Trou de Nutons

Quinten schreef:

Björn, 

Hieronder mijn 'tekstje' voor de blog. 

Ik heb 2 versies gemaakt, ik opteer voor de tweede. :)

Veel leesplezier!

Versie 1:

We zijn naar de grotten gegaan, het was tof. 

Versie 2:

Liefste dagboek,

vandaag zijn we voor de tweede keer naar de grotten gegaan. Deze bevonden zich in 'Dardenne', meer bepaald in de Trou de Nutons, aan de rand van Namen.

Aangezien 1/3e van ons gezelschap zich overslapen had, kwamen we als laatste aan het Spekul lokaal aan. Goed als we zijn, hadden we Björn, die we dankzij Thomas nu ook Bruno mogen noemen, ingelicht die ons dan toch nog met open armen, weliswaar zonder stem, ontving. Zo konden we ons alsnog prepareren en ons speleomateriaal meenemen. 

Aangekomen in Dardenne werden we verwelkomd door onze Franstalige Spekullotgenoot Renaud, en een horde poezen die niets liever deden dan de auto van Lieven te vervuilen en de boterhammen van Lizzy op te eten.
Na het welbekende aankleden en foefelen om onze gordels aan te krijgen waren we klaar om eindelijk Nutons' grotten te verkennen. We splitsten ons op in twee groepen; groep 1; klaar voor het gevaar, zijnde leider Lieven en lijders Thomas, (Thomad voor de vrienden), Nico (Pino voor de vrienden) en mezelf; Quinten (ook Quinten voor de vrienden).
Groep 2 verkoos de andere kant van de grot en ging via een zelf opgezet touwenparcour de grot binnen met Bruno op kop. Andere metgezellen waren Renaud, Nele, Robin en Lizzy.

In het midden van de grot zouden we afspreken en wisselen van parcours, zo kon groep 2 het hen gemakkelijk maken en de rustige met bloempjes geplaveide weg terug nemen, terwijl wijzelf de loodszware, bloedstollende lijdensweg via de touwen gebruikten.

En zo geschiedde; als we één keywoord mogen onthouden van het gat van Nutons is het modder! Gratis en voor niks, in grote getale, voor iedereen beschikbaar. Van boven tot onder, van links naar rechts. Waar sommigen veel geld voor betalen, kregen wij voor de verniet; een modderbad om U tegen te zeggen.
Dit hield natuurlijk niet weg dat de weg onder de grond zeer plezant en leerrijk was. Zo ontdekten we onder andere dat de Waalse riolering ook uitkwam in onze grot, wat de nodige reukhinder met zich meebracht. Dit kon ons echter niet deren, aangezien dit de geurrijke gevolgen maskeerde van een avondje bier drinken. Na ongeveer 2 uur de grot verkend te hebben zo diep als mogelijk was (de riolering blokkeerde onze toegang, en we voelden ons net niet geroepen om te ontdekken wat er zich hier achter bevond), stond groep 1, pienter als ze zijn, op tijd aan het knopingspunt om groep 2 te ontvangen. Jammer genoeg zag groep 2 dit niet zo zitten en besloot ons dan maar 45 minuten te laten wachten in de kou; wat resulteerde in 3 dansende mijnwerkers om het warm te krijgen. (foto's ontbreken jammer genoeg) 

Als het laatste groep-2-exemplaar aangekomen was, was het aan Thomas om de lijdensweg naar boven te starten. Na ongeveer 12 kilometer loodrecht te jumaren, begon ons touwenparcours waar we al onze opgedane kennis konden gebruiken. Klimmen, dalen, paraplus, stalen musketons, leeflijnen, schuiven, springen, hopen dat je u toch hebt vastgehangen, ... het zat er allemaal bij. Zo bleek ook dat ik toch nog wat beter moet opletten op woensdag tijdens de technieklessen. Na, wat ongeveer 3 uur klimmen leek, zagen we eindelijk het licht aan het einde van de grot. Alsof we nog geen genoeg bloed, zweet en tranen waren verloren, wachtte ons nog een stijle klim (zeker 80° omhoog) op een modderhelling waar je kon kiezen tussen het laatste uit je armkracht te halen, modder vreten, of een combinatie van beide. Ik koos voor het laatste. 

Met verzuurde armen en een bruin gezicht kon ik eindelijk voldaan de top bereiken om mij vervolgens neer te leggen alsof ik in de plaatselijke Roi Du Matelas een matras kwam uittesten. Aangezien zowel Thomad als ikzelf hoorde tot het clubje 'wij wisten niet dat we geen eten konden meenemen naar de grot', besloten we om niet te wachten op Pino (hij was in veilige handen van Lieven) en ons al om te kleden aan de auto en ons te nuttigen van drank en eten. 

