Fiery Gizzard trip report

“I had a free weekend and decided at the last minute to do the Fiery Gizzard trail in the South Cumberland State Park, TN. Its fairly close to Nashville and the weather was to be good for the weekend. I left for the trail head at 3am and slept in my car at the Monteagle, TN rest stop off of I-24 until 8am.

I made my way to the park office, chatted with the staff and registered for the back country and it was off to the trail head.

You take US 41 south and then turn right at a auto mechanic building, past a school and then into the Grundy Forrest Natural Area parking lot and the trailhead.

I switched into my backpacking gear and down the trail I went.
Imediately you are upon the Little Fiery Gizzard Creek. On Saturday it was raging because Thursday and Friday it stormed bigtime here in Tennessee.

It is quite pristine back there. There are lots of rocks ledges ans the sun was poking through the trees and the smell of the creek was beautiful.

You pass Bluehole falls which isn't very high but none the less impressive due to the high water flow. Little ways further you cross the creek on a foot bridge to the east side of the creek.

You then come to Black Canyon. This was really cool. It was about 150 feet long. The creek drops like 15 feet into the gorge and then churns and I mean churns. Its only like 4 feet wide and if you were to fall in it would probably tear you apart. Of course I don't know what it looks like on a normal flow. I hear people kyak through there.

So down the trail further you pass big rock chimneys and then come to Sicamore Falls which is not so high but was neat any. I think the two branches of The Fiery Gizzard had merged by this point.

You are now entering the boulder zone. This is where you have to hop from rock to rock. Each rock is not sturdy and kind of like a seasaw. It almost catapults you to the next rock. I some how lost the trail in this stretch.

I realized i had lost the trail but instead of turning back and finding it I proceded forward.
At first I was at creek lever and walking a long the creek but then I started to get higher and higher up from the creek and I was walking across a steep incline with no footing. To make matters worse was that about 10-15 feet below me where I was trying to cross was a ledge and it dropped straight down to the raging creek below.

Like the idiot that I am I kept going thinking I would find the trail. A further problem was that because of all the rain we had the previous two days the ground was very muddy. My boots were so full of gunk that it was like oil across oil.

I could barely get any footing at all and I kept sliding down towards the ledge. I was going from tree to tree but then I got to a point where the tree I was holding on to came out of the ground.

I tried to dig into the ground and then laid down onto my stomach. Keep in mind I had a full pack on. I was digging into the mud with my hands and feet. I knew at any second I was going to be sliding down the hill and over the ledge. There wasn't much I could do. I yelled for help but no one could hear me and even if they could there wasn't anything they could do. I started to pray, and it was all I had.

Seconds later I was sliding down the hill and then I went over the ledge and fell what looked to be about 20-25 feet and landed on a large rock just inches from the rushing creek.

Because I was laying on my stomach before I slid down the hill I fell off the ledge feet first and then went backwards and landed on my pack. The wind was knocked out of me and it took a few minutes to realize what happened. At first I couldn't move and this was scary because I couldn't tell how badly I was injured.

Finally I was able to undo the belt and strap on my pack and try and assess the damage. I was able to sit up and then stand up.

I won't go into details but I was cut up pretty badly on my left side and my left arm was hard to move especially when pressure was placed on it. I put my pack back on and tried to find away out the hole I was in. I had two choices. 1: was to go through the raging creak. There was whitewater and i wasn't able to see how deep it was, so this did not seem like a safe way to go. 2: was to rock climb out of it and onto a more stable ledge which I had previously been on prior to the fall. I tried the latter but my left arm hurt so much when I put pressure on it. I then re-thought the first. The first was an impossibility because of the water flow. I would have most likely been swept away if attempted that. I did have another option and that was to get out my whistle and blow until someone found me. I thought about using my cell phone but I had no signal what so ever.

I figured I was just going to have to suck it up and cimb out and I did and then I walked back to where I had lost the trail originally. I realized at that point how stupid I was because the trail actually was clearly marked.

