My name is Evan Avelar. I live in Trooper, PA. I have been hiking since I was three years old. I started backpacking this year when I turned eight. I carry all my own stuff and it is hard. My favorite part of backpacking is the camping and scary ghost stories. My favorite hiking trip was in June 2013 on the Appalachian Trail, Locust Gap and Hosack Run trails because in Dark Hollow we found a box buried in the dirt. It was creepy. That night we stayed in a tent at Quarry Gap and met Boo Boo, Shaman, T-Rex, and Chaos, A.T. thru-hikers and told them all the scary stories about Deep Hollow and finding the box. The next day we met Boo Boo and Shaman at Pine Grove Furnace and ate ice-cream with them. I also liked hiking to the Pinnacle. And hiking on South Mountain to see the "General." There was a big steep hill and an old mine which was a big hole in the ground. At the registration box on the A.T. I got a really cool CD with rock music. I am very excited to receive the KTA Young Hiker Award. I hope someday I can hike the whole Appalachian Trail.