Na de verwelkoming van de plaatselijke kattenbende, het omkleden en onze dorst te lessen kwam ook Pino tot bij ons. Hij zat ook in ons clubje van de hongerigen, wat resulteerde in een spierwit gezicht van vermoeidheid. Natuurlijk niets waar meneer Banaan en mevrouw Sandwich niets aan konden doen. Als we ons 'relatief' proper konden noemen gingen we de hobby van Bruno nog eens uitoefenen; een pint gaan drinken in het plaatselijke café. Als we daar na een tijdje beseften dat we ons gerief + onszelf nog moesten proper maken, beslisten we om naar Spekul te gaan. Daar aangekomen volgde het verplichte kuisen van het materiaal, of toch een poging tot...

8 kilo modder en een nieuwe siffon later was het dan eindelijk tijd om naar huis te keren, maar niet vooraleer we ons tegoed konden doen in de plaatselijke McDonalds aan een welverdiende Chicken Mythic!

En zo eindigde het avontuur van Tomaat, Sneeuwwitje en de RoiDuMatelas! 
Met vriendelijke groeten,

Quinten Bollaerts

Weron 11.07.2011

July 11th, Monday, Flemish Community holiday, one of the non-frequent days of summer in Belgium used by us as an ideal day for caving.

This time 4 of us, Bram, Hans, Jozefien and me met in the morning to look for adventurous (notice equal proportion of the gender). As it appeared at the beginning of exciting conversation we forgot a 'topo' of the cave we're heading to, Weron in Namur province. But luckily we had Jozefien with us who was there twice, so she knew the way, more or less.

According to the Avalon's website Weron is consider to be a complicated cave where you can find a bit of everything, a classical route which is consider to be relatively easy but also more sportive and difficult paths.

We entered the cave about 12.00, ready to explore, with fully equipped kitzaks and stomachs. From the beginning cave made an impression on me by being complex, so for most of the time I stayed quiet to let Jozefien and others think.

The cave appeared to look like a combination of many meanders which allows you to take and upper way of the meander or to find yourself at the bottom of it. So we took time finding our way and learning to 'equiperen'.

We started taking one possibility but decided to take an alternative as we may needed some rope later, Avalon's website says that you don't need any ropes for this cave, but just in case we took some, for P8 and P4, if someone doesn't feel like free climbing.

I remember us getting squeezed in the meander.

There were also parts were we needed to descend, quite deep and narrow.

We were going forward in the cave, fighting with our own weakness: ropes, narrow passages, steep parts etc. We decided to go back after a moment when Jozefien slipped a little from the wet rock and fell down on her back. That's the scariest moment we had there with the happy ending.

On the way back Jozefien and me got stuck few times, e.g. in a place called 'a window'- hole in the ceiling. Going down through it wasn't so bad, although I tried a jump out while being on the rope, others just wisely used oppose technique.

Getting stuck it's not the nicest feeling you can experience while being in the cave. It makes you and others anxious and tired. Thanks to Jozefien and Bram I managed to pass the window hole. Jozefien had some problems too, but boys allow her to pass smoothly.

How true is the expression that time flies when you're having fun. We went out the cave, and the day was coming up to the end. It was almost 9pm, by our calculations we spent approximately 9 hours inside, and more surprisingly we did not have any food apart from one cookie and one small bottle of water.

That was a real manifestation of fun in the cave, nobody felt like being hungry, thirsty or tired. We all made it sound and safe with big smiles of happiness. Our 'back-up' was glad to hear from us too.

Traditionally on our way back we stopped for a Belgian specialties: friten and beer.

Ewa

Laide Fosse

Friday, June 3rd 2011. 10:30 a.m. Simultaneous arrival at the Laide Fosse sinkhole in Hamerenne, Rochefort by Renaud and Hans' car. The weather is perfect. Should we go caving or enjoy the sunshine and the relaxing breeze? The weather really got us debating this time...but, cavers are cavers, and Laide Fosse lured us into its caverns.

After the traditional sandwich lunch, we changed into our warm caving gear and quickly descended into the secluded sinkhole in search of cool air. The cave entrance was dry, as a result of the long dry spell this spring. After searching for the correct route at the entrance of the cave (actually it was quite obvious), we found the 2.5m drop, followed by the sharp left bend and the P4 with the E8 immediately above it. I was glad Renaud offered to climb it, because an 8m climb is no simple thing, especially with a 4m pitch directly below it (that's a 12m drop if you fall at the top!). Using the only available "broche" we decided to secure Renaud for the tricky first 3m section of the climb. The remaining 5m were less difficult from a technical perspective, but of course, the security at that height was essentially non-existant. Bravo Renaud for the courageous climb! He secured the ropes for us, and while we ascended, he started rigging the 15m traversée to the right, along a deep drop. This too was carried out with skill! This is not a cave for the faint hearted! Thanks to the rigging, Bram and I followed nervously, but without too much difficultly.


