Spotlight NATIONAL PARKS Mule team celebrates 50 years of contribution in Smoky Mountains Holly Kays Asheville Citizen Times Jul 4, 2026 2 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save After years of long days spent together in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Danny Gibson really knows his co-workers.kAm%96C6’D %F8[ E96 4=2DD 4=@H? H9@’D ?6G6C >6E 2 DEC2?86Cj #@?[ E96 D9J 8FJ H:E9 2 H2C> 962CEj y63[ 324<3@?6 @7 E96 E62>[ 2?5 2 H9@=6 42DE @7 @E96C BF:C<J J6E 92C5H@C<:?8 492C24E6CD]k^Am A mule enjoys some affection from a park employee. Holly Kays, Smokies Life kAm“%92EVD E96 7:CDE E9:?8 J@F 5@[” v:3D@? D2:5] “{62C? J@FC >F=6D]”k^AmkAmv:3D@? :D E96 A2C<’D 2?:>2= 42C6E2<6C[ 2?5 9:D 4@\H@C<6CD 2C6 >2:?=J @7 E96 7@FC\=68865 G2C:6EJ] $6CG:?8 2=@?8D:56 E96 AC@8C2>’D E9C66 9F>2? 6>A=@J66D 2C6 `a >F=6D 2?5 D:I 9@CD6D[ 2?5 E96J 2== H@C< E@86E96C E@ 92F= E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 A@F?5D @7 >2E6C:2=D 2?5 6BF:A>6?E E9C@F89 E96 g`e\DBF2C6\>:=6 A2C<’D 6IE6?D:G6 324<4@F?ECJ 6249 J62C]k^Am People are also reading… How an upbringing in Italy prepared Iowa’s Amari Whiting for college basketball U.S. conducts further strikes on Iran Why USA sucking wind vs. Turkey is not end of the world The paint is already peeling in Trump's renovated Washington Reflecting Pool US progesterone supplies tighten as menopause treatment demand grows Savannah Guthrie cries about chilling new Nancy Guthrie ransom note reports FBI determines Nancy Guthrie kidnapping notes to be fakes, source says Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are already married, New York Post's Page Six reports Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding fascinates, flummoxes media Trump clean energy tax credit cutoff drives project rush as prices set to soar ISU's Joshua Jefferson going to Brooklyn Nets as first-round draft pick Review: The end is near for ‘Jackass’ Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to restrict birthright citizenship Millions lose food stamps under Trump cuts, with some states hit harder than others Using some restrooms costs money. How it works and why businesses use them Mules can traverse a variety of challenging terrains, such as this creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. National Park Service k9am|F=6D 2?5 CF=6Dk^9amkAm%96 7656C2= (:=56C?6DD p4E @7 `hec 4C62E65 2 DJDE6> @7 AC@E64E65 =2?5D E@ 36 “F?:>A2:C65 7@C 7FEFC6 FD6 2?5 6?;@J>6?E @7 H:=56C?6DD]” x? `hfc[ >F49 @7 E96 $>@<:6D 324<4@F?ECJ H2D AC@A@D65 7@C H:=56C?6DD 56D:8?2E:@?] %96 A2C< ?