Through the Round, Square, & Arch Windows: Asturias, Spain 2009

摘要

Culiembro is the resurgence for Pozu del Xitu and several of the other caves of the 'Arid plateau in the Picos de Europa explored by Oxford University Cave Club. Culiembro has been the subject of several expeditions since 1986 when the Northern Pennine Club visited the area. Since then cave divers have visited the cave six times, the last in 2001, making steady progress towards a connection between the potholes high on the mountain above and the resurgence cave in the gorge. As reported in Speleology 14, in 2008 and subsequently in 2009 efforts have more recently turned to diving sumps at the bottom of the potholes — specifically a diving project in Asopladeru La Texa. On the back of the 2008 trip, team members of bars and amenities (unlike the spartan existence at the Ario camp) and the other benefit of the tourist path along the gorge is that reaching the cave is a pleasant stroll along the (mostly) flat path from Cain to the cave entrance. We set up camp in a field belonging to one of the locals, adjoin-ing one of the bars — which gave us an excuse (not that we really needed one) to frequent the bar when not caving.