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 Vauvougier
Length 2420m, VR -215m
GPS UTM 32T-0278430-5223710 550m
Follow the road from Malbrans towards Montrond-le-Chateau. On leaving the village turn right towards Tourchot then right again onto a track which leads past the cemetery. Follow for 800m. The entrance lies 200m to the right of the track in the floor of a valley. A long deep, complex and difficult cave. Plus ten-hour trips are possible. The majority of the cave is very dry. Take plenty of water.
The entrance pitch opens from the base of a large, rocky sinkhole. 38m deep, it is best rigged on the left wall, away from the water. From the base, either rig a difficult, free-hanging 8m traverse on the right directly into the continuation, or descend a 10m climb to gain a 10m bolt climb up the opposite wall to the same point. A 30m long meander leads to Puits du Pendule. In total, the shaft is 40m deep and leads via several more pitches to a large series of galleries, containing two alternative deep points at –213m. The main way on is entered by descending Puits du Pendule for 20m, to an obvious pendulum into a tight, sloping meander on the right. This is followed down climbs of 2m, 3m to the 12m deep Puits ASCO. From the base, climb up for a few metres and look for a narrow meander, which leads immediately to a climb down of 5m. The tortuous meander soon enlarges to easier proportions (2m x 3m). The passage splits. Take the left branch and from the lowest point, ascend to the high point of the meander. 100m ahead, an 11m pitch and climb up leads to a squeeze into another meander, which can be followed for 50m to the 3m deep Machpro climb, where a further descent of 12m reaches the floor of the meander. Follow the passage for 30m to another pitch. The main passage continues over the pitch and can be followed for 100m to the Salle SHAG. However the way on lies down the 14m Puits du Guano, where a meander leads to the Galerie du Betail. To the right, the passage can be followed for 50m to the Grand Puits, which is 47m deep to the low point of the cave at –215m. Left along the Galerie du Betail, a small stream can be followed for 130m. Half way along, a passage on the left leads to a 24m deep pitch, below which an 8m climb reaches the terminal sump.
Rigging Guide
Pitch Rope Belay
Doline + P38 60m 6 bolts
8m Traverse 15m 6 bolts
R10 15m Traverse line + 1 bolt
E10 15m 3 bolts + Etrier
P20 (Pendulum) 30m Sling + 2 bolts
R2 + R3 20m 4 bolts
R12 (ASCO) 20m 3 bolts + slings
R5 10m 2 bolts
P11 15m 3 bolts
R3 (Machpro) 5m 2 bolts
P14 (Guano) 20m 4 bolts (rebelay at –8m)
P47 (Grand) 60m 4 bolts + slings
P24 30m 3 bolts
R8 10m Sling + 1 bolt
Updated 01.11.18