Application for Grant Aid

Submitted on: 31 Jan 2010


Expedition details (GPF2010a-006)

Expedition Name (& Club): Kelmend, Albania 2010 (EPC)
Destination country: Albania
Region:
Lat: 42.5370 Long: 19.7130 Elevation: m
MEF funding: none

Leader: Chris Dent
Total cavers: 20
Cavers ≤25 yrs old: 0
Cavers 25-35 yrs old: 0
UK/nonUK cavers: 20/0
Eligible for grant aid: 0
Alex Pitcher nominations: 0
Expedition dates: 19th Sep 2010 - 2nd Oct 2010
Duration (days): 14
Man-days in field: 280 Man-days travelling: 0
Brief Expedition objectives:

List a short summary of the main Expedition objectives.

Continue the exploration of two caves in the Kelmend province of Albania and discover and document other caves in the region. 'Shepella Vaso' was entered by members of the Axbridge CG in 1995. 'Shepella Pitkini' was entered by the Eldon PC in 2009. Rock climbing ascents of the major peaks in the region.
How can the GPF support your Expedition?:

Please explain the aspects of the trip which make it eligible for Ghar Parau funding.

There are very few cavers in Albania and few foreign cavers have visited. The potential for exploration of new cave is good in the karst landscape of Kelmend. The caves which have been found already by the Axbridge CG and the Eldon Pothole Club require further exploration. Albania remains one of the poorest countries in Europe but made a formal application to join the European Union in 2009. Tourism in Albania is not well-established and our expedition will go some way towards investigating the caving and mountaineering possibilities offered by this mountainous republic. We are in contact with the Albanian National Society for Mountainous Studies who are interested in the expedition that we have planned. Two local cavers/mountaineers may join us which would be a good opportunity to share ideas. Rab Carrington (current Chairman of the BMC) has agreed to be patron of the expedition. The expedition has caving and climbing objectives.
Detailed description of objectives:

Give a more detailed account of the purpose of the trip, including any particular known caves you intend to visit, specific areas where you will explore for new cave, and scientific experiments you will attempt.

Surface exploration, documentation and exploration of caves in the region. Limestone peaks in the area are at 2,500m and local resurgences are at 700m so the area is of significant interest. Very few cavers have previously visited Albania and there are very few records of the karst features of the area. Further exploration of Shepella Pitkini and Shepella Vaso. Shepella Pitkini currently ends at -80m at a snow plug. Although a way underneath the snow plug was apparent and draughting it has not yet been passed. It seems likely that Shepella Pitkini and Shepella Vaso may connect with Vaso being 200m lower and 500m distant. A strong and cold draught emitting from the current end of Pitkini indicates the presence of a significant system beyond. A small climbing team intends to attempt ascents of some of the major rock peaks in the area, several remarkable lines are evident.
Previous work in this area:

Give details of any previous work in this area by your own and other teams. Include references to reports and articles published on the area, and the names of any local cavers or academics with whom you have discussed the Expedition.

Axbridge Caving Group visited the area in 1995 and 2008. Martin Barnicott and Dave Gledhill (expedition members) made two visits to the area in May 2009 and September 2009.

Expedition Finances

Travel

Travel plans:
Most of the team will fly from London to Tirana (Albania capital). From there they will travel by 4x4 taxi to Lepushë in Kelmend. Once at Lepushë most of the objectives can be accessed on foot. Six members of the team will travel from Tirana to Lepushë in two 4x4 vehicles which will be hired for the duration of the expedition. These 4x4 vehicles will be available to allow parties to explore further afield during the expedition. Two members of the team will drive from the UK to Lepushë in a vehicle carrying most the expedition equipment.


# from UK: 20 Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK):
Total costs from UK: £8,700 Flight £200 pp.
Taxi to Lepushe £50 pp.
fuel and ferries for one vehicle driving from UK to Lepushe is £700
hiring the two 4x4 vehicles in Albania for the whole period is £800
Other travel cost etc. £150 pp

# from outside UK: 0 Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK):
Total costs from outside UK: £0

Travel total: £8,700 Travel p.p. from UK: £435
Travel p.p. from outside UK: £0

Subsistence

Total: £4,000 Comments:
Subsistence p.p.: £200 Accommodation and food £200 pp

Gear

Total: £1,000 Comments:
Gear p.p.: £50 Personal Equipment £50 pp.

Special 1

Total: £1,000 Comments:
Special 1 p.p.: £50 Medical Insurance £50 pp.
Exped Total: £14,700 Exped cost p.p. travelling from UK: £735
Exped cost p.p. travelling from outside UK: £0
Mean Exped cost per person: £735

Other Funding

Total: £0 Comments:
Total shortfall: £0 Mean shortfall per person: £0

Referees and Report

Please give the names, addresses and phone numbers of two suitably qualified people whom the Committee can contact. You should ensure that they are aware of the objectives of your trip, and that you have their permission for the Committee to contact them.

Referee 1: Juan Corrin
Affiliation:

Reason:

Permission obtained?: No
Referee 2: Mark Wright
Affiliation:

Reason:

Permission obtained?: No

Expedition report author:

Attachments

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