Tasmanian Maples: A Devil of a Time - Barnes Cemetery

Originally posted on GoSmokies April 7, 2011

Oh are we going to have fun today! It’s a beautiful sun shiny day in Greenbrier. And it’s a good thing because we are going to need all the sunshine energy for a hike on the Ramsey Cascades Trail. Oh, but today we will need our alter egos to help us. So first let’s introduce the players. Introducing our fearless leader: a Jedi for all seasons, the master of the bushwhack, the terror of the gully and all around fun guy – Tasmanian Maples

Next up we have the rhododendron thrasher, master of the Laurel thickets, king of the rock cairns and also all around fun guy – Yosemite Ben

And finally, yours truly: the master of the creek crossing, the doctor of the dirt, the prince of the dog hobble and all around lunatic – Mike the Cat stairs Cat

You will soon see why we need the kitty power with us on this hike. For as I stated, we set off on the Ramsey Cascades trail – for about 5 minutes. Faster than the speed of sound the Tasman took a sharp left and up we went. Check it out:

After following an old roadbed for a short bit, we took a right and followed the spine of the ridge up toward Devils Den. After a bit of climbing we had some beautiful views.

And also saw some interesting rock formations

As Tasmanian Maples spun up the ridge, Yosemite Ben was shooting up the hillside through the rhodo.

Eventually we made it up to the top of Devils Den. Hey cool cat how you liking the hike so far?

We went right from Devils Den on a flat bench to check out some rock formations and the original plan was to go back the other way up and over some ridges to the Barnes place. But being the crazy guys we are we decided to go up to the Lookout tower instead. Look closely to the right on the map and you will see the Jeep trail that goes up to the tower. But we decided to make our own trail – straight up!

But it was just a walk in the park for the master of the laurel thickets!

And here’s our version of “Where’s Waldo” – it’s called “can you spot the Maples in this picture?”

We did reach the Jeep trail and soon found ourselves soaring to the tower.

Of course the tower has been torn down and here’s the Jedi inspecting the remnants

A few more items for your viewing pleasure.

As we made our way back down the Jeep trail we paused for a moment of ceremony and celebration. Let’s have a big gosmokies round of hoot n hollers for the newly appointed Mountain Jedi – Ben Bacot.

And to celebrate the new title, Ben had the honor of leading us down the Cat stairs! (Told you the kitty power was going to be needed)

And did we mention the views?

And away we go (down)!!!

Our leader was cool, calm and collected as he led us down.

Are we having fun yet?

For those who think going down is always easy – try the Cat stairs!

We made our way down the ridge and overshot the Barnes place a little so we backtracked and did a bit of the ol’ bushwhack and soon came out at the Barnes place.

And soon followed by the Barnes Cemetery

A small cemetery with only three graves – sadly all children.

As we made our way back toward the road we came across a couple more home sites. The Harriett Whaley place had a lot of cool stuff. Check it out!

As we walked the road back to the cat mobile we returned our alter egos to their rightful places to await another day and another Jedi hike.

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A Day in the Hike: Parton and Plemmons Cemeteries

Originally posted on GoSmokies April 30, 2012

I read the news today, oh boy

About a lucky man who made the hike

And oh the news was rather glad

Well I just had to…

Hop in my car and head for the First GoSmokies Hike in beautiful downtown Greenbrier!

With an all star cast of rough and tough hard core hikers, and yes some of those flower loving folks (Come on now, who doesn’t love wild flowers!) There was even a guest appearance by Mr. Timber Rattler just for the wildlife lovers.

Ah look at all the lovely people…

After a nice greet and meet we headed down the road for a short morning hike to the Parton Cemetery. I will let the Jedi write the history blog as that was his job today. And when Mike “EF Hutton” Maples talks…people listen.

Part of my job was documentation and map making.

On the left is a small part of the large Greenbrier map that you can get through Mr. Maples himself. On the right is my GPS map. Everyone knows that the Jedi is an authority on the Brier and his full map is a must for home site seekers! Hand drawn, dated and signed by the Jedi himself. Sorry, but you can’t get it on Amazon!

