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CUEVA DE XOCOTLATintroduction by Gerald AtkinsonThis year's expedition to the Sierra Nahuatl, Puebla had a twofoldobjective: to push Cueva de Xocotlat (Overflow Cave)* and to begin explorationof the nearby Sumidero del Rlo Xocotlat, both of which hadbeen partially entered on previous trips. (See AMCS Activities NewslettersNos. 5 & 8). Unfortunately, our plans were somewhat abbreviateddue to local hassles and only the overflow cave, Cueva de Xocotlat, wasbrought to a satisfactory close. Hopefully the future will bring betterrelations and greater depth.The discovery and early exploration of Cueva de Xocotlat encompassesa two year period, described by Preston Forsythe.Shari Larason at the entrance of Cueva de Xocotlat.(Peter Strickland)76
Initial explorationsPreston ForsytheCueva de Xocotlat was discoveredon January 8, 1977 by followingthe Rio Xocotlat trail upstream fromour camp at the Sumidero del Rio Xocotlat.A Nahuatl Indian along theway indicated that the river resurgedfrom a cave. Although we did notreach this point, during the searcha walk-in entrance was spotted byShari Larason as we smelled out thecave in a steep canyon. The entrancewas 1.3 meters above the river leveland apparently once took a portionof the flow, and may now duringfloods.On January 9, 1977, Bill Mayne,Peter Strickland, Shari Larason andI made the initial trip into the caverigging five drops including a difficulttraverse over the third pitch.Bill went down the last drop for theday and reported the cave still going.Marbling, as reported in othercaves of the mountains to the south,was beginning to appear in the limestone.There was time for only onetrip as Some had to return to the USfor classes.Jim Rodemaker, Bill Mayne, BrianClark, Jocie Hooper and I returnedto the cave on December 25, 1977.The lead riggers arrived at the topof the third pitch traverse in shorttime. By squeezing up and chimneying-traversingacross the top of the*Ed. Note: This cave was incorrectlylisted as "Cueva de Coyamilpa" in thedeep caves list in Activities NewsletterNo.9.pit, a natural rigging point wasreached which made the drop easier.At the bottom of the pitch Jim spotteda deep dry shaft which I descendedapproximately 60 meters before encounteringa small wall pocket, awaterfall, and the end of the rope.At this point Bill and Jocie descendedthree more pitches in another sectionof the passage, the first two ofwhich included a heavy waterfall andthe third being a 65 meter drop. Afterwardswe ascended and exited forthe day, having a fairly short tripwith a long enjoyable hike back tocamp.The first survey trip was madeby Peter Strickland, Jocie and I onDecember 28, 1977, while Bill, JerryAtkinson and Henry Schneiker riggedon ahead. Above the third dropBill's battery pack fell, nearlybeaning Henry. Short of light, Billleft the cave. The survey was steadyand eventually caught up with Jerryand Henry who were chilled from waiting.Henry descended the 65 meterpitch in a waterfall passing a ledgehalfway down. A side dome with waterwas noted to intersect this shaftnear the bottom and this was suspectedto be the pit that I had descendedpreviously. Henry reported the streamflowing away in a large passage at thebottom of the drop.On December 30, 1977, Fred Poer,Jim, and Mike Boon left camp beforesun reached our camp. Their tripmust have been interesting as theyassumed other identities while in thecave. Below the 65 meter pitch there77
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Number 10AMesActivitiesNewsletterJu
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compilcJ Ly Peter S. SprouseAUSTRIA
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Long Caves of MexicoPeter S. Sprous
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,/
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hole with a 3 meter cave entrance.I
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Interestingly enough, the majorpass
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proceeded to find 78 ticks on mybod
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The Sierra de Guatemala mountain ra
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meter long, 9 meter deep, slopingdr
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Diving the big springs of the Sierr
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Aerial view of Nacimiento del R10 M
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Nacimiento del Rio CoyOn Monday, 26
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Entrance chamber, Nacimiento del Rl
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We discovered a source of compresse
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Steve Zeman rappels into the SalaGr
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no problem and we were soon fourwhe
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event that the dive panned out andw
Page 42 and 43: keep an accurate fix on whether itw
Page 44 and 45: we had finished the last of the rop
Page 46 and 47: tance. This continued for some 280m
Page 48 and 49: Talus summit at the beginning of An
Page 50 and 51: source, a kilometer and a half upst
Page 52 and 53: consisted of a dusty dry corridorbo
Page 54 and 55: There was much speculation aboutthe
Page 56 and 57: turning to Camp II we found Richard
Page 58 and 59: We had barely slept three hourswhen
Page 60 and 61: POSTEXPEDITION NOTESBill Steele and
Page 63: -f//'~:;San,Agustin,,~~~:= ']--="~-
Page 67: translated from the Mazatecby Cathy
Page 70 and 71: Ateschalla Norte ySurThe following
Page 73: CUEVA DE TASALOLPANcuetzalan, puebl
Page 76 and 77: CuetzalanSteve KnutsonSpring 1979Ma
Page 78: Thirty meter pitch into canal secti
Page 81: ENTRADACANONACUEVATECOLOESTADA DE P
Page 85 and 86: S6tano del BuqueRobert JefferysSota
Page 87 and 88: the rope. What John had been trying
Page 89: METERSo50NmICEBERG ROOM100-506500
Page 94: was a sizable horizontal sectionwhi
Page 97: Cueva de XocotlatMunicipio de San P
Page 101 and 102: 1979 SPRINGDale PatePROJECTPlans we
Page 103 and 104: were the only ones left at the fiel
Page 105 and 106: to 4 hours exploring and sketchingv
Page 107 and 108: persons working on this mapping tea
Page 109 and 110: Fifteen meter drop in Moria.(Thomas
Page 111 and 112: French delegationarrivesAfter sever
Page 113 and 114: French ConnectionFriday the 13th sa
Page 115 and 116: everyone prepared for the hike toCa
Page 117 and 118: Terri t Dale t and Steve returned t
Page 119: SISTEMAPURIFICACIONMunicipio Villa
Page 122 and 123: Letters to the EditorTothe Editor:B
Page 124: ATLAS DES GRANDES GOUFFRES DU MONDE
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