Fiery Gizzard

So, it's a little difficult for me to attend a hiking meeting because...well...they aren't very common. Instead, I live-tweeted a hike I went on this past weekend. A dang tough hike at that too. I decided it was finally time for me to conquer the Fiery Gizzard.
Fiery Gizzard Trail is located in Tracy City, Tennessee, and is widely rated as one of the top 25 hikes in the country. Was it? Eh. It was pretty, I just wish it were better marked. I got lost three or four times because of a lack of direction. Still a great hike.

Taking this long weekend to hike Fiery Gizzard Trail from Grundy Forest to Foster Falls today! #rtv3106

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 1, 2019

This...is going to be a journey. Says it’s going to be 13 miles, and supposed to be strenuous. Right up my alley pic.twitter.com/JeC7WJxd5m

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 2, 2019

And I was right. It was an absolute journey. I was 100 percent beat by the time I got back to my car. Part of that was my own fault because I chose not to fill up my water filter early on. More on that later though.

So far...not too bad. Somewhere around 2 miles in or so. Pretty, serene. pic.twitter.com/MtrfHvHV9L

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 2, 2019

The first 2 miles or so were spectacular. Very, very beautiful. It could have been even better if it were in the fall.

Okay, closing in on the 3-4 mile mark and it is getting significantly more difficult. Lots and LOTS of rock scrambling.

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 2, 2019

Ah, but the serenity was short-lived. The next four to five miles were lots of fun, albeit just plain hard. Lots of going up and down treacherous rocks. One wrong step would have sent me tumbling down the mountainside.

Lots of water along the first six miles. Nice. pic.twitter.com/F1y44AcM3R

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 2, 2019

Even amidst this difficult stretch though, water persisted. I always like having water near me when I hike. Nice creek sounds and cooler temperatures.

Chose not to fill up my water bottle, but sitting at about 5 miles in. Only gotten lost twice so far, this trail is not super well marked, but is beautiful. pic.twitter.com/hoZC43AQWb

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 2, 2019

As I previously alluded to, I chose not to fill up my filter and it bit me hard. I got real thirst between miles 7 and 10 and there were no sources of water in that stretch.

Update. Should have filled up my water filter. Next to zero water along the next two to three miles or so. pic.twitter.com/3S1v5HxWgh

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 2, 2019

Yep. As promised.

Getting there. Sitting at about 10 miles now. 3 or so to go. I am absolutely exhausted, but the land is flattening out. Getting much much easier.

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 2, 2019

The back half of the hike was significantly easier than the front half - which was great. I was destroyed with 3 miles left.

Almost at the end, a lovely view. pic.twitter.com/zpuHzl2QPJ

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 2, 2019

About a mile to go, I surprisingly stumbled into this sensational view of the valley before me. A nice motivator to close the hike out.

Finally, the end. Foster Falls. What. A. Hike. pic.twitter.com/NgpemYsd6J

— Chris O’Brien (@OBontheNews) July 2, 2019

A fun, yet torching hike. My legs have been sore pretty much since the hike, and it's almost four days later now.

I don't think I'd ever do Fiery Gizzard again, but I'm very glad I did at least once.

Overall Rating: 7/10