Avenc del Boquerol d'en Vidal

The mouth of the cavity is approximately 80 x 80 cm, and gives way to a small pit about 3 m deep. There a small chamber is reached that gives access to a pit about 10 m deep. It is possible to continue descending through other small pits that require the use of rope down to the lower part of the cavity, located at an approximate level of -25 m, in which the floor is full of sediments and debris that would have to be removed to see the possibility of continuation.

The whole cavity develops following a marked joint in an E – W direction (the same as the exterior ditch).

It presents on the walls concretions of crystallized calcite (no other formations have been seen). According to Jordi Francès, on the wall there are concretions of “sal de llop”, that is sparry calcite. The finding of a fragment of this stone outside could suggest that in the past people had descended to extract this mineral, but without further proof. This point having been discussed with Pere Borrat, he says he has no record of it.

First visit (Siso Blavi and Joan Cos) on 14 June 2023, in which the area is cleaned and the first two pits are descended (to about -10 m), seeing that it seems to continue towards a third pit. The visit is left at this point since suitable material was not available and the rope could rub against the walls.

Second visit with two members of the GRAE d'Olot (Jordi Francès and Miquel Pujol) together with Joan Cos on 5 August 2023 in which what seems to be the end of the cavity is reached, at about -25 m. There is one more pit after those seen in the first visit. At the final level it seems that there could be a continuation in a direction sensibly parallel to the stream, but a lot of debris has to be removed.

An old metal fork is found there (without the wooden handle) which is not removed.

The conditions are very hot and there could even be a little risk of hypoxia.

It remains pending, therefore for the future to make the survey of the cavity and to try to clear some narrow passage to see if there are possible continuations.

Toponymy: The word boquerol we have only found in the Diccionari Català – Valencià -Balear (Alcover – Moll) where it is defined as “Forat a la pedra”. We do not know whether we are dealing with a very local toponym to designate a subterranean cavity.

As a last point, to indicate that Pere Borrat has told us of the existence of another boquerol, in the very middle of the bed of the Rissec, but that it was buried by sediments on the occasion of a great torrent, and that it has not been possible to find it again.