Lanzarote, Jameo de la Gente to Jameo de la Puerta Falsa through trip, 21-11-09

[cap 'n chris]

Saturday 21st November 2009
Ian Cheyne, Hugh Penney, Menacer and Cap n Chris

This trip is just one part of the Monte Corona volcanic tunnel system which in its entirety amounts to over 6km of passage, ranking as one of the longest lava tube caves in the world and a classic trip; there are no difficult or technical obstacles but there are boulder chokes and rock-hopping a-plenty. Using t’interwebnet and mobile phones we managed to team up with fellow international jet-setters, Hugh and Ian; we decided upon this particular trip since it is non-technical, of respectable length and has a variety of passage morphology and some good photo opportunities.

We entered the impressive amphitheatre of Jameo de la Gente, via a somewhat precipitous, but nevertheless straightforward, climb and went down-flow. A Jameo, for the uninitiated, is a lava bubble collapse or, put another way, a lava tunnel over which the roof has fallen in to usually reveal an upflow and downflow continuations; the Monte Corona volcanic tunnel system has a series of such jameos along its length: viz Jameos de Arriba, Jameo de la Gente, Jameo Redondo, Jameo Cumplido, Jameo de la Puerta Falsa, Cueva de los Verdes (a show cave), Jameo de los Lagos, Jameo del Agua (another show cave) and Jameo Trasero. There are numerous other surface collapse features in the lava field, known collectively as the malpais (“badlands”).


Pic: Cap n Chris. View from within the Jameo de la Gente


Me, Ian and Menacer at the entrance to Gentes. Pic: Hugh Penney

Mostly boulder hopping to begin with, we descend the bone-strewn slope into the dark zone which is of large proportions, probably over ten metres wide and perhaps eight or more high.

Once beyond the limit of daylight penetration the acoustically dead (no echo) atmosphere combined with the warmth and humidity makes for a varied caving experience – the rocks are often well set and provide reliable footholds but this makes it all the more unnerving when the one-in-a-hundred proves to be wobbly, sufficiently noteworthy for the information to be hastily shared lest anyone tumbles onto the razor sharp Aa-lava. 



This particular trip comprises approximately 1,165 metres of passage which changes character from stonking tunnels, into boulder chokes, sinuous laminar flows, with colour changes from black to grey and russet to white.




Ian beside a laminar flow bench. Pic: Hugh Penney



Ian and Menacer beside a Geiger-esque Alien-like laminar feature. Pic: Cap n Chris

The lava tunnel changes character at a boulder choke, where stooping sideways progress through a notably windy side path emerges into what was nick-named as “White world”.


Pic: Hugh Penney


“White World”, L-R: Ian, Hugh, Menacer. Pic: Cap n Chris



Puerta Falsa; the exit to daylight. Pic: Hugh Penney

A classic introductory lava tunnel trip and hopefully one which our guests Hugh and Ian enjoyed.

[Les W]

This trip is just one part of the Monte Corona volcanic tunnel system which in its entirety amounts to over 6km of passage, ranking as one of the longest lava tube caves in the world

Whilst not wishing to spoil your trip report, I didn't think Monte Corona ranked anywhere near the longest tubes

http://www.caverbob.com/lava.htm

 

[cap 'n chris]

No worries, Les; thanks for the link, btw.

15th is still pretty healthy, though, I guess; the original description was lifted from an essay written by a well known UK lava tube officiando so s'no skin off off my nose.

[mrodoc]

As you know have been up part of the tube from Falsa some years ago and may revisit as Angie keen to go again in February (diving as well). I recall going through one choke upstream and we stopped at what looked like a pitch but we had rubbish lights then so it looks as though no kit is actually needed for the through trip. Certainly looks like some nice sections of lava flow there as opposed to the rather bouldery nature of the downstream Falsa passage. Anybody got any idea why that passage is so bouldery, as opposed to having the 'smooth' lava floors seen in most lava tubes?

[Ed W]

As you know have been up part of the tube from Falsa some years ago and may revisit as Angie keen to go again in February (diving as well). I recall going through one choke upstream and we stopped at what looked like a pitch but we had rubbish lights then so it looks as though no kit is actually needed for the through trip. Certainly looks like some nice sections of lava flow there as opposed to the rather bouldery nature of the downstream Falsa passage. Anybody got any idea why that passage is so bouldery, as opposed to having the 'smooth' lava floors seen in most lava tubes?

I have done the following through trips in the Cueva de los Verdes system.  Jameo los Prendes to Jameo de la Gente, this has two pitches in it, one up one down.  When I did it in 2006 you needed rope to rig a c.15m pitch just inside Jameo los Prendes (after traversing over a big hole) and the smaller (8m?) pitch up was pre-rigged (though the rigging was definitely not for the squeamish).  There was also a fixed ladder leading up into the floor of Jameo de la Gente.

The through trip from Jameo de la Gente to Puerta Falsa requires no kit, and route finding relatively easy.

As for the boulders?  I think this is simply because it is a big passage, just like big limestone caves breakdown has had a part to play in its formation.  I guess most of this breakdown ocurred during cooling.  It certainly seems that the bigger the tube, the less likely you are to get those nice smooth Pahoehoe floors, though not impossible.

[mrodoc]

'When I did it in 2006 you needed rope to rig a c.15m pitch just inside Jameo los Prendes (after traversing over a big hole)'

Yes, we met the hole and after a bit of thought traversed over it only to find the flaming pitch! Fortunately the bit of traverse directly over the whole is reasonable but it did make think more than twice!

I have recently heard that there is a Caves of Lanzarote listing over a 100 caves - in Spanish. Anybody else heard of it? I am hoping to see a copy when the owner can find it.

[cap 'n chris]

Menacer's photocopy listing from Avance global del catalogo de cavidades de la isla de Lanzarote (islas Canarias) has 73 sites. Not 100, but pretty good.

[menacer]

'When I did it in 2006 you needed rope to rig a c.15m pitch just inside Jameo los Prendes (after traversing over a big hole)'

Yes, we met the hole and after a bit of thought traversed over it only to find the flaming pitch! Fortunately the bit of traverse directly over the whole is reasonable but it did make think more than twice!

I have recently heard that there is a Caves of Lanzarote listing over a 100 caves - in Spanish. Anybody else heard of it? I am hoping to see a copy when the owner can find it.

In typically spanish style, the way "the locals" do it, - (and bear in mind they also dont use tackle on the entrance of the 20ft high Los Lagos) is upflow.
There is a permanent thick - hand over hand, yard it, rope for the down pitch.(final 10ft free hanging)
The up Pitch - the one you talk of Peter is apparently a free climb on the RHS (follow the arrows)

The book you speak of - the person I believe was compiling alot of info on the caves is Alfredo Lainez - a friend of Les W - it is a guess but try him...hes from Tenerife BTW
You'll find his email on this page
http://www.showcaves.com/english/es/showcaves/Viento.html