Tales from the Appalachian Trail with Author Ryan Benz

Join us for an evening with Appalachian Trail thru-hiker and author Ryan Benz as he brings the country’s most iconic long-distance footpath to life. Stretching over 2,000 miles across 14 states, the Appalachian Trail is a winding thread of rocky climbs, misty ridgelines, tight-knit trail communities and tiny trail towns. Ryan’s storytelling drops you right onto the trail beside him. Through vivid, honest, and often funny stories from his thru-hike, Ryan shares what it was really like out there: the small daily rituals, the brutal weather, the surprising moments of joy, and the trail magic that still shapes his life years later. You’ll get a true sense of the mental and physical ups and downs of a months-long backpacking journey, and how walking from Georgia to Maine became a powerful way of letting go and finding a more meaningful life. Whether you dream of hiking the AT one day or want to connect with fellow hikers in your community, this event is for you. Q&A and book signing for Wander: A Memoir of Letting Go and Walking 2,000 Miles to a Meaningful Life will follow the presentation. About our speaker: Ryan Benz is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, backpacker, and author of Wander: A Memoir of Letting Go and Walking 2,000 Miles to a Meaningful Life. He’s passionate about using storytelling and adventure to help others discover what matters most—whether that journey unfolds on a long trail or close to home.