About Nedam
Since last year, Nedam is the 4th Croatian cave reaching depth beyond 1000m. Like with the other Croatian caves deeper than 1000m, Nedam is situated in North Velebit and more specifically in the massif of Hajducki kukovi, quite close to Lukina jama and Ljubuska jama. Until June 2020 its known depth was -1021m, the cave survey can be seen here. The cave follows an endless meander with narrow passages and active water flow in the deeper parts. The exploration here continues.
About our participation
Team of two of our members took part in the preparation for further exploration in Nedam.
In the period 06-07 June, Tsvetan Kosturkov joined the team in order to check the current state in the cave and to start putting the logistic foundations needed for the further research there. During this weekend, the team managed to:
- Check and start fixing the bivouac at -600m
- Set the bivouac at -300m
- Equip cable to the cave entrance and to -500m
- ‘Assess’ some of the narrow passages at -400m
Video can be found here:
In the period 20-27 June, Pavlin Dimitrov and Tsvetan Kosturkov participated in the actual preparation for the August camp. Their stay went as follows:
Saturday – arrival
Sunday – equipment preparation, transport and reaching the bivouac at -600m
Monday – equipping cable to -600m and re-reging
Tuesday – moving and setting the bivouac from -600m to -950m Wednesday – exploration beyond -1021m, reached depth -1100m and it continues
Thursday – getting out
Friday – already on the surface, hike through Hajducki kukovi in the area of Rosijeva kuca and Vratarski kuk
Saturday – time to say good bye
Toward the entrance of Nedam
Stories around the camp fire
Base camp and the big boss, Marko
At the entrance of Nedam
Bivouac at -300m
Somewhere
Calling base camp from bivouac II at -600m
From -600m towards the unknown yet bottom
Meander below -700m
Bivouac at -950m
Last spit at -1100m and we are ready to go
Thanks for the support @Bim Sport @Petzl
At Vratarski kuk, 1676m
All in all during this preparation the team managed to prepare all of the needed infrastructure and explore to -1143m. Now Nedam has 3 bivouacs and cable to -950m enabling smooth and easy communication, additionally some parts of the cave are re-rigged.
We hope the August camp will bring more exciting news about how Nedam develops in depth!
Huge thanks to our friends from SO Velebit for the spot on organisation, efficient tasks allocation and execution and the so fun atmosphere!
Text and photos: Tsvetan Kosturkov, Pavlin Dimitrov
Maps: SO Velebit