We crossed an éboulie, hit an intersection, turned left and entered a large chamber with an obvious anticline. We rambled around a little before descending into the 25m pitch along the anticline. Bram offered to rig this narrow, uncomfortable pitch. At the top there was only a single broche and in the narrow descent there was another broche available (no obvious, natural anchor points present). A little further on, a further descent was possible using a double anchor point, always along the anticline. Arriving at the bottom, we discovered a last narrow étroiture below that led to a final small chamber. In this chamber we found a pretty formation and we could also hear the river some meters below us. However, we couldn't find a way to the water and, after a photo shoot, we considered this our end point and decided to start our ascent.


The étroiture proved much more difficult going up than going down. Bram didn't have many issues, but Renaud had a great deal of difficulty passing through the narrow passage. After some pulling from above and pushing from below (ouch, my head and shoulders!!) Renaud made it through, a little shaken. My passage could have been smoother as well. I tried on my right side first, but after a five minute attempt, I descended to retry my luck on my left side. Much better!


The ascent up the 25m pitch wasn't a big deal technically, but since it was rather narrow, removing the rigging (taking along the rope and the kitzak up the narrow section) was particularly hard going! I appeared at the mouth of the pitch, breathing hard and sweat running down my face.

Back at the traversée, Bram decided to remove the rigging. I therefore crossed first, for some reason much more confident than the earlier crossing, followed by Renaud. Bram bravely removed the rigging as well as the descent at the E8, pulling through the rope at the end. Great job Bram!


This was a caving trip that tested our limits of fear, stamina and technical knowledge! After five and a half hours we were glad to exit this (for our level of expertise) challenging cave in one piece! A toast to La Laide Fosse with Rochefort 8° and Ice Tea!

Galerie des Sources

Writing a report one month later is pretty challenging for my memory, I will try to dredge up at least some few facts/ info…

When the adventure took place: Friday’s night, 15th of April
Who participate: the same ‘old sea dogs’ Arun, Bram, Ewa, Hans, Renaud
How looked preparations: mainly collecting equipment from the club, asking other cavers about this specific cave, printing “topo”, taking advantage of Dutch genes by eating friten and drinking Triple Karmeliet or at choice chamomile tea
Rule that guide us: safety always before fun
Observed views: a lot of devastation, some formations painted with the red dye, many broken stalagmites, especially one, very big, some nice formations covered with mud, but of course there were also very pleasant scenes to see, calcite ones etc.



Time: for us the longest cave ever, about 5 hours inside
Results: more than 70% of the cave visited, damnably muddy gears, some parts of the body dead e.g. elbows
Conclusions: navigational hell, map completely useless, better physical form could be useful, gymnasium rope training is not the same as using ropes in the cave,
Way of recovery being applied: sleeping all weekend, organizing yourself, doing next cave on Sunday

Few random things that I learned or that for some reasons stayed in my memory:
- roads in Belgium can be very crooked
-do not park your car below or close to the rail track, why…, no idea;) maybe because it’s very hard to have a conversation later on
-cows like running a lot
-always remember to send an SMS before you enter the cave, otherwise you have to go all the way back to the car and do it then which can be quite annoying
- the entrance of the cave is not always located somewhere at the bottom, sometimes you have to go up first
-if you’re able to run 10km, it doesn’t mean you can climb the hill and not loose your breath
-if you move some rocks you should always shout loudly ‘caillou’! as I was taught by Bram
-never get panicking when somebody is not responding after you ask him to do so, maybe he is far away looking for the way to go and at such particular moment he cannot hear you, do not draw black scenario. I don’t know if we told Hans about that situation when we started becoming worried about him…
-there is no one possible way to get somewhere, you can always look for more routes and then choose if you prefer walking next to the brink, with passing the pit or just go for simple oppose
-there is nothing like the best technique you can use at the particular moment, you have to find your own way to do this, sometimes improvisation is really welcomed
- knowing the topo like your own pocket doesn’t mean that you’re not going to be surprised at the cave


The end…
Not really… maybe of part1,
We’re planning to come back and then score an advantage over you, Galerie des Sources…
Better watch out;)

