Interview with Sidearm

Sidearm (Graham Carroll), is a recent college graduate from New Jersey. He majored in engineering. This interview took place at  Shaw's Hiker Hostel in Monson, Maine. 

What was your motivation for starting to hike the AT?

I grew up around 20 minutes from the trail in New Jersey. So the AT was always something I'd day hike on and just hanging out with. And right now, my job won't start till after the new year. So I have six free months. And I kind of always joked around that, if I ever had the time to do this, like a loose block of time, I’d do it. And this just seems like life's way of telling me “hey, this is a great opportunity for you.” And then I heard about my job, so I was like, “wow, I actually do have six months to do this. This would be awesome.” It's kind like the gap year on the other side of college. 

What have you enjoyed the most about hiking the trail so far?

I'm tied between the views and the people. And at first, I was definitely thinking the views because I've had some really great views in the mountains. But I think the more I've hiked, the more it's been about the interactions I've had with the folks around me, that's been really cool. Just the amount of people you meet on the trail, the different breadth of experiences, you see different paths of life that I'm taking you to us to really kind of the same place. It's been awesome. 

What is the story behind your trail name?

So my trail name is Sidearm. And that came about because I pitched in college. And I was talking to somebody and they just said “that sounds like a pretty cool trail name.” So I just went with that.