Before Fall Break, I sat down with Mike Roberts, the vice president of Friends of the Gorge, to ask about his organization and find out what they’ve been up to on campus.

First, an introduction: Friends of the Gorge is a student organization whose focus is on the “safety and stewardship of our natural areas, particularly the gorges.” Formed just last semester, FOG has only been official for a month, which explains why most of us have never heard of it. Originally the group was quite small, with only a handful of members under the guidance of Marianne Krasny, department chair of Natural Resources. Many of the original members, such as Mike, are also in Natural Resources, with most of the rest coming from other majors within CALS. The demographic is slowly changing this year, however, as the group has doubled its membership and is attracting a younger and more diverse crowd.

FOG’s close working relationship with Cornell Plantations is obvious when you look at the extracurriculars of several of its officers: Two are also employed by Plantations. Most of the group’s work days involve lending time and labor towards the Plantations’ many projects focusing on gorge cleanup and trail work. Perhaps the most entertaining project Mike explained to me was FOG’s gorge cleanup with Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, during which a surprising array of refuse was picked from the hillsides. “We hauled out refrigerators, Christmas trees and bags and bags of trash,” he recollected with a grin.

Refrigerators, seriously? Other projects have Mike and friends improving trail drainage (ever get stuck in the mud on you way to Chi Psi? FOG just fixed that!), or improving trail safety at Monkey Run with Cornell Outdoor Education by creating a 600-foot visual barrier along the cliff edges.

Mike credits the Plantations with giving his organization the ability to do so many projects on campus, since FOG operates “on a shoestring budget” and lacks the transportation and tools necessary for larger objectives. “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without [the Plantations]” Mike said. “They know what needs to be done, and they’re willing to loan us the tools.”

FOG’s greatest concern is students illicitly enjoying leisure time down in the gorges. In light of recent deaths and accidents in Cornell’s gorges over the past few years, FOG used Orientation Week to offer incoming students a tour of the gorges, educating individuals about these unfortunate incidents and offering information on how to stay safe. As Mike pus it, “We tell them where they can swim and where they shouldn’t.”

Mike estimates that over 150 individuals showed up for these two tours alone.

When I asked how the closing of a huge portion of Cascadilla Gorge has affected his organization, Mike expressed minor annoyance but also understanding. He called only having access to one gorge “unfortunate,” but cited the structural integrity of some of the rock along the trails as a viable concern. It’s clear to most people that a lot of money and labor is needed for that project, and FOG just doesn’t have the tools or enough of a labor force for a project of that magnitude.

In the meantime, Mike hopes that FOG will continue to focus on education, as well as encouraging students to “get out and explore.” There are future plans for field trips to state parks such as Tremain, Buttermilk Falls and Watkins Glen, as well as some guided walks in our own gorges. The group has weekly meetings in Fernow Hall and is always looking for new members. So, until next time, embrace the FOG!