Gidsing Haquin

"Lustin, 8 mei 2011; 'n prachtig weids landschap, fantastisch weer en... een gat in de grond, 'Le Trou Haquin'. Onder het enthousiasme van Isabelle en Björn trekken we onze waterdichte pakken aan verneem ik dat de ingang en uitgang één en dezelfde zijn. Twijfel en claustrofobische gedachten steken de kop op. Bedenkelijk en zachtjes vloekend ruil ik het zalige zomerweer in voor de zwarte kilte van de grot..waar ben ik toch aan begonnen? De rotsen voelen eerst bedreigend glad aan en onder het motto 'je stopt altijd wel ergens' mogen we ons meteen 'gewoon laten glijden'..tjongejonge! Maar gaandeweg word ik de natte en rustgevende donkerte gewoon en wat is het klimmen, kruipen, glijden en wringen dan leuk! Via de trompette, langs de modderberg en door het koeiengat (nogal letterlijk!) banen we ons een weg de duisternis in. Voor de kenners: het 'neusje van de zalm' laat ik wijselijk aan me voorbijgaan ;-)

Conclusie: Het 'gat' waar ik me eerst met enige twijfel in liet mee leiden heeft een kei toffe, avontuurlijke dag opgeleverd! Dankjewel, Isabelle en Björn!"
Anne-Sophie Bruylants

Barchon

When it was a usual Friday evening on 29/04/2010 for most of the world, it was an exciting once-in-a-year evening for the few of us from Spekul. It's the day when the historical Fort de Barchon of Liege is open for Cavers from across the world to train on its endless aerial and underground cave-like networks.

It was still bright when 6 of us (Bram, Hans, Ewa, Jochem, Renaud and me) reached Barchon giving us enough time to prepare ourselves for the activities. When Bram and Hans made their tent on a nice 'green' ground on top of the fort, Jochem cooked some nice meal (paella and pan cake). When we were locked and loaded it was almost 10.00 pm. So we decided to do in 2 groups – Bram, Jochem and Hans took the route B while Renaud, Ewa and me decided to take the route D (Miscellaneous route). We agreed to meet again in one and half hours without knowing what's there in store for us.

Route D was quite interesting with various challenges – A ladder climb, lot of narrow crawls, few deep and narrow pitches demanding nice rope techniques. After a while we lost track of the actual route but found some really interesting passages. On the way, a seemingly humble 'Traverse' on the ceiling of a small room made me 'sweat like a cow’:D. After traversing few more pitches and narrow passages we emerged out in the middle of a wall to find some nice 'fractions' and 'parabloes'. As they lead us outside the fort we wandered for few minutes before finding a 'ladder bridge' which would take us across the 'moat' like structure. When we approached the tents in silence assuming the other group would have already gone to sleep, we heard some noise from the 'moat' – it was the other group now joined by Bjorn! Finally when we reached it was almost 2.30 am, just 3 hrs of delay from the agreed time to meet back: D.

All of us relaxed a bit with some snacks and beer. As the other group decided to lay down enjoying their beer, we (Renaud, Ewa and me) along with Bjorn decided to go ahead and do more. As, we have already decided to leave by Saturday afternoon, it was obvious that we cannot do all the routes. So we decided to do the most demanding of all the routes B. Lead by Ewa ;), we took a narrow passage which kept going. After walking in the bent position for several minutes we reached a ladder (what a sign of relief :)). From there we have to walk to a tower outside the fort which was 20-25 meters with lot of traverse and parabloes around it (at the top) pinnacling with 50 meters long rope to down to the ground. By now tiredness was evident with each of us. While Ewa took the stairs, Bjorn took a shortcut to the top circumventing few ropes. Undaunted, Renaud took the rope and I followed him. But few minutes later I retracted back with a muscular cramp in the leg. But finally every one of us was on the top ready to do the 50m rope to the ground. Bjorn led us followed by Ewa, me and Renaud. It was quite thrilling at the start (for the first few meters) but after a while it was annoying as you have to pull yourself hard to reach the ground. Finally by 5.30 in the morning we decided to call it the day. Renaud and Bjorn deciding to sleep in the car, Ewa and me returned to the tent. We went to sleep with the early birds chirping and the dark sky turning orange. My tiredness took a toll on all, as I left a zip open in both the tents (unknowingly, of course). It was my cell phone alarm which woke us up I guess. It took us some time to crawl out of our tents. But by the time we were out breakfast was awaiting us thanks to Renaud, some nice croissants from Carefour. As Hans and Jochem decided to leave for home, five of us decided to do the route D which we missed yesterday. After taking the same route we arrived at the well from where we missed the route. This time we could see a marking that lead us to a watery slump with a steel cable. After, crossing that and one more pitch we arrived at a narrow network of 'twisted' plastic pipes. With Renaud taking the lead and Ewa following they made it with some ease. Next comes our ‘100-kg man’, Bjorn who tried his best but could not bend his knees through a too narrow turn. Standing at the bottom all I could hear were some crazy noises of him ramming against the walls of the pipes. After fighting for a while he has to come down leaving the way for us (and a group that was following us). Finally, we were glad to see the sun. We went straight to our tents looking for water. As we were running low on our supply in the tents, we had to head to the water pipe at the toilet which unfortunately read 'Non-Potable'. driven by the monstrous thirst we ignored the sign and filled all the cans. Then we lay down under sun for several minutes near the tent hoping Bjorn would return there. After a while Renaud went down to have sausages at the bar found him enjoying a beer :D.

