For Sam Ducharme, his 2,180 mile, 14 state backpacking trip became a life changing journey. New Canaan Library invites all to join Ducharme for a talk that will leave the audience with a renewed awe of our country’s beauty and its people. The event takes place on Tuesday, October 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Adrian Lamb Room. Please register online at newcanaanlibrary.org.

Sam Ducharme’s thru hike adventure began at Springer Mountain, Georgia and ended at Mt. Katahdin, Maine. During his six-month journey, he documented the rugged beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, the wildlife, the hardships on the trail, as well as the people, culture, and humanity at its finest. The stories and images in his presentation will take the audience through the trail towns, over the mountains and through the backcountry. HIs talk will include anecdotes and details such as the gear he used, how he cooked, and descriptions of 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, Ducharme decided to buy a backpack and a plane ticket to Georgia. From there, he started walking north. With no prior backpacking experience, he learned as he went. 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, his search for a positive recharge resulted in a life-changing journey.