The South Wales Caving Club

Summer Expedition to the Jura, France.

27th July – 10th August 2019

Lead contact: Gary Vaughan

Phone: 07836 727131          E-Mail:   gary@dorsetland.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Gouffre de la Baume St Anne

Length 300m, VR –117m, Time 2 hours
GPS UTM 31T-0726770-5203930 655m


From Sainte-Anne, follow the D229 towards Dornon, for 750m and park on the left. Crossing a field, the cave is located 200m from the road, in a 50m diameter depression surrounded by trees. The cave basically consists of a big pitch into a huge chamber.

Belay a rope to a tree and descend a muddy slope for 10m to some bolts. Continue on down to a rebelay, where a short 6m free hang gains a ledge and some more bolts, at the head of the main pitch proper. The first 25m is against the wall, with several rebelays, some equipped with eco-hangers. The last rebelay gives access to an awesome 30m free-hang, which lands on a huge, day lit boulder pile in an enormous chamber (120m x 60m). From the lowest point of the chamber, a traverse or climb can be rigged across a deep lake to reach an attractive waterfall. Any fixed rope present here should be treated with extreme caution. From the top, a small, wet meander can be pursued for 180m to a sump.

Rigging Guide

Pitch                   Rope                    Belays

Doline                  35m                     Tree + several spits for rebelays
P60                      75m                     Numerous spits
Waterfall               10m                     Plus spits

 

 

 

 

Updated 01.11.18