Cascadilla Gorge

On Saturday morning, we went on a scenic hike down Cascadilla Gorge Trail lead by Todd Bittner, an environmentalist with extensive knowledge of the gorge.  I had been there twice previously to relax and take pictures with my friends, but I never knew much about the history or the tremendous effort put in to open it up to the public.

The 7,800 ft long Cascadilla Gorge requires constant maintenance to upkeep its beauty and to keep the trail safe for all its visitors.  This task lies largely in the hands of Cornell Plantations, whose duties entail keeping the trails clear and implementing safety measures to prevent accidents and injuries.

We stopped every few meters or so to listen to Mr. Bittner give us a bit of interesting information regarding how the gorges developed to what they are today.  Like many similar land forms, the gorge was carved by erosion and flowing water.  The subzero Ithaca temperatures also contribute to the formation of the walls of the gorge due to the excessive snow and the fact that water expands when it freezes.  In addition, Mr. Bittner shared that it is extremely rare to find naturally occuring straight lines in nature, but at several spots along the gorge wall, the angles measured to be 89 degrees, almost a perfect right angle.

Although I was initially not ecstatic about waking up early on a Saturday morning, I was glad I did by the end of our hike.  It was a beautiful, sunny morning and it was pleasantly refreshing to admire the aesthetic of the waterfalls and changing autumn leaves.  With the weight of the prelim season upon us, I definitely recommend taking an hour out of your week to pay a visit to Cascadilla Gorge to destress!