No injured cavers recorded.
In the evening of December 16, a 1500 foot length of Bluewater II was rigged for a descent of el Sotano De Las Golondrinas. One caver made the descent and ascent that evening and noticed nothing unusual. The rope hung in the pit that night.
At dawn on the 17th the first caver descended and noticed nothing unusual. The second saw a frayed place but continued to the bottom. R. E. Whittemore went next with a Bluewater rack with five bars in use. About 50 feet below the lip he noticed a frayed place coming up. He continued slowly to inspect it. Besides being frayed it had a blue color in the area of the fray. As he passed the fray, however, it jammed between the top two bars of the rack and the sheath separated completely, exposing 8-10 inches of the core. Whittemore decided to retreat and informed those above he was coming up. He attached his knee Gibbs but couldn't attach the foot cam, so he call- ed up to have a portion of the rope not used (the excess beyond the anchor) lowered. This was done and he transferred to it and ascended.
Analysis: It is apparent that the rope suffered deterioration from a chemical agent. On this particular trip it was transported with care so it can be presumed to have been slowly deteriorating. To be watchful is always recommended. Even though others had descended just before, Whittemore was commendably cautious. Whether a rope is damaged from abrasion, rock fall or chemicals, hitting the weak spot slowly rather than fast could be the difference between life and death.