As everyone was tired and the weather was perfect we decided to lie down for a while and do the aquatic route before leaving home. In the meantime Bram, Ewa and me where trying our hands at a line connecting the tower on one side of the moat to the other side whereas Bjorn managed to get us some spare neoprene to enter the ice cold water. By 1.30 we were finally ready to do the final part of the trip – the aquatic route. In the orange suit I was quite eye-catching I must admit :D. When we reached a pipe half-filled with water we were almost sure that it's the way. So Renaud taking the lead and Bram following him started the adventure. By the time they reached the end of the pipe, a nice gentleman (passer-by) pointed out that it's the end of the route and the start is few meters away. Drenched in the ice-cold water Renaud and Bram have to get out of an emergency window to reach there. Later we noticed that the entrance was also a pipe but was too steep that it might be impossible to climb it if we could have continued the tout in the wrong direction. This route was also narrow as every other but deliberately half-filled with water (with the help of artificial walls) to keep up the name. After a narrow passage we reached a room with a narrow passage which might be 30 cms high, 50-60 cms wide and 8-10 m long filled 2/3 with water. Again undaunted Renaud took the lead while Ewa (by chanting some curse words :D)and Bram followed. As we could see a clear shortcut Bjorn and me (who was scared to death :D) took that way. Then comes a supposedly once-a-septic- tank below a toilet like structure. It was again 10m long but with more width and breathing space. With Bjorn holding me I managed to float across the tank (thanks to my orange suit!). Then a couple of narrow passages with water flowing through it, we almost reached the end of the route. But then comes the last but not the least challenge – narrow entrance completely filled with water. We were left with no choice but to take a dip. Uh, finally we reached out through the pipe which we first mistook for the entrance. Emerging successful with completely drenched suits we walked through the street (or the moat) inside the fort with people on both sides cheering and congratulating us! (a rare or an impossible event when you emerge from a cave).

I guess it was challenging enough to be fun for everyone. If you can be sure about one thing in Spelunking (even in a makeshift cave like Barchon) it's that it will beat your expectations.

With lots of expectations......!!
Arun

Here is a link to a movie on Barchon 2011 from some other cavers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xuH7iWf_eQ

(Courtesy: Bjorn)

Kinderspeleo Manto - St. Etienne

Het was donker in de grot

en eng in de grot,

het was koud in de grot,

Björn zat vast in de grot,

het was moeilijk in de grot,

maar het was ook heerlijk in de grot.

Esteban Aertssen (7 jaar)

Eerste keer Sainte Anne

http://environnement.wallonie.be/csis/

De zondag van het Kaas&Wijnweekend gingen enkelen de Sainte-Anne doen
Sommigen voor de eerste keer!

De Sainte Anne is een veelzijdige grot die geschikt is voor de beginnende speleoloog maar tegelijk ook voor gevorderden.

Ze bestaat uit 3 verdiepingen die met elkaar verbonden zijn.

Als je binnen bent ga je eerst door verscheidene grote zalen die verbonden zijn door tunnels.

Hoe kleiner je bent hoe sneller je door de tunnels geraakt (1m 20 is perfect).

Dan kom je uit bij de rivier die je naar de 2de verdieping leidt.

Om van de 2de verdieping naar de 3de te gaan moest je door 'De Brievenbus': een nauwe versmalling waar wonder boven wonder water door stroomde.

Als je nog niet nat was geweest was je dat nu wel.

Na 'de brievenbus' kwamen er nog verschillende nauwe spleten.

Toen we daar door waren moesten we op handen en knieeën door het water (we konden ook over rotsen klimmen).

Bij sommige rotsen was er een richel net onder het wateroppervlak waar je op kon staan.

Op het einde van de grot was er een sifon, daar rustten we even en keerden dan terug.

Op sommige plekken was er een soort van hangende tafel dit is een stalactiet waar vroeger modder onder was, de modder spoelde weg maar de stalactiet bleef mooi hangen.

Wolf

My first cave

grotte du nou moulin –my first cave

Have you ever heard something about spelunking? No…? Don’t worry, me neither. Having tried out my first cave, I can share my experiences with you.

