Cueva Humo

We hadn't been caving for a while for a few reasons:  our main caving buddies (Tom and Diana) were gone for a month, Jeff went on vacation and then traveled for work (another month), and then the University started up and the weather got strange etc etc. After the last ill-fated-we almost suffocated to death trip we needed a pleasant cave excursion. We had been to Cueva Evaporada and walked to nearby Cueva Humo but had not gone in. We had coordinates to the house and the short walk we figured would be no problem. We called up some willing cave buddies for this trip. Ron Richards, Bro, his friend Richard, Jeff and I met up at Panaderia Lourdes and went to the cave. There was no problem finding the house or the "trail" to the cave! These two caves are just enormous. Richard is here at the entrance to Cueva Humo. Inside was very very muddy but there were some clean white areas. The formations in parts of the cave reminded me of Cueva Convento or Balcones in Florida PR. Bro is taking a look around. After climbing up a little Bro and Richard are taking in the sights. When we see logs way up on cave walls we know it isn't magic that gets them there. We start looking around for safe high spots just in case the water rises!

3 ants on a log - nope, just the guys traveling down what was a very very slippery spot. Everyone ended up on their butts. After looking around we went through a large tunnel and around a sand bank and came to flowing water. At the "end" there was a rope hanging. Jeff and I didn't want to go into the water (swimming). We waited until Richard and Bro scaled the wall on a rope we don't know who put in place. Once I am wet I have to keep moving or I get really cold so I skipped the wet part and Jeff and I took the high road (upper passage we thought might meet up with them) while Ron took water temperature readings. Since the guys were walking up stream we can only presume that water cascades over the spot where the rope is? It wasn't clean so maybe the water comes from underneath? Jeff and I got to the top of our passage and could look down at Richard and Bro. Then we sent the wet ones into the sump aka bamboo raft area. They could not find a way on. Then it was back out scaling slippery little slopes and walls while exploring any little holes we could find. Ron makes his way up a slope.

My favorite formation in the cave looked like bubbles kind of or popcorn. Bro is holding up the walls here.

Poor little bat cadaver. Looks like he died pinned down in his own guano. This was a nice trip with nice friends. We took our time so we didn't get overheated and could really look around and explore. It didn't seem like the most strenuous cave until the next day when the tops of my thighs were talking to me (and still are)! We spend maybe 6 hours inside and came out the pouring rain and thunderstorms. While we were in there we had to call Bro and Richard out of the sump area when I noticed a sudden stream of muddy water that suddenly appeared. Gotta keep our friends around to cave with! Can't wait until the next adventure!