I was only like 3 miles into the trail and I could have (should have) walked back to my car. Instead I continued on the trail.

Originally I was going to camp at the Wilds primitive campground. I figured now that I had fallen I would hike up to Ravens Point and camp in the primitve campground there. I would then clean up my wounds and hike out the next day on the side trail that stays on the top of the plateau.

After a few ups and downs at the lower part of the gorge the trail started up towards the top at Ravens Point. I believe it's about a 500 foot climb but its relatively steep and mostly rock hopping.

Half way up I met a trail runner and she was very concerned when she saw how badly I was bleeding.

She had her jeep parked at Foster Falls which was about 9 and a half miles away. We walked the remainder of the way up and she thought that I should finish and meet her at the Foster Falls parking lot and that she would help me clean my wounds and drive me back to my car. This sounded like a good idea to me because I really did want to finish the trail.

When we got to the top she continued down the side trail to Ravens Point and I went ahead on the trail. I gave her my camera so that she could take some pictures for me. She caught back up to me two miles later near the still.

There is a pretty water fall right next to the still. We then continued together for a while. We went around a bend and I could here water raging in the background. I peared into the woods and I could see that there was a pretty big water fall out there but no real way to get close to it and by then I was done going off trail for the day. She then went ahead of me because she was training to trail run the AT through VA.

The walking on the top was pretty much easy except that I had to walk through some marshes. I don't know if these are there year round or that they were there because of all the rain.

For about the next three to four miles the trail is very uneventful and boring but it was flat and easy so I tried to go as fast as I could because I was really started to get tired and sore.

You then get to this deep gorge at around mile 10. It is a really steep climb down and then you have to cross a creek which for me was deep and raging. I had walked all day long through water and managed to stay dry but after crossing creek I was soaked wast down. It felt kind of good though. Then its an even more steep climb up to the top. Several places I had to us all fours. Using my left arm was really painfull.

I then got to the top and the views were amazing. What made it more amazing was because the sun was setting. There was also several awesome waterfalls and they looked really neat reflecting the sunset.

The fact that the sun was setting was scary bacause I still had 2- 3 miles to go and I was really hurting and tired. I got to the Wilds campground and thought about camping but instead continued on. I must have turned on my after burners because I was moving too and I got to Foster falls before it was completely dark. There I was met by a ranger that was out looking for me. He then took my pack and helped me up to the parking lot. There the lady was waiting for me. She had some bandages for me and was glad to see me because she was really worried. The ranger told me he needed me to answer some questions because he had to do a report and that he would get me back to my car. I told the lady it was ok for her to leave. I am really grateful for the help she gave me. Just her being there and walking parts of the trail with me helped a great deal.

The ranger then tried to clean up my wounds. They had so much dirt in them though and were hard to clean but he did a good job. He wanted to call an ambulance and was worried about my left arm and my back but I declined and said I was ok. I had a really large bump on my knee that kind of worried me. It was bigger than a golf ball.

He drove me back to my car. I switched into some fresh clothes. I felt a little saddened that I had not reached my goal of camping but I guess I did alot by finishing the trail under those circumstances so I was for the most part satisfied.

The trail is about 13 miles long and is a lot harder than you expect. I thinks its real important to stay on the trail especially while in the gorges. Lots of splendid scenery excluding the middle part on top (but event that is nice because its in the woods and it is serene). I didn't see much wild life. The snails (very big snails) were out in force, saw lots of birds, including some large raptors, and I saw a little rigneck snack which tried to play dead. The scenery on this trail is amazing and I highly recommend it for everyone.”

“This is now two trips in a row in which I almost didn't comeback from. Hope nobody will be afaid to get on the trail with me. I usually practice caution as much as possible when I am out in the back country.”

“Note to self; don't ever hike with this person.”

“Sorry to hear you got hurt. I've done the FG trail 4 times I think?.. and yes.. it is always dangerous.

Note to NVhiker -- find someone to hike WITH.”

“Nashvillehiker, don't go out alone. Next time send me an email and so I can join you and we can die together.

