David, if you could succeed in getting the Illusive Pit open again for cavers, I promise to write a ballad about it like the minstrels of old, singing your praises, and enter it in the NSS Ballad Contest. How’s that for an offer?
It’s Illusive Pit. To wit: http://www.mexicancaves.org/maps/0036.pdf Bill Steele [email protected] > On Jul 11, 2019, at 10:48 AM, David <[email protected]> wrote: > > The gate to the ranch is about here and was the only gate in the area around > 1995. > > > https://maps.app.goo.gl/JhahJ7GmyLhWBCVW8 > > Gate was constructed of pipe and painted bright yellow, with a protected > single heavy-duty key lock. > > There is a ranch house about 1/4 mile southwest beyond the gate. > > Only one spot required serious four-wheeling across an arroyo > before the house. Bring lumber, 2×6. > > The rest is flat with sharp rocks and tall sharp plants. So there, you just > need good ground-clearance and really tough tires > > Ranch hands lived in Candela 4 blocks south of Municipal building. > > Locals called it "La Mina de Something. ??" > > Owner's adult daughter lived on Nebraska St . in Laredo, Texas about ten > years ago. > > See Eustorgio Garcia ( R.I.P. ) > > > Using rebelays, the pit could be rigged as 3 easy drops ( 2 ledges, one of > which is large enough to get off rope in an emergency ( I tested it ). > > Leads are around but up high, but I think those passages may be mined tunnels. > > There could potentially be more passage beneath 20 tons of guano. > > I would recommend doing all the popular caves in the region there and just > skipping Illusive Pit. > > I ridge-walked the lower elevations of the west face of the mountain several > times while searching for it and while hoping to find other caves. If there > are other caves, they would probably be higher above Illusive Pit. > > Most likely there are more caves, on that mountain. I do not know if the > east face gets more rain. > > I did not re-find it by myself. The ranch-hands knew of it, but did not know > where it was exactly. They were one ravine off, as I recall and about 100 > meters off elevation. > > I gave them a 12-pack of American beer, which did not please their wives. I > think I made up for that on the second trip. > > I recall Terry Raines saying he verified the ledges interrupted the free > drop. > > My opinion is that you would have to install bolts if you did not bring a 600 > foot rope. We tied 3 ropes together and crossed knots which unfortunately > were not placed at the ledges. ( The first time we did it ) > > > > D. L. > _______________________________________________ > Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com > [email protected] | Archives: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
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