The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Hiker to share his adventures from the Appalachian Trail
KENT — Connecticut resident Sam Ducharme recalls his journey from Georgia to Maine at the Kent Memorial Library, presenting a lecture on “Thru Hiking the Appalachian Trail,” Saturday, Jan. 20, at 3 p.m.
The program follows the Kent Library Association’s annual meeting at the Kent Town Hall, 41 Kent Green Blvd.
Those who attend this program will be treated to a modern day adventure. Ducharme set out on a 2,180 mile, 14 state backpacking trip from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount 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 visitors with a renewed awe 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.
You will also hear how he returned to the trail the following year, connecting with aspiring Thru Hikers, paying it forward, and his return to the summit of Katahdin one year later.
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 empty-nest, 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.
The program begins at 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public. To register or for more information call the library, 860-927-3761; email kmlinfo@biblio.org; stop by the library; or visit the online calendar at kentmemoriallibrary.org.