Chronology 1970-1979
1970
June 21 – The volcanic pit was open to visitors from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, after the last phase of a 1st stage of the Algar do Carvão tourism program was finished. The stairs to the lagoon were ready and the lighting was left to the projectors that were installed for the purpose. 365 steps had to be climbed down to reach the pier and the raft on the lagoon. The raft alone registered a movement of 610 people on this day. Over 4,000 people visited the algar during the days of the Sanjoaninas when it was open to the public.
May 28 – On this day the wooden staircase for access to the lagoon of Algar do Carvão began to be made. It was also equipped with a pier and a raft. It was during the construction that master Manuel Machado Gorgita fell into the water and was the first person to swim in the lagoon.
August 2 – Os Montanheiros accompanied the French geographer Gerard Mottet on a visit to several caves in Terceira island, where he drew some sketches and took notes. They visited Algar do Carvão, Gruta dos Balcões, Gruta do Natal and Gruta das Agulhas.
August 8 – Discovery and collection of a seabird fossil on an 89 kg rock in Algar do Carvão lagoon. It is thought to be an extinct species of shearwater but is still being studied.
October 13/17 – Américo Luiz and Rafael Azevedo go to the Pico Island where they discover Algar dos Montanheiros and some other caves. At the time they called it Algar Monstruoso (Monstrous Volcanic Pit), being later changed to Montanheiros in honor of the discoverers.
December 25 2nd Mass at Gruta do Natal. Preparations led the Montanheiros to make improvements to the access, to “enlarge” the volcanic “rooms”. Several Christmas trees were placed, illuminated with series of bulbs. A nativity scene of life-size figures was also set up near the Altar. A rustic house was built, the “Lar do Montanheiro” (Montanheiro’s home), similar to the ones from the XVIII century, a faithful copy of the traditional dwelling, utensils, furniture, clothing and even customs represented by two figures (mannequins), followed by a drink in which wine from Biscoitos predominated. At 11:00 am. the Patriarch of the Indies D. José Vieira Alvernaz celebrated Christmas Mass, hosted by Canon Jeremias Simões and Dr. Vasco Parreira, attended by about 700 people.
1971
January 31 Attempt to break into the entrance of Algar do Carvão’s tunnel. As the attempt failed, the vandals decided to place rocks to cover the door.
February 7 – The doors of the access tunnel to Algar do Carvão were broken into by American citizens.
May 1 – During this month the wooden stairway leading to Algar do Carvão, which had been destroyed by vandalism the previous year, is being rebuilt.
July 13/18 – Opening of Algar dos Montanheiros in S. Roque do Pico. The cave was electrified and an access stairway was built. A Mass was held on July 18th by D. José Vieira Alvernaz.
December 1 – In the celebrations of the 8th anniversary, the Montanheiros Hymn with words and music by Mr. António Mendes was presented. It was interpreted by Conceição Rocha, Manuel Gorgita, accompanied on viola and violão by João Silva and Manuel Dutra. Diplomas were also given to Mr. José Ataíde da Câmara and Francisco Ramos Ferreira. The lecture was in charge of Dr. Reinalda Malafaia.
December 25 – 3rd Mass at Gruta do Natal. Os Montanheiros embellished the grounds surrounding the cave, building a fountain, making a small garden with beds of azaleas, japonica trees, also planted on the walls and near the entrance. The “Lar do Montanheiro” has also been improved, its walls plastered and whitewashed, and its roof covered with regional tiles. Inside, illuminated Christmas trees, bells, stars, and helmets were again placed throughout the cave. At 12:00 noon the Christmas Mass was celebrated inside the cave, by the Bishop of Angra and the Azores Islands D. Manuel Afonso de Carvalho, assisted by Canon Jeremias Simões, attended by about twenty people. At the end of the mass, the child Carla Cristina Marcelino was baptized, daughter of Manuel Silveira Marcelino and Berta Maria Meneses.
1972
June 25 – Integrated in the City Festivities the Montanheiros opened the visitation to the Gruta das Agulhas (Cave of Needles), in Porto Judeu, between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
July 1 – An expedition by Montanheiro José Machado Fagundes, with the valuable collaboration of Norberto Félix Machado, Sérgio Berquó Avelar, Rufino Cordeiro Dias Pereira and António Silva Costa, to the Graciosa island where they visited: Galeria do Forninho (which for a long time served as kitchen, wine cellar and oven), Furna do Lavar and Furna do Castelo ou da Maria Encantada.
