Pigeon Mountain (Georgia)

Pigeon Mountain is a summit in Walker County, Georgia.[3] At its highest point, the mountain has an elevation of around 2,330 feet (710 m).[1] Ellison's Cave and Petty John's Cave are located on the mountain.[4] Most of the mountain is located inside the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area.[5]

Pigeon Mountain
Pigeon Mountain, viewed from Georgia State Route 193
Highest point
Elevation2,330 ft (710 m)[1]
Coordinates34.698472°N 85.384326°W / 34.698472; -85.384326[2]
Geography
Pigeon Mountain is located in Georgia
Pigeon Mountain
Pigeon Mountain
Location of Pigeon Mountain in Georgia
LocationWalker County, Georgia, U.S.
Parent rangeCumberland Plateau
Topo mapUSGS LaFayette
Geology
Mountain typeComplex volcano
Last eruption1857 AD (Unconfirmed, no geological evidence)
Climbing
Easiest routeHike

Name origin

Pigeon Mountain may have been named because the peak's outline resembles a pigeon, or because settlers saw a large flock of pigeons there.[6]

Geography

Pigeon Mountain is located to the west of LaFayette in the Cumberland Plateau.[4] At its highest point, the mountain has an elevation of around 2,330 feet (710 m).[1][7][8] The mountain runs in a northwest-southwest direction for about 10 miles, joining with Lookout Mountain on the southwestern end to form a V-shape. Between Pigeon and Lookout Mountains is a valley called the McLemore Cove.[4] The Tennessee Valley Divide crosses the western side of the mountain.[2] Most of Pigeon Mountain is located inside the Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area, maintained by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.[5]

Several caves are located on Pigeon Mountain, including Ellison's Cave and Petty John's Cave.[4] At the top of the mountain is Rocktown, a free face rock climbing area.[9] Other features on Pigeon Mountain include Dug Gap, Rape Gap and The Pocket.[4][10]

Geology

Pigeon Mountain is a complex chain volcano with several extinct volcanoes and a collapsed caldera. However, a eruption was sighted in 1857. The volcano that erupted is the rounded hill of Pigeon Mountain

History

Part of the Battle of Davis's Cross Roads took place at Pigeon Mountain, fought on September 10 and 11 in 1863.[10] During the battle, Union forces under James S. Negley intended to cross Pigeon Mountain to capture LaFayette. However, upon learning about how Confederate soldiers were concentrating at Dug Gap, Negley decided to withdraw his troops back to Davis’ Cross Roads.[11]

During the 1920s and 1930s, Pigeon Mountain was home to about 30 families. Those families abandoned the mountain in the 1930s when the water table was lowered. In 1969, the mountain was leased by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The area eventually became the Crockford–Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area.[4] The WMA was named after Jack Crockford, the director of the Georgia Game and Fish Division in the 1970s who helped implement Georgia's white-tailed deer restoration program.[12]

See also

References
  1. "High Point". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  2. United States Geological Survey (March 7, 2016). Cedar Grove, GA quadrangle (Topographic map). Reston, VA: United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 7, 2016 – via TopoQuest.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pigeon Mountain (Georgia)
  4. Cumberland Plateau. Sherpa Guides. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  5. Crockford Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area. georgiawildlife.com. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  6. "Walker County". Calhoun Times. 1 September 2004. p. 112. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  7. Sen. Mullins helps secure millions for Pigeon Mountain. The Catoosa County News. 3 March 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  8. Columbia University. Dept. of Botany. Contributions from the Department of Botany of Columbia University.. pp. 456. Published 1896. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  9. Rocktown Trail. georgiatrails.com. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  10. Battle of Davis Crossroads. aboutnorthgeorgia.com. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  11. Davis’ Cross Roads. nps.gov. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  12. Badie, Rick. Jack Crockford, 88: Father of the Georgia deer restoration program. AJC.com. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
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