Caves, Caves, Caves

Under cover of darkness, Handy, Cutie, Chops, Peppy, Giggles, and Captain Charlie gather at the big taotaomona tree in Marpi. Giggles is armed with 50 ft. of brand new rope, ready for rappelling into the caves. Parking our two cars near the tree, we proceed to the third tree which marks the trailhead to the crevice. There is an old engine at the entrance, but it is so dark that despite all the flashlight power we wield on the bushes, we are not able to exactly locate the engine. We decide to check out the caves by Santa Claus first and then come back later for the crevice. By the time we reach the trailhead on the Santa Claus Lane, daylight is in full swing. Following ribbon markers we arrive at the first big cave.

On the way to the first cave. Chops overjoyed.

Captain Charlie's new shocking pink shoes. 

Peppy and Giggles bravely make their way down the cave, over the rough rocky slope.

Stalactites that look like clouds...

Another that looks like a face...

Looks like a bottomless cave with cascading stalactites...

These look like crystal chandeliers...

And jellyfish...

Chops flexing her muscles climbing back out of the cave.

Handy, Giggles, and Peppy following, looking mighty happy with this wonderful find of a cave! Giggles, Handy, and Captain C have descended as far as we can until the air becomes warmer and there is an unusual sweet smell that makes us feel almost a little dizzy. We decide not to chance staying down there too long.

Gloves are a must for cave exploration and rock climbing. Giggles and Peppy scrambling up the slopes monkey-like...

These old bottles are found in the second cave which is underground. Looks like a lot of drinking going on in this well hidden cave. The underground cave appear to also have a tunnel. We decide not to go down that way.

Giggles examining the old bottles and some pottery shards in the underground cave. Only Giggles and Captain C. go down there as others prefer to check out what is above ground. Handy brings down his big flashlight to shed some light for us. Both caves are well worth waiting for to explore during dry weather. 

Back on the road to the dump, and toward our cars. The cliff looks remarkably like a smiling lion face...

Before heading to the third "cave" or the crevice, we take a break to fill all the hungry stomachs. Everyone brings out the goodies, supplemented by Giggles' assorted jerkeys. Don't know what has happened to Handy, he must have sat behind Cutie...

Handy and Peppy battling with mother-in-laws' tongues...

Arriving at the entrance of the crevice, after Handy and Cutie having been stung by boonie bees...

Marks of bee stings. Handy gets big fat finger...

Chops not aware that the big rock is right above her head as she is too busy trying to squeeze through the narrow part of the crevice.

The metal navy bowl and some other war relics still in the cave. Watch that green gloved hand trying to lift something and leave no finger prints...

On the other side of the crevice, making our way back out to the road. Captain C also gets stung by boonie bees, as the dry season arrives with the proliferation of bee hives. We have brought medicine with us. We come out of the boonie not far from our cars. Although the total distance for today's hike is only 3.62 miles, it takes us 3.5 hours to complete, as we take our time to thoroughly enjoy the discovery of the caves.

Rating for this hike:  Five Stars!

Next Sunday: Coffee Trail

Oba's Cave

For those of you who have watched the film, or read the book, about Captain Oba's last ditch effort to counter-attack the Americans by digging in with his soldiers and a number of families, there is much fasination for visiting one of the caves.The cave that is most accessible is located just above China Town, tugged away next to the gully. Early Sunday morning, the group gather at the parking lot of CHC. In semi-darkness, Handy, Cutie, Chops, Lyn and Mary, and Captain Charlie march across the parking lot, climb up through a narrow opening into Upper Miha and promptly lose our way, twice. After failing to snuck across someone's yard, we finally find a pathway onto the road leading to the trail head.

"The Lost Tribe of Sunday Hikers" are at it again, lost and wandering around and around.

The rocky and slippery trailhead, Lyn slips and sits on Handy's hiking pole. A challenging start of the gully hike. Everyone anticipates an adventure ahead.

Mary and Lyn admiring the tropical foliage. We seem to be far away in the thick and lush jungle, yet we know we are so near civilization, giving us an unreal feeling.

Gloves and strong arms needed to hoist ourselves up slippery rocks and crevices. Imagining ourselves as Oba's troops and families tackling this rough terrain.