@H >2?286D E96 =2?5 244@C5:?8 E@ CF=6D E@ AC6D6CG6 :ED H:=56C?6DD 492C24E6C:DE:4D] %96 CF=6D AC@9:3:E E96 FD6 @7 >@E@C G69:4=6D 2?5 >@E@C:K65 6BF:A>6?E :? E96 324<4@F?ECJ]k^AmkAmx? E96 A2C<’D 62C=J 564256D[ 6>A=@J66D “4@F=5 86E 2 y66A 2?5 5C:G6 FA qC25=6J u@C< @C q@E6 |@F?E2:? @C %H6?EJ>:=6 2?5 8@ 2== E96 H2J E@ E96 E@A @7 E96 C:586 H96C6 E96 pAA2=249:2? %C2:= CF?D[” v:3D@? D2:5] q67@C6 E96 A2C< H2D 4C62E65 :? `hbc[ E96 =2?5 H2D @H?65 >2:?=J 3J E:>36C 4@>A2?:6D 2?5 9@>6DE625:?8 72>:=:6Di E96C6 H6C6 C@25D 6G6CJH96C6] qFE 27E6C E96 AC@A@D65 H:=56C?6DD 56D:8?2E:@?[ E96 A2C< 4@F=5 ?@ =@?86C FD6 >@E@C G69:4=6D :? E96 324<4@F?ECJ]k^Am kAmt?E6C uC2?< wJ2EE[ E96 724:=:EJ >2?286C 7@C E96 A2C<’D D@FE9 5:DEC:4E 2E E96 E:>6]k^Am Danny Gibson has been an animal caretaker for Great Smoky Mountains National Park since 2010. Holly Kays, Smokies Life kAm“uC2?< H2D C2:D65 96C6[ 4=@D6 E@ qCJD@? r:EJ[ 2?5 96 8C6H FA @? 2 72C> H96C6 E96J FD65 9@CD6D 2?5 >F=6D[” v:3D@? D2:5 2E 2? pAC:= b_ 82E96C:?8 @7 d_\A=FD }2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46 6>A=@J66D 2?5 A2CE?6CD E@ 46=63C2E6 E96 >F=6 E62>’D 8@=56? ;F3:=66 2E %@HDEC:?8 q2C?] “w6 2=D@ 925 4=@D6 C6=2E:@?D H:E9 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 E92E FD65 E@ =@8 E9:D 4@F?ECJ H:E9 E96 =F>36C 4@>A2?:6D] %96J H@F=5 E2<6 @I6?[ >F=6D[ 2?5 9@CD6D[ 2?5 AF== E96 =@8D 5@H? 367@C6 E96J 4@F=5 36 =@2565 @? 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D96A96C5] (96? uC6D9@FC C6E:C65[ v:3D@? DE6AA65 :?E@ E96 =6256CD9:A C@=6]k^Am kAmsFC:?8 9:D E6?FC6[ E96 >F=6 E62> A24<65 >@C6 E92? f__[___ A@F?5D :?E@ E96 324<4@F?ECJj v:3D@? D2JD 96’== 36 C625J E@ C6E:C6 H96? E96 ?F>36C 9:ED ` >:==:@?]k^Am kAm“%96J 92G6 E@ =62C? E@ ECFDE J@F[Q 96 D2:5[ Q2?5 :EVD 2>2K:?8 H92E E96J 42? 5@]”k^AmkAm%9@F89 E96 D9:7E 7C@> >@E@CD E@ >F=6D 42FD65 4@?DE6C?2E:@? 2E 7:CDE[ 2 `hfe pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD DE@CJ @? E96 492?86 C6A@CE65 E92E E9:?8D H6?E 36EE6C E92? D@>6 6IA64E65] %96 p! BF@E65 A2C< 6>A=@J66 |@CC:D (@@52C5[ H9@D6 ;@3 :?G@=G65 86EE:?8 DFAA=:6D E@ 4C6HD :? C6>@E6 2C62D[ 2D D2J:?8[ “$@>6@?6 6=D6 H:== 92G6 E@ E6== J@F 9@H E9:?8D 2C6 H@C<:?8 @FE @G6C\2==[ 3FE[ 2D 72C 2D x 2> 4@?46C?65[ E96 H9@=6 E9:?8VD 2 4@>A=6E6 DF446DD]”k^Am kAm$FAA@CE 7C@> A2C< A2CE?6C uC:6?5D @7 E96 $>@<:6D H2D 2? :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 E92E DF446DD] %96 ?