17MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

After exploring this sink we drove west and north toArteaga where much inquiry about caves led us to believe thatthe only cave of any consequence in the area is Gruta de Cuevacillas(see AMCS NEWSLETTER, Volume I, Number 7, page 68). Wedid not care to make the long climb up to the cave so we decidedto continue east on a good gravel road. After several miles wecame to a junction. Taking the left fork we stopped at the baseof a 300 foot hill near the top of which we could see what wasan obvious cave entrance. Gathering up our gear we climbed upto the cave, which proved to be a mine apparently excavatedalong a previously filled cave passage. Small solution domesand alcoves gave evidence of the existence of the original cave,but in general it was uninteresting and only 210 feet long. Twocave crickets were taken in the cave and one Rhadine seen, so itwas of some biological interest.From here we continued to drive east in the hope that wecould cross the mountains to reach the highway to Monterrey.InqUiry indicated that a road, though poor, did eXist, so wedrove on. The farther we drove, however, the worse the roadbecame and the less encouraging local reports on road conditions.Finally a horseman told us that the road was impassable beyondthe next village. We drove on still farther, however, andfinally reached a high beautiful pass at the top of the mountains.Below us we could see a spectaCUlar canyon dropping to the east,but the road was already bad and we knew that if it got worsewe would be out of luck. A pleasant night was spent here.,·Il,-.•.The next morning Orion departed at the c~ack of dawn 'toclimb the nearest mountain, so Dick and I slept a little longerand then I proceeded to make a few collections in this relativelyunknown area biologically. When Orion returned we packed thecar and headed back towards Arteaga. From Arteaga we drove onto Saltillo and then to Grutas de Villa de Garcia where I hopedto do some collecting. The manager wasn't there so w~ had topay to get in, but the guide very generously let us have the runof the cave for as long as we wanted. A couple of hours werespent scouring the cave for life, but only a few animals couldbe found. Some of the best areas for collecting have beendestroyed by commercialization and apparently most of the previouscollections were made before the cave was opened.After returning from our trip to Garcia we ate lunch anddrove on that night to Cueva de Carrizal which none of us hadseen. Although it was reported to us that the pavement wascompleted to Candela, we found this not to be the case and thatthe last few miles were very definitely not paved. None of ushaVing been to the cave, we were rather uncertain as to whereto go and so when we discovered ourselves in the middle of thedesert and not where our directions said we should be, we pulledover to the side of the road and spent a hot, mosquitoey night.We arose with the first rays of the sun and soon found theright road and drove on to the cave.'We found the water in the cave a more than welcome reliefafter many hot hours in gypsite sinks, deserts, and dusty mines.A small collection in the upper entrance room produced a new53