12MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

Ateschalla Norte ySurThe following day we split intotwo teams. David, James and Carmen setoff for Sumidero de Atepolihuit,where they were thwarted by the absenceof the log that had formerlybeen used to get down the entrancedrop. They discovered a new cavenearby and slightly higher. Peter,Sue, Andy, Terri and I set off witha guide who knew of several unexploredsurnideros. He showed us two pitsin the karst hills over Cohuatichan,then brought us to a higher streamswallet. This entrance, later calledAteschalla Sur, takes a merrylittle stream. Peter and I followedit downdip in a stoopway to wherewetsuits would be required for seriousexploration. After exiting Iran downhill and discovered anotherstream entrance, Ateschalla Norte.I dropped into it and crawled acrossWaterfall cascade in Chichicasapan (Norm Pace)wet stream gravels to another entranceclose by, where I found Andy lookingfor crayfish.ChichicasapanWe regrouped and continued northalong a major stream. We followedthis quite a way, past a shelter cave,and on until I doubted that it wouldactually sink. Andy, Terri and I laggedbehind looking for crayfish inthe stream and when we caught up withthe Lords they told us that the streamdid indeed sink 100 meters further a­l~ng into a cave. We filed past Ind~anwomen washing clothes in thestream who turned the water a milkyhue with their soap. A large headwall appeared around a corner andthe stream rushed underneath it.We fired up our lamps and enteredSumidero de Chichicasapan. The streamran across a gently dipping bedrockfloor in pleasant walking size passage.We stopped about 100 metersin where the stream tumbled over ashort climb down. Peter had exploredfurther and the stream continued.Our guide led us back to the fieldhouseby way of another entrance heknew of, Cueva del Arbol de Resistol.This was a large pit in a sinkholewhich we didn't have time to adequatelycheck. The major entrances we'd seenthat day later turned out to be integral"parts of the huge SistemaCuetzalan.Cueva de Tasalolpan~fuile Peter, Sue, Terri and Iunfortunately had to depart forCiudad Valles, David, James, Andyand Carmen stayed on to do more workin the area. They began the surveyof the new cave above Sumidero deAtepolehuit, which a man in the villageof San Miguel told them was calledCueva de Tasalolpan. They mapped1.4 kilometers in mostly large, drypassages, with many leads left toexplore. An active stream goes toa low air duck and a sump, but wasnot pushed. The cave lies above andruns parallel to Sumidero de Atepolehuitand may drop into it. It isalso not far from the main SistemaCuetzalan.