17MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

Persons: Ed Alexander, Bob Burnett, John Fish, Susan Loving,Jim MeadDate: 30 April-l May 1966Destination: Monterrey, N. L. areaReported by: John FishOn Friday, April 29, we headed for Monterrey with the ambitiousproject of mapping the famous Grutas de Villa de Garciaand further exploring Cueva de La Boca (also called Grutas deSantiago). Garcia is operated by the Lions Club of Monterrey andGarcia. After gaining permission on Saturday to map the cave, wedrove about thirteen miles west of Monterrey on the Saltillo highway,then turned north to the town of Garcia, following the roadon to the cave. The high, steeply bedded mountains along theroute are quite impressive.Saturday afternoon we took the exciting cable car ride up tothe entrance. Our altimeter showed the difference in elevationto be close to 700 feet, although the locals claim 900 feet.Since time was limited, Jim and Bob formed one mapping team andEd, Susan, and John formed another. The cave has two shelterlikeentrances in the cliff face, each with a small opening intothe large chamber beyond. This large room, measuring about 700feet long and up to 240 feet wide, and a smaller room 270 feetlong and 100 feet wide, comprise the major portion of the cave.Large columns and stalagmites, flowstone curtains, and giant piecesof breakdown larger than several houses are characteristic of thisdry cave. There are numerous alcoves with smaller formations andcrystals, and a "theater" formed by a semicircle of columns on alarge breakdown block. Also in the large chamber is a 350 foothigh skylight with the ceiling of the cave arching up to 170 feetdirectly below it.We left Garcia when the cave closed for the day and drovesouth of Monterrey to Santiago, where we turned east into themountains, arriving at Cueva de La Boca about sunset. Miningoperations stop only on Sunday, so that is the only day whenpeople are allowed to visit the cave. The entrance is apprOXimatelya square, 100 feet on a side. Sunday morning we baganmappin~ at a point 700 feet back in the cave (end of previoussurvey) where a 50 foot in diameter dome extends completely outof sight, even by flashlight. After about 300 feet more of passage,we came to a room 140 feet in diameter With no visibleceiling. Since this was the end of the horizontal passage, webegan mapping up the wall. The Mexicans have built a 110 foothigh tower near the wall to gain access to phosphate depositsabove. From the top of the tower we scaled the walls until Boband Jim reached a point 376 feet above the floor where technicalequipment will be necessary. A three cell flashlight still didnot reveal any sign of the ceiling. Lacking enough equipment, wereturned to the Land Rover and headed for Garcia again to finishmapping the smaller room. After two hours we finished our map andreturned to Austin. Maps of both caves will appear in later publications.22