Today's Stories: · Pete Simpson: Interview · Visit the new Cuetzalan   Market Gallery. · Thunderstorms, Caves    and Russian Roulette.

Thunderstorms, Caves and Russian Roulette.
There has been a significant amount of rain in the last two days. The sump in Alpazat is full and it will now not be possible for us to return there during this expedition.

The weather forecast is for thunderstorms in the late afternoons, but the mornings are seductively bright and sunny.

Consequently, cavers may be tempted to go and push leads in low, wet stream systems but face a high risk of being hit by flood pulses if the thunderstorms materialise. This is the caver's equivalent of Russian Roulette. In the past, our expeditions here have seen a number of severe floods, three of which have trapped cavers underground and endangered their lives.

	So far and so close: Jonathan terribly frustrated by the rain, which is forcing the expedition to change the focus.

This year we have the benefit of experience, combined with good weather forecasts and a weather station. We have been cautious, but to have been otherwise would have lead, once again, to trapped cavers.

The direction of the expedition has therefore been changed for the last few days before our return to Europe. An area about 8KM from Cuetzalan will be investigated; we know of four caves there, but little work has been done and these have not been explored. They are not as exciting as Cueva Alpazat, but neither are they as dangerous or temperamental in unsettled weather.