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 Jerusalem
Length 1300m, VR -56m, Time 3-4 hours
GPS UTM 32T-0278560-5208840 753m
This pothole lies 7km from the Source du Verneau and gives access to the highest portion of the Verneau river. Sadly, no dry through trip is possible, but it offers a short, sporting introduction to the Verneau System. 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 both the new and old football pitches, then take the left turn at a fork and park by a large barn on the left, opposite woods on the right. A path leads into the woods and is followed down (ignoring the right-hand turns) to the entrance depression, where a stream, which varies in size between a trickle and a river, sinks.
A traverse line leads down the right-hand wall of the entrance to a Y-Hang
above the 4m deep entrance pitch, which lands in a small daylight chamber.
A traverse on the left above the water quickly leads to the second pitch
of 5m. A 50m entrance rope could rig both pitches. The stream is followed
to the right, down a passage through boulders and flood debris to the
third pitch. This is 15m deep and is best rigged by traversing round the
corner at the top of the rift. There is one rebelay. A fine descent lands
next to the waterfall where a section of walking sized passage leads to
a flood-prone flat out crawl. A section of stooping beyond enters a pleasant
keyhole passage, which is mostly walking and leads for 100m to the fourth
pitch. This is 12m deep, with a rebelay 3m down. The streamway continues
down some very attractive pools and cascades for 50m to the Salle du Confluent,
the junction with the Verneau Collecteur. Downstream sumps after only
50m (two sumps of 60m and 40m separate Jerusalem from the Gouffre de la
Baume des Cretes). Upstream, the narrow streamway can be followed over
some small pools and cascades for 150m to the large, boulder-filled Salle
de Charniere. The streamway sumps some 50m beyond, but a few metres beyond
Salle de Charniere, a tight, damp rift ascent gains the Brochette Inlet,
which can be followed up a 13m climb to 200m of small passage. Opposite
the point of entry into the Salle du Confluent, the Clavettes Inlet can
be followed for 300m to an impenetrable sump.
Rigging Guide
Pitch Rope Belay
Traverse + P4
25m
5 bolts
P5 20m 5 bolts
P15 45m 14 bolts + Natural
P12 30m 7 bolts + Natural
Created 25.10.18