asscciation for mexican cave studies box 7672 ut station austin ...

HUAUTLA-PROLOGUETo those unfamiliar with the Huautla region before reading thisarticle, I believe it only fair to present a view from the other side ofthe fence. The Hazatecs have traditionally been one of the most isolationistoriented groups of the post }~yan-Aztec people. The building ofthe road to lluautla by the Mexican Government threatened their isolationcausing severe resentment towards outsiders.However, the communities within a reasonable distance of the roadssoon learned Spanish and their children went to ~~xican schools. Hostilitiesto outsiders eventually diminished in these areas. Unfortunately, newideas spread at a considerably slower pace in areas not in close proximityto the roads and resentment remains high. The Fissure lies some 2kmfrom the main road in just such an area.Traditional Indian religion in the Sierra Mazateca applied great significanceto caves. They were the portals to the underworld. Accordingly, aman would want to enter a cave for one of two reasons: 1) to commune withthe devil or 2) to search for his soul which he had lost in some unfortunatemanner.With this perspective, one might imagine the ~~zatec reaction whenHuaut1a became the mushroom capital of the world. Every true hippie within10,000 miles came to Huautla between 1965-1970 before the federales stoppedthem by roadblocks at Teotitlan del Camino. Visualize an Indian watchinga spaced out hippie eating a live turkey in the town square, as occurredin 1964, and you might understand their further intolerance of gringos.~uch of the problem which still plagues cavers in this area were broughtabout by the Hippie Era. Unfortunately, it was about this ti~e thatRussell, Evans, Fish, and other cavers were discovering Huautla.It· is a growing realization that the region is far from finished andthat we are faced with the monumental task of reconstructing public relations.The question most often asked of our expedition Christmas was lI~!hydo you do it?" In answer, we printed up 150 four page PR sheets in Spanishwith maps and pictures. We explained the purpose of the ~~CS inHuautla. In addition, the March expedition has the proper credentials andthe outward appearance of a serious exploration team. Anything less wouldnegate whatever progress we made last Christmas.7ADAY AT THE FISSUREby Bill StoneIn December of '76, Frank Binney, Jeff Horowitz, P~y Jameson, Patty11othes, Alexia Cochrane, and I left Austin for Huautla to connect withRichard Schreiber's crew in pushing Sotano de San Agustin. Schreiber's~roup had arrived a ~eek before in San Agustin, ?roreptly rented a house,surveyed to the -648m point in the cave, left a ~ajor going lead andwere preparing to split when we arrived. D@n Broussard and Jim Smith ~ecidedto join our ~roup as Schreiber's crew pulled out.We immediately set about w&rming up ani acclimatizinr, in some s~allerarea pits and decided to push Don' s infamous 'La Grieta,' 0 ;:het"'lvi~e kno~mas the 'Fissure.' A description of the cave;s notorious history would beproper for providing the correct settin~ for that which we were about toeJq>erience.