17MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

26Persons: Chip Carney and Don EricksonDate: 6-11 April 1966Destination: S6tano de MontecillosReported by: Chip CarneyDuring the Easter vacation Don Erickson and Chip Carneywent to the Ciudad Valles area to map and continue the explorationof the S6tano de Montecillos cave system. (See AMCS NEWS­LETTER~ Volume I~ Number 3~ pages 31 & 32.) They mapped thearroyo from the S6tanito de Montecillos to the end of the arroyowhere it enters S6tano de Montecillos. The upper level passageof the S6tano was mapped for 600 feet to a point where it becamea water crawl. The pit to the lower level was also entered andthe main downstream passage explored.The Sotano de Montecillos cave system, 4.5 miles north ofCiudad Valles, is the southernmost of the caves near the villageof Los Sabinos. It is 2.5 miles east of the Cd. Valles-Cd. Mantehighway. Good dirt roads allow cars to get within 1/2 mile ofthe arroyo which drains into the caves. The S6tanito de Montecillosis located in the floor of the arroyo. As reported by D.McKenzie~ it is a vertical well apprOXimately 110 feet deep witha passage system at its bottom going south and southeast forllabout 2000 feet" to a lake. Lack of flotation equipment haltedMcKenZie's exploration and the cave has not been entered since.From the S6tanito the arroyo goes to the east for 300 feet.Then it gradually curves to the right to go south. Just beforereaching the S6tano de Montecillos the arroyo makes a shar~ bendto the left to approach the cave from the west. (See map.) Thearroyo dead-ends in a sheer cliff 150 feet high. During heavyrains all of the water of the arroyo goes down the 45 foot verticalentrance drop. The entrance pit is 75 feet wide and about50 feet across. From this 45-foot level a 30 by 30 foot passagegoes west, back under the arroyo. The passage remains large forabout 200 feet. Then it becomes much smaller; 10 feet wide withthe ceiling varying from 5 to 10 feet high. After another 150feet the passage becomes very low (1 1/2 to 2 feet) for severalyards. It then opens up again to permit walking. At this pointa lake begins. Blind fish were observed here, as in all otherpools in the cave. Six hundred feet from the entrance this passagebecomes a water crawlway. Exploration has not gone beyondthis point. Two side passages branch south from the large sectionnear the entrance. Each becomes a water passage after 50 to 100feet. Neither have been explored. The water in the branch nearerthe entrance is fairly clean and is a source of water for campers.From the initial 45 foot entrance drop the water of thearroyo would go to the east in a large passage 20 feet wide and50 feet high. The pit, encountered 150 feet inside the east passage,is 140 feet deep. The slick flowstone slope, which preventsclose inspection of the pit, continues down the west wall of thepit. The wall ends 10 feet above a large lake. There is a naturalbridge across the pit about 2/3 of the way down. By traversing tothe southwest it is possible to swing to the opposite side of thebridge and continue on down to a breakdown floor and thus avoidthe water. A water passage goes to the northeast. It is approximately75 feet wide with a 20 to 25 foot ceiling. The water is