Chronology 1990-1999

1893-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2009 2010-2021

February 11 – A topographic survey of the Gruta de Madre Deus in Porto Martins was carried out.

March 3 – Started this day the mission “Montanha-90”, bio speleological expedition in Pico island. The topographic survey of Gruta dos Montanheiros and Gruta do Soldão ou da Malha, the Gruta das Torres, Gruta da Agostinha and Furna do Frei Matias were visited. In the case of Gruta das Torres it was one of the first explorations.

May 19/20 – In these days the “Ronda dos Montanheiros” took place, which consisted of a motorized ride of jeeps and motorcycles, with a route divided into three parts and having Algar do Carvão as its base. The objective was not competitive, but only to show the landscapes of Terceira island and promote socializing among the participants.

May 25~27 – Expedition “Missão São Jorge 90” that explored several caves on the island of São Jorge, in particular the Bocas de Santo Amaro, where the specleometric survey (perfil) was carried out and set up traps for biological collections. The Gruta da Beira and the Gruta do Leão were also explored. Fernando Pereira, Manuel Aguiar, Luís Parreira, Marcelina Alvez, Palmira Fernandes and Luís Vasconcelos participated in this expedition.

June 16 – In these days the scientific expedition “Santa Maria 90” organized by the University of the Azores was carried out. Montanheiros that participated: Fernando Pereira, Manuel Aguiar and Paulo Borges. The Gruta de Santana and Furna das Pombas was visited.

August 29 – Finished this day the biospeleological expedition to the island of S. Miguel called “Biospel-90″. Topographed were the Gruta do Pico da Cruz, the Algar da Rua do Carvão, Algar do Pico Queimado, Algar da Batalha and Algar da Ribeirinha, Gruta do Esqueleto, Gruta do Enforcado, Gruta de Água de Pau, Gruta das Escadinhas and Gruta de Rabo de Peixe.

September 11~15 – Mission to São Jorge’s Island, named “Montoso 90”. The main objective was to explore Algar do Montoso, located in Pico do Carvão, also known as Algar do Carvão. Gruta da Urzelina, Gruta da Ribeira Seca, Gruta do Pombal, Gruta do Pico Maria Pires and Gruta do Pico dos Suspiros were also visited.

December 24 – During the preparatory work for the traditional mass and crib in the Gruta do Natal, after stopping for a break, some of the Montanheiros discovered the Algar do Mistério. However they did not go down so they did not realize that there was a cave associated with this pit.

January 1 – It was explored and measured on this day the Algar do Negro and the Gruta do Mistério, near the Lagoa do Negro. The team consisted of 6 elements. The Algar do Mistério had been discovered in a break of the preparations for the Christmas Mass that took place on December 25 at the Gruta do Natal.

January 5 – Start of the work to clear part of the Gruta do Chocolate, in Biscoitos, with the collection of samples during the excavations. The team was composed by 7 elements.

January 12 – Reconnaissance and measurement of Gruta da Achada. On the same day was found the precise location of the Fenda do Biscoitinho in Serreta.

January 19 – Measurements were made of the Fenda do Biscoitinho, the Fenda da Cova do Caldeirão, near Pico Negrão, and the Fenda do Pico Gaspar.

January 20 – Measurement of the Algar do Pico do Gaspar and Gruta do Coelho by a team of 6 elements.

January 27 – On this day a pit was located in the pastures of Felisberto Joaquim in São Sebastião. A group of mountaineers also went to the slope of the Serra do Morião in search of the location of Furna do Frade. The cave was covered.

February 2 – Descent and measurement of the Algar located in the pastures of Sr. Felisberto Joaquim in São Sebastião.

February 3 – Beginning of the topographical works at Galeria Queimada, also known as Cafua Velha. The work also took place on the 10th, 16th, 17th, 27th and 28th of the same month.

February 10 – Reconnaissance, exploration and measurement of the Gruta de Santo António at Porto Martins.

March 3 – Clearance of the initial part of the Gruta das Agulhas, at the base of Pico do Refugo.

