Driskill Mountain

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Driskill Mountain
Elevation 535 feet (163 metres)
Location Louisiana, USA
First ascent 1809
Easiest route Hike

Driskill Mountain (also referred to as Mount Driskill) is the highest natural summit in Louisiana with an elevation of 535 feet (163 meters) above sea level. It lies about 5.3 miles (8.5 km) southeast of Bryceland, Louisiana. It is located in the northeast corner of Sec. 32, T. 17 N., R. 5 W. at 32° 25′ 29.32″ N 92° 53′ 47.90″ W (WGS84) within Bienville Parish. Although the word mountain is in its name, Driskill mountain is actually a tall hill,. Its elevation is below the level considered to be a mountain.

Driskill Mountain is a landform created by the erosion of unlithified Paleogene sediment. Its summit consists of nonmarine quartz sands of the Cockfield Formation. These sands overlie shallow marine and coastal clays, silts, and sands of the Cook Mountain Formation, which form the bulk of Driskill Mountain.

James Christopher Driskill, the person for whom Driskill Mountain was named, was born in Hancock County, Georgia on June 27, 1817. In 1840 he married Eugenia Irwin Walker. In October 1859, Mr. Driskill sold his land in Troup County, Georgia, and moved his family, which by then consisted of him, his wife, eight boys, and one girl to Louisiana. In Louisiana, Mr. Driskill had bought 324 acres, which included Driskill Mountain, on December 1859. During the Civil War, Mr. James Christopher Driskill served in the Home Guard. His eldest son, William B. Driskill was killed in action at the "Battle of the wilderness" on May 5, 1864. Another one of his sons, James B. Driskill, disappeared after he had left Louisiana to fight in the Civil War. Except for one son and daughter, Mr. James Christopher Driskill's family remained in the area. His descendents still live in the area to this day.

You are free to walk the trail to the top and sign the logbook located in an army box. You will find a large pile of rocks that mark the highpoint.

[edit] References

Heinrich, P. V. (2001). Louisiana Geofacts PDF version, 1.6 MB Public Information Series 6, Louisiana Geological Survey.

[edit] External links