The Cavex Expedition to world's deepest cave.

[zenas]

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Report: KRUBERA 2007 (first update 5 Jan. 2007).
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Description: 5 Jan. 2007.

The Cavex Expedition to world's deepest cave (Krubera / Voronja).

FIRST UPDATE - 5 Jan. 2007.

via Slovak Speleological Society.

Oldo Stos (Czech speleological society) at his web-site Speleoexpedition Kota 1000 ( http://kota1000.speleo.cz ) generally promised to send almost on-line informations as to the expedition Krubera 2007 organized by Cavex.

He gave out - for the time being - several brief infos about the transfer of the czech and slovak participants to Moscow making a plan to reach Russia-Gruzian state border.

According to his informations the research in the Krubera-cave will continue behind the last siphons Podnir and Unitaz, where cave goes further on.

The aim is to follow the summer expedition results and to make the best of the low water level now as well as the presence of caving material in the cave in order to pass and/or overrun the depth point of -2158 m.

The Russian, Ukrainian, Czech, Slovak, Australian, British, Italian, Spanish and maybe Polish cavers will participate the expedition.

The 5th january, 02:15 PM: the first two transport actions were carried out to the base camp site near the cave entrance with a help of Mi-8 helicopter. Its landing was successful in spite of a strong wind. There is a frosty weather, strong wind and 2 m of snow up there. "We built a base camp, the cave entrance identification was performed as well. Tomorrow (saturday), the first works in the cave ought to start following the plan."

The Krubera 2007 Expedition sponsors: RockPoint, Meander, Prodive, CK Alpy, Cavex Club CZ, Bask, Kong, Raumer

Reported by Oldrich Stos, CSS, Speleoexpedition Kota 1000

via Slovak Speleological Society

LINKS

Speleoexpedition Kota 1000
http://kota1000.speleo.cz

Slovak Speleological Society
http://www.sss.sk


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UPDATE - 5 Jan. 2007. (in English - via Slovak Speleological Society ) http://www.sss.sk

6th January: works making the cave to be equipped started; three couples equipped it down to -450 m and acclimatization descents were performed as well. 7th january: finishing an equippment of the cave at -700 m and building the 1st base camp. Oldo Stos: "We have actuated a big snowy igloo with a kitchen, eating room and navigating bridge. The igloo is electrified by two petrol units. The weather favours in the meantime..." Expedition Krubera 2007 sponsors: RockPoint, Meander, Prodive, CK Alpy, Cavex Club CZ, Bask,Kong, Raumer, SingingRock Reported by Oldo Stos, Speleoexpedition Kota 1000 translated by Gabo Lesinsky, Slovak speleological society. LINKS: Speleoexpedition Kota 1000 http://kota1000.speleo.cz Slovak Speleological Society http://www.sss.sk

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UPDATE - 9 Jan. 2007. (in English - via Slovak Speleological Society ) http://www.sss.sk

8th January - "Yesterday we came back from -700 m, the 1st bivouac Petit Dru.". 9th January - Finishing an equipment of the cave down to -1400 m and building the 2nd bivouac Sandy Beach. "It´s snowing for three days, there are 60 cm of a new snow, a minimum visibility...". The 10th january - According to the plan, the first team (Klimchouk, Bazilevski, Stos, Medzihradsky, Dvorak and others) will start to descend for a 10-day stay behind the 1st siphon. The aim is an advance of divers in - for the time being - end siphon "s 5" in the depth of 2158 m. The intended comeback is the 20th January. "Keep your fingers crossed...". 18 people participate the expedition for the time being. Another participants ought to arrive by a helicopter on the 13th january. Expedition Krubera 2007 sponsors: RockPoint, Meander, Prodive, CK Alpy, Cavex Club CZ, Bask, Kong, Raumer, SingingRock. Reported by Oldo Stos, Speleoexpedition Kota 1000. Translated by Gabo Lesinsky, Slovak speleological society. LINKS: Speleoexpedition Kota 1000 http://kota1000.speleo.cz Slovak Speleological Society http://www.sss.sk

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UPDATE - 12 Jan. 2007.

The first official annoucement (by denis Provalov) and some photos from the first day of the Krubera/Voronya-cave expedition organized by Cavex in january 2007.

The annoucement In Russian:
http://www.cavex.ru/show.html?id=951

The annoucement in english: (translated by G. Lesinsky, Slovak speleological society).
http://www.sss.sk/pdf_vase/provalov_annoucement.doc

List of participants:
http://www.sss.sk/pdf_vase/participants.doc

Participant's photos:
http://www.cavexclub.ru/show.html?id=947&

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UPDATE - 17 Jan. 2007.

The Cavex webpage ( http://www.cavex.ru ) has post in Russian more recent updates and pictures from the KRUBERA 2007 expedition. The news - also in Russian - posted to the CML mailing list as well. The siphon, which became a barrier for the expedition in 2004, is now OVERCOME! (-2 m, 20 m). Behind the siphon the cave goes on along a main waterflow. Plans to follow: exploration in direction of Floweret-siphon and in direction behind the Pigeon siphon. A more detailed english translation (by Gabriel Lesinsky) can be found to the Slovak Speleological Society website at: http://www.sss.sk

[zenas]

UPDATE - 18 Jan. 2007.

