Forats del Vent de Ridolaina

What we call the Forats del Vent is a group of cavities with little speleometric development, structured on a main crevice and several smaller subparallel ones, with an approximate N-S direction and a visible length of about a hundred metres. This morphology is reminiscent of a karstic canyon, above all because of a string of dolines that drain in depth, in times of rain and thaw, an important quantity of water.

The problem for their exploration is caused by the significant fall of blocks from the walls of the crevice, which cover the possible continuations in depth and at the same time make the speleologist's penetration very laborious and dangerous. The blocks are very unstable. It has only been possible to descend through various holes (some require a rope) about 8 or 9 m and in development one reaches 20 m.

Although when the exploring team was there there was no air current, it seems that they blow in more extreme thermal conditions, due to the interconnection of the various cavities.

FORAT Nº 1: This one is entered walking. The floor must be about 4x5 metres and one has to stay crouched; entering on the right-hand side the most evident continuation can be guessed, but quite a few stones have to be removed.

FORAT Nº 2: A rope was rigged; the blocks on the side of the step fell easily. Here accumulated gravel was found; it must be the place where the water filters through, but there was no way to force any passage. In another corner an attempt was made to advance metres to see a little further on, but it was not possible to get through either.

FORAT Nº 3: It is a hundred metres further up. It has the shape of a cave, between two blocks, and it is right on the edge of a doline full of blocks and moss. A rope was also used to descend. In this case too not many metres were added.

No survey of the cavities is available.