March 6 – On this day the topographic survey of the Gruta das Agulhas, in Porto Judeu, was carried out.

March 10 – On this day work was done to clear the Gruta do Coelho, near Lagoa do Negro. Also located on this day was Algar do Pico das Dez in Santa Bárbara.

March 23/24 – Second round of “Os Montanheiros” Cross-country Ride. With an approximate extension of 200 km, starting in Porto de Pipas (at 12:30) and arriving at the same place at 16:00 of the following day. 17 Jeeps and 9 motorcycles participated.

March 25 – Algar do Carvão is visited by the Duke of Edinburgh, who came to the region at the invitation of H.E. the Minister of the Republic for the Azores. His Highness the Prince of England left his signature in the Golden Book of “Os Montanheiros”.

March 28 – Expedition to Pico island to do topography and filming at Gruta das Torres. Filming was also done at Gruta dos Montanheiros. The expedition was known as “Torres 91” and lasted until April 4, with the participation of 7 elements of the Montanheiros (Luís Pimentel, Fernando Pereira, José Manuel, Paulo Borges, Manuel Aguiar, Luís Vasconcelos and José Maria Botelho). By request of the Mayor of Horta, the Montanheiros went to Faial to explore a cave in the area of Lombega, Castelo Branco, which later became known as Gruta das Anelares, due to the two unusually shaped lava stalactites.

May 8 – The Montanheiros participate together with the Red Cross in providing aid during Pope John Paul II’s visit to Terceira island

June 6 – Expedition to Pico Island with the name “Arcospel 91”. The main objective was to explore the Gruta dos Arcos, in the parish of Bandeiras, located by the Speleological Nucleus of that island. It was also explored Furna da Igreja, algar do Tambor, Lanchão, Gruta do Tanquinho, Algar do Cabeço Bravo, Gruta do Cadete, Furna do Frei Matias, Algar do Cabeço da Negra, Gruta do Galeão, Gruta do Soldão and Furna Nova.

June 24~28 – Mission S.O.S. Pico The mountaineers Manuel Aguiar, Fernando Pereira and João Silva, at the request of the Civil Protection, went to Pico to collaborate in trying to locate the 72-year-old English citizen Hugh Wood, who disappeared while trying to climb the mountain of Pico in bad weather conditions.

July 19~21 – Expedition to look for Furna do João Moreno, also known as Gruta do Manhengo with the name of “Alvo Moreno 91”, in which participated. Luís Vasconcelos, João Silva, Luís Pimentel, José Maria. It is believed that two mouths of this cave were located, but completely filled in. They visited the Galerias do Forninho, Furna do Lavar, Furna do Beber and went down to Caldeirinha de Pero Botelho.

August 2~10 – Mountaineers Fernando Pereira, Manuel Aguiar and Paulo Borges participate in the 6th International Simposium on Vulcanospeleology in Hawaii, invited by Prof. William Haliday. A paper entitled “Grutas e Algares dos Açores” was presented.

November 1 and 3 – Completion of the work to fence off the mouth of Algar do Carvão with barbed wire, in order to prevent people from getting too close to the cliff.

November 10 – Reconnaissance and filming of the Gruta de Santo António, in Porto Martins.

November 24 – A team consisting of José Maria, Luís Vasconcelos, Fernando Pereira and Odília Teixeira, prospecting in the Pau Velho area, discovered a new entrance next to cryptomeria trees, which would later reveal to be a new section of the Gruta dos Balcões.

 

January 1 – On this day some elements of the Montanheiros explored the Gruta da Canada do Laranjo, in Altares.

January 19 – Reconnaissance of Algar do Funis, which seems to have been the algar described by F. Fouqué in the 19th century, in his book “Voyages Géologiques aux Açores” of 1873. According to the French naturalist it would be of large dimensions. The Montanheiros team found it obstructed and decided to clear it as soon as possible.

