              
 NEWS
OF THE AVALON-TEAM
NOVEMBER 2004
SPELEOBASE 2.6 is here
Indeed, again a new version of this cave database program. This
version has better security, a much improved Import Wizard and several
other handy features such as "Autocompleting" smart fields.
Download SpeleoBase for free in our
softwarepages.
OCTOBER 2004
Anialarra 2004: did we locate the continuation??
In
September 2004, we went again to the Anialarra for 1 week of
“cave-hunting“. “We” were Annette, Rudi, Paul and Raf. We had one
week of splendid weather, sometimes even too hot. So we carried our
thick coats and gloves up the mountain for nothing! The big surprise
was the fact that we possibly located "the" continuation of the cave
system... read on here
SEPTEMBER 2004
Anialarra 2004: we are back...
 In
August 2004 SC Avalon organized the 8th expedition in the
Anialarra mountains (Pierre-St-Martin). Cavers of following clubs
participated: Avalon (9); Styx (1), Hades (1) Speleo NL (3) and FFS (2).
The main goal was to continue
the exploration of the “Réseau Nostradamus”, an important
upstream branch of the Anialarra System. We discovered this branch in
2002 and pushed it further in 2003, reaching a temporary terminus after
having explored a series of big rooms (Cosmik Debris, Salle Lieven,
Salle du Lapiaz) ... read on here.
JULY 2004
The 8th ANIALARRA-EXPE is ready to go
Indeed, within a few days we head off again to the Spanish
Pyrenees, to continue our explorations in the Anialarra Cave System. It
will be a hot summer at the Pierre-St-Martin, this year, because many
caving teams have good perspectives in the caves where they work. If all
dreams come true, several cave systems such as Anialarra, AN8, Gouffre
Romy and E2000 should become a lot bigger!
CHANTOIR X: -66m
Whilst this website might have been very calm lately (due to the
preparations of the Anialarra expedition) we stayed very busy digging at
several spots!
JUNE 2004
SPELEOBASE 2.5 is available
Indeed, there is again a new version of this cave database. This
time with a much improved image viewer with incorporated
scanning-possibilities. As always, you can download it for free in
our software section.
CHANTOIR X: still going
A new exploration trip in this new discovery of ours has been very
interesting, the depth of -50m has been passed and the cave is still
going on.
MAY 2004
 FAGNOULES...
it goes on and on!
The past weeks we spent again a lot of time in the cave and more
precisely in the part behind the "Siphon Ex-terminal". Michel
Pauwels dived a new, downstream sump and passed it, discovering 50 m of
streamway and being stopped by yet another, but diveable sump. It
must be years ago since divers have had such fun in a Belgian cave!
In between the diving, we continued the exploration and found at least
100 meters of new galleries. The length of Fagnoules is safely
estimated at 1500 m of which 1100m have been surveyed.
More info and
pictures can be found here.
CHANTOIR X: Hurray... a breakthrough!
The past weekend one of our most crazy digs finally resulted in a
new cave. After 17 days of digging in mud and water, extracting
truckloads of mud and pebbles by hand (see picture, but mind you: that
pile is only the half of what we dug out). we finally broke through in a
real cave. We did about 100 m of new passages, going down several small
pits and stopping finally at the top of a new, 10 m deep drop. We can
see and hear the cave continuing! Aah... a cavers' life can be so
beautiful... sometimes.
WEBSITE (again?)
Indeed, the whole navigation system in the site has been improved, you
can now go to all main topics from within every page. Also, and this is
an important change: the site has been redesigned for a 1024x768 pixel
resolution. So, for those that are still using an 800x600 resolution:
bad luck, guys. Life is a struggle.
AND WE KEEP ON DIGGING
After 11 weekends of hard work in Chantoir X, we extracted (bucket by bucket!) +/-
10 tons of mud and rocks from this unstable dig and yes we dare to say:
the break-through is near.
APRIL 2004
WE KEEP ON DIGGING
It has been a bit quiet here lately but that doesn't mean that we are
not doing anything. On the contrary, for the past 6 weekends we are
working in a new and massive dig, in a totally mud-filled, but very
interesting sinkhole, "Chantoir X". We already extracted several cubic metres of
mud and boulders and with advanced scaffolding techniques we have
recently made the dig more stable and safe. One thing is sure: a
breakthrough is not for tomorrow, but in good Avalon tradition we are
determined to go on "till the end".
WEBSITE
As you will have noticed (I hope) the website has a new look!
FEBRUARY 2004
Bretaye System
I just finished a Picture Gallery about this great Avalon-discovery and
put it on the website. Join us on one of the most exciting explorations
ever, without even getting wet.
Just click here!
 Fagnoules:
7 Avalon members go through the sump... dry!
Who would have imagined this a few months ago... we went though that
20 meter long sump. Yes, Avalon stops for nothing!
How did we do this?
Read here
the details about this unforgettable day (bottom of page).
Activity Report 2003 now online!
Our activity report of 2003 is online. Time being, only in Dutch,
click here.
JANUARY 2004
Fagnoules
Since a few months, Avalon is busy with an ambitious plan to
pass the sump of the cave dry (two consecutive sumps, 20 m in total length!).
The laws of Hydraulics and our inventive minds are our weapons. I
have already given a presentation about our plan, at the "Journ? de l'Explo",
on 31/1/2003 in Brussels. One of these days I will try to make a special
webpage about this unique project.
SpeleoBase
In our "Software section" you can
find a new version that will please the owners of big computer screens!
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