17MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

154Once back at camp Chuck checked a small hole located just tothe west of Gruta de Navidad. Although this cave is smaller, itis much more active and much better decorated. As we then usedthe water from a gourd in the entrance room we decided to call thecave Cueva de Agua.After lunch 3 of us took the remaining rope and struck offfor S6tano de La Silleta. It was a fight up moist dirt and vegetationand I was beginning to think that I should have remainedin camp. Near the top of the ridge we yelled and Kirk answered.He came down and led us along the newly made trail to the s6tano.He had been down the entrance drop but because he had lost hiscarbide lamp on the hike to the cave he could not continue. Kirksaid that the pthers had kept on going down and he had last heardfrom them 4 hours earlier. We waited at the brink of the largeentrance for an hour before the group in the cave returned. Kirkand I took all the gear we could carry and started back to Grutade Navidad. Back at camp Richard and Dave briefly described thecave. Richard said that a conservative estimate would place theirpoint of penetration at 700 feet below the entrance. Dave exclamedthat it was one of the most beautiful caves he had seen. (See,"Notes on the Exploration of s6tano de La Silleta", on page 155.)26 December We struggled out of bed and lugged the ropes andother gear down to the point where the burros were to meet us atnoon. Chuck decided to stay at the high camp another day in orderto locate caves for future investigation. Several were found.The boy and the burros were right on time, and we made a qUicktrip back to Tlamaya where we paid our fee of 25 pesos for the useof the burros. We got back to base camp at the rancho/at 5 p.m.and met Sr. Rafael Gonzalez Cisneros, the new owner 01 Rancho deHuitzmolotitla. We thanked him for permitting us to camp on hisranch and he said that we were always welcome.27 December After taking it easy until 11 a.m. Richard, Kirk,Dave, and I decided to tackle s6tano de Tlamaya. The entrance pitwas entered at 12:30 p.m. Everything went smoothly, though thecave was qUite wet, and the end was reached at 6 p.m o To speedup the return, we split into two teams: Kirk and I, and Richardand Dave. Kirk and I headed straight for the Big Room and stoppedfor a meal. Richard and Dave derigged the drops, giving us allthe ropes when they reached the Big Room. The two of us then tookoff while they stopped for their dinner.28 December Our team method worked beautifully and Kirk was outof the s6tano by 3:30 a.m. He went to the rancho for the truck tohaul our gear as well as get some dry clothes for all of us.Richard and Dave were now at the bottom of the entrance drops, andafter hauling rope up to my level, I started up the last prusik of279 feet. Dave came up next and the p of us hauled up some of,therope. After much trouble with the rope getting snagged, Richardexited the cave 16 hours after we had entered. The rest of theday was spent sleeping and eating.29 December Our group reluctantly broke camp as we prepared toleave this great cave area. We thanked Sr. Larios again and startedthe driveathon back to Tucson, Arizona.