Hello, Gorges

This is why I like to hike.
This is October, Watkins Glen State Park, New York State

Pretty extreme, right?
There are a LOT of stairs.

It's a mile and a half walk to the top of the gorge.

Did I mention there are waterfalls? There is a good chance you WILL get a little wet.

Because you get to walk under them!

A view from behind a waterfall--and it is way cooler to actually be there.
If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, it's nothing compared to the words reality will give you.

My iPhone camera doesn't do it justice.
But I risked getting it wet so you could see it!

Hiking shoes are a good idea, because the path tends to be wet.

Although it is worth wet sneakers.

Coincidentally the hike is also 1.5 miles DOWN. You might not even notice this hike today.
You will tomorrow. Stretch out those hammies. Don't say I didn't warn you.

It is worth every step. I promise.

No regrets. Even if you go the day a skunk makes the bad choice of waddling into the water
and ending up in skunk heaven. Although all of him didn't get to skunk heaven, and yeah,
the entire gorge suffered with him.

The rock is mostly shale, but sandstone and limestone too.

If you're not into hiking 1.5 miles DOWN (which I think is worse than up), you can
take the Indian path at any time during the hike. It's a bit more user friendly. There are signs.

But if you take the easier path, you don't see the gorgeous gorge. 

And you'll miss the waterfalls.
So who cares if tomorrow you'll cry a bit when you sit or stand?

If you do go off the path, use caution. The gorge is dangerous.
People have been hurt and died there. 

There are also lyme-disease-carrying-tick warnings on some of the "off" the beaten path
trails. I stayed on the path and came away covered in ladybugs, which was kind of cool.

But I did spot one wee tick on my hand which required me to respond as though
I'd been attacked by a T-Rex. Like you wouldn't? I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
You in?