12MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

French delegationarrivesAfter several days of rest, itwas time to return to work, so Jerryhiked up to Cerro Zapatero to workon the geology of the area and Terri,Peter, and Dale went into Cueva delBorrego to begin its survey. Borregois located close to the upper sectionsof Valhalla, and due to its complica-­ted nature it could possibly connectinto the system. After mapping onlya few stations, the trio elected toexplore ahead and found it to be avery complex area with airflow. Returningto the survey, they startedmapping down another section andonce again stopped to explore a highlydecorated area. The highlight waswhen Peter found a calcite formationhe dubbed "The Taco ~" He proclaimedit to be a rival to "The Butterfly"in Caverns of Sonora, TX.That night Dick Cruse and Kay Nullfrom Houston showed up, indicatingthat Charles Fromen and Harry Walkerwere close behind with the Frenchcavers, Paul Courbon and ClaudeChabert. Sure enough, the next dayCharles' 4-wheel drive truck arrivedwith Harry, Paul and Monique Courbon,Claude Chabert and Niki Boullier.Paul and Claude had made prior arrangementsto go on a through trip from theBrinco entrance to the Infiernilloentrance with Peter. This was a longawaited trip and was the first opportunityfor many who had been workingin the Sistema to see the middle portionsof the cave. This same dayJerry caught a ride down the mountainand spent the next month or so cavingin southern Mexico.Anticipating the need to have avehicle for transporting people inafter the through trip, Charles offeredto drive his truck to the Infiernillotrailhead and leave it there.Dick and Kay offered to follow himthere and give him a ride back to theConrado Castillo area; those two thencontinued westward to Dulces Nombresto check some pits in the area.While the vehicle maneuveringwas taking place, several otherstook a hike to look at many of thecave entr~nces in the Conrado C~stilloarea. Paul and Claude showeda lot of interest in the dig at theRat's Loft and made plans to dig itout after the through trip. Therewere hints of a French Connection inthe air~Athrough tripApril 11 arrived and everyonewho was to go on the through tripwere packing and preparing. Onlytwo llOurs before they Here to leave,Peter, who had climbed upon the sundeck, yelled, "OH NO~ The Hog ofSteel ~ " Much to everyone 's amazement,Blake Harrison had arrivedwith Gill Ediger, Peter Keys, RandyRumer, Steve Pitts, Kasey and GinnyReel. Blake, Gill, Steve, andPeter decided to join the throughtrip. The next couple of hourswere mass pandemonium. This broughtthe total to 13, a number the Frenchthough might be unlucky. Makingthe trip were the four mentionedabove, plus Paul, Claude, Peter,Dale, Terri, Thomas, Mark, Charles,and Harry. The first of the groupentered Brinco at 2:00 PM and thelast arrived at the entrance to Infiernillo23 hours later at 1:00 PMon Thursday, April 12. The groupstayed fairly strung out through theChute Area and all the way to theHall of the Angels, a large room inthe World Beyond several kilometersinto the system. Ediger becameweak and ill at this point, but gotdecidedly better and continued on.Harry began losing lots of hisstrength less than halfway through93