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ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORTS
2001 Report
JANUARY
* Bois de Waerimont: Installation of a fixed ladder in Puits de
l’Espoir Perdu.
* Chantoir "Le Pressoir": Was flooded so we had to
postpone our work.
* "The 24 hours of Belgium": our Frank had the unfortunate idea to do a W?on-Dellieux through-trip, together with a friend of
his. Things went wrong (a fallen boulder had blocked their way on) and so
Paul, Rudi and Mark had to go and look then next day for the missing two
cavers. They were found in the Dellieux and escorted out, after an
underground stay of 32 hours. This rescue was just finished, when a second
alarm came, this time for a severe accident in a new cave in Chaudfontaine.
Paul, Herman, Flip and some others joined the Belgian Cave Rescue team and
worked until late in the morning to get the caver out.
* Chawresse: again a long day of surveying, this time the area of
the Chicanes and "Suppo".
* Chawresse-Veronika: attempt to make a through-trip, unfortunately
in Salle de la Cascatelle a boulderchoke had collapsed.
* Caveradio-experiments in Trou W?on; followed by some more
digging in the Pressoir.
* Ancienne Carri?e: ordinary visit by Jarl, Frank and Mark.
* Rigging exercise in Abime de Lesves; however the big pitch was
totally flooded so the trip had to be canceled.
* Trip in Bois de Waerimont by Paul, in company of Francis P.
* Pressoir: stabilisation of the entrance, and despite the very wet
conditions, some digging work at the end of the cave.
FEBRUARY
* Chawresse: The surveying continued, this time in de Réseau
Persephone.
* We checked Chantoir de la Tricointe; but apparently an other club
has already started a dig there.
* Chawresse-Veronika: Paul joined the GRSC-club for an attempt to
clear up the boulder choke that blocks the way. There was too much water
and it was too unstable to dig. Then we went in the Chawresse to check
from there, and things looked safer from there...
* Enfer-Fissures: after 3 attempts to locate the cave in the
quarry, Mario and Marjan could finally do the cave . Probably one of the
last visits ever, because the quarry is very busy covering the entire area
with gravel and boulders.
* Annette made her comeback in the Ancienne Carri?e. We had
chosen this nice little cave for a surveying-training.
* 4-day stay in the French Doubs: we went skying near Pontarlier
but did a lot of caving as well: Gouffre de Champremond (we didn’t
get to the bottom...); Gouffre du Paradis (recommended); the ever
beautiful Pourpevelle to the Barri?e Blanche and to finish the
small but pretty Gouffre des Ordons
MARCH
* We participated in the first "Explo-Congres" of the UBS
near Arbre.
* Chawresse: long and difficult trip, carrying loads of stuff, to
go and make an artificial climb at the extreme end of the cave (in Rezo
B). Paul and Rudi made the climb and discovered +/- 35 m of new passages.
* The "laminoir" (crawl) in the Lembrée valley, where we
had been digging many times in the past, was re-attacked (Erwin, Herman).
This time a sort of monorail was installed to make the evacuation of the
dug-out material easier.
* Jos and Paul finished the fixed, steel ladder in Bois de Waerimont,
surveyed a bit, and took a look in Salle Zen (taking the way through the
extreme squeezes)
* Mich and Mario passed their Saturday at a "jumble sale" and
offered the (substantial) profit to SC Avalon.
* Marjan participated in a caving rally it the Barchon Fortress.
* Patrice (GRSC) and Paul finally manage to clear the collapsed boulder
choke in Chawresse-Veronika which makes the trough-trip possible
again. But it remains unstable.
* A new member, Eric, is guided around in Trou de l’Eglise..
* Ancienne Carri?e: Mario and Mich continue the surveying
training. The cave is more complex than we had estimated: this survey isn’t
finished yet! The following week Mario & Frank continue the work, and
yet another weekend the ladies (Annette and Annemie) go surveying there.
* In Bois de Waerimont Jos and Paul work all day long to make a new
way to Salle Zen, after the initial plan (working in Boyau Choco) had to
be cancelled because of the water level in that part being 2 metres higher
than normal.
APRIL
* Routine inspection in Grotte des Emotions: a lot of water
everywhere.
* Classic visit of Grotte Veronika.
* Fantastic 10-day stay in the French Ard?he. Very good camping
in the Gorges de Chassezac. We did some classic caves (Aven du Marteau,
Aven Nouvelle, CocaLiège) but we did mainly very decorated and
beautiful caves: in Aven des P?res we made the climb to the
Réseau Sup?ieur: magnificent. Paul had the opportunity to visit Orgnac
2 en 3; this cannot be described in words.
Also the trip, guided by Hans Litjens in Réseau 4 of St-Marcel d’Arch?he
made many of us speechlesss, and the Aven de Noel also proved to be
a jewel. In between all of the caving, we went climbing and hiking..
