My Second Time in Sagada: Cave Connection in Lumiang and Sumaguing Cave and Other Details

Our Sagada trip was scheduled for December 2-4, 2011, so we left Manila at 9:00 PM on December 1. After spending several hours in the van, we finally reached Banaue and had our breakfast at the Halfway Lodge and restaurant at around 7:00 am. The service at Halfway Lodge and Restaurant was consistent with the restaurants in Sagada - it took a long time for them to serve.

After finishing our breakfast, we went back to the van to continue our journey. As a sidetrip, the driver took us to NFA-Aguian View Deck in Banaue. The view of the Banaue Rice Terraces from here is the one used for the P 1000 peso bill. We took photos and went off. The journey to Sagada via the what-seemed-endless zigzag road was still quite long.

the view at NFA-Aguian View Deck

We arrived in Sagada at around 10:00 am and checked-in at Kanip-Aw Pines View Lodge. Our group of 8 pax had been assigned to two rooms - four girls in a room, and I went with the three boys on the other room. The caretaker was concerned and was not comfortable with the set-up so he allowed the use of another room, hence me and Boots had the room to ourselves.

By 12:00 pm, we went out to eat our lunch. We had our lunch at Salt and Pepper Restaurant, and while waiting for our lunch to be served, the tour coordinator asked us if we would do the normal caving or the Lumiang-Sumaguing cave connection. The normal caving takes 2-3 hours and would only cover Sumaguing Cave. The cave connection sends spelunkers down at Lumiang Cave and out at Sumaguing Cave. It lasts for 5 hours or even longer depending on the volume of people inside the caves. Since I had already gone through the normal caving last year, I wanted to do the cave connection this year. It was actually one of the reasons why I went back. So while the rest of our group opted for normal caving, Boots and I chose to pay an additional P 300/pax for the cave connection and went with another group.

my lunch at Salt and Pepper restaurant

Boots, me, and the others who did cave connection

Though we were separated into two groups (the cave connection and normal caving group), we were both initially asked to go at the opening of Lumiang Cave for the briefing and a short historical background of the caves. After the briefing, we immediately started our cave connection and the group who would pursue normal caving was taken to Sumaguing Cave.

Kevin, the Saggas guide giving a brief introduction about the caves and the spelunking

The sufficient number of friendly SAGGAS guides made the cave connection much easier. They assisted us and allowed us to use them as "human steps" for hard-to-reach areas. But still, the cave connection remained challenging. There were narrow parts where you have to twist your body to a certain angle just to get through, parts where you have to "mind your head", steep parts, slippery parts, areas that require the use of ropes, and areas where you will get cold and wet. Before the start of the cave connection, the guide advised us to "monkey walk" for the descent - to walk on bent knees (resembles sitting) and hands touching the ground for added balance. I jokingly told Boots that I think it would be "no sweat" for me since I regularly use that position when descending from mountains (though it was not necessary; I just don't have a sense of balance).

the beginning of the cave connection at Lumiang Cave

instruction from the SAGGAS guide: turn around and use me as your human step

on-fours on one of the steep and slippery parts

at Sumaguing Cave - one of the parts where a rope is required (also a part of the normal caving)

You will get wet, and you are free to swim as you please.

resting or monkey-walking?

As for the caves' majestic features, there are pools inside Lumiang Cave where you could swim. We did not swim because I was freezing already. For Sumaguing Cave, the stalactites and stalagmites had various formations resembling objects such as curtain, chocolate cake, and other "for adults only" items (some people now call it "pornographic" cave). You must use your imagination to maximize your appreciation of the stalactite and stalagmite formations.

Happy Birthday! (with the chocolate cake formation on the background)

the "Queen" (figure out why)

The cave connection took us 5 hours. It could have been shorter if there were no stops for picture taking. While we were on our last stretch of ascent going out of Lumiang Cave, we didn't even realize that we were out of the cave already because the surroundings outside were already dark. The sun was very much still up when we went inside.

near the exit at Sumaguing Cave (We didn't realize we were at the exit because it's dark outside already.)

Boots and I were the first from our cave connection group to get outside. We remained freezing cold and drank coffee at the sari-sari store across Sumaguing Cave while waiting for the others. Once outside, I received a text message from my companion telling us that they got so tired from their normal caving and did not wait for us to eat dinner. So when the others who did cave connection arrived, Boots and I just had our dinner at Pinikpikan with them, and proceeded to the guest house after. And it was the end of our first day.

Cave connection, accomplished! (notice our drenched selves)

pinikpikan for dinner...and their local purple rice

THE ESSENTIALS:

Since it is spelunking, you might want to have your own light source. Never bring flashlights for it is a must to have both of your hands free. The SAGGAS guides bring oil lamps with them and it is sufficient light source already but it wouldn't hurt to have your own headlamp.
For at least five hours, your footwear is your best friend. Wear non-slippery, comfy footwear that you won't mind getting wet.
Since you would definitely get wet, you might also want to wear dri-fit clothing with swimwear underneath, if you plan to swim.
Bring a waterproof camera and waterproof everything if you can.
It is freezing cold inside and much more when you get out. An immediate change of dry clothes, or even a dry towel would do you good. This, I did not do because I did not want to bring anything with me (just my cellphone, headlamp and waterproof camera). You could ask the sari-sari store owner for permission to use their CR if you wish to change clothes.