Application for Grant Aid
Submitted on: 26 Oct 2016Expedition details (GPF2017a-001)
Region: Oaxaca
MEF funding: none
Cavers ≤25 yrs old: 1Cavers 25-35 yrs old: 2
Eligible for grant aid: 0
Alex Pitcher nominations: 0
Expedition duration (days): 29
Field days: 120 Travel days: 20
List a short summary of the main Expedition objectives.
This expedition is a follow up trip to the 2016 resurgence trip which discovered 600m of dry passage after a 1.4km long sump. The way on appears to be underwater and with more that 7km to go before a connection with San Agustin there is a lot of potential for great exploration in this area.The main objective is to continue diving upstream in the resurgence cave but secondary objectives are a reconnaissance trip into nearby Pena Colorada and further exploration in a minor resurgence nearby called 'HR' resurgence. We hope that the recon into Pena Colorada will lay the ground work for a full scale trip there in 2018.
Please explain the aspects of the trip which make it eligible for Ghar Parau funding.
GPF supported our 2013 expedition to this area and we hope you support our continued exploration in this part of Mexico. Grant aid will help with the cost of consumable supplies and specialist equipment being purchased for this trip. Any equipment and supplies purchased this year will be added to the expedition gear we already own allowing us the establish a cache of kit in the US, ready to be driven down to Meixco.Give a more detailed account of the purpose of the trip, including any particular known caves you intend to visit, specific areas where you will explore for new cave, and scientific experiments you will attempt.
As primary objectives the expedition will:Establish a base camp in the village of Santa Ana.
Set up an advance dive base in the Santo Domingo Canyon complete with emergency supplies.
Reline where necessary sump 1 of the resurgence
Rig a hauling and traverse line in the waterfall chamber between sump 1 and sump 2
Reline where necessary sump 2 of the resurgence
Stage emergency diving cylinders at key locations in sump 2
Stage emergency equipment in the dry galleries located after sump 2
Establish a advance camp in the dry galleries after sump 2
Attempt to locate the underwater continuation of the upstream sump 2
Photograph and film the exploration
As secondary objectives:
Locate the 'Canyon Entrance' to Pena Colorada
Scout a suitable location for a surface camp near the Pena Colorada entrance.
Make a series of dives into the first few sumps in Pena Colorada to establish the nature of the cave.
Scout the route from the San Agustin side of the mountain range to Pena Colorada to decide where the base camp should be located.
Dive the as yet un dived 'HR' resurgence sump.
Give details of any previous work in this area by your own and other teams. Include references to reports and articles published on the area, and the names of any local cavers or academics with whom you have discussed the Expedition.
1984 - Bill Stone USDCT1995 - Bill Stone USDCT ("1995 Rio Tuerto Expedition" published in AMCS Newsletter 22 1997)
2001 - Bill Stone USDCT + CDG ("2001 InnerSpace Odyssey Expedition" published in AMCS Newsletter 25 2002)
2013 - UK expedition. (AMCS Bulletin 25 2013)
2014 - PESH expedition (Bill Steele)
2015 - PESH expedition (Bill Steele)
2016 - PESH expedition (Bill Steele)
2016 - Huautla Resurgence Expedition.
Expedition Finances
Travel
Travel plans: |
| # from UK: | 2 | Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK): |
| Total costs from UK: | £1,650 | Flights: £1500 Hotels: £50 Bus: £100 |
| # from outside UK: | 4 | Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK): |
| Total costs from outside UK: | £4,280 | Flights from Australia: £3720 Bus: £100 Fuel/Toll costs for truck: £360 Hotels: £100 |
| Travel total: | £5,930 | Travel p.p. from UK: | £825 |
| Travel p.p. from outside UK: | £1,070 |
Subsistence
| Total: | £1,670 | Comments: |
| Subsistence p.p.: | £278 | Based on last year's expedition we know that it should cost: Accommodation cost: £550 Food, drink and other supplies: £700 Local 'permit' costs: £20 Translator and Cook: £400 |
Gear
| Total: | £1,200 | Comments: |
| Gear p.p.: | £200 | Oxygen and Helium: £250 Dive Line 3km: £300 Sofno Lime (5 tubs at £70): £350 Bolts: £50 Rope: £150 Misc: £100 |
Special 1
| Total: | £200 | Comments: |
| Special 1 p.p.: | £33 | We are likely to have to pay for the rental of several trucks during the expedition. |
Special 2
| Total: | £200 | Comments: |
| Special 2 p.p.: | £33 | We are considering building some diving specific dry tubes in order to transport camping gear through the sump. These will need to be manufactured in the U.S. Approx £50 per tube and 4 tubes required. |
| Exped Total: | £9,200 | Exped cost p.p. travelling from UK: | £1,370 |
| Exped cost p.p. travelling from outside UK: | £1,615 | ||
| Mean Exped cost per person: | £1,533 |
Other Funding
| Total: | £400 | Comments: |
| Last year we received NSS funding of $500. We are hopeful of getting a similar amount this year. |
| Total shortfall: | £8,800 | Mean shortfall per person: | £1,466 |
Referees and Report
Please give the names, addresses and phone numbers of two suitably qualified people whom the Committee can contact. You should ensure that they are aware of the objectives of your trip, and that you have their permission for the Committee to contact them.
Affiliation: Friend
Reason: John is a highly experienced cave diver and I believe he is well placed to assess the cave diving merits of the expedition.
Affiliation: Friend
Reason: Tim was part of the 2013 expedition and can judge the abilities of the UK participants in achieving our objectives.