Extreme Caving at Tukang Cave

Entering a dark unknown and unfamiliar cave to me sounds eerie but since adventure and physical challenge is what I’m up to this summer, I didn’t hesitate to trust my friend who were one of the 1st explorer of this  untamed cave hidden in the mountains of Benguet. As we reached the site, the main entrance of the cave was gated and locked by the local government (for whatever reasons, it’s still undisclosed) so our guides decided to make an ascend to the other side of the mountain.

Outsiders not allowed! But not with those who ventured in 1st.

They’ve harnessed each one of us as one person at a time passed through the wobbly bridge made of a tree branch then climbed a rock and were led to enter a tiny hole.

Ms. Maya (above) climbs her way to the other entry while Sir John (below) walks thru that wobbly bridge made of a tree branch.

Unsure and unflattered of the sight, I thought of backing out but all the other girls had no hesitations and without any words, they slipped into the cave.  So I thought to myself, “Alright, I can do that!”.

Inside, flashlight is a necessity something that I truly regret forgetting for I didn’t pay much of attention when I was packing up my stuff! I thought, ” I can die here without a light”. Good thing, a guide got one extra for me- a penlight! So, I checked what’s inside the cave. There  were huge brown rocks as if intentionally carved asymmetrically with chisels and mallets. At 1st I thought “this cave could be a tunnel made by the Japanese way back world war II”. But as I looked closer, the boulders and the walls are authentically created by nature.

Just got inside the cave. The sight wasn’t so appealing yet. Looks like a tunnel made by soldiers way back WW2.

One of our guide went on to lead the way, just a few meters from the entrance was a tiny crevice, the only way into the other side and the only way out! I watched each one of my fellow adventurers slipped inside that tiny space and made it look so easy!

Ms. Lani crawling in…

But I knew to myself, with these extra inches and flabs on my sides, there’s no way I can fit myself into that hole! Despite of the  fear lurking in my head, I tried to slip my head in but  claustrophobia is like right in front of my face, “I might get stuck,  I can’t breathe! I can’t get out!”  So I declared, ” I’m not going! I won’t fit into this hole!”. I pulled myself back and was backing out already when I heard one of our guides trying to motivate me and were saying, “Verley, that’s the only tiny crevice you’ll gonna go through and everything in our path is as easy as 1, 2, 3!” Another one says, “You can either stay behind and wait for us in the darkness or slide inside this hole and do what we’re here to do!” I obviously didn’t have a choice but to stay with the group! So with one huge breathe, I bravely tried again and successfully slid myself into that narrow flat hole.

Slipping myself in a tiny crack… enough to ignite claustrophobia but only to find out it was too short to have scared the heck of me.

“Success!”, I thought to myself. I was proud to myself and was even surprise for being able to take on the challenge that awaits me in this spelunking adventure.

So we went on. We slid down into huge cracks, climb up rocks and walls and hike up slippery molds.

Senior guide, sir John worked on a rope for descend support

Everything in our pathway are boulders and sharp protruding stones. Thanks God for our flashlights!

Sir Jerry, an efficient mountaineer  and hiker making his way down.

Ms. Lani, climbing her way from one rock to another… Slippery…

As we go deeper into the cave, we started hearing water… but it’s nowhere in sight yet so we still have to find our way into that loud flowing sound.

Then, one step closer at a time, water started trickling from the ceilings, I knew we’re almost there.

water trickling from these sharp protruding part of the ceiling.

a stream behind the rocks

As we slipped into another wall of rock,  we were greeted by a welcoming sight of a naturally-made swimming pool!

The 1st pool.

It was so clear that you can see the rocks and stones lying at the bottom! The beauty of the place enthralled me! This clean water seemed to flushed down the fears I have felt earlier and was replace with excitement and admiration of the place.  On a higher part of the wall was a tiny bowl where clean water trickles down.  I couldn’t resist myself from quenching my thirst! My 1st taste of real and pure mineral water. Farther ahead, we can hear the loud pounding sound of flowing water from behind a huge rock. Though still in awe, I wanted to see more and can’t wait to check what’s behind that wall!

A real pure mineral water!

Our lead guide, Ms. Maya seemed so familiar with every detail of this cave that she just went on and told us to follow her.Despite of the cold water, I didn’t hesitate to swam across the strange, lovely pool. We were tracking down the river and the first waterfalls showcased it’s beauty on us! There is no right words to describe  how lovely the sight was! It’s majestic scene is like a hidden beauty in the abyss! My mind was still afloat when I saw our guide climbing on the walls beside the waterfall. Invitingly, we followed what she did, climbed up the wall, a danger we ignored.

@ the 1st waterfalls. Free climb on the wall! no harness nor ropes for support.                        ~EDZ

Sir CJ, pulling up himself                                                ~EDZ

I guess we have more faith than fear at that moment that even those sharp and pointy rocks from the walls can’t hinder us this time to enter another grandeur of this hidden natural treasure!

A higher waterfall greets us with louder pounding sounds.

The second waterfalls and it’s Lacey arched stalactites                                   ~EDZ

Water endlessly gushes out from above. It’s pool is as clear as crystal and the entrance is arched by a lace of brown and yellow curtain-like stalactites as if someone intentionally decored such an awesome design perfectly in it’s place!  The magnificence of its untamed, hidden beauty is mind blowing! So we took as many photos as we can!

crystal clear                                                                 ~EDZ

But lo, behind our mind, we knew that the table could turn around anytime as we observed the water rising from the bottom of it’s pool. It could be raining outside and this part of the cave could be a dangerous underground rapids anytime.

girls on the move!                                                                                              ~EDZ

enjoying the water while we still can.                                                            ~EDZ

Another senior cave explorer, Ms. Maya suspends herself on the wall.                          ~EDZ

We halted from going deeper into the cave and decided to go back.

our way going deeper in the darkness, is the same route out!                    ~EDZ

Finding our way back!                                               ~EDZ

Coming out from the same entry point with mild scratches and tiny bruises is an achievement! And as I recalled what we have just ventured, there is no right words to describe the splendor of what I have witnessed in this place… I could only shed happy tears praising God for exhibiting on us a tiny speck of His wonders! Another evidence of His existence!”

And for those who didn’t make it to join me in this once in a lifetime adventure, I can only share with you these pictures I took for your eyes to see!

I hope you enjoy watching these photos and hope you can join us on our next adventure!

Thank you to the mountaineers and my fellow spelunkers: Ma’am Lani, Ma’am Mary, Sir Cj, Sir Jerry and Sir Edgar for your photos. And my gratitude to Sir John Soriano for the invitation and his fellow cave explorers: Ma’am Maya, and  Sir Lito who gave us tips on rock climbing safety and precautions! May God bless you all and guard you always in your expeditions and explorations! Till next time for another astounding precious moments of adventure!

 

 

~If you’d like to experience the same kind of adventure and cave exploration or mountain hiking for a City getaway, send your message to: vldeyan@yahoo.com~