Camp Chamois 2012 4 th International Exploration Camp at the Grotte des Chamois...

Camp Chamois

2012

4th International Exploration Camp at the Grotte des Chamois

(Castellet-lès-Sausses, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France)

From 4 to 15 August 2012

Organization Association CRESPE:Philippe Audra, Jean-Claude Nobécourt & Jean-Yves Bigot

EuroSpeleo Projects FSE

2 – Team 2012

Olivier Sausse

Barbara Wielander

Dider Cailhol

Marjan Temovski

José Leroy

Donald Accorsi

Bruno Arfib

Alain Staebler

Peter Zentay

Mateja Centa

Bernhard Köppen

Jean-Yves Bigot

Philippe Audra

Cathy Frison Matija Perne

PhilippeMauzet

AlexeyKopchinskiy

Agnes Hajnal

Jean-Claude Nobécourt

Philippe Bertochio

Johan Jouves

3 – Planning

4 – Location

With its 11600 m long, now it's the longest cave of the Southern Alps.

The Chamois Cave is located in the south of

France.

Grotte des Chamois

In the Pasqueirets Sinkhole, Alain Staebler is digging in the

glacial airflow which motivates him.

On the bottom of the Pasqueirets Canyon, a sinkhole have been found

and traced towards the Coulomp Spring.

5 – Pasqueirets Sinkhole

4-8-2012

Agnes Hajnal is pulling the boxes of sediments when we

shout her: « Pull ! ».

6 – Fantasmes Hole

The distance and the noise of electric generator (pneumatic drill) make a

noise and complicate the communication between the workers.

5-8-2012

7 – Fantasmes Hole

Peter Zentay is pulling the box, when Philippe Audra guides it in the narrow passages.

The digging into Fantasmes Hole, discovered in 2010, continues. The hole looks like more a coal

mine of XIXth Century that a karstic conduit.

5-8-2012

The boxes, pulled from the entrance, allow to clear the debris outside.

At the Coulomp Spring, Philippe Audra is reading the levels on the calibrated scale.

8 – Taking down levels

Reefnet data logger records the water level of the pool and temperature. The data are

reconstructed as diagram or curves and allowed

meteorologic events correlation.

5-8-2012

Jean-Claude Nobécourt has to do many shuttles to carry gear and food from

parking to Aurent Refuge.Men and machines suffer.

It works, we will have some fresh bread tomorrow.

9 – Resting Day

5-8-2012

A wheel of Quad is punctured, we have to change and repair it,

it takes one or two days...

10 – Diving downstream sump

6-8-2012

Philippe Bertochio has to dive the downstream sump

explored in 2011, the goal is the better survey of sump and

post sump.

The downstream sump of Coulomp is about 100 m long and 14 m deep.

The survey of sump shows that the reached terminus is located very close of the Coulomp

Spring.

Last check on equipment before the diving.

11 – Downstream Sump

6-8-2012

6-8-2012

The diving will take about 3 hours ; Peter Zentay, Agnes

Hajnal, Philippe Audra et Jean-Yves Bigot have time and

decide to visit the Thénardier Gallery opening on the side of

the course of underground river.

12 – Towards the Thénardier Gallery

Thenardite of Thénardier Gallery.

The river and the shaft of access called K&K.

Thénardite de la galerie Thénardier.

The conditions are favourable to appear special minerals as the

Mirabilite : a sulfate of hydrated sodium.

The Thénardier Gallery is located above the river in the

very dry area and very little ventilated : temperature :

7,8°C and humidity : 97%.

13 – Thénardier Gallery

6-8-2012

6-8-2012

The Thénardier Gallery allows to reach a conduit with human dimensions.

It goes to the little canyon carved by the flood coming

from the Hormones Gallery.


6-8-2012

The bed of the little canyon is filled with sandstone pebbles.



6-8-2012

A little canyon with its clear water pools, but always cold...

6-8-2012

The little canyon of Thénardier Gallery:we can see at distance the upstream sump.


6-8-2012


The little canyon of Thénardier Gallery is over in

front of the upstream sump corresponding to Hormones

Gallery Sump.

19 – The bug of sump

Philippe Bertochio have captured a bug in the sump : it's a Proasellus, probably an new specie in the process of determining.

6-8-2012

7-8-2012

Alain Staebler, Alexey Kopchinskij, Johan Jouves and Bruno Arfib go to discover sinkholes on the

Plan des Mouches, a high plateau. They also hope to locate temporary springs in Valette Canyon.

20 – Plan des Mouches

The track follows the bottom of little valley like steps of stairs. The track is ended on the bared slopes very gone out in the sun...


The Mouches Plateau is an area of pasture, it's flat

and very appreciated by the shepherds. But the

problem is the water ressource very scarce...

7-8-2012

7-8-2012

The water is scarce, but the shepherds have installed pipes and watering place.


Matija wants to enlarge the meander above the sinkhole

because the airflow comes from this opening, but it's

too hot to break stones at this moment of day.

23 – Pasqueirets Sinkhole

7-8-2012

A team, made up Didier Cailhol, Matija Perne, Barbara Wielander, Marjan Temovski

and Mateja Centa, decide to continue the digging in the Pasqueirets Canyon.

After 4 to 5 hours, the team reachs the Lignin Lakes.

Matija and Mateja decide to go to the top of Grand Coyer Mountain (2693 m), while

Marjan andJean-Yves identify sinkholes

in the glacial depressions.

