The Matienzo explorers enjoyed summer weather for most of the time at
Easter after heavy rainfall in the weeks before. Over 2.7km of passage was
surveyed including nearly a kilometer of resurveying in the Catalans site
VT62 (1176). The number of sites on the
list increased by 46, producing a total of 1506. Underground, the highlights
of exploration were
* in the Four Valleys System where about 300m stream passage was entered
up a 15m aven at the end of Shrimpbone Inlet in Hoyuca
(0107);
* the road side dig, site 1452, was excavated
to the head of a 70m pitch which dropped into
Cueva Bollón. Upstream exploration
can easily occur after dry weather through this top entrance rather than
the three sumps, bottom entrance route.
* extensions in Arenal were surveyed with
more to do
* a number of sites were explored on the South Vega hillside and a couple
hold exciting prospects for the summer
(1338 and
1471)
* Martin Holroyd carried out a couple of dives in upstream
Vallina - breaking surface into a short
canal at the end but then meeting the next sump. 230m was surveyed.
* Cueva Abono was linked to a top entrance,
1470
* Cueva Tizones (78) was "finished" at
the high level, adding 156m to the length
* Jivero 1 was dived through and linked
to site 246.
Once more, there were more questions raised for the summer than were answered
at Easter.
We were welcomed by Pablo at
Bar German and the expedition is
grateful for the camping facilities and the use of the restaurant for computing
and drawing up.
The list below shows links to those sites which were extended or newly discovered
over Easter, or which have had surveys updated or entrance photos added.
0016 0033 0035 0042 0078 0084 0091 0098 0107 0207 0246 0387 0397 0439 0457 0458 0715 0733 1015 1176 1274 1275 1319 1332 1338 1379 1452 1454 1460 1461 1462 1463 1464 1465 1466 1467 1468 1469 1470 1471 1472 1473 1474 1475 1476 1477 1478 1479 1480 1481 1482 1483 1484 1485 1486 1487 1488 1489 1490 1491 1492 1493 1494 1495 1496 1497 1498 1499 1500 1501 1502 1503 1504 1505 1506