The first time I came in this campus, I was strike by its beauty. Plus, the sun was still out. The buildings were ancient but original. The tour next to Uris library was like a Harry Potter’s movie. In sum I felt in love with the campus. Obviously, I did not yet know what was waiting for me after. One of my plans was to visit the gorges because I heard so much about. I could not for a long time due to the weather and obviously it was colder and not safe there. Then the weather got better, and we had the opportunity to finally visit those gorges.

They are huge and extremely beautiful especially when you stay very close and some of the water falls on you. The gorges are not only located in one place but they are interconnected. I like the one next to Schwartz. There is a place next to the falls where you can sit and takes pictures even though some water can still falls on you.  The gorges are great for morning workout or relaxation. The sound of the falls is loud but peaceful, at least for me.  I think Rose house should plan another visit to the gorges so that everyone can relax and discuss while visiting. Personally, I will sign up again for it.

This hike to the Cascadilla Gorge was very beautiful. Since being at Cornell, I have not gone out to see some of the more scenic spots on campus. It was very interesting to hear about the history and geology of this Gorge. One unique fact about the Cascadilla Gorge is the rock formation. The tour guide told us that it is not common in nature for there to be straight lines at 90 degree angles. This type of formation is usually man made. However, the rocks at Cascadilla are all at 90 degree angles and this is because water likes to follow the path of least resistance so that is why the formation is so straight. Another thing that I found interesting was the cost of the upkeep of the Gorge. I did not even know that so much work went into making sure the gorges are safe for exploration and making sure any issues with flooding is accounted for. The tour guide told us that it cost about 2.9 million dollars to maintain the gorge and this is always a changing process which requires constant repair. Learning this fact made me really appreciate the beautiful landscape that surrounds us here in Ithaca.

The Cascadilla Gorge hike was one of my favorite Rose events this year. I especially enjoyed learning about the history of the gorge and trying to envision the natural forces that shaped the area. One of the cooler aspects of the hike was when our guide pulled a rock from the cliff and it had several shell fossils. It seemed crazy to me that any old rock from the cliff could contain imprints of organisms that lived millions of years ago. I was always curious about why the waterfalls in Cascadilla Gorge, Ithaca Falls, and Fall Creek Gorge have almost perfect stairsteps. The reason is that the waterfalls are actually made up of two (or more) different types of rocks. One rock is softer, so over time, the softer rock is eroded away, leaving behind the harder rocks. This is also the reason why there are large pieces of rocks near the bottom of the waterfalls. Those are the harder rocks, and they aren’t eroded so easily, so when they break off of the main bedrock, they don’t get broken down by the force of the water.

Sorry. I tried to make the title rhyme. A bit forced.

Anyway, the gorge is actually really expensive. First, the donation of it was several million dollars (6, if I remember correctly). Then, after a series of storms in the early 10s (is that what we call 2010-2020?) it cost 2 and a half million to fix. A lot of that was preemptively blowing up the rockside so that it didn’t fall on the visitors at some point (thanks, guys).

It’s beautiful though. Admittedly, I rather enjoy the more natural areas without paved walkways and fences, but there is no doubt that Casc is majestic, and one of the most beautiful areas in Ithaca I’ve ever seen. When you go at the right time, the water in the air catches the golden light of the sun in a way that makes the whole gorge absolutely magical.

We walked from Rose into Collegetown, and met with a guide who took us on a hike of the Cascadilla Gorge, a 1/4 mile section that reveals hundreds of millions of years of the Earth’s history. We learnt about the story behind creating a path to walk through the Gorge, and the story of restoring the path to its former status in the last 5 years.

The guide pointed out rock layers of igneous and sedimentary rock, as well as explained how the gorge was carved by a large glacier that covered this part of New York.

We got to experience the waterfalls, and the rushing water in the gorge, and we really got to appreciate how beautiful nature can be.

Gorge Waterfall Movie

Above is an example of just how loud it was down in the gorge.

I had never hiked one of the gorges before, and this experience definitely inspires me to hike more around Ithaca.

Last Saturday, I attended the hike through Cascadilla Gorge. I had already been a couple times but as this was a guided tour given by Cornell’s Botanic Gardens Director of Natural Areas and Flora Rose House Fellow Todd Bittner, I learned so much about this gorge that I had never known. It was so fascinating to hear about the geographical history of the Cascadilla Gorge, about its formation and the changes that occurred due to plate tectonics, climate shifts, and water erosion. We also learned about the relatively recent history of the Gorge, the donation to Cornell in the early 1900s and the renovations to the trail in the past ten years. One thing that really stuck out to me was the fragility of the gorge. It doesn’t appear so but changes in weather like floods or droughts frequently necessitated costly repairs and renovations. I really have a new appreciation for all the aspects that must be taken into account when building the trail: safety, cost, durability, aesthetic, etc.
I also realised how fortunate we are to be attending a school so closely integrated with nature. Cascadilla Gorge is a mere ten minutes walk from Rose House and such a beautiful and peaceful place. It’s truly a great way to de-stress from schoolwork and enjoy nature.