12MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

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