According a new report posted in Russian to the Cavex website ( http://www.cavex.ru ) and the Russian mailing list CML from Denis Provalov, on 16th of January 2007, Oleg Klimchouk reached the depth of 30 m at the deepest siphon (Two captains) in the Krubera/Voronya-cave. Oleg swam 80 meters, overcame a bend, but the amount of gas (two cylinders, each of 4 litres) didn´t allow him to swim further. We hope that during future expeditions we´ll manage to overcome the siphon. The Krubera/Voronya-cave is 30 m deeper! All bivouacs being situated deeper in the cave are to be liquidated today. It doesn´t snow at the surface for the time being. A short rest - we dig the base camp out. Everybody in a cheerful mood. Kind regards to everyone! Provalov. A more detailed english translation (by Gabriel Lesinsky) can be found to the Slovak Speleological Society website at: http://www.sss.sk

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UPDATE - 21 Jan. 2007.

We are expecting the official announcement from the Cavex team for the New World Depth Record. The Cavex website has been updated with more pictures from the expedition. The latest news from the expedition via KOTA 1000 and Cavex:

"Yesterday (the 19th january 2007), carrying material and equipment, Zdenek, Petyka, Spider, Khodykin, Adveyev and Mishunin climbed up the surface from bivouac in -700 m. From the Sandy Beach bivouac in -1400 m, also carrying a load, Klimchouk, Provalov and Bazilevskiy set off upon the surface too. Everybody´s tired. The transport bags were heavy. All bivouacs in the cave except the one in -700 m were liquidated. Today a morning gale deprived us of another two tents. We found a refuge in a snowy cave in which there is a kitchen and also a dayroom. Here we can take refuge from the wind. Digging our tents and an equipment out of snow, we were obsessed with the hurricane whole day. We treaded a path up to the helicopter field and transported part of our equipment there as well. In the Voronya-cave, at the -700 m bivouac, there are Firsov, Sklyar, Venyskiy, Ushakevich, Mislovets and many, many, many transport bags. By the evening, the hurricane calmed down. We hope the weather will change tomorrow. Provalov..." + photos in the original contribution by Denis Provalov (via Cavex - http://www.cavex.ru ). Translated by Gabo Lesinsky for Worldwide caving news from Russian , Slovak speleological society, http://www.sss.sk .

That´s it! Expedition Krubera 2007 was succeeded in overcoming the world depth record in -2170 m! Two divers Klimchouk and Bazilevskiy moved in the end siphon S5 80 m forward and 30 m to the depth. After ten days long stay under surface, the triplet of cavers Stos (CZ), Medzihradsky (SK) and Dvorak (CZ) managed to overcome the czech and slovak depth record limit in -2060 m in parties called "Game over". Each of them is allright at the surface. There are extreme winter conditions up here: -25?C, 2 m of new snow... Reported by Oldrich Stos, translated by Gabo Lesinsky, Slovak speleological society, http://www.sss.sk .

[zenas]

UPDATE - 22 Jan. 2007.

End of the Krubera 2007 expedition (updated after Cavex; the 21st january 2007) "Today (the 21st january 2007) a caving part of our expedition has finished. From the bivouac in -700 m, Shuvalov, Firsov, Sklyar, Venyskiy, Ushakevich and Mislevets being loaded with six transport bags set off upwards. Smernikov with Provalov pulled four bags from the meander "Crimea" out. We finished a work in the cave for the once. Majority of the expedition equipment and material was carried forward up to the helicopter field. There´s a totally cloudy sky below us, and above us there are stars and a new moon. The wind is strong, but it´s cold. Klimchouk made a grog and Seryoza Smernikov prepared an outstanding pilav/pilaf. We hope we´ll be lucky, weather will get better and we´ll fly away tomorrov. Provalov"... + photos in the original contribution by Denis Provalov (via Cavex). For Worldwide caving news from Russian translated by Gabo Lesinsky,
Slovak speleological society, http://www.sss.sk

Krubera 2007 expedition successfully finished! Today on the 22nd january 2007 two Mi8 helicopters dropped out the participants of the expe and several hundreds kilos of equipment and material as well at the Gentiada beach. The expedition successfully finishes! "Down here a mandarine crop culminates. Tomorrow we move to Moscow." A complet info on the expedition will soon be available at http://kota1000.speleo.cz , right after the Kota 1000 members´ arrival home. Reported by Oldrich Stos; Translated by Gabo Lesinsky, Slovak speleological society for Worldwide caving news (via Speleoexpedition Kota 1000). Sponsors of the Expedition Krubera 2007: RockPoint, Meander, Prodive, CK Alpy, Cavex club cz, Bask, Kong, Raumer, SingingRock