GRS deployment to Majorca

At the request of her family, GRS have been requested to mobilise in support of the Spanish Authorities in the search for Jacqueline Tennant on the Island of Majorca.

Jacqueline, who's a Swimming Coach for First Choice Holidays went off walking in the local hills on her day off but failed to return. With full assistance being provided by her employer a 7 man team, consisting of 6 GRS members, and one member from the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation is flying out on Monday.

Search Details

Day 1

A 5 man team ascended Puig Massanella from Comafreda Farm, south of Lluc Monastery. We took the path along the side of Torrent de Sa Covetanegra. At the Col de Sa Linia, 3 members then ascended via Route 27 to the summit. The remaining group of 2 descended back to Comafreda Farm conducting a detailed search of small footpaths and a boulder field. From the Col de Sa Linia, visibility was very poor, down to 15ft and strong winds and heavy rain hampered any search efforts. However, areas adjacent to the footpaths where possible, were covered. Once beyond the tree line, terrain became more difficult with many trip hazards and a potential for long falls down the mountainside. The weather deteriorated with altitude and on the summit there were unclear footpaths. The summit is easily accessible from the south, however the summit ridge has sheer drops all along the Northern edge and there appeared to be some deep rock holes near the summit. Various items of clothing and artefacts were found and the surrounding area scouted and marked. These items were brought off the mountain for identification, none of which were conclusive.

Image – Poor visibility as the team neared the summit

Image – Team member looking over the ridge to the Northern Edge

Day 2

The full team deployed to Escorca, where a party of 5 plus a family friend descended to Entreforc entered the Torrent de Pareis where three team members bore North West and carried on down the Canyon, and the remaining party members ascended towards Coscona.

Canyon Team – Tim Vollum, John Carrie & David Jones

Worked their way down the Torrent and encountered extremely difficult terrain that required some very difficult manoeuvred. The team also encountered 8 pools, which required full immersion to cross and when finally reaching Sa Colobra where well in excess of their set time.

North of Canyon Team – KC Gordon, Sam Jones & a family friend

From the bottom of the Canyon, a team of 3 ascended alongside the Torrent des Boveron due North to refuge de Cerrabinier which was under reconstruction. From start to finish the terrain was almost exclusively waist high grass and small rocky outcrops with no path at all only very small cairns to follow.

Day 3

Puig Tomir Team – Tim Vollum & John Carrie

From Lluc Monastery, we headed North along the road to Pollenca, taking the narrow track at Menut and the lane continued to Binifaldo. At this point two team members continued on foot towards the summit of Puig Tomir. Again, suffering poor weather conditions, hampering our search with visibility reduced to 20ft beyond the tree line. At this point, we encountered difficult and steep terrain. Fixed lines were in situ to assist ascent. We crossed many scree sloped where there was evidence of recent rock slides. These scree slopes continued most of the way down the mountain. Should anyone have slipped or fallen on these slopes, they could have continued tumbling a long way down the mountainside. After covering the steepest of ground and the metal ladder system, we reached the top of the mountain where it was an easier walk. Navigation was again hampered due to the poor visibility and small cairns where used to navigate to the summit. To the south of the summit the ground is quite flat, however to the north of the summit, there are large ridgelines with large drops.

Images - The scree fall lines.

Image – The top Plateau showing the poor visibility.

Lowland Team– KC Gordon, Sam Jones, Ron Williams & Monique Tennant

Following the wishes of Monique, 3 personnel plus Monique were dropped off at the southern end of Route GR222. The party followed GR222 North to where it re-joins the main road at the zig-zags. Two members continued on route 222 on the road to where it leaves the road then followed GR222 to point Sa Llengonissa. The other 2 members followed the alternative marked track from the next bend down meeting at Sa Llengonissa. Party completed GR222 to the garage just north of Font de Guix. The team passed and examined several very steep rock faces below the track.

The team returned to the UK on the 30th November 2007. A full report will be submitted to Monique in due course.