Bolles Alumnus Adam Prusiecki ’16 will recount his journey hiking the entire Appalachian Trail at the Lake Toxaway Country Club in North Carolina as a guest speaker for the August 22 Feast with Friends dinner. This popular summer series has featured guest speakers ranging from Olympians and politicians to retired military generals and the former chief technology officer of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Prusiecki will share stories of his adventures on the Appalachian Trail, the longest foot-traffic-only hiking trail in the world. After one year of planning, Prusiecki and his friend from college set out on the Appalachian Trail on May 8, 2021, in Georgia. He completed the trail in four months at the top of Mount Katahdin in Maine.

The Appalachian Trail extends 2,200 miles and passes through 14 states along the eastern United States. While the trail sees over 3 million visitors each year, only approximately 3,000 individuals attempt to hike the full trail – and only 1 in 4 successfully complete it. Steep climbs, wet conditions, high summer temperatures and a 30-pound backpack all contribute to the trail's difficulty and its charm.