Introduction Site list (GPS fixes) Walks (GPS tracks)  Video clips Panoramas Coordinates used Electronic projects:  Bat detector  Lamp tests  µ-controlled lamp  SEPIC-based lamp  ISP isolators  Making SMT boards Expedition logs:   Spain 1973, 1974,   1975, 1976, 1977,   1979, 1982, 1983,   1985, 1986, 1987,   1988, 1989, 2000,   2001, 2002, 2003,   2004, 2005, 2006,   2007, 2008, 2009,   2010, 2011, 2012,   2013, 2014, 2015,   2016, 2017, 2018,   2019, 2020, 2021,   2022, 2023   Mexico   New England Translation:  The Battle of  El Mazuco	Entrance pitch, Pozu del Vega El Forcau Name: Pozu del Vega El Forcau Location: 2.5km SSE of Lago Ercina; altitude 1460m (possibly 1490m, from GPS+map) GPS: N43°14'52" W4°58'03" GPS: N43°14'48" W4°58'08" (2011 fix) UTM: 30T 340.39 4790.42 Map: Macizo Occidental de los Picos de Europa (cave site 15) at x=340.4, y=4790.4, alt. 1480m Survey: by members of Forcau ’76, 1976 BCRA Grade 4b Length 1569m, depth 258m Description: Target of the Forcau ’76 expedition, described in detail in OUCC Proceedings 8 » – survey on page 8.  Report also available in plain text version ». Visits: 1975a – locate entrance, with SCAL (Spéléo-Club Alpin Languedocien). 1975b – 07:15 start. With French from SCAL (Philipe, Veronica, Martin, Sallia, Francois, Gilbert, Pierre +2, Alain). Two parties to cave 12:30 and 15:30.  Descend six pitches (11, 8, 8-15, 7, 37, 5+25m).  Second party leapfrog first and on down 7th (9) and explore beyond to duck, etc. then return to find Gilbert stuck on 6th, requiring assistance out.  All finally out by 02:00 and back to camp by 04:00. 1976a through 1976x – full exploration and survey of the cave (Forcau ’76 – see references above). 1988 – walk to entrance (BC, EC, MC) in mist. 2001 – 25th anniversary walk to entrance (2hr:15 up, 1:30 down, including many stops). 2006 – 30th anniversary walk to entrance (1hr:40, including side-trips). 2011 – 35th anniversary walk to entrance (1hr:40, including many photo stops). Other: The entrance is a bit tricky to find.  From the small ‘peak’ in the middle of the valley (≈200m at 210° from the El Forcau pass) the cave is underneath a brown stone outcrop at 220°, perhaps 200m from the peak.

Expeditions to the Picos de Europa and elsewhere since 1973. Please e-mail Mike Cowlishaw (mfc@speleogroup.org) if you have any corrections, suggestions, etc.   See also the SpeleoTrove speleology section ».
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