12MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

La Gruta de Xtacuml>ilxunam isrelatively easy to find since it isjust south of Bo10nchen 2nd there isa sign pointing down a dirt road tothis cave. Bicycling down this roadwas not too pleasant but luckily thecave is only one kilometer off themain road.This cave is relatively famousin this area of Campeche since inancient times when all the wellsin this area would dry up peoplewould have to enter the cave to getwater. Extensive series of ladderswere built in the cave to get downto the water level.Arriving at the entrance toXtacumbilxunam I was greeted by ayoung Mayan boy who quickly pulledout his flashlight and asked,"lGruta?" My reply was a simple,"Si." He then motioned that Iwould need a flashlight and I repliedby pulling out my carbidelamp. The boy was clearly confuseduntil I fired up the lamp. We boththen proceeded down a series of stepsbuilt in the large arroyo in whichthe cave is located.This was truly a tropical caveas banana trees almost blocked thelarge cave entrance. Down morestairs built into the cave, pastsome relatively poor displays ofstalactites and stalagmites, andfinally into a large chamber, I followedthis young Mayan.The chamber of Xtacumbilxunamis actually quite impressive. Twoskylights illuminate the chamber,drawing light from the surface 60to 70 meters above. To venture furtherinto the cave you need to rappeldown a short drop of only 12 metersor so. I did not have any rope withme but there was an old wooden ladderleading down into the depths. I wasso game to go caving that I decidedto try the ladder. My Mayan friendwas too frightened to follow (perhapshe knew something Idid not).That ladder climb was one of theall time frightening cave experiencesin my life and I would not recommendit to anyone. But the ladder held.From the bottom of this chamber apath led down. This passage continuedand another ladder was encountered(oh well, I did the first onedidn't I), and another and finallydown to the water. I figured thevertical relief of the cave to thewater to be about 125 meters andaround 400 meters of cave to traverseto get to this point. Large stalactitescan be seen once you are inthe cave and this cave deserves seriousconsideration if you are inthe area.Climbing out of the cave provedto be a bit of a problem, but soon Irejoined my Mayan comrade and we proceededtogether out of the cave. Althoughthe boy did not want to bepaid for his guide service, (to mysurprise), I gave him a 5 peso coinand he appeared happy.While bicycling through CampecheI found one other cave that I surveyed.This cave was about 2/3 kilometeroff the road and I happened tosee it while searching the hills forlikely cave entrances. Grabbing mymachete, it was a short chop and ajump to this cave's entrance.Though this cave had three entranceslike Actun Trienta y Seis,it was not nearly as extensive. A­gain all three entrances led intoa large low entrance chamber. Thisroom was about 50 meters wide and 75meters long. lwo leads go off theback of this room. Both were tightwhere I gave up surveying.I called this cave Cueva de Pechsince when I got back to my bicycleI found that I was covered by smallticks (Pech = tick in Mayan). 1quickly dusted off my pants and then13