NL: Vanaf het dorpje Escuain speuren we met de verrekijker naar de boveningang, die zich op 2216 m hoogte bevindt
EN: From the abandoned village of Escuain we try to locate the upper entrance, situated at an altitude of 2216 m.
EN: From the abandoned village of Escuain we try to locate the upper entrance, situated at an altitude of 2216 m.
NL: Gereed voor de zwaarste naderingsmars ooit: vanuit Revilla moeten we 1000 hoogtemeters stijgen, in de loodzware Spaanse zon. We torsen elk 35 kg materiaal: behalve de normale speleouitrusting, dragen we bivakmateriaal (slaapzakken, kookgerief, eten), 300 m touw en elk een neopreenpak. Van links naar rechts: Jan Celis, Paul De Bie, Annette Van Houtte, Rudi Bollaerts, Marc Cools. De tocht zal 4,5 uur duren!
EN: Ready for the toughest walk ever: starting in Revilla we have to climb over a 1000 m. in the blazing hot Spanish sun. We carry each at least 35 to 40 kilos of gear: caving gear, camping gear and sleeping bags, 300 m. of ropes and our neoprene diving suits. From left to right: Jan Celis, Paul De Bie, Annette Van Houtte, Rudi Bollaert, Marc Cools. The trip would take us 4,5 hours!
EN: Ready for the toughest walk ever: starting in Revilla we have to climb over a 1000 m. in the blazing hot Spanish sun. We carry each at least 35 to 40 kilos of gear: caving gear, camping gear and sleeping bags, 300 m. of ropes and our neoprene diving suits. From left to right: Jan Celis, Paul De Bie, Annette Van Houtte, Rudi Bollaert, Marc Cools. The trip would take us 4,5 hours!
NL: Na een onrustige nacht boven op de berg, nabij de ingang, ga ik (Paul) 's morgens vroeg als eerste van start. Let op Annette die haar speleopak is vergeten en de tocht, althans tot op -750 m (vanaf daar schakelen we over op een neopreenpak), in haar onderpak zal moeten maken!
EN: After a restless night near the cave entrance, I (Paul) go down first. Please notice Annette, who has forgotten her PVC oversuit and will have to make 2/3 of the trip in her undersuit! A lot of people would give up for less...
Luckily, at a depth of -750m, we will change over in our neoprene diving suits.
EN: After a restless night near the cave entrance, I (Paul) go down first. Please notice Annette, who has forgotten her PVC oversuit and will have to make 2/3 of the trip in her undersuit! A lot of people would give up for less...
Luckily, at a depth of -750m, we will change over in our neoprene diving suits.
NL: Inderdaad, in de serie ingangsputten zitten enkele erg lastige passages, zoals hier op -240m, net voor men in de collecteur komt.
EN: Are we in Belgium? No, but indeed some really tight squeezes are making our life difficult, near -240m, just before arriving in the main river passage.
EN: Are we in Belgium? No, but indeed some really tight squeezes are making our life difficult, near -240m, just before arriving in the main river passage.
NL: Annette in de P34, ongeveer op -300 m diepte.
EN: Annette in the P34, at a depth of about -300 m.
EN: Annette in the P34, at a depth of about -300 m.
NL: Het decor blijft grandioos, in grote en propere galerijen, onderbroken door putten (-350m).
EN: Superb scenery, in big and clean galleries, interrupted often by vertical drops (-350m).
EN: Superb scenery, in big and clean galleries, interrupted often by vertical drops (-350m).
NL: In de grootste put van de grot, de 116 m. diepe "Pozo Grande". We verspeelden er ruim een uur daar we het oude en versleten vaste touw door een nieuw vervingen. (-500m)
EN: In the biggest pitch of the cave, the 116 m. deep "Pozo Grande". We lost over an hour there, because we had to replace the old rope that had been permanently rigged and was very worn (-500m).
EN: In the biggest pitch of the cave, the 116 m. deep "Pozo Grande". We lost over an hour there, because we had to replace the old rope that had been permanently rigged and was very worn (-500m).
NL: Vanaf -720 m wordt de grot zo nat dat een duikpak nodig is. De temperatuur in de grot is 5° C, de neopreen pakken zijn nat, en er staat een ijskoude tocht.
Dat valt dus niet mee, maar zo sparen we wel een paar kitzakken uit!
