Bill Michaud, 61, of Friendship, left March 6 for an adventure of a lifetime.
On March 18 his wife Debbie will “dump me on the trail” at Springer Mountain, Ga. There he will begin his 2169-mile trek back to Maine along the Appalachian Trail to Baxter Peak on Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park.
Michaud is hiking the AT to raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine.
As the BBS executive director from 1988 to 2003, he witnessed first hand the life changing experiences that many kids have had in the program.
His goal is to raise $20,000 for BBBS. So far he has raised $2000. Pledges can be made per mile, or by a flat donation on line at bbbsmcm.org, or mailed to BBBS of Midcoast Maine, 16 School St., Rockland, 04841.
“Hiking the AT is something I’ve been wanting to do since I was 11 years old,” Michaud commented in an earlier interview with the LCN. He will turn 62 on the trail.
Michaud is no stranger to the trail, having section-hiked portions throughout his life. He estimates he has section-hiked Massachusetts and Connecticut 25 times and New Hampshire a couple of dozen times. He has also hiked most of the Smokey Mountains in South Carolina.
He hopes to complete the hike by Sept. 21, his wife’s birthday.
Michaud’s progress can be followed at bbbsmcm.org.