Hard to believe that was nearly 20 years ago. Was there not a pre-convention trip to Grutas de Carrizal ?
On the subject of Emerald Sink, it is possible that cavers could visit the first level of the cave without worry, as I think 7 cavers went past the Junction Room in 94 to look down the drop in Emerald Sink and none of them reported being sick. They were probably underground less than 2 hours and would not have been doing anything too strenuous to be taking deep breaths. The pit is the kind of rappel you would only want to do, if you did not have access to any other 140 foot, or just wanted to bop it once so you would know what is down there. Meaning it is boring compared to other 140 foot pits. The question I have, is what would it take to pump the bat urine out of the sump and haul out the dirt and rocks and guano. That would make the cave at least a few deeper. There is probably several thousand years of guano in the sump, from a colony of 500 bats, very near the sump. Is there a good map of the sump ? Diving in bat urine sounds sporting, but I do not recall the diver mentioning anything about guano. While I am ranting about guano, does anyone know any aquarium hobbyist using a pinch of guano under the roots of their aquarium plants ? David Locklear
