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

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Gouffre de la Baume des Cretes

Length 1700m, VR -181m, Time 6-9 hours

GPS UTM 32T-0277690-5208820 790m

This fine pothole gives access to over a kilometre of the upstream Verneau river. Although no dry through trip is possible, this remains a fine cave in its own right. Beware – vehicle break-ins are frequent. Leave no valuables on view.
From Déservillers, follow the N473 towards Levier for 1.3 km. There are several hairpin bends. The final one is longer and more gentle. Just past this, take a track on the left, go past the new football pitch and park next to the OLD football pitch. Cross the stile opposite the pitch. The cave lies across the field, in a clump of trees.
The entrance shaft is 40m deep, with three rebelays and lands in a large, inclined chamber. Passing some impressive stalagmites, this descends steeply to –100m. From here, a wide, bouldery passage enters Salle du Reveillon, notable for its arrangement of boulder tables and chairs, and carbide dumps. From the end of the chamber, a short scramble and squeeze lead to a 5m climb down, indicated by a huge arrow. Below this, slightly awkward progress along the bottom of the rift leads to a low, sloping passage. Turn left and follow a flat-out crawl, through a chamber with a hole in the floor, to Salle des Dolois, a fairly large and well-decorated chamber. Cross the chamber and pass through a glutinous pool - admiring the gargoyle carved out of mud - to a smaller chamber. A short climb up and squeeze leads to a tricky climb down to the head of the third pitch, a 15m drop into a clean-washed chamber. Descend some flowstone on the left, and look for a little meander on the right. (Straight on leads to a blind 15m pitch). Follow the stream down a 5m cascade, and along the streamway to an unstable boulder choke, which is passed with care, low down on the left. A 3m cascade leads back to the stream and 100m further on, a 12m pitch drops into the Verneau Collecteur. In low water, by staying low and wading a small water-filled chamber it is possible to reduce the 12m pitch to a 6m handline. Downstream leads quickly to a sump, but upstream, more than 1 km of magnificent streamway can be followed, reasonably easily in low water, but difficult when wet. Several pools and awkward cascades (3, 3, 3, 6 and 6 m) must be climbed - take ropes for the return - until the Salle du Sinai is reached. The upstream sump lies 500m beyond. Several fossil galleries in this area, may in future bypass the two sumps (40m and 60m), which separate Baume des Cretes from Gouffre de Jerusalem.

Rigging Guide

Pitch                    Rope                    Belays
 P40                    60m                   Tree + 5 bolts
 R5                      25m                    4 bolts + Natural
 P15                    30m                   4 bolts
 R5                      15m                   4 bolt
 P12                     30m                   3 bolts + Natural
 Cascades             25m                   Various

Updated  01.11.18