Cueva del Rayo

Cueva del Rayo has a small entrance 4’ W x 6’ H. We descended into larger walking passage. To the right, light shone in from a smaller E2. To the left the large walking passage sloped down. It was about 20’ W x 9’ H. The ceiling had many large stalactites similar to Giant Cricket Cave. I immediately liked this cave better than the first. It looked like the large walking passage could continue down-slope. After a few pictures I shined my bright light and saw a mud bank below. The passage continued as a crawlway to the elft of the mud bank. Below we crawled and contorted down the 9’ high, keyhole canyon. We reached a constriction. Ahead, the water fell about 4’ feet below and the passage seemed to continue. Soon it was big enough to squeeze through. I descended down the 4’ vertical climb-down head first and contorted around encouraging the passage to enlarge. Ahead, the passage again didn’t agree with my body proportions but we worked it out. After a couple tighter sections I crawled into a larger room 12’ W x 14’ H. This lasted for about 25’ feet before shrinking back in a narrow crawling canyon where I contorting to follow the stream cascades. I did a tighter squeeze, bellied over a smooth stalagmite, and lowered myself down. Ahead, a flowstone stalactite blocked continuation. The water fell below into an elliptical room 2’ W x 4’ L. I could only peak around each side of the formation. All the walls I could see were covered in formations. I dammed up the water in the small room. I couldn’t hear water flowing below. When I dropped rocks down I could here a splash and then a sumpy sound. I think the passage sumps below. Above, there was a 16’ slot dome in the ceiling which I climbed. It didn’t go and was covered in slimy mud meaning it likely flooded here. As we routed, Alan asked if I’d seen the crab. On the way out Alan caught a cave crab to show me. We climbed to the top of the sink and radioed Brandon. They met us and showed us the entrance to Small Banana Cave named for the bunch of bananas near the entrance. Brandon said Marion and he had eaten the better ones. I still managed to eat about 6. Marion said we’d have dig through dirt at the lowest point in the cave. To Cueva Plátanitos