February 22 – Rescue mission to the young Italian Maurizio Beltramo, 24 years old, member of theLe Patriache, that while trying to go down the rock at “Canto dos Doidos”, in Fajã da Serreta, slipped and fell about 60 meters into the cliff. He was trapped there for almost 10 hours, until help arrived first from the Fire Department and then from the Montanheiros. Montanheiros member Fernando Pereira managed to get to and tie up the young man, who reached the top safe and sound.

March 1 – Topographical work at Gruta das Agulhas and Gruta das Mercês.

March 15 – Topographic work was done at the Gruta da Branca Opala, Gruta dos Balcões and Gruta do Coelho.

March 22 – Descent to Algar do Canadão in the Serra de Santa Bárbara.

March 27 – Topographical work at Gruta do Coelho near Lagoa do Negro.

April 1 – Topographical work was done at the Gruta de Madre Deus, in Porto Martins.

April 25 – Hiking Program “Ilha Viva 92” “Lagoas da Serra”. More than 100 Participants of which a significant part were members of the Red Cross participating in an exercise. Hike in which the guide was injured and the group finished at 20:15, with a delay of 3 hours.

May 16 – On the 16th a simulated search and rescue operation called “Montanha 92” took place in Pico Island, in which the Navy, Civil Protection (Fire Department, Red Cross) and the Montanheiros participated. It was organized by the Portuguese Air Command.

June 7 – First exploration of the Gruta da Cascata, in Biscoitos, which had been discovered a week before, on May 31.

June 18 – The Machado Fagundes Hall-Museum was inaugurated, after many months of hard work and expenditure of funds, but also with the support of the Regional Department of Cultural Affairs and the Angra do Heroísmo City Hall.

October 21~23 – Removal of the incense sticks at the mouth of Furna do Enxofre in Graciosa island, in order to facilitate the aeration and venting of the toxic gases that were accumulating inside. This was a request from the Forestry Services and became known as the “Missão Pittosporum”. It also counted with the collaboration of the Santa Cruz City Hall.

October 25 – A trip to Pico do Funil to scout the Algar do Pico do Funil. There were three elements: José Maria, Fernando Pereira, Fernando Pereira, Luis Vasconcelos and Odília Teixeira. Also located on this day was the Gruta de Santa Catarina.

November 1 – Exploration of the Gruta de Santa Catarina by the Montanheiros elements: José Maria, Fernando Pereira, Luís Vasconcelos and Odília Teixeira.

December 6 – Discovery of holes near the Pau Velho area, which were merely entrances to the Gruta dos Buracos. Some of these holes were explored days later.

April 1 – The Montanheiros make a public denunciation in the newspapers about the ecological attack that occurred in the Lagoa do Ginjal, in Cinco Picos, Terceira island. The construction of a road for the IROA and the withdrawal of water by farmers led to the lagoon being almost empty.

May 21 – The Montanheiros invite the director of the Diário Insular, União, and several local radio stations, to participate in a walkabout and have the opportunity to see “in loco”, the indiscriminate disposal of garbage in improper places.

June 15 – Mission “Alvo Moreno 93” to Graciosa island. Participated Aguiar Silva, José Maria, Jorge Silva and Luís Pimentel with the objective of finding the entrance to Furna do João Moreno. What was thought to be one of the entrances to the cave, next to Largo do Calhau Miúdo, was cleared with a backhoe from the Santa Cruz da Graciosa Municipality. Furna do Calcinhas was also explored and the Furna da Maria Encantada, Furna do Lavar, Furna do Beber and Furna do Moinho were visited again.

June 26 – Photographic survey at Furna da Rua Longa, Biscoitos.

October 1/6 – Between the 1st and the 6th of October took place the mission “Speleovimes 93” to the Pico Island. Eight elements of Montanheiros participated: Jorge Silva, José Bettencourt, Manuel Aguiar, Luís Vasconcelos, Luís Pimentel, José Botelho, José Ficher and João Magina. They explored and filmed some caves in the western part of the island. On the 4th a lecture was held at Externato Particular da Madalena about volcanoespeleology, presented by Manuel Aguiar.