EN: At -720 m the cave gets so wet that a neoprene diving suit is a must. The air temperature is 5° C, the neoprene suits are soaked, and a strong ice-cold draught chills us to the bone. Not our idea of big fun, but with the one advantage that 3 kit-bags in which we transported the neoprenes, got a lot less heavy to carry!
Dat valt dus niet mee, maar zo sparen we wel een paar kitzakken uit!
EN: At -720 m the cave gets so wet that a neoprene diving suit is a must. The air temperature is 5° C, the neoprene suits are soaked, and a strong ice-cold draught chills us to the bone. Not our idea of big fun, but with the one advantage that 3 kit-bags in which we transported the neoprenes, got a lot less heavy to carry!
NL: Sala de la Formaciones (-730m): we nemen toch even de tijd om deze bizarre kristalformaties te bewonderen.
EN: Sala de los Formaciones (-730m): we take our time to admire these strange formations.
EN: Sala de los Formaciones (-730m): we take our time to admire these strange formations.
NL: Een eindeloze opeenvolging van diepe bassins; maar dankzij de neopreenpakken vorderen we er snel (-800m).
EN: A never ending series of deep pools, with very cold water. Thanks to the neoprene suits we can keep up the pace and we arrive soon near -800m.
EN: A never ending series of deep pools, with very cold water. Thanks to the neoprene suits we can keep up the pace and we arrive soon near -800m.
NL: Onderaan de P16 op -880m diepte, is er een mooie zaal, met sombere maar imposante druipsteenformaties
EN: At the bottom of a 16 meter pitch at -880m there is a beautiful room, with dark brown calcite formations.
EN: At the bottom of a 16 meter pitch at -880m there is a beautiful room, with dark brown calcite formations.
NL: Van ver reeds horen we het gebulder van deze grote zijrivier, de Rio de la Turbina, die zich op -950m in de hoofdrivier stort en het debiet ervan verveelvoudigt.
EN: Hundreds of metres away we can already hear the roar of this big inlet, Rio de la Turbina, that multiplies the water volume in the main river (-950m) .
EN: Hundreds of metres away we can already hear the roar of this big inlet, Rio de la Turbina, that multiplies the water volume in the main river (-950m) .
NL: We zwemmen doorheen het diepblauwe water van de eerste sifon, die we zullen omzeilen via een klein gangetje dat rechts net boven het wateroppervlak vertrekt. We zitten hier 960m diep.
EN: Taking a swim in the first, deep blue sump. A low and narrow crawls that starts off at the right, just above the water surface, will allow us to shortcut this sump (-960m).
EN: Taking a swim in the first, deep blue sump. A low and narrow crawls that starts off at the right, just above the water surface, will allow us to shortcut this sump (-960m).
NL: Na de sifon lopen we doorheen een prachtige galerij, de "Gran Canon". De rivier slingert zachtjes tussen de kiezelstrandjes. We zijn zowat 15 uur onderweg en we naderen stilaan de magische -1000m grens!
EN: Just behind the first sump we walk through the "Gran Canon". The river flows very softly here. We have been going in a steady pace for at least 15 hours now, and are reaching the magical depth of -1000m !
EN: Just behind the first sump we walk through the "Gran Canon". The river flows very softly here. We have been going in a steady pace for at least 15 hours now, and are reaching the magical depth of -1000m !
NL: Een tweede sifon kan worden omzeild door op een vast touw omhoog te klimmen, en aan de andere kant boven het water te traverseren (-980m).
EN: A second sump can be avoided by climbing up a fixed rope, and traversing above the water at the other side (-980m).
EN: A second sump can be avoided by climbing up a fixed rope, and traversing above the water at the other side (-980m).
NL: Vlak voor de 23 m diepe waterval van de Pozo del Unio, waarin men de -1000m diepte passeert. Het blijft even sprookjesachtig....
EN: Just before the 23 m high waterfall of the Pozo del Unio, where one passes the -1000m mark. The scenery is just fantastic.
EN: Just before the 23 m high waterfall of the Pozo del Unio, where one passes the -1000m mark. The scenery is just fantastic.
NL: Kleine watervallen maken het tot een spectaculair gebeuren (-1050m).
EN: Some small waterfalls make things even more spectacular (-1050m).
EN: Some small waterfalls make things even more spectacular (-1050m).
NL: Het water dondert onder onze voeten door... wat verder wacht ons de gevreesde "Tunnel del Infierno".