Firstly, I am sure you are eager to know how the whole experience was? No words can describe it. It was just perfect, the best possible experience in every way and, by far the most extreme I have ever tried. You can just look at my face:] and read the description below but the feeling can be compared to seeing the top of an ice mountain, the best parts are covered and available only for these that are brave enough to try. I wasn’t brave at all. I couldn’t even sleep well the night before…but it doesn’t matter now, so let the story begin…

Everything took place on Saturday, 26.02.2011. There were five of us: Hans, Renaud, Bram, Arun and me. Our goal was to explore the Grotte du nou Moulin situated in Rochefort, which is considered to be (as I heard from boys) a beginners cave. We left Leuven after nine in the morning. While Hans was driving a car, we were all studying the map of the cave and detailed descriptions. You could feel our excitement in the air, sorry in the car:D Hans as a driver, and others as guides were well prepared because we got there around 11 am without any problems with finding our way. We parked the car next to the cave, and were able to see the river that goes into the cave when it is been raining for many days. Have a look at these two pictures, different frames but it gives you a general idea.

Bron: Avalon

Then the procedure started, they began changing their clothes, so I started coping them. I also got advice to use the toilet before I put on everything. I put my waterproof trousers, jacket and shoes, that I found in SPIT and I was ready for the next step. Then we started with the harness, making it suitable for each others size, and replaced the batteries into our helmets. We were almost ready. The final part of our preparations was lunch. We ate some sandwiches, tomato soup, nuts, and had some drinks, we also placed some snacks and refreshments into our common rucksack. By now we had sent a message, letting everybody know that we were ready to combat the cave.

Hans, the gentlemen in red was carrying the map, Bram the men in the blue suit was carrying the rucksack at the beginning but then they alternated in doing so. Fortunately I didn’t have to wear this heavy thing:P We knew that there were two entrances into this cave, the upper one where you have to use ropes and the lower one which was our target.

Our first few steps inside the cave guided us to a metal fence which didn’t look like a gate to enter. So we went back a little bit, and we tried to look for another way. Bram tried one crater but it went nowhere so he had to crawl all the way back on his stomach with our rucksack. We went back to the very beginning, almost outside the cave to look for other paths. It’s started getting funny. After some minutes we decide to go as we first wanted to and try to pass the fence. It appeared to be possible. Afterwards we realized that this fence could have been here to protect rubbish coming inside the cave together with river. The beginning of the cave was quite easy because it was pretty wide but then it started getting narrow and low, that I had to try some crawling on my back, on my belly, with my head or feet first. Stones on the ground don’t make your life easier, and your knees after some time also feel that.

Some examples of things/activities we have to do ‘sightseeing’ the cave.

Source: http://speleodinant.blogspot.com/2009/12/bonjour-tous-en-cette-veille-de-saint.html

We read in the car about Fromage (NVDR "Gruyere"), the part of the cave that can make some difficulties (many people got lost there) and when we were getting closer to it I started wondering how much time are we going to spend there, if in the beginning we couldn’t even find the entrance. But surprisingly it wasn’t so bad as I thought before. We didn’t have many problems to pass it, we tried to follow some tiny rope that some cavers left before to help find the way. The fromage part was pretty interesting, it consisted plenty rocks of different shape one next to another. Sometimes you had to climb them sometimes just go below them. As you can notice caving is not only about going down as you may think at the beginning but it has where you have to go upwards. Important thing that boys repeated few times was to tried to look back as many times you can to remember the way we came.

Source: http://speleodinant.blogspot.com/2009/12/bonjour-tous-en-cette-veille-de-saint.html

In the end of fromage, where there was a lot of space you had to climb the highest part and there you could find some interesting formations. That was our goal, but it was quite hard to reach it. We had been looking for it for a while and having done so we then decided to have a break, and eat something. But of course boys didn’t give up so fast, so they started looking again for a so-called balcony to find these sculptures. We eventually did it, having climbed very steep rocks. Awaiting us were amazing views, such as:

You can see happiness all over faces.

Okay, now time to go home, means go back, that was sometimes difficult, especially when you had to climb down steep rocks, and you need all your 4 limbs to protect you before decontrolling the situation. We decided not to take the same way as before, but to make a roundtrip which in case of this cave was possible to do. So again, some worse or better try-outs to find our way. We noticed that somebody marked this way with the orange spray spots so we tried to follow them, but sometimes they were really hard to find. But there was always some brave men from the following guys that was looking after our way and who allowed me to sit, rest and eatJ

When we found a pit filled with water we knew that we’re closer and closer to the exit but we had to find again our way. So after climbing some rocks there were two ways, of course, the first checked was the wrong one:P, and then the other one was the proper one. There was a metal bucket left by some cavers to take the water from the hole we need to go over. This step was quite challenging, you need to go a little bit into the water to go into the hole below rock, and the water wasn’t very warm. Some of us got wet. But we were still continuing. Sometimes it was very narrow between the rocks that I thought my body will never fit there but after some small movements, changes of position it appeared to be possible. The scary part for me was also the long ‘chimney’ you had to slide down, controlling it for your own good.

