Application for Grant Aid

Submitted on: 29 Jan 2014


Expedition details (GPF2014a-002)

Expedition Name (& Club): Pozo Azul 2014 - Beyond Tipperary
Destination country: Spain
Region: Covanera, Burgos
Lat: 42.7397 Long: -3.7955 Elevation: m
MEF funding: none

Leader: Mr Jason Mallinson
Total cavers: 16
Cavers ≤25 yrs old: 0
Cavers 25-35 yrs old: 0
UK/nonUK cavers: 5/11
Eligible for grant aid: 0
Alex Pitcher nominations: 0
Expedition dates: 15th Aug 2014 - 31st Aug 2014
Duration (days): 17
Man-days in field: 125 Man-days travelling: 35
Brief Expedition objectives:

List a short summary of the main Expedition objectives.

Continuation of exploration beyond Sump 4 in active river gallery. Also map and explore further the dry passages leading off from Air Chamber after Sump 2, 'Tipperary'. Radio locate Tipperary and establish communication to outside from Tipperary, as proving exercise for potential future incidents within the extreme limits of the cave.
How can the GPF support your Expedition?:

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

GPF have previously funded this cave diving expedition. The funding will alleviate some of the significant financial costs required for transporting the specialist equipment to site.
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.

There are 3 major objectives for the expedition:-
1) Explore and map the active river passage beyond Sump 4 (140m) further, using wetsuits to remove the risk of puncturing a drysuit.
2) Explore and map the dry passages found in 2013, leading off from Tipperary (air chamber after Sump 2). There are approximately 1000m of passages explored so far. There is potential for a dry entrance in the hill above here.
3) Radio Locate Tipperary and establish communication with persons outside. This has 2 purposes, one to update the support team on our progress and secondly establish the locations for future use. Be that for expedition or for rescue purposes.

All the above will take extra time than previous expeditions and so the plan is to send an extra night in Tipperary (3 nights) and a total of 4 days will be spent in the cave, with the majority of this time being beyond the 5160m long Sump 2, camped at Tipperary.

A total of 7 days set up and retrieval for the above dives to take place, is required.
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.

Expeditions to explore Pozo Azul have been carried out since 2001. Additionally other sites in the area; Barbancho, Pozo la Torca, Aguanal, have also been explored and mapped in collaboration with Spanish colleagues.
All explorations are written up in the quarterly CDG newsletter, see Newsletters 141,146,152,160,163,173,177,183
Descent various reports, see Descent 217 for major article.
Hidden Earth Presentations: 2007,2009,2010,2011,2013
National and local newspaper articles: see Sunday Times Magazine Dec. 2013 for article on 2013 expedition.

Expedition Finances

Travel

Travel plans:
Due to the large amount (and weight) of specialist equipment required to carry out this expedition the only viable option is to drive from the UK and take the ferry direct to Northern Spain or drive through France.
From previous experience the direct ferry from UK to Spain can be very expensive at peak times (£1000 + for vans)and not flexible and so the best option is to take the ferry/tunnel to Calais and drive down through France to Northern Spain.


# from UK: 5 Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK):
Total costs from UK: £2,730 Fuel from N.England to N. Spain - 1200miles each way - £440 return
Ferry/Tunnel to France - £160 return
Tolls France/Spain £250 return
Fuel whilst in Spain £60

above costs per vehicle, 3 OFF vehicles from UK

# from outside UK: 11 Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK):
Total costs from outside UK: £1,990 1 person driving from Holland, similar costs to UK above £750
Multiple persons driving from within Spain, Malaga, 500miles £240 (2 vehicles) Andorra, 400 miles £160 Barcelona, 400miles £160 (2 vehicles) Asturias. 170miles £70 (4 vehicles)



Travel total: £4,720 Travel p.p. from UK: £546
Travel p.p. from outside UK: £180

Subsistence

Total: £1,500 Comments:
Subsistence p.p.: £94 There will be camping and the use of a locally rented house for accomodation.

House £8 pppn = £720
Camping £5 pppn = £300 incl elec.
Communal cooking £3 pppd = £480

Gear

Total: £100 Comments:
Gear p.p.: £6 Fuel for compressors - £100

Special 1

Total: £200 Comments:
Special 1 p.p.: £13 Rental of 2 Oxygen Cylinder - £100 each

Special 2

Total: £160 Comments:
Special 2 p.p.: £10 Sofnolime for rebreathers - £ 80 (2 x20kg tubs)
Exped Total: £6,680 Exped cost p.p. travelling from UK: £668
Exped cost p.p. travelling from outside UK: £302
Mean Exped cost per person: £417

Other Funding

Total: £0 Comments:
None
Total shortfall: £6,680 Mean shortfall per person: £417

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: Mr David Ryall
Affiliation: CDG Member

Reason: Known personally and familiar with history and exploration of Pozo Azul

Permission obtained?: Yes
Referee 2: Mr John Cordingley
Affiliation: CDG Member

Reason: Known personally and familiar with history and exploration of Pozo Azul

Permission obtained?: Yes

Expedition report author: Jason Mallinson