KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Blount County native Melissa Coatney's journey towards a healthy lifestyle led her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
"It's so therapeutic out here. It's so peaceful," Coatney said. "I don't know that I can put it in words. Other than there's just no better place I would rather be than out here."
Coatney first told WBIR in 2019 that her goal was to summit Mount LeConte 100 times. She accomplished that goal on Valentine's Day this year.
"Since 5 years, I've finished my second Smokies map. I've hiked every trail in the Smokies a second time," Coatney said.
"When I when I say it—it's one thing, but to know I did it—is another," said Coatney.
Her accomplishments are a result of years of dedication.
"I know other people have hiked much bigger things than I have. And a lot of other people have lost weight too," said Coatney. "But for me, I think it's just the journey, that person seven years ago is unrecognizable to me, like I'm a totally different person now than I used to be."
In Coatney's days spent exploring, she even ran into WBIR Anchor John Becker.
