#sumaguing

SUMAGUING CAVE, SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES (10 October 2015)

Exploring Sumaguing Cave was easily the highlight of our visit to the Sagada. And though surveying the cave’s gaping mouth alone could already discourage the timid, my sister Eileen, myself, my cousin Angie, and my officemates Mar and Mark eagerly began our descent and were soon swallowed by the earth beneath us.  Led by a guide who was armed only with a kerosene lamp, we crawled down several storeys of ancient rock. Our thighs were cramping, but we eventually reached flat ground and began to scan our surroundings. The cave walls were enchanting in the lamplight as we walked through the enormous chamber, dipping our feet into pools of cool, clear water, and gazed at the curious limestone formations all around us. 

Spelunking. I first encountered the word when I was working on a project for the Philippine Department of Tourism in 2007. That shows you how little I know about caves. And how much of a non-athlete, non-adventurer I am. In October of 2015, however, I managed to try spelunking first hand, thanks to my sister Eileen, who insisted that we plan a trip to Sagada.

Exploring Sumaguing Cave was easily the highlight of our visit to the Mountain Province. And though surveying the cave’s gaping mouth alone could already discourage the timid, we eagerly began our descent and were soon swallowed up beneath the ground. Our hearts raced.

Led by a guide who was armed only with a kerosene lamp, Eileen, myself, my cousin Angie, and my officemates Mar and Mark crawled down several storeys of ancient rock. “The trip back up will be much faster,” our guide reassured, though I wondered how that was going to be possible. But he was descending the cave in flip-flops and did not need his hands for support. So I was sure he knew what he was talking about.

We finally reached flat ground and began to scan our surroundings. The cave walls were enchanting in the lamplight. After being instructed to remove our footwear, we embarked on the second part of our adventure.

We walked through the enormous chamber, dipping our feet into pools of cool, clear water, and gazed at the curious limestone formations all around us.

We stopped on occasion to take photos, and our guide would prop his lamp on some secure position to give us the best possible lighting.

Some areas were harder to reach than others. For those spots, caving rope was available. The third part of our adventure.

If not for the slippery surface, travelling alongside the cave walls on rope was not so bad. Though I admit having entertained the thought of falling over and gashing my head. That was not going to happen.

We crawled into tiny crevices and found ourselves waist-deep in rushing water. Thankfully, I was in dry-knits.

We eventually re-emerged in the main chamber where we took a last photo for posterity. Then it was time to begin our ascent. True enough, that seemed to be the easiest part of our spelunking adventure. Go figure.