DELPHOS
— The Delphos Public Library is sponsoring a program and book signing
by Andy “Captain Blue” Niekamp from Dayton, Ohio. Niekamp will present
“Thru-Hiking the Buckeye Trail: Things That Will Change the Way You See
Ohio” on Tuesday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Delphos Central Library,
309 W. 2nd St., Delphos, Ohio. This 60-minute program is free and open
to the public.
Niekamp is a four-time, end-to-end Appalachian
Trail hiker who tackled a 1,444 mile trail in 2011 in his home state in
one continuous journey, alone and on foot. The Buckeye Trail loops its
way around the four corners of Ohio from the shores of the Ohio River to
Lake Erie, and from the rolling hills of Southern Ohio to the glaciated
plains of Ohio’s Northwest.
The Buckeye Trail is the longest
circular trail in the U.S. Unlike a wilderness long-distance trail, the
Buckeye Trail traverses the urban, suburban, rural, industrial, and
forested parts of Ohio. It is a trail with abundant natural beauty,
history, and experiences that only walking Ohio can bring.
On this
journey, Niekamp is a long-distance hiker in a non-hiker world. His
presentation is a personal, honest, and transparent account of the highs
and lows of solo thru-hiking the Buckeye Trail.
In his 88-day
adventure, Niekamp battles the cold, rain, snow, heat, and humidity of
springtime in Ohio. He endures the physical test of walking for miles
every day in a variety of environments and on a variety of treadways. He
discovers his home state past and present and the genuine kindness of
strangers. It’s a story that inspires and entertains.
Andy
“Captain Blue” Niekamp has been a wilderness adventurer for more than 25
years. This IT professional turned long-distance hiker has logged over
14,000 miles in more than 30 different states coast-to-coast including
9,500 miles on the Appalachian Trail.
Andy captures the power of
the journey in his new book Captain Blue on the Blue Blazes: The First
Solo Thru-Hike of Ohio’s 1,444 mile Buckeye Trail. He will be available
for a book signing following his presentation.
About The Buckeye
Trail. The Buckeye Trail was first envisioned in the late 1950’s as a
500- mile diagonal trail from the Ohio River to Lake Erie. Over the
years, it has evolved into a 1,444- mile loop, radiating north, east,
and west from Cincinnati. The purpose of the Buckeye Trail is to not
only get hikers out to enjoy the natural beauty of Ohio’s rivers,
streams, hills, and forests but also to highlight hundreds of
significant landmarks and historical places. The Buckeye Trail was
chosen as Ohio’s Millennium Legacy Trail in 2000. The Buckeye Trail is
maintained and promoted by the Buckeye Trail Association, a non-profit
organization. For more information about the Buckeye Trail visit:
http://www.buckeyetrail.org