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Hiking community mourns 'Smoky Mountain Jedi'

Mike Maples was something of a legend in the East Tennessee outdoors community.

Hundreds of hikers are saying goodbye to the man they called the 'Smoky Mountain Jedi.' 

Mike Maples passed away on March 5 after a brief battle with brain cancer, according to his obituary. He was 66 years old. Late last year, close friends shared Maples' diagnosis in a Facebook group dedicated to hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The people in the East Tennessee hiking and outdoors community rallied around Maples after his diagnosis.

Hundreds of people shared their memories with Maples in the group after his death - including pictures of hikes with him, memories from adventures together, and even a suggestion that the Smokies name a trail after 'the Jedi.'

"Mikes Maples was a Smoky Mountain hiking icon and he was loved by so many people," friend and fellow hiker Joe Guenther told 10News

Maples hiked with dozens of people throughout the years. His obituary says he spent "hours, days, weeks and years" exploring and studying the Great Smoky Mountains. 

"When you went out with Mike, you went with someone with a huge heart, a huge sense of humor and just had an amazing day with him," Guenther said.

Maples wrote several books detailing the park, its history and the people who used to call it home.

He also showed WBIR a few of his favorite little-known spots in a "Hidden Gems of the Smokies" series in 2018.

READ MORE: Exploring Cosby with the 'Hiking Jedi'

"He used to share all the information he knew about the backcountry cemeteries. He was more than happy to take anybody with him," Guenther said.

His family plans to receive friends on Saturday, March 9, 2019 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Ball Camp Baptist Church in Knoxville. The funeral will follow at 6 p.m. Maples will be buried at Huskey Cemetery in Gatlinburg.

His family asks that donations in his honor be made to Friends of the Smokies.

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