17MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

157obtain a rough idea of how many and what ty~e of caves are locatedin the area. (See trip report on page 150.) Meanwhile, Bud and Icontinued on, driving through the rugged mountains between Tamazunchaleand Mexico City. Along the road two small areas of barrenkarst and internally drained depressions were noted. The first wasat kilometer post 323 at a place called Tamaulipas and the secondwas just down the road at kilometer post 317. These locationsshould be checked for caves as no work whatsoever has been done inthis region by the AMCS. Our immediate destination was the NationalPark at the volcanos of Popocat~petl and Ixtacc!huatl. Afterfighting our way through the traffic in Mexico City we passed severalsmall towns and eventually arrived at the park.1* December We spent the day climbing on Popocatepetl and viewingt e scenery.20 December Passing through Mexico City, we drove to the commercIalGrutas de Cacahuarnilpa in Guerrero then turned north on Highway55. Continuing approximately 5 miles past the state line intothe state of Mexico, we arrived at the marked turnoff to Grutas dela Estrella. From here it is 2 km west to the end of the roadwhich overlooks the cave entrance. An arroyo leads into a largedepression, at one end of which is Grutas de la Estrella. The portionof the cave we explored and surveyed consists of an undergroundriver passage blocked by a deep pool 595 feet from the entranceand a 950 foot long upper level loop containing many formations.This day we surveyed the upper level loop with the exceptionof two side passages.21 December We returned to the cave and began mapping where wehad left off the day before. From the entrance the large streampassage continues for 217 feet before dropping. At this point awooden bridge has been built along the left wall overlooking thedrop and it leads to the upper level loop. (See photograph onpage 158.) It required several hours to map the two side passagesoff the loop and check for other leads. With this section of thecave complete we returned to the entrance. Bud decided to returnto the truck while I went back to survey the downstream sectionpast the first drop and wooden bridge. This proved to be thelargest section of the cave, with the passage averaging over 60feet wide and 70 feet high. After only a few hundred feet I encountereda deep pool completely blocking the way. Because thecarbide lamps were growing dim from lack of carbide and the passageonly got larger on the other side of the pool, I called itquits. Additional trouble was encountered with the lamps whenthe strong air currents entering the cave extinguished the flames.I reached the truck by nightfall and we drove back to the highway.Not having decided which cave to visit next, we continued only afew miles south then camped at a place called "El Mirador".22 December The roadside stop where we were camped proved to bewell=deserving of the name "El Mirador" or The Lookout. Immediatelyon the other side of a stone wall from where we were parkedwas a cliff over 400 feet high. From its base the ground slopedsteeply down for over one thousand -feet to the Rio Chontalcoatlanat the bottom of the gorge. Upstream this river passes throughGrutas .de la Estrella. Downstream it is again pirated undergroundand then emerges from the Rio Chontalcoatlan entrance of Dos Bocas3 km (airline distance) away.Continuing east, we drove through the village of El Mogote to