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Sole Searching on the Appalachian Trail: Sole Searching on the Appalachian Trail
Thru-hike with “Sam I Am,” a newly-retired prison guard who finds himself lost when his two sons leave for the Air Force and his K-9 partner passes away. With no hiking experience, he bought a backpack and a plane ticket to Georgia and started walking home to New England.
One month after deciding to hike the 2,189- mile trail, and after three weeks of intensive YouTube-training, Sam takes his first step north, armed with all the critical gear REI could part with. The journey was long, dangerous and took a toll on his body, but as he lay in his hammock after yet another day of endless climbs and punishing descents, he was determined to finish… or at least make it to day three.
This book takes the reader on a modern-day adventure along a 2,189-mile hike from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail. First-time hiker and retired prison guard “Sam I Am” entertains the reader with trail stories which are humorous, poignant and informative as he hikes northward in his quest to become a “Thru-Hiker.”
Comparing himself to a bruised and dirty onion from a career spent inside prisons, Sam I Am takes the readers along as he interacts with thousands of people on the trail and worldwide. With the help of social media and YouTube, these people watched as he shared his adventure from the trail. The countless unexpected acts of kindness Sam I Am received from strangers slowly peeled each dirty layer away. When he stands on top of Katahdin nearly six months after he started, covered in dirt from the trail, it is the cleanest he has been in decades.
One month after deciding to hike the 2,189- mile trail, and after three weeks of intensive YouTube-training, Sam takes his first step north, armed with all the critical gear REI could part with. The journey was long, dangerous and took a toll on his body, but as he lay in his hammock after yet another day of endless climbs and punishing descents, he was determined to finish… or at least make it to day three.
This book takes the reader on a modern-day adventure along a 2,189-mile hike from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail. First-time hiker and retired prison guard “Sam I Am” entertains the reader with trail stories which are humorous, poignant and informative as he hikes northward in his quest to become a “Thru-Hiker.”
Comparing himself to a bruised and dirty onion from a career spent inside prisons, Sam I Am takes the readers along as he interacts with thousands of people on the trail and worldwide. With the help of social media and YouTube, these people watched as he shared his adventure from the trail. The countless unexpected acts of kindness Sam I Am received from strangers slowly peeled each dirty layer away. When he stands on top of Katahdin nearly six months after he started, covered in dirt from the trail, it is the cleanest he has been in decades.
- GenresNonfictionTravel
294 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2018
73 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 5, 2020
Sam I Am describes his incredible journey of kindness, friendship, solitude, and soul-searching on the Appalachian Trail.
December 23, 2019
Much better than any other AT travel log I have read!
I have read many AT related books. This one falls in the travel log category, but unlike most others, this isn’t a day by day accounting, but rather it does follow the author along, but he uses the story of the journey to share his larger experiences, which really gives you a better feel for what the trail is like (vs. the typical day by day trail logs). Great read!
I have read many AT related books. This one falls in the travel log category, but unlike most others, this isn’t a day by day accounting, but rather it does follow the author along, but he uses the story of the journey to share his larger experiences, which really gives you a better feel for what the trail is like (vs. the typical day by day trail logs). Great read!
May 25, 2019
One indication of a good read for me is when I can't wait to get back to it after a long day at work. This is one of those books--I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ducharme covered aspects of trail hiking that hadn't been touched on in other books I've read on the subject--yes, even pooping in the woods! (Although, I thought hikers on the trail were allowed to camp only at the shelters and not elsewhere along the trail, as Sam did.) And such a nice, pleasant, conversational writing style. One question I still have after this and other books: Why Cherry Coke? It seems to be a big part of trail magic. Anyway, I loved the camaraderie between Sam and Red Hot. Red Hot's story is so inspiring and bittersweet, and a pleasant surprise at the end of the book.
You did it! You made it to Katahdin! Huge accomplishment! (Sorry for all the exclamation points!)
(Oh, how I wish I could have given this five stars, but I could not be forgiving of the numerous typos and grammatical errors.)
You did it! You made it to Katahdin! Huge accomplishment! (Sorry for all the exclamation points!)
(Oh, how I wish I could have given this five stars, but I could not be forgiving of the numerous typos and grammatical errors.)
May 25, 2021
You learned the best lesson!
I have read over two dozen Appalachian Trail thru-hike books and rate this one as one of the best. I'm going to watch your video on YouTube to enjoy your hike in person. The best lesson learned from this experience is to be good to people. It's the best thing you can do in life.Congratulations on a hike well learned and thank you for paying it forward.