November 21 – Start of works to place the monument “Os Montanheiros e a Natureza” (The Mountaineers and Nature) by Renato Costa e Silva, in the triangle of the entrance to the road José Ataíde da Câmara that gives access to Algar do Carvão. This monument was renovated during 2013.

January 11 – On this day João Mendonça Silva passed away, one of the most active elements of the Montanheiros in the late 80s and early 90s. He held several positions in the Association, the last of which was president of the General Assembly.

April 14 – On this day the monument “Os Montanheiros e a Natureza” by Renato Costa e Silva was placed at the access triangle to the road that goes to the Algar do Carvão.

April 18 – Integrated in the program of the Open Presidency to Terceira, Algar do Carvão was visited by the President of the Republic Dr. Mário Soares accompanied by Dr. Mota Amaral, there was also an exhibition of the folklore group “Os Bravos” and a photographic exhibition about the natural patrimony.

June 1 – Speleological mission “Bocas do Fogo 94” to the Pico Island. The three deepest “mouths” were explored at Lomba do Fogo and also the Gruta do Cabeço da Negra, Gruta do Sumidouro, Gruta das Laranjeiras, Algar do Alto do Morais, Furna do Manuel José de Lima, Furna dos Vimes, Gruta do Capitão-Mor, Gruta dos Castelhanos (only the entrance) and on the Faial Island the Gruta do Cabeço do Canto. Eight elements participated: Luis Pimentel, Jorge Silva, Marcelina Alves, Alfredo Moniz, Manuel Aguiar, José Botelho, Luis Vasconcelos and Fernando Pereira.

June 10 – During the commemorations of the Dia de Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities, Montanheiros was awarded the title of Honorary Member of the Order of Merit.

September 23 – A member of the Montanheiros, working in the field on Pico Island, saw and reported a machine plowing a pasture near Furna do Frei Matias, having covered up several caves and entrances to the Frei Matias Cave.

October 5~11 – Between the 5th and the 11th an expedition called “PoisoSpel 94” to the island of São Jorge takes place. Participants: José Maria, Jorge Silva, Luís Vasconcelos, Luís Pimentel, José Ficher, José Manuel, José Duarte, Alfredo Moniz and Marco Ficher. The following caves were visited: Gruta dos Encantados, Furna do Poio (=Furna dos Tijolos), Gruta da Ribeira do Almeida, Furna da Vigia, Algar do Montoso, Furna da Preguiça, Furna das Pombas.

 

January 11 – Montanheiros member Fernando Pereira (“Pardal”) went to Pico Island, at the request of the Regional Civil Protection Service, in order to descend the Algar of Cabeço Bravo to remove some human bones, which had been discovered by a group of 2 speleologists from the “Espeleo Clube de Torres Vedras” on January 4. It became known as Operação Bravo.

January 22 – On the 22nd and 29th, a team of several Montanheiros went to Algar dos Funis with the objective of unblocking it.

August 26 – Three youngsters from Terceira, members of the Montanheiros, Nuno Freitas, Miguel Carvalho and Luís Paulo, carry out an unprecedented action in the Azores when they installed climbing routes on a rock near Ladeira Branca, in Angra do Heroísmo. They installed 6 climbing routes, the first of which is called Via dos Montanheiros.

August 28 – Manuel Aguiar, president of the Montanheiros, died of cancer. He was one of the most active elements of the group practically since its foundation. Having arrived in Terceira island in 1964, he started attending the dances that took place in the headquarters, at the time at Rua de São João, and later participating in the group’s activities. He received a Vote of Weeping approved by the Regional Assembly of the Azores. He will always be one of the Montanheiros’ greatest figures.

September 8~15 – Speleological mission called “EspeleoLajes 95” to the Pico Island. Eight members of Montanheiros visited Gruta do Gabriel, Algar dos Túneis, Gruta da Tia Adelaide, Gruta da Ribeira do Fundo, Furna da Sapateira, Furna das Pombas, Furna das Barbeiras, Furna das Cabras I, Furna das Cabras II, Algar dos Burros, Furna do Lemos, Furna da Baliza and Furna do Outeiro.