Deze foto stond op de achterpagina van "Spéléo Magazine, nr 39, Okt. 2001"
EN: The water thundering beneath our feet... a bit further on, the feared "Tunnel del Infierno" is waiting for us!
This picture featured in "Spéléo Magazine, nr 39, Okt. 2001"
Deze foto stond op de achterpagina van "Spéléo Magazine, nr 39, Okt. 2001"
EN: The water thundering beneath our feet... a bit further on, the feared "Tunnel del Infierno" is waiting for us!
This picture featured in "Spéléo Magazine, nr 39, Okt. 2001"
NL: De "Tunnel del Infierno" is 20 meter lang. Het water is er 6 meter diep, en op enkele plaatsen is het dak erg laag. Er huilt een stormwind doorheen, die golven op het wateroppervlak blaast. Hierdoor is het onmogelijk om de ogen open te houden (zie foto!). De tunnel zit bij hoog water compleet dicht. Echter, meegesleurd door de felle stroming, is men het obstakel binnen de paar seconden voorbij.
EN: The "Tunnel del Infierno" is 20 m. long and the water is at least 6 m. deep. A strong wind howls through the passage, making waves on the water surface and making it impossible to keep your eyes open (see picture)! The tunnel floods completely when water levels are high. Luckily, one passes this obstacle in seconds, swept away by the strong current.
EN: The "Tunnel del Infierno" is 20 m. long and the water is at least 6 m. deep. A strong wind howls through the passage, making waves on the water surface and making it impossible to keep your eyes open (see picture)! The tunnel floods completely when water levels are high. Luckily, one passes this obstacle in seconds, swept away by the strong current.
NL: Een volgend spektakelstuk is de 21 meter hoge Cascade Sylvia. Gelukkig is er een vast en prima equipement aanwezig.
EN: Another spectacular item: the 21 m. high Cascade Sylvia. A rope is rigged permanently, leading us safely away from the water.
EN: Another spectacular item: the 21 m. high Cascade Sylvia. A rope is rigged permanently, leading us safely away from the water.
NL: De 21 meter hoge Cascade Sylvia wordt ver van het water vandaan afgedaald. De sfeer is er onvergetelijk. We zijn de -1100 m. voorbij; de uitgang nadert!
EN: We go down the Cascade Sylvia, far away from the water. The "ambiance" is unforgettable. We have passed the -1100 m; the exit is nearby!
EN: We go down the Cascade Sylvia, far away from the water. The "ambiance" is unforgettable. We have passed the -1100 m; the exit is nearby!
NL: De ingangszone telt enkele diepe meren. Ook hier zit het bij hoog water potdicht, dus onze zenuwen (roestvrij stalen uiteraard) worden tot op het laatste moment op de proef gesteld!
EN: The last difficulty: some deep lakes in the entrance zones. These lakes flood up to the roof when water is high, so our nerves (stainless steel ones, of course!) are tensioned until the very last minutes!
This picture was published in: The book Merveilles du Monde Souterrain, 2003, La Venta
EN: The last difficulty: some deep lakes in the entrance zones. These lakes flood up to the roof when water is high, so our nerves (stainless steel ones, of course!) are tensioned until the very last minutes!
This picture was published in: The book Merveilles du Monde Souterrain, 2003, La Venta
NL: Eindelijk! Na een tocht van 17 uur stappen we het daglicht tegemoet. We bevinden ons 1150 meter lager dan ons vertrekpunt!
EN: At last! After a 17 hour trip, we finally stumble towards the light of day. We are exactly 1150m lower than the place where we started from!
EN: At last! After a 17 hour trip, we finally stumble towards the light of day. We are exactly 1150m lower than the place where we started from!
NL: Beneden in de canyon recupereren we wat in de warme zon. Rechts stort zich de ondergrondse rivier uit de grot omlaag om er het water van de Rio Yaga te vervoegen.
Onze tocht is volbracht, het was één van de mooiste en spectaculairste ooit.
EN: At the bottom of the canyon we recover in the evening sun. At the right, you can see the underground river tumbling down towards the Rio Yaga.
We did it... one of the most spectacular and thrilling underground trips we ever made.
Onze tocht is volbracht, het was één van de mooiste en spectaculairste ooit.
EN: At the bottom of the canyon we recover in the evening sun. At the right, you can see the underground river tumbling down towards the Rio Yaga.
We did it... one of the most spectacular and thrilling underground trips we ever made.