Matienzo 1984
A summary of the cave explorations which occurred in
Matienzo during 1984
A large party of cavers from various clubs returned, yet
again, to continue exploring the caves in and around the Matienzo depression.
The total of new passage discovered was nearly 6km, mainly in one system.
With the discovery of the 2.2km long Trident Series in Uzueka (site
107) at the end of last years expedition, hopes were raised for a ”back
door" to the system to eliminate the 16km round trip involved in pushing
the end. Radio location showed the final choke to be only 30m from emerging
into the Matienzo depression. This would have connected two of the valleys
in the Four Valley System. A surface dig was started but had to be abandoned
due to its instability.
Another party poking around in Uzueka discovered Green Van Series (about
2.5km from the entrance) consisting of about 200m of passage ending in
several unclimbed avens. This heads back towards the Riaño depression
and, if a surface connection is made would bypass a section of passage
which often sumps.
The 15.5km long South Vega System did not receive the attention it deserved
due to Coteron (site 264) not being tackled up, although many leads were
left over from last year. In the lower levels, steady work in Reñada
revealed about 8OOm of passage although no outstanding tunnels were found.
Further up the hill, Azpilicueta (site 333) was looked at with the objective
of connecting it to Reñada, not more than 8Om away. This predominantly
vertical system saw the discovery of 0.5km of passage leading over Reñada,
but the connection remained elusive. Another route into the South Vega
System may come from Codisera (39). A bolt route started this year leads
towards a roof tunnel with sizeable passage in view. Next year should see
the completion of this.
On Muela, an unexpected development happened when Cave of the Wild Horses
(sites 509 and 647) was found. Instead of the usual choked shaft, some
horizontal passage was discovered. Although not extensive by Matienzo standards
(consisting mainly of two boulder chambers and a dead horse) it does imply
that horizontal development has taken place.
This years major discoveries took place in last years extension to Mostajo
(site 71) which heads under Enaso (Caves & Caving 22 p16). Previously
1.3km long, the cave now boasts some 6km of surveyed passage. About 700m
into the cave a hole 5m up the left hand is a window into the ”Golden Void•,
a free- hanging, 34m pitch. From its base a clamber up boulders leads to
a junction where the Cayenne Series starts. This was originally thought
to be a large hading rift some 60m wide; subsequent surveying showed it
to be a 60 x 7Om chamber with gaping holes in the floor and walls, none
of which have yet been pushed. Further in, a 5m diameter, clean-washed
shaft is passed (descended for 1Om to the top of an estimated 20m pitch).
Shortly afterwards the ”Going Everywhere• starts, with over 5OOm surveyed
and numerous leads left for next time.
After a short, convoluted section a return is made to 10 x 1Om (standard
Matienzo) passage where a large junction is met. Straight on leads to a
pit. This has been seen from the other side via ”Going Everywhere• series.
Unfortunately the route has been lost and awaits re-discovery. Continuing
along the main drag, numerous side passages are passed, many of which are
still unexplored. This includes the maze which contains over 1km of passage
with several undescended pitches. On an attempt to bottom one of these
the ladder ran out 5Om down.
After the maze, the cave changes character and becomes extremely well decorated,
with chambers interconnected with stooping passage. From the final chamber,
numerous ways lead off, the main one being the strongly draughting, aptly
named Hedgehog Crawl - 235m of hands and knees crawling on 3cm long crystals.
This terminates in a series of small chambers, not fully explored, but
with big potential as a streamway was found cascading down an undescended
15m pitch with other leads still to be pushed.
Back at the start of the decorated chambers, two more sections were entered
- the Going Home series and Wonderland.
The latter consists of approximately 700m of varying passage, extremely
well decorated with a profusion of 50cm helicites, ending at boulders around
which passage is visible - a days work should clear this choke. Going Home
has a low beginning but ends in a Yorkshire-type streamway explored downstream
past cascades to the head of an undescended pitch.
Due to the expansion of Mostajo, more questions than ever remain to be
answered in the Matienzo caving area, ensuring plentiful opportunities
for equally major discoveries next year.
amended from an original article in Caves and Caving 26
by Piers Barrington and Dave Hanson.