Tuesday
3.12.2013
Today
we returned to the Gallardo ranch to clean up leads in the area. The first team of Bob, Scott and Geoff headed
back in to the down flow section of Cueva Gallardo to finish off this cave and photograph
the lava formation area. They were able
to add 580m before being stopped at a lava seal (lava just seals off the
passage with no continuation).
The
second team of Chris, Elizabeth and Rick H. went to investigate a tube segment
that can only be accessed via a 6m drop through a skylight. They took a short rope and their vertical
gear along on the 1km hike to the cave.
After rappelling in via the skylight, they observed that the drop was
free climbable. The team surveyed up
flow to a ramp entrance, and down flow to a lava seal. Overall the team surveyed 410m in this nice
tube segment.
 |
| Rick Toomey looks toward Theo Toulkerdis on a lava ramp |
The
final team of Aaron, Rick T. and Theo began the survey of Cueva Soyla, a new
cave that the owner had mentioned to us a couple of days earlier. The entrance to the cave was located in the
back of a banana tree field that had blackberries and cherry tomato plants
covering the ground. The entrance to the
cave was covered by blackberry vines, but once we cleared them, we discovered a
nice walk in entrance.
The
team set six stations before coming to the top of a short lava fall/ramp, where
the floor dropped away quickly and was joined by a lower tube coming in to the
passage.
We
continued our survey through beautifully colored passages, with dimensions
ranging from just a couple of meters wide and tall, to grand passages that
amaze at each turn.
 |
| R. Toomey and T. Toulkeridis explore Cueva Soyla |
The
cave finally ended on us after surveying 1038m in 7hrs. The last three stations were on a very muddy
floor with little room to move around.
The cave may continue, but it would require a significant digging effort
in less than desirable conditions.
 |
| The cave continued on for 3 more unpleasant stations. |
Overall
it was a great day for the expedition, with the 3 teams netting a total of
2028m of survey. The overall trend of
the lava tubes is very interesting, and may prompt more surface investigation
for tube continuations.
The
total survey for the first three days of the expedition stands at 3.7km.
so are you crawling in mud at the end?
ReplyDeleteyes, very muddy at the end. The floor abruptly changed from pahoehoe lava to tacky mud.
ReplyDeleteDo the tubes form in both aa and pahoehoe lava? Also can you explain the colors? What makes the lovely blue? And finally are you working for USGS? Inquiring mind here wants to know. The photos are great and this is one use of the Internet that I am very grateful for. Vicarious field trips.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought. Care to venture a guess at the volume of lava that tube would have carried? It boggles the mind.
ReplyDelete