Avenc del Pedret

A 30 m deep pit between the barrancs de la Bruixa and dels Forats (Montsant), located in 2022 after more than 60 years "lost".

Morera de Montsant, La • Priorat 41m 30m

EspeleoWorld

Avenc del Pedret

A 30 m deep pit between the barrancs de la Bruixa and dels Forats (Montsant), located in 2022 after more than 60 years "lost".

Morera de Montsant, La · Priorat

Length: 41 m · Depth: 30 m

Updated record

https://espeleoworld.com/en/c/avenc-del-pedret

Information can change. Always verify coordinates, access, weather, and cave conditions before setting out.

Topographic map of the main entrance — Main entrance · ICGC topographic map

A 30 m deep pit between the barrancs de la Bruixa and dels Forats (Montsant), located in 2022 after more than 60 years "lost".

Characteristics

Type: Pothole
Municipality: Morera de Montsant, La
Region: Priorat
Unit: Montsant, el
Length: 41 meters
Depth: 30 meters
Major Unit: Serralada Prelitoral
Lithology: Conglomerate
Updated on EspeleoÍndex: January 15, 2023

Location

It is found on the ridge that separates the barrancs de la Bruixa and dels Forats or dels cingles del Rodés.

To access it we will set out from the village of Albarca, belonging to the municipality of Cornudella de Montsant. We will take the GR171 which ascends to the Serra Major; once we have reached the Roca Corbatera, we will follow the path that runs in a SW direction parallel to the cliffs of the Serra Major until we reach the head of the Barranc de la Bruixa (monument to the Sant Crist de la Sang). From this point we will follow the same path in a SW direction for a stretch of about 300 m until we pass the head of the barranc de la Bruixa; here we will take a faint path that climbs in a W direction and heads towards the ridge that separates the barrancs de la Bruixa and dels Forats. We will travel along the ridge for a stretch of about 900 m, until we reach a characteristic mound on the ridge surrounded by vegetation like an island; the pit is a few metres away, on a lower terrace already on the slope of the barranc dels Forats.

Entrances

Always verify coordinates and access conditions before setting out.

Avenc del Pedret
Elevation: 1065 m
41.286079, 0.865855
UTM 31T (ETRS89) 321288 4572712
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Topographic

Avenc del Pedret - Topography, Morera de Montsant, La, Priorat

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Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.

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Photos

Avenc del Pedret - Photo, Morera de Montsant, La, Priorat

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Espeleoindex · CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ · Image © its author.

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Description

Morphology

The pit has an accessible and irregular entrance about 3 x 1 m and another auxiliary one of 0.45 x 0.35 m which join in the first few metres. The main entrance gives access to a first shaft a little less than 6 m; at the SE end of the initial shaft there is a step below which, and between fitted blocks, the cavity continues its descent. Before beginning the evident descent of the second shaft, there is a small passage that allows passage in a SE direction to a small, decorated chimney.

The second and last shaft, in the form of a joint about 22 m deep, coalesces with two other lateral shafts that in some stretches are connected by impassable windows. The ramp-shaped base towards the NW of the second shaft places us at the deepest point and in the most decorated area of the whole cavity.

Speleothems

The most decorated area of the whole cavity is found at the ramp-shaped base towards the NW of the second shaft, at the deepest point.

Hydrology

In the area of the deepest point signs of flood levels at the bottom of the pit can be seen.

History

The first exploration took place in July 1958 by members of the SECES – Centre Excursionista de Sabadell, who located it thanks to the shepherd Antoni Ventura. At the bottom of the first shaft they had to clear an obstruction to reach the maximum depth, which they estimated at 37 m.

As they did not provide much data on its situation, the cavity had been "lost" for more than 60 years.

On 29-10-2022, M. Mañosa and J. Navarro (CE de Castellar), following some clue from hikers, managed to locate the entrance of an unknown pit; on carrying out the descent they found an old rusty carabiner in a small hollow in the wall and a mark at the bottom of the cavity that unequivocally links the previous visit to the pit by the historic group (C.E.S.).

A new survey of the cavity is made and all the available public information is compared to reach the conclusion that it is very probably the avenc del Pedret.

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Bibliography

Borrás, J.; Miñarro, J.M.; Talavera, F.(1984).-”el Baix Camp, el Priorat i la Ribera d'Ebre”. Catàleg Espeleològic de Catalunya (vol.7). Ed. Políglota. Barcelona.
Monné, J. (1958).- “Avenc del Pedret” Circular del Centre Excursionista de Sabadell (59): 220-222. Sabadell

Totes les dades, topografia i fotografies han estat extretes del blog: cavitatsdecatalunya.blogspot (de Jordi de Valles). Apunt del 5-1-2023. Dades: Montse Mañosa i Jordi Navarro (Centre Excursionista de Castellar del Vallès).