Natalia Falconi
Contributing Writer
Nothing is better than when you take out your pocket PB&J, some granola and maybe even beef jerky (if you’re feeling fancy) at the most beautiful overlook of a hike. My favorite of these special moments happened at Raven Point, a beautiful 270-degree panoramic view of the surrounding gorges on the Fiery Gizzard Trail.
It wasn’t easy getting there. For three days and two nights, I walked around 15 miles, repetitively going up and down and up and down rocky Tennessee ridges. At times, the elevation was so steep that it felt like I was vertically climbing. While I first started backpacking at Fiery Gizzard, and that trail exhausted, the strenuous moments only made the small overlooks of the beautifully expansive wilderness all the more sweet. Being a native Nashvillian about to leave home for college, this trip was part of my quest to enjoy my high school senior year: slowing down and fully exploring this beautiful state I call home.
Fiery Gizzard played a huge role in my decision to go to Sewanee. After my hike, craving a good, cold slice of cheesecake, I somehow ended up at Cup and Gown. My walk there opened my eyes to Sewanee’s stunning campus and wonderful vibes. That, in addition to a delectable cheesecake, was enough to capture my attention.
Oftentimes, while secluded on this Mountain we call home, we forget we have the larger Tennessee region to explore. Fortunately, the great state of Tennessee has nearly 1,000 miles of hiking trails for all skills and ability levels, making hiking an accessible and low-cost activity for any university student. Because of the state’s unique shape, its geography is significantly varied, with the western side closer to Memphis being flatter than the eastern mountainous ridges of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Luckily for us, we live on the Cumberland Plateau, which is home to dissected gorges and ravines from millions of years of water erosion. It also gives us easy access to Fiery Gizzard, one of the top 25 trails in North America according to The Backpacker Magazine. This pairs nicely with the University’s latest highlight from Campus Review, naming Sewanee as the latest leading elite green school. It has shorter and easier hikes, like the Grundy Day loop with a detour to Sycamore Falls or Foster Falls Climbers Loop Trail. However, if you are physically able, I fully recommend my fellow students to complete the full 16.7-mile trail.
Thankfully, I’m not the only person in the Fiery Gizzard fan club. Gracie Schmidt (C ’29), an avid Fiery Gizzard hiker, said, “Fiery Gizzard has a little bit of everything…It’s got hills, waterfalls, and little critters.” Schmidt regularly leads SOP hikes on Fiery Gizzard, usually completing the more accessible Grundy Loop four to five mile hike. This day hike includes a waterfall, which during the warmer seasons can be a great way to spend a Saturday with friends. “Even if it’s not normally your jam,” Schmidt said, “it’s one of those hikes that I feel like anyone can do and enjoy if they enjoy being outside.” Above all, the most important thing, she said, is to “bring a sense of adventure.”
Emmy Cerveny (C ’30), a first-time Fiery Gizzard hiker, liked the trail as well. Having only completed the Grundy Loop, she said, “A typical Sewanee student could complete the hike…It has plenty of places to stop on the way.” Cerveny’s favorite stop of the hike is the waterfalls, because when she went, she said “it was a beautifully refreshing way to cool off after the hike up.”
I truly believe every single person should give Fiery Gizzard a shot to the best of their abilities. No matter what, I promise it’ll be a hike to remember. Just remember: bring a sense of adventure and a PB&J for the road!