

The Western Massif is probably the most intensively explored area of the Picos de Europa. This page outlines the main discoveries in the Western massif, organised by area.

The Ario Bowl

Another cave found by the SIE in the area was Asoplderu La Texa, this was abandoned at a depth of -103m as Pozu del Cabeza Muxa was occupying most of the cavers' efforts. Reecently the SIE have returned to the cave and it hass been pushed to -615m. Josep Guarro Safont has written this article about the exploration of Asoplderu La Texa.

The deepest cave in the Western massif is sistema del Xitu. The main entrance (altitude 1652m) was explored by OUCC (UK) from 1979-1982 to a depth of -1148m and was dye traced to the cueva del Culiembro resurgence in the Cares Gorge. Two other caves, pozu La Cistra and pozu Los Caracoles were connected to pozu del Xitu in 1985. OUCC also explored three higher altitude systems near La Verdelluenga; sistema Conjurtao (depth -658m), sistema Jorcada Blanca (depth -590m), and F20 (depth -582m). Surveys of these caves and of caves explored by the SPG(Poland) on the other side of the Verdelluenga ridge indicate that they have all formed along a common fault plane. A more recent OUCC find is the 820m deep pozu Jultayu (2/7). It was originally noted in 1982 and was explored between 1987 and 1991. This cave is notable for a sizeable (by Picos standards) streamway which was dye traced to the cueva del Culiembro resurgence. A video was made of the exploration of 2/7 in 1989. In 1994 OUCC returned to the Verdelluenga area and discoevered Torca de La Verdelluenga (C9) (-482m) and F64 (approx -450m) exploration of these caves will continue in 1995.

Sherry Mayo (me!) by an ice column in La Jayada chamber. Photo Martin Hicks.

Vega Huerta (under construction)

Vega Huerta is a high arid bowl near the ruins of an old refugio. It is reached by footpath from Vega Baño which in turn is reached by dirt road from the village of Soto. The groups who have done most of the exploration in this area are YUCPC, SEII, SEG and SCP. Below is a list of the significant discoveries by these groups.

M2      Pozo de Cuetalbo	        -972m   1984-87 YUCPC/SEII
B3      Pozo del Llastral         -949m   1985-89 YUCPC/SEII/SEG
B10     Pozu la Llerona                 -385m   1985-89 SEII
B47     Pozo de la Garita Cimera        -423m   1987-88 YUCPC/SEII/SEG
K897    Sima de los Cuatro Caminos      -401m   1989-90 YUCPC/SEII/SEG
K901    Sima del Ternero                -367m   1990    YUCPC/SEII/SEG
K903    Sima de Cotalbin                -727m   1990-94 SEII/SCP

YUCPC = York University Cave and Pothole Club, York, UK
SEII = Seccion de Espeleologia Ingenieros Industriales, Madrid, Spain
SEG = Sociedad de Espeleologia Geologicas, Madrid, Spain
SCP = Speleoa Club de Paris, France

Vegarredonda

Click here for a survey.

A.E.GET are currently looking for higher entrances to the Junjumia system near El Requexon. One promising lead is Pozu del Rio de Hielo del Requexon, which has a 135m entrance shaft partially filled with ice for the last 85m. The current limit of exploration is at 150m in a large chamber.

Polish Exploration in the Torre Santa María & Torre de los Traviesos Area

Surveys of the caves explored by the polish cavers:
East-West projection of caves and surface topography
North-South projection of caves and surface topography
Plan view of caves projected onto contour map of surface

Polish cavers coming to the western massif (El Cornion) of the Picos de Europa since 1978 were assigned for exploration by Parque Nacional de la Montana de Covadonga, through Federacion Asturiana de Espeleolog=EDa, an extensive area in the Asturian part of the massif. It includes the = northern slopes of the Torre Santa Mar=EDa and Torre de los Traviesos and = occupies an area of about 4.5 km2. The highest point in this zone is the summit of = the Torre de los Traviesos with altitude 2390 m, and the lowest is the = bottom of the cirque Joos de Reseco at about 1460 m.

The beginning of the exploration in this part of the El Cornion may be accepted in 1961, when cavers from Grupo de Espeleolog=EDa Polifemo = (GEP) made the first reconnaissance and confirmed the speleological attractiveness = of the area. A year later Cueva de la Fragua was explored to the depth of = 165 m.

At the beginning of 1970s the area attracted the attention of French cavers from Speleo Club Orsay de Faculte (SCOF) who explored it systematically in years 1972-75. Because of the large extent of the area their activity concentrated in the western and southwestern parts. The deepest caves explored then include:

* Sistema de la Torre de los Traviesos o de los Organos (A-1), - 416 m,

* Red de los Barrastrosas (G-7/G-4), - 315 m,

* Sima de los Desvios (F-3), -280 m.

