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Search for an Unusual Cave Jack's Knob, Union Co., GA January, 2026 |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2026) |
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Search for an Unusual Cave Jack's Knob, Union Co., GA January, 2026 |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2026) |
| Sheldon H, Mickey C, Milton B, and I spent a day in early January on a search for an unusual rock formation that I'd read about. We didn't find it but we certainly got a workout looking for it. We bushwhacked from 2400 to 3600 feet elevation before we even began our search, and the steep terrain didn't make it any easier after that. We were separated for a good portion of our search, so I didn't take any people pics. Just a lot of cliffs, rock outcrops, rock shelters/overhangs, and boulders. And did I mention how steep the search area was? My legs were sure tired the next day. I included a couple of pics from Mickey so there are a few people pics. |
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| After an initial gradual climb along old logging roads, it got steep! I think Milton took this as we were bushwhacking up the final steep section to the ridgeline. Fortunately it was a pretty clean woods most of the way. |
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| Reaching the ridgeline... after almost 1200 feet elevation change, we took a break for a snack. I had a mouthful of PB crackers here, and Milton's dog Maggie wanted some. |
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| Trail sign |
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| Sheldon and I at the sign. |
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| Looking across the way toward Spaniards Knob (not to be confused with nearby Spaniard Mtn). We soon headed off to begin our search... The object of the search was an old cave that was reported to be in the face of a steep cliff, protected by a wall of stone masonry. It was allegedly a refuge / hideaway back in the early 1800s and earlier. |
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| There was no shortage of rock formations to explore... I crawled up into this crevice... |
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| But there was just enough room for one adult to stand... |
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| Following are examples of the many outcrops, overhangs, rock shelters, etc. that I photographed during our search for the cave... |
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| Rock overhang |
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| Rock outcrop |
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| You can get an idea how steep this entire area was... |
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| I wore myself out with the constant up and down, examining one outcrop after another. |
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| And the footing was often treacherous, between the steepness and the frequent loose rock scree under the leaves. |
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| Cliffs... |
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| More cliffs... |
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| And yet more cliffs... But no cave... |
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| I climbed up to the hole in the middle of this outcrop, but it was only big enough for one person to huddle and take shelter. |
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| This overhang had enough room for a couple of folks to take shelter, but it wasn't what we were looking for... |
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| Another larger overhang... |
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| This overhang seemed to have remnants of an old wall on either side... |
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| But it was nowhere near large enough to hold a group like the one we were looking for. |
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| More rock outcropping... |
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| I hoped this channel in the rock might lead to something, but it didn't. |
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| More overhangs |
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| And huge boulders... |
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| Another overhang that seemed to have the remains of a rock wall on the sides. |
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| From another angle... |
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| Looking back up the slope... By this time I was much further down than the directions had indicated that we would find the cave. |
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| Working my way down the slope... Things began to level out somewhat, and there were fewer outcrops. |
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| A striated boulder |
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| Back down in the cove, I searched around a little for any old homesites, but only found several rock piles... |
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| The only other interesting thing I found was a monster tree down by the creek. |