Mike,
While the hydrogeology of the cave probably hasn't changed
much over the year, the tourism has. The last time I was
there there was no admission to La Gloria, or to anywhere
else except for one fee to enter the property.
What I can tell you about La Gloria is that there is a
canyon that extends over the cave. It is a pretty and
interesting contrast from the rest of the area and is cut
in limestone instead of the more dominant siltstones and
shales. When I first went up there in 1979, there was
little evidence that anyone regularly went into that
canyon. The same was true on my last trip up there about
15 years ago. On the 1979 trip, I followed the canyon back
to where it narrows to about 2 m and ends in a travertine
wall. In the wall is a body-size hole that blows hot air
and drops into the cave (rope is needed). I described this
in an AMCS report and later, when that part of the cave
was mapped by Mexican cavers, the map included the label
"La Gloria." The position of the label made it look La
Gloria was the small hole, but I've always suspected it
was for the large pit where the Arroyo de Chalmita plunges
a short way beyond the top of the travertine wall. In
either case, it depending on what fee is charged, I think
it is worth seeing. If it's the pit, they must have
installed a ladder or some means to scale the travertine
wall. Another possiblility is that they may take you up
what was, at least when I was there, a little-known trail
that steeply climbs over the ridge into the Arroyo de
Chalmita, allowing you to visit the pit from the upstream
side -- a bit more vigorous trip but a nice hike and also
worthwhile in my opinion.
Have a great time! I'd be interested to learn what things
are like there now.
George
On Sun, 8 Apr 2007 20:49:36 -0500
Michael Warshauer <warshauer.mich...@gmail.com> wrote:
George, that is fascinating information. I really
appreciate having a better understanding of the
hydrogeology. Thank you and Bill Mixon and David
Locklear for responding.
As I mentioned in my original letter, we are going as
purely
tourists, not as cavers. I gave up physical caving in
about 1995 and now am purely an armchair caver. So, no
worries about me attempting a through trip. I told David
that my second main concern was that the hotel was
reasonably clean and comfortable. ;-)
What is the upper end, "La Gloria" like? Is it worth
paying a separate admission fee?
We hope to visit Tolantongo in about a week from
Tuesday. Still well within the dry seaon.
Best wishes,
Mike
On Apr 8, 2007, at 8:20 PM, <gv...@warpdriveonline.com>
wrote:
Mike and Susan,
I'm sending this response directly to you and as well as
the list
since there may be others who are interested in this
fine cave.
I've been to Tolantongo several times, and at different
times of
the year, and have never noticed any significant change
in flow,
which was generally about 3 cubic meters/second if you
include the
springs surrounding the river that discharges from the
cave. I did
a hydrogeological study there years ago and determined
the water
travels through a large syncline, descending to and
rising from a
depth of 2.2 km. This accounts for the temperature,
which ranges
from 34-40 degrees C depending on where you sample it.
The flow
through the syncline appears to buffer the effects of
the recharge
events about 30 km to the west that supply the water,
hence the
relatively constant discharge. I strongly recommend not
going to
the cave during the rainy season. The upper entrance at
the
upstream end of the cave swallows the flow of the Arroyo
de
Chalmita. Most of the year the arroyo carries a trickle
of flow,
but during desert flash-floods small trees and livestock
get
flushed through the cave and the blue-white water turns
to dark
brown from all of the sediment. For anyone who wants to
do the
through trip, make sure there is no chance of rain and
be prepared
to handle serious water and heat. I'm afraid a through
trip will
kill someone some day who is not adequately prepared.
George
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