Walking to Wachusett with Robert Young

Thursday, September 28 from 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Robert Young wearing a hiking backpack.

Join the Athol Public Library at 568 Main, Street Athol, on Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., when we welcome Fitchburg resident Robert Young for his slide presentation of his re-enactment of the journey taken by Concord native Henry David Thoreau as described in his essay “A Walk to Wachusett.”

To experience Thoreau’s trip, Bob first researched, discovered, and then walked the exact route taken by Thoreau. Re-enacting the journey consisted of a three day excursion through the towns of Concord, Acton, Stow, Bolton, Lancaster, Sterling, West Sterling, East Princeton, and Princeton. His walk is the first recorded re-enactment of Thoreau’s journey. The presentation will provide background information followed by a series of pictures and explanations of what he found and learned along the route. At the end of the presentation there will be time for questions.

Bob has resided in Worcester County for the past 21 years. While researching a trip to Mount Katahdin in Maine, Bob came across the Wachusett essay and decided to study it further. His wife suggested walking the route in order to capture photographs and observations of his thoughts and feelings about the historic, but little known, journey. Since completing this project Bob has studied Thoreau’s four treks to Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH.

Robert Young will have copies of his book, Walking to Wachusett, a Re-enactment of Henry David Thoreau’s A Walk to Wachusett for sale at this event as well as his new book, Tramping Monadnock!, about those Thoreauvian adventures.

This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

You can register online with our library calendar: https://athol.librarycalendar.com/event/walking-wachusett-re-enactment-henry-david-thoreaus-walk-wachusett. or by calling, 978-249-9515.

You will receive an email confirmation, and an email reminder of the event 24 hours before the program. Questions? Please call the library at 978-249-9515.

Posted: to Athol Library News on Mon, Aug 21, 2023
Updated: Fri, Sep 29, 2023