Source: http://speleodinant.blogspot.com/2009/12/bonjour-tous-en-cette-veille-de-saint.html

There was another way I could choose but nobody wanted go there so I ‘fasten my ass’ and I decided to try it. After this there was nothing more left. We got on the same track that we came in the very beginning, nice and easy, we followed the way, and after 4 hours being inside we appeared in the front of the grotte du nou Moulin. Rain said kind hello to us.

What’s now? Of course we had to wash each other after all this mud and clay. We went inside the river to get nice and clean. It took us a while cleaning all the equipment and our clothes. Then we dressed up into warm, tidy clothes. We ate the rest of the smashed food from the rucksack and all together we decided to go and try some local Rochefort beer. About 5pm we decided to go back to Leuven. The car journey was very nice mostly in rhymes of 80’. We got in Leuven about 6.30pm.

After few days passed I can say that I really enjoyed this Saturday. A combination of unforgettable memories and a worthwhile experience. I am sure I want to continue this adventure. I never thought I could feel so comfortable amongst people I had just met twice in my life. But they all made it. Thanks to the team for being so funny, kind, caring throughout the duration of the trip.

Although this is the end of the story, I hope that it is not the end of an amazing adventure which I have only just begun.

Ewa.

Na de Kaas&Wijn gaan grotten: Trou de Manants

Na de Kaas&Wijn is een ploegje naar de St-Anne gegaan en een ander naar de Trou de Manants.

Van die laatste tocht hieronder wat sfeerbeelden!

Björn heeft zich in 't zweet gewerkt

een kleine modderduivel


een grote modderduivel


een modderkruiper


Een moddernimf

Aanmodderen met het hangslot

publieke wasserette

Brevet A 2010: Weekend 3

27 en 28 november

Het derde brevet A weekend met overnachtingen in het kasteel van Floreffe… het beloofde koud te worden, misschien ging het wel sneeuwen.

Volgens de info die we enkele weken vooraf kregen was het zaterdagochtend verzamelen voor een grottocht op de parking van de Haquin . Ok, de Haquin dus,… die kennen we dat zou wel meevallen .

Echter een paar dagen voor het weekend hoorde ik via via dat de grottochten niet in de Haquin , zouden zijn , maar dat we naar de Eglise, de Weron of de Bernard zouden gaan en dat ik best eens wat info zou kunnen zoeken over de diepste grot van Belgie .

Ik voelde het al komen ik ging de Bernard doen . Even googlen en ik kon me meteen al flink beginnen zenuwachtig te maken over de chicanes en ander “leuk” spul

Die zenuwen zouden me later nog wel parten spelen

Zaterdagochtend om 9 uur was het verzamelen geblazen op de parking waar de groepjes werden ingedeeld het materiaal werd verdeeld .

Wat ik gehoord had klopte, ik kwam in een groep met Isabelle en Marjan en wij zouden het klassieke deel van de Bernard doen onder de begeleiding van Pieter  en Kaatje.

Daarna ging met de auto naar de grot waar we ons in speleouitrusting zetten .

Nog even Tom en Sofie laten voorgaan die een groepje gingen begeleiden dat de Number Two van de Bernard zouden doen en wij konden eraan beginnen . Pieter ging voorop om te equiperen gevolgd door Isabelle, Marjan en dan ik en Kaatje .

In de grot was het gelukkig een stuk warmer dan buiten en de koude voeten waren snel vergeten .

Puitz Franz (P15) nam iedereen zonder problemen , Isabelle had even een probleem net voor de Chicanes toen ze in haar rem kwam te hangen en even een stukje terug omhoog moest . De afdaling in de Chicanes ( een 20 m diep meanderende spleet), lukte vrij goed, enkel een kwestie van de ruimte op te zoeken en je juist te positioneren . De tips werden natuurlijk steeds terug omhoog gecommuniceerd . In de fractie daar had ik even problemen met de koorden die in de war kwamen (de zenuwen) . Dan verder naar beneden (Salle d’olive of Puit de l’Oppo, ik weet niet welke van de 2) tot de volgende fameuze passage : de etroiture aan het begin van de 12 m diepe Puits de Cureton .

Hier had Pieter ooit eens een kwartier vastgezeten vertelde hij, maar dankzij zijn ervaring ging het passeren vrij vlot : afdaler op het touw , in het geultje op de rechterzij gaan liggen, voeten door het gat , je dan rustig in de opening laten kantelen tot je door de opening was en dan kon je afdalen tot op de bodem .

