There are more caves in the mountains of Oñati, they have never been explored in this century, who knows what we could find inside? History of Gipuzkoa
All this began when Laurent came to our speleology club
he came to us asking...
if we knew about caves with galleries under water .
to tell the truth, at that time our group didn't have much activity .
our group is already 50 years old
and we thought that almost all the caves were already virtually explored and finished
and, it never occurred to us that we could continue the exploration under water
at that time the underwater passages were for us the end of the cave
on the contrary for Laurent were just the beginning
that's how we started to check all the old cave files...
and all the documents we had
to see where we could find these kind of galleries
explorations which we had considered finished because of galleries ending in a sump
we started to re-explore some caves together with Laurent
from the very beginning the results were amazing
for example, the first one was...
we and the group from Arrasate dived a spring
and after passing the sump, on the other side, we found a 1,5Km long cave
"Miatzerreka"
Saratxo is another example
we had already explored Saratxo but we had just swum on the surface
and Laurent dived in
now Saratxo is for the moment 58 m deep underwater, the deepest spring in our area
in another cave, which we considered as a simple water trough
just a water spring and we had registered it in that way in our caving catalogue o
Laurent ducked through the submerged section and we found a new cave .
and the same in many others, Ugastegi, Troska, the spring of Urbaltza
one discovery after another
explorations ended because of water were started again
and if there was a place where water was an obstacle that was Urzulo
the first obstacle is just the water at the entrance
a water cistern was built at the entrance
if it rains a lot you can't enter the cave
because the entrance is under water
and if it rains heavily while you are
the water level may rise and you can get trapped
Aloña Mendi Speleology group started the first explorations in Urzulo cave 45 years ago.
in those days rubber dinghies were used, the galleries are quite narrow
and they could easily get a hole
they didn't use to go into water, the didn't have wet suits
they explored 500m until they reached a sump...
they got back there, they tried to enter the cave again but there was too much water
they didn't carry on with the exploration .
then, 17 years later, when we were in the group
we took up the exploration
we explored in another way because we could use wetsuits
we didn't have wet suits but we managed to get some. Some of them weren't completed
we didn't have neoprene socks
and we put plastic bags on our feet
our feet got wet and very very cold!!
we changed our clothes to explore the fossil galleries
and we used to put the wet suit on again to go into the water...
we carried a lot of dry storage kegs to carry all that clothes and more stuff
we explored and surveyed 1,5 Km until we reached a sump s
we finished the exploration at that point
The first problem was that the entrance was closed. There is a water cistern
we asked for permission to open the trap door
I was impressed with the clear, cold and transparent water
the cave was really fascinating
We were there to find sumps
to check them, there were 2 or 3 of them, I brought my mask and my diving flashlights
just to have a look, without diving tanks
We had a look in a sump but it didn't continue, then we saw the terminal sump
The exploration reports told about a passage with a big air current
There was a small passage we wanted to make it bigger and there was a sump
First I saw the passage, then I ducked into the water. There was a big air current
I could hear the river on the other side, water noise, a small waterfall
The sump is quite narrow at the beginning
there is a small window and you can feel a big air current
I put my mask on, the water was very clear
I descended to see the passage for the next immersion
When I descended 1m. I noticed that there was a passage between two walls
on the other side I could see the water mirror, the way out
I descended twice and make sure that the passage was wide enough
Lin told me: "Don´t go through it, don't go!
but I didn't listen to him. I dived quickly, I had taken a big breath and I passed easily
on the other side there was a small pool, 4mx4m, an easy exit
I told Lin that I had passed the sump and I continued for about 50 m..
I had to swim, there were to small pools
then the gallery started again, there were some crossing galleries and the cave went on
As I was alone, I turned back hoping to come back with more people
Once that we saw that the cave continued beyond the siphon
we decided to explore Urzulo again
after the sump the river is even more beautiful
long and deep pools, waterfalls, crystal-clear water,lovely
suddenly the river disappears and we find fossil galleries
that is, without river
in one of these galleries a narrow passage blocked the way
but the huge air current coming from that passage showed us clearly the way to continue
because of the strong air current we called this passage the Turbine Passage
At the next attempt, we would bring a hoe and remove the sand
and mud blocking the passage
at the end of another gallery we found a dead mouse
that gallery couldn't be very far from outside
we surveyed all the galleries and on the map it was clear that
the room at the end of the gallery was almost outside
and we saw that the Arva Room was near the surface
the Arva Room was about 20 or 30 m. from the surface
with the information given by Joseba we decided that we needed to find that entrance
if we entered that gallery the exploration would be shorter and we would avoid the river
we would avoid the siphon, we wouldn't need the wetsuits
the transport of the exploration equipment would be much easier and we'd need less time
we'd avoid the long way to come to the final point, we'd go straight to the end of the exploration
we searched outside but we did't find the entrance, we gave up
we weren't able to find it
so we made two groups, one group would go into the cave,
pass the sump and go to the end of that gallery with an Arva and some smoke bombs
and another group outside with an Arva too to get the signal from inside
Looking for the entrance of the Arva Room.Inside team. 5:00 am
Looking for the entrance of the Arva Room. Outside team. 6:00 am
we need about three hours to reach the last exploration point
3 hours to go, 3 hours to come back, it is getting difficult to work inside
the map shows us that a gallery comes to surface.
