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Mike Maples Male Cosby, TN United States: Share

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Latest Activity

KathyB commented on Mike Maples's photo 'I say, Oh Chap....'

Adorable!! That surely looks like a fox squirrel with that black head and red body, Mike. It is adorable.

7 hours ago

KathyB commented on Mike Maples's photo 'Big Tree.....Big Sky'

Beautiful!!!

8 hours ago

KathyB commented on Mike Maples's photo 'Cotton Candy Skies'

Beautiful, Mike!! A blanket and a pic-a-nik basket are all I would need right there. Well, my camera and maybe a book, too.

8 hours ago

KathyB commented on Mike Maples's photo 'I brush twice a day....'

Fantastic capture, Mike. Looks like it posed for you.

8 hours ago

KathyB commented on Mike Maples's photo 'Check out those sharp teeth'

That is a busy squirrel, Mike. Would that be a fox squirrel?

8 hours ago

Mike Maples added 6 photos

2 more…

13 hours ago

Mike Maples commented on Mike Maples's photo 'Church at Fish Camp'

Jeffrey, the date would be in the 1920's.

on Thursday

Debbie Whitaker commented on Mike Maples's photo 'Church at Fish Camp'

Looks like a lot of people! You're lucky to have these pictures! Thanks for sharing!

on Thursday

Profile Information

Hometown:

Smoky Mountians

My favorite thing about the Smokies:

For me its the people who lived here and those nice folks I've meet who have traveled far to visit the mountians. Also, being lost as many times as possible for that's when I find the most interesting things.

About Me:

I've been lucky enough to hike with old timers over the years who were born inside the park. These folks moviated me to research and seek out the things I now know about the mountains. My data base on Tree maker contains about 3 million names and folks from around the country have sent me priceless photos of family ties to the history of the region. I was featured briefly in National Georgraphy (Aug., 2006) as I guided the writer for several days as he researched his story. I've now posted a short film on Youtube.com (Smoky Mountains Photos) for some of my disk now available. Through my emails I'm more than willing to hike on trail or off (winter) with anyone interested in history or just having a great day. Never a bad day in the Mountains!

Mike Maples's Photos

A Fall Hike (Autumn 2009)

Added October 31, 2009 at 3:28pm 1 Comment
Fall / Winter Album

Added September 18, 2009 at 11:25am
Hummingbirds of Summer

Added September 6, 2009 at 9:50am

Mountain History Trivia

Added August 27, 2009 at 2:56pm
Mountain History Trivia

Added August 27, 2009 at 1:36pm
Flower Album Number Two

Added July 24, 2009 at 10:46am

Hiking Photos

Added July 22, 2009 at 9:25am
Water and Mountain Photos

Added July 22, 2009 at 9:16am 2 Comments
Mountain History

Added July 22, 2009 at 9:08am 1 Comment

Animals / Birds / Butterflys

Added July 22, 2009 at 8:59am
Mountain Flowers

Added March 4, 2009 at 10:29am 1 Comment

Mike Maples's Blog

Hiking up Texas Creek (Mountain Jedi Adventure)

Let's take a hike along the North side of the park today and explore an area close to the Old Settlers Trail. Drive up 321 between Gatlinburg and Cosby, then go past Big Greenbrier about another 5 miles till you reach Texas Lane at the animal vet/hospital above the golf course. This is about a mile before you reach Jack's Market. Be sure and ask permission to park and we will start our hike at this spot. Straight across 321 we enter the park along an old trail and rock wall about 40 yards into t… Continue

Posted on November 23, 2009 at 12:49pm —

The Snag Mountain Loop Hike

Today's cold morning reminds me of some of my winter hikes close to where I use to live. I liked to explore this area only when we had some light snow above 3,500 feet. Nothing gets you more excited to go snow hiking then when you wake up and see the top of the mountains in white.… Continue

Posted on November 20, 2009 at 12:10pm — 2 Comments

Lost Campgrounds and Old Mountain News

Well, maybe you folks will enjoy some old mountain news today. Just some of the stuff I've gathered over the years and let's start with an old campground that maybe you didn't know about in the Smokies.

