Colored Dripstones, Columns & More

Today, I'm sharing some colorful dripstones - stalactites, stalagmites, columns and other speleothems found in the mouth of Sumaguing Cave in South Road, Sagada Mt. Province.

This is the entry gate from the highway.

Screen capture from Pinmapple.

And the stairway leading down. It's a bit steep so one needs to be very careful while descending. You can see the steps are already worn out, indicating that there have been many people coming and going. I don't have any idea how long this has been installed. Can't recall if it was there when we first went spelunking over 2 decades ago.

Below photo was taken looking up from the foot of the stairway.

And this towards the cave's mouth.

Walking a little closer then looking up, saw this tree with its roots bare and hanging loose. The trees seem to be guarding the cave and welcoming guests.

On descending to the second stairway, we were already in the cave's mouth. And whilst the husband proceeded down to explore, we stayed by the stairs, quietly mesmerizing on how nature made such a wonder.

And here's to share what the farmboy seen inside that part of the cave where he went wandering and exploring. Rock formations and speleothems of various kinds, shapes and sizes - dripstones (stalactites and stalagmites), columns, flowstone among other things. Some colorful, others not so. I have neither the knowledge nor the words to describe them so I'll just have them in photos.

Stalactites

These are hanging downwards from the ceiling.

Other dry stalactites, with no water dripping from and through them.

It's simply astonishing how these rock formations have kept their place probably for decades or centuries.

Stalagmites

These are those growing from the cave's floor where mineral deposits dripping from the ceiling fall to, forming them like that down there.

I believe these flowstones were formed by the dripping water from the ceiling and it may have been years and years for them to look like these.

Others may look shapeless now but may look different years from now.

Columns

Rock formations from the ceiling of the cave meeting those from the floor form what they call "columns"

I imagined a huge creature with giant feet on seeing this:

Maybe someday, these ones will and grow into bigger columns too.

Other Rock Formations

The husband took his time taking these photos. After a while, he came back so we started to trek up the stairs when we met these group of excited guests and they are looking so ready to enjoy spelunking inside the cave.

We were finally back to the highway and here's the Cave Man restaurant and convenience store across the cave's gate.

From there, we went trekking to the burial cave where we saw lots of coffins piled up. Will share them one day :)

This is all for today and cheers to a beautiful life!

---

Here are my previous posts related to this Sumaguing Cave adventure:

• Lights Through & Between the Gaps

• Rock Formations of Sumaguing