Daar over de blokken terug iets omhoog en je staat op het richeltje bovenaan “Le grand puits” 28 m vrijhang gevolgd door nog 8m tegen de wand . Daar aangekomen zit je iets meer dan 100 m diep onder de grond . De Sifon zit nog een stuk dieper op -128m , maar we hadden afgesproken om tot 13 uur af te dalen, dan iets te eten en dan de terugweg aan te vatten en het was tijd.

Ik heb de minste grotervaring dus werd beslist dat Kaatje en ik voorop zouden gaan gevolgd door Isabelle en Marjan zou Pieter helpen met desequiperen.

“Le grand puits” omhoog ging vrij goed, maar aan de eerste fractie van de de Puits de Cureton hing ik serieus in de knoop met de touwen . Na een kwartiertje, macramé had ik één en ander ontward, maar ben toch nog gepasseerd tussen touw en rots door (de zenuwen) . Vanaf daar ging het vrij goed de etroiture bovenaan de put was geen probleem . In de chicanes kon ik wel even niet meer zien waar ik naar toe moest gaan omdat het te smal was om je hoofd te draaien. Maar toch zijn we daar allen zonder problemen vlot boven geraakt .

Enkel het richeltje op het einde was wat lastiger .

Toen ik aan de voet van de Puits Franz stond, hoorde ik dat ook de ploeg van Tom en Sofie naar buiten aan het komen was . Toen ik bovenaan de fractie in de Puits Franz hing, hoorde Isabelle vragen of ik de kitzak even kon aannemen, zodat ze het lastige richeltje kon passeren . Uiteindelijk is het zonder mijn hulp gelukt. Sorry Isabelle volgende keer neem ik de kitzak over .

Uiteindelijk zijn we rond half vier allen uit de grot gekomen .

Ik heb ervan genoten en heb ervan geleerd dat ik toch wat weinig grotervaring heb . Iets wat met dergelijke tochtjes sneller zal opgelost geraken dan met touwtraining in het Gymnasium of tochtjes in de Haquin .

Ons snel omgekleed en toen we aan de parking van het kerkhof passeerden zagen we dat er nog steeds andere ploegen uit de grotten kwamen . We waren dus zeker niet de enigen die vooropgestelde timing van 15 uur niet gehaald hadden .

Het zou nog een zware avond worden, want in het kasteel van Floreffe wachtte ons nog theorielessen over de VVS structuur en over grotbescherming . Paul De Bie had de zware taak om deze als laatste te geven aan 19 vermoeide en hongerige kandidaat speleos .

Hierna was het tijd voor het aperitief, gevolgd door pompoensoep en spaghetti (Arggh had ik dan vandaag nog niet genoeg verwarde touwen gezien , snel saus erover) .

De eerste afwas van het weekend was voor rekening van Spekul en daarna konden we nog even lekker roddelen en napraten .

De meesten onder ons besloten het niet te laat te maken want voor zondag stond er nog nog een gevulde dag op het programma.

Zondag om half acht een uitgebreid ontbijt waarna de lesgevers de equipementen gingen uithangen en wij nog enkele theoretische lessen kregen .

Geologie vond ik zeer interessant en deze les werd gevold door een bezoekje aan de toeristische grot onder het kasteel . Nu gewapend met de nodige theoretische kennis konden we moeiteloos de vastgecementeerde stalagmieten er tussen uit halen.

De laatste theorie ging over speleobiologie en hieruit leerden we dat naast het feit dat een grot een fragiele biotoop is, dat de griezeligste Eek-beesten vooral in de tropen voorkomen .

Na het middagmaal was het tijd om in volledige speleouitrusting (en liefst nog wat meer) de koude te trotseren . Op de rots naast het kasteel kregen we nog volgende technieken :

· Bevrijden uit zelfzekering na val van een touwladder (let op : de aangeleerde variante met afdaler in lange leeflijn staat niet in het cursusboek)

· Klimmer beveiligen met halve mast worp

· Alternatieve afdaaltechnieken ( halve mastworp, afdaler in vertaco,…)

· Alternatieve stijgtechnieken (pantin, tiblock, prussik,…)

Een goed gevuld programma dus en gelukkig maar, want dat hadden we nodig om ons warm te houden . Bovendien kwam men ook nog enkele thermossen met warme choco brengen .

Bij het opruimen en tellen van het materiaal hebben we nog eventje moeten zoeken naar 2 kitzakken die na de grottochten niet uit iemands auto wilden komen, maar rond iets na de zessen kon de terugrit worden aangevat.

Bedankt aan de lesgevers en de kookploeg !

Johan