Aven de la Cheminée

From the entrance window, a quick down-climb leads to -15 in a chamber; then a low passage and a further down-climb lead to the 30-metre-long cleared crawlway.

A vast chamber measures 40 m x 8 m and gives the opening of the P 40.

At -370, the following meander is easily followed at the bottom and then all the way at the top to the confluence with the « Rivière des Obstinés ». The upstream part, free of obstacles, is pleasantly followed for 350 metres; one then comes up against a sump. In the downstream collector, one mostly travels in the upper level; the last 150 metres are easy to follow to the -400 sump.

P 7, a 10-metre-long crawlway, a fissure, a small gallery with steps lead to a vertical section: P 11, P 41, P 35, P 12. A new narrow fissure interspersed with a narrow P 7, then a new vertical zone: P 5, P 26, P 24.

In the P 24, do not descend to the bottom but reach a wide ledge giving access to a gallery. P 17, a 60-metre gallery, P 12 and R 3 precede the pendulum pit.

In the latter, descend only 5 metres to reach a window. Then continue in the narrow fissure to an inclined P 11, confluence with a larger active stream. Continue on a ledge for about ten metres before coming back below by a descent in opposition; then follow the meander downstream. Leave it for a fine fossil gallery which, 50 metres further on, opens into a vast chamber where the opening of the P 40 gapes.

150 metres before the sump on the right bank, one can follow the « Joyeux Drilles » tributary upstream and, after an 8-metre climb, reach the fossil « Nouveau Monde » network as well as the « Réseau des Sablières » (unpublished in 2013) starting at the foot of the east wall of the « Salle David ».

Source: Congrès FFS Millau 2013, AVEN de LA CHEMINÉE cave record - http://millau2013.ffspeleo.fr/pdf/Cheminee.pdf