 

January 21 – A team formed by Fernando Pereira, Paulo Barcelos, Luís Vasconcelos, Paulo Dinis and José Maria, starts the exploration of a new entrance to Gruta dos Balcões, discovered in 1991. More than 500 meters of cave was measured and the connection to Balcões was discovered through a muddy hole.

February 11 – Continuation of topographical work on the new section of Gruta dos Balcões, located at Biscoitos.

July 13 – On this day Mission “Rocha dos Bordões 96” to the island of Flores was completed. At the request of the Regional Secretariat of Tourism and Environment, The Montanheiros moved a team of 7 elements (Jorge Silva, Fernando Pereira, Luís Vasconcelos, José Duarte, Paulo Barcelos, José Maria and Sandro Silva), in order to carry out the mission of Public Utility to clean Rocha dos Bordões, from the vegetation that covered it, in order to highlight again the geological heritage that is there. They were supported by the Santa Cruz Volunteer Fire Department.

July 22 – The members of the Serviços Geológicos de Portugal’s mission of geologists, Profs. Zbyszewsky, Veiga Ferreira and Artur Medeiros, visited the Montanheiros Museum and expressed their deepest admiration for the explorations carried out.

September 5~10 – Mission “Espeleo-Pico 96” to the island of Pico between September 5 to 10. Eight elements participated: Jorge Silva, Fernando Pereira, Luís Vasconcelos, Paulo Barcelos, José Duarte, Sandro silva, Gerardo Pereira and José Maria. They visited Gruta das Torres, Algar do Cabeço da Negra, Algar e Gruta do Canto da Serra, Gruta dos Túmulos, Gruta da Gajeira, Algar do Cabeço de Dório de Cima, Algar do Miradouro, Algar do Cabeço de Dório de Baixo, Gruta do Cão and Gruta dos Frades. The expedition had the support of the Portuguese Air Force, which facilitated the transport of the team in the Aviocar.

December 28/29 – During these two days topographic work was done in Furna de Água and Furna do Cabrito by a team of five members of the Montanheiros.

March 28/29 – On the 26th and 29th the crossing of Terceira island took place, from Serreta to Praia da Vitória. It lasted two days and the 36 participants camped in Pico Alto. With the name “Travessia Radical” this initiative was supported by the Red Cross.

July 11 –The Regional Direction of Forest Resources authorizes the temporary transfer of a 109 meters squared plot of wasteland for the construction of a shelter next to the Gruta do Natal.

July 24 – On this day began the first of two international biospeleological expeditions to the Azores, funded by theNational Geographic Society and led by Profs. P. Oromi and P. Ashmole, who led a team of 5 biologists from the University of La Laguna Canárias. The Montanheiros collaborated in the field work of this expedition. Catches were made in: Gruta das Agulhas, Gruta dos Balcões and Gruta do Coelho. At a later stage they went to the islands of São Jorge and Pico.

September 10/15 – The Montanheiros go to Pico in an expedition called “Madalena 97”, where they made an inventory of more than a dozen volcanic cavities. They travelled with the support of the Portuguese Air Force.

October 15 – The Montanheiros carry out expansion works in the Volcanospeleological Museum, which was closed to the public. The works took place between October 4, 1997 and February 20, 1998.

February 20 – Montanheiros make known, to several entities, the formalization of the Montanheiros Climbing and Paragliding Sections.

April 22 – The Montanheiros begin the project of building a shelter over the entrance to the Gruta do Natal.

December 1 – The house supporting the Gruta do Natal was inaugurated on this day, integrated in the commemorations of the 35th anniversary of the Montanheiros. A mass was celebrated inside the cave on that same day. The following year the Gruta do Natal opened for the first time to the public as a tourist cave, being the first lava tube open to the public in the Azores.