Ohio author, adventurer and long-distance hiker to talk about Ohio’s Buckeye Trail

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.

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.

He 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