Those who attend this program will be treated to 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 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 Sam 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.
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 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. Signed copies of Sam’s book “Sole Searching on the Appalachian Trail” will be available for purchase after the program.