Summer Expedition to the Jura, France.
27th July – 10th August 2019
Lead contact: Gary Vaughan
Phone: 07836 727131 E-Mail: gary@dorsetland.co.uk
Grotte du Cul de Vau
Length 520m, VR -25m
GPS UTM 31T-0726260-5206220 650m
The cave is located close to Gouffre de Vaux. From Nans Sous Sainte Anne, take the D492 towards Salins les Bains. Then take the road towards Saizenay. Pass through the village and follow the D262 for 1km. Take the Jourdan forest road on the right and follow to the Belvedere de la Chausee viewpoint at the end. Walk to the edge of the cliff and follow to the right for 80m. Descend a path to the left into some rocks. The entrance is a letter-box opening at the foot of a rocky climb.
The letter-box leads into an attractive horizontal gallery. To the right a roomy gallery leads to a low passage, which gains access to a 4m chimney connecting to the edge of the plateau. To the left, a toboggan leads to an 8m climb down, below which a duck gains a narrow, muddy gallery. At the end, a second duck leads into a much larger gallery (3m x 3m). This can be followed uphill for 200m until it becomes too tight. 20m before the end, a chimney on the right leads to the large but blind Salle Paul (25m x 10m).
Rigging Guide
Pitch Rope Belay
Toboggan + R8 60m 5 bolts + Natural