and the cave survey tells us that the end of that gallery is just here
we know the coordinates and the height.
we are here according to those coordinates
one group is outside and the other inside the cave
both the group inside and the one outside have the same communication system
they have a Tedra system like this and an Arva too
this will give us the distance between the two groups...
the group in the cave should have arrived
we should have made contact, but we haven't made it yet
when we make contact they will light some smoke bombs
and we will try to see the smoke coming outside .
if we see the smoke, we'll dig and try to find the entrance
Martin, can you hear me? answer please, over
very well - How can you hear?- fucking A, over
well, we make contact, we can hear each other perfectly
they told us that they'll light the smoke bombs in 15 minutes
we all are ready here, we hope to see the smoke somewhere
here the outside group, Is the air going into the cave or coming out? over.
sorry, can you repeat please? .
Is the air going into the cave or coming out? over.
Loti is going to check it now, we haven't gone down yet to check it
OK, got the message, tell them to set the Arva in emission mode
and inform us when you light the bombs, even if there isn't air current
they have just lighted the smoke bomb, blue smoke
Ezkibel! blue smoke!
most of the smoke goes into the cave or doesn't move at all.
but they hope some of the smoke will come out...
I don't know why they are holding out hope...
we got the Arva signal they are 40m from here
the communication with the Tedra was fine,
but it wasn't a suitable day for the smoke, the temperature isn't the appropriate
the air, instead of coming out, had gone into the cave el aire...
we didn't find the entrance
when we passed the sump the water level was very high
we passed very worried, we didn't know how we'd find it on the way back if it rained
because the weather forecast said it could rain today
thanks to the Tedra we were informed that it didn't rain and we calmed down
well, we tried to get some smoke with the smoke bombs, the smoke was blue
and we wanted the smoke to go out with the air current
but, the air current was just with the opposite direction, we filled the cave with smoke
depending on the temperature outside the air will flow out or into the cave
we started early in the morning to have a low temperature outside, but..
It was a complete failure, we couldn't find the entrance, so
we have to go to the last point following the usual way.
our next goal is to clear the Turbina Passage
at the Turbina Passage, as the name says, there is a strong air current
It is a very narrow hole, but we think that is easy to clear
we try to free up the passage, but we have to sleep in the cave .
if we want to have time to work, we have to sleep inside, underground bivouac.
It is too long from the entrance to the working area so we need to sleep inside
we have to carry all the equipment along the river and under water at the siphon
sleeping bags, clothes, food, quite complicate!
Before the Turbina Passage there is a comfortable place to sleep: the Sahara Gallery
it is a sandy place, at least the place is good
Objetive: To clear the Turbina Passage.
We had to get out earlier than expected...
we planned to bivouac but on the way, at the waterfalls
we've found the equipment in a very poor condition, look at this carabineer!
and, we arrived at the Turbina Passage with the intention of unclogging it, but it was flooded and we get back
the passage was full of water...
it is a narrow passage, you have to crawl...
and as it was flooded we couldn't do anything, another failure!
after some attempts we found the Turbina Passage without water...
The Turbine Passage was an interesting unknown, because a very strong air current came through it
but it was very narrow, we removed mud and blocks
and after two very narrow places we managed to go through
after this passage we have made the cave two times bigger and it still goes on
we've found the river again...
the exploration is getting harder, we have to bivouac...
the galleries are much bigger, they are canyon shape...
we found gypsum speleothems...
since we found the river we left 1,5 km behind
we have to do a new bivouac, further
and we have to wear the wetsuits again, freezing cold again...
and who knows what we have further on!
From the last bivouac, we explored more than one km. some small pits...
but you can explore it just walking..
and the last point we reached was the same:
a clear river, big galleries and a strong air current against
before passing the sump we had explored and surveyed 1300 m. After passing the sump, nearly 6km.
it takes four or five hours from the entrance to the bivouac.
The cave goes on, the exploration too.
we really wish the cave to continue and we're looking forward to going back and see what we can find there.
In fact, this is the essence of our activity
the mystery of the unknown
that curiosity is our encouragement, our motivation
What will we find after that narrow passage?
What does the cave hide?
Who are those living underground?
How deep is this dark abyss?
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