Another cave discovered at that time was H-11 (beyond the present limit of the area), explored in 1972 to the depth of -73m. Two years later, in 1974, members of GEP surpassed the depth of -350 m. In the same year cavers from Grupo de Montana Torreblanca (GMT) had discovered Sima de Cembavieja (Cem.) in an adjacent area, south of Barrastrosas and near the limit of the zone; in it they attained -310 m in 1977.

In total, the members of SCOF have discovered about 50 caves by then. At the same time they began to explore another area (Ozania), more promising as they believed, and abandoned their activity in this zone.

1978 The first Polish expedition was the reconnaissance by Speleoklub Warszawski (SW) in 1978, whose participants visited, among others, Red de los Barrastrosas (G-7/G-4) and Sima de los Desvios (F-3). They also prospected on the surface and marked about 30 new entrances.

1979 since that year has begun the regular activity of Speleoklub Gliwicki (SG), concentrated mainly in that part of the zone, which had been little, explored by SCOF. In 1979 the activity took place in the lower parts of the massif. Several caves were discovered, including Sima Profunda (-190), Sima de Nieve (-98) and Sima Cantolimpou (-76). Entrance series of Sima de los Desvios (F-3) were also searched. In Sima de Cembavieja (Cem.) members of Seccion de Espeleologķa Ingenieros Industriales (SEII) attain the depth of -350 m, while in Sima de la Porra la Altiquera (H-11) cavers from GEP reach -418 m.

1980 Exploration was continued in the caves discovered earlier. The results are the deepening of Sima de los Desvios from -280 to -315 m, Sima Profunda from -190 to 204 m and Sima Cantolimpou from -76 to -128 m. Also visited were Sima de la Torre de los Traviesos o de los Organos (A-1). Near the limit of the zone, on the side explored by the English, members of Oxford University Cave Club (OUCC) discovered Sima Conjurtao (1/6).

1981 for many years, because of the situation in the country, Polish teams were not coming to the Picos. Spaniards from SEII attained -550 m in Sima de Cembavieja (Cem.). This was the first so deep a cave in this part of the massif.

1982 In Sima de Cembavieja (Cem.) SEII and OUCC reach the final sump at the depth of -703 m. Members of OUCC descend to -520 in Pozu Jorcada Blanca (F2), which lies next to the limit of the Polish zone.

1983 The English reach the final sump in Pozu Jorcada Blanca (F2) at the depth of -594 m.

1984 after a long break Poles reappear in the Picos. Their penetration into Sima de la Torre de los Traviesos o de los Organos, started in 1980, ends at the level attained by the French (-416 m). During the same expedition began the exploration of the virtually unknown southeastern part of the area, resulting in more than 40 new caves (including A-30), mostly shallow ones. Only A-11 (Pozu del Porru la Capilla) offers some prospects. Its exploration ended with an accident at the depth of ca. 120 m. During a violent rise in water flow Piotr Kolodziej died. After the rescue operation, the members of the expedition decided to postpone exploration and come back to Poland. The cave was explored to about -180 m. In the same year members of Speleo Club de la Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (SCP) discovered Sima Parodia (SCP) and attained in it the depth of ca. -38 m. Cavers from OUCC made a connection of Pozu los Perdices (F7) with Pozu Jorcada Blanca (F2), resulting in the Sistema Jorcada Blanca (F2/F7).

1985 The drama of the former expedition dissuaded members of SG from the next expedition to this may be another deep cave in this part of the Picos. Another Polish expedition, from Katowicki Klub Speleologiczny (KKS), acting together with the members of SCP attains, among others, the depth of -240 m in SCP 134.In the British zone, cavers from OUCC connect 2/6 with Sistema Conjuarto, resulting in Sistema Conjuarto, where they attain -655. In Pozu del Redondo (E20) they attain -582 m.

1987 Several years of exploration in Pozu del Porru La Capilla (A-11) finally brings about the long expected results. This time the success belongs to a SG expedition. They reach the final sump at -863 m.

1988 The next expedition by SG is a systematic search for new, high entrances. About one hundred new entrances were located, even in the apparently well searched zone G (among others G-13). At the same time exploration in Red de los Barrastrosas was undertaken, showing possible leads.

1989 The rosy exploration prospects drew two expeditions from Poland: an SG expedition aiming at further exploration in zone A and an expedition of Sekcja Grotolazow Klubu Wysokogorskiego Wroclaw (SGKWW), intending to work in zone G. The small SG expedition explores A-30 to the depth of -245 m. At the same time the big expedition of SGKWW searches zone G. They mark ten new caves of small depth, visit most known caves in the zone and confirm the open possibility of advance in Red de los Barrastrosas. The main achievement was the exploration of G-13 down to -429 m. The further activity was arrested by the accident of Wieslaw Smigielski. After a fall of fourteen metres in G-13 he had a broken rib and injured spine. A five days rescue operation terminates the work of the expedition.