OK, we’re Goin’ up the Country…baby you wanna go?

At the Old Settlers trail head Mike took the rock and announced his candidacy for  President of the United States. I spoke of his new political party some time ago – The Hiker Party.

We did explore a few home sites on this hike. Pretty much rock piles with a little bit of stuff thrown in. The highlight was the Parton Cemetery and a guest appearance by Dolly herself. Sorry but she requested “no pictures” today as she did not have time to put make up on that morning.

Sorry you didn’t make it now? And you know I wouldn’t pull your leg about a thing like this…Yodel-lay-hee-hooo!

So with a BIG hike planned for the afternoon it was time to go back and refuel. LUNCH TIME! Gourmet Cheetos and high octane Coca Cola for a well balanced diet and big hike energy!

And here’s the Presidential Candidate. Could this be the next First Lady?

OK it’s BIG Hike Time!

Another section of the famous Maple’s Greenbrier Map. Mention this blog and get a dollar off!

We parked some cars at the trail head for the Plemmons Cemetery and took our cast of 19 down the road to start the afternoons hike. We had anticipated about a half dozen would dare the Jedi hike so this was a pleasant surprise! Maples took us down to John Barnes bed frame first.

I will let him tell the story of why this bed is here. My GPS was a little off on this one as the track shows us missing the bed frame. Getting the whole hike on one map made it a bit cramped so let’s break it up into sections.

We started heading up the ridge with the Henry Barnes place as our first stop.

Buried on a flat spot just above the chimney is the grave of a Whaley Child. There is no stone and this was information revealed to the Jedi in a dream. Not really, but I will let him reveal his source if he so chooses – LOL!

The next home site was Newton Rayfield’s:

We continued up through the gap of Bald Tops where we came across a blooming surprise:

We headed down steeply to Wooly Tops Branch so time for the next section of the map.

We stopped for a rest at Andy Huff’s place where we had a confrontation planned with the Jedi about his drinking problem.

Sharon got Mike to put aside his addictive Coca Cola for a swig of water. Maples is like a brother to me but his Coke and Cheeto addiction has grown to a case and 5 bags a day. It was time for some intervention! Mike agreed to drink water the rest of the day and munch on bean sprouts. He said he would cut down to 4 cokes a day and one bag of cheetos. All were happy and the hike continued as planned.

The double chimney at Andy Huff’s place drew a nice crowd and all were pleased after the hard trip up and over the mountain!

As we headed over to Henry Bohanan’s place, Mr. Maples stopped to tell us the story of Bear Skin Rock.

An unidentified man stands next to the Bohanan Chimney. We questioned him thoroughly but he wasn’t talking!

The remains of another Bohanan home place lies a little further up the trail as we hiked in nervous anticipation of reaching the BIG TREE!

I forgot to mention my other function in being second banana for the hikes today. Anyone remember the Class Clown who usually sat at the back of the room in school? Yeah, well that guy was me and Maples recognizing this well groomed trait had me bring up the rear. Aside from making sure we did not lose anyone, I was the guy who kept a light hearted spirit of fun as we hiked up and down on today’s excursion. While Maples told mountain tales and filled ears with history and folklore, I provided encouragement and momentary laughter to sweaty souls in the back of the bus. Of course Maples is kind of a low talker so those that could not hear him were asking me questions along the way. But what I would really like to know is what square roots have to do with hiking? I was fielding some tough questions!

I had to stop for a moment and take a picture of this…I call it Nature’s Pizza!

And finally we arrive at the BIG TREE!

Time for the return trip:

As we headed past Dave Plemmons place the Jedi asked me to run down and take a picture and mark the old bridge across False Gap on my map. To bad that bridge is no longer there!

Maples continued his history lesson at the Plemmons Cemetery…

And then wrapped up the days hike at the Greenbrier High School remains.

A Big thanks to Frank, Bonnie and Sleeping Beauty for their hard work in putting this on. Thanks to the other kind folk who helped and had input on making this a day to remember. Thanks to Jigsha for bringing the nice banner and other goodies. It was a pleasure meeting and hiking with everyone on this beautiful Sunday in the Smokies!