This was to be the day I started with my “Kindness in Your Town” feature, starting with North Canaan. That needs to be put on hold because of some late breaking news.
A close hiking buddy of mine, Peter Desrochers, passed away on June 28. He hiked the Appalachian Trail with Cindy, myself and others in 1980. We’ve been in contact infrequently since then, but I recall with delight a canoe outing in Vermont for Scouts that he led and included my son, Noah. Indeed, Pete was very active in Scouts and community and was otherwise a very kind person.
My favorite memory of Pete was from a practice hike before the 1980 thru-hike of the AT. Our goal was to hike the trail during the summer break from college but, in order to do that, we needed to fit in a piece up in Maine that Pete would be missing for his college obligations. I agreed to accompany him. One day was 40+ miles, it may have been close to 50, and in spring that meant we where hiking well into the night. I had put in those kinds of days before but that was a first for Pete and I remember well his indomitable spirit and positive attitude throughout the ordeal, even when we were negotiating a long stretch of blow downs in the dark.
His wife Sharon also was on that 1980 thru-hike, a person with an equally indomitable spirit. Say a prayer for Sharon and their four sons.
Pete, I’ll catch up with you along some heavenly trails.