You left out the important part, was the girl that helped you beautiful?”

“Dude, you really really need to sit down and think HARD as to what poor decisions you made and try not to repeat them. We don't need to lose you.”

“Sounds to me your still pretty new at backpacking. We all were at one time. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes. Glad ya made it out OK. Now ya got some really nice battle scares to show and a story to tell. It's trips like this that make you stronger and wiser.
I think I know the place where you lost the trail. It kinda looks like a wide path your following but the trail turns kinda sharp and goes back up. I actually missed it once myself. About a min. of seeing no blazes I went back and saw it. I think lots of people have done that. The path needs to be baracaded up right there so people don't miss it.
Sorry to hear about your epic and glad your OK. That gorge section can be kinda burly at times. I hiked it once when it was icey. Now that's an experience.”

“Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail
Take the Dog Hole trail”

“BTW, glad you're okay. Look at this way, you have a great story to tell.”

“LOL @ bit. So bro, you wanna hike the Gizzard this month?”

“The Dog Hole is pretty good but the Gorge trail is much funner.”

“Doesn't katibug have a trip there next weekend?”

“By cracky, so she does. Still not sure what my schedule is going to be next weekend, but that's a possibility.”

“Next weekend isn't looking good for me...Jan has a function next Saturday. But since I fell on my sword this weekend, she might let me go next weekend.”

“If not, there's always the next weekend. We probably shouldn't let any of the crazies on this board know where we're gonna be, though... ;-)”

“Glad your ok, man you are lucky you didn't go down the gorge. I know where you took the wrong turn also. I think if it had a few more blazes it would be easier to stay on the trail. I would never hike this trail alone tho. Too many things could happen. Last year I took a friend over there. We went down to dog hole mine and returned. On the way back we took the left fork of the loop for different scenery. Halfway up the creek there was a ranger standing beside a downed tree. He had on a bug suit and some spray and told us that the tree was crawling with hornets. We took a chance and went over it since he was standing there with some spray. Later I found out my friend had a severe allergy to bee stings! If he had gotten stung there by himself he could easily have gone into shock. Some times its the little mistakes we make that add up to make an emergency. Ya'll stay safe out there!”

“Yah, really, they might show up with kegs of beer or something like that...”

“Was that tree with the Hornets on the Grundy Forest Day Loop?
If so, I came to it and bushwacked WAY around it.”

“We might oughta plan for weekend after next anyway. I racked up my arm yesterday and it hurts like hell. Probably need two weeks for the inflammation to clear up.”

“We're not as resilient as we used to be...”

“Yeah it was dude, on the side that comes out by the CCC campground on the west side. I have never done the entire trail, would like to some time with TTers. I can't next weekend tho, we have our Wild Beast Feast next Saturday.”

“I have been sick with a bad sinus infection for a week. I really missed the Nashville get together last week.
:(
I still haven't gotten my breathing problem under control yet. I go to the DR Mon and an ENT (ear nose and throat) on Tue. Maybe he can fix me up.”

“We dude, we missed ya at the gathering. It was a blast. Wish you could have made it.”

“I have been backing on and off since I was seven. While growing up I used to go to a summer camp in PA and we would go on overnight back packing trips. I backpacked the entire Loyalsock Trail when I was 16. I did a couple since then.

In the summer of 2003 I picked up back packing again and I have been pretty hard core since. I make alot of mistakes. I go alone alot. I learn from those mistakes.

Fortunately, this time I didn't hurt. I'm really sore today and can hardly move my left arm. I can deal with the soreness and battle wounds though. Just gratefall I'm not paralyzed annd/or even worse dead.”

“I was so sore last night that I didn't bring in my equipment. I hope my tent poles are ok. They were on the back of my pack where I landed. Need to do an equipment check.”

“especially the one titled "drop off into the gorge"

drop off into the gorge”

“Me, being Mr. Obvious, would saythat things coulda turned out a lot worse than they did. I am real glad to see that you amde it out in one piece.

