Date: 2016-11-27
To: A Little Information About Myself
Miles today: 0.0

Hello to all who are reading my journal! For those who don't already know me, my name is William Coates. I am 23 years old and was born and raised in Keene, New Hampshire. Currently I live in a small town named Groton up near the White Mountains of New Hampshire with my parents in a beautiful log cabin. I just recently graduated from Keene State College with a BA in Criminal Justice. For many years now, I have desired to become either a police officer or conservation officer for NH Fish & Game. Growing up, I spent a lot of time outdoors between playing soccer, hunting with my dad, fishing with my grandfather, or hiking the popular Mt. Monadnock. However, I never had a real interest in backpacking until my dad introduced me to it in the White Mountains. During my sophomore year of college, he took me on my first backpacking trip in the Whites and by the end I wanted more. We are currently working on hiking the 48 4,000ft or higher peaks in the White Mountains. We both have 50% of them done, with 24 in the bag.During our first trip is when I first found out about the Appalachian Trail. I had heard the name before but I didn't know anything about it like where it started, ended, how long it was, or how people went about hiking it. We happened to be hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail on our first trip in the Whites and there were several thru-hikers on the trail headed towards Maine at the time. We happened to stay at the same location as some of them one night and were able to meet a few who would ultimately convince me that I should hike the AT as soon as I was able. Throughout the next couple days we would leapfrog back and forth with Mecca, Yukon, K-Bar, and Redfoot as we headed towards the end of our 5 day trip and they continued on for Katahdin. On many occasions we ended up taking breaks or summiting peaks at the same time as the crew of thru-hikers and were able to talk with them about their journey's. More than once, they each told me that I should really consider hiking the AT once I finished school and before I jumped into a career. Many said that it had been the most incredible experience they had ever been through, filled with both high and low points. On the last day of my hike with my dad, we had hiked ahead of the AT'ers and made it out of the woods. We went and stayed at a nearby inn and decided that the next morning we would get up, go get an assortment of goodies at Dunkin' Donuts and bring them to where we had exited the woods, as would the thru-hikers in order to cross a road and continue up through the White Mountains. We set up the coffee and donuts and waited for them to exit the trail. After a couple hours, they started to emerge from the woods. We called them over as they came out and invited them to help themselves to the snacks we had brought for them. Unexpectedly, they all sat, ate and drank their coffee, and stayed for awhile to chat before we parted ways. We had expected them to hurry on in order to put in some big miles for the day. Needless to say, we were pleasantly surprised that they stuck around. The hikers informed us that we had just become trail angels. (For those of you who don't know what a trail angel is, basically they are normal, everyday people who thru-hikers encounter along the way to their destination. These people can do anything from leave a cooler with soda's in it on the side of the trail, give hikers rides into town to resupply, or even give the hikers a place to shower, eat a hot, home-cooked meal, and sleep for the night. Pretty much anything that someone does that is unexpected and aids the hiker in some way will earn them the title of trail angel.) After talking with us some more about what they had overcome and what they still had to conquer ahead, K-Bar, Yukon, Redfoot, and Mecca prepared to set back out on the trail. We asked them if we could take a photo of them all together before they departed to which they agreed. We watched as they headed down the road towards the trail and then proceeded to head home once they were out of sight. Several weeks later, we saw that they had all successfully completed their treks across the AT. I will never forget my first trip in the Whites and having the opportunity to talk to all the hikers along the Appalachian Trail. They are undoubtedly the reason why I am setting out to attempt my own thru-hike in March. Throughout my own journey, I hope I have an opportunity to be as influential to someone as they were to me.