12MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

S6tano del BuqueRobert JefferysSotano del Buque was discoveredas part of an AMCS project in the Summerof 1972, in a region locatednorth of Ahuacatlan near La Cienega.Buque was the most significant cavemapped while systematically recordingthe speleological features ofthe area. The total depth was measuredat 502 meters, making Buquethe fourth deepest system in Mexicoat the time. Subsequently, the surveynotes were lost and a map of thislarge cave was never published.Thursday, December 29, 1978 myChevy van, dust covered from twothousand miles of travel, hit thetown of Ahuacatlan, Queretaro andturned north on a one lane shelf road.On board were Vi and Dave Allured,(CO), John Evans (MA), Gerry McCollum(MA), and myself (CT). Armedwith a ton of tackle and informationfrom Kirkwood cavers our group plannedresurveying, photographing andpushing the terminal sump in Sotanodel Buque.Many kilometers later, we foundthat the road did not go to SantaAguida as had been thought. Notthis year anyway. On questioningthe construction crew building theroad, we learned that Santa Aguidawas 6 kilometers farther. Thismeant the truck could not be twokilometers from the cave as originallyplanned. Therefore, we arrangedwith Juan Flores, of El Pino, tohire a man and burros.We spent the night in the hut ofone of the locals and were on thetrail shortly after the sun rose. Allof us found the burro driver's briskpace tiring under the weight of ourheavy packs. Gerry, who is totallyblind, soon found the rock strewntrail more than he had bargained for.A man was hired to carry his pack.Gerry endured his bumps and knockswith his usual good spirits.On reaching El Pino, we preparedto spend the night in themunicipal building at the insistenceof the jefe Feliciano Espinoza. Then,for the next few hours his Englishspeaking nephew, Jimmy, plied us withcervezas while we compared culturalnotes.By midday Sunday, we had finallyreached Buque. Above the dry entrancearroyo, we began to set upcamp in the same shelter caves usedby the original expedition.Opposite: Arroyo entrance to Sotano del Buque. (John Evans)71