* Chawresse: Flip & Paul put two of our new members (Jan &
Paul L.) to the test: a round trip in Réso B followed by a visit of
Réseau Persephone.
* Waerimont: we finish the job at the new entrance of Salle Zen,
and we also show the cave to Eric (very impressed).
* Emotions: the entrance door which had suffered some damage is
repaired.
* Annual job: rigging the old factory in Hemiksem where we go to exercise
our rope-climbing techniques twice a week.
MAY
* During a trip in Trou Bernard Mario gives a demonstration of
how NOT to climb out of the Puits des 3 Pedales. The others wait patiently
for the him to get out of the squeeze... for about 30 minutes!
* Trou des Manants: Much to our regret we saw that the few nice and
white corners of this cave have been muddied by irresponsible cavers.
* A whole day of surveying in the Chawresse, Salle de la Pluie
area. We find 10 metres of new passage.
* Paul & Annette pass a long day in the Bois de Waerimont to
make pictures.
* One week later, a new trip in the BDW has to be postponed because
Annette forgot the key of the door. Instead, they visit Tienne du
Moulin and Ancienne Carri?e.
* And that survey of Ancienne Carri?e just doesn’t get
finished...
* Grotte "X": after some minor works, we find a nice
continuation. But is is very narrow so only a couple of clubmembers can
enjoy it.
* Pressoir: the dig there continues, we now have reached a
horizontal bedding plane, very narrow. The "shock-team"
continues steadily and progress for another 2 metres.
* 4 days in the C?e d’Or (France). Beautiful sunny weather and
nice caves: Creux-Perc? Gouffre du Soucy and of course the
magnificent Combe-aux-Pr?res.
JUNE
* In Bois de Waerimont two teams of 2 cavers, heavily loaded
with gear, go to Salle Serre. One team climbs artificially to a gallery
high in the roof of the room, the other team digs in Salle des Bains.
Neither of the teams makes a significant discovery.
* Grotte "X": this time we do a nice discovery there, we
find about 80 m of decorated passage: "Réseau des D?ices"
* Chawresse: finally we can start with the survey of the Rezo B. A
long but fine trip, with some laughs because of Frank’s clumsiness (like
losing half of the surveygear).
* An Avalon-delegation attends the conference about cave diving, organized
by the SS de Namur at the occasion of their 50th anniversary.
* Trou de l’Eglise: 6 personen of Proviron guided by Marc &
Co..
* Sainte-Anne: Novice Gerrit guided around. * Club-barbecue,
organized by Herman & Michaela
* Pressoir: it really is looking hopeless now, we decide to quit
the dig.
* Fun trip in Abime de Beaumont.
* Another trip in Trou d’Haquin where we guide 3 novices around.
* This time the Abime de Lesves is not flooded. New member Eric is
initiated in SRT-techniques.
JULY
* Another day lost in Grotte des Emotions when trying to
continue in the dig near the final sump: the area is flooded once more.
Some others have more fun: they take pictures.
* Grotte "X": we continue in the "Réseau des
D?ices", and after making a narrow passage wider, we discover
another 30 metres.
* Waerimont: final attempt by our two teachers Frank and Jos to
continue the very unstable dig in Salle des Bains. They have to give up
because it is too dangerous .
* Nou Moulin: we make a nice trip, in the company of some cavers of
other Flemish clubs.
* And again we guide a few people around in the Haquin. It is the same
story as always: they enjoy it much, but afterwards you never hear from
them again.
* We continue the survey in Réso B of the Chawresse.
* Finally we find the time to go and eliminate the fallen boulder in the Dellieux
cave that was the cause of Frank’s disastrous trip in January. Annette
forgot her oversuit and had to do the cave in some borrowed old clothes.
* In Trou d’Haquin, Wilfried & Annemie made a trip with a
couple of well-fed guests.
* Grotte "X": again 30 metres more, after movng 1 small
boulder. Our "première" now totals 150m.
* Big fun in "our" Bretaye where a big part of Avalon-members
made a spectacular through-trip.
AUGUST
August is the Anialarra-month. For those who don’t know what I’m
talking about: Anialarra is a beautiful karstplateau in the Spanish
Pyrenees. We organised, for the 5th time in a row, an
international expedition. Some nice discoveries have been made in the
upstream parts of the cave system. Unfortunately, the downstream part
(blocked by a boulder choke at -648m) did not reveal a continuation,
despite a lot of work and energy.
We also worked hard in other promising caves, such as AN60.
SEPTEMBER
* Solo-prospection by Paul in the valley of Pont-le-Pr?re, where an
old dig of ours (E14) draws our attention again.
* Bois de Waerimont: big dig in the Western corner of Salle de l’Euphorie
results in 15 m of new passage. 30 metres are also found after an
artificial climb in Puits Mario.
* Unforgettable episode of the "Speleological Days"
(a two day event, organized every 2 years by the Flemish Caving
Federation); the best ever with over 400 participants. With as an extra
bonus, a cave rescue in Trou des Cr?? where a big party of ours got
trapped after a temporary sump.