Handy's feet get stuck and scraps his shins. Chops tries to untangle his feet.

Handy happily "lends a hand" and gives Mary a boost up the rocks!

Taking a snack rest before the final assault into the cave.

One of three entrances into the cave.

Cutie, Handy, and Lyn getting ready to explore further into the cave. It is pitch dark inside and flashlights are a must. Most of the "tunnel" is about six feet high and about ten feet wide. The inside is clean and dry, and surprisingly large and roomy.

Handy's big flashlight brightens the cave for Mary to see.

A narrow flight of steps leads to the upper chamber of the cave.

Trying to see what is in a hole that previously had a toilet-like item in it. But this time, the toilet is gone, but an "umbrella" looking item is there. No one wants to get down there for a closer look.

Toothy looking formation on the wall near the upper entrance.

On the way back out to civilization. Trail leads to Navy Hill Road, and back down to the parking lot of CHC.

Happy hikers.

Next Week: Marpi Caves

Singing "Sound of Music" Through Mud Puddles

Anticipating a glorious Sunday for revisiting the Sound of Music, we (Handy, Cutie, Giggles, Peppy, and Captain Charlie) gather at Chop's driveway at 6 a.m. and head up toward Mt. Tapochao. It is still dark, even with a half moon high up in the sky softly lighting the coral road. But Giggles and Captain C. are well prepared with flash lights. Giggles also shows off her new black light and laser beam as part of her new acquisition!
The uphill climb to near the top of the mountain is a jolt so early in the morning, but it does wake us up. The trail turns left, passes the old gun in someone's front yard (we are not sure whose house it is) and takes us to the first view of the southern tip of Saipan.

Death Valley below and Koblerville (?) and the most southern tip of Saipan in the distance.

We are awed by this fabulous display of the sun's rays

The first Sound of Music meadow. We see several trails branching out in different directions, but don't know where they could lead us. We stay on the main trail which is surprisingly well-groomed. Several times we are not sure which way to go. With our propensity to get lost on so many of our hikes, we begin to wonder if we should change our group name to Saipan's LostTribe Hikers! Regardless, we have fun wherever we go.

Seed pods of those nasty momosa plants. They are everywhere. Each plant must have thousands of seeds, no wonder they spread so far and wide. All of us are pricked on our legs and arms.

A noose in the middle of the boonie ready for those who can't make it on the hike! :-)

Panoramic view of Susupe and Chalan Kanoa.

Giggles, the "Grass Angel"

Taking a snack break. As usual, Giggles lives up to her reputation as our foodie-in-chief with all kinds of goodies. We have the view shown in the picture above and enjoy the cool air as we agree this would be a great spot to camp out. No sooner have we said that, dark clouds begin to gather overhead and before we are able to pack up, a serious rain shower catches us.

We have a choice of doubling back or continue the loop. We choose the loop. Soon the trail, which is somewhat damp in the beginning, turns impossibly muddy. The battle is between careful balancing and slipping into the mud holes. Chops, there is no way to keep those white shoes white for long.

The muddy trail seems to go on forever! Peppy is determined not to be a victim of slip-and-fall, she and CC clamber up the side and fight through thick growth of grass taller than they are and giant birds nest fern, while Giggles and others simply give up trying to avoid the mud. There is much squeals and hollers from the hikers to keep in voice contact. Handy even does a near perfect cow's moo...

Finally out of the muddy trail, we are on solid ground. A surprise find of an abandoned government issued van with a flat tire. Giggles, Chops, and Peppy checking out the van with their walking sticks at hand, ready for any unexpected surprises.

These are the culprits that have carved out huge gouges in the road, creating those muddy trenches that are impossible for hikers and bikers to get through.

The muddy hikers group for a photo in Chops' yard, with Rags (affectionately called by Frankenstein Speak as Raggea)

Showing off our muddy feet and legs. Guess whose feet are pointed opposite of everyone else's?

Peppey's GPS measures the distance as about 5.2 miles. It takes us 4 hours. Once again, we love the adventure, notwithstanding the momosa attacks, rain shower, mud bath, and the occasional loss of direction, all of which make us the seasoned hikers that we are! Next week: Oba's Cave.