Bit o' adivse: Yes! Go hike with someone, and if you can hook up with a TTer, it will pay HUGE dividens! I have learned (and keep learning) from others that I hike with. I'm almost eh opposite of your thinking: I hike mainly with people and have only soloed a couple of times, something in which I look forward to changing soon.

Keep up the good work....I know sometimes "trial by falling flat on yer face" is a good thing. Works for me most of the time!

Hope to see you on the trail soon.”

“Sounds like quite a day of hiking. I'm glad you made it back in 1 piece. And your pics are excellent.

I love to pack alone quite a bit as well but sometimes it wisest to bring someone along. Especially in TN you have a ton of cool peps to hike with, especially that hot little Yam!;)”

“Awe man come on.
We got too many guys in the Yam Fan Club without you inviting in more competition! LOL!!”

“Did you go to a dr to get stuff checked out?”

“Glad your ok man, watch out!”

“Well I have come to realize that I had a casualty after all. When I fell I must have dropped my tent poles because they didn't make it back. I drove back down there today (85 miles) thinking that maybe they were in the back of the ranger's jeep, but no they were not there and then in Murfreesboro I got in a traffic jam and I was going to get off at exit 78 and drove 100 feet on the shoulder and state trooper pulled me over and wrote me a $162 ticket. Like 10 other cars did it too and he only got me and one other car.

This has been a rough weekend. to top it off my girl friend broke up with me last week. UGGGGGGGG.

lol”

“I'm glad to hear that you are ok nashvillehiker! i hate that you have had so much happen to you! How is your arm and knee? You might want to go get it checked out before it causes more problems.”

“NashvilleHiker, fight the traffic ticket. Tell the Judge the whole story, right from the beginning. Don't leave out any details. If at any time during your in-court narration, you hear the Judge say, "Shut up, case dismissed", stopping talking immediately, say "Thank You" and leave the courtroom before he changes his mind.”

“thing is, I am moving to DC at the end of this month.”

“Dang, glad to hear walked out alive from the fall. Did you get the phone number from the trail runner???”

“You're jinxed, Dude! Maintain a low profile 'til your stars realign or something.

Seriously -- Glad to hear you're still extant.”

“yeah, I got her number. I need to call her and thank her. I tried to introduce her to trail talk. She has daughters in college.”

“thanks Tilt. My soreness is starting to lift. I think I may go to a dr and get checked out. I haven't gone to a doctor in a long time though. But my wounds aren't looking so good right now.”

“I'm going to the doctor today. I hate going to doctors, but I think this time I should go. Atleast I avoided the ER.”

“NH - Good move dude! Go get checked out!”

“Dang nashville, you keep that up and you'll never make it to Hyattsville!

You musta looked like Bruce Willis in a Die Hard movie.

When, and if, you ever make it alive to D.C. there are a buch of us who will want to be buyin' you a drink, buddy!”

“I'm going to the doctor today. I hate going to doctors, but I think this time I should go. Atleast I avoided the ER.”

“oops double posted.

I could use me a stiff drink. I'll be in DC in a few weeks.”

“Glad to hear your okay, let the doctor know you only have one month to heal before Old Rag.”

“My favorite philosopy is "Don't get old, just go SPLAT" is meant as a metaphor...not a life experience.

Now you have a "Classic Stikmon" story..except that it stars YOU.

Glad your ok and will heal eventually.

Good luck in the ticket matter.”

“I'll be healed by then and I'll probably be back out on the trail by this weekend. I think I am going to go back down there and hike in from the Foster Falls end since it was dark when I got there. I will then camp at the small wilds. Maybe this time I'll have someone with me. I think there is even a TT hike there this weekend.”

“I'd like to possibly go back to the Fiery Gizzard this weekend if anyone is interested. I am thinking of hiking in from Foster falls and then camping at the smalls wilds. Its a really short hike, but it will be alot of fun and there is a lot of scenery there. Although I will have to somehow get tent poles. REI is ordering them for me. Hopefully have them by then.”

“Tenn sierra club trips”