Avenc Gran de Esquerdes de les - Rojalons Venes

This cavity was discovered accidentally in the month of June 1967 after Carles Masdeu encouraged his companions from the GIEM to go and look at a hole hanging at the salt de la Variella. After seeing that it had no continuation they headed towards the Tossal de les Venes; although upon arriving at the foot of the Tossal several cavities were already located, where they quickly found pottery and prehistoric remains, it being a settlement with more than a dozen cavities and rock shelters, among which the one of the Duc stood out, which was the subject of an excavation that lasted for years.

During one of the days, some members of the group climbed to the top of the Tossal through a diaclase, locating this pit. A few days later they began its exploration, starting with the part corresponding to the avenc Gran de Rojalons, carrying out the survey in the year 1971. During the years 1969, 70 and 71 many explorations were carried out and between April and May 1995 an exploration and survey of the system as a whole was carried out. (Joan Pallisé)

In the year 2014, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Club Excursionista de Montblanc, the GEIM equipped a Via Ferrada that runs both along the exterior of the Tossal de les Venes and through the interior of the fissures and the pit. At first this ferrada caused different controversies, since a practically unknown spot went in a very short time to suffering a great massification. Due to different reasons and to having caused different minor accidents, the CE Montblanc in 2015 decided to “close” the via ferrada and so informed through different media. Despite this, people continued (and continue) going. Unfortunately, on 19 November 2017 a fatal accident occurred on this Via Ferrada, where a young man from Barcelona of 23 years died.

Coleoptera

• Troglocharinus orcinus