Ellison's Cave at Pigeon Mountain in Georgia

[@FLtrailblazer]

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[@joshhigdon4951]

Pettyjohn is the most fun you'll have in a cave on pigeon. Ellisons is cool, but do it once and that's about all one would care to do. Many friends always want me to take them there, and it's just a pain in my butt to do so. The former, I could (and have) weekly.

[@TheCarnivalguy]

This cave is located on land that was once owned by my great grand uncle, Augustus Parks Ellison. (1842-1912)

[@FLtrailblazer]

thank you so much for sharing that, I enjoy the history about these places so that means a lot I am glad to know that now.

[@MattMannYT]

That rocks shadow looks like texas 3:16

[@lumberexpress93]

You drove past my house that's where I live right next to it

[@CampfireSteveOutdoors]

I know you were itching to get into that cave. Glad you did not tempt fate. Sounds like a good place to return with a team. If I hit the lottery, and no longer have to stay close to work, I'll join in!

[@MSong-dk3vh]

Wow, the entrance is so small and totally natural. Looks dangerous just looking from the entrance. Ruby Falls in Tennessee has been well developed for 100 years, and it is kind of boring.

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

I see a lot of videos of cavers dropping Ellison’s pits in only shorts and T shirts. A couple of students died because they were on rope ascending and had some issue and died of hypothermia due to the waterfall

[@FLtrailblazer]

Yea I imagine so. I definitely didn’t go down into this cave just observed. I could tell how dangerous it was and read warning signs posted at the trailhead.

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

@@FLtrailblazer bro. I have caved for 30 years and am too nervous about having a health issue on rope. It’s the most dangerous cave more or less in the US. There’s two deep pits. One is 586’. Takes five seconds for a rock to fall. Takes four seconds jumping off the golden gate. What amazes me is that this is not gated. Of any cave in the US this is the biggest candidate for a gate.

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

And I don’t like cave gates having been locked inside by accident once.

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

It takes having a ascending system that you have used countless times. It’s not the place to have poorly tuned gear It takes a lot of stamina to even climb 100’. Your shit and your head need to be together.

[@dennistate5953]

That has happened a few times now. Traumatic for recovery team members.

[@NothingDOWNaboutHER]

Did you get to the part that you have to crawl on stomach? Definitely one of the best exploring in my life! If I did it again I would have a tour guide. If I ate lunch, I probably would not have made it out(tight quarters)

[@iain4305]

I probably would've gone in.. And died. That's just fate, or natural selection. Ha! Have you ever been to Ruby Falls in Chattanooga? Spectacular! Leo Lambert discovered the falls in the 1920's by crawling through an 18 inch hole, with no light. Great risk, greater reward.

[@FLtrailblazer]

FlaHarlock to many people have died here to risk going in without proper equipment and people with you know what they are doing. Especially after reading about the people have perished here and this is pretty far up the mountain with no cell service or anyone around.

[@stihl_joking570]

Was that the entrance to petty jons I went as far as I could without my climbing gear I climb trees lol I was gunna use my rope and saddle and Go down SRT to the water fall n petty jons

[@jordanmcclintick]

@@stihl_joking570 petty John's is on the other side of the mountain

[@MikeWilson-rm1fl]

TAG HALL..... beautiful site.

[@edgit69]

Ever thought of a thru hike on the AT

[@chaviajones2250]

Great video! I didn't go all the way to the top but I did enjoy dipping my feet in the Blue Hole 😁 I'm interested in seeing the cave entrances under the water

[@haydenchandler1738]

From the historic entrance where did you go to find the other entrance? I have been looking for it for months

[@sawedoff5745]

gotta pay to go hike, thats fuckin bullshit.

[@ninjarecipes8324]

cool

[@capellasagastume3973]

is there a tour that take you into Ellisons Cave that is really good to go with?

[@FLtrailblazer]

I am not sure I think I saw some info on the kiosk but I am not local to the area so wouldn't be able to tell you. I bet you search online for caving groups in the area you can find some that will take you on a tour. I would not go in there alone that is for sure I only checked out some of the entrances. I appreciate you watching!

[@OilRigDoc]

There are no tours into Ellison's. It is rated as a very difficult cave due to the amount of equipment and technical skill that is required to do the vertical portions of the cave. Contact the NSS at caves.org or contact your local NSS affliliate grotto to get information about caving and begin to build the skills necessary to tackle a cave like Ellison's.

[@jk85eaew097tEP]

Chris Guffey is absolutely correct about the difficulty of this cave. In fact, there were some young folks from FL just a few years ago that did venture in, and they ended up dead. Because they had some rock-climbing experience and gear, they thought they would give it a shot. Unfortunately, they did not come properly prepared, both in terms of gear and clothing, as well as their lack of skill and ability. The first pit that you encounter, just a few hundred feet into the cave, is called the Warmup Pit. It is only ~125', but these guys rigged their rope in the wrong place(next to the waterfall), and then when they encountered some problems and were unable to climb out, they soon became hypothermic. They both died from exposure shortly afterwards- a very tragic end that could have been easily prevented. They hadn't even gotten to the big pit, Fantastic, which is almost 600' deep! So to answer your question, there is not a "tour" of Ellison's that you can take. If you are interested in getting into caving, and exploring such places, there are not really any shortcuts. Like Chris said, get in touch with a local caving group, which are called grottos. Go to one of their meetings, and they can help you out with regards to the training and equipment you will need to go into such a challenging cave.

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

I don’t recommend that at all. It takes years of training on rope to be proficient. That’s a 586’ pit. I’ve never done it and I’m a seasoned caver. It’s not the rappell it’s the ascent out that is for experts only.

[@jameslee1495]

why didn't you go inside

[@FLtrailblazer]

It is very dangerous without proper caving equipment and having knowledge of these caves. People have died in these caves trying to explore them.