12MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

Typical dimensions in Kinepak Kanyon.(Bill Stone)of domes. Before he left, Jim hadindicated that there appeared to besomething near the roof level on theeast wall. In context with whatRichard had just said we hypothesizedthat if we couldn't cross over toLa Grieta down low in the breakdownwe might be able to do it over thetop through the domes. Indeed, therewere quite a number of incoming shaftson this side. We focused our electrics on the eas t wall and sure enoughthere was something black up there,though we were denied a clear view dueto a thick mist which hung near theceiling. Richard readied the belaywhile I racked my climbing gear. Despitebeing well equipped there werefew suitable protection points. Nocracks. No projections. Rotten rock.I finally managed to get a bolt in 25meters off the floor. Then the electriccord pulled from the batteryand the carbide died. We were findingsubterranean climbing to be fullof new twists. I eventually toppedout at 35 meters to find the blacknesswas but a deception projectedby a wide ledge. This was not theway.Our second attempt was furtherdown the passage up a towering shaftwe had of late been calling BB Dome.This one was by far more promising .and within a short time we had rappedout forty meters up the flutedwall. Things abruptly ground to ahalt when the route gave out at a sixmeter overhang. No free route overthis one. Still, in our stupor from21 hours on the go, we knew it wasthe lead we were looking for. Ianchored the rope to a series ofwafer pins slammed into the roofand we rappelled off, vowing toreturn with aid gear.55