“Through Hiking the Appalachian Trail” at the Westfield Athenaeum Wednesday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lang Auditorium. This is the story of a modern day adventure. Sam Ducharme set out on a 2180 mile, 14 state backpacking trip from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin Maine. During his six month journey he documented the rugged beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, the wildlife, the hardships encountered on the trail, as well as the people, culture and humanity at its finest. Come join him as he takes you through the trail towns, over the mountaintops and through the backcountry. The images and stories will leave you with a renewed sense of the beauty of our country and its people. See his gear, how he cooked and hear what it is like sleeping in a hammock for six months through three seasons.

Sam Ducharme is a retired K9 Officer and is a lifelong resident of Connecticut. He has two adult sons, both serving in the United States Air Force. As an avid outdoorsman, and finding the nest empty, Sam decided to buy a backpack and a plane ticket to Georgia. From there, he started walking north. With no prior backpacking experience, he learned on the trail. Gear, trail nutrition, enduring the elements, and the logistics involved in a long distance backpacking trip were hard lessons. After 20 years working within Connecticut’s prisons, the search for a positive recharge resulted in a life changing journey.

Signed copies of Sam’s book “Sole Searching on the Appalachian Trail” will be available for purchase after the program. Please call us at 413-568-7833 with questions www.westath.org. The event is free and open to the public.