asscciation for mexican cave studies box 7672 ut station austin ...

AMCS ACTIVITIES LETTEREdited by Bill RussellProduction Assistance by Terri TreacyFall 1976Issue StaffJim SmithPeter SprouseBill Stoneletter No.5, Jan 1977Xilitla Plateau IssueThis fifth Activities letter features trip reports to the hi?h karstarea above Xilitla. S.L.? The first article by Bill Stone is a firsthand account of discovery as he walks through a new k.:lrst area. Thesecond article by Roy Jameson will bring you back to the cold reality ofcamping in the rain. ~lexican caving provides plenty of both.Tbou~h very promising, the rlifficulty of access and lack of knowncaveS has limited exploration in the high karst. The first cavers toreach this area were Ron Grirlgeman. Chuck Pea~e. Roger Bartholo~ew. ~n~other!'! in 1966. ·TI1ey packed up the steep tr-til fro·11 Tlamaya to just westof the prominent pinnacle of La Silleta, and checked several caves. Butaccess to the rest of the hip:h area '....as cifficult from this far ea~t -so exploration did not continue. About 196Q, T.~. ~vans and John FishcrosseJ the high karst and explored a cave that drained a lar~e area, butit siphoned after a series of small drops. :\0 other promisin~ caves werefound, and a brief reconnaissance on foot by ilill Calvert and Victoria Foewho crossed the hieh area and walked to San Juan at the south end of theLa Parada valley also failed to find any .promising caves.These early trips indicated that the high i