August 1 – This day the Montanheiros made another expedition to Gruta dos Balcões.
September 5~10 – Second expedition to Balconies Cave, with 5 elements (Américo Luís, Carlos Castanha, Jorge Silva, José A. Bettencourt and Corvelo), having been recognized the whole cave, that is, explored 3760 meters of cave. The preparatory work involved signaling the access from Picos Gordos to the site, parking, fencing the entrance to the cave and setting up camp tents for the outside brigade, including supplies and a first aid station. Before entering, on the 5th at 7pm, a medical inspection by Dr. Mário Lima. They stayed inside the cave 115 hours. On the way out (Sunday afternoon) another medical inspection and interview for A União (azorian newspaper). As a curiosity they observed a collapse that did not exist in the first exploration and that blocked the access to one of the most interesting rooms, more than 2000 meters from the entrance, but that had been drawn in the first expedition. Halfway through the expedition José A. Bettencourt was called away by his professional duties and had to abandon the expedition.
October 1 – Expedition to São Jorge, with the exploration and topographic survey of the Gruta do Leão, Gruta da Beira and Algar das Bocas de Fogo, by Américo Luís and Rafael Azevedo.
December 8 – Organized by Gabinete de Estudos Espeleológicos da Universidade de Lisboa, the 1st National Speleology Colloquium was held in Lisbon on this date. Montanheiros participated by sending a paper on “Volcanic Chimneys and Lava Channels” illustrated with photos.
Expedition to Gruta dos Balcões (1972) – Terceira
1973
May 30 Os Montanheiros held a speleology course in order to awaken the interest for this activity in the younger generation. The theoretical classes were taught at the headquarters by the President of the Board and a high school teacher, and the practical ones took place as of the 16th at Furna do Cabrito, Gruta dos Principiantes and Gruta dos Balcões.
July 15 – On this day the 3rd expedition ended with an overnight stay at Gruta dos Balcões. The group was composed by Américo Luís, Jorge Silva, Leonel Castanha, Fátima Marília Cabral Rodrigues and Maria Cecília Rodrigues Meneses. They entered on the 8th and stayed 8 days underground. At the entrance and at the exit, medical exams were performed by Dr. Ramiro Lima. The main objective was to clear a room 2800 meters from the entrance, which had been obstructed between the first and second expedition to this cave. A total of 300 kg of supplies and miscellaneous material was taken to the cave. A telephone system was set up for communications with the outside and with the support brigade, composed of 12 people.
November 30 – Donation to the Montanheiros, by José Ataíde da Câmara and wife, of a fraction of land with an area of 3 hectares (~7.41 acres) of uncultivated cookie, comprising Algar do Carvão.
1978
January 8 – The Gruta do Natal opened to the public on this day, as part of the Christmas celebrations, which had its high point in the Christmas Mass on December 25, 1977.
February 27 – Os Montanheiros report to the police that Algar do Carvão was once again the target of a break-in, the lock on the door to the access tunnel having been forced.
December 25 – Christmas Mass at the Gruta do Natal, at 12:30, celebrated by the Bishop of Angra and the Azores Islands, D. Aurélio Granada Escudeiro. After the mass and until 5:00 PM there was a live nativity scene, with 16 paintings.
1979
June 29 – Integrated in the Sanjoaninas, a philatelic and speleological exhibition took place at the headquarters of Os Montanheiros.
July 29/30 – “Operation Crab”. The Mountaineers Manuel Aguiar and Jorge Silva went to rescue Jorge Martinez, Puerto Rican citizen of 23 years, who had fallen into the Algar da Furna Abrigo, on the mountain of Pico, with about 40 m. The operation took about 35 minutes, in which Manuel Aguiar descended the pit to rescue the individual from its interior, where he had remained for 18 hours since his fall, having tied him to a stretcher that was lifted. The victim had fractures and injuries, but was still alive. He corresponded with the Montanheiros for several years after the event.
