Smoky Jack - Dogs of the NPS

The story of #BarkRanger Smoky Jack and his human Paul Adams began in 1925. Paul accepted a caretaker position on Mount Le Conte, a high peak in the Great Smoky Mountains. The rustic camp that Paul and Smoky Jack established is a popular lodge in the National Park, almost 100 years later!

Paul was born in Illinois in 1901 and his family moved to Tennessee when he was a teenager. Paul’s first ascent of Mount Le Conte was accomplished at age 17 and five years later he joined the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. Smoky Jack, a German Shepherd, was destined for work with the police force. He completed training in New Jersey and was enroute to Tennessee when the K9 officer he would have partnered with was killed in the line of duty.

Paul’s mother was concerned that he was alone on the mountain. Paul purchased Smoky Jack with a down payment and installments, and a lifelong partnership began. The two had many adventures in all seasons as they worked and hiked in the Smokies. Smoky Jack carried saddlebags filled with supplies from the store in Gatlinburg and protected Paul during a couple threats from robbers. The dog saved his human more than once during medical emergencies in winter and during an unexpected encounter with a bear!

Their time on Mount Le Conte came to an end once the lodge was established and a married couple were hired to host guests visiting the 6,593-foot peak that is the third highest in the Smoky Mountain Range. Smoky Jack stayed on the mountain for a bit with the new caretakers, but regularly ran off to Paul who had moved to Gatlinburg. The dog moved in with Paul’s parents and later with Paul and his wife Maxine. Smoky Jack lived to be fourteen years old and was buried on the Adams farm in Cumberland County, Tennessee.