Hidden Earth 2024
Cuetzalan, 20 Years On From The First Sump Rescue, and the Future
45 minute Lecture|Steve Whitlock

Abstract
Cuetzalan was forever changed by the events in Mar 2004, when six cavers were rescued via a sump and were on the front page of every western newspaper for 10 days. It was the first rescue of its kind. Following a recent visit on the 20th Anniversary, Steve Whitlock reflects on the 2004 trip, the effects the rescue had on the area, on the lessons that could be learned and on potential future exploration. With over 127km of known cave, the karst around Cuetzalan remains largely unexplored and has the potential to have its cave systems ranked amongst some of the longest in the world.
More from 2024
Lecture|Louise Korsgaard
Back to Buda
Lecture|Fleur Loveridge
Try a Little Harder
Workshop|Wookey
Cave Surveying Group Meet/AGM
Lecture|Simon James Brooks
Caving in the Abode of the Clouds, Meghalaya, NE India - February 2024
Lecture|Peter Talling
The Remote Pico del Oro Plateau in North Peru: Searching for Caves in 2,800m Deep Limestone
Lecture|John Gunn
Sulphate caves and karst in the South Harz Mountains, Central Germany
Lecture|Alex Stacey
South Wales Round Up
Lecture|Jono Lester
Cambridge University Caving Club - Totes Gebirge Expedition 2024
Lecture|Peter Talling
Junction Junkies - Connecting Draughting Hole and Missed Pot to make a 7.7 km system
Workshop|Paul Taylor & Footleg
Video Workshop - discussion about equipment and ideas -