No injured cavers recorded.
On Tuesday, December 13, a touring group of cavers did Sotano de Huiztmolotitla in Mexico. Six cavers entered the cave, doing the 364 foot, dry, entrance drop and the 156 foot waterfall drop into a long stream gallery. They did about 3000 feet of the stream gallery and headed out. Some trouble was encountered at the 156 as the spraying water tended to put out carbide lamps. Finally, all but Jerry Hassemer (45) were up the 364. Hassemer rigged in and had just started up when he came out of his chest harness and fell over backwards to be stopped hanging from his foot loops. He was using a Mitchell system with a Gibbs safety to a seat sling. His carbide lamp was extinguished and so he was hanging a few feet off the floor in the dark. Communication with those on top was not possible because of the sound of the waterfall. With great effort Hassemer righted himself and continued his ascent.
At the top he needed to undo his chest attachment to pass the lip. He asked for a sling to hold onto and one was provided with a loop quickly tied on the end. He got out of his box but when he put weight on the hand sling, the loop came untied and Hassemer again found himself hanging upside down, this time at the top of the 364 foot drop. He again righted himself and with help from the others, passed the lip.
Analysis: Talk about bad luck! Still, in heavy duty vertical caving, one should have his system together. By the same token, with a sling loop is offered to one in trouble, it should at least be tied with a real knot.