I have read over two dozen Appalachian Trail thru-hike books and rate this one as one of the best. I'm going to watch your video on YouTube to enjoy your hike in person. The best lesson learned from this experience is to be good to people. It's the best thing you can do in life.Congratulations on a hike well learned and thank you for paying it forward.
January 20, 2021
"Sam I Am" detailed his experiences while hiking the Appalachian Trail. After a career as a prison guard, Sam decided to hike the AT. Along the way, Sam met other hikers who have made lifelong connections with him. Reading this book is a way to enjoy the trail from a cozy, fireside chair and comfortable home.
January 8, 2019
WOW!! Great read
This is one AT story I will be reading again it was that good!!! I’m planning an attempted thru-hike in 2020 and I read every AT book I can find. Thank you Sam I Am.
This is one AT story I will be reading again it was that good!!! I’m planning an attempted thru-hike in 2020 and I read every AT book I can find. Thank you Sam I Am.
February 14, 2019
I watched all of Sam's YouTube videos, from getting kitted out to completion of the AT. Loved them, especially the signing out hand wiggle! This book is equal too, if not better, than those YouTube posts. Very funny and a joy to read. Think that I might have to revisit those videos. Well done Sir 👍
September 11, 2019
The best far far
I have read right books on the Appalachian trail and this was the one that I enjoyed the most. The author is a real.person in touch with his emotions and a good enough writer to put you in the trail with him.
I have read right books on the Appalachian trail and this was the one that I enjoyed the most. The author is a real.person in touch with his emotions and a good enough writer to put you in the trail with him.
October 17, 2020
This was soooo good! I’ve read multiple books on the AT and this might be my favorite for the light hearted and humorous nature of Sam’s writing. If you liked The Unlikely Thru-Hiker, you’ll definitely love this book!
May 7, 2021
Wow, what an Adventure!
Great book, very detailed but not boring or too much information overload. Book moved along smoothly, easy read. Can’t wait to watch some u-tube videos. Thank you Sir!
Great book, very detailed but not boring or too much information overload. Book moved along smoothly, easy read. Can’t wait to watch some u-tube videos. Thank you Sir!
July 14, 2019
Great read
Great read complete with interesting stories, compelling my desire to hike the AT and remember the life lessons Sam taught us.
Great read complete with interesting stories, compelling my desire to hike the AT and remember the life lessons Sam taught us.
April 4, 2020
Sole searching on the AT
Sam I Am, a former prison guard hikes the trail in search of restoring his faith in the good of human kind.
Sam I Am, a former prison guard hikes the trail in search of restoring his faith in the good of human kind.
June 1, 2020
A nice change of pace from the usual AT thru-hike books. Sam I Am highlights the fun and wonder of hiking the AT, along with his personal changes along the way.
July 11, 2020
I enjoyed this book, good story teller with a humorous touch. Brought me vicariously to the AT with him.
May 4, 2021
Very good book. I really enjoyed it. I’ve read many books about people hiking the AT and this was one of the better ones.
August 16, 2021
Great read!
This book along with the YouTube videos are great preparation for my attempt at a thru hike. I appreciate and respect the trail more because of Sam.
This book along with the YouTube videos are great preparation for my attempt at a thru hike. I appreciate and respect the trail more because of Sam.
December 30, 2019
An excellent, honest, down-to-earth account of a once in a lifetime journey.
Although I've never met the author, I picked up this book with slight bias - my mom was his friend Penny mentioned in the Afterword. Bias notwithstanding, this book blew me away. Sam I Am has an incredible voice, with perfect rhythm, wit, and relatability. I love his made-up words, and I love the emotional conclusion.
I've read "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson three times, and this is a completely different story. Even though I read Sam's book over the course of two days from the comfort of my couch, I feel like I've hiked the AT with him - every mile, through all 14 states, with all his various companions.
Excellent read.
Although I've never met the author, I picked up this book with slight bias - my mom was his friend Penny mentioned in the Afterword. Bias notwithstanding, this book blew me away. Sam I Am has an incredible voice, with perfect rhythm, wit, and relatability. I love his made-up words, and I love the emotional conclusion.
I've read "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson three times, and this is a completely different story. Even though I read Sam's book over the course of two days from the comfort of my couch, I feel like I've hiked the AT with him - every mile, through all 14 states, with all his various companions.
Excellent read.
September 10, 2020
I enjoyed every step along the trail with Sam Ducharme.
May 31, 2019
It was a good tale of a hikers journey, but it seemed kind of bland. It wasn't bad, just wasnt a huge page tuner. Recommend for those looking for a simple story of an AT journey
March 7, 2020
Sam is a great speaker and writer. We also watched all his YouTube videos. We are going to hike the AT because of him
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews