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CAVING IN BELGIUM: THE BELGIAN CAVE GUIDE
Système Weron-Dellieux - Mont (No. 25)
LOCATION:
Province: NAMUR
Locality: Mont-sur-Meuse
Coordinates: Trou Weron: X=188,465 Y=116,108 Z=206,6m
Chantoir Dellieux: X=188,210 Y=116,054 Z=202,2m
Map: 53/4
The access is the same as for Trou de l'Eglise; but (coming from the
river Meuse) turn left on the crossing just after the church and take right
after 50 m. Both caves are at the right of the road, about 75 m away
behind the prairies. They are both large sinkholes. The Chantoir Dellieux
is located behind the garden of the last house. It is situated
on private land and you have to cross the prairie to reach it. Trou
Weron can be reached via a narrow path that starts between the prairies,
about 200 m further on that same road.
HISTORY:
Trou Weron was discovered and dug open in 1938-39 by Dr. Cardeyn
and explored to the bottom (-106m) by Lecomte, Cosyns and others.
Between 1960-1970 the CRS, a local club, scaled some chimneys near the bottom.
In 1989 the SC de Belgique (SCB) explored some new galleries in the "Réseau
du Ruisseau", also near the bottom of the cave. At that time the cave
totals about 600 m of galleries. But for the big discoveries one has to
wait until the Nineties...
In 1993 a local caver "Bibiche" and SC Avalon start a dig at -65m and discover
the "Réseau Noir", almost 300 m long. In 1995 SC Avalon nearly doubles
the cave by finding the "Réseau Nord", 567m long.
The sinkhole of Chantoir Dellieux had been the scene of many a dig in
the '50ties and '80ties (both by SCB). In 1992 "Bibiche" and some
SCB-members finally got through and the Dellieux now has been explored over
1 kilometre and is 96 m deep.
In 1995 after a lot of work, SC Avalon makes a junction between
the two caves, thus creating one of the biggest cave systems in the country.
Finally, in 1997, SC Avalon finds a big continuation in Chantoir Dellieux;
the Réseau de la topo Foutue, 615m long. At the end of 1997, the cave
systems totals over 3600m of galleries.
ACCESS:
Trou Weron is still a "free" cave, not gated. Chantoir Dellieux
is on private land, and is situated nearly in the backyard of the
landowner's house.
DESCRIPTION:
Length: 3600m, Depth: -110 m
Unfortunately it is not possible to give a detailed or useful
description because of the extremely complex nature of the cave. Indeed,
the survey of the cave looks like a tray of spaghetti! There are dozens
of crossings and junctions, and sometimes as much as 7 superposing levels
So, only a very brief description of the through-trip is given here (which
is insufficient to actually undertake the trip, you will have to study the
publications and surveys; or find yourself a guide!).
Through-trip Weron - Dellieux: go down the Weron until you are
at the end of the "Banquettes Horizontales" at -65m. Empty a temporary
sump that closes off the access of the Réseau Noir. Try to get through
one of the most difficult squeezes, the "Ventilateur". At the end
of the "Galerie du Far West", pass another difficult squeeze ("Klotepassage").
You reach a collapse area, follow some scotchlites that lead you to "The
Danger Zone" where the junction with Chantoir Dellieux begins. The
junction, 7 m long, is one long squeeze. After this passage, two more squeezes
and a free climb down some chimneys, you reach the big room of the "Système
Z". Down another squeeze, you are in the Dellieux now. Follow
the "Galerie Zéphyr" downstream. Half way, climb up a 10 m high chimney
at the left. You'll reach a complex crossing, "Carrefour des Petits
Jus" where you must take a meander that goes up (very narrow): "le Beau
Meandre". Halfway the meander, take right (if you continue, you'll
arrive in "Réseau de la Topo Foutue", very big and complex). Climb
up a series of narrow and slippery pitches; the "Chicanes". You'll
arrive at the foot of a 6 m pitch, and another 4 m pitch. Free-climb
them both. Then it gets very complex... at the head of the P4, keep
left. Then climb up a wide and steep gallery (Escalier Presidentiel).
Climb through a hole in the ceiling. Again, a series of small rooms,
connected through narrow rifts that finally lead you to a small and unstable
room, just below the entrance...
RIGGING:
Since this through-trip is only to be done by very experienced cavers,
there is no need to take a lot of gear: everything except for the Puits
de la Bouteille in Trou Weron can be free climbed. You will meet these
obstacles:
P6 (Puits de la Chauve Souris)
P8 (Puits de la Bouteille): rope 10 m or ladder 5 m
R10 (in Galerie Zephyr)
P5,5
P4
COMMENT:
This cave system is absolutely not suited for debutants.
The classic part of Trou Weron is relatively easy, but the new parts (Réseau
Noir, Réseau Nord) heading towards Chantoir Dellieux; and Chantoir
Dellieux itself of course, are THE most complex and difficult in the country.
Also, there are about a dozen of severe "squeezes" of whom two are quite
extreme. So not suited for tall or heavy cavers neither.
The through-trip takes a lot of preparation, such as studying the description
and survey, and preliminary trips in Chantoir Dellieux or the far parts
of Weron. It can be done in 3 hours time, but then you must
know every inch of the cave by heart. 8 hours is more realistic.
A monography of 52 pages (Dutch language), including very detailed and
large-scale surveys, was published in the review of the
Flemish Caving Federation :
"Spelerpes Special Nr. 86, February 1999", by Paul De Bie, Yves Dubois
and Richard Grebeude
This same monography, translated in French language, was also published
in the review of the Walloon Caving
Federation : "Regards nrs 35 & 36, 1999",
MORE INFORMATION: You can also find
a long publication in the "Discoveries" part of our website, with some surveys
and pictures, but this is only in Dutch.
Click here.
SURVEY:
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