FRUTTARI NEWS - EXPLORATIONS IN BERGAMASCA
Giorgio Panuzzo News
Another intense caving week-end in the south slope of Mt. Arera (Oltre il Colle Plateau - Bergamo’s province). On Saturday and Sunday two cave trips have continued the explorations in the cave called “Crevazza Fruttari”. Partecipants: C.Ciapparelli; R.Gaiti; G.Pannuzzo; M. Ravasio; C.Rota; S.Serighelli; S.Vandone; B. Zamboni, from the caving clubs GSB Le Nottole, GS Varesino CAI-SSI and GEC Genepì.
Saturday the cavers have wholly explored the big pit which was rappelled only halfway on last Sunday due to lack of gear. At the bottom the pit leads to giant passages with heavy dripping… what a topographers’ pleasure! The pit is 153 meters deep and it’s basically divided in two sections by a great ledge which forms a sort of overhanging balcony. The upper section is 65 m deep (ENE axis) while the lower one is 85 m deep (SSE axis).
Unluckily among the many side leads found at the bottom, many turn excessively narrow and wet to allow any immediate exploration. They have been left for drier time, also because the air flow was lost in the bottom part of the pit.
Sunday has been devoted to descend a side lead, called “Eureka!” branch, easily reached from the balcony. Again the exploration came to a stop for lack of rope: it was however reached an estimated depth of -200 m. The new pit “Archimede” sounds like is also leading to huge rooms or passages, according by the echo of stones thrown down the remaining part! Also the air flow has been felt again as well as drier passages than the ones found on the previous.
Currently the total cave depth is 261 m, with little horizontal development.
News traslated by Renato Dalle Mule