@?AC@7:E AFC492D65 >F=E:A=6 >F=6D 7@C E96 AC@8C2>[ C2:D:?8 6G6? >@C6 >@?6J 7@C E96 A2C< 3J 2F4E:@?:?8 @77 ?2>:?8 C:89ED 7@C E96 2?:>2=D :E AC@G:56D] %96 >@DE C646?E DF49 2F4E:@? :? a_ac C6DF=E65 :? E96 A2C<’D ?6H6DE >F=6 36:?8 ?2>65 y2<6 :? 9@?@C @7 y2<6 ~8=6[ G:46 492:C @7 E96 uC:6?5D 3@2C5]k^Amk9amw62GJ 5FEJk^9am The mule team packs a load across Gregory Bald. National Park Service kAmvC62E $>@<J |@F?E2:?D }2E:@?2= !2C< :D E96 @?=J A2C< @? E96 t2DE r@2DE H:E9 2 >F=6 E62>[ 2?5 E96 @?=J ?2E:@?2= A2C< 2?JH96C6 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D E92E D9@6D :ED 2?:>2=D :?\9@FD6] xED >F=6D 2C6 2=D@ E96 =2C86DE @7 2?J A24< AC@8C2> :? E96 }2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46[ H6:89:?8 :? 2E 23@FE `[ad_ A@F?5D 2A:646] t249 2?:>2= 42? 42CCJ a_T @7 :ED 3@5J H6:89E—>@C6 E92? a__ A@F?5D—@G6C >:=6D @7 C@F89 2?5 CF8865 E6CC2:?]k^Am kAmp >F=6’D E@FC @7 5FEJ EJA:42==J =2DED 23@FE 2D =@?8 2D :ED D9@6 — 23@FE D:I H66<D] ~?46 E96 D9@6D H62C @FE[ E96 E62> 86ED EFC?65 @FE E@ A2DEFC6 7@C 2 >@?E9 2?5 2 92=7 @7 62DJ =:76] |62?H9:=6[ 2?@E96C DEC:?8 @7 D:I :D C6DE65 2?5 C625J E@ H@C<] %96 A2C< EJA:42==J 24BF:C6D :ED >F=6D 2E 23@FE 286 d 2?5 C6E:C6 E96> 2E 286 a_]k^AmkAm%96 >F=6 E62> :D >@DE 7C6BF6?E=J 42==65 FA@? E@ 96=A H:E9 EC2:= 4@?DECF4E:@?] xE H@F=5 36 ?6IE E@ :>A@DD:3=6 7@C 9F>2?D E@ 92F= E96 C6BF:C65 BF2?E:E:6D @7 962GJ >2E6C:2=D =:<6 3=24< =@4FDE =@8D[ H9:49 2C6 FD65 E@ 3F:=5 DE6AD 2?5 7@@E3C:586D[ :?E@ C6>@E6 2C62D] %96 >F=6D 42? 5@ :E H:E9 ?@ AC@3=6>[ EJA:42==J >@G:?8 FA E96 EC2:= 2E 23@FE E9C66 >:=6D A6C 9@FC] |@DE 9F>2? 9:<6CD >@G6 2E @?=J 23@FE EH@ >:=6D A6C 9@FC[ 6G6? H96? F?3FC56?65 3J 2 962GJ A24<]k^Am A loaded-up mule stands ready to haul heavy trail building supplies into the backcountry. National Park Service kAm“}@E @?=J 5@ E96J H@C< @? E96 2=>@DE h__ >:=6D @7 EC2:=D 96C6 :? E96 A2C<[ E96J 2=D@ AC@G:56 DFAA@CE 7@C D@>6 @7 @FC 9:DE@C:4 DECF4EFC6D E92E 2C6 :? E96 324<4@F?ECJ[” r9:67 @7 u24:=:E:6D q2C32C2 w2E496C D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 46=63C2E:@?] “%96J E2<6 92K2C5 EC66D @FE @7 E96 324<4@F?ECJ] %96J 2=D@ AC@G:56 D6CG:46 7@C E96 7:D96C:6D AC@8C2>[ E96 G686E2E:@? >2?286>6?E AC@8C2>[ E96 324<4@F?ECJ @77:46 AC@8C2> H:E9 362C 423=6D[ 2?5 E96J 2=D@ AC@G:56 >F=49 7@C D@>6 @7 E96 AC:G:6D E92E 2C6 :? D@>6 @7 E96 D96=E6CD @? E96 p% 2?5 :? @E96C 2C62D @7 E96 A2C<]”k^AmkAm~?46 E96 E62> 2CC:G6D 2E E96 EC2:=9625[ v:3D@? H@C<D H:E9 @?6 @7 9:D 9F>2? 