* Verification in Grotte Strauss, followed by a major digging
attempt E14. To be continued.
* The "laminoir" of the Lembrée is again attacked. Many
more attempts will follow. Badgers have partially refilled the gallery we
dug out two years ago, so right now we are digging to get to our previous
terminus.
* Galerie des Sources (Eric/Annemie) is visited.
OCTOBER
* The trio Annette, Mark & Paul have a good time in the Spanish
Anialarra zone again. Hard work, lot of surveying and prospecting.
Unfortunately, the AN561-Sima del Viento is a disappointment: after 3
days of hard work to get beyond a narrow zone at -60m, the cave ends at
-100.
* Two days of more digging in the "laminoir" of the Lembrée.
* The first “official” guided tour in Bois de Waerimont and we are sure
that many more will follow (limited to 6 a year). Before the end of the
month we guide 3 clubs around: GS Charleroi, Les Stalacs and Continent
7). But these trips are very satisfying because of the deep appreciation
by our fellow cavers for the work we did in the cave.
* We go digging in a small cave called l’Autre Trou.
* The De Bie family visites Galerie des Sources.
* A visit to Grotte d’Eprave must be terminated a bit too soon, when
Stefan manages to fall into the lake!
* Jos installs discreet tapes, to protect the formations, in theTienne
du Moulin cave.
NOVEMBER
* We try not to get lost in B?on-Ry. And yes, this time we do find our
way, all the way to the end of the cave and even back out again.
* The laminoir is visited again, twice, by our digging team armed with
spades and Hilti’s.
* A digging day in E14 has to be cancelled because of a hunt which is
going on and so Paul and Annette go to continue a very old dig in B11c (Bretaye).
Many a boulder gets crushed.
* Mario and Peter also have to cancel a trip because of hunters and go
prospecting a bit near Dinant/Yvoir.
* Pierre and Annemie participate in a VVS-Interclub in Montagne Noir (France)
and visit some beautiful caves.
* Waerimont: A long and difficult trip brings Jos & Annette again near
the super-muddy dig in Boyau Choco. Progression: 1 meter! Another 10
hour trip brings Paul, Mark & Mario to Puits Mario; which is even
muddier. We continue an artificial climb there which results in 25 m. of
new passage.
* Eprave and Tienne du Moulin are visited by Eric & Mich.
* No succes for our diggers: near Yvoir they soon abort an attempt to
dig in Chantoir d’Evrehailles (because of stinking waste water running
in) and they finally end the day in Grotte de la Batte near Walzin.
* Guided tour of a few interested people in Sainte-Anne.
DECEMBER
* In the "laminoir" it also has become very muddy after the wet November
month. We have already dug for 35 metres and the gallery is becoming too
narrow to go on. A week later, we go there again “to be sure”.
* Bois de Waerimont: surveying the new part in Puits Mario had to be
cancelled: the bottom of the pitch was flooded. Again another +8 hour
trip for nothing!
* Yippie: in Chawresse we finally, after countless survey sessions,
close (topographically) the “big circuit” of Rezo B. The closing error
is only a couple of decimetres!!
* We re-open Chantoir Malopattes and go down to the bottom of the cave.
Nothing special found. Chantoir de Normont is also visited, but a very
narrow meander stops most of our teammates.
* Chawresse (again?): Paul goes to finish a dig with Patrice (GRSC), in
a chimney at the bottom of the Grand Puits. 30 m of new passage found,
big fun.
* In Trou de l’Eglise we finally finish and de-rig an artificial climb
that Paul & Annette made there in 1993 in Salle de la Cath?rale. Twenty
metres above the floor, it really becomes too narrow. Trou Dury is also
visited that day.
* An oldie but goodie: Trou des Furets is visited in detail. Very muddy
but big fun.
* A load of fresh snow in the Eastern part of the country... so we go
ski walking there.
CONCLUSION
Again, as in the 18 preceding years, we were very busy. Despite the fact
that an average month has only 4 or 5 weekends, we have between 8 and 12
activities per month.... for most Belgian caving clubs, that represents
there year average!
We have invested a lot of time and energy in some tough digs: the "laminoir";
Pressoir; Grotte "X", Waerimont, Chawresse) and this yielded several
hundreds of metres of new passages. Maybe not the BIG stuff we dreamt
about, but not too bad neither. Anyway, the Anialarra expeditions and
discoveries made us happy as well.
We also invested quite some time in guiding small groups of interested
people around, but the return of that was practically zero two new
member, Eric and Jan)! In between we did a lot of classic caving, we
continued our ongoing project of resurveying the Chawresse, and
organized a survey course in the Grotte de l’Ancienne Carri?e.
Finally some members participated in other caving club’s expeditions:
Socotra (Jos) and Gouffre Berger (Rudi).
We had a great year, thanks everyone for the enthusiasm and friendship.
Paul
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