Grind 2024

The annual exploration expedition in Avenul de sub Vârful Grind (“Grind Pit”) will take place from 7 to 22 September 2024 in Piatra Craiului Mountains, in the center of Romania. The exploration camp is organized by the Silex Brașov, Focul Viu București, and Avenul Brașov caving clubs. In the past years, other caving clubs in Romania and abroad have also been involved in the explorations.

The camp’s purpose is to continue the recent explorations in Avenul de sub Vârful Grind (Pit)—the deepest cave in Romania, with a depth of -800 m. The 2023 camp opened the way beyond the siphon at -775 m, and this year, one of the main objectives is to prepare a safe passage in the siphon area and then explore beyond the current terminus!

Avenul de sub Vârful Grind has its entrance located at an altitude of 1922 m a.s.l., on the eastern slope of the mountain’s saw-like limestone main ridge, near Grindului Valley. The entrance is located below the ridge, on one of the Hornurile Grindului steep valleys.

Being part of an underground team requires good S.R.T. skills (preferentially using European S.R.T.) as almost the entire cave is vertical and is traversed on ropes. In short, the cave’s lower half is a difficult exploration/traverse. You will participate in work/exploration trips at various points in the cave for the objectives listed below. Details of the extended/detailed list of objectives and the possibilities of participating in certain objectives can be discussed with the organizers depending on personal experience/skills and the exploratory/organizational context of the camp.

Objectives:

• Reactivation of the drainage system in the sump/siphon  at -775 m and draining of the sump (or lowering the water level); technical work for enlarging the narrow part of the siphon so we can pass through aired space with no neoprene/water protection equipment in the next parts
• Exploration beyond the current terminus by enlarging the restriction point at -800 m and hopefully exploring new verticals
• Climbing a small waterfall wall at -400 m (side gallery with a tributary stream that leads to a parallel section, going up)
• Carrying out crossings/traverses and climbs in the Walter Gutt Shaft (at -500 m) and advancing on possible upward continuations
• Exploration of some lateral narrow leads below -600 m
• Enlarging a narrow fracture in order to find an alternative route to bypass a dangerous breccia plug area at -555 m (under the bivouac -540 m)
• Conducting geomorphological observations and structural measurements
• Photo/video documentation
• Rigging the cave with cave-rescue anchors