4@==628F6D E@ =625 E96 >F=6D 7C@> E96 EC2:=6C 2?5 5:DEC:3FE6 E96 =@25[ >2<:?8 DFC6 6249 2?:>2=’D 3FC56? :D 32=2?465 2?5 4@>7@CE23=6] %96 >F=6D >@G6 D:?8=6\7:=6 H:E9 9@CD6\>@F?E65 9F>2?D 2E E96 7C@?E 2?5 C62C]k^Am A trail crew member in the park’s south district prepares to load a mule into a horse trailer in 1977. Great Smoky Mountains National Park archives kAmpE E96:C 8@=56? ;F3:=66[ E96 >F=6D 8@E 2? @C:8:?2= D@?8 :? E96:C 9@?@C 7C@> pE=2?E2 D:?86C\D@?8HC:E6C s@F8 !6E6CD 2?5 2 9@CD6D9@6\D92A65 42<6 @7 2AA=6D[ @2ED[ 42CC@ED 2?5 7=2ID665]k^AmkAm“x? d_ J62CD[ =6E’D 46=63C2E6 282:?[” v:3D@? D2:5] “x7 x’> 2=:G6[ x’== 36 96C6]”k^AmkAm%@HDEC:?8 q2C? :D ?@E 2 AF3=:4 2C62 @7 E96 A2C<[ 2?5 :D ?@E @A6? E@ G:D:E@CD]k^Am Nation-world Here’s a look at some of the Founding Mothers of the United States KURT SNIBBE Tribune News Service Travel You can soon explore underneath the Lincoln Memorial Mike Stunson USA Today Network Government-politics Trump administration removed dozens of park exhibits that 'disparage' US Nate Raymond Reuters Beasts of burden In 2025 alone, the mule team removed 997 trees, packed 57,800 pounds, and worked nearly 687 hours pulling logs as long as 18 feet for up to two miles. 0 Comments Related to this story Most Popular Taking the kids: Keeping everyone safe this summer Have you packed your fact sheet on your family trips? Go away with ... Melissa Errico Tony Award-nominated singer and actress Melissa Errico said she remembers being unsure at first when she was asked to join the cast of “Les Mi… Rick Steves’ Europe: Appreciating the Italian Renaissance Among the many things I love about Italy is how the Renaissance can be spliced into your travels. 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Nation-world Here’s a look at some of the Founding Mothers of the United States KURT SNIBBE Tribune News Service
Government-politics Trump administration removed dozens of park exhibits that 'disparage' US Nate Raymond Reuters
Taking the kids: Keeping everyone safe this summer Have you packed your fact sheet on your family trips?
Go away with ... Melissa Errico Tony Award-nominated singer and actress Melissa Errico said she remembers being unsure at first when she was asked to join the cast of “Les Mi…
Rick Steves’ Europe: Appreciating the Italian Renaissance Among the many things I love about Italy is how the Renaissance can be spliced into your travels. Imagine: In Florence, you can sleep in a con…
Rick Steves’ Europe: Old-school joys in Portugal’s Nazaré Tucked into a far corner of Europe, just two hours north of Lisbon, is one of my favorite beach towns: Nazaré, a Portuguese fishing town turne…