At one time in the Brier we had another park campground besides #31 and #32. Well, of course in the old days just after the park was formed folks camped out along the river bottoms anywhere between the ranger house and the bridge. But, today's #31 was in a different location then where it is tod… Continue

Posted on November 18, 2009 at 1:00pm — 5 Comments

The Smoky Mountain Train Wrecks

I was going to write a blog about hiking up to the old Marks Creek train wreck site and decided to use some old photos to tell about the logging and wrecks in the Smokies. Using some photos I've collected over the years and adding those found from the Dept. of Conservation, Great Smokies National Park, along with photos from the Little River Railroad Museum. Special thanks to all these organizations and you should stop and visit the museum in Townsend. The Smokies had several small train acciden… Continue

Posted on November 10, 2009 at 1:14pm — 9 Comments

Hiking the Park (Outside the Park)

No, I haven't been in the sugar jars again. The National Park owns a lot of land between Gatlinburg and Newport that most folks don't know about and have never hiked. I think it's time for one of my Jedi secrets to be known and let you locals hike these areas as well.

Where you talking about Mike? Think of the many times you have driven 321 between Gatlinburg and Cosby looking to your right at the Great Smokies. But, there is a lot of ridge top lands to the left that belong to the park across W… Continue

Posted on November 5, 2009 at 11:48am — 2 Comments

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At 4:46pm on November 23, 2009, Gary G said…: I have really been enjoying your history photos.

At 11:22am on November 22, 2009, Gordon said…: Thanks for the comeback, Mike. A joint photo outing would be fun. I've got an intermittent back problem that precludes any real long hikes, but there are plenty of great photo ops that are relatively easy to get to.

At 10:55pm on November 20, 2009, William said…: Mike, I read and enjoyed your post on train wrecks. I have been real busy here in the flatlands and have not had much time to post comments lately.Maybe we can take a hike to one of them someday.
William

At 9:43am on October 27, 2009, Deb Welch said…: Thank you. That photo was taken back in 2006 I believe. We hit it just perfect without clouds. This was the first time I had been in about 20 years or so and it was so worth it. My husband and I are heading that way this weekend for a few days. Hope the leaves are still pretty.

At 9:20am on October 21, 2009, Scott Caldwell said…: Hi Mike,
Yeah I thought that was a really nice story too. I have always been interested in how people lived in the area that is now the park and also the transition in their lives once the park was established. I always wondered now many of the folks fared "better" once they left the area and how many had problems with the adjustment. I have tried to find some good books on the subject but haven't found too much yet.

Scott

At 1:11pm on October 19, 2009, Julie said…: Hi Mike! I think I met you before in the Greenbriar area a few years back. I was poking around with my boyfriend looking for the Greenbriar Giant. We ran into you in the parking area. I'm pretty sure of it. :)

At 8:32pm on October 18, 2009, Jerry Landers said…: Mike - I ran across your post from back in March about the Honey Cove Shelter. I remember the shelter when it was intact back in the 70's and have tried to locate it without success a couple of times in the past few years. From your post, it looks like the shelter is pretty much gone. How far up this side trail is the shelter site?

At 4:49pm on October 16, 2009, Smitty said…: Hey Mike!
I enjoy all your GREAT photos! They Really provide some enjoyment to those who love and cherish the Smokies! Keep up the GREAT work!
Could you tell me where you took the profile photo that is on your page?
Looks like it may have come from the Albright Grove Loop. Am I right?

At 10:43pm on October 1, 2009, Randy Woodward said…: Mike
Thanks for all the information. We got back from the old Fox place this last weekend. I think we found the place where you found that may have the old Fox cemetery. Across the creek, there is a trail that goes around the side of the hill, kinda. A little piece up it, there is a flat spot that certainly isn't natural. The flat spot is about 30' x 50' maybe. We never did find the third houseplace across the creek, so I guess we don't qualify as very good at finding that kind of stuff, but this was a much better trip than it would have been if we hadn't had the information that you gave me. When I'm back in the neighborhood, I'd be pleased to buy lunch sometime if its convenient. Thanks againRandy Woodward

At 10:36pm on September 21, 2009, Randy Woodward said…: I was reading your article about hiking the Old Settlers Trail and I saw my great-great grandfathers name. Sam Ramsey. He married Wealthy Whitlock. We found their graves in Webb Creek Cemetary. I'm going to be up that way Thursday and try to find their old home place. Also my great grandfather was Thomas Fox who lived around Noisy Creek. Any information you might remember would be greatly appreciated if you have the time sometime.
Thanks for the information I got from the article
Randy Woodward