1991 The regular exploration activity of SG members is continued by expeditions of Speleoclub Wroclaw (SCW). A reconnaissance expedition concentrates in A-30 and it results in the extension of this cave from -245 to -552 m.

1993 The next SCW expedition continues exploration of A-30, which after the 1991 expedition was named Pozu del Picu de los Asturianos. A surface search resulted in marking several new entrances.

1994 The main goal of the SCW expedition was exploration of Pozu del Picu de los Asturianos (A-30), where they achieved -726 m. Surface prospecting was continued in Jou Arenizas (C) and Canalon de Los Desvios. The former did not bring a single cave deeper than 50 m, while in the latter F-17 proved to be the entrance to a cave 477 m deep. After a subsequent connection with a higher entrance (F-18) Sistema del Canalon de Los Desvios (F-17/F-18) became 501 m deep. Also the entrance to F-15 found was.

1995 Exploration of Pozu del Picu de los Asturianos (A-30) was continued parallel with the exploration of Sima de los Traviesos o de los Organos (A-1), resulting in their communication and establishing a new interesting cave system - Sistema del Jou de la Canal Parda (A-1/A-30). As usual Jou de Arenizas (C) was searched and as usual several new shallow caves were found (for instance C-7, about -70 m). Activity in Canalon de Los Desvios was also continued. Exploration in F-15 resulted in its connection with the known parts of Sistema del Canalon de Los Desvios (F-18/F-17), largely extending the system.

1996 Sistema del Sistema del Jou de la Canal Parda (A-1/A-30) was deepened down to -903 m. Prospection was done for higher entrances to this system and to Pozu del Porru la Capilla (A-11). Sima de los Desvios (F-3) was searched with a view of connecting it with Sistema del Canalon de Los Desvios (F-15/F-17/F-18).

The activity of the Polish groups in the western massif (El Cornion) of the Picos de Europa since 1978, though irregular, brought about some results, especially in zone A. There were in all fifteen Polish expeditions organised by the following clubs: Speleoklub Warszawa (1978), Speleoklub Gliwice (1979, 80, 84, 87, 88, 89), Sekcja Taternictwa Jaskiniowego Czestochowa (1986), Katowicki Klub Speleologiczny (1986), Sekcja Grotolazow Klubu Wysokogórskiego Wroclaw (1989) and Speleoklub Wroclaw (1991, 93, 94, 95, 96).

During Expedition PICOS `96 the colouring of water was done to confirm :

# supposed flow between Sistema del Jou de la Canal Parda (Pozu del Picu de los Asturianos - Sima de la Torre de los Traviesos o de los Organos) and Gueros de la Teya;

# the speed, time and route of the flow;

# the character of hydrogeological reservoir;

In this research was used 3 kilos of uranina, 13 litres of water and 1 litre of spirytus which gave us on the whole 15 litres of colouring solution. The colouring was carried out at the bottom of Sistema del Jou de la Canal Parda near Jeziorko Czerwonoskórych that is in -903m of depth (1312m above sea level - straight below south-west part of Jou de los Desvios).

The single colouring was done on 1996.09.02 at 9:00 in one place only.(we used about 9 litres of colouring solution). The uranina dissolved very quickly and after some time as a result of the downward flow the colouring disappeared. The productivity of the flow at the cave bottom amounts to 1litre per second, pH - 6.3.

The observation at Gueros de la Teya begun the same day. It was collecting samples (for analysis in Poland) and visual definition of colour every 3 hours. The observations lasted 10 days that is 231 hours. During this period the outflow of colouring was not observed. It was also proved by laboratory examinations at the University of Wroc³aw. At the observation point pH was also 6.3.

Taking into account: the slight height difference between the place of delivery(1312m asl) and observation point(1200m asl), the period of low water level, considerable horizontal distance (4180m in a straight line) we cannot exclude the supposed hydrogeological connection.

	PLACE OF DELIVERY	OBSERVATION POINT
NAME	-903m in Sistema del Jou de la Canal Parda (Pozu del Picu de los Asturianos - Sima de la Torre de los Traviesos o de los Organos - A-30/A-25/A-24/A-1) - straight below south-west part of Jou de los Desvios	Gueros de la Teya
UTM COORDINATES ~ X: ~ Y:	4 787 550 340 810	4 790 780 338 150
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL	1312m	1200m
DATE	1996.09.02; 9:00 AM	1996.09.02; 6:00 PM to 1996.09.12; 9:00 AM
PH	6.3	6.3
PRADUCTIVITY OF THE FLOW	1 litre/second	not measured
COLOURING FACTOR	uranina
AMOUNT OF COLOURING FACTOR	~ 1.8 kilos
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE	~ 4180 meters
HEIGHT DIFFERENCE	~ 110 meters
OBSERVATION TIME	231 hours
THE RESULT	OK !	NOT OBSERVED !

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