Scenic Sunday #3 “Morgan’s Falls & Steep”
When-
Sunday Afternoon Feb. 20th.
Place-
Sewanee, TN
Driving Distance from Our House-
37 Miles
The Adventure-
This week had to make up for the last. We were focused on the trails location, the reliability of the maps and the address put in the GPS. So the bar was set, the plan was in motion and the homework was done to insure a more successful adventure. The only question now was if this time we were on the road to find that 5* location.
Once again we on a nearby mountain in Sewanee: a very small community that is the home of Sewanee University also known as the “University of the South.” This beautiful Episcopal founded campus perched on the Cumberland Plateau and is a jewel within itself. As a matter of fact, it was not for the University there would not be the Sewanee we know.
As impressive as the campus is, the school was not our goal. We will have to save that story for some other time. Our goal was Morgan’s Steep and Morgan Falls.
We had never heard of Morgan Falls and neither had anyone whom we asked. Many of our friends have lived here all of their lives and have not seen it. If you have been keeping up with our adventures, you can probably guess how we found it ourselves. That’s right; the program we found that used Google Earth to show different natural falls, bridges and caves. As you may remember, it had led us astray last week. We were willing to give it another chance.
The gamble paid off! We followed Marge (our G.P.S.) through the peaceful college, past the awe-aspiring chapel into a modest residential area, around a couple of blind curve to a small rugged pull off with a short rock barrier. Joyfully we had made it to the top of Morgan’s Steep.
The rock wall has a marker with the inscription Morgan’s Steep, but those words did not justified what we saw as we walked up. We have seen dozens overlooks and this was one of the coolest. Notice I did not say the coolest, but this was defiantly in the top 10.
As you may have noticed by this issues title “Recon Mission”, this trip was a dual purpose trek. The first is always, always, always family time. The second was to scout the overlook for spring and fall photos. I was looking for a vantage point that my family and I could picnic and easily see three different backdrops.
During the winter this overlook offered us a clearer view of the landscape below as it gradually met the fair sky miles away. Some may label it as bare, but I saw it as a valley of trees trying to breathe before it bloomed. This became one of our favorite overlooks east of the Mississippi. There are others deeper and wider but this is close and well worth the drive for a picnic. I cannot wait to see it in full bloom in both spring and the fall.
Our calmness was interrupted by a jogger trenched in sweat exited one of the two trails that sat at our feet. It was time to make a choice trail 1 or trail 2.
Trail 1’s physical aspect is where this trail gets the second part of its name. Morgan’s Steep is well; really steep! Facing the outlook and to the left is a dizzying rocky set of stairs. These constricted stairs seemed to go down the facade forever. Every riser was as compressed as its width.
I have seen high overlooks with steep slopes in the Rocky Mountains, the Smoky Mountains and all up and down the Blue Ridge. Here on this side of the Cumberland Plateau, it was not the height that made my head swim it was thought of scaling down this stair way to hell.
The other trail, trail 2 was a different story. This one had a rather smooth decline with trees all around us. After just a few minutes you can hear a brook flowing over the rocks. The Steep was beginning to fade out of my memory and my pale face began to retain its color. We were moving forward as well downward.
Once again joggers passed with smiles on their faces and a friendly wave reminding me that we picked the right trail. Why anyone would want to spend their Sunday afternoon jogging is beyond me. Yet here I sit in my chair, over weight and drinking my drug known as Coca-Cola writing this blog.
The trail had a very soothing effect on us. Every step that we took seemed to push us further back into time, while the rest of the world had gone on without us. With the naked landscape surrounding us, we had a clear view of the rocks and bluffs above us and the creek below. We could see how my ancestors the Cherokee could use this place to their advantage, either to live or to kill. I thought of the deer coming to water due to their thirst, while the mighty hunters used the cliffs to quietly sneak up on it prey. It must have been even more beautiful to the Native Americans who left it nearly un-touch and fully respected.
We were at the falls in no time, unfortunately it was dry. There were a few strains of moss guiding what little water there was falling from its edge. It was a far cry from the 25 foot water fall on the internet.
We were not surprised or discouraged. As we said before, this was a “Recon Mission” and a successful one. We cannot wait for the canopy of green and the racing of rain water over the falls and around the rocks in the streams.
The Heard family began this trip with a couple of Sub Way foot longs, a few bucks in gas and a curiosity of Morgan’s Falls. Now that we are satisfied we will defiantly be coming back in a month with confidence.
One day soon, maybe the Heard family can get a tour of the beautiful “University of the South”!
So get out there and have your own Adventure!
Robert G. Heard
The Travel Log-
Family Fun Rating: **** out of 5
Explanation-
We gave this 4 * simply because we know we have not seen it in all its glory. I can almost guarantee that when we return next month this will be a 5*, but you have to keep coming back to know.
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Website @ http://state.tn.us/environment/parks/SouthCumberland/
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