8-8-2012

Marjan Temovski, Mateja Centa, Matija Perne and

Jean-Yves Bigot go up to the Lignin Lakes for the day.

24 – Lignin Lakes

Marjan Temovski and Jean-Yves Bigot ask to the shepherd if the tracer is in his hut. Before, they begin to prospect around in the glacial depressions.

25 – Lignin Lakes

8-8-2012

8-8-2012

A dry bed of a little brook indicates them that the sinkhole is close.At distance, we can see the Grand Coyer Mountain dominating the

depression.

26 – Lignin lakes sinkholesGrand Coyer

The grand Coyer

Depression is divided in two

parts by blocks line (central

moraine).

8-8-2012

27 – Grand Coyer Depressions

The Lignin sinkholes are not

active in summer, while the Carton

sinkholes are still feeded. The water disappears in the

sediments when it reaches the nummulitic limestones.

Central Moraine

Carton Depression Lignin

Depression

Active Sinkhole of Carton

Inactive Sinkhole of

Carton Depression

Grand Coyer

Active Sinkhole

Central Moraine

28 – The Glacial Cirquesof Grand Coyer

The surficial drainage of glacial depressions (old glacial cirques) of Grand Coyer is towards the north.

Active Sinkhole of Carton

Map of Coulomp Spring Basin (according to Ph. Audra).

29 – The Coulomp Basin

Glacial cirques and depressions of Grand Coyer

A dye tracing from the Grand Coyer Depression

could confirm the extension of Coulomp

Basin towards the north.

A little terrace is very cozy and we can benefit from the daylight and outdoor.

The Aurent Refuge is our Head Quater. We can use

water, toilets, but there is no electricity.

30 – A comfortable refuge

Many contretemps : a sick sherpa, heavy bags,

cold water and swimming in the lakes

delay the diving.Philippe dives the sump on 200 to 300 m, but he doesn't go out the sump.

To be continued.

It's the great day : Philippe Bertochio has to dive the upstream sump. He's

assisted by a team made up of Matija Perne, Peter Zentay, Agnes Hajnal,

Donald Accorsi, Mateja Centa, Marjan Temovski and Alexey Kopchinskiy.

31 – Diving Upstream Sump

9-8-2012

Philippe, squeezed into its waterproof suit diving, will be able to stand cold water during the

decompression stages.

In the bottom of cave, rebreather tech diving is a really serious affair.


9-8-2012

It's ready to go to the upstream

sump.

Go!


9-8-2012

The team of sherpas had supported Philippe during his

diving.

34 – The diving team of upstream sump

Profile of the Coulomp Underground River(update 2012)

35 – Profiles of Chamois Cave

Profile of Chamois Cave without Coulomp River(update 2011)

Map of Chamois Cave (update 2011).

36 – Map of Chamois Cave

10-8-2012

A pictures team, made up by Bernard Köppen, Alexey

Kopchinskiy, Philippe Mauzet, Didier Cailhol and Jean-Yves Bigot, takes part in portage of

breathing equipment.

Our mission is to take out two bags from the river.

37 – Mission : get out breathing equipement

Stop at the Hormones Bivouac.

The « passage de la Marmite » is a very nice place.

38 – Hormones Gallery

10-8-2012

10-8-2012

The Hormones Gallery, just before the schaft of 5 m.

39 – Hormones Gallery

The hole on the top of Slovenian Chamber leads to Pengins Gallery.

10-8-2012

40 – Slovenian Chamber

We cannot find any bags in Slovenian Chamber. It was a mistake, because

the bags are, in fact, near the river in Pengins Gallery...

11-8-2012

41 – Divination at Baussebérard

Philipe Audra, Donald Accorsi, Olivier Sausse

and Cathy Frison have a date with Marcel

Jacquomet of Argenton Village. The place of

appointment is on the top of Baussebérard.

The goal is to locate the water flow and underground galleries... With its rods, Marcel sounds the

Baussebérard Mountain...

Olivier notes down the GPS points

Marcel sounds the mountain

42 – Life at the Aurent Refuge

Household chores at the Aurent Refuge. 11-8-2012

Behind, Philippe Bertochio is

surveying the profile of upstream sump.

Jean-Yves Bigot is sawing log for the grilled meat, but also for

the stove when the winter will come.

Philippe Bertochio with his axe continues the transformation in firewood.

43 – Life at the Aurent Refuge

11-8-2012« Hard winter : Because Bigot cuts many log. »

« Well ! It will be sausages or sausages. »

The fountain of Aurent Village is used by us like a refrigerator.

It's very useful to conserve cheese or meat that Jose is going

to cook.

44 – Life at Aurent Refuge

The cascades of Coulomp Spring are very spectacular, to avoid the

unintentional baths, because the water is really cold.

14-8-2012

45 – Coulomp Waterfalls

14-8-2012

We have to do many shuttles between cave and refuge. But sometimes, we walk along the bed of Coulomp River.

It's a very interesting route, but it's easier to go by the upper way running in the cliffs and dominating the river.

46 – Water Route of Coulomp

It's a also cool route.

14-8-2012

Only Quads can use the trail and can come to Aurent Village.

Many people living in summer at Aurent have got Quads.

It's the end of camp, we have to carry back equipment towards our cars.

Jean-Claude Nobécourt is taking bags, now we can go up without heavy bags on the

back.

47 – The Quad is not a toy

The End

48 – The End

Aurent Footbridge

Camp Chamois 2012 4 th International Exploration Camp at the Grotte des Chamois...

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