In August we posted a report on explorations of the cave complex at Pemonia in Apokoronas and the major caves of Gourgouthas and Liontari. At the same time preparations were being made for another international expedition, to the cave complex of Sternes near Anopolis in the municipality of Sfakia. The two sites are on opposite sides of the Lefka Ori mountain range, which is known locally as the Madares or Madara, from the Cretan word madaros meaning bald or bare of vegetation. The Sternes expedition, the latest in a series carried out since 2017, was organised by the Speleological Association of Crete (SPOK), and a preliminary report from the Association was published on the Haniotika Nea website on 20th November. It is reproduced here, with some of the more technical details omitted for the sake of brevity.