7th cave expedition „Terra Bessica“ – 2017
The seventh consecutive cave expedition „Terra Besica“ took place from 22 to 24 September in the area of Rakitovo. This time the event was under the patronage of the Bulgarian Cave Society. Traditionally, the organization was entrusted to the cavers from the town of Rakitovo, which were organised by the Rakitovo branch of the company with leader Stoycho Stoychev. As usual, the base camp was in the hunting lodge of the Forestry department of Rakitovo in Kachakov Chark locality. 35 people from different parts of Bulgaria participated in the next edition of the expedition. The bulk of them were members of BCS from Varna, Sofia, Pernik, Rakitovo and Rousse. The strength and weight of the research was given by cavers from the club Puldin – Plovdiv, Helicitti, Sofia University School of Physical Education, Academic School of Sofia, Student Club „Labyrinth“ – Cherven Bryag, Association „Sutka“ – Rakitovo.
Divided into nine working groups, the participants successfully accomplished the objectives and tasks set out before the expedition. As a result of the daily walks of the wild and not all known ridges and gullies, enthusiastic cave seekers managed to locate the entrances of four new caves. Only GPS coordinates were downloaded, and their study would be the subject of the next expedition. As always, cleansing caves to increase their size is not forgotten. The efforts were directed towards the caves „Pod kaleto“, „Panichkata“ and „Poruha 2“ as at this stage most promising in order to continue and attach to the system of the Lepenitsa cave is the Panichkata cave. Inspirations were also made in the vertical caves „Vlastelina“ and „Bundeva“, as a result of which it was found that the second one continues. To do this, however, it is necessary to overcome a bottleneck – a task that has also remained for another time. For the third time in past expeditions, studies have also involved cave diving activities. Again for the third time, the siphons of the water (river) floor of the Lepenitza Cave were investigated. The diver Alexander Stoev from Plovdiv, assisted by his colleagues from the club, after overcoming the first siphon he had studied, managed to pass the next such obstacle. The second siphon was the easiest passage, and after that the cave gallery continued to be tall, wide and beautiful. The mystery of whether the cave continues and for how far is still to be discovered.
The charity teams had work throughout the event. Within a few business days, they produced the maps of six previously discovered but not mapped caves, namely 46 meters long under Chukura, the newly discovered precipice in the Garvan locality, two nameless caves and a mine walk. So the total number of caves explored at 21, but this is hardly the end.
It’s proud to say that the 7th expedition returned great results and was very successful. A pledge for this was the excellent organization and impressive working environment made by the hosts, especially among the young ladies.
The leadership of BCS – Sofia and Rakitovo thanked all participants for their dedicated work and enthusiasm without which the results would not have been so versatile and positive. Good luck to the next „Terra Besica“