LAOS 2017 - Pha Soung System Project, February 5 - March 1, 2017

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Invitation for the International Speleological Expedition
LAOS 2017 - Pha Soung System Project, February 5 - March 1, 2017

​Pha Soung System, Tham Kouan Moo - Tham Khai Nau, Great Lake, photo: Liviu Valenas, 2016

Pha Soung System Project
International expedition led by Liviu Valenas in Laos, Khammouane province, the Thakhek area, 2016, attended by nine cavers from 7 countries, was returned with a great result. The cave explored since from last
year (LAOS 2015), Tham Khai Nau, 2 km long, have managed two
spectacular junctions with Tham Hay and Tham Kouan Moo caves. The new
system, which was named Pha Soung system, reached 22 km development (16,750 m mapped) and +71 m level difference. The cave system an extreme labyrinth, who includes galleries and huge halls, endless lakes and the whole
range of karst formations (speleothemes) is relatively unique in Laos.
The cave has a medium difficulty, with many horizontal galleries, and
more delicate passages or crossings that require free climbing only. The average temperature is 18.9 C to 19.1 C and humidity 65% to 90%.

The aim of the expedition: the objective is solely to resume the exploration in this new system, simultaneously
with the surveying all remaining galleries not yet surveyed in the last
expedition, plus the galleries that will be discovered on this occasion. The immediate objective is to achieve the figure of 25 km. Mention very clear that the expedition is non-tourist visit in caves, is only one of exploration, scientific research and surveying.
After completing the expedition those participants who want to visit
the tourist attractions in Laos will receive free all the necessary
documentation and return bus ticket in Bangkok paid by organizers,
regardless of the starting point of Laos.

Program:
Feb 5, 2017,
19:30: meeting of participants in Mochit bus station from Bangkok.
20:30: Travel by bus to Nakhon Phanom the city border with Laos.Feb 6, 2017: arrival in Nakhon Phanom in morning, crossing the border
between Thailand and Laos on the modern bridge over the Mekong River. Checking
in Thakhek (Laos), contacts with local authorities, visiting the city,
including the old colonial center and promenade along the Mekong River.
Welcomed dinner. Overnight in Thakhek.Feb 7, 2017, 7:30: traveling to Ban Na village. The first day exploring into Pha Soung System.7
to 27, feb 2017: daily explorations into Pha Soung System and
prospecting in massive Pha Soung. Compared to the village of Ban Na Pha,
the Pha Soung system is in relative close proximity, between 30 to 50
minute casual walk, depending on what cave entrance will be chosen. The
definitive program of exploration will be decided on the spot but,
depending on the discoveries.
27 feb 2017, 18.00: dinner for ending the expedition.28 feb 2017, 7:00: back to Thakhek (Laos), crossing the border to Nakhon Phanom (Thailand). Evening in quick bus to Bangkok.Mar 01, 2017: morning arrival in Bangkok.
Organizer: Liviu Valenas, Club of Speleology "Z".
Contact details:Liviu Valenas, Lenau Str. 16, D - 90431 Nürnberg, Germany,
Tel. 0049-911-8014898, 0049-174-7872593, Fax: 0049-911-8014900
E-Mail: liviu.valenas@gmail.com

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Maliwan Valenas Targo Bank Nürnberg - D IBAN: DE65300209005390037093
BIC CODE: CMCIDEDD

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Price, Transport and Accommodation: 890 Euro (for minimum 6 persons). The amount will be transferred to the co-organizer, Maliwan Valenas, no later than the 01 Nov 2017, which
is the last date for application for expedition. The price includes all
transportation costs in Thailand and Laos and accommodation
in a hotel in Thakhek, with an European comfort and rest of days in a
peasants house in the village of Ban Na, nearby Pha Soung system). Full
board is further provided, both in Thailand and in Laos. Except the first night in Laos in a hotel in Thakhek, the base of expedition will be in the village of Ban Na. The village has electricity, fresh water and two food stores, and is located at only 22 km from Thakhek.

Pha Soung System, Tham Kouan Moo, photo: Liviu Valenas, 2016

Also
in price are included the tourism fees and fee for exploring paid
onsite at the Provincial Tourism Bureau in Khammouane, Laos (in January 2016 the exploring permit has cost, in total, around 1,200 US dollars), and
the payment to the local guides. Transport: fast bus in Thailand and in
Laos with a modern Hyundai van. Visas are obtained from the Frontier
Force (the Thailand Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok). The meeting of participants will be held in Bangkok in Mo Chit (Mochit) bus central station on 5 February 2017, 19:30 pm. Participants will receive, upon request, prior to departure, all the necessary information, equipment etc.
The tickets to Bangkok, Thailand, round trip, will be reserved and paid exclusively by each participant. Please
book early with a cheap flight company, for example Air China, Etihat, Emirates, Aeroflot,
with a mandatory stopover, costing approx. 500 Euro / person, round
trip.

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​Pha Soung System: Tham Kouan Moo, photo: Liviu Valenas, 2016.

EQUIPMENT:

Each
participant is mandatory to have all personal equipment, which consists
of: helmet with electric front, permeable overalls, rubber boots +
hiking boots, TSA (cave climbing) equipment, light tent, sleeping bag,
etc. Also, if possible, participants have to contribute to collective
equipment (ropes, ladders electron, spits- pitons with expansion,
electric drill, etc.) of the expedition, but the equipment will remain
the property of the person who brings it. For this collective equipment
please contact a.s.a.p. the main organizer, Mr. Liviu Valenas, no later
than on 01.11. 2017.

MEDICAL PROBLEMS:

For
April in Laos, the dry climate, plus an almost complete absence of
mosquitoes is not necessary (in no case required) vaccine against a
possible tropical diseases. In recent years Laos has made visible
progress in medical assistance, therefore in the expedition area there
is a modern clinic and pharmacies, the last ones relatively well
equipped.

LIVIU VALENAS