Nita N'JOU & Nita Nido, Huautla, Mexico

All photos by Chris Higgins (@chrishigginsphoto). Nita N'JOU and Nita Nido are two caves that connect into a massive room called the TAG Shaft — 495ft deep — just above the La Grieta section of Sistema Huautla. It had been 35 years since a team entered this system; among our team were the original explorers. We found a fault within the wall at the bottom that takes water from two sides and sucks air into unknown depths. Survey data shows this system is only 600ft above the L Room in Camp 2 of La Grieta.

The entrances to Nita N'JOU and Nita Nido had been lost. Chris Higgins wanted to photograph the TAG shaft so a ridge walk was organized to find them. Got landowner access through thorn bushes and steep muddy sinkholes — found 6 cave entrances. One entrance had a stream going into a sloping passage with 20-30ft drops — the most promising. After 4 days in La Grieta we pushed into Nita N'JOU for the TAG Shaft with Rich Zarria, Jason Lavender, and Lee White. An incredible experience to be only the second team in 35 years.